Mental Health Mantra 59/365

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 58/365

This felt right today.  Let it Be. 

As a Liverpool girl, this phrase has meant so much in my life. 

"Just let it be will ya." 

Paul was on to something, he shared in his Carpool Karaoke with James Corden as he was being driven round Liverpool, that his Mum who had died when he was young, had visited him in a dream. She was reassuring him, saying 'it's going to be ok, just let it be.' He woke up and remembered those words and it inspired him to write the lyrics and song Let it Be, inspired by her positivity. 

I feel this today. I can relate to Paul. I feel Mum close, whispering words of wisdom in my ear saying 'let it be.'

I am going to Let it Be.

​Let it all Be.

Love x

Day 58 of 365 just 1 Flower Mantra left - what will March be?

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 57.365

As I sit down each morning, I don't have any clue what the flower is going to be like. 

Will it be a take on a flower, or a lookilikie?

This month has revealed alot to me about going with the flow, trusting my intuition and enjoying the process. 

Today was no exception.

I was awake at 5am, so much going through my mind.

I got up, made some tea and dropped into my studio space. I am grateful for this space, I know I will look back on this time and see what I have achieved, despite all the trauma.

I digress.

I stepped in, I closed my eyes, I took a breath.

Everyone was still asleep, even the woofers. 

Stillness.

A magical time.

Early, yes. 

Magical, Yes.

The flower happened. 

I realise once again, that I trust me. 

I trust my own knowing, what I need, what I don't need. 

All that is happening around me, this is increasingly important to trust me.

The stillness helps.
(ps and it's ok to nap too).

Keep trusting StarSeeds.
Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 56/365

I had an energising morning on the first day of the Level 1 Bach Flower Remedies course. 

Revisiting flowers, it seems that I brought in the flower course during February as I immersed myself in painting flowers, which got me thinking about the Law of Vibration and Frequency.  I learnt some interesting things about Dr Edward Bach this morning, and want to study more about this very exceptional man of the early 20th century, up against the rise of the pharmaceuticals.

So now to the flower mantra for today. I decided to paint Mimulus. 

I do not profess to being a botanical artist and I need to study this much more - I'm not that precise.

Yet it felt lovely to focus on this bonny yellow flower and explore the emotional connection. 

The purpose of the flower remedies is to support our own dis-ease.  Dr Bach felt that our emotions impeded our physical healing and vice versa.  The main premise is that they can be used in preventative ways for many of us and Mimulus is a great example because this flower remedy helps to transform any negative emotion into a positive one, stimulating self healing.

However we don't have to be physically ill to benefit.  

Mimulus can very much assist us at this moment in time.

A fear of known things, of known causes, such as illness, death, a loss of job, friends, pain etc.....

It counterbalances these fears by providing courage. 

I do love that with such a simple and gentle flower remedy we can be more aware of our own feelings and emotions, it encourages us to be reflective and contemplate what is going on in our own lives and the lives of our families and communities, including our pets and natural environment.

I am looking forward to learning more and exploring the 38 Bach Flower Remedies.

If any of this resonates with you, Mimulus may be calling you.

Keep connecting to your intuition Star Seeds : )
Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 55/365

Tomorrow I start  Level 1 in Bach Flower Remedies - I have learnt so much about these remedies since the 90s when I was first introduced to them and began taking rescue remedy and others, whilst navigating and healing from M.E / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. 

As if by magic, this course dropped into my inbox, it is almost like I have magically drawn it in - 25 flowers later.

For those who may not have heard of Bach Flower Remedies, they're named after Dr Edward Bach who discovered 28 remedies, each for a specific emotional and mental state plus a combination one of 5 remedies, which is designed for difficult and demanding situations, this he called Rescue Remedy. 

37 of the 38 are based on single wild flowers and tree blossoms - the exception is Rock Water, which is made of the water from a natural spring with healing properties. 

I'll talk more about it but for now, this flower mantra is the Star of Bethlehem.  As a remedy it can be used for after effects of shock, it can also be used for people who are numbed and withdrawn with a sense of loss or grief.  Dr Bach described this remedy as 'the comforter and soother of pains and sorrows.' 

This helped me today with the mental health mantra - I feel comforted and soothed.

It is like giving yourself a big hug - taking this remedy and repeating this mantra to yourself or writing it out 25 times.

Keep shining starseeds.
Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 54/365

I opted for a different way today.

This time putting down and drawing first the flowers and bottles, then going back in to fill with watercolour paint, pencils and pens. Pretty much anything that is around me.

It got me thinking about Neville Goddard's book Feeling is the Secret, which I have been re-reading and studying again. He talks about how sensation precedes manifestation and is the foundation upon which all manifestation rests.  

As he writes "think feelingly only of the state you desire to realise. Feeling the reality of the state sought, and living and acting on that conviction is the way ....... "

This book is an eye opener, if you haven't already read it, you can read/listen to it here.

We're talking quantum physics. 

It felt well matched with this Mental Health Mantra, because stepping into the feeling of spring, of feeling like spring, of spring flowers, is a place where I'll reside, despite all the things coming up for me and needing to be 'done.'  There are more huge life changes along the path in the next few months, and I have to step into the feelings of what it is I actually desire. And Reside There.

Stay Tuned In Starseeds.
Love x 

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 53/365

I am pleased as punch that I am on Day 53.

Now, I wake up and after making a cuppa, I settle at my studio table, it's waiting for me.

In the quiet start of the day, I fill up fresh water in my two glasses.

The solitude guides me ... what flower today? I then remember the photograph of the small pansies I took round the corner starting to show through the earth.

It feels fitting that they are the flowers today for this flower mantra because....

Later on....my friend Melody Salad who has been right there by my side this past year, I am so grateful to be surrounded by friendships in my 100 acre wood, those that virtually sit round my table to eat cake and drink tea. Think of Winnie the Pooh and all his table mates - it's pretty much that. They are far flung and spread all over this earth.

We chatted today about entering a new phase of moving, bringing this 18 month circle to a close.

Melody Salad, like a gentle reminder calmly says to me:

"Choose the path of least resistance Julia"

She was spot on.

I choose the path of least resistance.

It felt so fitting to be paired with the pansies as they choose the path of least resistance to emerge into spring.

A great mantra to keep close to my heart today (and tomorrow) as I navigate this ship. Maybe you too?

Keep shining star seeds, know your intuitive thoughts are always there.

​Love x

​PS Thank you Melody Salad x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 52/365

This is what hypnotic painting is becoming for me, finding new layers of meaning behind the water colour magic.

I had spent an hour or so simply enjoying the colour and the ways the water was moving over the paper.

It felt good to just be there.  

Here we are on day 52, of 365, that's 52 days of consistency, with considering what is going on right now, I am really pleased with myself that I have got here and delighted to be writing these journal entries here, on my website.

I found myself cutting and creating this collaged flower from a water colour page. 

It feels really cool to have created this different flower, with many layers.

Right there and then, the mantra appeared as I was simply just playing with it all.

Know there are always many layers.

It's not meant to be cryptic, just really tells us that what you see is never really what is happening. All those phrases you have heard 'don't judge a book by the cover.'  'what you see is not what you get.' 
This felt really spot on for me.... know there are always many layers. 

There is always something to peel back, in my own personality, personal learning and professional learning.  There is always something to peel back with others.  The layers are their layers. 

What rings true right now is on social media, on main stream media, it's not what it seems.

There are always many layers.

We don't know the story and we can't figure that out without connection.

Keep sparkling and shining starseeds, you're doing this.

Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 51/365

It knows.

It always knows.

It's just we drown it out.

I knew something wasn't right and my gut instinct was trying to let me know.

My gut tells me and I will trust that gut.

I knew something wasn't quite right.

She was trying to tell me something. I sensed it.

But others don't hear what I say, and think that perhaps, I am being highly sensitive. Yes that's right.

I knew she was communicating to me that something needed to be explored.

Today I got confirmation that my gut instinct knows.

Listen / and act on your gut instinct. 

Keep listening sunbeams.
Your gut instinct knows.
Let go of all that is clouding it out.

Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 50/365

I moved through this day in a complete haze - incredibly tired. Last night was such a long night and it felt like it went on for hours upon hours.  

I somehow managed to drop myself right in front of my studio table to start something, everything felt awful and yuk. Nothing seemed to flow, nothing was feeling like it was helping me.

I decided to stop thinking about what I was doing and just immerse me, myself and my tiredness into the colours I chose. I started with yellow circles, and then added some green foliage. That seems to take enough of my attention and I could feel my heart rate falling. My nervous system was coming back to balance.

I let it dry and returned, seeing different aspects and wanting to play with this lovely ultramarine blue. It felt cooling and soothing to me. 

The layers were drying and the background was hinting at what was underneath. 

I put it to one side and played on other blank pieces of paper, creating flower shapes, just generally enjoying the process of water, colour and paint brush. 

As this was dry, I picked it up and began to insert black ink, colouring in the leaves of my little daisy like flowers. 

​The mantra appeared for me "Look Beyond". 

It really is never what it first appears.

It reminds me to not judge the first thing I hear, see, taste, touch, smell.  It reminds me to 'look beyond' for there is always a message hidden behind the front one.  Reading behind the lines is another way of putting it.

Keep trusting, keep shining.
Love x
​

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 49/365

This particular mantra has appeared in my life, many times, when I felt stuck.

Today suddenly these words appeared. 

I find that as a mantra appears, I will get to know it in more details, I'll start by writing it out 25 times in my mantra journal, I'll repeat it in meditation, sometimes I will write out the words and colour them in. This colouring meditation can help to soothe what is currently challenging. 

Today whilst dealing with a specific situation that was making me apprehensive about the outcome, and worrying. I found myself sat at my studio table, using colour and water, making these circles above, watching the water and colour merge, it was very relaxing.  

After letting it dry thoroughly, I returned to the desk to find a wonderful sample of circles, just calling out for flowers and petals. Here's the bit I also enjoy, taking the black uni-pen and marking out, adding in white, coloured gel pens, it was methodical and calming, again I keep using the word, hypnotic.

Trance-like.

It is here as a reminder - This too shall pass.
Every moment passes into the next moment.
Whatever I am feeling in this moment, passes.
A reminder to release.
The situations are still there, the worry and the apprehension
Yet this is a tool for moving it through me.

Keep shining star seeds.
Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 48/365

Tune in to Tune out....

..... something I have done for a long, long, while.

Turning everything off, stepping away from the external noise.

Tuning in, going inside. 

Turning off what's creating too much static, that keep the radio waves clogged.

In the tuning out, I began tune in.

Now I know that I can Tune In, which in turn, Tunes out that which doesn't support me.

It's a great Mantra to remember.

Tune in to Tune out.....

.....sometimes though we have to Tune out to Tune in.

Either way, it's a great one for repetition today/ and the next and the next!

These flowers are really meditative and hypnotic - I am really loving the process of sitting down and getting into the magic of Colour, Water and Brush.  The flowing ink here is mesmerising. I may keep repeating myself, but that's what a journal is all about. To go back and check what is being repeated because these are the soul messages.

Keep shining sunshine, connect to your gut instinct.

Love x

Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 47/365

I stumbled across this you tube channel of Samaneri Jayasara who is a Buddhist Nun.

Listening to her channel soothes me and gives my meditation practices a sense of stillness.

This particular video is her speaking selected verses and poems of Sufi Poet, Rumi.

If you want to take some time out 32 minutes of time, plug in headphones, lie back, or sit straight and fall into this.

Today this is what I needed.

The crocuses for this flower mantra today remind me that what I seek is seeking me.
​
​Keep shining starseeds
​Love x

Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 46/365

I have been sitting with this all mantra all day today. 

The sun shone, it was cold, but I sat on the bench immersed in a chink of sunlight, catching it just moving slowly behind the tree. 

In this sad situation I find myself in on this 46th day of the year, I sit down to let my tears flow into the water, colour and flower. I didn't know what would appear.  Yet I knew I wanted PINK.

Carmine is this watercolour ink by Winsor Newton - I am at the bottom of the bottle and had to add more water to the colour - it still held a beautiful pigment.

This pink is where I can fall into. It is the contrast.

Somehow I dig deep to find some more strength to see me through.

The things that keep me going right now:-

• Sleeping, getting to bed.
• Eating fresh cut veg and soups
• Drinking distilled water.
• Being outside when I can.
• Painting flowers
• Listening to Snatam Kaur, Ajeet Kaur 
• Hugs from both fur kids and human hubs.
• Reiki hands on healing (see post yesterday).

Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 45/365

When I was first attuned to Reiki in 2001, it confirmed something to me that I had known from a child and later as a young woman, navigating ill health with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / ME >>>>>

>>>>>> we are all connected, interwoven by energy.  

I travelled through the attunements, becoming a Reiki Master in 2006.

It made complete sense to me that we were interconnected ....  I could sense it when I interacted with other sentient beings.  

It is to Reiki I turn, every time. It is a tool that I have at my own disposal,  I don't have to ask anyone.

I always felt that if everyone was attuned to levels 1 and 2, then as a self healing tool I truly sensed that it could be a way for individuals to take back the reigns and calm their own nervous systems.

I am navigating yet another very distressing time, it is when I lay my own hands on my body, chant the symbols to calm, soothe, and balance my nervous system.

I then send this love and healing out to you and the whole planet earth.
Imagine if every human being all did that?

Keep shining starseeds. Follow your intuition.
​Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 44/365

There is so much happening right now. 

All I can do is grab snapshot of time to immerse myself in flower, colour, water and brush.

These are 'whatever comes forward flowers' they are helping me navigate this time.

Sleep is still what is needed. 

And a bunch of daffodils

Also to stand back and observe, from the eagle eye's point of view.

Trust my instinct and intuition. 

Know that everyone does what they need to do.  

​Keep shining starseeds.

Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 43/365

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 42/365

If there's one thing that I try to do it is take one step at a time and not pro-ject into the future. 

It's a daily thing, I have to remind myself and reel myself back in, if I feel that I'm doing 'down that road.' ((picture a fishing line reeling back in, that's me.))

There are things coming up in the next few months that tempt me to fall into old ways of worrying about outcomes, worrying about the possibilities, I have to really tune out to tune in, it's like learning scales on a piano.

Because, my job .... is to focus upon staying steady....

taking one step at a time

one room at a time
one cupboard at a time
one item at a time
one box at a time
one form at a time
one phone call at a time
one email at a time
one decision at a time


Remembering to Stay Steady and remind myself of this mantra helps me - brings me back into that present moment. 

I am a work in progress, evolving and moving, shifting and changing, getting clear and becoming focused, H E A L I N G.

Keep shining sunbeams, and remember your own intuition knows.
Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 41/365

It is now becoming a practice to sit and play with colour and water first thing, soon after I wake early, after sorting the dogs and making tea for both of us, I head to my studio table, filling two new glasses full of water and sit down. 

There is something methodical and ritualistic about this - it helps my day.

Today it was a bunch of flowers. 

I took inspiration from my A2 vision book, I check over there and see what is resonating.

Through these 10 days of focusing on flowers, I have been thinking alot about the vibe flowers have.

Each flower has a distinct energy of its own .... it has got me revisiting Bach Flower Remedies, something I was introduced to 32 years ago as I was navigating ill health and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. 

Turning to the flower remedies can support our emotions - I have always tapped into them, you may be familiar with Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, made up of 6 flowers that can be used in emergency situations to calm nervous/ anxious times and in 'emergencies.'

I really adore how they work and as I painted, I pondered.

Since I began painting flowers on 1st February, a Bach Flower Level 1 course literally dropped into my inbox unexpectedly with an old mentor, I begin on Feb 25th.

Really excited to learn  more about how flower remedies can help soothe emotional systems. It works in tandem with our nervous system.

I was going to call this Mental Health Mantra ..... Flowers Rock.  Well, because they do. Who doesn't feel cheered by seeing flowers and we need cheering these days.

Tune into the Flower Vibe and my very lovely friend Carolyn Flower is testimony to the gorgeous Power of Flowers.

Happy New Moon Peeps, keep shining and raising your frequency.
Stay centred and grounded, stand in your truth.
Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'

Mental Health Mantra 40/365

I woke up at 5am, couldn't get back to sleep, made myself a cup'o'tea and stepped into my studio space.

​The sun was breaking over the houses, it peaked in as I painted, more and more. It was lightly snowing and sunny.

It felt like a Winsor and Newton-inks morning. They are highly pigmented, I just love watching them move over the watercolour paper. 

I have a pot of brushes, all sizes - it's the brush size that is so instrumental in the way the colour and water merge, separate, fizzle and dry.

It's magical.

A great watery meditation. 

At the same time I was listening to Snatam Kaur. I was so blessed to go and see her live in Toronto when we visited Canada in 2017.  What an enlightening event, with such energy in the room.

I left BUZZING.

It was super lovely too as I met my Buddy from the interwebs Angie, who lived about an hour from Toronto, we ate lovely food and then went to the concert. 

It reminded me of what power we all have in our interconnectedness, it helped me through today as I navigated my ship. 

It is Day 40 of writing here, 40 Mental Health Mantras.

40 days can really shift and integrate a new practice.

I feel these days are just getting started. 

Flower Mantras so far have been really healing for me.  

This mantra 'I call on the light within' comes from one of Snatam's songs with GuruGanesha Singh it felt like it needed its own space to shine. If you'd like to listen to the song, it's below.

Sit back
close your eyes.
Take a deep breath
through your nose. 
Gently breathe out
through your nose
Find your own breathing rhythm
continue for 11mins 20 seconds

Love x

'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'