Mental Health Mantra 69/365 and Dog Mantra Meet Puncho, he's 3 years old, a French Bulldog from Canada. Puncho saves lives by being there by being present by encouraging whomever is in his charge by going outside in nature. Puncho his eyes say it all they say love they say knowing they say wisdom. Being with Puncho even for such a short time, can have a huge impact. On day 69 of my Mental Health Mantras and featuring Dog Mantras for March, I am soaking up hearing about all the heart centred tales ( tails ) of these sentient beings. I have been very fortunate to have lived my 52 years with 6 dogs. They not only educate us about The Way of the Dog, they educate us about The Way of the Human. For anyone who has had a beautiful relationship with their dog friend, they will know. It's priceless. Despite all that is going on externally around you, know that you are loved. Be centred in your truth and knowing. Keep shining Star Seeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
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Mental Health Mantra 68/365 and Dog Mantra This is Maya, she's a Golden Doodle and lives in Canada. She's sharing her Dog Mantra for Day 68 of 365 Mental Health Mantras. Her Mom, Gabriella, told me that Maya is goofy, but lives and protects wholeheartedly. I love this Dog Mantra because this is what Dogs Do...... all they want to do is LOVE us. Committing to this daily practice of not only drawing and painting every day, then writing a journal entry, following that with posting and sharing, is like Soul Food for me, despite all that is going on in my life right now, this is a snapshot of what is possible and helps me take steps forward into the future version of myself. It gives me the space to view a future me and feel my way through it, whilst taking small baby steps of action. Thank you Maya for your beautiful face and kindness. I loved capturing your essence. Thank you Gabriella for giving me the green light to paint her. Keep loving and shining. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 66/365 and Dog Mantra Day 66 and Dog for the Day is Doodles.He is an 8 year old Bichon Frise. I have known Doodles since he was a puppy because him and Luna have their birthday 15 days apart and they used to play with each other in the park in the early years. Doodles is a real Love Bug. Michelle Beaver, his Mum told me ...."Doodles sleeps on our bed, has 2 to 3 proper walks a day. He understands many words, including 'walks, meander, cheese, treats, chicken, ball, and even poo bags!!' He is even getting to learn how to spell when we spell out words. When we're going out he looks at us and goes to front door to make sure we know he's there waiting. When any of us come home, he grabs a toy and brings it to the front door to show us. He loves his tennis ball." Why is Doodles wearing a Daffodil I hear you ask? Doodles is always up for an adventure, he is supporting Michelle who is an AMAZING fundraiser for Marie Curie, who started the Daffodil appeal. When I saw the photograph of Doodles wearing the daffodil, I knew I had to paint him. I believe he wasn't that impressed with wearing it but the fact he's always up for an adventure means he'll give it a go. Michelle has been fundraising for Marie Curie for 5 years; this charity helped her family hugely when it was needed most. Since then she has been giving back by volunteering and fundraising. She tells me she has met some amazing people along the way, including Royalty, quiz show hosts, and Loose Women! Michelle's commitment to challenging herself and having adventures is second to none. This must be where Doodles has got it from. She has trekked around the world, including China, Grand Canyon, Sri Lanka, Kilimanjaro, Ben Nevis, the last one being Nepal 2020 when she went with her daughter. When lockdown began in March 2020, Michelle needed a new challenge and she began her cycling 2020 miles in 2020 which she brilliantly completed on 11 December 2020 raising £1417. I am sure Doodles would have been right by her side if he could. Support and Like Michelle's page Facebook page as it is all about raising awareness and fundraising for the charity. 100% of the money donated by people goes directly to the charity Marie Curie. Doodles is always up for an adventure, he's ready and waiting. This is the photo that really grabbed me as I thought it would be fab to draw and paint The Essence of Doodles! His Dog Mantra reminds us to be open to an adventure and be spontaneous - life is for living and enjoying. Dogs teach us that in a huge way don't they. Thank you Doodles, and Thank you Michelle. #paintinginprocessKeep having those adventures peeps. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 65/365 and Dog Mantra 65th day and it's time for Bou the Bernese Mountain Dog. He's a darling boy and although we haven't met I spent time with him whilst drawing and painting him ..... a great connection. Bou lives in Montreal, he's a very happy and lucky boy, rescued at 4 years old he went to live in the country where he has a very big property to run and run. He has a big furfamily and now that he's near 13, he walks slower and love to wander. Because he can't hear so well anymore, sometimes he gets lost, so he likes to have his humans as close as possible. I adored this time with Bou. He wanted to Hug Me as I was painting him - I could feel all his glorious fur and huge paws just hugging me. Connecting with dogs is really keeping me going and as I commit to this creative meditation practice it is getting me through every day with all that is going on in my world. Keep Hugging. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 64/365 and Dog Mantra Today was a challenge of a day to find the head space to be, with paints, with me, with dog. My heart strings pulled in other directions today. Sitting down to draw Holly the lovely Bassett Hound on Day 64 pulled me right back into alignment. Holly is the most cutest girl. Kind, loving, always happy and wanting to go walking for hours upon hours, then coming home to bury her self under the sheets. I have been told that Holly would always avert her eyes from the camera and rarely look straight in the camera, preferring to be in the moment, finding the fun, right in that now moment. Posing was not her thing. Holly shares a great lesson to me right now, to do fun things, find fun things despite worryingly all that goes on around me and in the country. Holly would always find fun things to do, to play, to experience. As I sit in creative meditation and draw these dogs in March I soothe my soul, stepping into a way of being that is more aligned and attuned to what my soul is whispering. I have to be very still and quiet, find pockets of time during the day to do this, zoning out external noise and listen to my own inner compass. It is here my soul speaks. It is where our soul speaks. Thank you dear Holly for the reminder and to Jenny for sharing the story of her beloved. Keep finding the fun Star Seeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 62/365 and Dog Mantra Meet Monk. He's a standard wire haired Dachshund and is a LOVER and a Buddhist MONK. He's just amazing. and adorable" say's his Anna Joti. He lives with 2 other dogs (who you'll meet in March as well.) Monk is known to find himself resting his head on his Anna's meditation cushion (seen here in purple), he contemplates, he thinks. Anna told me "Monk has a look... he has such depth and whites to his eyes, that when he looks up at you, he looks directly into your soul - he just sees you ...... deeply." I love this message from Monk - it is rich with so much wisdom for us humans. There is no judgment from our beloved dogs. They see us. They encourage us on. They nudge us forward. Thank you Monk! Keep seeing, keep shining Star Seeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 61/365 Dog Mantra This morning it is all about Jack Russell, Honey. If there's one Mantra that Honey has on repeat it is 'let's go outside to play.' She never misses an opportunity to go outside and play. The ball is never far away and is left strategically at the back door for her to pick up on the way out. She knows exactly where it is and so when I say 'find it,' she goes to the back door. This Mental Health Mantra gets me outside. I go and play ball. I take my cue from Honey. I know she knows though. Getting outside to play is the answer. Keep shining Star Seeds. Love x 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 60/365 Dog Mantra and here we are ... Day 60 of 365. I decided after much deliberation I was going to focus on DOGS in March. For those of your who know me well - this is NO surprise. Except I have never dedicated time to drawing dogs, so I am actually scared and excited all rolled into one. I have done a few but not a consistent practice - this will be interesting. I was apprehensive sitting down this morning. I knew that obviously I was going to start with my two Jack Russells, here we have Luna first. It's her birthday month too so how cool she will be turning 8 in March in the month of Julia's Dog Mantras. The idea for this as I am pulling together drawings of dogs and their mantras, I will focus on what that mantra is for each dog - in a communicating type of way (have I told you that I communicate with animals?) This is Luna and Luna's mantra is 'Rest your eyes, when you can' This girl knows how to do that. She takes every opportunity to rest her eyes. I followed suit today as this afternoon, I was drained. I rested my eyes and she was with me, resting hers! There is alot to be said for 'resting our eyes' it means, turn away from anything that is draining you. Turn it off, step back, step in. What ever it is.... let's take Luna's mantra as a nudge. Keep shining Love x Dog Mantras / 'Art with Heart - Calm you 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 39/365 Trust. One short word with 5 letters. With a very big meaning. The practice for me to Trust. Trust. Keep trusting and keep shining your wonderful light and connecting to your intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 38/365 Crying is OK. This kept coming up for me this week, there have been lots of tears and letting go. My Dad has been tested positive for Covid and is now on his 6th day of isolation in his room - extremely hard for an elderly person who has vascular dementia and doesn't quite understand why they can't sit with their friends. Today he's very sleepy and lethargic. I hope his immune system is forming a response - he is a tough cookie. Crying is OK. It's okay to cry and sob for people who have passed. The wave hits, it's okay to let the sob move through you. I sat and watched a memorial service last night of a wonderful woman in our community who suddenly and devastatingly passed away aged 63 a week ago, leaving her husband, 7 children and 17 grandchildren. She was a humorous and kind hearted soul, her community meant the world to her, as did all her family. I knew her via one of my oldest school friends and the family connection. The service was incredibly moving, with speeches given by her children and brothers. I sobbed my way through it. Feeling the feelings of loss and letting it move through me. Loss and what that means to me, with losing my Mum and all that's happening in the country and the world. Crying is Ok. Crying is energy in motion - why it's called e-motion. Today's Mental Health Mantra is a reminder that it's ok to cry. What I know as a holistic counsellor and spiritual life coach, if it feels more support is needed, reaching out and seeking help is a strength, releasing and talking about what's behind the tears is crucial so that these tears and sadness don't remain in the body where it generates stagnated energy and can cause dis-ease and inflammation. We can cry and be strong all at the same time. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 37/365 Take a deep breath : a phrase my Mum used often. This week there have been quite a few deep breaths taken. This weekend more than usual. My Dad tested positive for Covid, we found out on Wednesday morning. He was isolated in his bedroom. There were 2 positives in the residential home he is in, they then retested him and others two days in a row to double check and I got the call late last night to say that he had tested positive again, although with no symptoms, he is going to have to remain in isolation. He has now done 4 days. I think it's 10 days with a test at the end that has to be negative. Out of 20 residents 9 have tested positive. Dad's specific unit within the residential home had no covid deaths last year. Four weeks after having the Pfizer vaccine 50% of the unit have tested positive. They should have had the second follow up dose a week ago but that has been extended to "I don't know when o'clock." Dad, a 91 year old man with vascular dementia, not easy at all. I have spoken to him today and he's fed up. The team there are amazing and doing their upmost to care for our family members. I am taking a deep breath. On the flip side to all of this and to calm my mind, I enjoyed doing this watercolour today - I'll use that word again, it was hypnotic. I wasn't sure whether to leave it without inking but I just can't help myself. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 36/365 I sat down at my table today to put brush to water to paper. I was feeling very discombobulated. I could hear my mind tell my self that I was stupid to even begin to commit to this 365 days practice, being just in the 5th day of February and number 35 painting, I sensed that this was going to really challenge my Head Self, (think of Headmistress) to encourage me to keep going. I heard lots of negatives, I heard lots of what's the points and who cares? I felt I was stumbling and bumbling through. Then I remembered the day was Feb 5th, the day when my Grandpa Jules passed away in 1960, 8 years before I came along, I was named after him, His names was Julius. He was a tailor, he was also a sign writer. Despite never knowing him physically, I have always felt very connected to him because my Mum, his daughter Sheila, kept his energy going, She would tell me funny stories, isms, and things they did together. I then heard this in my forebrain. Let go of the outcome Jules. I stepped away from my table and went to go something less boring instead, *playing ball with the dogs* and when I returned a few hours later, I saw something in this image. Some strange kind of flower seed pods, I picked up my pens and began outlining, ink and dipping pen, and some Signo markers, *lovethem. I am 'a pen person,' no denying it. I am surrounded. They are abundant in my life. They are always involved somewhere along the way, so sticking with watercolour with no other pen medium is unlikely during my #365creativedays. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this - it was deeply meditative. It calmed my mind and soothed my soul. I was pondering as I painted about seeds and how we don't tell the seed off for not doing things quickly or perfect, we go and check on the seed and say 'well done seed for doing your best at reaching the surface.' We are happy to see the seed is growing and moving towards the light. It then all came together for me. It's kinda abstract but something in it just says..... Let go of the outcome. This has other connections to me right now on a personal and professional level. Maybe to you too? Let go of the outcome. Let go of attachment. Let go and Let flow. It is SO IMPORTANT to FEEL right now. Keep feeling, keep connecting to that intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 35/365 I sold my Mum and Dad’s car yesterday. I was really happy to sell it to a Care Home Manager. Relieved to see it go to a good home mixed with tearful to see it go. The sale had been speedy. Not much time for lingering thoughts. Later in the day, I stepped into colour and water, I could feel the feelings of it all, the memories of them buying the car, the joy of it being automatic, easy to manoeuvre and get in and out of with disabilities. As I stared at the blank space, nothing seemed to be happening but I just sat and let that happen. I knew it was shades of blue I wanted to be immersed in et voila .... immersed in petals. The Affirmantra message coming through was Connect the Petals - a bit like connect the dots. I learnt a lot from selling the car, looking back I can connect the petals of how I got to that point. Sorry if that’s cryptic. In painting the petals, methodically in repetition, I found my heart rate soothe, my emotions calm, my mind became still - I fell into this wave like practice that was hypnotic. Sometimes we just need to Connect the Petals, Petal. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 34/365 Early in 2020 not long after Mum passed away and whilst caring for my Dad, I was having a conversation with my Montreal confidante and support who lives in 100 acre wood. We would Whats App audio every single day, back and forth, back and forth, she was helping me figure out what was going on and provided such a calm and stoic voice, whilst we sat virtually, at the table, in that wood, eating cake and drinking tea, in tea cups, from tea pots. Not long in, the name Neville Goddard began to feature in her words and I would ask her to tell me more about him. Who is this chap and what's the story. Neville 1905-1972 was a mystic and influential teacher and author, he didn't associate himself with any 'ism' or 'new thought', he viewed the Bible as a parable of the human psyche and believed that the external God was not answering prayers but rather that we are the creator. I was introduced to this from Louise Hay back in the early 90s as I navigated my way through being very ill. I began to research and study and she talked about us 'creating our own reality.' Fast forward to 2020, 30 years later reading Neville and finding his words resonating on my consciousness in a whole new level. It is our beliefs which create our reality Here was Neville explaining that in fact it was "our beliefs creating our reality, beliefs held in our subconscious mind." This taps into the scientific field of quantum physics and the quantum field, our thoughts become things and us all being interconnected within a web of thoughts. Our perceptions are creating the projections, the projections we see in front of us. Our perceptions are created by our beliefs. What do we believe and can we change our beliefs? If so how? You may find he resonates with you, if so, check him out here. I have the complete Compendium by Dave Allen. Keep shining sunshine and imagine the possibilities. 'Art with Heart, Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 33/365 The time I spend with colour and water is very relaxing for my nervous system, I find I calm my breathing down and no sooner have I begun, I check in with the time and about an hour has gone. Today, being the second day I revisited paintbrush and pad, I felt irritated that it was all going wrong, I felt the inner critic jump on board, telling me what a fool I was to even begin to think I could do this for 28 days - not only that, but I had committed to myself that I was going to write about it on here. Add into that mercury is in retrograde, so yep, you guessed it, technology is playing up. Suddenly my printer has decided it doesn't have scanner in built anymore and it just has removed it from the command screen. I uninstalled the printer, reinstalled, turned everything off and on and of course, blew a few times. Nope. It wasn't having any of it. Thankfully I don't get worked up, I know these times. (I am hoping this journal entry uploads). This quote of Eckhart Tolle is very apt for me - and maybe for you. This is an opportunity to step back and witness the unfolding, the breaking down of paradigms that are no longer serving me, that goes for internal and external. I have found in my own spiritual practice that the more I work on my own self, the projection of the external, changes. Our internal perceptions form the external projections - of course this happens vice versa. The external projections form our internal perceptions. Not a great way of living as we are constantly detached from our own source, and subsequently guided by what is out there, rather than trusting our own inner connection to universal law. Tolle reminds me of this today for this Flower Mantra. Peace begins with me. Keep shining star seeds and trust your intuitive guidance. Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul
Mental Health Mantra 32/365 And so here we go, moving in to February with the first Mental Health Mantra. I wanted to let go this month for the next 28 days to step away from line drawing, to relax my hands and get into flow with the colour of water and the colour of paint. It is time to reconnect with Watercolours. I probably left it too late to sit down to this, as well as write a journal post here, but it felt lovely nonetheless. I used the inspiration of the roses my husband bought me at the weekend, they have opened up beautifully. I felt I wanted to keep loose and abstract and step into the feeling of what it would be like to immerse myself in the rose petals - dreamy~like. I picked up a white pen and very loosely went in. I am leaving this month open, I don't know what these are going to look like. I may focus on specific colours, flowers, leaves, abstract. I have no clear plan, I am going to be led by the movement of water, colour and the moment. Intuition is a subtle whisper. I saw this written quite a while ago, I can't recall where, I wrote it down in my journal of mantras. It felt beautiful for today because the whisper is there, yet often it is drowned out. We have to do our best to turn stuff off, so that we can hear the whisper of our soul quietly calling. I am going to feel my way through this month and stay in my truth. Keep shining starseeds and trust that intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 31/365 I am pleased as punch that I made it through writing a journal entry every day in January. I can now subtract 31 from 365 = 334. Doing these have got me into a little flow-like pattern, which has helped me this month to navigate my husband's radioactive iodine ablation treatment.
This mantra came through in my morning meditation: You are stronger than you realise. In fact, it came through as I am stronger than I realise, but when I came to complete this, I knew it had to be YOU. Because you are stronger than you realise. There's an inner golden thread that keeps us upright, not falling in a heap on the ground, despite what is thrown out in our path. You are that strong. Feel it, say it, believe it. Tomorrow being the 1st of February, I am going to create 28 Flower Mantras for 365 Mental Health Mantras. I'm changing up the medium so will connect with watercolour, inks and dipping pen. Let the Mantras begin! PS f you're so called, let me know what affirmations/mantras are helping in the comments below. Take care sunshine, keep vibing and connect to your intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul.'
Mental Health Mantra 30/365 I pulled a card today from The STARSEED Oracle by Rebecca Campbell and two cards popped out. The first was The Courageous Peony - multifaceted, unique nature, let yourself be seen. The second, I Remember - soul plan. The fated life vs the destiny life. They resonated big time with me. As I am navigating this period of time, moving through and out. The Courageous Peony talks about how flowers don't open and close according to who walks by, they embrace all of what they are and show it to the the world around them. The peony doesn't try to compete with the rose, nor the tulip, they own what they are and trust the timing fo their true nature. This card calls me to do the same. The second card I Remember talks about the difference between the 'fated life' and the 'destiny life' - and right now I am face to face with the choice to follow the destiny life over the fated life. To trust the path my soul is calling me towards and to remember that this was a prearranged moment. With everything on my soul's journey I feel that there are some messages to take back to my journal, to sit in meditation and remember just who I am and why I'm here. Every decade in my life, there has been a story to share, a life event that has shaken me, yet made me stronger and more resilient. Now as things ramp up, both in the external world via government controls and global agendas. I am embodying the energy of The Courageous Peony, owning my own unique ness and light agenda. I am also being asked to remember my soul's greater plan and surrendering to it, there is a reason why all this has happened to me. I send you light and connection to your intuitive intelligence. "Art with Heart - Calm your Mind Soothe your Soul."
Mental Health Mantra 29/365 This is where I am focusing right now. I trust my intuition and my intuitive intelligence. I know what feels wrong and what feels right. There is still so much more to do and my friend, in a text, sent me this. Be here and now as much as you can. It felt very apt for this to be the Mental Health Mantra for 29th of January. We have work to do, Lightworkers. Keep shining and connecting. "Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul."
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