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.'
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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 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 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.'
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 17/365 It has been a fatiguey day today, tiredness pervades me. This feels familiar, making me feel a tad jittery because I was so incapacitated when in my 20s with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. I made my way through that tunnel by the time I was 30 but it was a decade's long haul. I find that all that I learnt then, about healing, wellness and holistic health has been the foundation pillar of my journey these past 32 years and I built upon these pillars to support me through my life. Today as I was finishing off this 17th Mental Health Mantra, the phrase kept coming through "Your light makes a difference." Lorie Ladd on You Tube who I adore, reminds me of this often, especially in these times. It made me recognise that even feeling fatiguey today I can choose to be light and sit in that space for a while. For me, it was about turning my attention to light, being outside in nature, in the garden, watching the seagulls circle me, we have a crowd of them that hang out in south Liverpool / considering we're really only 4 miles from the River Mersey, they're never that far away. I realised that my light can make a difference. Even when I feel fatiguey and tired. I made a lovely lentil shephard's pie early in the day, so that I knew it was ready and I could settle into the day. I played crazy tennis ball games with the girls who just loved it, lots of waggy tails. In my meditation practice I can beam my light out on to Planet E and beyond, I can channel Reiki healing blessings to all. It only stops when I stop. I will continue to keep that focus and keep that relaxation meditation practice so that I can send light beams out. We all need that right now. To step back into our bodies and connect to our soul, to raise the light and vibration and send that out to all - that does mean me too. I need this too. What I know for sure .... is that you don't need to be some meditating guru and sit cross legged, what you need is the commitment to sit. In a chair. On a bed. Inside, outside,. Just a commitment to sit and connect to your breathing. Start there. It really is all that it is. You will find your light, and yes, it makes a difference. I was introduced to this quote back by Peter Russell who I met in New Mexico in 2004 on my adventure. "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." I loved that when I heard it, made complete sense to me. My commitment to sit is here. Sending out oodles of light to you whomever your are, reading this. Trust your intuitive intelligence. "Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul."
Mental Health Mantra 11/365 I took my husband in to hospital this morning for his radio iodine ablation treatment, he'll be there for 4 days as he has to be in strict isolation. Dropping off this man who has been through so much this past year makes me upset, he has seen such a lot in his life, especially in serving in the British Army, my heart goes out to him as he becomes the ready brek man for a few weeks. We have to laugh, it's the only thing that is keeping us going. On being back home surrounded, by my the two Jacks, they keep me centred and sane. If there is one thing that this whole process is teaching me is to trust my own intuitive messages that I hear, feel, sense. I began listening to intuitive intelligence over 32 years ago when I was diagnosed with M.E Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and it is in listening to these messages that I healed into good health after 10 years of navigating that disabling path. On this day in January 2021, I sat quietly on the couch, listening. Breathing, hands over heart and chest. Listening. I knew I needed to deeply relax my body mind and spirit. This called for a big body relax. Switching off from all mediums. Deep breaths, deep exhales. oh... and a huge pot of rooted vegetable soup. Always a winner for me to ground and relax. Do you sometimes get a real gut feeling that gives you a sense of 'this doesn't feel right!' If so, go quiet, remove yourself and get some space between you. Breathe, hands on heart. Trust your own message. It's usually pretty spot on. If you then need to do more research to support your gut feeling. Do it. Rely on your self. Keep shining starbeams. Trust that intuitive intelligence. 'Art with Heart - Calm your Mind, Soothe your Soul'
In all of this external drama I have had to choose one thing to keep me sane and so I made meditation a priority, connection to spirit, quietness, stillness, amongst all the other stuff I have integrated over the past 32 years. The mental health anxiety I am witnessing in others and snapshots in myself the breakdowns of what is going on, means it has to be a daily practice otherwise I will go under. I hope it helps you to soothe any anxiety about what is unfolding and can help you calm your mind and soothe your soul. This is for you who who want to rebalance your chakras and feel less anxious about all the external stuff happening. I am planning to do some videos of me doing this self soothing meditation, which could be super cool if we do them in a group, so let me know if you'd be interested and I'll keep you posted. Take one of these slides and place your hands in the positions illustrated and repeat the mantra to yourself for 3 minutes. If you want to focus on all 9 of these hand positions, this will take you 27 mins (yep I can count lol). Sending you oodles of love on this wintery day. Keep shining your light and trust your intuitive intelligence. Art with Heart ~ Calm Your Mind, Soothe Your Soul.
When we make decisions and take responsibility for our own wellbeing, we try to create systems that support us, whether that's eating a different diet, moving much more, bathing more, taking time off. Over the past six months, clients have been coming forward to discover more about getting clear and listening to their inner compass. Meditation and quiet time practice has become part of the journey for them. For me, having a consistent 'quiet time, be still kinda practice' (call it meditation, call it relaxation, call it being still) is just as important and is a vital system to support, nurture and ground me, especially as I'm working with clients. However meditation seems to conjure up all sorts of feelings for people. They try it and it doesn't 'work'. People have a go at trying to empty their mind of all thoughts, which is actually a reeeealllly difficult thing to do, and so when it doesn't happen, (**hello thoughts**), they believe they 'can't meditate', they give up and don't bother. Here's the thing, meditation means setting aside some quiet time every day to sit still Really? Yes. What you do during the 'sitting still' can be up to you. * Some people just focus on being mindful of their breathing. * Some people count their breath, hold it and then exhale. * Some people use a prayer or an affirmation and say it in their mind. * Some people use a Sanskrit mantra to help the mind to stop whirring. * Some people will look at a candle flame. * Some people will listen to music and lie down/sit in a chair/on the floor. Meditation is code for 'Stopping.' It will be different for everyone however the gem of meditation is finding the time and setting this aside as part of your daily practice. One of the ways that works well to soothe the mind is to choose a particular mantra or phrase. Saying this over and over to yourself, you'll find that you may suddenly remember an item for your shopping list! if you do, say 'thank you' and return to your mantra/phrase. If you remember that you need to call a family member, say thank you and return to your mantra/phrase. Sitting still is an accumulative practice, it builds up within your body, mind and spirit and you suddenly find, after a month of doing it, that if you miss one day, you'll miss it. Plus add in a Mantra, your unconscious will thank you. For example: I am feeling Calm I am feeling Confident I am feeling Courageous So Hum (Sanskrit for I am ) Time out in your day, every day, is taking responsibility for your own well being. Whether you choose to meditate every morning before your day begins, or whether you meditate early morning, find somewhere in the morning space to sit still for 3 minutes. You will find your own way. But you have to practice. Make the space every day to sit and invite quiet time in. Try this ... Find a chair that feels comfortable for you, somewhere you won't be disturbed, wrap yourself in a blanket, feel warm and cosy. Turn off your phone sound and set the clock timer for your desired time. Choose a gentle reminder tone. I love 'slow rise'. Start with 3 minutes and build up every week until you get to 13 minutes. |