the red t-shirt

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO

pen & coloured pencil in A4 sketchbookclick on image to enlarge

SOUL COACHING - DAY SEVENTEEN

affirmation for today - I UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPT ALL OF MYSELF

today's lesson was aimed at owning all of our parts and to take responsibility for the choices we make in life. that i can handle, however, denise then speaks of a 'shadow' self. for the most part she suggests that, if i encounter someone who is angry and nasty, it is supposed to mean that these are aspects of my 'shadow' self reflecting back to me....repressed anger and nastiness that i have locked away???? i'm not too sure i believe that. when i meet someone like that, i believe they have had a bad day or they have their own demons to deal with. okay, denise says if i am only observing this negative behaviour in someone else, then it's NOT a projection of my 'shadow' self. it's only when i judge someone that those traits would suggest a reflection of my shadow self. hmmmmmmm........so if i see someone doing something wrong and i speak out and tell them so, why should this mean that i have those same traits hidden away? maybe i'm missing something.

denise says that self-criticism is a part of the shadow self....that i do get. to me, the shadow self is basically the ego self that eckhart tolle speaks of. it constantly tries to control you and knock you down.....it's all about power. who needs enemies when you have your ego-self living inside your head day to day?

actually, i had an argument with my ego-self this morning when i thought i would try one of the tasks from yesterday. i've never owned a red t-shirt or any other piece of red clothing until just a couple of days ago when my son sorted through his clothes and was discarding a bright red t-shirt. it was new but.....it was red, a colour i have NEVER worn. it's just not me! i kept the red t-shirt with the intention of using it as a blending tool in the art studio or maybe even a mop up rag.

so....here i was, this morning, actually considering whether or not to wear the red t-shirt for the day as the task suggested you do something completely out of the norm for you.

my ego-self quickly responded with, "are you stark, raving mad, woman?! you KNOW there's a reason you have never worn red.....it's sooooooo NOT your colour and it will make you look downright ugly."

i replied with, "surely just one day couldn't hurt?"

my ego-self retorted, "well that all depends if you want to be seen as one of those, in your face, neon glow sticks shouting 'look at me....look at me'......or, better yet, a heavily decorated christmas tree."

"i'm going to do it."

ego self yelled, "you will look like a fool and you will feel like everyone is watching you.....don't say i didn't warn you."

so.....i wore the red t-shirt...

....and i have to say, while i still don't see it as my colour....i enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone. maybe it won't end up in my studio as a mop up rag after all.

soul coaching - day sixteen

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO

Sun face - acrylic on 6"x6" gallery-wrapped canvasclick on image to enlarge

SOUL COACHING - DAY 16

affirmation for today - I AM FREE TO EXPERIENCE JOY IN EVERY MOMENT...NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE

today, we were told to constantly ask ourselves - "how can i experience even more joy and fun today?"

while i didn't do anything out of the ordinary, i did thoroughly enjoy some time in the studio today. i worked on a christmas ornament for an email exchange. i also painted the sun for today's art which i felt was appropriate for FIRE week. i did belt out a song after i dropped aaron, my nine year old son, at school this morning but that's not unusual....i often sing in the car with aaron beside me and i will deliberately sing in a weird voice, or off key, because i always get a kick out of his reaction.

since around 1PM, i have been experiencing a burning sensation which radiates a warmth in my lower right abdomen. i thought it was interesting that this is happening during FIRE week. i've never experienced anything like this before so, if it persists til morning, i will go to the doctor.

on the matter of changing habits that do not empower me - i've noticed that i have hardly watched any television at all since starting the 'soul coaching' program. i'm pleased about breaking that habit because TV can be such a time waster.

i feel like a bit of a party pooper today but i do hope to address the tasks in more depth tomorrow. that said, it did feel wonderful to get some painting done today.

love, light and peace

fire week begins...

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO
click on image to enlarge

SOUL COACHING - DAY 15 - FIRE WEEK BEGINS

affirmation for today - I AM SAFE

the weather today certainly made me aware that FIRE week has arrived....it was a scorcher of a day which dazzled us with an electrical storm earlier this evening. YEP! Fire week has definitely arrived.

today, we were asked to be aware of all forms of fire signs in my life....

• i think the top of the list would have to be myself, considering i'm an aries




• the scorching heat today




• i love chillies and my kitchen has quite a few chilli decor items.... i guess that would classify as a fire sign




• the evening storm which brought lots of lightning and flashing

i'm sure more will come to me after i've posted. isn't it always the way?

as i read over denise's introduction to FIRE week, so much resonated with me. as a child, i was always extremely shy and seemed so afraid of people i didn't know. thankfully, i'm not that frightened little girl anymore but i still have fears, particularly when it comes to stepping outside of my comfort zone. i feel safe in my own environment....but when i step beyond it, i can start to feel very insecure. i don't do well in crowds at all and can feel quite claustrophobic. i am slowly improving as my confidence and self-esteem continue to grow.

denise also mentioned that many people choose being nice and sacrifice their own needs for others and, as a result, they are fractured. i'm putting my hand up for that one too. i still, at times, sacrifice my own needs to suit others but i am learning to say no more often.

denise also talks about fear of rejection. i think that would have to be a big one for me. i've had low self-esteem all my life and, while my confidence is growing, i can still be my own worst enemy at times. i am learning that it's all about empowering myself to find my voice and not be afraid to make my mark in this world and take some risks.

WOW...it looks like fire week has my name written all over it. this should prove interesting.......lol

love, light and peace,
serena

farewell to 'water' week

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO

click on image to enlarge

my art for today focuses on elements we covered in water week. 'seeing' with clear eyes, the butterfly symbolising transformation and growth, and words that we focused on...and release of clutter, release of negative emotions.

SOUL COACHING - DAY 14

affirmation for today - WHO I AM IS ENOUGH, JUST AS I AM

today signalled the last day of water week and it certainly has been quite a week. we have been drought-declared for a long time and the little rain we get is few and far between....as if on cue, the beginning of water week started with a storm and we have had good downpours of rain, on and off, throughout the week....the lawn is actually green instead of straw-coloured. my dishwasher was on the blink just prior to the beginning of water week which found me at the sink more often during this past week but i didn't complain once. i'm grateful that the dishwasher is fixed now but i'm also grateful for the time i spent washing up by hand and being more aware of water and its purpose. this week has been all about clearing our emotions, our body and environment.

today, i met with a stranger to gift her with three stacks of home decorating magazines that i've been collecting over the past few years. i made the decision to give them away during my clutter clearing frenzy and it felt so good that i was helping others in the process. OH, and the synchronicity for today - we met at a shopping centre and the art shop there was having a massive sale on gallery-wrapped canvasses so i bought some....YAY!

today, denise speaks of making choices that can have a huge impact on our lives as well as letting go of 'victim thinking'. we learn how to ask 'noble' questions instead of 'unworthy' questions. an unworthy question might be "why am i always struggling to make ends meet?" the universe doesn't differentiate so will focus on the negative and will draw more of that into your world. a noble question would be "how can i feel even more abundant?" the universe then recognises that you already feel abundant and, as mentioned in a previous post, what you feel and put out there, will come back to you. it's all in the asking.

i've spoken on 'victim thinking' in a previous post so, a quick recap.....some people go round carrying the burden of something that happened to them a long time ago and they allow it to continually effect their lives in a negative way. however, they have the power to choose, in an instant, to lighten their load of that excess baggage. the reality is that the past no longer exists. they have already been through the experience in their past and there is no need to keep on re-living it. the burden they carry is just a memory in their mind and they have the power to release it and bring about miraculous change and healing in their life.

by focusing fully on the present moment, entering the stillness and showing sincere gratitude is key to leading an authentic life.

i hope that water week has been an enlightening experience for you.

PS - i would like to say a very sincere thank you for all the well wishes i received on my back pain. i was blown away by your care and concern. (((hugs to you all)))

love, light and peace

today, i am grateful for

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO

click on image to enlarge

SOUL COACHING - DAY THIRTEEN

affirmation for today - MY LIFE IS BLESSED, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL

gratitude is the key to happiness. i've believed for a long time now that our attitude can either draw positivity or negativity into our lives. basically, what we send out into the universe, we get back.

today was smooth-flowing and i felt totally relaxed and happy. My back pain was gone and i made a point of putting no extra pressures on myself. i reflected upon the happenings of the day and took note on the things i was grateful for.....shown in my artwork today. i've had a gratitude journal for some time now and, each night, i write down at least five things i am grateful for on that particular day. this is a great tool because it teaches us not to take people/animals/things for granted. it's also about being grateful on a larger scale. while it's wonderful to be thankful for that nice hot cup of tea/coffee that quenches your thirst and calms you....it goes beyond that....it's benefits the universe to be grateful to the many hands that brought that cup of tea/coffee to you. the tea/coffee growers, the harvesters, the packagers, the supermarkets etc....get the picture? it's a lot bigger than we realise.

in level 3, denise suggests looking into a mirror and saying, "i love you. I appreciate you." i haven't tried it yet and don't know if i'll be able to at this stage. maybe i will try it and see how i go.

love, light and peace

remember the stillness

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO

Zen heart in A4 sketchbookclick on image to enlarge

SOUL COACHING - DAY TWELVE

affirmation for today - IN THE CENTRE OF MY BEING, THERE IS ALWAYS STILLNESS AND PEACE

today, we remember the stillness. no matter what is occurring around us, there is always an inner sanctuary of profound tranquility available to us. the more inner peace we experience, the more we can effect peace in the world. i really like the sound of that....how wonderful it would be if everyone focused on their inner peace and tranquility. we were asked by denise to use this day to begin hearing the heartfelt messages from our soul, hence, my artwork for today.....a 'zen heart'.

today, at intervals, i would stop to slow down and focus on my breathing...this is something i've been practising for a while now and i do believe it has had a positive effect on my well-being. my day went very calmly but, this evening, did bring about some confusion and the feeling of being overwhelmed after a couple of phone calls i received from different people regarding a related matter. that said, rather than worry about unknown outcomes, i am trying to remain calm and focused in the present moment......listening for signs from my soul that will hopefully guide me on some big decisions.

have you listened to your soul lately?

soul coaching - day eleven

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO
zen doodle in A4 sketchbook

usually, an idea for a sketch will come to me during meditation or by mid-morning, however, today it just wasn't happening. the pain from my back kept clouding my mind so i decided to sit down and try some mindless doodling....a form of zentangle. i just started with a repeated pattern and let it grow from there not even knowing myself what the following stage or outcome would be. this form of doodling is so relaxing with no pressures. when i reached the point of calling it finished, i looked at it and felt it vaguely resembled a cup with steam rising from the surface....so i drew the handle as an afterthought.

SOUL COACHING - DAY ELEVEN

affirmation for today - I AM LOVED & LOVABLE. I LOVE DEEPLY AND FULLY, AND I AM LOVED DEEPLY AND FULLY.

today we were asked to choose another area of our home to clean. while i cleaned and re-organised my Tupperware shelf, i focused fully on the moment and affirmed that - "while i clean, i am creating the space for new opportunities to flow my way."

today's lesson was about exploring relationships and recurring emotional patterns.

i feel like i've already freed myself from the shackles of my past so i really didn't delve too deeply into this. in an earlier post, after discussing some emotional issues of my past, i stated that i may still have hidden gremlins that could possibly surface at some point. as i've previously learned through a new earth, if those gremlins should appear again, i will accept that they are JUST painful memories that can no longer hurt me. i've already been through the physical experience, in the past, and survived. the reality is that past memories only exist in my mind and they are not who i am. when i no longer identify with my pain body (as eckhart calls it), it changes and becomes fuel for authenticity and consciousness. how long does it take to become free from the pain body? an instant! it's amazing how freeing that concept is. it has worked for me too and i continue to practise living in the power of the present moment.

unfortunately, i didn't spend much time at the computer last night due to my back pain so wasn't able to catch up on the latest 'soul coaching' group posts. the pain is still with me but i hope to check in on everyone as soon as i'm able.

love, light and peace,
serena

i got my space back.....YAY!

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO

click on image to enlarge

in keeping with 'water' week, i opted to draw a waterlily today with a stained glass effect.

SOUL COACHING - DAY TEN

affirmation for today - I AM MOVING INTO HARMONY WITH EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IN MY UNIVERSE

today, i tackled the clutter and mess in garage/studio and WON! all the clutter has been cleared and i feel great emotionally, however physically, my back is protesting quite badly. it was a huge job but i'm so glad that it's done.

today's task was to notice the relationship i have with every person and every object i encounter. i wasn't asked to change the way i relate to the person or object but just to be aware of the energy i felt around them today. did it go up or did it go down or...was it neutral?

i can honestly say that, i was so busy setting up a double bed in my son's room and then, clearing out and tidying up the garage/studio, that i really didn't come into contact with anyone or anything that brought me down. even the clutter gave me a high because i knew that, at the end of it, i would have my space back. i took a lot of items i'd been holding onto over to the recycling centre and it felt great knowing that someone else would get to enjoy them too. i didn't really feel down or sad that i was letting them go....i was just happy.

i guess, i'm a little bummed that my back is hurting but that was too be expected as it's always been a weak spot since i injured it in a fall five years ago. i plan to work through level 2 when i can focus without pain. i think i will just rest up and get an early night tonight.

i hope everyone had more highs than lows today ~

love, light and peace

turning points and perspective

ART EVERY DAY MONTH & NABLOPOMO
click on image to enlarge
SOUL COACHING - DAY NINE

affirmation for today - MY LIFE EXPERIENCES HAVE POSITIVE, POWERFUL MEANINGS

i have the power to choose what meaning i give to my life experiences. when i was going through emotionally painful times in the past, it was near impossible for me to see positives or benefits during those experiences. it has always been in hindsight that, i can look back after a period of healing and, realise that those terrible times were actually a blessing in disguise. in some cases, i am grateful that they happened because i have become a stronger person for it. i can also see now that i was obviously not on my authentic path and it was wise for me to make certain choices.

on a smaller scale, i can quite easily see positives among the negatives in my daily experiences. i have been practising this for some time now...well, more so, since reading eckhart tolle's books. by being in the present moment, i am more aware and, most times, can act from a place of compassion and authentic power. i went to the bank earlier today and, there were only two bank tellers serving at the counter. the queue had built up because the customers being served had complications with their accounts. in the past, i would have become quite impatient and frustrated but not anymore. i remained calm and accepted that there really wasn't anything i could do to hasten the situation and getting upset, or being impatient, would only have effected my state of well-being in a negative way. it's amazing how smoothly a day can go with this kind of perspective and i plan to keep practising. this experience also served as a lesson in patience and understanding for me.

in today's lesson, denise spoke of making a spirit stick to depict empowering turning points in my life. i think it would be fun to make a spirit stick but time didn't allow today so instead, i decided to draw a spirit stick as my art exercise for today. The four pieces of blue strapping represent my four sons, while the pink one, represents my daughter. extending from the pink strapping, there are two feathers which represent michelle and her boyfriend, alex, as a committed couple. i would say, without hesitation, that my five children have been very positive and empowering turning points in my life. as a mother, i have made some empowering choices, even though i wasn't aware of that at the time. i feel blessed to have a close, loving relationship with all my children.

i have been doing my meditation without fail and i have been continuing to clear and cleanse a little each day. it almost feels like i'm clearing clutter on auto-pilot.

today was a good day and i hope that your day was positive and empowering also.

love, light and peace ~