Live Painting at the Aumakua Heart Center

We are blessed to know a very special family. Lani Lee and her children have become our dear friends, and we are so grateful for them. They created the Aumakua Heart Center. "A Spiritual based community dedicated to the growth of love, acceptance, and awakening of our true selves." They hold beautiful gatherings once a month, each explores an expression of spirituality.  The gatherings also include drumming, meditation, and enjoying delicious vegan food. My family and I love them.  You can find out more about the Aumakua Gatherings at their website.... http://www.aumakuaheartcenter.com/

My family has attended the Aumakua's Spring equinox gathering, prosperity gathering, & Kundilini to name a few. I was honored to have the experience of live painting at their recent gathering about Shamanic Journey. I absolutely love shamanic journey meditation. It is a practice that resonates deeply in me. I was blessed to practice this sacred meditation frequently when I lived in South Florida, and form an intimate bond with my spirit guides through this practice. 

My shamanic journeys are usually very powerful and familiar...You can read about my journeys in one of my older blog posts called Spirit Bears.
This journey was facilitated by the talented Destiny Eurkus, a Shamanic coach and healer. You can check out her beautiful website here...http://riverswithin.com/

There is something magical and enthralling about seeing someone painting live. It usually draws a crowd. Who hasn't spent an hour or two watching Bob Ross paint "happy trees".  Inspired by Bob, and artists like Amanda Sage, and Alex Grey, I was thrilled to try it!

I sketched out my painting at home first. I would have been way to nervous to do it on the spot. I set up my easel, paints, and a few paintings, and got to work. As I painted the room filled with beautiful people, burning sage, and music. I painted as they drummed, and the energy shifted to sacred space. It was wonderful to stop and talk to people about their spirit animals, and shamanic journey as I worked. When Destiny began the journey I stopped and joined the group. My journey once again an amazing, nurturing, and profound experience, best described by my finished piece....

Thanks for reading!

Blessed Be!

Mom's Vibe

Home is where your Mom is. At least that's how it is for me. I sometimes reminisce about the houses I grew up in. I would love to know if my childhood cabin that my Dad built, is still a ranger station in Alaska. I love to visit the house in Florida on Lake Pioneer my parents built, where my Grammy still lives. Sometimes, I get sad that the house my family shared together in Colorado is no longer standing, but then I go to my Mom's and I remember she is really my home.

Mom

She moved from Reno 3 years ago, where she had been for 10 years. That is unheard of in my family, because we tend to move every 3-6 years or so. Usually, when we move, we move BIG, and this was a biggie. My Mom has lived in 2 of the most remote and un-populated places you can find in America- the Alaskan Interior & Central Nevada.

See...no dots!!

    My Mom fell in love with a sweet and adventurous man name Gary. Together the sold their houses, and started a new life together in the Arc Dome Wilderness of Central Nevada. It is a magical place with an amazing energy. Far from cities and towns, the stars are breathtaking, the air is full of sage, and there is a quiet serenity. We call it the Vortex.

Oma and Opa with the girls

Mom and Gary are dreamers in every sense, and the Vortex is perfect fodder. Having no experience, but big dreams, they designed and built a beautiful farm from the ground up. It is home to 20 alpacas, 8 great Pyrenees guardian dogs, 9 chickens, 1 roaster, a few barn cats and 2 German shepherds. The animals of their farm are cared for with constant love and compassion.

Chores

As they live this dream, they continue to dream, talking of creating spiritual retreats, building a tee-pee, digging a pond, selling it all and traveling, they dream, and they dream, and they dream. And it is all possible. It is manifestation.

Dreams manifest

When I am with my Mom I feel at home, comfortable, and at peace. Now that I am a Mom I watch her with new eyes. I see how she does little things to make us feel welcome and show she is excited for us to be there. Extra care she puts into making our beds, preparing our rooms, games, and toys she gets for the girls. I watch how she interacts with my girls. Engaging them in almost every chore, and activity. I see how important she makes Madilyn feel to help her Oma. I see how her day ebbs and flows from rest, to work and productivity, back to rest again. I am inspired by how she does small tasks through out the day that I don't even realize if I don't watch closely. ~She is talking to me laughing, but wiping off the counter. She is telling a story, while she straightens a cupboard. She dreaming out loud, while she waters her garden. I love this about my Mom. I tend to have an all or nothing attitude about the maintenance and chores in my life. I think I have to set aside an hour to clean or work on my house. My Mom blends it into her day with ease and grace.

She and Gary have created a special place, in a special place. I am so grateful to have this place get centered and grounded, through work, play, rest, and time with my family. This post is simply to express my immense gratitude to my Mom the dreamer, and for the Vortex.

~My Mom recently started selling her beautiful alpaca fiber and yarn. You can check it out here... https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueSpringsAlpacas

 Autumn's Muse

Fall is here!! I love it! You love it! We ALL love Fall!
I was thrilled to participate in a wonderful art show at the end of September celebrating the magic of fall, called Autumn's Muse. 

The show was held at the funky Mystic Eye Studio on Haight Street in San Francisco. The Mystic Eye is the studio of talented, Cameron Chernoff.  You can peep his website and cosmic artwork here... http://mysticeyestudio.com

Inspired by the magical theme of the show I created 4 new paintings. Embracing my Wiccan roots, each painting is a spell and features a powerful totem and many other magical properties, inspired by this shadowy season. 

“The Raven’s Alter”

Magical Properties:

 Raven Spirit Guide-

A keeper of magical secrets, known for its abilities to tell the future and read omens. It is known to fly between the dark and light and bring messages from the Spirit world.

 Deer Antler-

Symbol of gentleness unconditional love, & kindness

 Rune Cast-

-Spiritual Warrior

 Citron Crystal

Clears negative energy

 Pink Tourmaline Crystal-

Brings balance & alignment for spiritual growth

"The Spider’s Alter”

Magical Properties:

 Spider Spirit Guide-

Power, Mystery, & Growth.

Grandmother spider is the sacred weaver of the Web of Life. She is the Beginning, but also the End.

 The Flower of Life-

An ancient form of Sacred Geometry that represents Time, Space, & the connection of all beings

 Raven Skull-

The Raven is known as a messenger for the spirit world, and balance of dark and light.

 Garnet Stone-

Can purify the body and grant protection

 

“The Owl’s Alter”

Magical Properties:

 Owl Spirit Guide-

A guide to Shamans with detailed knowledge of Spiritual Realms.

 Dream Catcher-

Our dreams are messages from Spirit.

The dream catcher lets thru these messages, while catching the bad dreams

 Maple Leaves-

Symbol of grace during transition. Surrender

 
"The Black Cat’s Alter”

Magical Properties:

 Cat Spirit Guide-

 Sensitive and sensual, Black Cat teaches courage to explore the unknown. They possess natural magical powers, & harmony between light & dark, action & observation, tame & wild

 White Sage Smudge-

Clearing, calming, & purifying. Cleanses space of negative energy.

 Carnelian Stones-

Brings Empowerment, Prosperity, & Grounding

 Turkey Feathers-

Symbol of Abundance

 Rune Cast-

-Interconnectedness with humankind

-Mystery & occult abilities

-Great victory, power, & success

 Deer Antler-

Symbol of gentleness unconditional love, & kindness

 Oak Acorns-

Symbol of fertility & protection

The Autumn's Muse show was an intimate night of amazing artwork and incredible music. I was thrilled to see my sweet friend Isaiah Douglas perform again. Isaiah organized the show, played a great set on his acoustic guitar and is also a member of The Open World Tribe, who also performed. His music is full of soul, powerful affirmations, and beautiful imagery. 

This was my first time seeing The Open World Tribe. They are a fantastic group, who filled the studio with their amazing music and so much joy! You can check them out at their super cool website here....  theopenworldtribe.com

 

I am so honored to have been part of this event. It was fantastic to see the space fill with strangers, and by the end of the evening it was humming with excitement as new relationships and friendship were made. Art and music are such a unifying force, and truly does bring us together.

 Have a magical Fall!!