Awakening Mythic Legend

 This spring I was delighted to be asked to be the Art Doctor for their workshop by two of my Red Thread SiStars! Olivia Oso and Uma Joy are offering the first Legend class to be taught by Guild Members, and I thoroughly enjoy being part of the pilot run! 

Uma and Olivia have taught many classes together, and I appreciate theit gentle flow of instruction, journaling and painting in our virtual classroom. 

Awakening Mythic

We received symbols in several meditations, and I discovered several commonalities - a headband with the blue jewel activating her pineal gland / bui hui, stars from a beaded pouch on her headband and medicine bag, circle of ancestors ... 

I enjoy Listening for my Legendary Lady's voice and wishes, sitting back, and letting her take the lead! This is my 5th Legend,

 .... I never completed the 2nd - so part way through this journey, she began hollering for attention! 

Okay, okay!! 

Red Hat Legend - 2018

While I loved her symbols and elemental dragons the crown of her hat has felt too high for too long! My granddaughter Alyssa's dad gave her this lovely Red Hat when she was about 5, which I wore to many a tea as a Red Hat Lady! !! 

Red Hat SiStars

I began sketching the alternate shape usingNeocolor 2, and then used yellow and transparent yellow oxide over the Red ... Ahh! I love how forgiving acrylics are! 

Olivia suggested using hoops as templates for orbs and circles - and I'd just unearthed a basket of embroidery hoops! So the dragons are now in orbs (even the one by the medicine bowl) which will be highlighted with interference paint soon.

I've been modifying her expression as well, and will do more reverse stencil above the hat brim on our right - 

Bodacious Bessie

 What's on your easel this week? 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

 

  

Oracle and Ally - Legendary Journey and Glow

As Shiloh began teaching the process we've come to know as Intentional Creativity, one of the first steps has been a journey to reconnect with our Legendary Self in a several week class  that includes journaling, visioning and painting. As the prerequisite for the Color of Woman teacher training, over 120 women are in our virtual classroom this year. Nearly half of those will go on to join the teacher training in March.

From the first splashes of color and journal entries, the stories begin to flow and images emerge. Much of the legendary journey involves delving into the stories that shaped us, turning into the compost that will nourish our growth. And at times, sparks and speckles of white paint, dancing stars and biophotons...

Legend and Ally

Layers build, on the canvas, in the journals. Sketches, messages from the Oracle via our painting, glimpses of allies and receiving their messages ... 
We knock on the doorway, and seek admittance to the world of our Legendary Selves. My first Legend in 2015 was Snande'nea Star Gate, and was the largest canvas I'd worked on - yikes! 

Sherry, Nadya, Rema and Angie (with Sherry's Legend)

In 2018 we hosted an open studio during the Legendary online journey, gals from around the state who had been painting in their own studios loaded paint, brushes, and thrir big canvases in their cars to join us. Several others came with smaller paintings, done in one of our classes. 

Three of those who brought their Legends are now teaching IC (Sherry and Angie) or Cosmic Smashbooking (Rema). I brought the legendary lady I'd begun the year before, with the class of 2017. 

Sherry at our fall class at MECA

After several layers (Golden Fluid acrylics, acrylic ink) journaling and sketching, this big dragon appeared in the patterns, is peeking through the portal ...

Legendary portal - 2020

Which then shifted again ...with a layer of milky white - sprayed and dripping - bringing in more light

Milky integration

And was finally ready for the forms to emerge

Sketch on canvas

Blocked in, time to listen

We are opening,
Connection integration
In the unfolding

Oracle's wisdom
The dance of critic and Muse
Finding a balance

As we paint, we Try to preserve the Glow, the "steady radiance of light" a bit of the background, shining in one side of the defining lines... 

This bit of light reminds us that we are all "cooling sacks of stardust," and actually, we emit a bit of life-light, biophotons in the ultraviolet range! 

Though I did the original sketch in brown, I highlighted the outlines in white, bringing back some of that glow.
This is perhaps the first time the sisters are introduced to the concept of bringing the Glow into their paintings, it will thread through future canvases and classes, bringing more vitality and interest.
There are many layers still to come on our journey to meet our Legendary lady's Oracle and Allies. Who else will emerge, and what messages will they bring?

Do you receive messages from your paintings/ drawings? 

Happy Paint Party Friday and Rain's Garden Thursday Art Date - Glow

CODEX - Crystal HeArt Song

Crystal HeArt Song

Whispers from harp strings
Cross the bridge of veils
Between the worlds, written, unwritten
Named, unnamed
Language shimmers and shifts 
On pages in the Akashic library
Sun crystals hold the records
In our very hearts. 

We sip nectar from
The chalice of remembering,
Remember, remember!
Flowers bless the air with their subtle perfume
And the liquid with the memory of summer
Bringing healing and wholing 
To the people
To the SiStars and mothers
To the children
To the fathers and brothers

Access through creativity is coded in our very DNA
Our hands read the Braille
Of our memories and old knowing
As we sift through the treasure trove
For hidden gold.
Practices which bring joy
Hold the key

Will you hear and be heard
As we strstrike the ringing strings
Feel the shift in your bones
Come, come
It is time
Let the heart Crystal ignite
And reverberate its song to the stars

Crystal HeArt Song© Nadya 2019

As we compete this 13 moon journey, and prepare for the next adventure (Anthropas) I dedicate this painting to several beloved teachers and friends.

• Marion Coe, my piano teacher - who would love that I play the harp! Wise and kind,I thank you.
• Lynn Marchant, with whom I began studying ballet as an adult, who infused Grace into my life, thank you.
• My friend Given Bliss, who passed last year on my birthday - too soon gone dancing on her Cosmic body!

Tea Camellia

A few days ago, my tea Camellia flowers caught my eye, and I decided to make a flower essence (here's how I create an essence) - and one landed in the painting yesterday!

Molly Sheehan of Green Hope Farm essences offers a lovely definition for Tea Camellia, "I AM the Ancient One, rooted in timeless beginnings. I bring Stillness, connection to one's True Self, and provide a mirror for self reflection.

Camellia flower essence

Wishing the Color of Woman class of 2019 many blessings on their graduation this weekend and next week - well done!! 
And happy Paint Party Friday to my blog rolling friends, and 100 Days of Creative Bliss bodies!

Still Room Revisited

In a week, the new gallery MECA will be opening, and all of us are excited to see our art on the shelves and walls! During my last visit, Holli asked if I had any pieces in addition to the "ladies" I might want to show? 
I mentioned my Apothecary painting... "send me a photo!" So I did, and she wants it! 

Paintings have their own processes and time frames, don't they? The Apothecary process focuses on distilling tragedies, turning them into potions and remedies. It is a wonderful, rich, and sometimes intense process! You can share parts of my journey here, here and the request for some new items here. 

Some of the requested items were shelves, more Nick Nacks an Alembic Still, and some "real" additions. Shiloh invited us to stitch some red thread or ribbon into the canvas, and I haven't yet...

.. 

Last spring, I added some shelves, carving (gel), and sketched in the still, .... and then went on to other projects, while the potions bubbled away ...

Now  a still requires heat, and there is a Red dragon in the area, so she kindly volunteered to keep the pot bubbling when necessary! I've sketched her in, also a water dragon peeking into the vessel on the far right (I realized only three dragons were showing!)

At this point when revisiting a canvas, I often do a glaze, (full or partial, choosing transparent colours) to get back in touch with my process, and pull out my journal for some current inquiries ...

Sketched in - Red Dragon & Alembic Still

I've begun painting and adding more details to the still and Red dragon 

What's your creative process today?

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Alembic Still and red dragon

In the Still Room

It's been a lovely, busy week. I played harp for a wonderful new moon meditation circle Sunday morning (Mother's Day), in a sweet rural setting, and nice weather, so we were outside. I got to stay for brunch under the trees, and later in the day had time with my kids and the local Grands.

This week I was puttering in the Apothecary, framing shelves, partial glazes, ...And feeling close to completion, .... 
Now, the Muse wants:

Apothecary

• Gel for "carvings" on the shelves
• An Alembic still (! - She saw one on another painting, and has to have one!) 

  

  Alembic still

• A button box, full of family treasures - did you have a button box? I could spend hours with my mom's! 
• Real items: key and leaded Crystal, a knob for beads and a pouch to hang from (apple burl, from an artist friend) and buttons from the family box for knobs on the drawers
• a few more Nick-Nacks, perhaps an amethyst cluster, little statue, dropper bottles ....
• Titles on the books (far right)

Because the canvas is angled, I plan to add a hazel branch above the narrow end (right half), ... apparently it will be wrapped with Red Thread from circles led and classes taught, and the key and lead Crystal will hang from it ...

I used my editing feature to sketch in some of the ideas she has for me, ... I'd glazed the star

violet, ... that seems the perfect place for the still! And life the other dragons, Scarlett will peek out, ...

An early layer was a rich "compost" glaze, that seems in order over the star...

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

What tasks has your Muse set you?

I am from

In the red thread Circle Guide program, Shiloh Sophia invites participants to connect with our origins, and write a I am from poem. Where are you from?'

I am from sage brush, juniper and mint in roadside ditches
   Yarrow in the pasture, that I grind between stones
        Then set in the sun to dry, knowing/not knowing
              There's something more to do

I am from songs around the campfire
    Pumping water and carrying it back to camp
       Sleeping bags and clear night skies
          Waiting for the blue flash, when the lantern goes out

I am from hikes in the woods
   Little mountain mosquito bites that
      Won't itch, if I dont scratch them ....
          I scratch them!

I am from befriending chipmunks, while my mother watches for birds
    From my father's fishing pole and tying flies
         Pan fried trout, fresh from the stream
              Calling the deer, as hunters have, time behind time

I am from lonely child only child
    Day dreams and stories read before bed, 
         myths and legends
             Fuel my dreams

I am from summer adventures with favorite cousins
    Learning constellations dancing in ink black summer sky
        Milky way, a stream across the heavens
             Orion, Cassiopeia, the weeping Pleiades
          Great and little dippers, Pegasus, Leo

I am from church on Sunday, and Grange on Fridays
    From a line of preachers, teachers and farmers
          Midwives and healers stretching back across the plains
                To the southern forests, to the Celtic lands
I am from piano lessons and singing in the choir

    From drawing the neighbor's ponies, 
        Hanging clothes on the line and polishing silver
           4-H and crafts with my mama
            Oregon vacations, Reading after dark

I am from Magpie and Red wing Blackbird
     From echoing Meadowlark's trill and singing to my mountains
        While waiting for the schoolbus
             In the brisk morning air

I am from teacher's college, 
   Honors English and Music theory
      Natural history, with ancient forests and volcanoes
          Life drawing and Opera workshop

I am from a third floor dorm room and my first roommate
        She, one of ten kids, and me, one of one!
            Music Major and minor
                 Learning to bump along

I am from romance and disappointment
      From young motherhood and marriage
           Nursing and making yogurt
                Messy houses and enough books to fill a library  

I am from art and science
     Mountains and stars
          Healers and dancers
              Wise woman and mystics

I am from astrology and tarot readings
    Color and Theory
        Living in community 
             And taking up the harp

I am from a dancing dragon tattoo
    Living by the sea for awhile
        Teaching Reiki and gathering stones
             Basking in starlight

I am from here and there,
   From the songs of my ancestors, and of my grandchildren
      From asking "is there another story you'd like to tell?
         Sharing the songs of the stars
             
.... Posting to Paint Party Friday - where are you from?
            
    

We are Legendary

For the past 10 years, Maestra Shiloh Sophia and her sidekicks Jena and Stella Mac have led a group of amazing women on a journey to discover their own Legend, and discoverong what it means to lead Legendary Lives. This course is the prerequisite for the annual Color of Woman teacher quest'
Several local RT SiStars are enrolled with over 115 others in this year's Legend. One will be going on to CoW 2018, and another is enrolled in the new Red Thread Guide course. In March, we'll host an open studio for them to paint together!

When I registered for Legend in 2015, I intended to do CoW sometime later,... But then Shiiloh opened a few more slots, and (gulp!) I was on the quest! Each year, a new group of women journal and paint their way out of old stories, and discover new pathways. We vision our symbols, and see where they fit, support each other through laughter and tears, and embracing new ah-has.

Color and shapes from earlier layers peek through, each building on the last, as our lives build on the stories of our families, and herstory, we sift through for those which inform our choices. What are we building on? Where is the foundation solid? Where does it require digging out and shoring up?

When I embarked on my Legendary journey, I gathered flower essences for a bouquet of support: Lady's Slipper Orchid for stepping out in joy, Star of Bethlehem for lighting the pathway, ... Symbols came, a dragon, dancing maid, a key in the heart of the labyrinth ...and my legend, Shande'nea Star Gate was birthed. (Read a bout her symbols and the journey here)

Shande'nea Star Gate

How can you doubt your Soul Purpose?
You were born for this!
You hold a gift, a treasure, 
a King's ransome that is such a blessing for your companions

Arise and Shine!
Do not worry, consider the liles of the field - you are blessed beyond measure
It is time for you to SHARE those blessings
The time you spend in Circle hones you for the Next Steps

Will you step through the gateway?
The dragons know the way, and hold the keys
Open your eyes and ears: see and hear
Make way for the Messages to flow
To glow and mark the spiral path

Breath with new breath
The sweetness of the journey
As you Dance Through the Stargate

Last year I participated in the journey in paint and story, holding space for the exploration. As our sistars embark on Legend 2018, my classmate Kendall Scott has assembled Legends from the SiStarhood for a Legendary SlideShow. Shande'nea is there with many others, gateways to our personal Legendary Lives!

Tenderness Moon

Each month/Moon in our Red Madonna Sacred Path Journey, there is an inquiry and process, this month's focus is "Tenderness." 

Shiloh invites us to consider, "Where in my life am I seeking tenderness?" And, "where have I experienced tenderness?"

We've spoken of nurturing hands, having our foreheads stroked, holding hands with a

Moon of Divine Connection

mother,a daughter. I remember once, sobbing on my bed after being rejected by my boyfriend, and my often-gruff dad coming in, sitting beside me, saying he wished he could fix it/make it better! Tenderness! 

Our Lady moon we explored connecting with the divine presence, and spent timeless time making strokes and patterns of light on our ladies' mantles. We contemplated our own sense of "divinity," articulating beliefs.

In this moon of Tenderness, what tender moments do you remember? Where can you be more tender with yourself?

Tenderness

Here are my ladies, with tender strokes of light and biphotons. I glazed their mantles (Renaissance Reed and Violet), and brought light to the Dragon and Phoenix.

Linking to Paint Party Friday and sharing on the Red Madonna.

Creative planning

Yesterday I saw a Facebook post by an art biz coach who advised doing a progress review at the end of each week, noting at what happened, and what goals you met. Coupled with his observation that all to often, artists let the business portion of being artists lag.

... while I appreciate his suggestions, I was reminded of why I love the whole brain, Muse led approach, which we favor in Intentional  Creativity! Our biz-coach, Stella Mac had us "Create a business plan using your winged eye – you have to know how to look with a visionary lens to craft a business that reflects who YOU are." 

And Maestra Shiloh wrote: "I answer the call to create, without feel long I am taking away anything from something or someone."

Biz-Plan

One of the biz tools I used last year was taking the year long plan we created during our teacher training, and doing a monthly Smashbook spread with my goals splashed about, "popcorn" style. Some were specific to that month, while others are ongoing (hosting monthly Red Thread Circles, painting, blogging)
I could see at a glance what I accomplished, and what I still wanted to work on. I'm about to start a new Biz-Musé journal, and will include creating these monthly goal pages! 

Red Madonna - Sacred Path

I blocked in my ladies on my Red Madonna canvas this week, and look forward to seeing where they lead! I love the little Phoenix and dragonet! 
The canvas is repurposed, from our Habitat ReStore, and is two 24x30" screwed together! (So 48" wide). It was a simple big sky landscape, and under $10! I'm one of the Hearth Tenders for this online offering, and love the rich teachings from different cultures. 

I did another of lights and darks on Mary Magdalene this week as well. She is emerging.

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Legend & breaks

Shortly after my last post, I fell & broke my left arm, just above the wrist!!
Ouch!
As a self-employed massage therapist & harpist, it was a double whammy, time for healing & off from work (I wanted a vacation, ... not a brea-cation!! sigh) 
So I was in the hospital, with surgery (! First since my tonsils came out when I was 6!) & a few weeks later, began the Intentional Creativity (Color of Woman) teacher training Quest! 

This is a 9 month program, moving around a compass of inquiry, with the center our Legendary self - Here's my post from our online classroom about the completed painting (end of April)

 I used to be - a lonely only child, entertaining myself, unsure of whether I was *invited* to participate .... responsible - and yet ... wanting to step back, & let someone else invite, include, decide ... I used to live within a broken heart, not sure if I was wanted/ chosen ... I was gifted with music, dance, literacy, love of stories, wisdom of the elders, but still, at times, uncertain of my place within it all ...
Now I am Welcome & invited to participate in the dance of live; I have a place in the circle! he Red Thread invites me to take responsibility for my piece, I share space & my many gifts & talents with joy!
Dear Storyweaver; as I am invited, I invite you to fully inhabit my life & being! We dance in the garden of joy - I invite you to join me!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Connected to the Strories and the tribe; Called to take her place with the elders, the youth, poets, dancers, artists, dreamweavers; I am She who dances with the Stars, through the StarGate - Shande'nea Elthia
Voice of Wisdom and vision, let me see beyond the little stories & mundane journey to the BIG story, the Big picture.
Way shower, Vision Keeper, Storyweaver, Rainbow woman of the inner places.
In the wilderness, watching stars dance & moon rise, I come home to myself.
Shande/nea, Lightweaver
Weave the threads & webs of life, ever changing - shimmering shifts
as we move beyond the stories, Light weaves and informs our very beings
My magic carpet & Magic wand bring me places I never imagined, but dreamed when I was starbound and glistening.
Shande/nea Elthia, light bringer, Star Lady, Dragon wisdom, Crystal light, star singer, StarGate!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The symbols: original symbols were: star, crown, heart, dragon, spiral

Scroll on Rt cheek: written in time, herbal formulas & healing nectar/ three remedies balance three tears/wounds. Sound, Flower essences, Essential oils (& herbs in other forms, other remedies)

Crown/Trees - the stars & crown were two of the original symbols, bringing wisdom of the Pleiades, downloading information & insights. The stars remain, but the crown morphed into trees, the standing ones who weave their own web of interconnection & share information through their roots, through the soil of mama earth. The base of the trees has become a crown of shell & rubies, encircling & holding a gentle, powerful wisdom.
"And our roots go down, reaching for the water, & our branches soar, shining in the sun - and the seasons turn, springtime into summer, autumn into winter, our spirits dance as one!"

Stars - Starlight - let my light shine, illuminate my path & call my beloveds! I also sprinkled my birth chart around the background, bringing in the planets to dance with the stars!

Dragon - 'the dragons of your fears - you have been blessed, so blessed & protected! The recent 'medical emergency' & breaking, being repaired is bringing so many hidden blessings (still unfolding). You are surrounded with many gifted healers.' I am Safe & protected, the Dragon infuses the Voice with Truth & Wisdom
I love the magic & wisdom of dragons as well, & the magical stories that surround them. The dragon nourishes the trees as it inspires & infuses my spirit, with information, intuition, insight, deep knowing

Eyes - are open to the new possibilities, and shine light that reminds others of their OWN light. Awake & conscious

Broken heart/Vestal priestess - The Hearth/heart fire has long been a symbol. My heart is transforming with this work - out of old breaks, gold fills & the clearing is complete - love without fears & without old rules/teachings binding'/ constricting. She hears the stories, doesn't give herself away; claims space & time for herself, fills her own cup, and hears the call of the community.

DNA shifts - the DNA ear-rings symbolize internalizing the alchemical process, shifting our very DNA with this work/play/ ritual

Key & labyrinth - this is the Cretan labyrinth, the path in & out of the labyrinth are transformative - we change our stories as we move through the cycles - the winged key in the center sets us free!

Spirals - ancient & magical, power, cycles, shifts & changes

Little dancer under the hill - when I was a little girl, a 'little blue man' stood by my door at night (about as tall as the doorknob) ... whether I saw 'him' or dreamed him, .... she is connected to the stars, dancing within the StarGate

* * * * * * *

This has been a powerful journey of bringing the stories forward, into the light for re-examination. Along with the old stories that can be laid to rest, there are the sweet stories & gifts that belong in the medicine basket!
Falling and breaking my arm midway through March brought up old fears around abundance & lack, financial security, ....and brought a deeper compassion for those in pain, wounded, uncertain of their path ... information is still coming in on that - & healing still progressing! I am excited to have the cast off, & to be typing with both hands!

While I could still paint during the time of active injury, I felt off kilter, & it took me awhile to get back into the flow of my Legendary self. I found myself more tired, & in 'licking my wounds' for a time. Hard not to go into 'guilty' mode - I had extra time, for heaven's sake!! And .... worked on NOT feeling guilty, but sitting with it ...
I am still listening to what Shande'nea has to tell me ... (her hair needed more blue, so we shifted that!)

I love the process of intentional creativity, seeing each woman's beautiful paintings, & seeing what is coming forward! 

Are you ready to transform some old stories, & shift some energy? Break through (without the trauma of a breakdown)! ... let me know!

Blessings!

 

Legendary

A year ago, I painted my Muse Gabriella with Elisabeth, & began on a Red Thread Journey (follow the link to Join us Sunday May 3, noon PDT, for a free introduction to offering Red Thread Circles wherever you are in the world!!)
.... but the journey had really begun in 2013, when I saw the blurb for the 'Red' show at Currents Gallery, & decided to do a couple of paintings. Or it began .... well, I've been on the journey all along!

Ariadne's Red Thread - 2014

The idea for painting Ariadne's Red Thread, laid as a trail through the Cretan Labryrinth for Theseus to follow came shortly after reading the call for artists, & I pulled out little used acrylics, picked up a canvas & began painting ... Neither piece (the second was a small heart) was accepted for the show, & I set them aside .... 

After painting with Elisabeth, I revisited Ariadne's legend & the canvas, glazing the picture, & finding hints of some of her symbols - an early goddess figure, the double headed labrys or axe, a butterfly ... and tipped the spider web with silver paint ... 

Shande'nea 3-2

Painting our Legendary Lady is an integral part of the Color of Woman journey, part of teaching the teachers. A number of powerful women have gathered to hold space for the unfolding.
Jenafer Joy gives Journal prompts, Stella Mac asks questions, guides our Conference calls, & Maestra Shiloh Sophia offers wisdom, laughter, & the painting videos ...

As we work with the questions & prompts, we uncover the stories that have been running us, & begin to write a new story, ... we play with symbols, & see where they fit, we support each other through the trials & tribulations, the laughter & the tears ...

And our Legendary Self comes forward ... Shande'nea wanted a dragon (you can see a hint of it in the pic on my last post!) & now the labyrinth ... it is always intriguing to see how new elements often follow a stroke or pattern in the underpainting. 

Shande'nea with labyrinth 3-11

And allowing those bits of colour & pattern from earlier layers to show through is one of our goals! What is the painting built on? What is the foundation, what stories are we re-writing? Re-telling?

Symbols, colours, stories ... what stories have been running your life? Are you ready to step beyond them ? 

Happy 4th BD to Paint Party Friday!! 

Here there be Dragons

Two or three Mondays each month I help at my youngest granddaughter's play school, & watch them dress up, create art, get messy, eat snacks, & clean up! This morning I took a turn with the pastels & art paper -

The heart circle is a coffee filter - last month they dropped ink in three 'fall leaf' colours onto the filters, then whished them around in the ink on the table, & some the resulting papers went into the stack to choose from. The quote is on the wall above the paints - 'What children need most are pictures on the walls of their minds & experiences to attach words to.' Bev Bos

Here there be dragons - I was born in a Tiger year, but had a powerful shamanic awakening in a Dragon year. The Tslagi (cherokee) bespeak the dragons of the Smokey Mountains; I have a tatoo with 5 'dancing fairie dragons' spiraling on my uppper arm, Earth, Water, Fire, Air & Sacred Sound (Metal in the Chinese trad)

Anne McCaffery's Pern series has long been a favorite, I love just about any dragon story, especially those with





empowered princesses; & when I paint faces, cloudy dragons often show up . . .

This is the 'Creation Station' whence comes the blog name! Doesn't it make you want to get out the paints & MAKE SOMETHING?!