Prismatic

 Healing and creativity run through our family line, midwifery, growing and using herbs, color, crafts, music, and my mom and I traded back and foot rubs through my childhood.  My dad and I sang in the choir, and I had piano lessons, and in college I was education, with a music minor.  

Creativity has woven a thread through my whole life, I always identified as an artist, and a healer.  This year these threads of art music and healing came together with the Intentional Creativity practioner training, PRISMA. 

Art Cart

One of the things I love about our Intentional Creativity community and practices is the encouragement to activate our own gifts and bring those to our offerings. The PRISMA training builds on this, and we're invited to include IC into current sessions and offerings. The PRISMA calls and videos include the research and science underlying the use of creativity and mindfulness for healing. 

Scribbly Sketch

While much of our personal work is done with paint and canvas, we also journal about process and insights.  During this course, we're also on a 13 month painting journey. Anthropas. I'm reprising a large canvas which began as Diva X.

Anthropas - moon 1

For sessions with clients, we can use the simplest of materials, watercolors, coolers pencils, markets, a mixed media pad of paper.  I often use Inktense blocks and Neocolor 2 crayons. 

Supplies

I'm fond of using all these materials in my own sketchbooks and processes, and my Juju Journal. 

Fire Keeper

 Lo'oet, Fire keeper is my Alchemist or Soul Fire painting, from my Color of Woman 2015 training.  

I've  always loved the NW tell of Lo'oet, the only one left with fire in her lodge. So after awhile, great spirit asked her to take up residence on the old land bridge over what we call the Columbia River, the Bridge of the Gods ...

Lo'oet - Firekeeper

I encountered her in a visioning to 'meet your inner healer,' retold her story in a creative writing class, and wrote a song about her, Firekeeper's Lay.

On this auspicious day, 2-22-2022, we bring her message:

From Lo'oet, Fire Keeper

Long have I known you

  loved you

    guided you

Little one, little SiStar, Talis Tenas

      Beloved little one

I sit on the bridge, tending the Sacred Fire

  for the people

     for the old and the young

      the sound of heart & spirit,

     for the weak and lonely ones.

       for the free, 

       for those ensnared.

Medial Woman Am I

   On the Bridge between the Worlds

     Tending the Sacred Flame

       Carrying the stories, bringing change & renewal

I hold the Chalice of Pure Water

  During this time of fires, of drought

    This time of Smoke and danger,

      I remind you to guard your flame carefully

   I hold the fire, yet my colours

     Are watery blues and purples

The Chalice brings life, brings renewal,

 Come, share the water of life!

Owl Woman, Woman between the worlds

  Wisdom woman, Keeper of the Sacred flame

    One with Clear vision, who calls sacred the homeland of the people, 

 Who calls us to remember -

Who are you?

   What would you?

      When will you?

    Who do you Ally with?

       What calls your Heart & Soul?

          How will you live from your vision?

Way shower, holder of blessings

  Who are you, in the great world?

     What do you bring

        In your Medicine Basket?

Medial woman, Owl woman

   holding place in the Middle

     Holding Soul Fire stories,

       Which warm the heart & enflame the spirit!

    Watching over the land & the people.

Fire Keeper am I, story keeper, wisdom keeper

    Keeper of the Sacred Flame

      Ever renewing, ever renewed

        Come! Drink from the sacred well!

      Come! Come home to your soul! Come share your sacred medicine!

February Reset

 This is the third year some of my artist friends are offering a month of inspiration for "Reseting Our Spaces as Living Altars" and creating cozy corners, and I'm joining in. Each has her own focus - Angie on clearing clutter, Katy on setting sacred space, and Iréne on sharing tips from Feng Shui, and all three engage creativity. 

As I've written before, I go back and forth with more and less order, and like many of us, these last couple of years with fewer visitors has not helped! It's quite time for a reset! 

Breema and morning practice

I participated in Breema week in January, and have continued with the online self- Breema classes most mornings. For my first cozy nook, I rearranged some things, pulled out the clothes for give- away, and made room for my felted Breema rug in my little upstairs.

Some inquiries as I embark: 

• Why do I want to dethug and reset?
• What an I creating space for? 
• What blocks my process/progress? 
• Who - what matters most to me about my space?
• Who (what items) am I 'renting space' to - do I like the 'tenants?'
• When - what time will I designate, and how much?
• How - what strategies will I employ, and
• Where will I begin?

I already began with the Breema nook, starting small with an easy win always works well for me! I set a timer for 20-30 minutes, and then take a break or reset it - short focuser sessions help prevent overwhealm. 

My goal is a clearer space with more cozy, inviting nooks, and curating items that resonate with my current interests and life. 

As a Virgo, I can get finicky about fine tune cleaning, and ignore the big picture, so I'm saying saying Ø to perfectionism, and 'yes' to progress! 

Assistant testing a cozy space

My LMT friend Kira is also a professional organizer, and I've been enjoying her new podcast, What's Up With Your Stuff? 

For general tidying, she suggests to ponder your own baseline - what matters to you (and your partner/ housemates) Work from that to develops and fine tune your daily routine. 

I make my bed when I get up, wash the dishes and wipe down counters after breakfast, and aim for at least one 20/10 a day (20 minute tidy/ clear, 10 minute break)

We start where we start, and each bring our personal stories as well as stuff to our Spaces - do you know yours? 

Zines

  When preparing to teach a class, i generally make notes of what I plan to include in my journal, and may add to my set of prompt cards. A fan of things 'tiny,' I  was intrigued a couple of years ago when I happened on a call with the lovely Denise Daffara on working in little "zines" 

... but I had missed the instructions, lol! 

So after the circle, I looked for more info on making these little booklets, and was enchanted! 

Calendar and Zines in process

Who doesn't like tiny booklets? And with the central slit, these fold into a cover and several pages - perfect for a little collage session, class notes, or a planning booklet! 

Double Calendar spread, paint and collage

I made a handout that would fold into a zine, and brought this project to our next Red Thread Circle - For my own, I used a double spread from this large biodynamic calendar. I liked the black and white illustrations of candles and beeswax, so worked around including them, and some of the text. The small blue Zine was created from another calendar. 

Acrylic paint and collage

A piece of Junk Mail, a double calendar spread, or even piece of notebook paper is great for a small "class notes" booklet, which can be written in directly or painted and collaged. 

Here's a little "kid friendly zine" tutorial.

A Zine could also used for:

• A poetry booklet
• A mini art journal
• Class notes
• A process page - write what you want to compost on the 'inside,' paint over' then flip and fold to "grow some lilies"
• A booklet of symbols you use in your paintings
• Writing about your painting

During the Color of Woman teacher training, we create Vision Plan and Story books on a half sheet of watercolor paper as part of the quest. These are a lovely visual way of collating ideas for our work with IC, but generally in a larger format. Here's one side of mine from the course - it makes a lovely background for an altar.

Vision Plan Book

I enjoy the compact booklets for collection my class ideas, as another option. They are a great size to tuck into a Planning Pocket, and a page may provide inspiration for a Story Card!

Happy Paint Party Friday!
Do you have a favorite style of art journal or booklet? 

Heron Walking

 This week one of the artists at our church is hosting a show of pieces bespeaking Peace, and I selected Heron Walking from the Spring class Awakening our Mythic Legend.

On the train headed from Oregon to my Color of Woman Graduation celebration in California in the fall of 2015, I began seeing herons in the wetlands, and later heard they were much loved by our teacher Shiloh's mentor Sue Hoya Sellers!

Heron stands tall and silent, rooted in the watery depths, watching, waiting for a day we can gather with our artful crafts of music, dance and storytelling, sharing in wonder and the inspiration of creativity.

Heron Walking - 2021

Crossing the threshold

we are enough, 

each of us, all of us.

We can be heard

singing our songs

calling for change

for respect

choosing to rise.

Rose petals on the path

and waiting, in still waters

Diving deep

Emerging

with hidden treasures.

Nadya Vestella King, 2021

Insta-Magic

 Wow - I now have 1300 followers on Instagram! 

I began posting on Instagram three years ago, after Maestra Shiloh Sophia suggested we  use the #intentionalcreativity, and see if we could boost the numbers of posts over a thousand or so tagging our brand! We are now at 18.5K!

I love the visual focus of Instagram, which is ideal for our artist selves.

In those early days, I wrote, "It's been fun playing with my pictures for posts, making little montages (which don't always behave!) And meeting new virtual friends! I love the journal pages @quantummemoir does, and ... I'm @nadyakingartist ❤"

• When you start typing a tag, suggestions will come up - bypass ones that have over a million, and look for ones in the 50 - 500k range or lower
• Check out the tags your colleagues use - make a note of those which fit! 
• Choose a few that are unique to you, or your small group. Recently I added red thread Creatives, as that's the name of my Facebook group. 
• It's a good idea to check out the tag, and see how the posts match your intention - I usually click "recent" as well 💖
• If you're collaborating on a class or other offering with someone, choose a tag together, and use it with your posts. I was recently the Art Doc for a class two Pete's offered, and they chose #AwakeningMythicLegend for our class posts.
• When you have a bit of extra time, visit some of the folks who liked recent posts, and choose several which appeal to interact with and comment on.  
• While we can use up to 30 tags in a post, the magic number is 11 - I generally use a few more.
• The Magic formula is to choose 5-8 'popular' tags that have been used 100-500k times
• 5-8 moderate 50-100k
• Several specific (like intentional creativity)
• And a few niche - personal to you!

Instagram allows one "active link" in your profile, so many folks create a link list (like Linktree) with link to classes, free offers, their main website, blogs. Check our accounts, and see which are most appealing. 

Whilst researching link options, I came across a YouTube tutorial from Canva on creating active web pages and decided to that for my profile link! I often use Canva for graphics, so that was an easy choice! 

• Post a link to your website or blog in your bio, and update your site regularly. 
• If you're promoting an event, make registration easy to find! (I often check these in colleagues' posts, and have to poke around for their current offer!)
• If you have several distinct business, you may want to add other accounts
• Post your bio link at the end of your text "click the link in my bio to register -@nadyakingartist 

Here's a recent post with in depth suggestions on using hashtags! 

Are you on Instagram? You're invited to post the link to your account, and share an tips you've discovered. 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

 

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!