I’d like to share with y’all, a painting that I completed on Monday.  Not because I think it’s all that… although I am delighted with the outcome…but because of what it symbolizes and what the act of painting offered me.

First, painting this allowed me the opportunity to focus on something positive and be productive while simultaneously remaining within eyesight of my struggling 11-year-old cocker spaniel, Charlie. Charlie had surgery on Sunday and has been displaying concerning behaviors since.  One of these concerning behaviors involves him howling like he is afraid for his life, uncertain of where he is/who he is &/or where I am…whenever he can not see me for more than approximately 3 minutes.  While he displayed this behavior prior to the surgery, as he is an older dog, it has intensified since his surgery and proves unbearable to witness while he is in this state of early recovery…drugged up, etc.  Hence, the desire to find something positive and productive WHILE remaining in his line of vision!

Painting this sacred Reiki symbol not only offered me the opportunity to remain positively preoccupied and productive, but it also afforded me the opportunity to focus on the healing powers of Reiki.  This is essentially the second blessing the sacred healing art of painting afforded me during this trying time.  I intentionally sent my suffering, confused, healing and aging dog Charlie the loving energy that is Reiki the whole time I painted.  It feels inhumane to watch the ones we love suffer, but focusing on sending the healing powers of Reiki to my Charlie kept me sane, grounded, present and compassionately available.  Reiki and the sacred healing art of painting saved my emotionally frayed self from complete melt down, and allowed me to remain present and compassionately available to my beloved Charlie during these early stages of recovery.

Sacred healing art…

Thank the Goddess for these precious gifts that are available to everyone.  I never, by any means, considered myself as an ‘artist’ or a ‘painter,’ prior to this process.  After experiencing the amazing healing and grounding blessings that this process gifted me with, however, I wanted to share my findings and change the way I view myself in terms of these qualities.  I need not fear the ‘label’ artist and/or painter.  Rather, I need just saunter into the act of creating, whichever way serves me and the situation most correctly in the moment and allow the act of creating to envelop me.

Life is so layered.  Each moment has the possibility of being enmeshed with duality.  These dualities challenge us to incorporate amazing highs and earth shattering lows simultaneously.  This dance with the reality of duality shapes the sacred spiral of our lives.  The better equipped we are to ‘dance throughout the storms’ of our lives…the better equipped we are to avoid missing the blessings hidden within the struggles.

Painting set me up with an opportunity to enjoy some slowed down, mindful presence with my beloved Charlie.  Charlie is getting old.  I do not know how much more time I will be blessed with his loving, neurotic, stubborn and completely unique self.  Painting allowed me to make one more special memory…and for that…FUCK yeah I’m a painter, creatrix and goddess of the art of living!  Are you?

Love, ME.