How do you begin your day? I wake early, 5:30am, light a seasonal candle, and dim the lights to a low luster. Right now that candle is Autumn Leaves by Yankee Candle, which tints the air with an earthy scent; one of crunchy leaves mixed with hints of pine and citrus. I brew a pot of sumatra coffee, sip hot water mixed with apple cider vinegar and lemon to cleanse my body, make lunches for my kiddos, and craft a simple, healthy breakfast for my son. We sit and talk quietly as he eats. I cherish this sweet time. Then there is a flurry of activity, kisses and hugs as my husband and son prepare to head out. The door latches shut and I have one still, hushed hour to myself, before my daughter awakes. I lounge in a comfy chair, wrapped in a cozy, warm blanket made from the wool of my mother-in-law’s sheep, hands cupped around the heated shape of my favorite French floral mug filled with hot, hot coffee, and stare into the flickering light of the candle and out the window into the newborn, iceblue light of early morning. I page through a copy of a favorite publication like Kinfolk (I love inhaling the smell of its ink), or I take a virtual journey through the halls of Pinterest, absorbing the visual beauty, collecting my favorites.
When my daughter’s bus pulls away, I head to my studio to paint. This act has become an almost daily ritual. Painting for the sheer sensual experience of it. Relinquishing any expectations for outcome. It pulls me into the moment. Thoughts, ego, concerns, brain chatter… it all quiets and dissolves into nothingness as I become lost in the process. It is my meditation. My magic. My connection to heart. To the spirit world. Bliss. It frees me and fills my being with Light. The days that begin with painting always turn out to be the most peaceful, fulfilling, and productive. Painting, even for just an hour, fuels me for the day and boosts my creative energies, which I am now drawing upon to create my up-and-coming iPhone artistry online course. I am most excited, and I can’t wait to share it with you! I hope to release it come December/January.
How do you begin your day? What is your meditation? What makes you feel free? How do you connect with creative spirit?
Sharing:
- Please visit my friend Hillary Rain’s newly-refurbished luscious gem of a website Lush Folk. “shadows and moon. rumi and anais nin. patchouli. rain. tenderness. incense and dark, smoky eyes. the way light falls on wood floors. luscious hips and sultry laughter. earth. roots. bones. ink stains & alchemy. silk velvet everything. lush folk™—creative beauty & lush bohemian living” ~Hillary Rain
- Have you seen this cinematic jewel in three parts? — the main movie, the ‘Him” version, and ‘Her’ version. Such a creative approach to film-making. This one is real, raw, not tied up in a pretty bow. A true love story.
- Do you know about Twitch Creative? There are lots of artists on here sharing their creative process, live!
XO