Be True to You

 Ask yourself two very important questions:

What brings me joy?

What brings me misery? 

Don’t idealize your answers or respond based on others’ expectations. Be honest with yourself. Now that you have your answers...pursue what brings you joy and abandon what brings you misery.

Lately, social media has been a source of misery for me. Everyone says I’ll never succeed without it. We'll see. I hope to prove them wrong. I love blogging and posting photos without the constant pressure of posting stories every hour, making daily posts, leaving ten comments, following three new people, and then unfollowing three to keep the algorithm happy. And, of course, there’s the endless cycle of watching people argue and judge each other. Now, I am in my peace canoe, floating down the river of calm.

Maybe I spoke too soon, though, because I do enjoy Pinterest and YouTube. Watching videos and browsing colorful photos...Ahhh! I also don’t feel pressured to churn out content for these platforms every ten minutes. In fact, I haven’t even posted a single video on YouTube yet!

This is the space where all my creative and healing magic happens—from art to reiki to podcasting. I love it and have decorated it to suit my taste, hoping it will also bring joy and calm to those who visit for healing and art.

 

When I need to find tranquility, I draw. I spend upwards of 20 hours on these mandalas and cherish every moment. Drawing is therapeutic. Years ago, I would rush through my mandalas and end up disliking them. It’s crucial to draw the grid first and take your time. Many online videos are sped up, making it seem like people are creating these in an hour. It’s actually a slow, meditative process.

 

Afterwards is the ink bit.  There are so many pens I love, so it's difficult to name one.  Once I get my art therapy videos up I will talk a lot more about supplies that I love, but you might find other things you like more when drawing or painting.  That's ok!  We all have our style and tastes.  It's the point of art.  You need to find what works for you and what lets you voice onto paper or canvas.  

 

Then comes the inking. There are so many pens I love that it’s hard to name just one. Once I start my art therapy videos, I will discuss my favorite supplies, but you might find different tools you prefer when drawing or painting. That’s perfectly okay! We all have our unique styles and tastes. That’s the essence of art—finding what works for you and expressing yourself on paper or canvas.

 

There are many mediums to choose from, ranging from ink to paint to pastels. I used ink, watercolor, and colored pencil for this piece. It was a truly relaxing few days, accompanied by lovely music and podcasts, with my cats relaxing beside me.

Every time I add another color to my pieces, it gives me a huge dopamine boost. Color is life. So, once again, let go of the things that make you miserable and pursue what brings you joy.

Spiritual Bypassing

Hello everyone, I recently had a strange experience that I feel compelled to share because it offers a valuable learning opportunity. If you're familiar with my personal philosophy, you know I believe in finding joy wherever we can and spreading it outward like the brilliance of a diamond. However, the spiritual world cannot be all love, light, and healing vibes. Sadly, this "love and light" mentality is prevalent in the new age community. We must acknowledge the negative aspects and work on improving them. That’s true self-work!

When we first encounter someone deeply invested in the "love and light - high vibes only" philosophy, it feels uplifting, but eventually, it takes an odd turn and the illusion fades. Often, money seems to be a driving factor, and when the veil falls, we see dollar signs and a sense of something being off. Worse, these individuals often shame you for having legitimate feelings. As healers, our role is to help balance your energy and guide you on the path to helping yourself.

To provide some perspective... Over the past few years, I have had several teachers, all of whom I adored. Unfortunately, one of them crossed the line into the "love and light" realm to the point where it felt insincere and superficial. When I first enrolled in their course, I resonated with their teachings, but things gradually changed. They began using every opportunity for a selfie and story. While selfies and stories are fine—I do it too—this felt vain. Their course prices skyrocketed due to rebranding, becoming unaffordable for most. Then came the "money manifestation" course. Sigh. Eye roll. We were told that paying for such courses was an investment in ourselves.

Apologies for the lengthy story, but it’s important for context... In this teacher’s school, there’s a group where former students can chat and ask questions. Recently, I faced a negative issue related to my business and asked the group for advice. Basically, I didn't post about world issues on my IG account.  Why?  Most people who come to me have some sort of illness or PTSD they are facing down.  It's not easy, and while world issues are important, these people are so inundated at that point in their lives, it does not serve them to see these things and make them more anxious.  Until they get to a certain point in their healing journey, they won't be able to reach out and help others.  

So the problem?  I had some angry virtue signalers to get onto me for not posting about X and Y.  This world is tumultous and there will always be X and Y, but I wanted to ask the group and my instructor the best way to respond to this. 

The teacher responded by accusing me of lowering the group's vibrations with my post and lectured me on how they had covered this topic on their YouTube channel back in 2019. I wasn’t even a student until 2021, so it was unreasonable to expect I had watched a video from years before. I asked a straightforward question—no whining—unlike this blog post. The response made me feel ashamed, even though my concern was legitimate and as a paying student, I had a right to ask. How can we be good healers if we only discuss rainbows and puppies?

It’s a cliché, but rainbows do come at the end of the storm.

Healing Can Be Mundane

As a healer, I often find myself annoyed by the constant emphasis on deep breathing and meditation. Once, I watched a video of a spiritual influencer in the Sirsasana position, talking about how she practiced yoga for 2-3 hours a day while urging her followers to do the same and incorporate meditation. It felt off. I felt bad about myself after watching it. I can't do a headstand! She made it seem so easy, with an unspoken attitude that we were all inadequate until we could attain her yogic level and dedicate as many hours to spiritual practice.

And deep breathing... I honestly dislike it. I practice it online with Wim Hof because he’s so relatable, but I hate every second. Does that make me less spiritual or unenlightened? Absolutely not. It’s also frustrating to hear that we should meditate our entire lives away. For goodness' sake, why all the meditation? I’m certified in meditation coaching and I do meditate, but I understand that people don’t have six hours a day. Some coaches brag about this. Sure, they can afford to because it’s their profession, but for the rest of the world, let’s be realistic. Breathe deeply, meditate, and if you enjoy it, do some yoga! Just know you’re not expected to quit your job for it, and you won’t love every moment. Sometimes you will, and other times it will be challenging. That’s okay.

Did you know there are many ways to de-stress and connect with your higher self? It doesn’t have to look like a Gaia network advertisement to be on the spiritual path. It’s about your approach. 

Here’s a list of simple activities that can serve as spiritual mediums to bring you peace, connection, and easier communication with your higher self:

• Going to the hairdresser
• Doing any form of art
• Going for a walk
• Photography
• Working on a puzzle/crossword/Sudoku
• Reading
• Family time
• Cuddling with your partner or pets
• Going to the spa
• Swimming
• Cooking
• Intentional bathing
• Gardening
• Sitting at a café
• Game night
• Playing a sport
• Listening to music

Continue to carve out time for deep breathing and meditation, but realize it doesn’t have to dominate your life to be spiritual. You are not less than those coaches who make you feel inadequate.

With intention, we can transform all the above activities into spiritual experiences. I’ve had some of my most profound thoughts and epiphanies while engaged in these activities. I also have an unconventional approach to meditation. I’m not really into whale sounds. I prefer a good theme that takes me on an adventure as I connect with my higher self or guides. I don’t resonate with all the "love and light, in and out" stuff. We are all different, and that’s okay. We have to find what works for us, and there is no shame in diverging from the mainstream. There are many paths up the mountain, my friends.

 

 

Healing Through Art

During my training, I learned to teach art as a healing process. Initially, I didn’t think I would incorporate it into my own healing journey, but after some reflection, I thought, why not? During the lockdowns, I organized a few art journaling sessions where we worked through our negative feelings about the world by creating journal pages. We even made entire art journals from scraps found around our homes. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of the journal, but I will get some taken ASAP!

 

 

My personal process involves repetition in shapes and forms, with the teardrop being a favorite. Most of my pieces are created with a combination of acrylic, watercolor, colored pencils, and oil pastels. I love to finish my pieces with metallic gold pigments. There is something meditative about repetition, which is why mandalas are another favorite of mine. I could get lost in one for hours.

 

I’m currently developing a course on making art journals, much more in-depth than what we did on Instagram during the lockdowns. I might even give it a cool name like "Grimoire Making 101." We will fill the journals with our artwork, and I will show you that mistakes and sloppiness can be part of the process. There are too many glamorous art courses out there that only show clean art tables and polished works, but even the best artists have pieces they never showed anyone and often end up with paint in their ears and hair, and smeared across their tables.  

 

 

I aim to offer my courses at super affordable prices while still providing top-quality content. My meditation teacher, one of the best in the field, only charged £20 for his course. He’s an inspiration to me. We are living in tough times, and art is a way to bring us together and infuse a little joy into our lives. I want to make this accessible to you while also being able to sustain myself. I’d do it for free if I could! If I ever win a substantial sum, I’ll provide top content for free, but until then, a little support would help put food on my table.

 

I will also share links to my favorite art supplies, ranging from expensive to very affordable. You can even dig into your kid’s supplies if you like. You can also create paints with natural materials like clay and berries.

My biggest obstacle is setting up the camera on the tripod and filming at a good angle. Seriously, that is my setback. I’m working on it. There are lots of irons in the fire right now, but I’m going to get things done!

Untangle Yourself

The idea of untangling ourselves from everything can be daunting for many reasons, but it appears to be one solid path to inner freedom — a freedom that resonates deeply within your soul.

When we free ourselves from these entanglements, we liberate our mental energy, allowing us to make decisions that align more closely with our true selves. It’s often surprising how much mental space is occupied until we clear away the excess. I challenge you to release anything that’s occupying space in your mind. It’s a profound detox, and if you’re feeling drained in life, consider taking a month-long break from these distractions and then reassess.

Take a hiatus from social media, politics, religion, draining friends and relatives, and even consider untangling your energetic connection from your partner if necessary. This doesn’t mean abandoning your responsibilities or leaving your partner; rather, it’s about stepping back from relationship intensity to prevent mutual depletion. Sometimes, this pause can benefit both parties.

After unplugging, you might find yourself asking, "What now?" You’ll be amazed at how much mental and emotional space has been freed up. This is the perfect time to pursue that course you’ve always wanted to take, return to Pilates, read that book, or embark on a solo trip.

I want this blog to be a resource for my readers, but I recently embarked on this journey myself, and it wasn’t until a few days ago that it hit me profoundly. For years, Instagram had been a significant energy drain for me. Despite frequent advice that I was too sensitive or that it was a necessary evil for running a business, I’ve realized that if something makes you feel this way, you are not too sensitive, and it isn’t necessary. The app consumed so much of my energy that it was detracting from both my business and personal life.

Firstly, there’s the constant bickering and cancel culture, which is relentless and never-ending. Secondly, the algorithm changes so frequently that it’s nearly impossible for smaller creators to gain visibility. Lastly, the time spent doom-scrolling is a significant issue. Although I disliked the app, I found myself trapped in a cycle of scrolling through cute cat videos, which led to exposure to more negative content. That’s when the obvious solution hit me: DELETE THE APP and move on. Freeing up that energy allows me to focus on my clients and other meaningful activities.

I was initially worried about losing the few followers I had on Instagram, but once I made the decision to leave, the relief was so profound that it brought me to tears. It may seem trivial, but such a healthy release can be incredibly powerful.

Repeating the same actions and expecting different results is the definition of insanity, and I was driving myself to that brink. Now, I can focus on more rewarding endeavors, like blogging and developing courses for you all.

If something is draining you or holding you back, let it go and embrace the freedom that comes with release.

Here's to Awesome Possum Change

Social media has effectively overshadowed traditional blogging. Despite my efforts to run my business and promote it on Instagram and Facebook, I found myself stuck in a frustrating cycle of algorithmic challenges, making little progress. It was only when I realized how much I missed blogging—sharing thoughts, photos, and ideas—that I knew I needed to return to it. While platforms like Blogger might seem outdated to some, I’m hopeful for a resurgence of interest. Many are starting to recognize the manipulative algorithms, pervasive bots, and constant conflicts that plague these apps. The commercialized chaos on social media is overwhelming, and my focus—and yours—would be better spent elsewhere. Be courageous enough to break free, my friends!

I have exciting plans for the coming months, including new classes, monthly subscriptions, and even a podcast! I’m thrilled to offer both in-person and distance healing sessions, teach you how to heal through art and color, and launch a podcast featuring advice from myself and other experts in the alternative healing field.

Stay tuned, friends!