Self-Care
The Meditative Art Of Sumi-e Painting
As a spiritual advisor and artist, I’ve always been drawn to the ways in which art and spirituality intersect to offer pathways to deeper self-awareness and tranquility.
One such path that has had a profound impact on my life is Sumi-e painting, also known as suibokuga or ‘ink wash painting.’ It is a traditional Japanese painting technique that uses black ink, typically in varying concentrations, to create brushstroke-based works of art.
Sumi-e is characterized by its minimalism, simplicity, and emphasis on capturing the essence or spirit of the subject rather than its literal representation.
Paintings often feature subjects such as landscapes, flowers, birds and other natural elements. Artists use various brush techniques to create different textures, tones, and depths using only black ink on absorbent paper or silk.
The art form has deep roots in Zen Buddhism, which emphasizes spontaneity, simplicity, and harmony with nature. Practitioners often meditate before painting to cultivate a clear and focused mind, which they believe enhances their ability to express the essence of the subject.
Sumi-e painting has had a significant influence on various art forms, including calligraphy and other East Asian brush painting styles. It continues to be practiced and appreciated for its timeless elegance and ability to evoke profound emotions with seemingly simple brush strokes.
Tarot Forecast May 2024: Judgement
The card for this month is Judgement, which encourages us to rid ourselves of what no longer serves us and to address karmic issues for personal and spiritual growth.
We may especially find ourselves facing the consequences of past actions or decisions this month.
Judgement emphasises the importance of accountability and responsibility, urging us to learn from our experiences and strive for karmic balance. By taking responsibility for our choices, we can break free from negative patterns and create a better future.
This will therefore be a month of reckoning and evaluation. Judgement invites us to reflect on our actions, choices and life path, and challenges us to take responsibility and face any unresolved issues with honesty and courage.
It will be a time of resolution and redemption, allowing us to find closure and make amends for past conflicts or mistakes.
By facing our challenges with integrity and compassion, we can experience inner peace and acceptance, paving the way for healing and growth. It also offers an opportunity for profound transformation and awakening, giving us a fresh start and the chance to embrace new beginnings with optimism and enthusiasm.
The Vibrational Alchemy Of Crystal-Infused Water
I love using crystal water as part of my spiritual practice. Crystal-infused water is an alchemical elixir for harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit.
Using the vibrational properties of crystals, this practice involves infusing water with the subtle energies emitted by carefully selected crystals and gemstones. Drinking crystal water is a powerful healing tool and wonderful for maintaining holistic balance and inner harmony.
I like to drink crystal water only once a week. I do not want to interfere with the body’s energetics every day. This is also a great way to get more water into your body and hydrate.
The use of crystals for healing and spiritual purposes dates back thousands of years, originating in the ancient civilizations, such as Egypt, Greece and China. These cultures believed in the energetic properties of crystals and used them for various purposes, including healing, protection, and spiritual connection.
While there is limited historical documentation that specifically mentions crystal-infused water in ancient traditions, it is evident that the ancients held a deep reverence for both crystals and water in their spiritual, healing, and ceremonial practices. Over time, as the awareness of the metaphysical properties of crystals evolved in modern times, the practice of immersing crystals in water for drinking emerged.
Astrology Forecast April 29 – May 5, 2024
Our sensuality blossoms and relationship stablity becomes a priority today as Venus moves into Taurus, where it will remain for the next month (25 days).
Venus in Taurus is considered one of its most comfortable and powerful positions astrologically, because Venus, the planet of love, beauty and harmony, finds a luxurious home in the sign of Taurus, which is ruled by Venus herself.
Until May 23, this transit will evoke a strong connection to physical comforts such as good food, beautiful surroundings, luxurious fabrics, and pleasant scents. We will enjoy the finer things in life and have a heightened sense of beauty and harmony in our surroundings.
Venus in Taurus also inspires a strong appreciation of the natural world, so we will enjoy spending more time outdoors, gardening or engaging in activities that bring us closer to the earth.
More importantly, Taurus is a stable and grounded sign, and when Venus is placed here, it brings stability and reliability to romantic relationships, which bodes well for long-term commitments in the coming weeks. Many of us will be willing to invest more time and effort into building a solid foundation for our relationships.
Astrology Forecast April 22 – 28, 2024
Buckle up for some turbulence today! The Libra Moon’s opposition to Mercury in Aries this morning will create some tension between our emotions and our communication styles.
The Moon in Libra tends to promote harmony, diplomacy, and a desire for fairness in our emotional responses. On the other hand, Mercury in Aries is more assertive, direct, and focused on individual needs and desires. This opposition can create a conflict between our need for emotional balance and our desire to express ourselves assertively.
We may struggle today to find the right words to express ourselves, or to strike a balance between being assertive and considerate in our interactions with others. This will be made worse by Mercury Retrograde in its final lap.
This evening, a Libra Moon opposition to Venus in Aries will prolong the tension between head and heart, leaving us feeling insecure and unbalanced. Libra seeks harmony, balance and compromise, while Aries prioritizes individual needs over compromise. This opposition can create tension between the need for emotional balance and the desire for assertiveness and independence. It may not be easy to reconcile your emotions with your rational desires and needs.
There is a Full Moon in Scorpio tomorrow, which will have the greatest impact on the water and earth signs. Full moons are a time of release, and with Mercury retrograde about to end, we will see a lot of endings this week as we prepare to enter a new cycle of being. The Scorpio Moon will continue to rule the skies until Thursday, calling us to go inside and examine what no longer serves us and what we want to keep in our lives.
Mercury turns direct on Thursday, but remember to give the lingering after-effects of retrograde a wide berth until at least May 1st, when the shadow period ends and the remaining energies return to balance.
A more lighthearted energy fills the air under the Sagittarius Moon on Friday and Saturday, where we can focus on the joys in our lives. We’ll experience a new sense of freedom and a genuine sense of gratitude that will be evident to everyone around us.
Sunday’s Capricorn Moon may call for a time of reckoning, whether it’s taking stock of our finances or our physical health, both of which could use a rebalancing!
Grieving The Loss Of Loved Ones With Grace
Few of us have not experienced the loss of a loved one, a parent, a partner or even a child. Most of us have also witnessed or experienced the many ways in which people try to cope with such an insurmountable loss.
Coping with the huge gaping hole that such a loss leaves in our lives can have a negative impact on people’s behaviour. Some turn to extremes: alcohol, drug abuse, overeating, prescription drugs, or any of the other things people use to numb their pain and deflect the overwhelming feelings associated with loss and grief.
What we ultimately learn is that there is no set time frame in which such profound pain can be dealt with. It can take weeks, months, years or even decades for some. But even when the worst is over, we never really get over the sense of loss. We simply learn to cope and get on with our lives, forever changed, as best we can.
However, the greatest tribute we can pay the loved ones we have lost is to grieve with grace and dignity. Abusing substances or indulging in other distractions may temporarily numb our pain, but how does that honour the memory of the one we professed to care so much about? It also does not allow us to confront and process our emotions in a healthy and constructive manner. Grieving is natural and necessary. When we try to avoid our grief, we miss out on opportunities for personal growth, self-reflection, and ultimately finding peace with the loss.
Astrology Forecast April 15 – 21, 2024
The week begins with a Cancer Half Moon today, meaning the Moon is at a 90-degree angle to the Sun. This lunar energy brings focus to issues of emotional and security needs, as Cancer is associated with home, family, and emotional nourishment.
Cancer is ruled by the Moon, so emotions tend to run high during this phase. We may be more sensitive, intuitive and introspective. We will also be more focused on domestic matters, and there may be a greater need for emotional support and connection with others.
Given Cancer’s focus on personal life, this lunar phase may make balancing work and home life more challenging. Emotional distractions and an increased need for security could affect productivity or interactions with colleagues. Rather than focusing on work, we may instead be preoccupied with issues of comfort, care, and connection with others, especially family members.
The emotional intensity of this phase can also lead to conflict, both in personal relationships and in public. It’s important to be aware of your words and actions. The protective and sometimes possessive nature of Cancer energy can also cause tension if not handled with awareness and compassion. Given the potential for heightened emotions and sensitivity, taking a moment to reflect before responding to challenges can prevent misunderstandings and conflict.