culture
The Power Of Creativity To Transform And Heal
Creative play is a crack, or a doorway into another part of ourselves… into our intuitive and spiritual nature. To explore our creativity is to open that door of possibility.
It is easy to doubt our creativity when we compare ourselves to others, and to great artists of the past. Through their life stories and work, the master artists left reminders, showing us that creativity is not something we are taught, but rather something we are. Tapping into this is about experiencing this for ourselves, in whatever form that may be.
I took up painting as a hobby in my late 20s. It began as a desire to learn to paint, although I held the belief that I wasn’t really creative, given my Finance and Accounting background. I had never considered Art to be healing, or that it held personal healing benefits.
At the beginning of my journey, I immersed myself in art books and read about other artists. I also joined a local art group. In class one day, I felt inspired to paint the Buddha. From the moment I picked up my brush to paint him, I could feel a presence by my side and I could see in the blank canvas the face that was to appear, long before it was visible to anyone else. That painting is the piece that changed the direction of my life path, as I embraced my creative and spiritual gifts.
Turning up to a blank canvas, is like saying yes to life and the unknown of what lays on our path. And there are many benefits of saying ‘yes’ to painting. Painting allows us to express ourselves through our work, it allows us a time and space to reflect on our life and the meaning we attached to our experiences.
A Fabulous Life Beyond Limiting Beliefs
Many people go through life without ever questioning, let alone challenging, the limiting beliefs they were taught since childhood. They blindly follow whatever their family, community, or culture prescribe, often without realizing it.
Some of these limiting beliefs have been passed down through generations, remaining unchanged for thousands of years. If we never stop to examine these inherited mindsets, we remain trapped in limited thinking – always confined within the box.
I often find people are stuck in the emotional patterns and thought habits of their parents or grandparents.
For example, those whose families lived through the Great Depression, or who endured scarcity of food, heat, or other basic necessities, may feel compelled to save everything.
What if I need it someday? I paid so much for it, and it’s still perfectly good to keep. What if… what if…
A good example here where I live in the state of Maine is when an old Northeaster storm is supposed to come, bringing in double digit inches of snow.
Some folks then panic and rush to the nearest grocery store and stock up on two or three of the same items, because what if I can’t get out again for two weeks? Which, as a matter of fact, has never happen in my lifetime! Realistically you may only be marooned a day or two at the most in most parts of Maine.
Spirit’s Three-Step Remedy For The Scattered Mind
I love to meditate. It’s my sacred coffee break with the cosmos — the moment when I trade phone pings and to-do lists for the whispers of spirit and the soothing hum of the universe.
Before every session, I set an intention. Usually it is a question I’d like spirit to answer. I think of it as sending a “text message” to the divine and waiting, phone in hand, for the soft chime of truth.
Today’s intention led me straight to the heart of a puzzle that troubles many parents, teachers, and sensitive individuals: Why does Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) seem to be skyrocketing in society?
In classrooms, offices, and even yoga studios, more of us are struggling with scattered focus and mental fatigue. Studies now suggest that our screen-filled, high-pressure lives may be pushing hidden attention problems into a full-blown pandemic.
I felt compelled to ask, “Is there more to the story than brain chemistry and prescription medication?”
After a longer than usual session, I emerged with a couple of journal pages full of insights that felt refreshingly simple, yet profoundly wise.
The first thing I saw in my meditation was a vision of life in the pre-internet age before we had smartphones.
I saw in my mind’s eye neighbors chatting on porches, children riding their bikes in the street until dinnertime, and evenings lit by conversation instead of blue screens. The pace was slower, and people’s nervous systems were calmer.
Trust Your Gut First, Your Heart Second
How do you know that what you are doing is for your highest good? How do you know if what you want out of life is based on your own desires, or if it has been placed there to be achieved by the Universe?
Everyone has a higher purpose in this lifetime and yet many never seek it out or achieve it because the ego starts to become more prominent in their lives instead of their higher self.
When you were born, a deep-seeded life calling was placed within you. As children, we were able to tap into it, always knowing that we wanted to be a fireman, a policeman, a doctor, an astronaut, an artist, a lawyer, a dancer, a scientist, or a princess. Some of us just wanted to help others, even at a very young age. We would be kind, caring, and giving to other people, whether they were children, adults, or seniors.
Unfortunately, this energy has been buried over time by the society and culture we live in – whether it be teachers, parents or mentors.
Has anyone ever laughed at you when you told them what you wanted to do or be? Did someone say, “Go back and think about that, because that will never happen”? Each of us has a different story as to why we do or do not achieve our passion and purpose in life.
Today is the day to decide, “I will achieve my dreams as long as they come from spirit and are for my highest good.
The Freedom To Live Your Truth
Honesty is one of those things we all know is important, but let’s face it — it’s not always the easiest option. Telling the truth often does not win you friends, make your family happy, or help you climb the corporate ladder.
But when you’re on a spiritual journey or facing a karmic reckoning — the truth is everything! It’s not just about being a better person; it’s about living in alignment with your higher self.
Being honest brings a sense of lightness, like a weight lifted from your shoulders. It frees you from the heavy burden of keeping up appearances and the stress of worrying about what others think.
On the other hand, dishonesty — whether it’s a little white lie or a big deception — creates not only tension, guilt, and physical discomfort; it’s a karmic tumor that poisons your soul, fueling a cycle of chaos and imbalance in your life.
Lies and deceit attract confusion, mistrust, and disharmony, disrupts your energy field and throws your whole being out of balance.
This is why it is said that the truth will set you free. You’ve probably heard the saying? It’s been said so many times that it may sound like a cliché, but there is deep wisdom in it. The truth allows us to live without fear, without constantly looking over our shoulder. It brings clarity and peace.
But let’s face it — truth can be scary. We often avoid it because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, rock the boat, or face rejection.
How To Counteract Toxic Technology
The other day I was sitting at a traffic light waiting for the light to turn green, when I noticed something odd. Everyone around me was bowing their heads. For a split second, I thought I was witnessing some kind of miracle. Were they all having a quiet moment of prayer together?
But, of course, no one was praying. They were all glued to their cell phones!
At first I laughed at myself for jumping to such a naive spiritual conclusion. But then it hit me: this tiny snapshot of life says so much about the world we live in today.
We’ve all heard the wild rumors over the years about microchips being implanted in people’s hands, arms, or foreheads. Conspiracy theories and fear-mongering about futuristic technology have kept these ideas on the fringes of our culture and in the back of our minds for decades.
There was a time not so long ago when it still sounded like something out of a science fiction movie, right? But look at us today. We’ve been chipping our pets since the late ’80s. So, is the leap to humans really that far-fetched? Probably not.
And let’s not forget the biblical prophecy of the “mark of the beast” mentioned in the Book of Revelation. What if this predicted dystopia is unfolding right under our noses – but in a much less dramatic way?
Who needs implanted microchips when we are all clutching our smartphones 24/7? That beastly microchip doesn’t need to be under our skin; maybe it’s already permanently in our hands! And it has our full, undivided attention all day long.
Breaking Through The Walls Of Disconnection
Have you felt like you have been talking to brick walls in your relationships lately? If so, rest assured that you are not alone! This issue has been coming up more and more in my readings. Many of my clients complain that they feel like they are not being heard or that they are simply not getting through to people.
Many factors contribute to this feeling. With so many of us addicted to our phones and social media, it’s become very easy to be physically present but mentally elsewhere. This often makes any attempt to have a meaningful conversation feel like it’s taking place in an echo chamber.
We are surrounded by so many distractions these days — constant notifications, endless scrolling, and click-bait videos that often prioritize drama and misinformation over truth and depth. These distractions pull our attention away from what really matters: meaningful connection, both with others and with ourselves.
Modern life is busy and demanding. People are constantly juggling many responsibilities and stresses, and often feel drained or overwhelmed. Many of us rarely have the emotional bandwidth to fully engage in meaningful conversations.
On top of that, people are less likely to have face-to-face conversations, or at least make a phone call, as most communication these days takes place via text messages and social media comments. As a result, there is a growing lack of communication skills and many misunderstandings occur because people have difficulty expressing themselves clearly or actively listening when they are actually having a conversation in person.