Putting Up the Paintings for Open Studio

Posted on July 4, 2017 by Astral Annie

Paintings! Today I’ve been trying to decide what to display in the Hebden Bridge Open Studios event this Friday to Sunday. Too many pictures and way too much energy.

It took me a long time to accept that I could paint. I’ve written about my adventure into psychic art before. About how I had to remove a judgement in my head planted by an art teacher when I was thirteen. And how much I enjoyed rediscovering my love of creating abstract art. Especially when it contains energy channelled through by the Spirit people who work with me. I know that the vibration of each painting will bring healing, love and encouragement to anyone who is open to receive it. That’s why I love selling paintings. Although one or two of them refuse to go.

Like the blue heart I put on the wall this evening. It promptly fell down onto a radiator & got damaged. It hadn’t wanted me to hang it on the wall in the first place. But I thought that painting was ready to go. Or that I could let it go. But it’s back in my office for minor repairs. Let’s face it. It will end up on my wall radiating it’s wisdom at me whilst I work. My paintings definitely have their own minds. Because they are gifts from the Spirit people. So they want the artwork to go where it’s needed. This weekend is going to be interesting then. Who will buy what?

The theme for the paintings is ‘Angel Heart’ and I am delighted to be joined by two fellow artists. Brenda Hodgson and Sharon Mackle.

They have both exhibited their work with me in the past. So the angels and hearts went on the wall today. As I looked at the work on display I felt very blessed to have rediscovered painting. And to share that passion with others is wonderful. Especially in being able to offer encouragement to others. I believe that all of us forget how to play with paint, colour, texture. It’s as if it’s no longer allowed. Because I have become an adult I can’t let myself get messy with paint. Or enjoy splashing and dabbing colour onto paper. Not for any reason other than it’s fun. Yet our work has been fun.

A stressy kind of fun maybe because it’s going on show. But definitely enjoyable. Plus the added bonus of working with higher vibrational energy. It makes a difference to the experience of painting. And I know it makes a difference to the paintings from the feedback people give me. I also love that I can offer demonstrations of how I paint. That’s the fun of the Open Studios. A whole trail of artists studios open for people to have a good look around. To see an artist at work. I love watching someone’s creativity emerge. So I will have my pencils, pad and paints by my side all weekend.

How can life get any better than sharing something you love with people who enjoy creative activity? Time to plan another psychic art workshop I feel!

Day 589 of my blogging challenge

Catching Energy – Psychic Art

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Astral Annie

One of the things I really enjoy doing is letting my psychic senses roam free so I can catch the waves of energy. I like to do this in positive energy places and record my ‘reading’ of the flow by drawing. It’s something I’ve done for a number of years.

I call this way of working Psychic Art. Many people expect that psychic art will be the faces of their loved ones drawn by a medium as a message. That is certainly one way of connecting people to energy, especially of their loved ones. I also like to encourage people to connect for themselves. It doesn’t require any art training on my or anyone else’s part. Only a willingness to be still for a moment and the desire to be catching the energy around us.

In fact, the first time I did this I was the observer of a group who were trying to make Spirit connections. I had been given the job of describing what was happening to the energy flow. My tools were to be the chalks & paper provided by the tutor. Little did she or I know that I would be able to sense the colours of the energy so accurately. I still have that drawing.

And I have been catching the energies again while I’m here in Tenerife. The drawing at the top of the page is from Playa San Marco where I visited this afternoon.

The waves were quite turbulent, nearly good enough for surfing perhaps, with a fierce pull. Standing in the volcanic sand I felt the roar of Mount Teide anchoring the land as the sea pulled in the opposite direction. Some very powerful forces at work! Strip away the houses and what remains is the timeless relationship between the fixed and the flowing. That’s a duality we all have to balance – standing firm or going with the flow. Of course my pastels seems like the right way to capture this tug of war. At the same time there was a harmony in the energy. The water will eventually wear away the rock. The volcanic sand was proof of that. What seems fixed must always give way to change.

My second picture says this too. I’m staying in what was an old monetary. The religious people are long gone. Now it is a set of apartments with a roof terrace. I started the second picture on the roof terrace, inspired by the feeling that time had passed this place by. The hillsides still stood. The building was still there. In some ways people still used the rooms to discover. Perhaps not about themselves. They may be more interested in discovering the island. Yet the relationship between humans and the land we live on found me catching the energy of infinity.

I love this chance to catch the energy. It gives me a way of relating to my life as I feel each shift around me.

Tuning in to what I feel always prompts more thinking, questioning and wondering ‘what if’. Catching this on paper gives me a reminder of my experience too. I find there is a freedom in exploring creative ways to connect with energy, life, emotion. Especially if I find myself stuck with thoughts. Creative work can unstick circular thought patters by providing a space for the subconscious mind to push forward new ideas or options. So I draw and paint with no outcome in mind. No agenda. No judgement.

I’m forward to more creating over the coming days. If you find yourself stuck in your thoughts why not pick up a pencil, grab a piece of paper and doodle, scribble, sketch, draw. A shape and structure doesn’t matter. It doesn’t have to be recognisably anything. Add in some colour and let your energy express itself on the paper in front of you.

Day 307 of my blogging challenge.

Hidden Gem Gallery

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Astral Annie

Today I’ve achieved another dream. My art is on display alongside the artwork of three other people. I have finally managed to formally open my Hidden Gem Art Gallery.

When I rediscovered my passion for painting a few years ago I also had to overcome a lot of blocks. As with my writing, I had a lot of resistance to exploring my artistic creativity, the worst barrier being a judgement I took on board when I was thirteen. Actually getting started was a challenge but I had a great deal of Spirit encouragement. Once I got started I found I was placing all sorts of expectations on myself. Before I could accept my creativity I had to shed those. My true ability was hidden somewhere and I had to find it.

Eventually I began to paint for fun instead of as a task. I played with the acrylics, pastels and pencils. I splashed and splodged. My hands got covered in paint. So did my clothes. Hidden inside me was a passion for trying something new. I started to like what I was painting. I watched pictures emerge as if by magic. I didn’t paint with any kind of plan. What I also realised was that my lovely Energy Being friends were also joining in the fun.

Channeling art is all about vibration not name.

Freeing myself up to flow with the mood made me aware that there was a hidden aspect to what was happening. As I continued to paint as much as I could I noticed that pictures fell into distinct groups. As if different people were painting. I started to recognise the subtle differences when I was painting. The guiding hands weren’t always mine. Interesting things emerged in the pictures. Hidden faces peeped out at me from within the colours and textures.

I don’t ask who is with me. The Energy Being influencing my painting might once have been an artist when human. But it doesn’t matter which human personality. We share the joy of creating with colour and shape. They enjoy infusing the finished product with positive energy. They also helped me to remove the art critic from my shoulder. When I finally stopped trying to judge my artwork I was ready to put it on display.

Going public with my work was a big step outside my comfort zone. For a long time the images remained hidden in folders and on shelves. Until I finally realised that I wanted the energy they contained to be shared by others.

Painting has been a healing journey for me. Returning to a passion for playfulness has opened me to the joy of creating. As my stack of work grew I decided to venture into opening up my studio as part of an event here in Hebden Bridge. Feeling brave but nervous I joined in a weekend of letting people see where I worked and my art. A few people even said they liked some of my work in that first venture. I got a picture displayed in an open art exhibition the same year. These small successes pushed me on. I looked at what I could do next.

Last year I joined the Open Studio event again. More people came. I got some great feedback. I decided that the corridor outside my space could become a mini gallery. Feeling brave once more I asked my landlord for permission to display my artwork outside my rooms. When I got a yes I was over the moon. Up went my paintings. Later in the year I once more sent off my work to see if it would get into the open art exhibition. This time two pieces did. That was a big wow for me. Then one of them won a prize. Double wow!

It gets better and better. The gallery is growing.

I’m now in my third year of putting my art out into the world. I’ve also been running my psychic art workshops for several years too. My art and the workshops have combined to inspired others to have a play. Helping people to find their hidden creativity is so special. So when I was asked to display some of my work at Cafe Lux in Leeds this year I decided that my Hidden Gem Gallery should also be a place for other artists to share their work with the world.

I was delighted to have Sharon Makle of Lavender Witch, Brenda Hodgson of HeartArt and Peter Tiler display their work alongside mine in this year’s Open Studios event. It was also fab that my across the corridor neighbours joined in the fun. We had Hannah’s, Julie’s and Sarah’s work out in the walls too. Lots of people came along to view our little gallery of work. The energy of this small space has been lifted. The creativity is inspiring. We are all bringing beautiful inspirations into being.

I’m working on my next dream. I would love to see more people able to share their work with the world. I feel another workshop or two coming on.

You never know what is hidden inside of you until you explore. I am looking forward to helping more people find their talents and share them with others. I would love you to play with paints or pencils and share the creative wave of energy with me. Please post your art to the comments box so that we can all enjoy being playful once again.

Day 230 of my blogging challenge.

Hebden Bridge Open Studios

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Astral Annie

One of the things I really enjoy is my painting. It’s been lovely to have some of my artwork on display in various places as well as in my own Hidden Gem Art Galley at the Centre. For the last couple of years I’ve also been a participant in our Open Studios event here in Hebden Bridge. Today I’ve been sorting out my own studio so that on 1st, 2nd and 3rd July I will be able to demonstrate psychic art and talk about how it works. I’m also looking forward to people having a go in the mini workshops I’m offering.

Another exciting thing this year is that I have three other artists joining me by exhibiting in the gallery. Sharon Mackle, Brenda Hodgson and Peter Tiler are bringing their own art to the Centre too. We have a range of styles, are inspired in different ways and are passionate about getting our creativity onto canvas and paper. The common thread is our willingness to open up to that creativity and give art a go. I love that when we get into our creative side, when we open to the energy of emotion, we are also opening a spiritual door too. Having worked with Sharon and Brenda before I know that they feel very inspired by their connections to the Earth and Energy Beings. Peter also has a strong connection to the Earth energy which comes into his painting. Stepping out of our everyday view of life, using the energy connections we tap into, brings a powerful hidden message with each piece of work.

I believe art is for everyone to try. I also believe that the value of a piece of art is based on how it connects with the viewer. I believe that pieces which open up an emotional response are a powerful way of reminding us of our humanity. Also of our connection to each other as a community of spirit. As the creator of a picture, drawing, sculpture or any kind of artwork I feel the satisfaction of making something for my own pleasure. If it is also something that connects for another person I’m delighted. My work is mostly abstract because I love the freedom of it not having to look like anything in particular. Colour and shape blend into being anything the viewer wants to see. I find that there are always faces in the work I do. They emerge from the paint in unusual ways. I believe the Energy Beings peep through abstract forms of art to let us know they are there. Generally only people who are open to looking at the world in a different way see the faces.

So I paint because I can. I paint to open myself to creativity. I paint because I am able to express myself to myself. I paint because it releases emotions. I paint to encourage others. I paint to get messy. I paint to have fun. Is it time you started painting too?

Day 211 of my blogging challenge.

Treasure Trove

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Astral Annie

Looking around some shops today there were lots of little treasure to be found. A book of the Goon Show scripts raised a laugh. The pad of watercolour paper reminded me that I wanted to do some drawing this week. A tin for collecting money for our next holiday. The flash of orange colour in a scarf that made me smile. Fresh bread sitting in the bakery waiting to be eaten. This little collection of abundance was there to fill all my needs. Sometimes we forget to notice how wonderful it is that whatever we need is usually close at hand.

Later I was sitting drawing, trying to capture the ideas in my head, feeling the energy of so many beings. I love being able to sit quietly and let their energy fill my aura. Especially as I can sometimes capture the flow of their energy on paper. I returned to painting and drawing late in my life. There were many self-imposed barriers I had to break down so that I could pick up a paintbrush and start to explore my intuitive ability through art. Yet as I allowed myself to “play” with my ability some wonderful painting emerged. The Energy Beings have been happy to inspire me whilst placing their distinct energies into each attempt. They have encouraged me to paint big, paint small, experiment and enjoy being creative. Such a wonderful treasure of colour, movement and inspiration!

The treasure of our own ability is a wonderful, close at hand, gift. Yet we often forget to explore this hidden trove of goodies. As the sun drifted down behind the mountain across the bay I thought about all of the things I now do that would have stayed in the background if I had decided looking for them was too difficult. I connect with Guides which has really improved my life. I bring messages to other people in the hope that it can improve their lives. I am able to self heal and heal others by using Universal energy. I enjoy sining and public speaking. I paint. I write. I have opened a spiritual and holistic Centre. This journey of discovery has no end. I’m continuing to experiment with newly recognised abilities. There is so much more treasure to find.

Have you stopped looking at your own talents? Do you feel that you are accessing everything that you are? Have you forgotten the excitement of finding something new to try? Is it time to get out your ‘Treasure Map’ and look for the surprises hiding within yourself?

Day 193 of my blogging challenge. Written 27th May 2016.

Burst into Blossom

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Astral Annie

After a rather showery start its been a sunny and warmer day. As I walked home I saw the blossom had appeared on the trees. The flowers nodded their heads in the slight breeze. It was an uplifting sight. Even if my hay fever has been very bad all day! Seeing how the trees had burst into flower, almost overnight, I was reminded of a couple of conversations I’ve had today. At the Centre I offer a peaceful space so people can step off the world for a while. There are also groups to give people space and time for reflection and healing. It’s lovely to see people burst into their own blossom as the weeks roll by and they acknowledge what has been troubling them.

We arrive here in this human form with all the potential for a positive life. We have skills and abilities. We want to belong and be part of a community. From the earliest age we learn so that we can adapt and belong. If we are praised we are able to take risks and explore our potential. If we are told we aren’t good enough we shrink into ourselves, perhaps never to take a risk of being ourselves again. As we grow up its hard for us to believe in ourselves if the people around us don’t. We develop an ego mind. A mind that wants to keep us safe. It will interfere in all sorts of clever ways to keep us safe. It doesn’t care if we are miserable or happy. It just wants us safe. It becomes more active if we threaten to burst out and blossom.

The debate that the ego inspires can be really confusing. The fears can be hidden deeply away from our concious mind. Emotions can be stirred up that we thought we had got over long ago. We can once again feel small, inferior or invisible. To burst through the ego restrictions takes a lot of self belief. Not easy when your own mind is telling you that you have little or no value. Perhaps that judgement has been with you for such a long time you have forgotten who said it in the first place. It’s not only family surroundings that affect us. School environment, social groups we go to or society’s values also influence our feelings about ourselves. Today there was a protest about testing 6 year olds for numeracy & literacy. Six year olds have no need of labels, to feel like they are underachieving already or to be classified in this way. Children of such a young age are learning all the time. They are curious and enjoy exploring. Leave them to play, ask the questions their way and follow their interests. At eighteen they will be happy, well rounded citizens ready to burst into blossom, creating for all of us a new future.

It may be a challenge for all of us to burst through our limitations but it is a necessity. How can we enjoy the life we are capable of if we stay wrapped up in the fear the ego creates? I know from my own experiences that changing things requires a lot of effort. If I had stuck with the limitation my art teacher passed on to me at thireteen my beautiful art would never have emerged. I was frightened to paint or draw. I found out I was actually frightened to create because of a throw away comment so long ago. Something I was proud of then, that my family enjoyed me doing, was taken away. My uncertain, scared steps into creating works of art were hedged with the fear that people would laugh at my art. Or that it would be judged and found lacking. Yet the pressure to create kept building inside of me. One day the paintings burst out. Almost overnight like the trees today. I realised that I loved painting. That each piece was a personal victory over my ego. Years later I happily describe myself as an artist. I have blossomed.

Where in your life are you the budding tree? What abilities are pressing to burst out of you, to flower, to blossom? What is your ego saying? How much is it holding you back from contribution your uniqueness to the world? The flowers bloom. The force of Nature makes it so. Be the force of Nature in your own life. Embrace all of your skills, talents and abilities and share them with us. The people who are a true part of your community will love you for the efforts you are making. They will encourage your steps out of your comfort zone. They will be as proud of you as you can be of yourself when you are in full bloom.

Day 169 of my blogging challenge.

Waiting is frustrating!

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Astral Annie

Today has been the end of a long waiting period. Slowly over the past few months, one by one, my requests to the Universe have been sent to me. There have been times when waiting has seemed like an endless impossibility. Yet all I have been able to do is wait. Never the most patient of people I used to expect my wish list to come flying in as soon as I asked for it. After all I was very clear about what I wanted! I love that my Guides have helped me to learn to wait. And I kick against it still too ?

They know I can feel when the leading edge of something exciting is around me. After all I read energy for a living. When I’ve asked ‘is it time?’ or ‘is it now? or ‘when will it happen’ they have stayed silent. Sometimes I’ve tried to pick a fight with them about when it’s going to happen. I’ve told them they are being smug because they know my timeline and I don’t yet. The remind me that my Spirit evolution isn’t served by remembering the plan I made when in the Spirit World. I have to navigate this life as mostly human. I’ve asked them what the point is of being able to read energy if I can’t get an accurate grip on my future possible. They smile and say I can use it to read for others and that way I will stay on plan. Sometimes to encourage me they have given me broad outlines with hazy detail. Sometimes they have resisted all my prompts and said nothing at all. And every once in a while, usually a few hours before something happens, they have given me the detail.

I have slowly been building my collection of channelled art. I have several painters who work with me on different collections. Of course, the Earth’s ArchAngels all wanted their energy vibrations painting so I could learn to recognise when they were around. I’ve had success with paintings of Dareshiel & two inspired by Shimea in our local Open Art competition. I also work with a Guide who paints crystal vibrations – again so people can have that vibrational energy around them even if they aren’t drawn to crystals – so there is the Crystal Gazing collection. And I have another called The Night Garden inspired by a keen gardener who loves to reconnect people with Mother Earth. I have wanted to share all of this work with people because I know the colour, shape and energy vibration will have meaning for someone.

I have had a couple of articles locally in newspapers and last December some of my ArchAngel paintings featured in Spirit & Destiny magazine. They reviewed one of my Earth ArchAngel workshops where we do some painting. That article took seven months to be produced in print. I found the process frustrating because I had assumed that magazines printed on a shorter timeframe. I was on the point of giving up when the magazine told me the print dates. My Guides had quite a laugh when I had to say sorry to them. You see I had assumed by then that the prompting my Guides had given me to do the piece in the first place had been wrong. In fact I had mostly convinced myself that next time I should ignore my Guides and not bother. If I had given up the next piece of the jigsaw would have zoomed away from me.

Ages ago a lovely friend of mine asked if I would like to display some of my artwork in a cafe space. I said yes, sent off the info and forgot to put the dates in my 2016 diary. A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Kindred Spirit magazine (through my lovely friend Brenda at Blackwood Communications) as they were featuring my channelled art in the March/April issue. I was rather stunned because the piece Brenda had emailed them about me was at least 12 months ago. The main painting they wanted to use was ArchAngel Dareshiel of course. He’s already enjoyed being in the public eye. So I was amazed today to be contacted about my cafe display. It’s from next week and could I get my paintings over to them asap. Cue the ArchAngels, crystals and flowers all shouting in the energy that they wanted to go on display!

So the plan is really coming together. I wanted people to be able to enjoy and share the energy vibrations that end up in my paintings. Now they will, at a time that is right for them and me. Too soon and I would have been less confident about my artwork. In fact I might have turned these lovely experiences down altogether. Too late and I would have put my paint brushes away so that I could get on with other work. Now is the perfect timing. Not only for me. I know that the energy Dareshiel and the others bring is necessary and an encouragement to others. We need to find our individual Spirit Light so we can shine and make it active in the world. We are building a global community of Spirit so that we can change the world.

Changing the world will take mega patience. We will have to be prepared to wait, wait and wait some more. We will have to remember that each and every one of us has talents to share. We will need to be brave and bring our skills out into the public so that the Universe can deliver all of our wishes. Dreams do come true. Wishes are honoured. Not always in the way we expect or demand. If you develop a positive attitude to waiting, loose the frustration and remember your own efforts will deliver the dreams to your doorstep it can all,happen much, much sooner than you think.

Day 109 of my blogging challenge.

Art for Psychics

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Astral Annie

Today my blog is a little bit different. I aim to write every day but have said very little about my Art work. I like to work in abstract when I paint so that the meaning, feeling and images can emerge for the person who is looking at each piece. Working with the energy channeled from Energy Beings I believe my abstract work encourages the viewer to use their clairvoyance too. The pictures are full of faces – some easy to spot, some only visible with a side glance and some art faces only emerge after a long time.

So today, rather than describe my work in words, I’ve posted some of my art work below. Take a look at the images and let me know what you see in each one. Or how each one makes you feel. What thoughts arise as you look at the pictures? When the Spirit world get involved in producing art it’s because they want to give you a message. Paying attention to what you think, feel, remember or which picture you are most drawn to is a way to connect with the message. Think about your reactions. Perhaps write them down. Sometimes the message is much more than you feel it is at first. Or get your own pencils, pens, paints out and start drawing too. Any images or colours could be your Guides making their connection with you stronger. A creative mind is more flexible at accepting information a rational mind can often reject.

Step back from whatever you produce. It doesn’t have to be perfect, the Mona Lisa or anything to please other people. Have fun. Get messy. Enjoy the space you are creating for inspiration to emerge. You might even surprise yourself!

Pastel on paper. Inspired by Earth’s ArchAngel Shimea

Acrylic on Canvas. Inspired by Crystal Guide

Acrylic on Canvas. Inspired by Goddess energy

Acrylic on Canvas. Inspired by Earth’s ArchAngel Shimea

Acrylic on Canvas. Inspired by my Crystal Guide

Acrylic on canvas. Inspired by my Crystal Guide

Prints & artwork can be purchased from Growth Into Awareness – email for more details.

Day 69 of my blogging challenge.

Creative healing

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Astral Annie

CWiNm_EWEAAtVDy I’m still at the office tonight to write my blog. When I say office I mean a large room that serves as an art studio combined with desk space, shelves and storage cupboards. It’s large enough for a sofa & chair and 2 art tables. Paintings are stacked against every available vertical space. They litter the floor. I regularly walk around messy piles of ‘stuff’ including candles, Earth’s ArchAngel products, notice boards and screens. It’s all in motion – one piece of something moves to another pile of something until it’s the time for it to be made into something else. I love that it’s this way. My creative mind loves to link very odd things together to make something that makes sense – at least to me, lol. So I’ve had a pleasant hour at the end of my day framing some of my artwork so it can be sold. It’s time to send the wonderful energy in the pictures out into the wider world!

It’s taken me a long time to find the confidence to shout about my paintings. Although I’ve run countless Psychic Art workshops & painting the energy is a theme in the Earth’s ArchAngels workshops it isn’t until now that I can say I’m proud of my artistic ability. Having the paintings featured as part of an article in Spirit & Destiny magazine this month was a big boost. Listening to my Guides encourage and work with me has helped. The wonderful energy blasts from the ArchAngels, Spirits and Elementals has helped. However, I’ve realised that until I accepted all the feedback I’d been getting I was lacking self-belief. No one else could make me believe in myself. I had to choose to do so. And it wasn’t an easy choice.

One of the themes today has been feedback. I gave & received comments to & from several people. Sharing in another person’s view of you is a vital source of info. Not to beat yourself up about. But to recognise what you did well and what didn’t work as you expected. Running a Centre, or any business for that matter, relies on how people view the services you provide. So it’s important to listen. Not to debate or defend or to dismiss what is said. It’s vital to understand the other person’s point of view as you might be able to make changes that bring you both closer to a shared understanding and agreement. I’ve found that this is also the case in other areas of my life, like my painting or my messages, where I’m providing a service or a product.

So where does healing come into this blog? I’ve had some lovely comments about the way in which my Centre has been the basis for changing someone’s life. As I listened to what they said I realised that something that had been offered in the Centre had started them on a healing journey. It could have been one or many of our services that energised a life changing choice for this person. Making the choice to do things differently has resulted in a flow of such abundance that this person is well on the way to a totally transformed life. There is one key thing I feel we did though. We gave acknowledgement to this person, we gave a listening ear and we shared encouragement in our support. Every life change, every step back into old patterns, every new idea and every positive choice. From this journey there has emerged someone confident enough to keep making the changes needed. Who is now talking about exploring more creative activities to connect with the spiritual side of life.

I understand this very well. I have made an active choice to paint so that I can explore my own creativity in a different way. Painting has helped me heal from stuck emotions. Painting has opened me up to energy sources I never dreamed of. Painting has strengthened my clairvoyance – I see all sorts of faces in my abstract work. At the beginning it was hard though. I judged every attempt. I was my own worst critic. Even when I knew the work was being channelled through me from the Energy Beings. I had to get over myself and get over wanting the picture to be perfect. I also had to get over believing that a good picture has to look like something. The magic of this is that as I worked through my issues with being creative with paint I also worked through those issues across the rest of my life.

Healing happens when we choose to focus on the good in us. That isn’t to say it’s an easy task. Find something creative to do. Let yourself recognise that you will make judgements about your skills & ability. Let yourself play, create, enjoy and find even more wonderful skills & ability inside yourself. Start to listen to the positive feedback you get from others, accept it and listen out for more. Let your own creativity be your way of healing your life!

Day 32 of my blogging challenge.

My psychic life: Day 17

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Astral Annie

Reeds in Rain

Yesterday I tidied my desk & made some more space. I’m trying to resist filling all the space as quickly as possible. The urge to cover the desk in all sorts of bits & bobs is really strong. When I notice a strong feeling I usually try to decipher what it’s really about. I actually love a tidy work space in between the times when I’m being creative. Or if not the whole workspace at least the desk, lol. So what is it in me that needs me to fill all that space up? Is it to convince myself that I’m busy holding down a ‘serious’ job? Is it that, as a child, our family home was generally a very tidy place? Am I trying to impose order on chaos so I can feel more in control?

Of course it could be all of the above & more. On a Thursday at the Centre I run a Healing Meditation group. I set the room up in a circle but am often prompted to add in crystals, oracle cards or scented candles to a small part of the window sill that has become my altar. An altar is a useful focal point for the intention to bring in the healing energy as each person meditates. It translates the thought into a concrete reality. I love running this group as I often get insights myself when I am guiding the meditation. That’s because I have no idea what I’m going to say before I start to say it. In this hour I let my Guides download the word pictures that will help the people in the group get what they most need in that session.

Today we went to a garden to sit for a while and to meet a guide. It was also a place where the stuck energy could float off into the air like wisps of smoke. Part of the mediation was about allowing the empty space left by the release of this energy to be filled up with healing energy. And for us to recognise that the plants, trees, the Earth herself could absorb that energy and send it back as a living, growing garden for us. Transforming from one vibration to the next is an easy flow if we let ourselves go with it. After the meditation I thought about the space on my desk. Perhaps I try to cover the space because I’m not comfortable with the creative space it leaves me. After all, if I have room on my desk I can fill it or not. I have a choice. What I appreciate is that the space on my desk is never static. Books move around, pens scatter & regroup, jotters & paper chase each other from point to point. All of this movement requires there to be the space to move into. Like a garden, my desk needs places for things to be planted, to grow & to be discarded.

Encouraged by these thoughts I got out my paper & pastels. I sat for a while drawing. Out of the next creative hour I was able to gift a picture to one of the mediation participants, I had a picture for myself & I had two pictures from the garden (see Reeds in Rain above). I realise now that the space within (and on my desk) is a valuable part of my creative process. However, a lengthy period of my life has been hedged around with the commandment Thou Shalt Not Create Unless We Approve. Allowing my creativity to flow is has been harder because I have followed that inner commandment to the letter. That is why the space on my desk is scary. I have to go against that conditioned state, to cut myself free of the restraint and to dare to be myself.

I’m delighted to say that my desk still has space this evening & my room is still messy!

Annie Conboy

Down 2 Earth in everything she does!

Tag Archives: psychic art