I used to think that Blues music all sounded the same and was sad. I have since grown very fond of Blues music. To me it fuels my spirit and speaks to my soul. Recently I attended a live Blues music event that hosted several bands through out the day. Like many genres of music there are several styles and variations of the Blues but at the base they have a similar theme.

As I attended this event I was struck by the blues dancers. Just like with the various styles of music, the dances and dancers had many variations as well. Most dances were fairly uninhibited as people displayed their interpretation of the music into dance. Some dancers only shuffled their feet with arms swaying; others were more feet and hip than arm. One dancer crouched down and took small little steps while another near by swirled her arms in reciprocal circles like a swimmer. One thing we all had in common was our smiles. We were a happy group “digging” the Blues.

This witnessing of such inhibition and enjoyment was the inspiration of my writing today; the celebration of movement and how freeing it is. Dance and movement helps us connect with our inner selves and helps us shed the mind or ego. Daily movement can be a great precursor to creative activities and problem solving alike. It helps clear out the unwanted baggage we sometimes carry in our heads that keep us weighed down and small in thought and action. And movement connects us to the hear and now and is a celebration of our physical, emotional and spiritual selves.

The author Julia Cameron of “The Artists way” so strongly believed in this concept that she wrote a book about this topic and using walking as a way of clearing her thoughts to drive inspiration for her writings. It is called Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity. Like Julia I have found that I get stuck in my process at time. So when I need to brainstorm on a creative idea or to problem solve something for work implementing movement into a daily practice can clear that clutter and help me focus and to hear my guidance more sharply.

I have found some people feel inhibited and perhaps embarrassed to dance but there are many ways to move. Julia named one way with walking, and of course there is other exercise such as canoeing, jogging and skiing. But here are a few more to get you feeling this is a doable practice for you.

Five ways that you can begin the practice of using movement in your creative or mind clearing practice are:

1. Start small with simple things like stomping or marching to a heavy drum beat, gradually add an arm swing or clapping. When your mind is a bit muddled try cross marching (taping the opposite hand to opposite knee) is a good way of organizing the Right and Left sides of our brains.
2. Remember skipping? This is a great way of introducing movement and fun; your inner child will smile!
3. Swimming or water play is not only seasonal this time of year but good exercise and fun. Great spiritual cleansing and connections can be made near and in water as well.
4. Shadow movement with a partner, It is a fun way of bringing another into your movement activities and are gender neutral. This is when one mimics or mirrors the other’s movements without touching the other person.
5. Progress to dancing either alone of in a group. If you are shy you can leave the lights off, curtains closed and begin to sway to the music, gradually adding more feet and arms. I like to use music that has lyrics that are in a foreign language as I am not focusing in on what is being said as much as how I feel to the music.

Teresa Van Lanen is a life coach who conducts presentations, seminars, workshops, teleclasses and other events that help people reconnect with their creative spirit and move into more joyful and productive lives. For products and services visit Teresa at www.makingartoflife.com. Sign up for a free quiz to gauge how much creative energy you have and other tips. Follow Teresa on Twitter and Facebook as well.

What’s in your garden? Wind mills, mirror balls, garden gnomes oh my! What’s tacky for some is classy and artistic for others. Wherever you run on this spectrum, gardening is a great way to express creativity.

Gardening is so adaptable too. You can enjoy it in small spaces like apartments to large yards. It can be fully enjoyed alone, in a family setting or in large community groups. They can give us edible and healthy produce as well as olfactory and visual enjoyment.

Just like a great artistic composition your garden can not only mix up colors but textures, heights, and size. Combine these traits to illicit a specific feeling or emotional response. Use reds, oranges with spicy scents to invigorate, and blues, violet tones in sweeter scents to add a calm feeling. At its core gardening is a celebration of life and a connection with Mother Earth so they have both ethereal and grounding qualities to them, which is tricky to reproduce in a non-natural environment.

Beyond the basics of color, texture, and size of plantings here are some other ways to bring your unique brand of creativity to your garden environment.

1. Bring the inside out to create a special space within your garden.
   • Use mirrors, dishes, pottery and furniture to create a vignette in your landscape.
   • On your deck or plant pots or even on trees; use fabric such as ribbon, scarves and flowing fabrics in various ways to jazz up your space.
     Lighting weather solar powered or candles, the use of illumination to enhance your space can really drive home the feel you are going for.
2. Bring Art into your space with a sculpture or paver.
   • Temporary art installations can be a fun and interactive way of bonding with your garden space. By using sticks, rocks, leaves to stack and arrange in ways that are pleasing to you. Sand drawings are a lot of fun as well and can be easily changed daily if you want.
   • Pavers that lead to a special location of just keep your feet out of the mud, either way they are practical and look great. Pavers can be made from so many products including recycled objects in-bedded into concrete. A fun project is to paint a paver with your children or invite them to use sidewalk chalk for that pop of color you are looking for.

   

3. Add sound to your garden space to add to your experience.
   • I love the sound of water in any garden and there are so many options out there ranging from the table top to waterfall. The pocket book is your only limit here with all the choices of size, sight and sound of a water feature. But even colored water set in glasses at different levels on a ledge can be visually interesting and attracting to birds.
   • Music can be piped in of course but it is also great to have a variety of wind producing music in the form of chimes. I enjoy a variety of wood and metal type chimes to mix up the tone and attitude of the music.
   • Create a space in your garden for some “Nature Jams” with nature inspired drums, flutes or shakers. This can be a fabulous way of getting the entire family involved in garden enjoyment.

So as you lay out your garden this year keep all the senses in mind, not only the visual. Texture, sound, smell and taste can be enjoyed in the garden to make it truly interactive and assist in opening your creative spirit.

Teresa Van Lanen is a life coach who conducts presentations, seminars, workshops, teleclasses and other events that help people reconnect with their creative spirit and move into more joyful and productive lives. For products and services visit Teresa at www.makingartoflife.com. Sign up for a free quiz to gauge how much creative energy you have and other tips. Follow Teresa on Twitter and Facebook as well.

I was a participant in a wonderful workshop last year where we used watercolor painting and meditative journaling as part of a spiritual practice. We would participate in various paint techniques and then reflect on the process. This practice is in harmony with what I profess about creativity; in that it is about the process of creating and not the end product.

The instructor who is both a professional artist and spiritual practitioner, would have us allow the paint to dictate what it wanted to become. He would call it the “isthmus” of the paint (the text book definition is that of a narrow passage connecting two cavities). The free flowing quality of the paint slowly emerges and transforms; bridging the controlled world of the ego to the ego-less world of the now.

After one such painting experience I was asked to journal on how the painting was me. I am astounded with how easily the words flowed from my heart and onto the paper. This was my response to that question, “I am freedom; I am flowing and able to become anything you can imagine. I can be changeable and viewed in many ways. Others may try to control me but if I speak loud enough my true essence will shine. I have many shades to me. These shades are without judgment, not good or bad – just are. By having shades I have character, personality and interest. I appeal to all, or to none; it doesn’t matter because I appeal to my own spirit. I am all and nothing at the same time. I am
me – the collective energy and spirit of Teresa.”

I use this as an example to illustrate how painting in this manner frees your restrictions of being caught in your head and helps be in the here and now. It allows a conduit to occur between you and spirit in a meditative process that can be quite profound.

These are some simple steps to achieve the ISTHMUS for yourself:

1. Gather paint supplies such as a school house paint tray, brush and watercolor paper.
2. Tape the paper to a water resistant surface and wet not quite to puddle status.
3. Use one or two colors only from your paint tray (limiting your paint will keep you form thinking too much about how the color will work together).
4. Apply random size swooshes and drops of paint to the paper. Let them spread or bleed into one another, let dry.
5. While this is drying try another technique on another piece of paper. This time do not tape it down but wet it and repeat steps 3 &4. This paper may curl up a bit but that’s OK it will reveal differently than the first technique.
6. After these paintings are dry you can begin exploring what the painting has unveiled to you. Start playing with the edges of the shapes by applying more paint in various places.
7. A good trick is to de-focus your vision to allow the shapes to emerge with less thinking involved.
8. Stop after 15-20 min. and allow time to journal. Explore the process of your paint. Allow the word to flow without edit or judgment.
9. Continue back to the paint and try both styles of painting to see what appeals to your spirit more.
10. Don’t over-work the paint or force it to become something. In this process it is the DOING that is the spiritual practice.

Teresa Van Lanen is a life coach who conducts presentations, seminars, workshops, teleclasses and other events that help people reconnect with their creative spirit and move into more joyful and productive lives. For products and services visit Teresa at www.makingartoflife.com. Sign up for a free quiz to gauge how much creative energy you have and other tips. Follow Teresa on Twitter and Facebook as well.

“Are we there yet?” This is a common saying from youth who travel with family. Even a ride as short as an hour causes young ones to cry out as they are anxious to arrive at their destination. I have experienced trips like this both as a child and then as a parent.

Another common saying about travel takes on another meaning; you know you have heard this one about the road of life being a journey not a destination. I think of these two sayings together as I assisted a friend of mine with a difficult personal situation. She and I have each gone through trials in our lives and generally are pretty quick to see the lessons that we can learn from them.

Back when I first met this friend we both were involved in self exploration. During that time I would have episodes where I felt like I had “arrived” to my destination. Then something would happen to derail me and I knew I needed to get back to it and away I’d go. But every once in awhile I wanted to shout in frustration, “Am I there yet?”
If you have had the frustration of not getting to your destination fast enough, you know if you fixate on this, your trip will feel nearly endless. Use my life travel tips to avoid the feeling of “Am I there yet?”

• Plan your route
  • It sounds so basic but if you don’t know where you want to go, you will never make any headway.
• Have some flexibility
  • Don’t be too rigid with your trip. Life hits you with road bumps and detours, so expect this and be flexible enough to reroute your trip.
  • Being too rigid with plans can cause major delays.
  • Sometimes you may not realize you are on a detour. Once you do though; get reoriented and fuel up so you can get back on track. Once you do though; get reoriented and fuel up so you can get back on track.
• Boost your energy while on your journey
  • Use what fills your spirit; music, talking to friends, chants or aromatherapy.
  • Fill your life spaces with things and people that energize your spirit.
  • Sharing a journey with others will add to fun on your road trip!
• Don’t let other drivers affect you in a negative way
  • When you find you are with others who may be traveling erratically; remove yourself from their negative energy by reinvigorating the passions and energy that fuel your spirit.
  • Tap into your spiritual guidance by using meditation and other practices to help insulate you from other’s energies.
  • It can be as dangerous to try to influence other’s journey as it is to allow other’s to influence yours.
  • Recognize that we each may go our own way and sometimes end up at the same destination in the end.

Looking at my friend’s journey, I know she will be a good traveler. She takes joy in the experiences along the way and learns from the detours and bumps on the path. I am just glad I can share the road with her once in awhile! Safe travels everyone!

How long has it been since you have seen that inner child of yours? That true essence that is inside all of us can be in hibernation, or worse yet, in hiding. It happens as we turn off these feelings and conform to our environment and begin to listen to others rather than to ourselves.

Our inner child likes to have fun and play. This is a part of what makes us who we are and without it there can be an indescribable feeling that something is missing. We need creativity to increase spiritual connections to our original or authentic self. So how do we go about doing this? It begins by investigating the process. Here are some tips you can use to guide you along.

• Think of things you enjoyed doing as a child. What form did your creativity take when you were young? Do a meditation and ask to speak to the child in you. Place yourself into the role of fun, visualize the feeling, then what are you doing? Are you alone or with others? While staying in this place and feeling young and carefree, jot down at least five activities that you enjoyed.
• Let go of false beliefs. Everyone has been criticized about their creativity, whatever form it took. Sometimes this happens so early we are not able to recall the freedom of creativity with criticism. These can be so deeply rooted that we are not consciously aware of what was said or done to form these false beliefs. For others it is right on the surface. Jot down some of what pops into your awareness regarding these false beliefs.
• Be open to change. Replace false beliefs with what is true. The conversion process is not an easy one, for some it takes years of group and individual work. To begin, though, think of the most loving person or entity and put a voice to what they would say to you. Counter the false beliefs with what this loving spirit would TRULY say. Read these back to yourself, this is the reality.
• Let go of the outcome. It is the process of doing that gives us the joy we are seeking. It is the ego that wishes to control the outcome of what we do. So when we were young and carefree, we just loved to dance and draw for the FEELING it gave us. Much of the time it was not meant to be a permanent record of achievement.
• Start small and uncomplicated. As with the last point, I want to begin with the expectation of PROCESS. Begin with no destination in mind. You do not have to buy $300 pain supplies or take expensive dance lessons unless this is truly where your heart leads you. There are many forms of free art in our backyard, so to speak.
• Decide how much time you want to dedicate to the practice of creativity. Be practical for what will work for you. Avoid being too lofty with this goal, as this is a trap some fall into. Instead, carve out a few short sessions, maybe just 3-5 minutes, and build from there. Be spontaneous.
• Structured or unstructured – you need to decide what works best for you. Take a few minutes a day or several minutes – it doesn’t matter. Have a clear intention to be creative during the day.
• Decide what moves you the most. Music, writing, dancing, drawing … Select the form you feel touches your spirit the most, but mix it up occasionally.
• Avoid obstacles that could get in the way of implementing the practice. Get support. Support will give us that added energy to move through creativity. Joining a workshop or group session with like-minded people can be very exhilarating.
• Give yourself positive affirmations and believe in yourself. Be gentle and kind with your creative spirit. Even though it is always there, you are maybe just reintroducing yourself to it. Foster it with kindness.

Teresa Van Lanen is a life coach who conducts presentations, seminars, workshops, teleclasses and other events that help people reconnect with their creative spirit and move into more joyful and productive lives. For products and services visit Teresa at www.makingartoflife.com. Sign up for a free quiz to gauge how much creative energy you have and other tips. Follow Teresa on Twitter and Facebook as well.

Title: My Creative Spirit
Location: The Christine Center
Start Date: 3-30-12
Start Time: 5:00 pm
End Date: 4-1-12
End Time: 12:30 pm

I recently went through a big change in my life. Going through a few days of grieving; I was thinking I had to start all over again. Overall, I was not feeling very good about it. Thinking on this and seeking spiritual guidance led me to a change of heart. Realizing that, no this is not a step back or even a do-over, this was a step forward. Even though my circumstance had changed, it was not necessarily a step back. Once I firmly established this thought I began to feel empowered.

Is this just a matter of semantics? No, not at all. The first way of thinking I described definitely had undertones of helplessness. “Whoa me, I have to start all over!” Instead, I began to feel empowered by knowing that I was stepping forward with a new beginning. Maybe they were baby steps but they still got me moving ahead in a positive direction. The first description was a form of being in a victim role and the other was a role of embracing change. Can you feel the difference in energy, or the energy shift that I made?

It can be easy in times of difficulty or stress to discover that we have allowed ourselves to wallow in the energy of victimhood. But with practice we all can learn to shift from the role of victim to one of empowerment. It does take practice like I said but more than anything it takes an increase of awareness as to what role we may be in.

Use these 14 identifiers to see where you are in these roles:

In the role of victim:

1. You may have dissociated from your feelings and have very little awareness you are here.
2. You are feeling sorry for yourself.
3. You allow others to tell you what is good for you and what you should do.
4. You may compound this feeling by looking for instances to reinforce your victimhood. “These things keep happening so I must not be meant to be happy”.
5. Your energy is low and you engage in self defeating and destructive behaviors (over eating, drinking, increased TV time, either too much or too little sleep).
6. You avoid activities and people you enjoy.
7. You have trouble finding positive solutions to even the simplest of issues.

In the role of empowerment:

1. You are in touch with your spiritual guidance and tap into your positive support system.
2. You begin to feel powerful due to positive actions being taken.
3. You listen to your support but feel strong to actively make your own choices.
4. You easily begin to see that many positive things are right in front of you.
5. You become excited and energized.
6. You do things to reinforce your positive feeling.
7. You easily are able to find alternative solutions to suit your circumstances.

The power of thought and word leads to the power of emotion and action. In a way this reminds me of one of my favorite childhood stories called, “The little engine that could”. Taking an example from this story my new mantra will be from the thought, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can”. To the belief, “I know I can, I know I can, and I am glad I did!”

No, I am not suggesting you wrap yourself only in a big red ribbon. Nor am I suggesting you give yourself away. But wait; let’s think about that for a moment. How many times do we give ourselves to others? Yet do we give the gift of US back to ourselves?

I’d like you to try this exercise. Close your eyes and mediate about someone you love unconditionally. Feel them around you. Hear their laugh. Feel their hugs. What does your heart tell you about this person? Stay in your heart space and keep that feeling while you open your eyes.

Write down as many praises you’d like to say to that person, starting with; “You are special” and “You are loved” or “I love you”.

I hope that there are 300 or more praises on that list. Now get a packet of 3×5 index cards, any color, and cut them in quarters. Transpose one praise to each of these card pieces. When you are done you can wrap this in a box or put a bow on them; decorate it with love. This is your gift.

This is your gift to yourself. You are the gift. You are deserving of your own unconditional love. Maybe you are already there and this gift will be your reminder when you are feeling stressed or low. But maybe you are one of many who are able to give to others and not themselves. Saying something like, “Yes, this is great. Writing these wonderful things about my loved one is easy—What? Wait a minute, it’s for me? Nah, I just don’t see it, that’s conceded.”

If that sounds more like you than you definitely could use a healthy does of unconditional self-love. Still not sure if this sounds like you? Ask yourself a few probing questions:

• Do I tend to call myself names when I make a mistake?
• Do I shy away from meeting new people of trying new things?
• Do I invest in my own personal growth?
• Do I feel worthy of a complement?
• Do I engage in self sabotage?
• Do I participate in unhealthy habits?

Answering yes is an indication that you will want to load up on unconditional self-love; because you are a gift to yourself and to everyone else. Happy Holidays from Teresa and Making art of Life.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, you may be in need of a Creative Intervention:

1. You’re confused about your life in general
2. You’re feeling stuck in your career or relationships
3. You feel you have more potential than you are currently experiencing
4. You need some clarity. What do you need to release to be able to focus on a brighter tomorrow
5. You lack conviction or follow-through with changes or plans
6. You don’t like how you feel emotionally; you’re angry, depressed anxious…
7. Your health is suffering
8. You participate in addictive behavior — food, internet, fear or worry, TV, negativity, are all forms of addictive behavior.
9. You are feeling out of balance or disconnected
10. You are feeling restless or overwhelmed in your personal and professional life

If you replied yes to any one of these, you are a perfect candidate for a creative intervention. So what will a Creative Intervention do for you and what do you do about it?

What will a Creative Intervention do for you?

• It will help you regain an energetic outlook to life’s challenges.
• It will help you reconnect with your inner joy.
• It will help you gain clarity as to what blocks you from achieving your highest potential and happiness.
• It will help you develop tools for continuing a higher level of joy and inner connection.
• It will help you gain a sense of balance.
• It will help you feel that possibilities that you never imagined are open to you.
• It will help you feel that life can be fun and fulfilling.

A Creative Intervention can be something you develop on your own to gain strategies toward your goals. I have found through years of practice that most people find a Creative Intervention in a group setting is even more powerful and easier at the same time.

5 Benefits of being involved in a group retreat or workshop.

1. You are able to relax into the experience of the creative process and as a result are more open to explore what is fun for you.
2. You can use the energy of the group to help catapult your process rather than doing this in isolation.
3. You can help push your boundaries of growth more in a group setting than working alone.
4. You can be an inspiration to others (and visa versa) which boosts our incentive to do even more.
5. You can have your commitment to self-care witnessed in front of others to boost this process.

Some aspect of a Creative Intervention may be the exploration of:

• Letting go of false beliefs. Everyone has been criticized about their creativity, whatever form it took. Sometimes this happens so early we are not able to recall the freedom of creativity with criticism.
• Being open to change. Replace false beliefs with what is true.
• Letting go of the outcome. It is the process of doing that gives us the joy we are seeking. It is the ego that wishes to control the outcome of what we do.
• What moves you the most. Music, writing, dancing, drawing… Select the form you feel touches your spirit the most but mix it up occasionally.
• Avoiding obstacles that could get in the way of implementing the practice. Get support. Support will give us that added energy to move through creativity. Joining a workshop or group session with like-minded people can be very exhilarating.
• Giving yourself positive affirmations and believe in yourself. Be gentle and kind with your creative spirit. Even though it is always there, you are maybe just reintroducing yourself to it. Foster it with kindness.

Teresa Van Lanen is a Life Coach who conducts presentations, seminars, workshops, teleclasses and other events that help people reconnect with their creative spirit and to move into more joyful and productive life. Explore the workshop “Your Creative Spirit” Held at the Christine Center December 2-4^th. For products and services visit Teresa at www.makingartoflife.com. Sign up for a free quiz to gauge how much creative energy you have and other tips. Follow Teresa on Twitter and Facebook as well.

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Last month I introduced information on how color is used in science, medicine and in energetic healing. I discussed the use of different colors with their harmonic waveform vibrations as a way to heal the body and to balance emotions. I also discussed energetic and spiritual healing of color related to the seven basic chakras. Today I am exploring color through the energetic field of auras. This information gathered from author Pamala Oslie and her book “Life Colors” as well as through her interview with Shelley Riutta (from the Global Association of Holistic Psychotherapy) June 30^th  2011 telesumitt.

Like color, auras have been scientifically and spiritually studied. According to Pamala Oslie, auras are electro-magnetic or bio-energy fields that radiate off the body. They are all around the body but even more concentrated around the head. There are specialized cameras that can take photos of one’s aura and there are people that are able to sense auras by sight, vibration or through an emotional response. Many of us have experienced this sense in extremes, someone we are drawn too or others that prickle our senses in warning. Pamala believes that some of us have a naturally heightened aura sense but that anyone can heighten their sensing of auras.

In Pamala’s books, she connects aura colors to daily life such as relationship, careers, natural skills and potential health issues (to name a few).  It helps us understand ourselves a bit better and learn what our potential may be. You can use the information from Pamala’s interview to get a sense of what aura life colors you have, more information found on her website www.AuraColors.com or her books Life Colors and Love Colors.

The first set of aura colors are colors with a physical sense, touch, hands on.

• Reds- very physical, strong willed and bright, passionate, hands-on work.
• Oranges- daredevils, live for risk, love to explore.
• Magentas- outrageous, love to shock people, nonconformist, performing arts.
• Yellows- bring joy and fun, seek out variety and movement, artistic, healers.

The second set of aura colors are colors that are more analytical or mental.

• Tans- there is a variety of tans that range from very practical, stable, reliable to logical, hard workers, to sensitive and drawn to nature. They can do things orderly, step by step, or can get distracted and scattered.
• Greens- a type-A personality very driven and goal directed, they like to learn, to be accomplished and financially successful.

The last set of aura colors are those that are emotionally based.

• Blues- the most emotional of colors. The Blues are loving, nurturing, loyal and have natural intuitive talents. They tend to value love over anything else.
• Violets- dynamic visionary leaders, deep passion and compassion. These people are often healers, therapists, and performers.
• Indigos- tend to be androgynous, they live a new consciousness with high spiritual standards.
• Lavenders- these people tend to drift off in dream worlds, fantasy, they are artistic.
• Crystals- this is a chameleon-like personality, absorbing other auras around them, intelligent, clear aura, requires lots of alone time to regenerate, healers.

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Many of us have more than one aura or overlays of color. Pamala has an extensive questionnaire so you can find out what your life color(s) are. Auras can be used as a healing tool both physically and emotionally as well as seeking more information about who we are and what potential for our natural gifts and talents are.  As you can see from these articles, color has much more power than looking good, although it does that pretty well too.

Teresa Van Lanen is a Life Coach who conducts presentations, seminars, workshops, teleclasses and other events that help people reconnect with their creative spirit and to move into more joyful and productive life. Explore the workshop “Your Creative Spirit” Held at the Christine Center December 2-4^th. For products and services visit Teresa at www.makingartoflife.com. Sign up for a free quiz to gauge how much creative energy you have and other tips. Follow Teresa on Twitter and Facebook as well.

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