Monthly Archives: October 2012

Becoming Real

Once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always. ~Margery Williams 

Being a lover of bunnies, make-believe, dreaming, hoping, loving, nurturing the child within, and authenticity I was inspired to share one of Sarah Ban Breathnach’s inspirational stories from her book: Simple Abundance – A Daybook of Comfort and Joy.

When I was a child I had more stuffed animals than I could count and I easily entertained myself for hours singing, playing, talking with, and simply loving them in my made up fantasy reality I went to daily. I was often off in another world completely consumed by the reality I created each day. I didn’t need any outside stimulation, although I often experienced much, and many friends, from the other worlds, but to me this was the authentic experience mirroring what was within- I knew nothing else.

I continued throughout my childhood, pre-teen and teenage years marching to the beat of my own drum and remaining in a reality of my own creation. Life was simply different for me, than what I saw around me, but this was something that as a child was so natural. But as time moved on and I was exposed to different things and conditionings than what I knew of as my experience, the inner dialogue started to ask questions and try to understand the differences I experienced from others.

This can be challenging to work through and process, but in the end I always came back to the fact that my natural experience of “different” was “normal” and most comfortable and authentic to who I was in my heart and soul and I didn’t like, nor operated successfully or healthily, any other way. When love came to be my experience, on a conscious level of creative choice, for and about who I was despite what I saw, felt, heard, or what anyone else would tell me, my life became “real.”

And this continues to expand exponentially and what may have at one time looked like make-believe, is belief in the making – my reality manifested.

This one in particular story by Sarah Ban Breathnach warms my heart because of the elements dear to me it holds. I hope it does the same for you. It builds on a precious story many of us know from our childhood: The Velveteen Rabbit. Here is Sarah’s sharing:

On Christmas morning the bunny sitting in the top of the Boy’s stocking with a sprig of holly between his paws looked quite splendid. He was fat and bunchy in all the right places, with a soft, spotted white-and-brown coat, thread whiskers, and ears lined in pink sateen. The Boy was enchanted and played with the rabbit for two whole hours until family directed his attention to all the other wonderful parcels lying under the tree “and in the excitement of looking at all the new presents the Velveteen Rabbit was forgotten.”

For a long time, the bunny remained just another plaything in the nursery. But he didn’t mind because he was able to carry on long, philosophical discussions with the old Skin Horse who was very old, wise, and experienced in the strange ways of nursery magic. One of the rabbit’s favorite topics of conversation was on becoming “Real.” Here is the heart of Margery Williams’s mystical tale of the transformative power of love, The Velveteen Rabbit, written in 1927.

The Skin Horse patiently explained to the bunny that “Real isn’t how you are made. It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

Becoming Real doesn’t happen overnight to toys or people. “Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

In order for toys to become Real, they must be loved by a child. In order for us to become Real, we must become lovers of real life in all its complexity and uncertainty. Like the Velveteen Rabbit, we long to become Real, to know what authenticity feels like. Sometimes this hurts. The thought of losing our whiskers and having our tail come unsewn is frightening. In a world that judges by appearances, it’s embarrassing having all the pink rubbed off your nose. The Velveteen Rabbit isn’t alone in wishing to become Real without any uncomfortable or unpleasant things happening.

One of the ways that we become Real without too much discomfort is by growing gradually into our authenticity. As you learn to acknowledge, accept, and appreciate what it is that makes you different from all the other toys in the cupboard, the process begins. As you learn to trust the wisdom of your heart and make creative choices based on what you know is right for you, process becomes progress. As you learn to endow even the smallest moment of each day with Love, progress becomes reality perfected. Your black-button eyes might have lost their polish, but now these windows to the soul see only beauty. You become not only Real to those who know and love you, but Real to everyone. You become authentic.

I finished typing this blog at 11:11 🙂

Upcoming November Events Celebrating Art & Compassion

Tania Marie at Circa 92 Art Opening

I’m really excited to announce the debut of my new series, Universal ARKitecture to be included in the upcoming art exhibit at THE LIBERTY Gallery. All details below, including a compassionate Thanksgiving event and silent auction I’ve donated my services of creating a personally meaningful, vegan-inspired tattoo to.

Ménage MIXED…An Evening of ART+MUSIC+ WINE!!! featuring the Jill Warren Trio:

THE LIBERTY Art Gallery is turning 1 year old in November and I’m honored to be part of their special group, 4-week art exhibit in celebration of this and the creative arts. The evening will include amazing art, artists, live music, tarot readings, food and beverages, and fun.

There will be two celebrations to include an Opening and Closing Reception, each including all the same mentioned. If in the Los Angeles or Orange County area I hope you can join us for one of these events. Unfortunately, I will be away on vacation for the Opening, but will have my partner, Allison Jacobson there representing my work. The Opening is Saturday 11/10 and the Closing (which I WILL attend) is Saturday 12/8.

This provides opportunity if one date doesn’t work, to still be able to catch my pieces live in person, as the experience is so much more than what can be shared online in photos. And of course you can view them during their 4-week exhibit there. However, if you are able to make the 12/8 Closing Reception celebration, I’d love to meet you in person and look forward to connecting there.

This art exhibit will be the first showing of my new series in progress, Universal ARKitecture. All originals will be for sale and of course giclees on canvas and fine art paper are available by order. I’m really excited to share their debut at this awesome event. I will be showing all pieces that are currently completed, likely 8 or 9 by then.

Here are the details for the Opening Reception: (Closing Reception to be announced later)

DATE: Saturday, November 10th from 6PM-10PM

COST: $10 includes exhibit, music, appetizers and desserts

DRINK: Wine, Beer, Soda & Water available

WHERE: THE LIBERTY Art Gallery & Performance Space – 435 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, California 90802

PARKING: Street Parking

ARTISTS:

Jeanine Hill: www.jhillphoto.com

Laura Stegeman: www.laurastegemanimages.com

Tania Marie: www.taniamarie.com

Ed Olen: www.edolenphotography.com

Joseph Bennett

Stephen Blaha

SPECIAL GUEST: Phillip Ritchie: www.phillipritchie.com

MUSIC: The Jill Warren Trio

TAROT CARD READER: Stefanie Medina

2012 Celebration for the Turkeys Event & Silent Auction:

I am happy and honored to also be part of this beautiful event coming up on Sunday, November 11th. Farm Sanctuary will be celebrating Thanksgiving with a compassionate holiday tradition – vegan style! – and in honor of turkeys worldwide and the rescued turkeys who now reside at this sanctuary.

Last year I donated an original farm animal-inspired painting, “Their Wish Come True,” I created for the Farm Sanctuary’s 25th Anniversary Gala event fundraiser in New York City, but this year I decided to give a little closer to home to the Acton location I’ve visited several times and volunteered at.

This year I have donated my tattoo design services to offer a 2 hour vegan-themed tattoo design (worth $250) to the silent auction at Farm Sanctuary’s Animal Acres in Acton, CA. The auction will help raise funds to continue the dedicated work Farm Sanctuary does in rescue, education and advocacy.  

This event will include the Feeding of the Turkeys to provide the rescued turkeys a feast of their own (squash, cranberries and pumpkin pie!), as well as quality time on the sanctuary to meet the animal ambassadors that reside there, inspiring presentations from movement leaders and a vegan holiday feast.

Come celebrate with compassionate people from near and far. This event is one you don’t want to miss!

Registration is $75 and includes admission to the event and a Thanksgiving vegan feast.

You can register here for this event: Acton Celebration for the Turkeys

If you have any questions about these upcoming events you can contact me at tania@taniamarie.com

My Quartz Heart Love Emanator – Custom Crystal Creations that Personally Express You

My Custom Quartz Heart Pendant – Click Image to Enlarge

At Joyful Earth Crystals we specialize in procuring intuitively chosen crystals and stones and creating designs that enhance each crystalline being’s uniqueness.

Today, I’m excited to share a piece that I chose for myself and Allison designed so I could wear it as the pendant I saw it to be. This was no easy feat, as this is one momma of a crystal.

I was led to this giant Quartz Heart that has amazing rainbow inclusions, clarity and potency. It jumped out at me energetically and I also loved its puffy softness and flow. I knew I wanted to wear it on my Heart Chakra. I love its gentle boldness, both in size and energy, and its rainbow spectrum of creative love explosion inside. However, this piece is super heavy and it is 2 11/16″ wide, 2 1/4″ tall and 1″ thick!

This may not sound like much, but I assure you it’s huge and quite dense in weight. For me, that’s not an issue, as I’m used to wearing giant stones, but for designing it created a question mark. I knew Allison could do it and she did!

Those that know me, know I like to wear very bold and big pieces of crystal jewelry, mostly pendants and rings. While this is in theory is an expression of my individual resonance, it also presents a challenge in terms of how to hold a piece of this size and weight securely, while still enhancing and not detracting from the crystal’s beauty.

My Custom Quartz Heart Pendant – Click Image to Enlarge

I’d say Allison did a good job at both. It took a lot of determination, effort and silver, but I now have the pendant I had envisioned wearing when I first purchased this baby. The design is simple, which I like, bold, graceful, and gently cradles the crystal, allowing its essence to come through.

And boy is it potent! I tried it on my choker yesterday, which enabled it to come to rest perfectly on my Higher Heart Chakra, which was very cool, and wow! Quite the energy! It is also versatile to wear on a longer chain to sit on my Solar Plexus if I desire too. It’s quite the piece and I couldn’t be more pleased with my new friend and how it is a perfect, personal expression of me.

The same is what can be achieved for any piece you have in mind. We are able to procure crystals and stones you desire, that match your vibration and needs, or you can supply one to us that you have and we can transform it into a beautiful piece of custom crystal healing jewelry.

If interested in original pieces we have created, you can check out our shop here Joyful Earth Crystals and see if any of the crystals and their energy speak to your personal uniqueness and energetic needs. We will have more new pieces to come, but here’s a sneak peek at one of the newest that just arrived – a Labradorite and Sterling Silver Stardust beaded bracelet!

If you have any questions or would like to commission a custom piece, you can email me here: tania@taniamarie.com or Allison here: lovetransmissions@gmail.com.

Labradorite and Sterling Silver Stardust Bracelet – Click Image to Enlarge

Labradorite and Sterling Silver Stardust Bracelet – Click Image to Enlarge

Rewriting Your Habits – Make “Being” the New Routine

We have learned to make a practice of many things out of habit and yet we aren’t in the habit of “being.”

We also don’t realize how every thing we say, do, think and feel have become habitual, which detracts from our innate abilities to “see.” Without being present in the awareness of the now, you lose conscious awareness that in each moment you actually have the opportunity to choose differently – new ways of speaking, behaving, doing, thinking and feeling – and to turn the tables of perspective. What is “out there” that is bothering you that you aren’t acknowledging “in here” about yourself? Everything has a message.

If you take a moment to briefly view yourself when you are about to do, say, think, or feel something, you can instantly create a powerfully pivotal potential for a probably reality that is more aligned with your natural authenticity.

If you make it a regular practice to choose with conscious awareness then it will become your way of life, just as everything else has so far. We are definitely well-versed in the habits of doing, as in routines we have been conditioned into, and dwelling or brooding, as in holding to or indulging in things rooted in the past or future. Yet, we have simply forgotten how powerful we innately are and how to “be” this.

Everything seems to have this finite quality, that makes no sense in an infinite universe. Is it any wonder why things don’t flow when we operate completely out of context to the realm we are naturally and collectively part of? And the more we don’t have the courage to even be curious about exploring something outside of our comfort zones, the more we blindly follow the herds of other unconscious decision-makers.

Whether conscious or unconscious, it all still is a choice that we make on some level. In any moment we can snap our fingers, pinch our cheeks, shake our heads and say, “This is the moment, I choose to write a new chapter” and then proceed to do so.

Me at the sacred ruins of Machu Picchu

Our ideas of time play a pivotal role as well. Everything seems to have these time limits run by a clock that has nothing to do with the natural harmony of things. It simply creates shackles of stress we carry and become tied to relentlessly, until we realize our ability to break free. Our concepts of time also ingeniously create the reason for “not living for the now,” putting off everything, and not living your potential. You give yourself the out and excuse for not being all you can be and shining your light because it’s just not time yet. But just when exactly is that magical time you can give yourself permission to “be” you?

I used to experience similar when I was operating from a limited, conditioned perspective and creating unnatural stress demands to fit into this notion of time. However, I have interestingly noticed the concept of “time” shifting, especially in dream “time.” There is definitely an acceleration taking place, but I’m also simultaneously experiencing the eternal moment that is drawing out time into a new experience of limitlessness. Likely this is mirroring both personal and collective shifts taking place.

In the past I’ve always felt like I hadn’t gotten enough sleep and the night went by in a flash and if I woke in the night and saw the clock, it was like, where did time fly? I wouldn’t feel I slept that long and that time had passed me by, and here I was exhausted and with another day of things contrived to do in time schedules.

However, this has reversed. I wake feeling like I slept long, greet the day in good spirits, and when I wake during the night I feel I’ve slept a whole night or for hours and that so much has taken place, and yet the clock has shown me asleep only an hour or two at a time. It leaves me in awe of how much I accomplished in my dreams and how deeply I slept in a short time period, still feeling refreshed and rested. This has carried over into my “waking” day as well.

All concepts of time are not part of the new experience. It is just the eternal moment that is. And in that eternal moment, to be present with how we are “being,” and choosing consciously and authentically, as well as finding the beauty, miracle and perfection of things now – not thinking how they will be perfect, when, if, etc.

Things are rapidly shifting indeed, and are channeling in different ways for each. Aside from noting that dream time is slowing down, I lose track of what day it is, the time, and can’t even remember simple things that just happened a couple days or hours ago, because, as we’ve heard over and over, this moment is so prevalent and is the only point of power. Everything can be shifted and transformed right here and now. And it is!

This is the reality in my own experience of life on all levels of work and personal relating. So many amazingly beautiful things have emerged and are developing, all from being anchored presently and consciously within my own experience and reality, despite anything, everything, and everyone around me and living my “beingness” more and more. Every aspect of my life has shifted and anything that my ingenious self-sabotaging ways (as we all have cleverly devised to avoid the really powerful core stuff) were amplifying for me, I took heart of their message and courageously faced, enabling me to harness creative alchemy into a mirror of my relationship with self. And the more this takes place, the more everything I desired is, and will continue to keep, manifesting. We all have this ability. It just needs to be exercised.

Staying rooted in the habits we have created that are unnaturally produced, can rob of our ability to be in the moment of our fullness and to feel the joy in even the smallest of things or from the most unusual of places you wouldn’t think they’d be. The awareness of simple pleasures reveals the miracle of life and the abundance of magic always present.

Wouldn’t it be of benefit to cultivate heightened awareness so that you embody the “habit of being” and find everything in life to have meaning? The only reason everything may seem to lack meaning is because you haven’t discovered the root of the meaning within yourself.

You can rewrite your book – including all of your experiences and ways of relating with self and others – by willing to courageously receive the good that is in front of you and start anew now.

The other day a man asked me what I thought was the best time of life.  “Why,” I answered without a thought, “now.”  ~David Grayson

Transformation can only take place immediately; the revolution is now, not tomorrow. ~Jiddu Krishnamurti

We are always getting ready to live but never living.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness. ~Abraham Maslow

Sacred Journey to Atlantis – Only 2 Months Until We Embark!

bimini sunset

Today, October 16th marks our being ONLY 2 months away from embarking on our Bimini journey to anchor the New Earth and 5th dimensional energies. As energies are amping up and more and more people are processing these shifts and trying to create new intentions, this is a perfect opportunity to come together as a group to support one another and the collective with all that we are manifesting. The power of one is great, but the power of many is invaluable.

If you’ve been considering this journey or where you might want to be as 12/21/12 approaches, this is a good time to ask yourself some important heart questions to see what is calling you. Trust, faith, and self-nurturing are important aspects to cultivate now and to gift ourselves what we desire. I know the hosts, including myself, who are providing this retreat have all taken leaps of faith, based on our soul commitments and beliefs, to make this trip possible and offer all we can to support, in every way, this journey for those who will be joining. It is our hearts’ mission to fulfill.

This trip is filling up and has many interested, but in order to secure a spot, a supported intent of registering will ensure this. We are excited to meet the group that is coming together, knowing those souls that are called have been awaiting this time to merge in harmony together for a greater good. I have already had a dream about the day we all come together on the 16th. 🙂

bimini dolphins

Our journey to the aqua blue Bimini waters and energy of Atlantis will begin December16th. It will be a time of joy, communion, empowerment, integration, healing, acceleration, raised vibrations, and love as we center ourselves in the energy of this Harmonic Convergence to restore a return to natural harmony within and without.

To read more about what you can look forward to experiencing on this once in a lifetime journey with us, visit Cosmic Heart Activation in Bimini, Bahamas

To register, contact me at tania@taniamarie.com.

 

Easy Access to Updated Classes & Events – Things You Can Join & Look Forward To

Me with the group on a Bimini 2009 Retreat

I’ve added some new updates and pages to my blog to make things convenient and easy to find things you’re looking for.

One of these changes includes a new page that will be updated continually with new classes and workshops being offered. I’ll continue to post them individually too, but this provides a convenient place to see everything that is going on currently, including the upcoming December Reiki retreat in Bimini.

If you see a class that is of interest, but the date doesn’t work, simply contact me and a private class can be arranged for you if you’re in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. If you are outside this local area and have a large enough group, classes can be arranged in your area as well.

Click here for more information: Inspiring Classes & Workshops

 

Tania Marie at her Soule Domain Art Opening

I’ve also added an events page that will be updated with current happenings you can join. Details to come on an art exhibit at a Long Beach gallery in November.

You can keep up to date here: Events

 

 

The page of offerings has been updated for one convenient place to be able to link to everything without having to search.

Click here to view all available services and offerings, including testimonials from clients: Creative & Healing Services

I look forward to connecting with you and am grateful to be sharing this journey of creation we are all on together.

 

What Do You Desire?

Autumn Reflections – A Perfect Time to Harness Your Intuition & One Fun Way is With Pendulums

Lemurian L.O.V.E. Seed Pendulum

Fall is definitely settling in here in Southern California, after a very hot summer. There is a slight nip in the air, we got our first rain in a while yesterday, the days are shortening, and an air of more seriousness is taking over as school or new business ventures and life transitions anchor in.

Fall is the beginning of the yin cycle and a time of harvest and storage. And with Fall’s presence comes a cycle that supports organizing your life and going more within your mind and body to reflect on everything, as opposed to the more external, Fire element that Summer engaged us with. The Autumn season, according to Oriental medicine, is associated with the element of Metal, which reflects the energy of organization, communication, order, the mind, and protecting boundaries. It’s a good time for putting closure to projects started and a good time to begin more introspective projects.

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. ~John Ruskin~

But that doesn’t mean you have to forego fun. The fun just gets channeled in different ways. The beautiful fall energy and leaves provide inspiration and support personal growth, especially for developing your sense of awareness and intuition.

One fun way to work with that internal landscape of self awareness, and to develop your trust and intuition, is through the use of pendulums.

The upcoming October Pendulum 101 – A Fun Intro to Pendulums & Trusting Your Intuition Allison and I are offering is ONLY about a week away. It offers an easy way, anybody can learn, to tap into a little magic in your life and to start accessing and anchoring greater sense of belief and trust in the gifts you possess. A perfect way to start listening and reflecting more within and to assist in developing and supporting this more introspective time of year.

Pendulums are fun and supportive friends with individual and sometimes very spunky personalities. Being that they reflect and mirror us, it is quite amusing to consciously see how we operate on deeper levels.

Pendulums are great for receiving answers from within that reflect the heart of you. They teach you how to trust yourself and the gift of your innate intuitive knowing.

Using a pendulum is a path of surrender to your higher self and by doing that, you put aside your ego – that controlling part that wants to be right – and receive a universal, higher good, heart answer instead.

You will walk away from this class with the following: 

Lemurian L.O.V.E. Seed Pendulum

 

1) An introduction & basic understanding of pendulums

2) Knowing how to choose a pendulum & learn its language

3) Understanding how to use your pendulum effectively, increase results & improvise when your pendulum isn’t with you

4) Fun exercises to practice using your pendulum

5) Understanding crystal energy

6) Learning ways to develop and trust your intuition

 

A FEW SPOTS LEFT – Don’t forget to register!

 

WHERE: Orange County Private Residence (Information & directions provided upon registering)

WHEN: Sunday October 21st 9:30 am – 11:30 am (Optional lunch outing after for those that want to join)

INVESTMENT: $55

WHAT IS PROVIDED: Handouts & Lemurian L.O.V.E. Seed Crystal Pendulums (a favorite among our clients) to practice with during class. If you resonate with one, they will be available for purchase after class.

WHAT TO BRING: You may bring a pendulum of your choice to class if you have one you’d like to & prefer to work with. Bring a pencil or pen & a notebook if you would like to take extra notes. Dress comfortably & be ready for some fun!

To register, please contact me at tania@taniamarie.com. I can also answer any questions you may have. 

 

I hope you will join us as we kick off Autumn with this fun inner journey to the intuitive you and discover a tool to support  those new ventures and life transitions!

The Intrinsic Value of Creativity and Art – Cultivating Your Inner Artist

Creative inspiration is all around us in the miracles of nature – photo I took in Key West

I’ve been getting a nudge to share about the value of creative arts.

Perhaps it is because of things I hear and pick up from others, things that come up in classes, what I notice and am receiving personally, the collective evolution we are journeying together, the energetic shifts, or all of the above.

Creativity is love.

It is a magickal and powerful energy vital to exercise and cultivate as a channel of creation itself.

It’s an exciting time for alchemizing our very existence. We are infinitely creative beings here to evoke the remembrance of what lies in our hearts. This is an opportune and timely alignment of energies for really bringing forth the authenticity of your heart and expressing it in its most beautiful light, outward to all from within.

Our creative energy is an expression of the boundless love of All That Is and it is essential in creating new realities of experience. Cultivating the imagination, dreaming, hoping, allowing and supporting vulnerable and passionate expression, utilizing creative visualization… is all vital to manifestation.

The creative and healing arts are rapidly taking more of an essential role, as they once did, in leading the way to a new experience of life.

Once again the arts, integrated with the other essentials aspects of wholeness, are and will be recognized as foundations that will bring us to a return to natural harmony and balance with the Earth, nature, and our very existence.

Cultivating the right brain back into balance with the left will help to anchor in new energies. This is why it is vital to support those in the arts and to cultivate those aspects within yourself that have called to you. Valuing the contributions that creativity shares, not only to the individual practicing their own expression of it, but to all those that are touched by their creations and services, enriches communities collectively.

I am moved to share about the invaluable ways art enhances my own life and how it has the ability to do the same for others.

I find joy in walking the magickal path, and I channel and express everything in symbolic and creatively loving ways whether on my person, in my personal environment and sacred space, or through my work.

Painting has been my sacred key of life – my personal ankh that opens the door to life aligned with the universal will. I didn’t set out to produce art, but like the wing of a butterfly is essential to its flight, I discovered that creating art is the breath of life to my soul.

From the onset, the unconscious, life-giving process of manifesting on canvas, the visions that pervaded my day-time dreams, struck me as magical. And, over the years, that magickal essence persisted despite deterrence,  yet the unfolding process is now accessed in quantum leaps of conscious experience.

It was a naturally progressive evolution that infiltrated my life with creative passion at every corner, reminding me that who I was, is who I AM. I paint from the inside out, employing naturally innovative and intuitionally guided techniques, as my unconscious is the undisputed light that guides me through the maze of tunnels to the divinely aligned, creative destination.

I was always an imaginative and creative child, whether singing, dancing, drawing, painting, make-believing, inner-eye journeying, dreaming…and any time I immersed myself in strictly left brain things or jobs over time, it always resulted in imbalance, health breakdowns, unhappiness, diminished light, low energy, and basically like a piece of my soul dying.

Whenever I let myself wander the creative paths, supported the integration of creativity into action, and watered the seeds of driven inspiration and passion, my life blossomed in all the ways the latter, on its own, wilted.

But like many of us go through, as I grew up, those parts of myself, while always prevalent, were not exactly nurtured and the natural me was reconditioned into an unnatural me, that I then had to relearn once again.

Everything evolves in perfection, and while it didn’t have to be that way, without this process, much of the depth, compassion, value, and ability to see with wider perspective would not have been cultivated as it was.

Creativity and painting, for me, is enlivening, balancing, exciting, supports my growth, assists the cultivation of all aspects of my being-ness, enhances quality of life, supports all the other things I do with vitality, aligns me with my essence, supports being in tune with my intuition, other dimensions of experience, nature, the cosmos, brings greater sense of self, while also expanding my collective connection, supports inner peace and joy, cultivates trust, hope, believing, dreaming, and develops clarity of awareness and being present in the moment, aligns me with how to flow and develops courageous vulnerability that seeks no outside approval, but is centered in the security of my own heart’s knowing, and deepens the love I experience and express…. phew!

In essence, it supports what feels most natural.

Yeah, you can say that creative expression really supports every aspect of life and beyond.

At least, from my own experience, I can say with all certainty that this is true.

I’ve experienced what it was like as a child, what it was like when I was disconnected from it and what it is like nurturing its expression.

I’ve also realized throughout my evolution and work, and observing the shift of energies, how vital to the collective our value, support, and cultivation of the creative arts is to where we are headed.

Creative and healing arts were once solid foundations that pervaded our experience throughout ancient times – times when we understood and realized the importance of being in balance and harmony with nature and the cosmos, which came through our cultivation of these aspects of consciousness.

As things have shifted, many of these aspects that enriched life were forgotten, lost, went more underground, were diffused and scattered, or replaced by new values. There are always cycles to life and the circle is cycling back in a new way, as we are remembering, reevaluating, and understanding that balance is essential and cultivating natural creative expression is healthy to the state of collective humanity.

All forms of art have the ability to enhance life in amazing ways, not to mention, helps us get more in touch with Source. It is an invaluable expression that through support and cultivation, can help us to connect more with our natural essence as creative, loving beings that are individually beautiful expressions of collective diversity.

We are all creative beings that channel creativity in beautifully unique ways. If you have felt nudges, inner callings, are receiving signs, have always wanted to explore your creative side or dabble in the arts, but haven’t fully supported it into the open, have felt insecure about your creative expression, judge it against other’s work, or wondered about what it would be like if you let yourself express yourself freely, now is a great time to harness that energy and let it flow with out limiting beliefs!

The more you support these creative impulses, the more you allow yourself to explore things outside the box, to start creating and manifesting what you desire, to experience more magick and synchronicity in your life, to create the greatest works of art you have yet to create, and to find greater sense of peace and inner joy.

Creative energy is the source of creation. If you don’t exercise it, you close the door on the endless possibilities you, as a limitless and powerful being, have the ability to tap into.

Creativity is the power of love expressing itself.

The more you support this expression in yourself and in others, the more beautiful life will be.

Here are some of the values of expressing creativity (in addition to, and including some of, what I shared it supports for myself):

  • helps you be more aware of, and with greater sense of connection to, both the outer landscape of your surroundings and the inner landscape of your experience, visually, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually
  • increases your sense of gratitude as simple things once taken for granted become beautiful
  • opens you up to limitless possibilities and draws in new opportunities
  • greater sense of self and security with who you are and choices you make that reflect you
  • you learn to become more comfortable with your unique creative process and can apply it to anything you do
  • you gain greater understanding of how others perceive visual information and how to communicate in different and broader ways that words may limit – enhancing your intuitive and telepathic abilities
  • you feel more in tune with yourself, your inner voice and intuition
  • you learn more about yourself and the collective, as your art and creative expression will mirror current themes and messages
  • you feel more comfortable with yourself
  • helps you realize there is something more to life out there, beyond the obvious, that you end up finding by journeying within
  • creates more joy, inspiration, and lifts you up when you feel down, unmotivated, blocked
  • gives you greater sense of peace and comfort in solitude
  • increases your knowledge, helps you find more meaning, and expands your horizons, as you explore through art or research themes you are creating
  • cultivates states of bliss and excitement when you align with the universal you
  • builds your self confidence and courage
  • develops your ability to share more of yourself with vulnerable curiosity
  • teaches you about yourself
  • develops patience and flow
  • balances
  • creates wholeness
  • allows you to use your whole brain and by engaging both halves (left and right) this supports great things to happen
  • etc.

Here are some of the values of art (both in supporting and cultivating as a collective community and in terms of what you receive from owning a piece of art or creating one for yourself):

  • Art is a powerful form of expression for both the artist and those who own it, allowing the expression of individuality and can represent their beliefs, feelings, imaginations, convictions or philosophies in socially (and visually) acceptable and redeeming ways
  • Art encourages people to be curious, ask questions, look within and introspect, think about ideas, experience fresh new perspectives and encourages being in the moment and stopping everything to reflect on more than just the mundane daily routines
  • Art improves quality of life, enhances, revives, personalizes, and transforms any living, working, sacred, or place of gathering from lifeless to unique, beautiful, inspiring and engaging environments on an ongoing basis
  • Art inspires and may spark thinking about or visualizing other ways life could be
  • Art stimulates conversation and communication with the interchange of thoughts, feelings and ideas, even among total strangers who might never otherwise meet or engage
  • Art speaks universally and needs no interpretation other than your personal experience of it when viewed
  • Art encourages and cultivates children to dream, imagine, fantasize, be creative, express themselves, have fun with life and gives permission to do so, as well as to ask questions and expand their perceptions of reality
  • Original works of art uplift, reflect, enhance and magnify the personality of the individual who owns it, as well as can stimulate and activate more of the desired elements and aspects that are desired or feel under-developed
  • Art strengthens and enhances community livability, learning, creation, and engagement
  • Supporting, creating and buying art improves the quality of life for everyone and serves much larger purposes than simply decorating a wall. Not only does it enhance things in personal ways, but creates wondrous transformations that revitalize, raise values and draw in new opportunities where ever artists share their artistry. This supplies the world with creative oases that stimulate culture in numerous ways around the world
  • etc.

Divine female and male in integrative harmony – photo taken in Key West

We all have a creative side, even though many do not believe they are creative. This usually stems from not having learned how to use the right side of the brain (the creative side) nor being supported, nurtured, or taught its value.

The more you embrace and allow the Divine Feminine energy (which this right brain also represents) to flow from within, in partnership with, and supported by and brought forth through action of expressing the Divine Male (the left brain), you can live in balanced harmony.

Egyptian Sacred Tattoo Design – Layers of Symbolism in Elegant Simplicity

Custom Egyptian Sacred Tattoo Design

Symbols work in the most amazing way. They are like codes to speak directly with the divine mind. ~Christopher Penczak

I’ve been in process of designing some empowering sacred tattoos for an amazingly courageous, conscious client who I honor deeply. She has been experiencing the transformative power of her “Spiritual Skin” portals in incredible ways. The soul sisterhood we have reawakened and nurtured in this process has enabled such a beautiful and clear channel of trust, honor, respect and unconditional love to flow. These are the root foundations that not only make for a powerful partnering, but allow for clarity of the energy to manifest beautifully.

“I strongly and passionately believe that Sacred Skin – Tattoos – are a potent, powerful, remarkable, miraculous process of transforming reality.  I am so drawn to it, and so moved by it – like nothing else!  Working with you is like working with my own heart,” shares my beautiful client. (read her full testimonial below)

In co-creative collaboration with her, and in partnership with her spiritually-attuned tattoo artist, we are supporting her beautiful journey into the heart of her power. I love her enthusiasm, openness and readiness to step up and forward. Each piece we design, she has embodied immediately into her experience and on her skin. Amazing!

This is the third piece we have manifested through our intimate journey together of unveiling the core of her energetic intents. This sacred design came through boldly and with purity and clarity, conveying a simple elegance and powerful grace – regal even.

Egyptian imagery is very precise, but embodies layers of symbolism, so this was not a surprise to me.

I was immediately excited when she approached me about this new piece, feeling the energy even before any vision was received or knowing what would come through. And we both embraced the process of patient percolation to allow the perfect symbolism to channel in its own timing. Every sacred tattoo is unique in its own way and carries a vibration relative to the soul who will embody it.

Without going into the personal meanings this tattoo has for its wearer, I will share that in its simplicity it is simultaneously deeply rooted in all of the symbolism of the Egyptian Goddesses Hathor and Ma’at and, in essence, all of the things my client is bringing more into her experience. This is represented through the stylized sun disc and horns of Hathor and the feathers of Ma’at. It combines these powerful symbols with the Egyptian Lotus.

Hathor is the Goddess of love, beauty, the arts, music, dance, joy, fertility, motherhood, and divine feminine. She can be fierce and protective in her mother role, as well as is Queen of the Heavens, the night sky and day sky –  along with the Goddess Nut she is associated with the Milky Way during the third millennium B.C. The four legs of the celestial cow representing Hathor could be seen as the pillars on which the sky was supported with the stars on their bellies constituting the Milky Way on which Ra, representing the sun, sailed. At times Hathor is the Eye of Ra and considered his daughter, wife, but also Ra’s mother. Horus the Elder, an early form of Horus – God of light – sometimes was the son, or the husband of Hathor. (the Egyptian pantheon of Gods and Goddesses is in intricate interwoven web.)

Ma’at is the Goddess of truth, justice, morality, harmony, and balance. Her feather represents both love and truth. The hieroglyph that meant “love” is called the feathers of Maat, and features two or three feathers close together. Her feather was also the feather of truth and the measure that determined whether the souls (considered to reside in the heart) of the departed would reach the paradise of afterlife successfully.

I stylized the disc and horns with crossed feathers at top of the disc to represent the weighing of truth and integrative, empowered balance between all duality within and without that create wholeness and unity. The feathers also representing love and the lightness of heart that grace life in flight, sitting atop the sun disc – or an eye of light. This sits between Hathor’s mothering horns and her celestial pillars to the sky and Milky Way.

The lotus flower is a symbol of the sun, of creation and rebirth. Because at night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. According to one creation myth it was a giant lotus which first rose out of the watery chaos at the beginning of time. From this giant lotus the sun itself rose on the first day. It is a symbol of Upper Egypt, but often it was shown with its long stems intertwined with papyrus reeds (a symbol of Lower Egypt), as representation of the unification of the two lands.

All this symbolism (and more) to say how something seemingly simplistic can embody so much potency. These symbols contained in sacred tattoo designs are encoded keys that go directly to the divine heart and soul to activate, awaken, transform… personal portals to empowered experiences.

If interested in co-creating your own sacred tattoo design in partnership with me, you can contact tania@spiritualskin.com to begin the journey. Visit What is a Tattoo Design Consultation for more information.

Testimonial:

About the Sacred Journey of Spiritual Skin Tattoos with Tania Marie:

To me, getting tattoos has always been about the spiritual meaning of them.  I would get to a point in my life when I would want to have a design that would signify an important accomplishment or change in my life. 

I have searched through many different means, ways to transform my life.  I have never experienced anything as powerful and life-altering in a positive way as the experience of tattoos as Sacred and Spiritual. 

I began to try to find out if anyone else had these same experiences, if anyone else cared about the Sacred and Spiritual Energetic shifts that can occur with Tattoos.  In my searching, I found Tania Marie who wrote a beautiful book called Spiritual Skin – Sacred Tattoos More Than Skin Deep.  I was drawn to her book by the title, and it enhanced my experience even more.

Eventually, I was compelled to email Tania and discuss the possibility of having her work with me to design some Sacred Tattoos for me. 

It is almost impossible to put into words what this experience has meant and continues to mean to me in my personal life.  The process of co-creating with Tania, Sacred Skin that is meaningful and life-changing, is so much more than just designing a beautiful tattoo.  So much more than mere ink on skin.  Any good artist can create a beautiful design.  But I know of no one who does the kind of work that Tania does. 

Working with Tania is like working with someone on a different plane – someone who takes what you say about who you are, and listens to the energy behind your words.  Tania has the beautiful ability and gift of being able to read a client’s energy and also to read the energy that is coming through from the universe that is most needed for the journey of wholeness to be made complete in the sacred tattoo design.

My heart and soul trusts this woman with complete openness and faith in her incredible ability to truly listen.  This is a rare, rare gift, and it shows in the designs she creates for me.

My life has changed, and continues to change, in miraculous ways due to the Spiritual Skin designed by Tania Marie especially for me.  These Sacred Designs are so much more than beautiful ink on skin – they truly are portals to different depths of experience of the fullness and wholeness of life.

I am blessed and honored beyond measure to be a part of such a Sacred and Transformative Process – working with this beautiful human being to bring in the healing designs that are what I need at that time. 

May you be blessed with your choice to work with this truly gifted and spiritual woman.  You will never regret one second of this choice.

In peace and love,
Mari Braveheart-Dances
10/9/12