Apr 3, 2015 | Art, Global, Interview, Love, Photography
Do you guys remember Flickr? Once what feels like a lifetime ago I saw some of Susan’s amazing photos. Really, this was before I was a ‘photographer’ myself. I was delving into the world of images- soaking in the magic I saw. Susan’s Images did this for me, filled me with magic! Now many years later I feel it’s come full circle as I saw her again on Facebook making magic with Alena Hennessy which you can read about at the end but I had that flash of remembering, like a flood I saw her photographs, I knew then I wanted to have her here with us and I am so glad she is!
Susan Tuttle: Susan is a digital SLR and mobile photographer who lives in the woods of Maine and is inspired daily by her natural surroundings. She has written four books — her most recent, Art of Everyday Photography: Move Toward Manual and Make Creative Photos (August 2014), Photo Craft: Creative Mixed-Media and Digital Approaches to Transforming Your Photographs (2012, co-authored with Christy Hydeck), Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements (2010), and Exhibition 36: Mixed-Media Demonstrations and Explorations (2008). Her photography has been exhibited internationally in London, New York City, Prague, and Paris. Susan is also a frequent contributor to Stampington & Company publications and other North Light Books, does freelance work for companies like Manfrotto and Autodesk Pixlr, and is currently the Technical Advisor for Somerset Digital Studio magazine. Susan shares, “It is my hope that by sharing I can help others to connect with their artistic selves. It is my belief that if more and more people across the planet create things, there will be more happiness, greater peace and less destructive behavior. It is harder to destroy when you are in touch with your creative spirit.”
View more of Susan’s work and find out about online workshops she currently offers at susantuttlephotography.com. Wait come back your gonna wanna click on that link! ;)
What way of being is calling you? Who are you becoming? or How do you rise up in your fullness?
This is actually quite an intense question for me to answer at this time, as I am going through a process of healing right now which presents its emotional challenges. So, here goes the nitty gritty…
I’m always trying to stay on my path. I can feel it when I’m on it and when I fall off. When I’m on it, things feel aligned, smooth, right in my heart –- not always easy, but right. When I’m off it, things tend to go wrong and I feel disjunct and in conflict with my intuition. Either that, or I allow myself to go numb, which is never a good option (I’ve learned not to do that). We always have choices and our actions are what ultimately keep us on the path or throw us off course. I’m trying to evolve as a person every day by staying the path. That involves listening to my intuition, making good choices, being responsible, doing something good for the world through my work, caring for others around me, caring for me and my body, living in an open and mindful way, and enjoying life and having fun! It’s important for me to try to do all of these things when things are really good, when they’re pretty good, and also when they’re hard (so, all the time, no matter what state I’m in). I feel privileged to be spending my life with my soulmate, raising two amazing children together who crack my heart wide open. LOVE! Although I’m an independent gal, they make this life journey so much more right.
Life is not always easy, as I said, and right now I’m living through a bit of a rough patch. I am learning how to find the ‘comfortable’ within the discomfort as I move through a time of healing. I’m learning how to focus on what is important. It is possible to hold both pain and happiness at the same time. There will always be lessons to be learned, things we need to work on, and challenges to face, which ultimately can make us better and stronger if we let them and choose well. And while experiencing these challenges as well as the good days, we are meant to find (choose) happiness, contentment and joy through our relationships, by enjoying nature, through the gifts of our senses, with art, music, cooking, whatever it is that allows us to be creative. Finding the specialness in the ordinary. Slowing down. Taking time to live. Really live. There is much beauty in the world. We need to find it, connect with it, relish it and make more of it!
How has your experience as an photographer/artist changed you? How can or does this experience help others?
The experience of being a photographer has changed me in numerous ways, but most importantly it has enabled me to sharpen my eye and really take the time to see; to notice fine details in the world, linger on them, take in their essences. My favorite details to capture are aspects of flora in nature as well as facial expressions, in particular that flash of soul you can sometimes see sparkle behind a person’s eyes. Capturing that is pure gold.
As I photograph my surroundings year after year and post them to my blog, I become more in touch with the seasons, cycles and nuances here in the Maine woods. It helps me to feel more grounded, more in sync and one with the natural world I live in and am a part of. I see new, precious life in spring, brilliance and thriving flora in summer with a last hurrah in early fall, then decay and death in the late fall, and rest in the winter. Then the cycle starts again, anew. Observing and recording these moments each year helps me to embrace and understand my own life’s rhythm, process and meaning.
In terms of helping others I’m a teacher in spirit, so it’s only natural for me to want to share what I’ve learned (and continue to learn) about photography as well as post-editing skills that can be used to enhance one’s work.
Sharing about my life on my blog through images, words, poetry and life experiences, both the good stuff and challenges, can strike a chord with a reader. You never know when something you say can be just what someone else needs to hear. I recently have been sharing about my healing journey and have received some special emails from people, telling me it resonates with them, that they don’t feel so alone, and that it makes them want to choose healing and happiness. That in turn helps me on my own journey.
What does your soul need to feel alive? Describe a time when your soul felt alive?
I try to surround myself daily with life-giving experiences, and they don’t need to be extravagant to make my soul feel alive. I need art, music, poetry, good books, people, connections, gardening, delicious food, star-lit skies, good movies, the smell of fresh cut grass in summer, dancing… of course there’s more, but I gave you a pretty good taste.:-)
Any time I’m engaged in one of these experiences, giving them my focus and full attention, allowing myself to get lost in them, I feel alive inside.
What is pulling you forward? What is your motivation?
I love what I do. Work that does not feel like work. It’s taken a lot of effort, perseverance and time to get to a place where I can work for myself as a creative entrepreneur, authoring art and photography books, doing freelance work and teaching online. I have such a passion for these things and feel grateful to be able to engage in them every day, sharing what I’ve learned with others. All along I’ve enjoyed the journey and look forward to what’s to come. Money is not the motivation, although it is nice and of course necessary in the way our society is set up. The motivation is the passion I feel for what I do and a desire to keep on learning and growing.
What does being BRAVE look like these days? What does it feel like?
BRAVE looks like showing up and being yourself. Following your heart. Standing up for what you believe in, even if it’s not popular. Standing up for someone else who can’t or isn’t ready to. Exercising patience. Embracing change, especially when it’s out of your control. Trusting that strength and goodness can come out of a challenge. Believing in love. Believing in miracles. Being okay with not knowing. Stretching outside your comfort zone.
Being brave is not always a comfortable place to be, but it creates an authentic life, keeps you on your path, and pushes you to grow and evolve into your best self.
Tell me about what you crave? What are you saying a big Holy YES to these days?
Chocolate. I’m saying yes to Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate bar with caramel and black sea salt! You’ve just got to try it. It… is… THE… BEST! It’s especially fun to nibble on while sipping a glass of Cocoban red wine (also from Trader Joe’s). Maybe not the answer you expected, but that’s what came to me when I read this question.
Of course, all in moderation. Most of what I put into my body is super healthy – mostly plant-based foods with the occasional meat and fish – tons of fruit, grains, legumes, nuts, lean proteins, not too many carbs and virtually no dairy, avoidance of processed or refined junk (of course I allow treats now and then!), and lots of herbal and chaga tea (which has amazing anti-inflammatory properties).
Because I have to ask whom are your heroes? What did they teach you?
People teach me daily, not just my heroes. As I’ve gotten older (I’m 43), I’ve become more of an observer and a listener, and less of a talker. That way I can learn more. Not only do I learn from the positive, exemplary behaviors of folks, but also from negative Nellies. They show me what not to do.
A few heroes do stand out in my mind though – some I know personally and others are figures (especially women) from history who have changed the courses of our lives for the better.
For this question, I’ll focus on one very special individual who made a difference in my life when I was a teen, and who I still have the privilege of having in my life. Mr. B., my high school Earth Science teacher, is my hero. This man taught me to care deeply – about the environment and making life-sustaining choices and fighting for a healthy and clean planet. But more than that, he cared (cares) about people and taught us to do the same. Mr. B was a positive male figure in my life at a time when I didn’t have many. He believed in me and made me feel smart, he drew out the self-confidence I had lost, he made me think about what was important to me and what I valued, and he made me want to be brave and stand up for things I believed in, putting my voice and truth out there. Mr. B. made me feel like I was special and that I had the potential to do meaningful and valuable things with my life. The most uplifting teacher I ever had!
And I must add that political activist Kamala Lopez is my current favorite hero! You should watch this trailer Equal means Equal.
How will you honor the ordinary moments today? What are your favorite ordinary moments?
By practicing mindfulness. Being in the moment. Slowing down. Taking notice. Savoring the smiles and hugs and kind words. Tasting. Looking. Lingering. Finding the meditation in the “mundane.” Allowing myself to be imperfect and loving myself anyway.
Some favorite ordinary moments and things: cuddling with my family, watching the stars, my fuzzy ochre-colored blanket, sipping hot herbal tea, the smell of rain when it first hits the ground, taking pictures and playing with them in Photoshop, my husband’s text messages, candlelight, the smell of baking bread, playing flute, turning out the lights at night and enjoying the dark, running into someone I care about, making someone smile, hugs, watching our cat Ruby nap in the sun, listening to music, reading Kinfolk or a good book, browsing through beautiful images on Pinterest, listening to church bells, watching the morning sun reflected like diamonds on the river, stretching, driving down my dirt road, watching my perennial gardens come back in the warmer weather, receiving small gifts or letters from my favorite people.
What would you like everyone to know?
It’s going to be okay.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?
Live it the best I know how, live it with passion, live it fully, bravely, authentically, responsibly, recklessly, boldly, quietly, taking chances and risks, having no regrets (rather, learning from those experiences), feeling all my feelings, being me, being truthful, traveling, creating, wondering, exploring, trying new things, leaping, dancing, celebrating, laughing, acting silly, not taking myself too seriously, making it to 100 baby!
Susan Tuttle and Alena Hennessy are holding registration for their latest online workshop, Radiant heART :: Come Alive in Joy with Photo and Paint.
Spring is in the air! Life is beginning to stir, new growth is getting ready to burst forth!
Can you feel it resonating within you? Would you like to come alive in JOY?
In this unique offering, let Alena and Susan gently guide you to that place through their expertise in painting and photography.
Radiant heART is for everyone! Early bird special ends on April 5th, they would love for you to join them! Find out more Here.
Mar 27, 2015 | Art, Global, Interview, Love, Photography
I first came across Jeanne Oliver‘s work on Pinterest, I had pinned a few of her Feminine Portraits. Then as I often do when I am moved by an artists work; I typed her name into google, in this way I discovered the plethora of goodness she had to offer. From E-courses about painting with the masters to home schooling. From connecting with a tribe of woman to purchasing really lovely hand made bags. She really makes it her mission to make every aspect of her life an artistic expression.
Jeanne Oliver is married to her dream maker, Kelly, and the mother to three funny and creative kiddos. She home schools her children even though she has tried to get out of it a few times. You can often find her hiking in her state of Colorado, making creative messes in her studio and finding an excuse to have another cup of coffee. She speaks and teaches all around the country and sometimes she even gets to cross the pond. She was told that she needed to find that one thing but she doesn’t like listening to directions so she embraces many loves and that has given her a sweet mash up of family, art, decorating and fashion. Connecting with women and sharing that each of us has been creatively made is one of her passions. The Lord is showing her each day to trust in him.
Lets start with the most fundamental question why do you create? What do you create?
I create because it is like breathing to me. It is a part of who I am and when I don’t create and make time for it I don’t work as well. Creating for me has never just been the time in my studio. Creating is how I put our home together, loving on guests and making them feel welcome, the music playing in the home, the way I put my outfits together, the garden bed out front, fresh flowers in the home, the books I read, the meals I create…
All of life is art.
I guess what I am really trying to say is that I want my whole life to be my art. I want to live a creative life and to authentically have that resonate with those I love and myself.
What would you say are the major inspirations for what you create?
I love texture, a specific color palette and vintage ephemera. These three things are usually the jumping off point for me. Throw in some good music and a hot cup of coffee and I am ready to go! I am just like all creatives… The whole world is inspiring and sometimes you see something in nature, in a museum, words in a book or a conversation with a friend and you have to come to the studio and create. So many times the major inspiration for creating is that I just NEED it. I need to get into the studio and do something and it doesn’t matter what comes of it.
How has nature played a part in your life? When you work within nature how do you feel?
I don’t include nature in my paintings but nature has influenced most of what I do. Walks bring me clarity and direction. Creating outside makes me feel like I did when I was a child and I would pick the shade of a good tree and lose time with sketching or writing. My whole The Living Studio series and retreats is all about getting outside your studio and making the whole world your studio. There is so much waiting for us creativity when we step outside our front door.
For me your home dance between comfortable and intimate as well as magical and elegant. You have an amazing gift to fancy things up and yet it still looks like I can build a fort right in your living room. The same with your art, It feels like Jane Austin. Perfect!
Can you tell me a bit about this balance, this dance?
Thank you so much. What a sweet view of our home and life. I would like to give credit for this to my Grandma Jeanne. She had a profound impact on my love of art, music and entertaining from a young age. She was southern and much more formal than I am but I learned a few key things from her. Her home was filled with beautiful art, floor to ceiling. But she would say never to buy art because of who painted it but because of your connection to it. Because of this she had everything from a Picasso; to work by local college students. When we came to visit she never put away the beautiful things in fear that we would break them (and she had a ton of grandchildren) but showed me that anything you have out should be enjoyed and used. I once broke a glass sculpture and she didn’t shame me even though she could have because of my carelessness. I come from a large family and when we would sit down to Christmas dinner she would set a table with mismatch china and crystal and create such casual elegance. I learned early on that things don’t have to match and that you should use what you have. Music was always playing in her home because she was a composer herself. Her life was art. She wasn’t perfect and I learned as many things from her about what I didn’t want to do or be but she was a creative force and showed me to make your life beautiful.
What supports your authentic self? Your true expression of yourself?
I would have to say my faith. My whole life is based upon my faith and from there is goes out to impact my marriage, how we raise our children, our relationship with friends and family and how important it is to honor the gifts and skills that you have been given. My faith is my touch stone. It is what directs me and grounds me. My faith helps me to see that I have been given this life to make everything a part of my creativity and the things I love.
Tell me about the love you give to yourself, to the world to your students?
When my youngest was a baby I was in my laundry room folding clothes and honestly feeling sorry for myself. I am sure I had not done something for myself in days (or longer) and I was having one of those conversations that we can all have in our heads. Mine went something like this, “I have to do everything. My whole day is around other people. What about me? I just want to get into a car and drive…”. I was having a moment. Let’s just call it that. I was feeling sorry for myself and then I was gently reminded in my spirit that I have everything. EVERYTHING I had ever wanted. I had a beautiful home, a loving faithful husband, healthy gorgeous children and so much more. If I didn’t have them I would be searching for them and my life would be about making them a reality.
Life is busy and complicated and messy.
Sometimes we are our own worst enemy in not seeing the beauty of the day to day and changing HOW we live.
That day was a turning point in my thinking and I hope I never forget that. I may not always get to have coffee with a friend, or have a clean house or even have all day in the studio. I do get to choose how I treat those around me, show my creativity in the day to day, fill our lives with the little things that make me happy, the books I read and the conversations I have with my children. This is my stage in life right now and if I was focused on what I wasn’t getting to do I would miss it all. Miss it all.
Don’t miss it.
Embrace it.
Change it.
Make it prettier.
Make your life your art!
All of it!
Our stages in life change quicker than we are ready for but if your heart and mind are focused on what matters your life will be so much more lovely. Have your eyes open, make a few changes that help to make it easier to create and never feel sorry for yourself that in the midst of the day to day it is not just about you. My friends that no longer have children at home would be the first to tell you that days all about you are not all you think they are going to be.
Young creative moms…don’t miss it. Make your whole life your art and it will change your heart.
Lastly, tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
Love! Love my husband, my children, my friends, my family, my creativity, my Lord.
I have a lot to learn and lots of ways to grow but I want those around me to know how deeply they are loved.
Looking for E-course heaven? Look no further than Jeanne Oliver.
Have you ever taken an online course, gone to a retreat, purchased an art technique book and were taught an artist’s techniques and mediums? Have you ever been worried about what is your style and what is “their” style? Have you ever been afraid to create art that was inspired by another artist? This course is for you!
Studying Under The Masters III: There is a lost art of studying the works of others to find your own style. All of the “masters” were first apprentices.
Join six artists as we become the “apprentice”. Through discussion and technique videos, each artist will share their week with a “master”. (This will be the LAST ONE. So sign up while you still can.)
I signed up for The Living Studio Series: Join her for a FREE art video series! In The Living Studio you will have the opportunity to watch technique and medium videos from some of your favorite artists. Once a month you will learn what practices different artists use to make their art a daily practice and how they create their studio wherever they go.
You can find many more HERE.
So then there is this beauty. She has a yummy selection of bags and jewelry, but I am maybe just a little bit in love with this one! Check out more bags and other goodies HERE.
Connect with Jeanne Oliver on Pinterest, Facebook , Instagram, her shop and her blog!
Mar 20, 2015 | Art, Global, Interview, Love, Photography
I first encountered Pixie Lighthorse when I was on an inspiration hunt at a local Barnes and Noble. I was gathering all the books I could find on soulful art. This is when I came across Christine Mason Millers book Desire to Inspire. I sat down and likely read it cover to cover, although I don’t remember now if I did. But I do remember promptly looking up who Pixie was when I got home. Although she may not know this, she since then has inspired me over and over to live a deeply spiritual and rooted life. Let’s celebrate this divine woman as well as honor her, as I am greatly honored to have her presence and voice here with us today.
I’m Pixie Lighthorse and I’m a mother to two really wild children, as well as a mother in my tribal community, SouLodge. I hold sacred space around women in transition, offering them the tools of my trade for healing the mind with shamanic tools, animal medicine, soul retrieval, vision quest, intuitive painting, and dreamwork. I created my job by combining my strengths and what I have learned working with Earth Medicine. There was definitely no checkbox in high school for what I do!
Tell me how you rise up in fullness?
Well let’s see. I’m at my fullest when I’m taking radical good care of my body and my mind, and when I’m inspired to carry my medicine in the world. There’s a distinct moment once in a while, when the spark catches and I have a message to carry. I think what inspires me the most and pulls me up to my full height is the energy which comes off of a great conversation about what is most meaningful to those I’m in kinship with. Usually these conversations are around healing people and healing the Earth.
I live for magic and in our dimension, that shows up brilliantly when people take the time to honor their transformation. We don’t celebrate enough in this culture. We just have little scraps of what was once tradition with actual meaning behind it. I love to create ceremony for my loved ones and honor our rites of passage. I think that the world would is a much finer place to live when we honor the transitions of adulthood, parenthood, birth and death with high integrity and grace. And some pomp. It begets accountability and pride in oneself, expands the capacity of a life within a tribe.
What supports the true expression of your authentic self?
My voice and my chosen actions. I’m the only one who can distill my own truth and then share it when called. When I lead groups in sacred voice work, I’m always surprised to hear that many folks keep who they are a secret. They don’t want their Facebook friends and family to know that they’ve become too woo, or witches, mystics, and the like. There is a fear about how “they” will respond. I don’t know how we can have a conversation about authenticity, when there’s still so much that we perceive we must protect. It results in a culture perpetuating the taboo of personal freedom. We (the western populous) are still far too afraid of being seen as freaks. Of course, there are many things that we get to keep sacred and private, but if it’s causing you real pain, you have to come out of the closet already. It’s a risk worth calculating, and taking.
“Our bodies are Sacred vessels, sanctuaries, temples, church! They are Holy ground.”
What does worship look like to you? Feel like to you?
It looks like a daily practice of deep gratitude for my life. It feels joyful-like an inventory of abundant blessings, the beauty of the harvest. Every day. No matter what kind of day I’m having. When I’m grateful, I’m worshiping at the church of my soul in the context of this awesome Universe.
Describe the role of Rhythm in your life:
Rhythm is graceful structure. But it’s not always graceful! What keeps me in harmony is having all of my support systems in place: healers, bodyworkers, treasured childcaregivers, safe shelter, hot running water, therapists of all flavors, herbalists, flower essence experts, reiki practitioners. When I know exactly where to go when I need support, I stay in flow. I think we have to set ourselves up for success if we’re going to make a difference. Being rich in resources and being willing to share yours with those in need also creates a web of support which helps create a community rhythm.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?
I’m living it already- which is to be there to meet the needs of my children and the land and animals I’m blessed to take care of. If I can keep showing up each day to my tribe with the good questions, present to the wonders of the unknown, I’ll consider myself in good form.
Pixie has this amazing offering on April 11th and 12th called Visual Quest and it is a journey around the Medicine Wheel.
We begin in the East, with a blank canvas, where all possibility awaits.
We travel to the South, where we take action and begin to see where we want to make commitments.
Moving on to the West, we confront our challenges, what will be released and what will be received becomes known.
We complete in the North, with finishing touches on our paintings and insights about what the journey was about for us.
As well as SouLodge has some yummy offerings throughout the entire year. What is SouLodge?
SouLodge is a sacred virtual sanctuary for women to do their soul work the Earth Medicine way. By hosting a safe container for processing what’s past and current, I lead you through 4 potent lessons with the Animal Medicine Guide for the session. You gather insights through shamanic journey work, community discussion, journal prompts and transformative inquiry. We gather live weekly for a live broadcast, meditation or group journey and to build our community voice.
Mar 12, 2015 | Art, Global, Interview, Love, Photography
(Right photo by: Catherine Just)
Danielle and I met in the midst of the Petaluma foothills on a sunny California day. Her camera was in tow as well as several copies of Amulet Magazine.
Our first meeting was brief, it wasn’t until a few days later when she photographed the stunning Sage Goddess Athena that I understood how profound and deeply intuitive she is. Danielle and I since then have been able to share conversations as well as work together. She is a truth teller. A rhythm maker. A story teller.
You get what you see. And I see a whole lot of love and drive.
Danielle Cohen: I am a photographer of intimacy, moments in between and full out embodied power. I work with creative mavens, lovers and beautiful humans ready and wanting to be seen or to see themselves more fully. I love my big camera, my iphone camera and my Polaroid cameras. I am also an intuitive, strategic guide and mentor and co-founder of Amulet. I’m a lifelong learner, devoted to practice, to devotion itself and to the 4 beautiful souls that chose me as their mama.
The beauty I see in the world and people around me, soothes and inspires me, reflecting it back out for all to see, fills me with purpose and pleasure. It is my deep desire for each one of us to know our full worth and to be able to meet our own gaze with pure love and adoration. From this place of beauty, love, peace and full awareness of our worth, I believe the most profound healing and change is possible.
Let’s start with the most fundamental question: why do you create?
You know for so long I would’ve denied my creative expressions. Made them so small you’d barely see them with a magnifying glass. But the truth is I’ve always created, I think we all do. For some it’s spreadsheets or smiles or freshly mowed grass and for others it’s pictures or paintings or word stories or babies or incredible birth experiences, or social media posts or speeches that change the world, but no matter what we’re all creating all the time even if it’s just the creation of the next moment.
What inspires you to create this work?
As a photographer, person who writes stuff and mentor, woman and mama all of my work is anchored by one question:
What is it you really want?
It’s the thing I want to know most from my clients and the question that I keep alive for myself always. I truly believe our deepest desires are divine and healing and incredibly powerful. I think it’s these deep inclinations, cravings and loves that will lead us to our most fully expressed lives and will fuel our devotion.
I think that most people know, intellectually, that “going after what you want” is a good idea. We “know” this. But “knowing” isn’t always the same as “believing,” “owning” or “doing.” You might know, for example, that treating yourself to a massage or carving out sacred space and time for yourself and your pursuits or taking time to rest and replenish your spirit is a smart idea. But when it comes right down to it, those types of things — generous, self {and other} loving things — are too often the first things to get deleted from our calendars. We tell ourselves things like, “I don’t have time” or “I don’t really deserve this” or “I can’t afford this” or “I need to finish XYZ before I am allowed to have ABC.” I truly believe and really intend for my work to serve as reminders that, You really do deserve to be happy and feel satisfied. It’s OK and safe and good to take exquisite care of yourself.
You are precious. You are worth it. You are allowed to do whatever you need to do… to feel fully alive.
Your work with woman and lovers is — dare I say it? Fucking amazing! — I have watched the evolution of your work for a year and a half now and I love what you offer to this world!
You’re so so kind. My work is interesting in that I truly don’t feel like I’m doing anything other than reflecting back the incredible humans that I’m SO lucky to work with. I’d say my work is 90% my clients and 10% me {it’s an important 10% though lol}!
Do you have a sacred space? What does sacred mean to you?
I have so many sacred spaces. I have to. And more than anything I strive to treat my body/temple as a sacred space every single moment. It’s been a long and often challenging lesson but it feels so good to be grounded in a practice of that kind of self love. I do believe most anything and anywhere can become “sacred” if you choose to make it so.
My bed is a sacred space. The ocean, near my home, is a sacred space. When I pick up my camera to do a portrait session with a client, that is a sacred moment as well.
I believe you can elevate most anything, and any place, into something that feels “sacred.” All you have to do is decide to really BE there.
Full bloom. Truly present. Engaged and excited. Alive.
What’s more sacred than that?
Rituals can be a multitude of things. What are a few of your tried and true rituals?
In a word, love is my ritual. Creating love, making love, being in love, reflecting love out to the world and being surrounded by people and things I love.
Sometimes this looks like self massage {I’m obsessed with this adore pomegranate breast oil, which is a delicious scented oil that you can rub on your chest. It has cancer-fighting antioxidants and it smells amazing}.
Sometimes this looks like full on ritual with sage, intentions, prayer, singing bowls, crystal infused water and dancing under the moonlight with sisters.
Most days it looks like morning meditation {oftentimes with my 5 year old girl right beside me}. And almost always it looks imperfect!
What does your inner rhythm look like? Feel like? Do you have things you do that help support this rhythm? How you find your rhythm?
Oooooh, my inner rhythm looks like liquid, luminous gold and fire and water and air and earth in total harmony. It might sound like moonlight sonata. Other days it feels like an ice storm or hurricane or walking through a wildfire and sounds more like a song by Lamb of God LOL! Lots of days it’s a mix of all of the above.
I do lots of pausing, lots of moments to recalibrate, reground and breathe.
In our home I strive to lighten our material load and lesson the visual and tactical clutter as much as possible. This is huge. I’m a highly, highly sensitive person so I also do things like play music that really helps me start the day centered and begin to unwind from the day in a calm and happy way. Sometimes this feels selfish and in those moments I have to walk my talk around self care and desires and having what I want/need. When I do these things our whole household hums along more happily. It’s funny how what can feel selfish can often be what creates the most harmony. When I feel disconnected from my rhythm and need to find it again it can look like solitude and stillness or connection and movement. I might hermit in my bed with a journal and some good meditation music or silence or I may go to nature and walk hard, feeling the earth below me. Other times I’ll connect with a girlfriend and laugh my ass off or be enveloped by good loud music and dance dance dance. And very often it involves me and my camera. My camera puts me in a state of witnessing, suddenly the mess by the front door becomes art ~ a fleeting moment in my families story. I have a million examples of how this works for me. As a mom with four kids — all different ages, some still living at home, some not. There are a lot of people who need my care and attention. In order to show up for my family — while also taking good care of myself — I have to create and maintain my boundaries.
This means saying “no” to a lot of requests and a full on “yes” to others. It also means that I periodically need to “cleanse” my schedule — going through and hunting for personal commitments or projects that are draining my energy, and either removing them or adjusting them. I have become lovingly protective of my time and energy. Fierce, mama bear protective. I don’t always succeed “perfectly” with my self-protection and preservation… but I keep striving.
How do you nourish your wellbeing on a typical day?
Very similar to {re}finding my rhythm. In addition it’s often all about getting back to basics: sleep, good food, quiet time, fun time, creative time, a walk by the ocean or in the forest. Simple pleasures ground me and revitalize my energy. Oh, and of course… time with my camera! I love going for photo-walks, hunting for beautiful moments and treasures. Anything and everything is beautiful. Even garbage. Even grief. It’s all about how you capture it and frame it.
How do you most like to celebrate your body?
# 1 ~ kindness. This quote says it all for me
“and i said to my body. softly. ‘i want to be your friend.’ it took a long breath. and replied, ‘i have been waiting my whole life for this.’” ~ nayyirahwaheed
My road to body and self kindness has been a long one. Arriving at kindness has been one of the most freeing and energizing experiences of my life. I practice the celebration of my body through self portraiture, self massage, loving touch from others, movement that feels good, receiving compliments, feeding myself when I’m hungry, sleeping when I’m tired, holding my own gaze with love and words that lift up.
Lastly, tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
I plan to… Live. Fully, long and big and to love the same.
I plan to… Capture love with my camera. Men, women, couples, families, businesses. Love stories of every kind.
I plan to… Continue to attract and connect with gorgeous sister friends like you. <3
I plan to… Create and reflect beauty out in to our world as much and as well as possible. Beauty is divine, beauty heals. {and beauty is flawed and messy and perfect}.
I also plan to… Tenderly inspire people to answer important questions.
Help men and women {young and old} to go after exactly what they want — and get it.
Be a present, energized, loving, happy and attentive mom, wife, friend, artist and business owner.
Be what Mister Rogers would call “a helper.” Someone who is caring, compassionate and striving to create and see goodness in a complicated, sometimes troubled and always beautiful world.
Those are my plans.
They feel wild and precious indeed.
Want more of Danielle Cohen?
You can book one of her crafted photo sessions. In love? Have a growing family? Want to have photo’s made that tell the story of your soul?
She has sessions for it all.
Let’s play with what else is possible.
Danielle Cohen is the co-creator of this yummy e-course: Gold: A 21 day course on practicing and owning your worth. Five amazing woman infused their love into this.
If you are going to invest in anything this year, invest in your own personal journey.
Life reflects back to you what you believe.. Believe you are worth all the goodness in the world. Sign up for GOLD!
For 21 days we will explore our stories around worth and create practices that remind us we are solid + liquid + auric gold.
For 21 days, 5 women whose practice is to know their worth and who carry a deep desire for you to know yours
{because when we ALL know our worth, new worlds are born}
will share their stories, navigations and personal practices around worthiness.
Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and her Website.
Mar 6, 2015 | Art, Global, Interview, Love, Photography
In the fall of 2013 I flew to manage and serve at one of the most wonderful and soulful art retreats around, Call of the Wild Soul.
. Alena Hennessy was teaching and I was there to manage and serve the retreats teachers and attendants.
Over the weekend and since then I have gotten to know her and her work so much better.
She is a kaleidoscope of talents, stories and smiles that will make you swoon. She is vibrant and tenacious.
Achieving amazing things from books, e-courses, to running her own retreats, this girl is un-stoppable!
I am delighted to feature her today!
Alena Hennessy began making art at a very young age, way before she could write.
She would spend hours upon hours drawing on the back of her Grandmother’s dittos from school, making up imaginary worlds of
falling umbrellas, rainbow puddles, ant farms underground, horses with varying personalities, and of course some very fashionable ladies.
Since then her love of creating has evolved– branching out with a deep desire to assist others in finding their true voice in painting and mixed media art.
Alena is the author of Cultivating Your Creative Life, The Painting Workbook, and beloved teacher of the art-making process, both online and at select retreats.
Oh lovely one, what does Sacred mean to you? Do you have a Sacred space?
Sacred space to me is always about going within. To me, Sacred is about living and breathing within the cosmos. Its all so Sacred — every last bit.
The tragedy, the ecstasy… But when our hearts are moved, when they feel what is sometimes beyond words, when we feel so much smaller or bigger than the routine of daily life, or fall deep into the sweetness within the routine of daily life, that is Sacred. To me, everything that is alive is sacred.
What does mystery taste like?
When I smell the deep wet or sunlit woods…. I mean deep in the forest and hear water falling, or birds singing, a time out from the world,
I can taste mystery simply from that unaltered atmosphere.
Do you have any rituals?
I am practicing doing 7 salutations every morning at sunrise. I light a beeswax candle, I put a glass of water out before my yoga mat, and I begin.
Sometimes I light a little Palo Santo or sage. Then I sit and do some pranayama and meditation.
I am not perfect with this… I miss plenty of days… But when I do make time, my whole world is lit up a little more.
I also have a ritual of walking with my dog, taking photos, and bathing. I love candles and natural scents. I love lavender and rose buds that stick against my bathtub.
What does your inner rhythm look like? Feel like? What do you do if you feel off your rhythm and want to make your way back? Being in my body, present.
When I become out of sync with my natural rhythm, I see if I am in my body or in my analytical mind. When I am in my body I am most relaxed. My rhythm fluctuates between that of a buzzing hummingbird or bee and a sleepy large cat that just wants to lie around in the sun. A lioness. Must be my double Leo talking. She loves to be pet… especially her mane. (wink).
I need a good long walk on the beach or in the woods to find my way back, if I lose my natural rhythm. Also watching the sunset or sunrise, or dancing, does wonders for me. As does keeping good and kind company. Travel also has that magical way of making you grateful for what you do have, while humbling you to new experiences.
What helps with mending?
Crying it out…. Taking a nap. Laying in the sun under the trees. Talking with my mother or kindred sisters. Holding hands. Hugging. Making love. Anything within the sphere or love (and not fear) mends my being. All of it is taken within, whether I realize it or not.
I remember one time in my life, a handful of years ago, I was in what I would call a ‘black’ period. Dark night of the soul stuff. Karmic and Heavy. A lot of unwinding and grieving was taking place– which has its own course it needs to run. You can’t judge grief and you can’t control it, at least its just so much more helpful if you allow it to exist and pass through as it needs to. I’ve found it to be a good lesson on surrender in the deepest way. Anyway, I was sitting with big life decisions, marriage ending, new relationship questions, and all that. I was feeling distracted in my own head, up in the monkey mind, and due to time spent emotionally processing I noticed life started to pass me by. I was actually having an intense conversation on the phone with an ex while I was retreating in a sacred place. I was supposed to go snorkeling to some outer islands with this yogi group (snorkeling is one of my most beloved past times) and I missed the boat by a few minutes. Oh I was so angry at that moment… at the person keeping me on the phone, at myself for feeling so split and shut down and scared. So here I was in paradise just ‘in it.’ Heated. Steamy. I turned to a new friend (a wonderful Icelandic filmmaker — also a yoga teacher) and I told him how bad I felt for missing the boat and for why. I’ll never forget the look on this face. The sweetest smile spread out on his lips and his eyes turned upwards in kindness. He softly said to me, “but look where you are– in fact– there’s a dragonfly right in front of you. Beauty is always all around you. You are never separate from it.” Indeed there was a glimmering dragonfly right there, flapping forwards and backwards and all around above the flowers. Dragonfly has been one of my totem creatures for many years — one that has always symbolized transformation of spirit and change to me. My friends actually used to call me Dragonfly in college. It was a sweet moment of redemption and feeling humble. It was a moment of kindness given by the Universe.
How do you most like to celebrate your body?
Probably dancing or bathing. I like to take juicy baths, as stated previously. Also, adorning… Playing dress up. Play dress off. ;) You know, let the body do its natural thing. We are all sensual creatures, we just need to tap into what works for us as individuals — not what media or any other social outlet says.
How do you nourish your wellbeing on a typical day?
Eating well… Eating savory. We get a CSA delivered to our side porch every week with new local veggies from a variety of farms.
I also make tea in the morning. I make room and time for connection with myself and others. I also love to swim and steam at my gym.
“I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity and her flaming self respect.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald
What lights you up? Turns you on? Makes your heart quicken and dance around?
Good music.
My sexy beast (or gifted parter Matthew).
Travel photos of India or Italy…
Dripping paint.
Rich saturation.
Purity of heart… looking into a stranger’s eyes.
Being reflected honestly.
Being blown away by the absolute brilliant and intense world this is.
A genius benevolent mind and heart. A sincere smile.
Your divine feminine soul shines when?
She is fully loved and understood. She is appreciated in all ways, through her bright light endeavors, her sometimes gloomy shadows.
She is embraced and embraces. She gives and receives effortlessly and with ease.
She feels her embodied graceful spirit express itself without inhibition. She is water, fire, earth, and space….
She is seen.
Lastly, tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
Keeping living this dream as true to my heart as possible… inviting all kindred souls to come deepen and play.
Capturing each day, allowing none to pass me by. This is my intent.
Desire to connect with Alena Hennessy?
>>>——————–> Sign up for her Muse Letters Here.
Artists from all over the world are still joining Alena’s vibrant A Year of Painting — with now over 800 participants!
All lessons are downloadable and up for the entire year, so you can join at anytime (and receive a PDF of the course at the end).
You can also save over $62 off with code dancewiththepaint
Check into her up coming art retreats Here.
Connect with Alena on Facebook, Instagram and her website!
Mar 6, 2015 | Art, Global, Interview, Love
I came across Ronit’s work one day while browsing new posts in A Stand For Art-Journaling.
The image was of a camel in a sand scape of creamy tans and brown paint. It was simplistic and powerful.
Since that moment of wonder I have followed her work enjoying the play between organic materials and bright bold brush strokes.
I am excited to introduce this humble, beautiful story teller.
Ronit Neeman Salei is a graphic artist by profession with a background in fashion drawing and textile.
She has been teaching drawing and painting to kids and adults for many years, creating art from nature and from recycled materials.
Originally from Israel, she left for a lover to the big city of New York some thirty years ago but married another. They reside in New Jersey these days.
What is your relationship with art?
I painted almost before I could walk and talk….
My father had a studio in the back yard where he painted his oil paintings, and I spent hours watching him at work. As a very shy child and a young woman, art spoke for me.
It was my tool of communication. My power to stand out in the crowd. I was free to create. I was forced to preform especially to sing in front of family friends.
Painting was easier. I always always painted, that was my safe world.. Place I escaped rather than spending time socializing.
It is only in recent years I stopped performing. Which is hard to admit… It is very tempting to show off your technical ability, even to yourself. Than to find your own inner voice.
I was expected to show nice art, or maybe I expected myself. I now challenge my self to create only what resonates deeply to me.
Some times it isn’t pretty. I try to reach within for simplicity, primitiveness and rawness. This is my massage to those who take my workshops.
“Create only what resonates deeply to you.”
Your work for me conveys your love of nature/organic matter and a feeling of reminisces? Does your childhood influences your work?
Yes, art was big part of my up bringing. Painting was a main hobby of my fathers,not profession. My father painted mostly landscape and flowers.
We would travel to places, and he had a portable easel and oil paint. He painted the eucalyptus trees over the Sea of Galilee . Or the old city of Akko by the sea.
Or fresh cut flowers we brought from our trip. It was only a natural transmission to show them in my work. I painted just like that for years.
I find in nature all the interesting lines , texture and color that I am looking for and just never have enough.
I love drawing too, looking at the lines and curves in a wooden branch, or a shell. I love to be carried away digging into the very small details in those.
What do you collect?
I LOVE bringing nature into my home. Branches that were in the water for a long time. Shells, I have them all around the house. In cups,standing on their own.
How has collecting nature affected your art? What influence does it have?
In my art journaling workshops I try to surprise myself and my guests with simple home or nature objects, anything they do not have to go to the store to buy.
I always love to see kids and adult’s surprised face when I introduce those. I always have a jar of washed and clean eggshell. I just can’t have enough of organic free -range chicken eggs. The different colors of the shells, bring back a strong memory from kindergarten in Israel. I always love to see kids and adult’s surprised face when I introduce those.
I love to make stamps out of roots or any cut or a whole fruit that is left to dry. I love watching the change . It excites me to recycle.
I think I learned so much that I aim for anything simple and not complex.
Where do you feel most at home?
I find myself mostly happy and calm when I am in nature. Preferably next to a source of water, sea, lake, waterfall.
Hearing the sound of water near by is like hearing my own voice.
What are you working on these days?
Projects I am working on now.. I am always creating paintings, art journals, sewing, knitting (some for as long as twenty years, few stitches here and there.)
I love to leave a project and go back to it with a different approach…
I am always looking for original concepts and materials that I can implement into my art and workshops.
I have been working on a Cooking Journal all about the color of flavor. I have been promising my kids, it will come out one day.
You can view Ronit Neeman Salei’s current work as well as inquire about all up coming workshops at 5 peas in a pod!
