In the Raw

People have asked me why I draw. And why it is hand drawn, and in the raw.

And the answer is, because it gives me authenticity. Just me, the pencil, and the evolving story, on a piece of paper. A reflection, and observation of my artistic, meditative and creative orientation. At a point in flowing time. To easily connect, with my raw emotions, inner and higher consciousness, and create space, for peaceful embrace. Of what's going on inside. And leaving the rest of the world behind. Honouring my body heart spirit and mind. In creative flow.

It is a great way to get out of my head, and into my authentic heart. Honouring my inner sacred art.

And for each of us the process and the outcome will be different. Mimicking another is not our gift. It is to find what we are developing. Within ourselves. And processing our inner landscape externally. Trusting. And being true, to what's going on for you.

So for those of you who would like to start. Creating your own unique heart art. Here are a few tips

1. Experiment with art things. Paper, pencils, and drawings. Get familiar with what feels good to you. Is easy, economical, and available, for when you're in the mood.

2. Tune into the comfort you prefer. Where and how is your body at its most relaxed. Is it better for you to sit at a desk, or do you like to stand, to flow at your best. What feels easier for your body and hand. Define and create your own creative wonderland.

3. Start somewhere. Breathe. Clear your mind. Bow your head to your heart. Put your pen on the paper. Perhaps in the centre, and then follow the flow of your hand. Let go, and see what transpires. A little like doodling, and following. And occasionally resting, and changing colours, intuitively, if you like.

4. Enjoy what is evolving. Go with the flow. See it as a treat. Don't criticise. Just embrace the space of creative grace.

5. Keep going. Even if you think you have made a mistake. You just don't know how brilliant that can make the whole creation. Move yourself beyond self critique so you can just enjoy your creative peak when it comes.

6. Tune into your body. Breathe. Enjoy. Learn what you like and where you prefer less and more. Adjust. Colour, curves, lines, or texture. Each experience, like you, will be new. And in the process you are learning and evolving the true, in the moment, you.

7. And when you feel done, and relaxed, sit back, contemplate, and celebrate what has come. A beautiful reflection of what is real for you at that time.

Enjoy your own raw, in the moment, art. And see what it tells you from your heart.

If you would like to see more, of when I first began to draw, my Heart Art in the raw, you can get my book Heart Art mandala'verse from major bookstores. http://www.lovingpsyche.com/Products/Books/mandala-verse.html

Much love

SaraSwati Shakti




Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.
www.lovingpsyche.com

Inner Beauty

Last week I drew a mandala. Of a Swan. The Swan, itself, a symbol of reflection. She reflected back to me my inner beauty. And the messages I needed to feel. And to give me confidence. That I was doing ok. On that morning. Reassured by the presence of her, and my own beauty, during a new experience for me. I was being filmed for an author video of Heart Art manadalverse, my book. Itself a collection of drawings that reflected for me my heart and poetic art yearnings.

And this Swan in the mandala I drew last week, while she was gliding gracefully, was not the traditional pure white. She is also fuschia and pink. Unique. Like me, and You. Each of us our own interpretation of beauty in whatever is evolving within.

The image of a Swan is meant to enhance the divine qualities of the higher self, and the soul, such as light, love, grace, inspiration, intuition, and self-transformation. It reflects femininity, beauty, sensitivity, and melancholy. I know, they are all parts of me. I am calling her Pleasantly Poised and Pretty. And here she is

And you can interpret it anyway you wish. Because your point of beauty reference is to you unique.

The deeper meaning for me is that the Swan is the companion of the Hindu Goddess Saraswati, my spiritual namesake. Watching over me. And Saraswati when broken up as Sara and Swa means Essence of Self. That is why I emphasise the two elements of her name. As that's what each of us is. The essence of our unique self presence. Artistically, uniquely, our own present, to the world.

Art helps us find our beauty. In whatever way we experience it. As drawing, doodling, or simply observing.

Heart Art mandala'verse is a range of my drawings from when my life was messy, and the drawings themselves were uneasy. Yet, in the messiness, and un-elegance, I still found beauty. That is the book's message. Even in the darkness, there is light. Even in the messy, there is sight. Even in the imperfect, there is beauty. Surrendering to it helps us discover our own unique 'pretty'.

Devoid of my story, the book allows the experiencer to reflect on the images, and the words in it, so they can see what the reflection is for them in it.

May you always find your unique inner expressive beauty in whatever place and space you find yourself experiencing. And may we all find our unique creativity.

Much love

SaraSwati Shakti


© Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
www.lovingpsyche.com

Heart Art mandala'verse Inspiring You and Me

I have published a book. It is called Heart Art mandala'verse. And its essence is for my readers to connect to the language of the Heart. Using Art. And poetry. In a lovely simplicity.

Drawings and words that Inspire feeling, and connection, to our wondrous heart intelligence.

And Inspire is a beautiful word. It means to be In Spirit. Like my name Shakti.

When I was going through changes in my life that were difficult for me, I connected to my Spirit, and drew images. And poetic verses. That had meaning for me. From my journey of transition and vulnerability. Into a new way of living.

They were drawings in a circle, that represented my inner universe. Which is what mandala means. An ancient Sanskrit word for circle. The circle of my life at a point in time. And in that circle, the image of the heart, kept repeating. Reminding me. Urging me. To stay in my heart. No matter what would confront me.

The Dalai Lama once quoted a statement that said

No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the Heart

And that was my mantra, my affirmation, my poem. So much so that I had it on my professional website connecting my clients' heartminds through their changing times. As a psychotherapist, educator, and coach, it is something I assist my clients achieve when they are in vulnerability. When they are finding their lives changing.

My art and poetry served to remind me, to stay on my Spiritual path. Of the Sacred Heart.

And in doing so I found what I loved. A new dimension to my career. Using my own love of art, poetry, and drawing. In a way that can be easily seen, repeated, and reinforced. In imagery, words and energy. Of the heart. Openly and meditatively. Heart Art mandala'verse. InSpiring. You and Me.

This book shows a range of my drawings and poems in the hope that it will inspire others to connect to their own hearts and inner experience. To meditate with it. The images. And the poetic verses. And to know deeply, and truly, that the heart is the most beautiful intelligence necessary for our loving soul journey, personally, professionally, for our families, communities, world, and humanity.

The book is now available, and you can find out more about it, and me, if you scroll down on my website at http://lovingpsyche.com/Products/Books/mandala-verse.html

It comes from my heart to yours.

Sincerely, and Inspiringly.

SaraSwati Shakti.


Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.
www.lovingpsyche.com

Full Bloom

She is out. In her full magnificence. I watched her while on my evening walk. Rising. Rising. To the fore.

I am now looking at her again. From my window. While I write. The marvellous, bulbous, curvaceous, moon. In full glowing bloom.

As I contemplate. About the last week. Of peaks. And quantum leaps.

For me, I launched my new website quickly. www.LovingPsyche.com. You are welcome to have a look see.

My book Heart Art mandala'verse became available globally. A project that has been patiently waiting to come to the fore.

I was interviewed on international radio. A first opportunity, to talk about the story of it.

I shared sacred embrace, and space, with Andrew Harvey, Sacred Activist, while he was in Sydney.

And witnessed many other synchronicities. Of being in the right time and place, wandering in wonder, connecting with one another.

Just as the moon was building to her peak. So too, down here... With the heart mind focussing. Shifting.

And now, it will be time for receding energy. And stabilizing..

To take stock. Regroup. Focus with slower simplicity.

How wise the moon to teach us this.

The perennial expansion and contraction in physics.

Peaking. And Releasing.

The universal law, of grow and slow. Openings and closings. Sliding doors.

And it is here, now, that I find, a new solid ground. An open window. And a moonlight glow. Wondering on wander steps. And feeling. Contentedness. The simple finding, of momentary blessedness, lasting.

Happy full moon peak bloom. May you too give her room. And contemplate. On what you hold blessed, while she is at her shining best.

SaraSwati Shakti


Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.
www.lovingpsyche.com

Spirit Matters

The first time I watched the link below was when Deepak Chopra introduced it on our shores. When I attended his presentation Reinventing the Body Resurrecting the Soul some years ago.

It has come to mind again as I have been traversing and combining the worlds of spirit and structure over the last week.

Finding a formula that suits me, between structure and creativity, masculinity and femininity, in work and relationship, between having a dream and grounding it in reality. A balancing, beautiful complimentary functionality.

Working with both dimensionalities. Considering them more solidly.

It came up among the themes of a meeting last week. Topically revolved around the areas of communicating and organising, for my spiritually focussed psychotherapy business. And meditating. On the Nirvana Atma. With the Chidananda Rupa Shivoham mantra. Keeping me in the realm of higher consciousness while I work on my practice and business.

The balance between Structure and Spirit.

Left and Right brain synergy.

Heart and Mind connectivity and validity.

And problem solving, or solution finding, when presented with challenges, or opportunities, for adjustments, and new directions. Finding a way for higher consciousness creativity to meet a logical need. Combined left and right brain quality.

I hope that you will glean what you need from this fabulous link, as I have in revisiting it. About the independent and mutual benefits of each of our beautiful brain hemispheres. As Jill Bolte Taylor communicates it so wonderfully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTrJqmKoveU&sns=em


SaraSwati Shakti


Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.
www.lovingpsyche.com