The Power of Positive Thinking

Kathy Crabbe, Love, 1998, silk dyes on silk, 7x7”.

Kathy Crabbe, Love, 1998, silk dyes on silk, 7x7”.

I've been delving back into the Seth Books (channeled by Jane Roberts beginning in 1963). I read them before going to sleep; to invigorate my dreams and shift my consciousness. I always find a few nuggets of wisdom each time I flick through her books and this particular nugget (see below) stayed with me for a while; especially part 4, about how we plant the seeds of the future in the present. I've been consciously working with planting seeds of success in my own future and practicing gratitude (saying my blessings) for all I have in my present every day and it really does make a difference. I feel happier and more positive all round. It seems so simple, but sometimes simple things are the easiest to remember and put into practice. I am not advocating that we all become Miss (or Mr.) Sunshine 24-7, that's just plain annoying, but that we make some room in our daily lives for positive thinking alongside our daily practices.

One: I will approve of myself, my characteristics, my abilities, my likes and dislikes, my inclinations and disinclinations, realizing that these form my unique individuality. They are given me for a reason.

Two: I will approve of and rejoice in my accomplishments, and I will be as vigorous in listing these -- as rigorous in remembering them -- as I have ever been in remembering and enumerating my failures or lacks of accomplishment.

Three: I will remember the creative framework of existence, in which I have my being. Therefore the possibilities, potentials, seeming miracles, and joyful spontaneity of Framework 2 will be in my mind, so that the doors to creative living are open.

Four: I will realize that the future is a probability. In terms of ordinary experience, nothing exists there yet. It is virgin territory, planted by my feelings and thoughts in the present. Therefore I will plant accomplishments and successes, and I will do this by remembering that nothing can exist in the future that I do not want to be there.

From Dreams, "Evolution", and Value Fulfillment, Vol. 1 by Jane Roberts.

Kathy Crabbe: Guiding Your Creative Soul

Interview with Susan Rodio, Fantasy Artist from OZ

Rainbow Mystic Fairy by Susan Rodio Susan Rodio will be my featured guest in the Creative Soul Circle Q&A Group for the month of June, 2011. Sign up is here and it's free to participate (for women only).

1. What aspect of creating your art or craft do you find the most enjoyable?

My favourite aspect of creating an artwork is coming up with the idea, the initial drawing onto canvas and then at the end the finishing touches and final details. 2. What originally got you started creating your art or craft?

I was always interested in drawing and initially copying what I saw, trying to replicate images in books and what I saw in reality to paper. I realized quite young that I had a good eye for that, so I kept going with it. I started drawing when I was around age five. I would sit and draw for hours, spending more time indoors than my siblings.

3. Who has inspired you the most creatively, and why?

I honestly can not say that one person has inspired me with my art because inspiration comes from so many different sources for me. But the person who allows me to keep the flow of creativity happening is my partner Anthony, for he fully supports me and my creativity which allows me to feel that I can do it without feeling judged. 4. How did you decide what medium to work in?

I actually really love oil paints even though I work in acrylics, I decided on acrylics as my studio space was quite small and I didn't feel that I had the luxury to indulge in oils as I find them a lot messier to use and then clean up after. The beauty of acrylics is that they dry very fast which helps a lot when layering paint which I do a lot of in my work.

Earth Sprites by Susan Rodio

5. What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art or craft?

I aim to convey something other than the ordinary or mundane experience of life, I want to convey a passionate and inspired connection to realms other than the physical realm that we engage in day to day.

6. If you had to choose a fruit or vegetable to describe yourself, what would you choose and why?

Hmm that is a hard question, maybe an avocado, slightly tough on the outside but soft and mushy on the inside. 7. If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your creativity, what would that be and why?

I would say oils because they are my first love as far as art mediums are concerned and they convey luminosity and light and shadow much more beautifully than acrylics in my experience. 8. What advice do you have for others who are just starting to develop creatively?

I would say enjoy it and study other artists and art history too, as I think there is a lot to be learned from the work and lives of many brilliant artists from the past.

9. What role does spirituality play in your creative life, if any?

It plays a huge part for me. I could not imagine living my life without feeling or being aware of a connection to something other than the material sphere of life. My connection to the spiritual realms comes through my art.  Through my artwork I take time to connect to spirit and to see what needs to come through. It is through my connection to something on a higher plane that comes through most of the time to inspire me.

Susan RodioSusan's Bio Website Etsy Shop Blog

I am a traditional painter from Australia. My paintings are inspired by many things especially Nature, Spirit, Folklore, Symbolism, Dreams, Astrology & Mythology. My works are painted by hand with high quality acrylic paint and are on either stretched canvas or canvas panel.

Most of my works include images of Fairies, Mermaids, Goddesses, Angels, Magic and Nature. These images come directly from the heart and soul and art for me is a need to express through my creativity beauty, magic, connectedness and feminine power and mystery.

Salti & Soft Risk-Taking Along the Divine Feminine Highway

Divine Feminine Power. Acrylic & pastel on masonite, 48 x 48 inches. © 2011 by Kathy Crabbe Not all of us choose to express our emotions on paper or on 2D surfaces, but I do although I'm not a schmoozer, or someone that can dress up my gifts and talents in frilly words and gushing diatribes. I tend to be overly literal and yet metaphorical and I like a bit of mystery and ambiguity too.

But, what I do care about is creating space for you, my dear blog reader to discover your own passions, gifts, talents and dreams. My job is not only to be a Creative Soul Guide, but to be a friend as we travel this Divine Feminine highway together.

Pictured above is a recent painting which I created under the influence of an almost Full Moon in Libra

Salti. Watercolor on paper, 8 x 10 inches © 2011 by Kathy Crabbe. From the Creative Soul Card® Series

"Libra seeks serenity, peace and harmony. She has a gift for relationships of all types. She sits in perfect balance seeing beauty all around her. She is the peaceful mediator seeking justice for all."

This week I'm inspired by Salti (my Creative Soul Card aka 'lefty drawing' of the week) to challenge myself EVERY DAY to be stronger, take risks AND find balance, plus hold myself accountable by blogging about it.

ps. can you tell that the painting to the left was done entirely with my left hand and the one above with my right?

Museletter: Pisces New Moon Inspiration

Pisces. Watercolor on board, 8 x 10 inches © 2010 by Kathy Crabbe. New Moon in Pisces March 4, 2011 12:46 pm pst

This month the new moon enters the sign of Pisces, a mutable water sign. Piscean types are often beyond definition and a wee bit hard to pin down! Some keywords for Pisces are “I believe”, compassionate, intuitive, artistic, introspective and friendly. I love being amidst Piscean energy because it’s like swimming in a world without boundaries - so freeing! The shadow side of Pisces relates to forgetfulness, martyrdom, melancholy and feeling misunderstood. Pisces also relates to the feet so next time you visit your favorite Pisces check out their shoe collection, I bet you’ll be impressed!

More Pisces Inspiration plus in-depth conversation and support is offered for FREE in my Creative Soul Circle.

~ It’s like Facebook for Soul SiStars ~ power in numbers SiStars! ~

So, on March 4, 2011 when the New Moon enters Pisces get ready to:

- Take time for dreams, intuitive play, artistic pursuits and escapism - Get romantic and get spoiled - Really listen and empathize with a friend’s woes - Meditate, relax, recharge and space out! More About The Lunar Cycles

The new moon is the perfect time of the month to plant seeds of intention for the month ahead. It is a time of trust, of beginnings and of letting go into intuition. The new moon lies in darkness, not yet reflecting the light of the sun, so our intentions may not yet be fully revealed to us and therefore trust is necessary - trust and faith that your newly planted seeds are indeed germinating beneath ground.

Allow the moon maiden/mother/crone to be your touchstone for balance, serenity and divine knowing. Let her cool, pale fingers touch your spirit as your soul flows knowingly, calmly, and with strength into divine being-ness. Allow her to be your support system to keep you pure, whole, holy and connected with your soul’s true purpose. Bless her as you bless yourself, for truly, we are all One.

The moon changes signs approximately every 2 ½ days, going through all twelve signs of the Zodiac every 29 ½ days. The sign that the moon is in reflects qualities of your inner self and being-ness. Each month there is at least one new moon that will rise at sunrise and set at sunset. Astrologically speaking this means that the sun and the moon are in conjunction.

Pisces Goddess. Mixed media on board, 24 x 36 inches © 2010 by Kathy Crabbe

Pisces Meditation and Affirmation

“To feel love is pure warmth, wholeness, open-ness, selfless-ness, shameless, guiltless joy – that is love.” More Piscean Stuff

Pisces – The fish Time of Year – Winter to spring Quality – Mutable Element – Water Ruler – Neptune Anatomy – Feet, lymph system Natural sign of – 12th house Opposite sign – Virgo Color – Sea green, turquoise, lavender Gemstone – Aquamarine, chrysolite, moonstone Tarot card – The Moon Goddesses – Atanu, Dahud, Nix, Oto, Ran

A New Moon in Pisces Exercise

As a creative being (and an artist, yes you!) you can make a difference!

To begin, I want you to come up with three ways that expressing yourself creatively could make a difference in your life.

1. 2. 3.

Now, name three more ways that being creative could influence your community.

1. 2. 3.

What intention could you set to make a creative difference in your life this month? It can be something that you are already doing but would like to talk about or relate to in an empowering way, or it can be something new that you want to try.

1.

What intention could you set to make a creative difference in your community this month?

1. aquamarine sphereA Message From Aquamarine

Pisces needs freedom to dream. What dreams are you holding onto? What dreams are buried within your soul? Let them out and onto paper, even if you’re unsure and feeling scared. Know that love that awaits you. Be brave.

What do your dreams look like, feel like, taste like, sound like? Start out by writing down some keywords to get your juices flowing and then allow them to flow into a river as your dreams start to flow out of you.

Try sleeping with an aquamarine or a picture of one under your pillow at night and make sure to request dreams of intention, and dreams of happiness and love. Allow visions to flow through you while sleeping and be ready with pen and paper to record them when you awaken.

My Version of Pisces

“Guess Poet” is part of a series of left-handed drawings I created over a period of five years. These drawings were later turned into an oracle card deck that I use for soul readings.

Guess Poet. Watercolor on paper, 8 x 10 inches © 2010 by Kathy Crabbe

Guess Poet encourages all of us to water our souls by closing our eyes and gazing within our soul’s interior. What do you see, or better yet, what do you feel? Is there anyone else there with you? If you start to feel sleepy and want to wake up, make sure to have a glass of water handy. Now, open your eyes and ask yourself, “What parts of this inner vision do I see around me?” Explain.

If you can see your inner vision expressed in the outer world, congratulations! If not, you need a warm fuzzy hug and then I have a question for you, “How can you bring this vision into reality?” Now, make a wish list of at least three things you would like to express. Next, turn those three things into intentions knowing this is something you will put into play in the month ahead.

The artwork featured above is from my Zodiac Goddess deck and Creative Soul Card® deck that I incorporate into my Creative Soul Readings. Prints and greeting cards can be purchased here ~ LuLu Design.

More Pisces Inspiration plus in-depth conversation and support is offered for FREE in my Creative Soul Circle.

Mid Life Transition: No More War

Jules by Kathy Crabbe

Jules by Kathy Crabbe

Last night I requested a dream in honour of the Autumn Equinox and with the help of Mugwort (an herb placed under my pillow) and a Lefty Oracle Card by the name of Jules (see image to the left) I soon found myself in a war torn Middle Eastern country learning how to escape  and survive. The dream involved many men, both attackers and helpers and I did manage to escape and survive. In this dream my inner male learned teamwork and survival skills.

At this time in my life I find myself learning how to integrate and accept my inner male (and as women we all have one) and dangerous as he is this dream showed me that if we stick together and help each other that we can survive. If any of you are currently going through a Mid Life Transition (it happens for all of us around the age of forty) you might want to ask yourself:

What has my inner male been teaching me? What hidden strengths and shadow issues are being revealed? What lessons are presenting themselves to me over and over again until I 'get' it?

I understand teamwork, but not the fighting. Next step: to make war completely unnecessary because we've got more important things to deal with, such as keeping our planet, Mama Earth alive and healthy.

Lefty Oracle Jules' Mantra:

Within each of us lie oppositions. The way to balance these oppositions is through our hearts. We MUST open our hearts now.

Click here for Kathy’s Soul Readings and Astrology Reports.