Happy Spring!

Kathy Crabbe. 2012. Wood Sorrel Fairy. Watercolor on paper, 8 x 10 inches. Happy Spring/Ostara Peeps!

BIG NEWS! I've started a blog for my current series of paintings, Journey into Intimacy and fine art prints, BodyPrint Healing Series: http://KathrynVCrabbe.com so stop by and check it out plus I've got a new Facebook page devoted to my art: http://Facebook.com/KathyCrabbeArt - so please show your support by 'liking' it. Thanks everyone!

Spring Links ~ Astro Tips by two of my favorite astrologers: Emily Trinkaus Chad Woodward

If you'd like to purchase Wood Sorrel Fairy, she is available as a print or card plus I still have the original watercolor as well. She is part of a series of California Wildflower Fairies that I painted and later turned into an 80 card oracle deck called the Fairy Herbal Healing Cards. I use this deck in my Creative Soul Readings; clairvoyant, channeled readings that are offered online exclusively.

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.

Gillian & the Faery Folk – New Moon Wisdom

New Moon in Cancer July 11, 2010 12:40 pm pdt

Cancerian Artist Gillian

Cancerian Artist Gillian

"With the Moon in Cancer our feelings take the lead. Cancer encourages the wisdom rising out of our oceanic unconscious through moods and feelings. Ground in the magic of our home as a temple. Ask what needs protecting and feeding. Plant, fertilize and water your garden." ~ Excerpted from the We'Moon Datebook

Spotlight on Cancerian Artist - Gillian Guelph, Ontario, Canada Shop: Miss Quite Contrary

I am a self taught photographer and art history student from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Since I first held a toy camera in my little toddler hands, I've been taking photographs, but it has only been in the past couple of years that I thought I might be able to pursue this love professionally.

Since those very early years with a little baby camera, it was my Cancer sensitivity and emotion that were my main drive to take photos - to try to capture my feelings about a time or place and preserve them and express them to others in a way I couldn't otherwise - to help others see the world the way I see it.

Gillian, Bertha's Window. Photographic print, 8 x 10 inches. © 2010

Gillian, Bertha's Window. Photographic print, 8 x 10 inches. © 2010

This is an altered version of my 'Rochester's Window' photograph. This photo was inspired by Bertha Mason, the 'madwoman in the attic' of Charlotte Bronte's Victorian Gothic novel, Jane Eyre. It was created with a vintage camera and found antique photographs.

I think my work is instantly recognizable as the work of a Cancer. My shyness and tendency to remain 'in my shell' come through in my chosen locations - often abandoned, isolated or forgotten corners of the world, and in the dusk like lighting I love so much - the approach of evening and rise of the moon are my favourite time of day. I'm inspired by ideas of things hidden, decaying, dusty and ethereal, and am particularly interested in nature, animals, fairy and folk tales and Gothic novels.

I think my attraction to the past, and interest in history, is the Cancerian trait most visible in my work. I attempt to capture a glimpse of otherworldly beauty in the everyday, as well as incorporate elements of the past by using antique, vintage and toy cameras, printing photographs onto the dusty pages of old books and tattered ephemera, and occasionally integrating hand embroidery, scraps of antique textiles, found antique photographs and other found objects into mixed media and wearable pieces.

Gillian comments on her post: Thank you so much for featuring me - it was a fun thing to do and I like how it made me think about my work in a really different way!

You can find more New Moon Artist features here.

A Soul Reading for Jenn

What is a Soul Reading? A soul reading is similar to a psychic reading, but more in-depth. Yes, it involves prophecy, but it also involves healing, inspiration and practical exercises designed to jump start the process of your soul's transformation by giving you the tools necessary for your journey.

I begin each soul reading by taking a look, with the use of my third eye or inner vision, at your overall energy state along with your soul's Divine essence - this is the part of you that never dies. Reading soul energy over a distance actually gives much better results, based upon the techniques that I employ. It allows me to focus my full attention upon your soul's energy, and not be distracted by your feelings or reactions. I can still sense if you are nervous, unfocused, or even skeptical, but because you are not directly in front of me, it will not distract me from reading your energy.

To learn more about soul readings please click here - http://KathyCrabbe.com

A Soul Reading for Jenn *This post was published with kind permission from Jenn.

Fairy Herbal Healing Card - Fennel

My First Impressions: - I was immediately drawn towards my Fairy Herbal Healing deck for your reading and I pulled a card called “Fennel.”

Fennel is nourishing and sustaining, like mother’s milk. It also helps to open a person up to the delights of the body. It can be soothing and nourishing and can help loosen fears. It is also excellent for new mothers, to help build up the bond between mother and child and to allow for mutual nourishment. You can drink fennel tea whenever you feel in need of nourishment.

- I was drawn towards working with a Transmitter Quartz Crystal, because I feel as though you are a magician-type, meaning that you are very capable of directing your power outwards and attracting what you need to you.

- I see your energy arching outwards, and all over. I also think focusing this power will be beneficial for you.

- I am seeing some risky (business?) ventures as well, so be careful.

- I suggest working with a good grounding stone such as Black Onyx, along with a good directing and grounding stone such as a Smokey Quartz point. They will help you remain steady on your path and help with any indecision you may be experiencing.

- It is important that you work with positive and spiritually minded business associates.

- It is essential that you come from a place of groundedness (earthy practicality) and financial stability, in your work.

I suggest working with the stone, Aquamarine also.

Aquamarine is asking you to take inventory of your life and possessions, and to release that which no longer fits who you are. This stone also works with Ocean Goddess energy to shield and protect you in support of your process.

Aquamarine Affirmation: I release that which no longer serves, and accept Universal abundance.

I decide to pull another card for you, but this time from my Goddess Zodiac Power deck and it is called “Sarasvati – The Sagittarius Goddess.”

Sarasvati is a Shakti, an Indian Goddess. She helped bring the world into being. She is both a water Goddess and a Goddess of speech. She is the inventor of all the arts and sciences, patron of all intellectual endeavors, and a true artist herself. She invented writing to record the songs she inspired and music so that her beauty could be praised.

Goddess Zodiac Card - Sarasvati, Sagittarian Goddess

- I sense that you are an ambitious person, but that it is very necessary to balance this ambition with Spirit. This will help center you in your power.

I decide to pull a third card for you, to take a look further into the future and it is called “Kuan Yin – Capricorn Goddess.”

Goddess Zodiac Card - Kuan Yin, Capricorn Goddess

Kuan-Yin is a feminine Bodhisattva, or Buddha-to-be and is the most powerful being in the entire Chinese pantheon. Her name translates to “she who hears the weeping world” and she is the chief symbol of compassion in the Orient. By constantly repeating her name, it was said to bring peace and generosity into her worshiper’s lives.

- I get a sense that it is your intuition that reigns supreme.

- I see a little girl too (Mandy?) who is very independent.

- I am sensing the fulfillment of security and family.

I am ending your reading by sending you a prayer for recognition of true success.

To view more sample readings please go here: http://KathyCrabbe.com You can purchase a soul reading here.

A Soul Reading for Laura

What is a Soul Reading?A soul reading is similar to a psychic reading, but more in-depth. Yes, it involves prophecy, but it also involves healing, inspiration and practical exercises that will encourage you to work on your issues long after the reading is over. The true purpose of a soul reading is to help you jump start the process of soul transformation, as you learn to accept accountability for your life.

I begin each soul reading by taking a look, with the use of my third eye or inner vision, at your overall energy state, your soul spirit essence, your Divine nature; it is the part of you that never dies. In some cases your spirit guides and ancestors will also pop in to say hello and share a message or two.

All my readings are done over distance via the internet, because for me personally, I find that reading someone's energy this way gives much better results. It allows me to put my full attention upon the client's soul spirit essence, and not be distracted by how they might be feeling at that moment. I will still be able to sense if they are nervous, unfocused, or even skeptical, but because they are far away it will not be as distracting as if they were sitting right in front of me.

Below is an actual sample of a One Question Soul Reading (with kind permission from my client, Laura Gellar.) But first, I would like to share Laura's response to her reading.

Laura's Response to Her Reading: I received my reading during a very black part of my life. Being desperately unhappy and not knowing why can make you feel like you're in a dark space. To be perfectly honest I didn't understand much about what the reading was trying to tell me at first, so I read it over and over and eventually I saw a crack starting to appear in the dark wall around me. The suggestion of drinking nettle tea didn't seem to appeal to me, but I have started drinking it and to my complete amazement I feel completely energized! It really does help. Also I took the advice of working with a picture of a waterfall and I bought a huge picture and made it a centre piece in my lounge. I feel peace and ease when I sit and look at it.

Over all the reading allowed me to see things from a different perspective. I was told that the one thing I needed to do was be open to love and I always thought I was, but this is where the different perspective comes in. I was thinking be open to love from a lover, but I have recently closed myself off from everyone and everything, but slowly and surely I'm taking the advice as it was meant and trying to let people love me again. I feel so much more positive about my future now and know that I will eventually be able to move forward! Kathy you are amazing, you rescued me when I thought there was no hope left for me. Thank you. A Soul Reading for Laura This reading is in response to Laura's question, “How can I make myself happy again?”

My First Impressions: - I immediately sensed that this reading was going to be delving into some really deep stuff.

- I sensed that energetically and physically you have a feeling of being overwhelmed and very tired.

- I suggest working with the stone Jet, to help with healing.

Jet is used to banish all negativity in order to clearly hear one’s intuition and inner light. It also helps us accept the Earth as the place we need to be for the present and opens ancient wisdom along with the wisdom of the body and the wisdom of the planet.

I also chose to work with my Zodiac Goddess Power deck for your reading and pulled a card called “The Pisces Goddess.”

- I really feel as though the best way to help you and heal you will be to take you for a spirit visit to my own spirit guide, Annie.

- So we go together to visit Annie and she sweeps around you (sweeps your aura/your energy/your spirit essence) with her broom of white feathers (to clear and cleanse the tired, overwhelming feeling I sensed earlier.)

- She then gives you a small, carved white swan, telling you that it is your totem animal for right now.

- After working with Annie, I really felt a huge shift in your energy in connection with her healing work.

The meaning of the swan as a totem ushers in a time of altered states of awareness and of development of your intuitive abilities. You may have the ability to see the future, to surrender to the power of Great Spirit, and to accept healing and self-transformation. Learn how to relax, it will be easier if you go with the flow. Pay attention to your hunches and your gut knowledge and honor your female intuitive side.

- I also suggest working with a Blue Cat’s Eye Sapphire by placing it over your third eye (between your eyebrows and a little above.) This will help lighten the load and clear your energy.

- I also suggest working with an Isis Crystal. These crystals enhance the feminine principle, helping restore the balance lost through a misuse of masculine energy, assertion, ego and power.

- When working with this crystal it felt very emotional, and I suggest working with the image of a waterfall as well.

- I get a sense of you as a woman, getting in touch with your emotions, your perceptiveness and your sensitivity.

I pull another card for you, but this time from my Fairy Herbal Healing deck and it is called “Nettle.”

Nettle builds and empowers the fire element in a person, and helps to break up excessive watery or waterlogged emotions to allow the person to contact her rage and anger and cut through self-pity and victim-hood. It is for evoking the will in women and contacting the warrior within. You can drink a cup of nettle tea every day in the morning and continue as long as you feel the need.

- I also suggest working with a Fairy Quartz Cluster as well, I can hear Mother Earth and the fairies telling me there is something you need to do and that is, “Be open to love.”

- I see someone named “Matt?” – he is a gentle sensitive boy (man!) in browns, and he has blue eyes. You are falling in love.

- Yet you are also feeling very stable in love, and you are trusting, knowing it is possible, yet it’s not an overwhelming, all consuming passion, but instead a true love – both solid and true. Know this.

I pull another card for you, from my Fairy Herbal Healing deck, but this time to take a look a bit further into the future and it is called “Wild Rose Fairy.”

The Wild Rose Fairy teaches us about the balance of giving; how to do so selflessly, and to take joy in the process, rather than expecting a return.

- I see you meeting this boy in a forest glade (?!) It appears to be an outdoor party under the stars.

- He may be thin armed and wearing a long sleeved thin sweater. He is a bit dreamy, but smart as a whip!

I am ending your reading by sending you a prayer for peace-of-mind, gentle beauty and softness.

Many Sparkly Blessings to you, Laura!

If you are interested in booking a soul reading you can do so here.