The past several weeks I have been doing some inner work on myself. This resulted in lots of dreams and shamanic journeying. During this time Spirit told me I need to be worked on by another shaman. So I did some hunting around and found a pair that I’ll be seeing this weekend.
Some of the stuff that has come up has been around a past relationship. For some reason I can’t get anywhere with it. To top it all off my boy friend broke up with me last night, no explanation, just it’s not working, and apparently I know this as well, (his words). After promising to do whatever he needs to make it work, to support me in what I was doing. Sigh, whatever happened, I don’t really know, it was never communicated to me. I could go off on a rant, but I’m not going to do that here, I’m a bit more creative than that. Unfortunately, I have a couple unfinished paintings, that might remain unfinished. They depict moments of deep energetic and emotional connection I had with Joe. Not that that wasn’t real, it was, but apparently things changed. It will be hard to connect with that experience again to finish the paintings, but at some point, I’ll manage.
I have to move soon, the sooner the better I think. I don’t understand this and I need my space now. All in all, I see this as a blessing in disguise.
So until I get moved and such, it might be quiet on the blog. So much to do, and I’m going to do it all right now, lol. Because I’m bullheaded that way. That and I don’t want to stay some place, I’m no longer wanted. I’m hoping the cats are ready for another adventure. See you in Columbus, very soon!
Fire Spirit © J West Hardin
One of the big things that I am working on in my art is refining my imagery and vision of what I’d like to create. I have a couple different types of art I create, Visionary/psychedelic art and abstracts.
My abstracts are a more pure expression of my experiences with spirit, while my visionary/psychedelic images are more of an illustration of experiencing the experience.
Above: Fire Spirit by J West Hardin, 5″ x 8″, mixed media on paper, Available $25.00.
I have taken my Reiki Hand Position Chart and made it into a 3 page, 8.5″ x 11″ format. I designed it with enough margins on the sides so it can be 3-hole punch and put into a binder.
Reiki Hand Position Sheets
I've taken the poster and redesigned it to fit on 3 pages (8.5" x 11"). This is a pdf document showing the Reiki Hand Placements that I was taught. A very useful tool for teachers and students. You will be able to download this document after payment through PayPal. Teachers, please do not reproduce this product, these materials are copy right protected and the $5.00 purchase is for one person use. Please direct your students to this site to purchase their own copy. Thank you.
Untitled 1 (1992) © J West Hardin
I have recently found myself looking around on the iTunes for podcasts to listen too, during my long drive and through out the day. I had come across Christina Pratt’s Pod Cast Why Shamanism Now? A Practical Path to Authenticity. I have downloaded many episodes from iTunes and really enjoy Christina’s show. It was refreshing to hear someone speak of shamanism from a non-traditional but authentic perspective, much of what she speaks about really resonates with my own experiences with shamanism.
I’ve listened to shows about authentic shamanism and what that looks like, becoming a person of power, working with the elements, paths of transformation, cultivating a courageous heart and much more. All very good information, I would highly recommend this podcast.
I have also joined the Society for Shamanic Practitioners. Their website has a many wonderful resources and membership gives you access to more.
Another great resource is Shaman Portal this has listing to all things shamanic on the web. Teachers, organizations, products, supplies and much more.
Above work: Untitled 1 (1992) by J West Hardin, 3.5″ X 4″, watercolor and ink on paper, Available $20.00.
Utterance © J West Hardin
As I mentioned in my last post about “Trance Man”, I “finished” this painting last year, I was really happy with it. Recently, I had pulled this painting as well as “Trance Man” out for me to stare at and really look at what I was doing. Is it really finished? What do I feel in looking at it? How can I refine my vision? etc. Lots of questions.
I added some blue over the spirit circles to help push those back more. I added more dimension and depth to the radiating lines and worked a little more on the face. I’m very happy with this now.
Utterance before reworking.
Trance Man © J. West Hardin
I “finished” this painting last year, I was really happy with it. Recently, I had pulled this painting as well as Utterance out for me to stare at and really look at what I was doing. Is it really finished? What do I feel in looking at it? etc. Lots of questions.
I added more details into the radiating lines, refined the face and light and shadows on the body, and made the energy move even more. I’m very happy with where it at now. I love it.
Trance Man before reworking.
Higher Self © 1991 J. West Hardin
Higher Self, 8″ x 10″ , mixed media on paper
This was an image I saw over and over again in meditations I was doing while trying to connect with my Higher Self. One of the things I gained from this experience was self-confidence. I was a shy person growing up, I know most people who know me now would say “yeah, right.” Through my connection with this image I was able to sense more about myself. It really helped me dissolve my limitation of how I saw myself and it opened me up to the potentials of what I could do.
It was through my interactions with my Higher Self that I first learned about the healing skills I had. This would latter lead me to learning about alternative healing practices like, shamanism, herbalism, Reiki, Massage therapy and BodyTalk.
Learning these healing practices of course led me to facing my own healing work, which led to further changes in myself which brings me more into alignment with my Self. Healing is an important part of my spiritual work. To me healing means reaching a balance and that balance changes and sift to new levels of balance as the healing work continues. An on going adventure to say the least.
Otter Dance © 1994 J West Hardin
Otter Dance, pencil on paper, 4″ x 9″
Otter Dance was inspired from a shamanic journey I had done, one of the first shamanic journeys I did after learning the technique. I had met up with Otter and we were went to the ocean and the swam/danced together. While it was plenty of fun to be swimming deep and far with him, it was all playful lessons on how to move through this world, when I needed to journey there.
I had a nice weekend, relaxing for the most part and managed to get a lot of house and a little yard work done. This week is going to be a short work week with Friday off for the 4th of July weekend. I’m looking forward to the time so I can finish up the work I’ve been doing to “Utterance” and “Trance Man.” I also want to get some new watercolors going.
“There’s nothing clinically wrong with me, only an emotional imbalance – I pass too quickly from the wildest enthusiasm to the blackest despair.” ~ Henri Matisse
Energetically this time of year can be intense for myself. The Solstice has so much energy in it and we just had a partial lunar eclipse this weekend and I believe on July 11th there will be a solar eclipse somewhere in the world. The Sun and Mercury have entered Cancer, my ascendant is Cancer and I’m feeling a bit emotionally fried. Processing and clearing a vast amount of emotions. It’s funny what buttons get pushed, well not so funny at the time. Thankfully I’m managing to keep balanced, for the most part.
My friend Benjie posted some Toaist wisdom at her blog CreativeWholeness regarding the Solstice. Please take a moment to check it out.
“When the true light appears,
The entire planet turns to face it.”
