Siren Rising

Quotation: Riding The Wave

2012-01-02T22:25:00.000+11:00

"Every positive change – every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness – involves a rite of passage. Each time to ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception."

- Dan Millman -

“When you talk about somebody's body map - an idea that I've been circling for awhile - I think that we all have an invisible map. And at a certain point in your life, you can begin to look and really see which places resonate with you, pull you in. You might have only been to a place one time; you might not have even been there at all, but it's a place that gives you a physical response."

- Tori Amos -

"The universe is a moving wave, always creating new possibilities for the actualization of love. To be enlightened means to ride the wave."

- Marianne Williamson -

2011: The Year Of Wholehearted Living

2011-12-31T10:55:00.000+11:00

So unbelieveably, here we are on the last day of 2011. I can't believe how this year has flown, January was only yesterday, right? Apparently not. 2011 has been... interesting, challenging, and many other things - as a certain dear friend would say - 'whack'. There's been many a moment when I just wanted to scream, "Can't this year be over already?!" But challenging as times have been at several points, I didn't run, I didn't numb, I didn't collapse in a heap; somehow this year has been one of finding a calm within the storm, and allowing the good, the bad, and the inbetween to take their course, without fear, and with faith that "It will all find its way in time." 'Let go' has been my mantra, allowing life and all within it to flow, believing that what is meant to be present will return.

And you know what? It did. It always does, and it's having those experiences and coming through the other side of day that has allowed me to embrace such situations trusting the universe will carry me to where I'm meant to be - eventually. This is the wholehearted living that Brene Brown speaks of, and the personal philosophy I've adopted in the last few years. This year was the year of not just talking, but walking, breathing, and living it. That means the good, the bad, the joyous, the scary, the unexpected, the challenging - all of it. And as the year got older, I've found gratitude for the challenges, because they showed me that I wasn't just talking - I was walking this wholehearted, vulnerable, all-embracing, life path - fearlessly. And, not alone. Allowing other people in on the times I was feeling overwhelmed or struggling was a challenge in itself for me - a new one - but my gratitude for the people who've been on my side this year is unending. You know who you are, but you may not know just how much of an impact you've had on my life this year - thank you. All of you.

The last week or so, as I've reflected on the year and the people who've come into my life, and those who've moved on; as changes have continued to light my life, I've realised that 2011 has actually been one of the best years of my existence. It may have been a rough ride, but I'm so grateful for where it's taken me, and so excited for the road ahead, into 2012 and beyond.

So as the sun sets on this year, and a new one dawns, wishing you all a wonderful New Years, and look forward to sharing 2012 with love, light, sunshine, and peace.

"I'm glad you're on my side, still."

Imaginspiration: Coming Home Again

2011-12-14T23:34:00.000+11:00

Coming Home Again by Aimee Stewart

Neptune's Blue Angel by Karin Taylor

Perfume by Archan Nair

Imaginarium by Angi & Silas

Quotation: Faith Is A Place Of Mystery

2011-12-08T00:58:00.000+11:00

"When a cupboard is full to overflowing and the doors are opened up, that which is within comes tumbling out and nothing can stop it. When floodgates are opened, the water rushes forth with tremendous power and force, carrying all before it. So with the spiritual power within you; once it has been recognised and released, nothing can stop the flow. It pours forth, sweeping aside all negativity and disharmony, bringing with it peace, love, harmony and understanding. It is love that will overcome the world; it is love which will unite all humanity. Therefore the sooner you release that tremendous power of love within you and allow it to flow freely, the sooner will you behold world peace and harmony and the oneness of all humanity. When you have love in your heart, you draw the very best out of everyone, for love sees only the best and therefore draws forth the best. Be not afraid; open up, hold nothing back, and let it all flow freely."

- Eileen Caddy -

“Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.”

- Brene Brown -

“I’ve been racing my boat lately. It’s really small—fourteen feet. I’m trying to learn the skill of taking waves and weaving in and out of the water. I just love being out on the water and having all of these massive boats pass by and get me all wet. I did something a couple of days ago that was totally humbling. I went out into the big ocean in my tiny little boat because it was very calm. And it was such a good feeling. I’m a bit cynical about religious deities right now, but sometimes you go out to the ocean and it’s really simple, “Ocean... big.” In a sense, your faith gets restored because if a storm kicks up, then a storm kicks up. It’s not personal. With religions, I was taught if you do x, y, and z and you confess and you pray and you ask to be absolved and you do all these things, then God will respond. And that’s a lie. There’s no guarantee that God will do anything. I’m really learning it’s a free will planet and certain things are going to happen to certain people. No matter how loving you are or giving you are, you might face loss-tragically. And there’s no “get out of loss free” card, just because you go to church.”

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: You CAN Blossom Anywhere

2011-12-06T23:17:00.000+11:00

Good Traveller by Aimee Stewart

Little Love Bird by Karin Taylor

You CAN Blossom Anywhere

Botanical Dimensions by Archan Nair

Message From the Muse by Angi and Silas

Quotation: No Pre-requisites, Just As Is.

2011-12-02T23:47:00.000+11:00

"A mountain is composed of tiny grains of earth. The ocean is made up of tiny drops of water. Even so, life is but an endless series of little details, actions, speeches, and thoughts. And the consequences whether good or bad of even the least of them are far-reaching."

- Sivananda -

“There’s the inner world which is a reflection of the outer world, and when you think of all the billions of worlds that are going on out there - we are connected with that, we’re not encouraged to think of our connection as why we are on this planet. Is our life just functional; is that all that is? Getting up, going to work, having kids, to just populate the planet? I mean there have to be reasons we do things...”

- Tori Amos -

"Men and women who carry a deep sense of love and belonging, believe that they're worthy of love and belonging. The trick is no pre-requisites. Just as is, right now, worthy of long belonging. Not when I make partner, not when I lose 20 pounds, not if I get pregnant, not when my husband comes back, not if my daughter gets into Yale, not if I make the fortune 500. No pre-requisites. Just as is, right now, worthy of love and belonging. And the last thing is a resilient spirit. That is an absolute outcome of being able to live in your story. We get to re-write the endings of our stories if we're willing to walk into them and open them. It's a powerful thing."

- Brene Brown -

Imaginspiration: Only If For A Night

2011-11-29T23:45:00.000+11:00

So, I normally fill this space with artwork & images by other artists, and try to avoid being too self-indulgent... But, 2 weeks ago I saw one of THE most amazing live shows ever, and it truly was a hugely inspiring moment for me. I've already written about it, but I wanted to share the night and setlist in colour and pictures...

Only If For A Night: Florence + the Machine

2011-11-22T22:56:00.003+11:00

There’s something magical about live music. I’ve always known this; I think the first concert I went to would have been a Homebake festival when I was 12 and I’ve been chasing that same high ever since.

Though it must be said, truly great live music creates an unrepeatable atmosphere unique to that experience – and that energy, that sense of being alive and connected and a part of something being created, THAT is what leads me and many to follow the artists I love far and wide, over and over and over again.

When I first saw Florence + the Machine live in 2010, that was the only word I could find to describe the performance of front woman Florence Welch - ENERGY – she just had this indescribable, yet deeply resonant energy that seemed to take me over entirely. I’d been a fan since first hearing her back in 2008, but as is often the case with most of my favourite artists, seeing her live took it to another level and I made a mental note then and there that whenever she returned, I’d be there to see her. Last Tuesday night, that time came. I somehow managed to get tickets to the Mastercard Priceless Music gig at the tiny Seymour Centre… The show Sold Out almost instantly, how I managed to get tickets I still don’t know, but I’m ever so grateful I did as it was one of the nights of my life, and personally the best concert I’ve ever seen.

From the opening notes of Only If For A Night, I had tingles head to toe. The soft dream like loop as the band walked on perfectly set the stage for Florence to appear in a stunning gold vintage gown. By the time she kicked into the first chorus, the dreamy air was electrified and pulsed with energy. An energy which completely took over every part of my being when she began What The Water Gave Me. From the first time I ever heard it I felt a deep, soul-level connection to this song, and hearing it live for the first time only affirmed that powerful resonance. I was still mesmerized as she moved into Heartlines – a seamless connection both personally, and the running water theme. As she moves across the stage, it really is like watching a mermaid out of water at times. There’s a grace, and flow, and spontaneity - yet it’s perfectly in rhythm with the music

The the intensity in the room increased tenfold from the very second she started Seven Devils,. I looked at Dae next to me in disbelief – we were both hoping like crazy to hear it, but didn’t really expect we’d witness the live debut of this hypnotic track at just the 2^nd show since Ceremonials release! But we did, and it was magical, spine tingling, and beyond anything I’d imagined. There’s a feeling that comes from the combination of vocals & instrumentation that seems to connect you with the other side of the ether. It’s both haunting and deeply calming at once. Almost like a sonic ceremony, making peace with darkness – inner & outer. And so she flowed with ease into Cosmic Love. In which the solo vocals made every hair on my body stand on end all over again. Note perfect, her voice alone filled the entire room.

If everything that had come before had filled the room - Lover To Lover expanded it. And what made it even more impressive is that it was entirely acoustic. It’s probably the most soulful and dare I say most joyous, song I’ve seen Florence perform. The rhythm in her vocals, and movement with them evidenced that this came from the depths of her being and shook us ALL out! And following that, few songs could have been a better choice than Between Two Lungs, a literal, and metaphorical breather, it was lighter, & softer, & simply beautiful.

With that intake of fresh air, the whole crowd jumped to its feet for the first time with the familiar opening of Dog Days. Whilst it would be easy to think that some fans may tire of Florence’s most played & popular song, to see, hear – to be a part of – Dog Days live, proves what a smash of a song it really is. There’s just this positive energy, and a real freedom that comes with clapping & singing along with a crowd of complete strangers; friends in melody, rhythm, and spirit. And in the case of the next song, Shake It Out – friends in mask. Whilst the audience was still on their feet, buzzing from declaring the Dog Days to be over, Flo in her softly spoken, polite British accent requested we all put on the masks that had been awaiting us when we arrived at our seats. Then Florence herself donned a gold sequined mask and launched into the Ceremonials lead single. Whilst it may not be as catchy as the Lungs smash that came before it, it certainly carries something of the same celebratory, breaking-off-the-shackles, feeling, and it was also represented in a visual sense, with Flo removing her mask and dancing about joyously by the end of the song.

The tinkling intro of Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) had the crowd on their feet once more, and for me, it was one of the highlights of the night. Always good live, the 2011 arrangement of Rabbit Heart is a little softer in places and I think in many ways it’s only better for it. The song all but comes to a standstill with Flo’s soaring vocal ‘offering’, and it when it kicks back in with the melody on keys, it brings a smile to my face every time – truly one of the most satisfying musical moments I’ve ever experienced. Staying on a high, she followed Rabbit Heart with Spectrum - probably the song I’d been most hoping to hear live. If Dog Days & Shake It Out were celebratory, Spectrum was purely euphoric. Oddly, however, the crowd as a whole didn’t seem to feel it the way I did, and were relatively subdued – certainly more so than I’d anticipated, I’d expected Spectrum to go OFF! But it didn’t in any way stop me from feeling this rainbow soul-soaring song head to toe. Nor did it stop the crowd standing to give rapturous applause as this closed the main set – and so appreciative of everything we’d all just witnessed.

The applause continued right through the encore break, and only got louder as Isabella and the rest of the band returned to the stage, and finally, Florence. Bathed in soft blue light, the applause fell silent the moment she started Never Let Me Go. It was truly one of the most beautiful and emotional moments of the entire show. I glanced across at Isa at the beginning, and she appeared as spellbound as the whole audience. By this stage the final song wasn’t hard to guess, and just as Only If For A Night was a perfect opener, No Light, No Light proved to be a perfect closer. It carried as much intensity as Seven Devils, was as hypnotic as What The Water Gave Me, and as emotionally charged as the song that had preceded it. The note held in the middle of the song could have shattered a glass ceiling – just as she does in the video clip – and the last line, “Tell me what you want me to say”, delivered with piercing intensity cut right through air in the room, signifying it was all over, leaving us all sitting there stunned at what we had just experienced.

As always, when Florence spoke throughout the show, she was so incredibly gracious – as appreciative to be there as we were. There was a moment in the middle of the set when someone in the front row caught her attention and she came forward as he walked on stage to give her a hug. Yes, walked on stage – that’s how intimate this venue was; the front row practically WAS on stage.

On an absolute high, we left the theatre in a daze - and I think I remained in that euphoric-reflective state for most of the last week. But at some point, either during the show or reflecting upon it, I had something of an epiphany. It perhaps had been building gradually, having been immersed in Ceremonials for the last few weeks and watching or reading interviews. It had all given rise to thoughts about my own creative path. Seeing artists live is like watching their highest expression of creativity. When you see Florence take the stage, it’s evident it all comes straight from the soul, and she becomes this ethereal creature – or perhaps just a freer version of her true self. And when you see someone expressing their creativity – fully – and the happiness that comes with that both personally and collectively, it raises the question, ‘what is it that makes my own soul sing?’ Now don’t worry, I have no lofty ambitions of being the next flame-haired singer, or petite producer/keyboard player. No, I know what makes my soul sing – I’ve always known. But sometimes it’s easier to appease the passions of the mind, than it is to follow those of the heart and soul. Particularly in a creative sense – it’s easy to create solutions and to fix problems; this is what the world needs, and with it comes a degree of certainty. But my soul doesn’t just want to fix things that are broken; its need is to create from start to finish, and in the language of line, colour, and beauty. This isn’t a path of certainty; I don’t know exactly where it goes – I only know that wherever it takes me is exactly where I need to be.

"This is a gift"

“Our world always needs reminders of those things which are good, true and beautiful. The artists are always the ones that remind us.”

- Dave Kiersznowski -

P.S Proper photo post to follow soon.
P.P.S I may come back and elaborate on said creative path at a later date, but for now I need to spend time being creative - drawing, painting, tying silver chains into knotted masses - all the things I put on hold for everything else.

Imaginspiration: Summer Clouds

2011-11-22T10:02:00.000+11:00

Adore by Aimee Stewart

Dream Wide Awake by Angi and Silas

Laur du Temps' by Archan Nair

Summer Clouds by Karin Taylor

Quotation: The Endless Immensity Of The Sea

2011-11-18T22:30:00.000+11:00

"You can close up yourself, but when you don't do that, then things will show up in you which you are reluctant to think about. These do not really have to be good thoughts, but I have understood that monsters are neither good nor bad, they are just there. There are things in you which are good and there are other things which are bad. Sometimes you are cruel, sometimes you are the victim, sometimes you are passionated and sometimes not, what counts is the whole being. Some things you simply can not exclude. You have to show responsibility for your whole being. Try to learn as much as possible about yourself and show responsibility."

- Tori Amos –

“Thoughts are not feelings; rather, they are ideas of how you "should" feel. When thoughts and feelings get confused, truth becomes clouded, lost.”

- Neale Donald Walsch –

"If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

- Antoine De Saint Exupery -

Imaginspiration: Beauty Is The Illumination Of Your Soul

2011-11-07T00:54:00.000+11:00

Cross Your Heart by Karin Taylor

Every Day Is A Journey by Aimee Stewart

Beauty Is The Illumination Of Your Soul

Yuthika by Archan Nair

The Single Step From No To Yes... by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Oceans To Fly

2011-11-05T23:01:00.000+11:00

“Intuition is not a single way of knowing – its’ our ability to hold space for uncertainty and our willingness to trust the many ways we’ve developed knowledge and insight, including instinct, experience, faith, and reason.”

- Brene Brown -

"I’m obsessed by the sea. For me, writing music is like jumping off a cliff and then deep-sea-diving among new coral reefs. I think women are like water, while men are much more like clay, like earth."

- Tori Amos -

"Everyone has Ocean's to fly, if they have the Heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe. But what do dreams know of boundaries?"

- Amelia Earhart -

Imaginspiration: She Will Be Ascending

2011-11-03T23:10:00.000+11:00

Love Birds by Karin Taylor

Give Love An Inch by Angi and Silas

She Will Be Ascending

Joy by Aimee Stewart

Look For The Beauty by The I AM Project

Quotation: Don't Miss Magic Happening

2011-11-02T23:30:00.000+11:00

"I believe in energy, everything is energy. And therefore sometimes magic can be created if somebody is open to letting energy do what it does, instead of being so cynical, that you miss magic happening. "

- Tori Amos -

"Stress is caused by being 'here' but wanting to be 'there."'

- Eckhart Tolle -

“Events do not have meanings. Events are events, and meanings are thoughts. Nothing has any meaning save the meaning you give it. And the meaning you give to things does not derive from any event, circumstance, condition or situation exterior to yourself. The Giving of Meaning is entirely an internal process. Entirely.”

- Neale Donald Walsch -

Imaginspiration: Watch Me

2011-11-01T00:09:00.000+11:00

The Chemistry (Metamorphosis) by Patricia Ariel

Quote by Layne Beachley

Anything To Get Me Through This by Steve Leadbeater

You Are The Song by Angi and Silas

Once Upon A Rainbow by Karin Taylor

Quotation: Living In Imaginary Worlds

2011-10-30T00:04:00.000+11:00

"After a decade of studying topics like vulnerability, shame, and courage, I’ve come to believe that our lives are a powerful collection of stories – truths about who we are, what we believe, what we come from, how we struggle, and how we are strong.

When we practice the courage it takes to own our story, we gain access to our worthiness – the feeling that we are enough just as we are, and that we are worthy of love and belonging.

If we spend a lifetime trying to distance ourselves from the parts of our lives that don’t fit with who we think we’re supposed to be, we stand outside of our story and hustle for our worthiness by constantly performing, perfecting, pleasing, and proving.

Hustling is all about shame. When we understand shame and start to cultivate shame resilience we can start to stand strong in the center of our story."

- Brene Brown -

"I was imaginative, a bit of a dreamer but quite a timid child. I wasn’t confident – I think childhood is one of the most uncertain and terrifying places to be. I don’t know if I’d want to go back there. But I do remember being completely involved in imaginary games that would last for days, weeks. It was always magic, sorcery, living in trees. A lot of just living in imaginary worlds. I don’t think I’ve lost that. It’s just now I’m doing it as a job."

- Florence Welch -

"There's room for everybody on the planet to be creative and conscious if you are your own person. If you're trying to be like somebody else, then there isn't."

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: We Are Shining, And We'll Never Be Afraid Again

2011-10-28T01:05:00.000+11:00

She Cannot Fly In A Cage by Pip Gerard

Spectacular by Angi and Silas

Spectrum

Purveyor Of Prancitude by Aimee Stewart

Tokyo Typhoon by Tiffany Atkin

Quotation: Sounds Of The Universe

2011-10-25T23:31:00.000+11:00

“To overcome perfectionism, we need to be able to acknowledge our vulnerabilities to the universal experiences of shame, judgement and blame; develop shame resilience; and practice self-compassion. When we become more loving and compassionate with ourselves and we begin to practice shame resilience, we can embrace our imperfections. It is in the process of embracing our imperfections that we find our truest gifts: courage, compassion, and connection.”

- Brene Brown -

“To have uncategorized feelings and emotions. To make or do things that don’t sometimes necessarily make sense. “Art” is all just perfectly imperfect. Once the word “Art” enters the description of what your up to it is almost like getting a hall pass from perfection. It thankfully releases us from any expectation of perfection. In relation to my own work not being perfect, I just always point to the tattered box behind the couch and mention the word “Art” and people seem to understand and let you off the hook about being perfect and go back to their business.”

- Nicholas Wilton -

“Music is something that chooses us, and it’s truly an elixir. I’ve never experienced anything in my life like music. Because it doesn’t make demands in the way that a relationship does. I do feel like it’s boundless and endless. And when I read that there’s tone out in the galaxy -- I was reading somewhere the other day, that there was a place that had a b flat – that was it’s tone[one of my favourite keys] - and I was just thinking to myself, the idea, the sounds that the universe makes, creates… and WE are a part of that. When we want to give up and have a hard day, when we feel like we don’t fit here on the planet. We have this opportunity to be part of creativity, and that is just- that’s why we’re here.”

- Tori Amos –

Imaginspiration: Across The Oceans Of Time

2011-10-24T23:34:00.000+11:00

My Untold Stories by Pip Gerard

We Just Became More Clearly Ourselves

Dream More... by Heartschallenger

Across The Oceans Of Time by Angi and Silas

Love Is A Big Hug by Karin Taylor

Quotation: Hidden Silences

2011-10-23T22:47:00.000+11:00

“One of the tasks of true friendship is to listen compassionately and creatively to the hidden silences. Often secrets are not revealed in words, they lie concealed in the silence between the words or in the depth of what is unsayable between two people.”

- John O'Donohue -

“You can only write your biography once, so you have to start having new experiences. You have to constantly develop as a person and see sides to yourself that you might not want to see. Even if you're the observer in your work, you are in there, and if you don't keep finding out the different beasts that live inside, then you just become this stagnant character."

- Tori Amos -

“Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives.”

- Brené Brown -

Imaginspiration: Remnants Of Magic

2011-10-22T23:41:00.000+11:00

This Wild Life by Bec Schopen

The Yellow Brick Road by Aimee Stewart

From The Heart by Karin Taylor

Nurture

Remnants Of Magic by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Colours On The Palette

2011-10-21T19:35:00.000+11:00

“There’s a point in your life when you know who stays forever and who’s just around for a while. People change, but so do you. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Bad things happen to everyone, you’re not in it alone. People lie and some people just don’t care how you feel. Your heart beats no matter how much pain you’re in. Everything will be okay eventually. There are always people in your life that just make your day no matter the miles. I’d rather stay in touch with the people I love than just drop it and forget about it. You don’t forget about the ones you love, it doesn’t work like that. Give it all you got, and live your life to the fullest. People would kill to have what you have. Someone always has it worse off than you, but that doesn’t mean your pain doesn’t count. That’s okay. “

- Samuel Effron -

“Until we have seen someone’s darkness, we don’t really know who they are. Until we have forgiven someone’s darkness, we don’t really know what love is.”

- Marianne Williamson -

"If you're living a full life, pain is one of the colors on the palette... It's one of the things that makes you remember you can feel. One of the things. Humor's another thing. They all work together. When you negate any of these emotions then you're not working with a very complex palette, you're just working with a couple of colors."

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Smile More Often

2011-10-19T23:28:00.000+11:00

The Mirror by Patricia Ariel

Restrained Love by Bec Schopen

Smile More Often

Live Out Loud by Angi and Silas

Guilty Little Pleasures by Tiffany Atkin

Quotation: Listen To Your Senses

2011-10-18T23:12:00.000+11:00

“Indeed our hearts are golden treasures, but a true tragedy would be to conceal your inner gold because you are afraid of someone stealing it or it falling and breaking. There is no love in fear. The great wisdom of the ages always tells us the more you are Love the more of it you receive. Love is not a giving or a taking, it is a state of being – a one way street of allowing, accepting and holding a space for all things to be exactly as they are. Fear not that your heart will be broken or stolen. Love becomes loves. Give it away with no expectation of return and soon you will be having a love affair with the whole world.”

- Jackson Kiddard -

“Let yourself be influenced by what the music does to you. Listen to your senses. Your feelings. The music tells you all you need to know, because the emotions in the music go beyond words. The lyrics are merely a pointer in the right direction. Every sound, every note contributes to the character of the song and is thus a link in the bigger whole.”

- Tori Amos –

“Be not the slave of your own past- plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep, and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience, that shall explain and overlook the old.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson -

Imaginspiration: Beauty Is...

2011-10-18T00:32:00.000+11:00

I Rented An Opinion by Steve Leadbeater

Hippy Chicks by Karin Taylor

I Am Loved by The I Am Project

Beauty Is...

Be Still by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Believe In The Fairies

2011-10-16T23:27:00.000+11:00

“I believed in fairies and other spiritual things, was sunk in my own world of imagination, believed in the unseen world, what I still do today. But over the time I started to feel like a nitwit. I mean, when you smoke dope, it might be normal, but like this? You sit in your English lesson and you are talking to a fairy. The people did not want to understand that, and when you are 13, you don't want to be faced with a pityful smile all the time. So I began to destroy the part in me that is actually creative. Instead, I became very cynical, disguised myself to become popular, to be loved by everyone. But actually that was nothing else than a game of hide-and-seek. You can be a bigmouth without having anything to say. At that time, I definitely only had the wish to be an in-chick. Today I know that you should have your own thoughts and that you have to stick to your point of view. Today I accept that not all people like me, that's all right.”

- Tori Amos -

"Compassionate people are boundary people... The heart of compassion is really acceptance. The better we are at accepting ourselves and others, the more compassionate we become. Well, it's difficult to accept people when they are hurting us or taking advantage of us or walking all over us. This research has taught me that if we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior."

- Brene Brown -

“Release the need to be upset with others. Remember that anytime you're filled with resentment, you're turning the controls of your emotional life over to others to manipulate.”

- Dr. Wayne Dyer -

Imaginspiration: It's Always Darkest Before The Dawn

2011-10-15T22:37:00.000+11:00

The Beautiful Positive by Natalie Perkins

Don't Be Afraid To... by Angi and Silas

Music Box Dancer by Karin Taylor

It's Always Darkest Before The Dawn

The Summer Queen by Aimee Stewart

Quotation: You Are Not Who You Were Yesterday

2011-10-14T22:53:00.000+11:00

“Creativity burns like a fire through the stuckness and dis-ease held in our bodies and turns what doesn’t serve us into ash. It dissolves the layers of conditioning that were put upon us and brings us closer to knowing who we truly are, our absolute nature and what we are capable of.”

- Lynn Zavaro -

"But unless we are creators we are not fully alive. What do I mean by creators? Not only artists, whose acts of creation are the obvious ones of working with paint of clay or words. Creativity is a way of living life, no matter our vocation or how we earn our living. Creativity is not limited to the arts, or having some kind of important career."

- Madeline L’Engle –

"You are not who you were yesterday; whoever you were before this moment is literally a construct of your imagination. At this moment you have the power to choose whatever quality of personhood you desire. And because all minds are joined, whatever decision you make will in time be the way others see you as well..."

- Marianne Williamson -

Imaginspiration: Bouquet Of Light

2011-10-13T23:41:00.000+11:00

Daydreamer by Aimee Stewart

Bouquet Of Light by Angi and Silas

Dragonflies and Orchids by Vitta

The Calling by Patricia Ariel

Quotation: The Secret Door In The Wardrobe

2011-10-13T09:19:00.000+11:00

"Of course, you can listen to a record or go and see a piece of art, but there isn't a short cut to being initiated into the mysteries of 'Woman,'" she continues "It's not like you can go somewhere and study being a woman for a month you have to locate the secret door in the wardrobe and figure out how to open it."

- Tori Amos -

"The Artist creates something out of nothing! Without the thoughts and feelings of the Artist, there would be no art. It's their particular creative mind in contemplation that links to intention to give birth to what we call an artistic creation. This is how the power of intention worked in creating you, someone new, entirely unique, something out of nothing. Reproducing this in yourself means encountering the creative impulse and knowing that the power of intention is reaching for the realization of all that it feels, and that it is expressing itself as YOU!"

- Wayne Dyer -

"The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins."

- Bob Moawad -

Imaginspiration: The Space To Find Freedom

2011-10-11T22:15:00.000+11:00

This Little Love by Tiffany Atkin

Spring by Bec Schopen

The People Who Matter

Open Heart Strong Heart

The Great Thing In The World... by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Conjuring Calm

2011-10-09T00:35:00.000+11:00

"Calm is really difficult to conjure up," says Amos, "but it's not hard to muster rage; you can pull rage out of your ass without even needing fingernails. What I've found harder to achieve is the ability to focus my anger, to be in control of myself enough that if somebody takes a shot at me, they don't necessarily get a response back -- that's when you've done your work, that's when you're a powerful woman."

- Tori Amos -

"Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are."

- Pema Chodron -

“Certainty is a dream-killer because it stops us from exploring the possibility that we don’t know everything, and that we might be able to create something better.”

- Danielle LaPorte -

Imaginspiration: Dream Beyond Your Expectations

2011-10-07T23:57:00.000+11:00

Brene Brown at Ordinary Courage

Duality by Patricia Ariel

Dream Beyond Your Expectations

Taisie Blue by Karin Taylor

You Me Then Now by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Call Of Freedom

2011-10-06T22:15:00.000+11:00

“We say, ‘you know it in the head, but don’t know it in the heart’. There is an extraordinary distance from the head to the heart, a distance of ten, twenty, thirty years or a lifetime. You can know something in the head for forty years and it may never have touched the heart. But only when you have realised it in the heart, do you really begin to take notice of it.”

- Carl Jung -

"As a bird soars high

into the free holding of wind,

clear of the uncertainty of ground,

She opened her wings of imagination.

Soaring into the grace of creativity -

She flew past restlessness

satisfying her hunger for flight.

In that instant, she awakened

to the call of freedom

and knew who she was."

- Stephey Baker -

"There's a light on humanity's horizon and it is beckoning to all of us. We can't see it with the outer eye but only with the inner eye. It's like a magnet that's drawing us toward a different kind of life on earth, one in which love is the new bottom line."

- Marianne Willliamson -

Imaginspiration: Live Love Learn

2011-10-05T21:50:00.000+11:00

Dance Like Nobody's Watching by Karin Taylor

Midsummer's Bride by Aimee Stewart

Live Love Learn

Dear Younger Me by The I Am Project

The Future Belongs... by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Become It

2011-10-04T19:46:00.000+11:00

“It doesn’t matter to me anymore whether something’s bad or wrong. I’ve been too busy with that my whole life. Life is a test and you learn from the moment things happen to you. How do you react? Are you getting depressed? Do you feel like you’re a failure? Or do you think: ‘OK, that happened, this is what I said, or that didn’t go the way I expected’. One who plays safe will never know what he or she is capable of. If you are afraid to go too far or to show who you really are then you are not living life the fullest.”

- Tori Amos -

"The problem is that when we don't care at all what other people think and we're immune to hurt, we're also ineffective at connecting. Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism. Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection"

- Brené Brown -

“No matter what your weakness is, your potential for strength is bigger. No matter what your fear is, love is bigger. And so it is. Affirm it. Know it. Receive it. Become it.”

- Marianne Williamson -

Imaginspiration: Music Is Her Shelter

2011-10-03T23:37:00.000+11:00

The Notebook Doodles for Enlighten

Absolutely Fabulous by Angi and Silas

Give Yourself The Permission To Be All That You Are

Lovely Parrot by Vitta

Music Is Her Shelter by Steve Leadbeater

Quotation: Magical Rose Gardens

2011-10-02T23:21:00.001+11:00

“I think there’s so much emphasis on pushing things away, instead of pulling them out of the closet. A lot of times I just notice that people try to hide their dirt for as long as possible. Monsters, dirt, whatever you want to call it, the stuff that you censor and that you don’t really want to share with people. I think you can only do that for so long before you start losing your mind. I’m finding a lot of freedom right now in just looking at things that I really feel. We’re not encouraged to do that, and I think that that’s what makes people sick inside of themselves. You kind of want everybody else to think that you’re okay. Well, you’re okay if you have monsters! That’s what people don’t understand—everybody has many many voices going on inside of themselves. Now there is one voice, though, that is more of the ringleader, more of the innermost voice that isn’t trying to beat you up, or trying to make you feel like you can go slaughter 67 people and it’s okay. You know, the voice in there that goes, “hang on a minute, Tori, we’re really feeling lonely right now.” That inner voice is, to me, the most important because it can start being a bridge between all these other voices in your head. Everybody has them.”

-Tori Amos-

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose, there are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from."

- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross -

'One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.'

- Dale Carnegie -

Imaginspiration: Divine Influence

2011-10-01T22:55:00.000+10:00

Love Spring Flowers by Fatfatin

Materia: Earth By Patricia Ariell

Beautiful

Shine Bright by Angi and Silas

Untitled by Steve Leadbeater

Quotation: Find The Beauty First

2011-09-30T23:17:00.000+10:00

"What do you see when you look in the mirror? Stop. Don't turn away. Stay a while. Let's look closer. No. You are not allowed to find the faults first, not in my game. We will find the Beauty first."

- Clyde (Tori Amos) -

"The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around. It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt."

- Leo Buscaglia -

“There is a line in Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem” that serves as a reminder to me when I get to that place where I’m trying to control everything and make it perfect. That line is, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” So many of us run around spackling all of the cracks, trying to make everything look just right. This line helps me remember the beauty of the cracks. It reminds me that our imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together. Imperfectly, but together.”

- Brene Brown -

“The act of surrender doesn't mean we give up on the goal/dream/vision. Surrender = actively releasing the tension and resistance that keeps us knotted with anger, frustration and grief. Surrender that shit!”

- Kris Carr -

Imaginspiration: What You Believe In

2011-09-29T23:47:00.000+10:00

Brambletree Rainbow by Karin Taylor

Fierce by Angi and Silas

What You Believe In

If You Weren't Real by Bec Schopen

Materia: Air by Patricia Ariel

Quotation: Imagination Running Wild

2011-09-29T00:05:00.000+10:00

"Think about it: we get told all the time to stop daydreaming, we get told all the time it's just our imagination running wild - it's one thing to have lost your ability to see the truth, but it's another to have lost your ability to imagine"

- Tori Amos –

"No-one can define what is meaningful for us. Culture doesn’t get to dicate if it’s working outside the home, raising children, lawyering, teaching or painting. Like our gifts and talents, meaning is unique to each one of us.”

- Brene Brown -

"You get to decide what energy you choose to download in any moment. No one but you gets to decide who you wish to be."

- Marianne Williamson -

“To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest.”

- Unknown –

“I align myself with people who support my growth; if you meet someone whose soul is not aligned with yours, send them love and move along.”

- Wayne Dyer -

Imaginspiration: Shine Your Own Light

2011-09-27T15:27:00.000+10:00

Foxtrot Love Potion by Tiffany Atkin

Materia: Earth by Patricia Ariel

Shine Your Own Light

Hidden Treasure by Karin Taylor

Now by Aimee Stewart

Quotation: Perfectionism Is A Twenty Ton Shield

2011-09-26T01:12:00.000+10:00

"It's about realizing, painfully, you've kept that voice inside yourself, locked away from even yourself. And you step back and see that your jailer has changed faces. You realize you've become your own jailer."

- Tori Amos -

"Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect, and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame. It’s a shield. Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us, when in fact; it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight. At its core, is about trying to earn approval and acceptance.”

- Brene Brown -

“The human spirit is truly unconquerable. But the will to win, the will to succeed, to shape one’s life, to take control, can only be harnessed when you decide what you want, and believe that no challenge, no problem, no obstacle can keep you from it. When you decide that your life will ultimately be shaped not by conditions, but by your decisions, then, in that moment, your life will change forever…”

- Anthony Robbins -

Imaginspiration: Keep Your Eyes On Her Horizon

2011-09-24T18:57:00.003+10:00

Just Keep Your Eyes On Her Horizon

Life Itself Is... by Angi and Silas

Origins by Patricia Ariel

Mysterious Exotic by Bec Schopen

Rainbow Meditation by Karin Taylor

Quotation: Grains Of Sand

2011-09-23T22:35:00.000+10:00

“Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't, it's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.”

- Barack Obama -

“Time management systems are tricky beasts. They may help us be more productive, but not necessarily less stressed, or more fulfilled, or more in touch with our true nature. We may look freer with our priorities all tidy, but too often, time remains the master and we get "given" time for obeying the system. I'd rather be fulfilled than obedient. And it turns out that when I'm fulfilled, I'm...fulfilled -- whether I'm productive or not. And that gives me plenty of energy to be more focused on what matters most, which makes me truly productive. It's a beautiful thing.”

- Danielle LaPorte -

“I don't want to sit on the sidelines and not value the gift of being here. Instead of the idea of time ticking away, the grains of sand running out, I try to think of time as giving me another grain of sand, another gift. So time passing is an accumulation, rather than a diminishing.”

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Sometimes I Hear My Voice...

2011-09-22T23:07:00.001+10:00

Bloom Where You Are Planted by Karin Taylor

Be by Angi and Silas

Sometimes I Hear My Voice

Materia: Water by Patricia Ariel

The Depths Of My Heart by Bec Schopen

Quotation: Meaning Lies In Us

2011-09-21T22:29:00.000+10:00

"Perhaps the greatest obstacle to joy and expression of our true selves is fear. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of looking bad, fear of losing our life, our job, our loved ones, our marriage -- perhaps greatest of all is the fear of unbearable pain and suffering. All the fears hold us back, and keep us from experiencing the fullness of our lives. Along with worry, fear is one of the the greatest of evils.

But when we overcome the fear of using our own voice -- of expressing the beauty of this life -- really sharing and touching the lives of those we love with it, we live an immortal life. We transcend so many of the other small fears, and we’re able to create a legacy of goodness and light for the world. We do this by facing the fears dead on. Only then can we celebrate the true greatness of life.

Never stop sharing your truth -- and never think for a moment that the smallest kindness you share is for naught."

- Satya Colombo -

“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us.”

- Marianne Williamson -

"I remember spending time by the water trying to recover from the loss, and I would just study the water for hours and hours -- how this incredibly multilayered thing which was the sea could turn on a dime, could change from this calm persona to this tidal wave, this thunderous volatile character. There was nothing I could do to save this being's life, so I needed to draw on something to really find my strength as a woman again, because I couldn't go back to being the woman I was before I carried life -- and at the same time, I wasn't able to be a mother. So I studied the sea a lot and started to turn to this primal, primitive -- I guess you could say ancient -- womanness that had to do with rhythm, a woman's internal rhythm that was not dependent on whether she was a virgin or if she was sensual or if she was many times a lover to many, many men. No judgment on what her accomplishments were or weren't. I just felt we all had access to the earth's secrets, and the music started to come through this belief."

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Let The Sun Shine Through

2011-09-20T14:58:00.000+10:00

Figment by Angi and Silas

I Painted A Cloud So The Sun Could Shine Through by Karin Taylor

Lovely Bird by Vitta

Polished by Bec Schopen

Quotation: Be At Peace With Everyone

2011-09-19T22:34:00.000+10:00

"Be at Peace with Everyone. No one is capable of making you upset without your consent, so if you begin practicing the intention to be authentic and peaceful with everyone, you connect to peace itself - and gain the power to change the energy of your relationships with family and friends."

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

"We believe we are hurt when we don’t receive love. But that is not what hurts us. Our pain comes when we do not give love. We were born to love. You might say that we are divinely created love machines. We function most powerfully when we are giving love. The world has led us to believe that our well-being is dependent on other people loving us. But this is kind of upside down thinking that has caused so many of our problems. The truth is our well being is dependent on our giving love. It is not about what comes back; it is about what goes out!"

- Alan Cohen -

“Look at Mother Nature. The seas can be calm and yet she can become a tidal wave. That’s been my greatest teacher-the earth herself. Watching how she can hold the extremes in both hands and bring them into balance. Now, some women relate more to [other] aspects. You need the nurturers, [but you also] need the warriors. You need the ones who can say, “I can give an assessment about this without being swayed by my emotions in this moment.”

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Crystalline From The Vine

2011-09-18T21:06:00.000+10:00

Questions by Tiffany Atkin

Dragonfly Rising by Aimee Stewart

Amazing Dragonflies by Vitta

Talking Flower by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Life Will Break You

2011-09-15T23:38:00.000+10:00

"Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won't either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could."

- Louise Erdrich -

"Authenticity is a daily practice. Living authentically means cultivating the courage to be emotionally honest, to set boundaries, and to allow ourselves to be vulnerable; exercising the compassion that comes from knowing that we are all made of light and darkness, strength and struggle; and nurturing the connection and sense of belonging that can only happen when we let go of who we are supposed to be and embrace who we are. Authenticity demands wholehearted living and loving—even when it’s hard, even when it hurts, and especially when we are wrestling with the shame and fear of ‘not being enough.’ Mindfully practicing authenticity during our most soul-searching struggles is how we invite grace, joy, and gratitude into our lives.”

- Brené Brown -

"Your spiritual and physical self working together so that all facets of your wheel - your emotional body, your physical body, your mental body and your spiritual body - are all communicating. Because we all have desires. To rid yourself of them is an odd thing for me. That you have to transmute, that's very different. A transmutation of something that you have and you get it to work for you. It's really important. I mean if you look at a garden, there are all kinds of things within the garden that make it exist. If you don't have serpents, then you will have rats that will destroy your garden. The serpent, yes can be a dangerous element, but it can also save your garden. That's why Jesus always said, 'you must be as wise as a serpent.' I believe that. We look at mother nature as our teacher, all kinds of devouring essences exist, but I really believe it's how you utilise parts of your being in your life.

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: You Can't Stop The Waves

2011-09-11T02:19:00.001+10:00

Liberte by Bec Schopen

The Shell Maiden by Aimee Stewart

You Rock at Kind Over Matter

Tokyo Valentine by Tiffany Atkin

Quotation: Dream Outside The Box

2011-09-09T20:37:00.002+10:00

"There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, "Yes, I've got dreams, of course I've got dreams." Then they put the box away and bring it out once in a while to look in it, and yep, they're still there. These are great dreams, but they never even get out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, "How good or how bad am I?" That's where courage comes in."

- Erma Louise Bombeck -

“I have a relationship withpaint and from within that relationship I feel a sense of comfort and safetysharing my emotions on canvas. I am an emotional artist and I paint what I amfeeling. Pain, sorrow, joy, happiness, anger, defeat, hope - for some reasonwhen those feelings are woven within 'art' - there is a freedom in being sovulnerable. Vulnerability connects us. It affects us. It's a little bitterrifying and a little bit magical.”

- Kal Barteski -

“Society gets set up in a way that there are thecreative people and the noncreative people, but everybody has access to thecreative force. You might express it in a way that’s very different from howpeople think you should do it, but I really encourage people to find thatvoice. To me, everybody is like a fragment of the Divine. That’s what I try toput out there, even though certain fragments of the Divine that I want tofucking shoot …”

- Tori Amos –

Imaginspiration: Lost In The Reverie

2011-09-08T21:54:00.004+10:00

Wild Blue Yonder by Aimee Stewart

Demand Dignity by Amnesty International

Lost In The Reverie by Randy Monteith

The More Joy We Have... by Angi and Silas

Quotation: Music Is A Mirror

2011-08-31T21:28:00.000+10:00

"Whatever you want to do with your personal life, your career, your brand – it’s all there inside you. You don’t need to ask anyone for permission or approval. You have all the answers. Instead of running to the latest workshop or guru, you need to slow down and tap into your gut wisdom. My gut never leaves me astray."

- Kris Carr -

"Do not assume that divine guidance flows only when you are in need of help. Guidance continues to flow whether or not you have problems. It transcends problems, heartbreaks, and traumas, flowing through dreams and illuminations. Whether guidance comes during times of tranquility or trauma, however, it is up to you to have the courage to acknowledge it."

- Caroline Myss -

“I believe your spine responds to music in a way that it might not respond to visuals. That sound can reach inside you in a very primal way. I like to create these sonic resorts that people can walk into and never leave their chair. Then they can take it back into their own physical structure. Music is a mirror that lets the listener say, ‘I can be in the stillness in this two-bar phrase, so I can be in the stillness in my life.’ And that might not seem like a lot, but this is how you expand the soul.”

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: She Is Risen

2011-08-30T23:08:00.001+10:00

Forever Song by Tiffany Atkin

Breath by Bec Schopen

This Now Is It by Angi and Silas

Love Is All You Need by Pip Gerard

Quotation: Watch Me

2011-08-26T22:55:00.000+10:00

“But I think that a lot of us are trapped in our limitations. But limitations come from not physical limitations but I think internal limitations. We have perceptions of ourselves that we took on from other people’s opinions of us which formed the way we see ourselves. That doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who we are. I think most people are trapped in these opinions and wear them like a hefty bag. And we almost asphyxiate ourselves with other people’s ideas of who we are. I don’t know if you could call this being serious. I see it more as an explorer. I see myself as an explorer asking questions, not necessarily having many answers.”

- Tori Amos -

"You have the innate freedom of emotion, imagination, fascination and desires, and you're not concerned with what other people think of you, or conforming, or repressing yourself. I think it's natural for all human beings to be free and not self-conscious. And fuck everyone who tells you otherwise- who cares what you do? Do what feels good in your heart. Do what makes you an individual."

- Natasha Khan -

"There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can't. What you've got to do is turn around and say, 'Watch me'."

- Layne Beachley -

Imaginspiration: Stained Glass Windows...

2011-08-25T22:40:00.001+10:00

Forever Seventeen by Tiffany Atkin

Inner Peace by Karin Taylor

May Your Life Be... by Angi and Silas

Enchanting Grotto by Aimee Stewart

Quotation: Setting Off Lightbulbs...

2011-08-23T21:54:00.001+10:00

"We grow primarily through our challenges, especially those life-changing moments when we begin to recognize aspects of our nature that make us different from the family and culture in which we have been raised."

- Caroline Myss -

"A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower. You didn’t have to struggle to make your face different than anyone else’s on earth. It just is. You are unique because you were created that way. Look at little children in kindergarten. They’re all different without trying to be. As long as they’re unselfconsciously being themselves, they can’t help but shine. It’s only later, when children are taught to compete, to strive to be better than others, that their natural light becomes distorted."

- Marianne Williamson –

My hope is that in some small way as a writer... you set off lightbulbs for other people and their wholeness. That means their shadows, parts of themselves they amputated out of shame. This is done by many many people... Our wholeness is what makes a conscious planet. And to me, that’s really what Utopia is, people exploring their uniqueness and having respect for each other's uniqueness. Not one of us has the magic; all of us have the unique magic. If I can remind one person of this, maybe they can remind me, when I’m having a bad day and I’ve forgotten my uniqueness.”

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Blue Skies Are In My Head...

2011-08-22T22:52:00.000+10:00

The Hero In You by Pip Gerard

Cheeky Monkey by Aimee Stewart

Unfurl by Angi and Silas

She just waited..... and it was worth it. by Tiffany Atkin

House Of Hope: An Eating Disorder Photography Exhibition & Fundraiser

2011-08-22T00:29:00.002+10:00

Images are powerful. No question about it. We see thousands of images on a daily basis, and they impact upon our view of the world and our place within it in a myriad of ways.

When it comes to the topic of Eating Disorders & Body Image, there is a heavy emphasis on the negative. From the perils of Photoshop, to the unrealistic representation of beauty within a very narrow range of size, shapes & flawless appearance. I'm not saying it's not important to highlight the impact this has, and it's a topic that I'm bound to return to at another time, but I think it's just as important to recognize and throw our support behind the positive impact that images can have. Whether it's visual art, photography, or typography, images have power to uplift, inspire and brighten someone's day in an incredible way. Images can also communicate words that can't be spoken; truths that remain hidden; and tell a story in a language that is universal & individual both at once. Art saves.

This is something Melbourne photographer Emma McEvoy knows well. Her blog, She Takes Flight, is covered in amazing, beautiful, positive, inspiring images and it’s for that reason that 1000’s of followers - or ‘warrior’s’ as she prefers to call them – visit on a daily basis to make life seem just that little bit easier. Whether it be someone recovering from an Eating Disorder, struggling with depression, or simply looking for a dose of life-affirming positivity, it’s evident that her blog has a meaningful impact.

In her upcoming exhibition, House Of Hope, Em seeks to tell her own story of recovery from an Eating Disorder and give insight beyond the cold words surrounding the illness(es), that too often paint a black & white picture, of what is an experience with many shades for most. Through her photography she hopes to convey a real understanding of what it’s like to experience an Eating Disorder, without becoming mired in the bleakness or the behaviours. Eating Disorders remain poorly understood illnesses, and a part of the reason why is the prevalence of misinformation, myth and sensationalism. House Of Hope is a much needed and beautiful antidote. It’s not to say that the painful, difficult aspects of an Eating Disorder should be glossed over, on the contrary, but it’s so very important to understand that an Eating Disorder is something a person experiences – it’s NOT a part of that person or something by which they should be defined or judged. There is a beautiful soul within that deserves the same empathy and compassion as any other human being, and as an ED often robs the person of their ability to offer themselves those things, the role that friends and family play in support and understanding can be vital – yet such a difficult balance to find.

Equally important is the message of hope. When in the midst of an Eating Disorder, recovery can seem like something completely out of reach, but it is entirely possible, and I believe that’s true for every person. It’s not an easy path to walk, but I found that my own journey of recovery contained some of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learnt, and despite the difficulty, was worth every step. In sharing Em’s own experience through photography, House Of Hope is a reminder to ANYONE experiencing an Eating Disorder that you are not alone, that it does get easier, and that freedom is a possible dream worth chasing - because you ARE worth it.

The Exhibition goes beyond just photography, set in a character house and described by Em as being ‘multi-sensory’, you’ll have to attend to find out just what she means by that, but I have no doubt this is going to be a very special event and I hope that all of you in & around Melbourne will make your presence felt. I sadly cannot be there in person, but will certainly be there in spirit.

House Of Hope will be held on the 6th of September with all funds raised going to The Butterfly Foundation(see below for details and RSVP). Please visit the House Of Hope Facebook page to help make this amazing, important event as successful as it deserves to be.

Quotation: Music Is Everything

2011-08-20T22:18:00.001+10:00

"There has already been much too much music that doesn’t express anything at all and is only good for dulling your senses like a bad drug. Music should do the opposite, it should open your senses. When you compose you’re dependent on these channels being open, and you have to learn to keep them open and let the energy that’s flowing through and filter it into something that’s your own."

- Tori Amos -

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."

- Plato -

"I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours. But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places. Music is the only means whereby we feel these emotions in their universality. "

- H.A. Overstreet -

"Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words."

- Robert G. Ingersoll -

“Laughter, song, and dance create emotional and spiritual connection; they remind us of the one thing that truly matters when we are searching for comfort, celebration, inspiration, or healing: We are not alone.”

- Brene Brown -

Imaginspiration: Music Is Everything

2011-08-19T21:45:00.000+10:00

Music Is Everything by Tffany Atkin

Passion &Success

Whirligig by Aimee Stewart

We Make A Living By... by Angi and Silas

"In My Head", She Said: Why supporting creative projects matters.

2011-08-18T22:34:00.001+10:00

""In My Head", She Said' is a project that aims to highlight the diversity, complexity and creativity of the female mind by asking women from all walks of life to publish their experiences and philosophies in an encompassing and respectful environment."

“Gratitude”. Amazing what one simple word can inspire. The funny thing is, what it inspired was not directly related to gratitude at all - It just happened to be the topic of conversation with Tori Amos that made Carly Bramwell realise that we don’t hear women voicing their thoughts, ideas, and opinions on things like this anywhere near often enough.

Like most good ideas, the “In My Head”, She Said project has grown and changed and evolved many times since the initial idea was sparked. The project now boasts an ever-growing, impressive line up of female musicians including Lissie, The Pierces, Hannah Peel, The Smoke Fairies, and Sea Of Bees, who all share their thoughts on a diverse range of topics giving insight into the minds of these creative women. This short series of interview snippets gives you a great taste of what’s to come…

One of the things that struck me right away was just how much I could relate to almost all of these women; how many of these threads of thought existed in some form in my own mind. Immediately it made sense of why I relate to the music of some, and it had me eagerly listening to others with new ears.

The truth is that thought is as important to creativity as paint on the canvas or chords on guitar - Thought is the very heart of creativity. And ‘art’ is the medium through which so many communicate those thoughts. Whether it be music or painting or poetry, very often this is how we express and connect to thoughts and emotions. Hearing the thoughts behind the songs that reach you, expanded upon and explored in detail is something I find as inspiring as the music itself. It inspires me to think; it inspires me to create; it inspires life. It’s the sort of inspiration that’s integral to living a creative life, and that is exactly why I think projects like this one are so vitally important and worthwhile.

The next stages of “In My Head”, She Said will include acoustic sessions, more interviews and possibly a few other surprises. One of those hopefully will see the project return to the original inspiration, interviewing the amazing woman that is Tori Amos.

Like so many creative ventures, one of the biggest hurdles has been funding and right now it’s what stands in the way of some of the next filming planned. And this is where creative communities can be so amazing – I know few projects that have succeeded without the help and support of other artists pitching in where they can. In that spirit(and that of the project itself), I have donated a mounted print of the portrait I gave Tori when I met her in 2009, and all donations over £15 will go into the draw to win it(bear in mind this print cannot be purchased elsewhere). If you’re able to contribute ANY amount to this amazing, inspiring project please follow the link below – I know it will be so greatly appreciated. Closing date for the draw is 21st August.

DONATE TO IN MY HEAD SHE SAID

*non-Tori fans, I’m happy to change to any other print in my RB folio if you happen to win.

Quotation: Whether you notice it or not...

2011-08-13T22:16:00.000+10:00

“Insight may come in a flash, but it's the result of accumulated noticing -- whether you notice it or not.

The 'I just knew it' moments in life are often triggered by little things. Annoyances, nuances, subtle incidentals--soft inklings so seemingly flip that we're prone to discredit them. Poo poo on that intensely intense but fleeting emotion--lovely or harsh. Miff miff on that big vision that just cycled through your consciousness. Pshaw on that white flash of passion--the lusty-love kind and the flare-of-rage kind. But those spins and flashes and pangs are being felt because you're ready to feel them--and they matter. The trick is to pay attention to them. Imagine sand streaming in an hour glass, each grain forming a pyramiding pile of sand. Until one grain punctuates the pile and the tall triangle collapses into a flatter triangle. It only takes one grain of awareness to shift everything.”

- Danielle LaPorte -

"Love will never be certain, but after collecting thousands of stories, I’m willing to call this a fact: A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all men, women, and children. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong.When these needs are not met, we don’t function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We grow numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick. There are certainly other causes of illness, numbness, and hurt, but the absence of love and belonging will always lead to suffering"

- Brene Brown -

"The real power is in honoring ourselves and each other. Now if someone isn’t ready to do that, then you can’t have a relationship with them. It’s not our job to dictate to them what their choice should be. If somebody doesn’t want to respect you, then it’s about boundaries, saying how far you are going to go, and probably move on. I really believe that there isn’t a resolve with everybody on the planet. Not all of us could sit down at the table and work stuff out today, because not everybody wants to honor each other. We can’t be hurt by this, we have to accept it. Still, it’s challenging when relationships don’t work out, it can be painful. I mean there is a sense of loss, and I’ve had to move through that. Still sometimes you love certain people very much, but you just aren’t ready to work things through. You have to go away from each other, maybe for a long time, and take your own road.”

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Dear Self...

2011-08-07T20:40:00.000+10:00

The Beautiful Is by Angi and Silas

The Notebook Doodles for Enlighten

I know Places by Tiffany Atkin

Everything's Okay by Natalie Perkins

Quotation: Presence

2011-08-01T21:28:00.000+10:00

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

- Alfred D Souza -

"None of us needs instruction in how to recognize what your heart is saying. We do need guidance, however, on how to have the courage to follow those feelings, since they will force us to change our lives in any case. But consider the consequences of not listening to the heart's guidance: depression, confusion, and the wretched feeling that we are not on our life's true path, but viewing it from a distance."

- Caroline Myss -

"As you start to be present in your life, just live every moment, you're not worrying so much about next week. I plan things, clearly, but things are going to be how they are going to be.

There is nothing I can do to stop the fates from knocking on my door, all I can do is choose how I will respond. I do have that choice. And so in a way that has made me totally comfortable in my own life and yet it has been liberating at the same time. You don't have to control anything any more."

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Castles Made Of Sand...

2011-07-31T23:01:00.001+10:00

The Notebook Doodles for Enlighten

Not All Stars Belong To The Sky by Angi and Silas

The Seahorse Diary by Aimee Stewart

Quotation: Fill the glass with champagne

2011-07-30T10:24:00.000+10:00

‎"You devise ways to add some magic to the places you’re going. You have to. Otherwise you’d drown in the negative very quickly. It’s so easy to say the glass is half empty. You have to force yourself to say: no, wait a minute, there’s a few more sips in there! And all the time you have to think up ways to fill the glass again. Preferably champagne!"

- Tori Amos -

"Just like a sunbeam can't separate itself from the sun, and a wave can't separate itself from the ocean, we can't separate ourselves from one another. We are all part of a vast sea of love, one indivisible divine mind."

- Marianne Williamson -

"Joy is not a constant. It comes to us in moments - often ordinary moments. Sometimes we miss out on the bursts of joy because we're too busy chasing down the extraordinary moments. Other times we're so afraid of the dark we don't dare let ourselves enjoy the light. A joyful life is not a floodlight of joy. That would eventually become unbearable. I believe a joyful life is made up of joyful moments gracefully strung together by trust, gratitude and inspiration"

- Brene Brown -

Imaginspiration: And off she went...

2011-07-29T18:54:00.000+10:00

Bedazzled by Aimee Stewart

...And Off She Went by Tiffany Atkin

Magnificience by Angi and Silas

The Notebook Doodles for Enlighten

Weaving a creative life balance

2011-07-28T00:05:00.001+10:00

No matter which side you look at it from, our society seems set up to make living a creative life and doing meaningful work mutually exclusive. The fact that so many people struggle to incorporate both into their lives in a balanced way would seem to support the idea that only the lucky few can have it both ways. But I don’t believe that’s true. I don’t think the problem is that the two are exclusive from one another; the problem – or a part of it - is that our definitions of both are exclusive.

“We all have talents and gifts. When we cultivate those gifts and share them with the world, we create a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives" **

Creativity goes beyond just paint on canvas and words on paper. It’s not just ‘artists’ who are creative, and this idea of their being creative and non-creative people really doesn’t work, because ALL people are creative – creativity begins with thought, the only difference is if and how you choose to use that creativity. And yet we still talk about artists and ‘creative types’ as though they’re a rare species.

“The artist is not a different kind of person, but every person is a different kind of artist”
- Eric Gill

Meaningful work is similarly narrowed down to something done by an elite group of people – Doctors, Lawyers, and professionals. We seem to confuse meaningful with ‘important’ – and what society considers important – forgetting that only we can define what is meaningful to us. It comes from the heart - not a rule book that says so.

“No-one can define what is meaningful for us. Culture doesn’t get to dictate if it’s working outside the home, raising children, lawyering, teaching or painting. Like our gifts and talents, meaning is unique to each one of us.” **

It doesn’t matter which side of the divide you fall, this is a problem, because despite what the straight suits may say - we need BOTH creativity and meaningful work in our lives to thrive both personally AND professionally.

For those whose creativity IS a part of what they define as meaningful work, it can seem like an impossible equation to balance. But I also think they’re more aware of how important those things are in their lives and I think it’s a part of why phrases like ‘the struggling artist’ exist. Because people who are fully engaged in their creativity become acutely aware of just what it brings to their lives, and for many the things it does bring are of far greater value than the dollars it doesn’t. So it’s not so much that they are choosing financial insecurity, it is more the case that they are choosing to ensure the personal paradigms that their creativity nurtures. They’re unwilling to endure the pain of suffocating their creative spirit.

“Squandering our gifts brings distress to our lives. As it turns out it’s not merely benign or “too bad” if we don’t use the gifts we’ve been given; we pay for it with our emotional and physical wellbeing. When we don’t use our talents to cultivate meaningful work, we struggle. We feel disconnected and weighed down by feelings of emptiness, frustration, resentment, shame, disappointment, fear and even grief.” **

One of the problems is that this can also come at a cost – and not just a dollar figure. A lot of creative work is unstable and under-appreciated; it may be personally meaningful, but it often falls outside the box of what our friends, family and/or society defines as ‘meaningful’.

“Using our gifts and talents to create meaningful work takes a tremendous amount of commitment, because in many cases meaningful work is not what pays the bills. Some folks have managed to align everything – they use their gifts and talents to do work that feeds their souls and their families; however, most people piece it together.” **

And it’s that piecing it together part that a lot of people find to be the biggest struggle. But I think that one of the main reasons is that we don’t bring our creativity to the process of cultivating meaningful work and a creative life. Instead, of looking for outside the box to create a workable balance, we try to fit our creativity into the boxes that society labels ‘meaningful’ – in some cases we settle for merely ‘acceptable’. And I think that sometimes in the process, we amputate the most meaningful parts to fit inside these narrow definitions. The fact of the matter is that not every artist will find Graphic Design rewarding, stimulating &/or meaningful; not every writer wants to be a journalist. So it’s little wonder that when we do squish our lives into these rigid boxes we often find ourselves uncomfortable. What we need to do is to use our creativity to expand the dimensions of the spaces we live our lives in. Not only does it provide greater comfort for our current selves, it also allows for growth and broadening of our perceptions.

Personally, I don't believe you can last long in a soul-destroying job without feeling the effects in other aspects of your life; but I DO believe that you can balance doing work that may not be your life passion, by weaving creativity through everything you do. Living a creative life is not about the number of hours a day you spend painting or writing or singing; on the most basic level, a 'creative life' is a way of thinking. And one that is valuable to art as it is business, and most importantly - to you individually. Creativity is the heart of innovation and growth; it's also how we solve all problems. Solutions come from creativity and knowledge, and almost all knowledge is the documented result(s) of previous creativity. So by operating from this mind set and bringing creativity to every task, we make the mundane more enjoyable; the challenging more easily resolved; and when we DO have that dedicated creative time to write or paint or play we're able to make the most of it, because we don't have to warm up or switch on the creative brain - it's already fully engaged.

So how do you keep the brain in that space all of the time? I think that the answer to that question is probably different for all of us. Practice is the very simple answer. In more specific terms, these are some of the things that I personally find helpful.

- Get clear on what inspires your creative thought and what drains it. Write down lists for both with your ideal life in mind, and identify the barriers that get in the way of living it. The things that inspire me I try to weave into my daily life - even in small doses. And the things that get in the way I try to eliminate shift or minimize.

- Be mindful of your environment and the effect it has on you. Personally, I cannot work amongst clutter and disorganisation - but I also find if things are too clinical it kills inspiration. It comes down to comfort & belonging - the mood, music, temperature and personal touches all play a part in cultivating that.

- Create an inspiration wall, pin board or blog. Whether its photos, artwork, quotes, fabric or trinkets - creating a visual reminder of all the things that inspire you can have an incredibly powerful effect. And I personally find that it has me expanding my list of what inspires me and adding or changing the visuals constantly, which also keeps it all fresh in my mind.

- Notice the little things. Nature truly is the world greatest artist. For me, there are few things that bring a smile to my face faster than colour and light - I have been known to almost walk into telegraph poles mesmerized by the beauty of pink camellias on bright green leaves, against a clear blue sky! A lot of people find photography really helps with this – you begin to look at the world through an imaginary viewfinder. I can certainly say that when I discovered the Hipstamatic iPhone app I did find myself wearing 'will this make a good lomo imitation photo?' goggles. The beauty of things like camera phone apps is that it makes it so easy to find a dash of creative inspiration in any moment.

- Don't always schedule creative time last on the list after the days work - make it a priority. One of the things I've discovered is a huge barrier to using my free time to be creative is exhaustion. By the time that point of the day(or night rather) arrives I'm exhausted, and when my brain is over-tired the creative flow stops. It was a realisation that actually took me by surprise, because I can't count the amount of times I've been so wrapped in a drawing or piece of jewelry I was making that 3AM would arrive without me even blinking. The key difference is that in those instances I started whatever I was doing before exhaustion took over. And this highlights one of the other reasons dedicated creative time is so valuable and essential: Engaging my mind creatively energizes me; the effect is not unlike meditation, leaving my mind clear and at peace.

- Step outside your comfort zone. When confronted with the unknown or unfamiliar we can’t rely on what we ‘know’; we don’t have a rehearsed or automatic response as we do for so many situations. What this does is forces us to think outside the square of what we do know, and explore new thoughts, ideas, feelings and solutions. Once the stream of new thought is flowing you never know where it may take you. Often when I come up with new creative ideas I’ll wonder why on earth I didn’t think of it before, and so often it’s because ideas pop up from the most unexpected places.

And stepping into the unknown is exactly what I’m about to do. I’m returning to work in a job that isn’t the sort of meaningful work that is most important to me, and it isn’t what I want to do forever - but it does create a solution to my present situation. It is meaningful to me in some sense, and it does offer me the chance to use my creativity in different ways that will help me get to where I’m going - and that makes me smile.

How do you weave creativity and meaningful work into your life? Have you been able to find a balance, or is it still a struggle? I’d love to hear how YOU stay inspired and on track.

** Quotes come from the book The Gifts Of Imperfection by Brene Brown.

Quotation: Gratitude & Gold Dust

2011-07-24T21:52:00.000+10:00

- Brené Brown -

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

- Melodie Beattie -

“The music always comes in my darkest hour, and the music is always so giving. I have this picture of an endless well somewhere, I don't know where it is -- in the star systems out there. And the more that you're open to it the more that it keeps coming.”

- Tori Amos -

Imaginspiration: Set it Light and Set it Free

2011-07-22T20:54:00.000+10:00

My Favourite Quote by Pip Gerard

The Butterfly Ball by Aimee Stewart

The Notebook Doodles for Enlighten

Quotation: Creativity - The Mother Of All Energies

2011-07-18T00:31:00.000+10:00

“The artist is not a different kind of person, but every person is a different kind of artist”

- Eric Gill -

"Creativity is the mother of all energies, nurturer of your most alive self. It charges up every part of you. When you’re plugged in, a spontaneous combustion occurs that ‘artists’ don’t have a monopoly on."

- Judith Orloff -

"Their [Artist] psyche is animated with the energy to express it into physical forms. The nature or relative grandeur of any form of expression is irrelevant; a chef can be as much of an Artist as a painter or landscaper.

The signature of artists is not in what they do but in how intense their motivation is to manifest the extraordinary.

Doing what you do in such a way that you create an emotional field that inspires others also indicates the Artist energy at work, as does the emotional and psychological need to express yourself so much that your well-being is wrapped up in this energy.”

- Caroline Myss -

Imaginspiration: Live Love Laugh

2011-07-17T00:08:00.001+10:00

The Notebook Doodles for Enlighten

Think Beautiful by Natalie Perkins

LiveLoveLaugh by Randy Monteith

Quotation: Heading in the right direction

2011-07-14T18:42:00.000+10:00

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- Marianne Williamson -

“In life, sometimes everything falls into place, and sometimes everything just falls to pieces. The key is to begin creating with these fallen pieces. By improvising, you’ll create something magical that might be the best thing you’ve ever accomplished.”

- Tori Amos -

"I now see that owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we will ever do. I now see that cultivating a wholehearted life is not like trying to reach a destination. It's like walking towards a star in the sky. We never really arrive, but we certainly know we're heading in the right direction."

- Brene Brown -

Imaginspiration: Blog Blessings

2011-07-13T18:41:00.002+10:00

Affirmation by Karin Taylor

The Notebook Doodles for Enlighten

Fantasia 3 by Steph Granshaw

Brene Brown at Ordinary Courage

Why On Earth Are You Writing A Blog?

2011-07-12T08:07:00.005+10:00

This is a question I am sure my self of a couple of years ago would be asking right now. And perhaps a few other people too. There are also some of you who have have a fair idea of why I’m writing a blog as you’ve encouraged, suggested, supported, and patiently waited for me to do this, and you may perhaps wonder why it’s even a question? Let me explain…

Firstly, I’m not a writer. That might come as a shock to anyone who has exchanged emails with me, but by nature, as a creative outlet or means of expression - writing has never been my thing. Writing has always been my sister’s love, something other people do, and something I did only if I had to. It was also something my therapist suggested I try on a number of occasions, which I responded to with less than luke-warm enthusiasm, emphasizing my previous points. Until I found myself in the unfamiliar situation of having a swirl of thoughts in my head, yet being unable to verbalize a single one of them. Before I knew it the cyclone in my head was a flurry of words on paper, and somehow they seemed to align themselves in a way that made sense, where previously I could find none. Gradually I have come to understand the value of writing as a tool of communication and expression; a way of clarifying thoughts and ideas. In a purely creative sense, I will always favour pens, pencils and paintbrushes - but I now also appreciate the power of words in the written form.

The second thing you need to know is that I’m not by nature an online person. Something that you might find that hard to believe knowing me now, but stepping back just a few years I didn’t even have a permanent email address! The internet was simply a tool that I had little time or use for. As different things in my life changed, so did the purpose I found in the online world. Today it’s plays a part in everything from my work, to my creativity and inspiration to staying in touch with friends all over the world.

The internet cops a fair bit of flak where friendship’s concerned. And not without reason. When we count friends as a number, and refer to ‘real life friends’ and ‘online friends’, as though there isn’t actually a person behind a screen typing away, we instantly devalue these connections and invest less in these friendships we don’t call ‘real’. There can be a frightening disconnect from words and actions online, but just because someone isn’t standing in front of you, it doesn’t mean that what you say and do and the way you treat people doesn’t matter. The truth is that the internet at it’s most basic level is just a communication medium – NOT a measuring stick indicator of friendships. The value is in the content of communication – NOT the medium over which it’s communicated. And when there is value in the content, the internet also becomes the facilitator of connections that distance would otherwise make almost impossible.

The things through which we form connections online are not so different from the things that connect us offline: The music we love; the art we create; the words that inspire us and so much more. The difference is that the internet is boundless; yet at the same time, it can bridge the distance that may separate like-minded souls who in the physical world may never meet. In sharing the things that move us most, we share parts of our story – who we are – and this truly is the heart of connection.

Brene Brown at Ordinary Courage

And that is largely what this blog is about. Through the things I love, the experiences I’ve had, and the beliefs I’ve come to hold, I’ve stumbled across universal connections with people I’ve never met, yet almost feel I might have known my entire life. All of these things that make up my unique story, are also what connects me to countless other people on this planet; this is a space to share and grow that connection and inspire life, because as the amazing Brene Brown says, “Connection is why we’re here; it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”