Pressure to Potential

Our whole self is born to be just that, whole. And so it constantly invites all our inner aspects to come to the party. There's always a group that don't need to be asked twice. Some arrive ease-fully with their party shoes on and ready to go. Others hesitate, wait by the door for further encouragement. There are those that check in with the rest to see what they are going to do before following suit. Then there are those that show up kicking and screaming. Ah, the ones who are on some level resisting (in that moment) to attend. All that resistance can create conscious and/or subconscious pressure. Which really makes them our diamond aspects. They so often hold the most illuminating of insights that at first glance can appear to be, well, bulky and cumbersome coal.

Our diamond aspects are super savvy at getting our attention. You might have witnessed them showing up in your own life as being; rowdy, mischievous, in the way, too loud, too much, too shiny, too independent, rebellious or stubborn. They are after all, very adamant that if they don't show up in these particular ways - we may very well miss their precious messages.

We can ignore our diamond aspects, push them aside or try to tune them out. Like really, really try. But when you are truly ready for or are in need of their deep wisdom, try as you might they will do their best to be seen. Before they fully come to the party, which they secretly wish to do.

It draws upon our deepest courage to pay attention to where we most resist our wholeness. When we do pause to listen in whatever way calls us, we create the space for our inner diamonds to reveal their true brilliance.

It is in opening to the gifts of our diamond aspects that activates their highest potential - of assisting us to be more of who we really are. Fully and whole.

And, as a bonus it's what gets them to the party.

Diamond aspects surface in divine time. We can not force them to surface, though we can invite them to be more clearly seen. It is a life-long journey to embody more of our wholeness. Trust your own flow.

I'd love to hear from you. In what ways have you noticed your diamond aspects surfacing in your life? Add your comments below or be a part of the conversation on my Facebook Page.

Shine on, Jelena x

© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2013.

Permission is granted to share this post and images within it freely on the condition that the author is credited and this byline is included. Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Solstice and the Herons

Hello growing Super Moon in the evening Solstice sky with seven white Herons in flight (one out of frame).

Heron wisdom speaks to us of our true worth and wholeness, and reminds us that our highest self always knows the way.

The number seven holds a message that all things are unfolding in divine time, from planetary positions and alignments to our own personal alignment with the highest vision of our life.

An apt sign with Earth in a very specific position today.

Tune into the magic of the current energies and align to your centre with the latest creative nudge.

Shine on, Jelena x

© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2013.

Permission is granted to share this post and images within it freely on the condition that the author is credited and this byline is included. Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Embrace Your Truth

Creative Nudge Fridays is here!

Welcome to nudge #22. We're embracing our truth.

Our inner truth is part disconnection and part connection. The disconnection part continually calls us to let go of who we are not. The connection part is the ever-present invitation to embrace more of who we are. It's an interesting symbiosis. It is in embodying more of our light that often unveils more of our shadow or hidden aspects. This is not to taunt us, rather to help transform us.

Here is a nudge to help embrace more of your truth. Seek your shadow, as in your actual shadow when the sun or other light source is beaming down upon you. Imagine your shadow is an aspect of you that you haven't wanted to face, but that you know on some level you are ready to acknowledge. In your mind's eye or speaking aloud, have a chat with your shadow.
- What does this aspect want to share with you right now?
- What does this aspect need right now?
- And, what gift does this aspect have for you?
When you feel done, thank this aspect for its gifts. If you feel inclined write your responses in a journal or express your experience through an artwork.

A note, if you feel the light is not strong enough to cast a shadow you can chat with, you can do this exercise in your mind's eye. Visualise your shadow in front of you and follow the process as above.

Acknowledging a shadow or hidden aspect transforms its energy - and gives it permission to shift from being a hinderer to a helper in your life.

To remind yourself that facing your shadows allows you to embrace more of your truth, take a pic of your actual shadow, then use the pic as your screen saver or wallpaper on your phone or computer.

If you give the nudge a go, comment below or be a part of the conversation on my Facebook Page. If you share your shadow pics via Twitter or Instagram use the tag #creativenudgefridays so we can find you.

Create on, Jelena x

© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2013.

Permission is granted to blog about this nudge or share this post and images within it freely on the condition that the author is credited and this byline is included. Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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You Are a Divine Offering

The universally loved Plumeria (commonly known as Frangipani) is a symbol of life, love and divine wholeness. In India it is known as the Temple Tree as it is often planted in temple grounds where its fragrant flowers are ritually placed on alters as sacred offerings.

One of the most sacred offerings we can gift ourselves is to express our wholeness through us and into our life.

The Temple Tree needs both light and dark to thrive. So do we. As we embrace our own light and shadow we create fertile ground for embodying the full expression of who we are. Who we are is ever-evolving. As one aspect heals and grows it helps our other aspects to heal and grow. Like the pinwheel petals of the Temple Tree flower, when one area of our inner or outer world experiences a shift, the others shift synchronistically.

It is said each petal of the Temple Tree flower represents one of the five qualities necessary for a divine state of being;

Sincerity tells us to express ourselves from our heart.
Faith encourages us to believe or trust in what feels right for the self.
Aspiration is our desire or that which pulls us forth into more of who we are.
Devotion speaks to us of the sacredness of prayer - the way in which you honour your wholeness and/or your interconnectedness with all life.
Surrender reminds us to let go of what no longer serves us and be present.

We each have our own list of (conscious or subconscious) qualities that are important to us for cultivating and maintaining a divine state of being, whatever that means to you.

You might like to ask yourself the following questions or explore them further by writing down your responses in your journal;
- Which qualities do you find important in your own life for cultivating and maintaining a divine state of being or sense of inner wholeness?
- In what ways are you embodying the qualities that are important to you?
- How can you enhance your connection with each of these?

Embrace your wholeness to open up to your most blossoming self and life.

I'd love to hear about the important qualities in your life! In what ways do you embody them? Add your comments below or be a part of the conversation on my Facebook Page.

Shine on, Jelena x

© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2013.

Permission is granted to share this post and images within it freely on the condition that the author is credited and this byline is included. Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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There's an Angel in My Tea

"Do you have tea?", I asked the lady.
"Yes.", she replied.
I waited a moment to hear the selection, though no such details were forthcoming.
"What kind of tea?", I enquired.
"Hot tea.", she replied in a gentle and genuine tone.
"Perfect," I said, "I'll have that thanks.".

It was oolong loose leaf. And as I went to take a sip, I noticed there was an angel in my tea. I put the cup back down and took a moment to observe my minuscule visitor. The oolong angel spoke to me of being present.

Being present gifts our full presence to whatever we are doing, wherever we are at. It creates the space for being in sync with our whole self. 

Our ability to be present works in partnership with where we place our awareness and what we give our attention to. When our awareness and attention are somewhere else, we can be doing one thing but a part of us can be doing another. There are times when this can be super useful, such as when we need to multi-task. But there are other times where it causes us to miss the magic and power of the present. Such as; when we are resting, but our minds are racing; when someone is speaking with us, but we completely miss what they have said; or when we action a task in one moment and forget that we did in the next. Whether we feel too busy, stressed, distracted, disrupted or are in denial in any way - being elsewhere can cause our whole self {body, mind, emotions and spirit} to feel out of sync. And when we feel out of sync we can either sit in it or shift through it. Sitting in it can attract more experiences of out-of-sync~ness.

Each out-of-sync experience is an invitation to break-through the pattern. Because our natural state of being~ness gravitates toward wholeness, a whole self that is in sync on all levels. 

Bringing our awareness to the now and giving our attention to where we are really at, assists us to shift through out-of-sync~ness and realign with being present.

We all have moments of not being present. Though the more we are conscious of where our awareness and attention are at, the swifter and smoother the journey back to the present, our own presence and being in sync with our whole self.

Tea, anyone?

Your view. If you like this post click LIKE, add your comments below or on my Facebook Page.

Pass it on. Here is a ready-to-go prod for you to share on Facebook, Twitter + elsewhere on the web; There's an angel in my tea, http://ow.ly/h5Y8s

Sip on, Jelena x

p.s. Kalvin {lover of creativitea in all its forms, including the sipping kind}, nearly fell off the table from excitement when he realised there was an angel in my cup. He went to dive in and splash around but the tea was still a tad too hot for such shenanigans. Kalvin says that tea {like art and creativity} has fabulous benefits for our whole being. It can soothe the mind, calm emotions, help heal the body and it's delicious. He reckons the journey of life is a bit like a pot of tea. Sitting in the hot spots too long can result in bitterness. But gifting your whole presence to the experience of drinking it, opens you up to its fullest flavour, richness and sweetness.

© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2013.

Permission is granted to share this post and images within it freely on the condition that the author is credited and this byline is included. Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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Less Shun, More Shine

Happy 12-12-12! Today is known as a portal day. Its positive energies flung open a doorway to assist and remind the self to cultivate a deeper connection with who you are. This includes all aspects of the self, even the aspects that one may have previously attempted to disconnect from, disown, deny or ignore. In particular our shadow aspects. These have long been seen as a hinderance, a foe to be fought

Earth Hour, Mandala Power

It's lights off at 8.30pm tonight for Earth Hour, a global event to celebrate a worldwide commitment to protect our planet. It's an apt time this weekend to gift yourself some off time too in order to check in with your inner world via the creation of an Earth Mandala.

The word mandala is Sanskrit for both circle and centre, and sacred circles have been used as a meditation, focusing and ritual tool since ancient time. The Universe is a master mandala maker, creating natural mandala's throughout all of creation, from the cosmos to our very cells. An archetypal symbol of wholeness, protection and healing, psychologist Carl Jung worked with the mandala as a therapeutic tool to help make the unconscious conscious. Mandala making is a part of all my Classes & Workshops, and when appropriate it is often used during my one-on-one Soul Work Sessions to help hold safe all that is placed within its enclosed and contained space. Inspired by Earth Hour, here is a process I have created to help you make one wherever you are.

Earth Mandala

You will need paper to draw on and a drawing tool like pencils, crayons or pastels. Draw a full size circle on your sheet of paper. This is where you will create your mandala. Sitting in a comfortable place, close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breath. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat 3 times. Allow your breath to relax your being. Now bring your awareness to your heart centre and take a few deep breaths from this space. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat 3 times. Imagine you can see planet Earth in front of you, with it's land masses and blue oceans. Imagine all the living beings that currently live on and with Earth. Imagine all the cycles, seasons and movements Earth experiences in one day. Breathe this is. Breathe this out. Ask yourself, "What does Earth mean to me?". Allow any words, shapes or images to come to mind. Sit with this for a few moments. Then, when you are ready slowly open your eyes and express this out within your circle, creating your own Earth Mandala.

Create on, Jelena x

p.s. As Kalvin likes to point out, flowers are one of Earth's natural mandala's. Yes, that's him in the centre of one. He said he's embodying my process. In order to do this he took a journey to the centre, literally, and just breathed. He said he felt wonderful and took a fancy to focusing on his breath and using it to help him be in his centre, that space where we simply be and we simply are. Kalvin tells me each new dawn is a daily invitation from Earth to be our true selves, to centre our being ~ to sit in our own mandala within.

p.p.s. Kalvin reminds me to tell you no worries if you don't create an Earth Mandala at precisely Earth Hour time, any hour is a good hour to create one!

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© Copyright Jelena Mrkich 2011.

Jelena Mrkich is an Artist, Art Therapist and Creative Catayst who is passionate about creativity as a tool for healing, transformation and self-awareness. For more info visit JelenaMrkich.com or for regular creative good things join her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.