Susan Lewis Storey

Not A "Nasty Woman" and Why.

2017-01-21T23:36:00.003-06:00

As hundreds of thousands of women across the planet prepared to march in solidarity for things they believed needed addressing, I stood back and watched. I watched my feelings, my thoughts, my lack of desire to join in, and yet my unwillingness to criticize this choice. And while I intuitively, though not rationally knew this was not my choice, I watched myself defend this "movement" when I heard it negated.

All week, as talk of the marches came across my Facebook feed I watched myself chew on the idea of this demonstration. Today I read the posts and marveled at the images as the marches unfolded. Then, just to make sure I really understood the whole "nasty" thing, I googled a bit about the origin of the word. In doing so I read that women had "turned the tables" on Trump's use of this word against Hillary by aligning with her in this act of defiance against his obvious misogyny. I even listened to Ashley Judd on youtube as she passionately spoke and women cheered. And that's when I knew I was NOT "a nasty woman" as were the marchers, cheerers and supporters of this beautiful madness. In that moment, at the end of her poetic rant about inequality, sexist oppression and all the things I also believed in standing up for, I knew at last why I was not standing in one of these crowds, carrying a sign and wearing a "pink pussy cap" as I marched with this sisterhood. It was because these are not MY sisters.

MY sisters, few though they seem in comparison to these masses, ACT rather than RE-act! Prompted from within by what they are 'for' rather than moved by another toward what they oppose! MY sisters, who also did not desire a Trump presidency...nor a Clinton victory, can see and acknowledge that were it not for him there would be no march, no outspoken solidarity, no movement toward what these women believe they do not have....no stirring inside them, to shake them awake. And in seeing this, MY sisters, those quiet, wise women who move from the heart in mystical ways that ripple the energetic fabric of consciousness, know that in this alone, Mr. Trump is doing his job! Not as President, but as a soul upon this planet in this incarnation of The Artful Trickster, the boy-man megalomaniac, the narcissist that is revealing the shadow of America! Helping to bring the dark and ugly narcissistic nature of greed and hatred and prejudice that has been the cornerstone of The American Way to the surface for us all to see.....and heal! MY sisters know it is this we must recognize if we are ever to truly be free. As women marched in solidarity with the one Trump called "a nasty woman", MY sisters know that he knows more than they do when it comes to the woman they are still blind to. MY sisters know that she is the shadow side of the feminine. The dark and evil destroyer aspect that too must be seen, acknowledged, embraced, forgiven and healed as she is held accountable. She is but one in a long line of players that keeps the game of Republican vs. Democrat alive to give the illusion of choice to the masses. MY sisters are awake to this! Therefore, MY sisters are not "nasty women". MY sisters embrace and embody all that we are as sovereign souls, free, abundant and unlimited in all that truly matters. Our demonstrations take place in the quiet of our minds and the openness of our hearts as we work, not passively but actively, to shift the frequencies toward love, understanding that everything outside ourselves is merely a reflection of that which lies within....individually as well as collectively. It is this understanding that must be aligned and integrated in each of us. And when that is done, and only when that is done, will the world reflect back to us a place where peace and equality abide for all.

Rock, Paper, Susan; Exploring the Game of Life

2016-07-29T14:38:00.002-05:00

For many years I played life like a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. I made choices based on the limited options I was given and hoped my choice kept me in the game. Eventually however I came to understand that while it appears that we are all playing the same game, we certainly are not! Next I discovered that because of this....my choices aren't limited at all!

Writing my own rules for the game of life that I am playing freed me from the limited options many operate under. What I have come to realize is that when I follow my intuition to explore possibilities beyond those commonly offered on any given subject, my world fills in with people and ideas that have an expertise in line with those possibilities. If instead I play only within the confines of the limited options I am given, my options remain limited....and this is how the rug gets pulled out from beneath me when I least expect it. This is because those handing out the options, setting the rules of the game, so to speak, are playing a different version of the game than they are letting we common folk in on....and we are the pawns!

This realization expanded my experience of life and changed the game for me altogether. When I sincerely plugged into a spiritual quest to "be led into all truth" more than three decades ago I had no idea that I would be awakened on so many levels! The phrase "Let them with eyes see, let them with ears hear." repeatedly rings true for me as I awaken from one experience of reality to the next....each more revealing than the previous. At the same time however, it is tough to live among those I love who have not grasped the changing world around us and are not therefore forewarned.

My understanding on the spiritual, physical and intellectual planes has expanded greatly, revealing a world far more expansive and deeply more convoluted than my wildest dreams. Because of this I am left with a dilemma. Those I love, family and friends who have not moved deeply into the guidance of their higher mind, but have relied solely on the intellectual mind (and the information from those feeding it), could not begin to hear me....even if I were able to articulate what I have come to know and understand. To them my decades worth of discoveries would culminate to sound like the ravings of a mad woman or at the very least one who had fallen for the ravings of those who had gone mad. So, my only option seems to be to present myself as a someone they can talk with when the proverbial sh!t hits the fan...because that time is getting close and the ripples are surfacing. And so, I write this post.

In the physical realm we are on the verge of awakening to a whole new world and a way of life that has been foreshadowed in science-fiction for decades. But first, and for a time, it may appear as if the world as we know it is crumbling. That's because it is...and on many levels it must. Our finances, sustenance, and very souls lie in the balance as the physical and non-physical threats facing us are real. Those of us with our ears to the ground are repeatedly seeing the disclosure of unimaginable deception, technologies and programs in all arenas. Those even closer, who have been involved with such things are spilling the beans on the secrets and programs that have long been in place at the cost of human suffering and limitation. The history we have been taught in our schools and raised to believe is a fiction. The science we have been teased into building our world upon is child's play. The religions and spirituality we have been spoon fed is manipulated fodder for controlling the masses while serving a spiritual agenda so dark it is almost impossible to grasp.

So why do I write all of this? I write it as a heads up....and an invitation to awaken and awaken others. At the very least, stop listening to those given a platform to teach, influence and direct your thoughts. Listen to your heart of hearts as it guides you into "all truth". You will awaken if you do this.....because that is how truth works.

A Further Awakening

2016-04-10T12:17:00.001-05:00

I often deeply immerse myself in the teachings of others, walk a ways down their path to see how it fits into my own journey then decide a u-turn is in order. This has been the way of both my spiritual and creative journey. When it comes to creative expression I love trying new art forms and techniques. Some of them stick, while others fall away or I expand them into my own derivations. For me, expressing myself in a variety of creative forms brings the most pleasure. I've created for shows and exhibits, and while I did well in those arena's and even walked away with awards, the creative process itself was always more fulfilling that the recognition. So, after a while I stopped entering shows and exhibits and just formed my own One Woman Show (and tell) to encourage the use of creative energy to connect to the deeper aspects of one's soul. Between this and continuing to enjoy my own creativity, I have been happy unplugging from 'competitive' arenas. Though I miss the creative camaraderie provided by working with others toward an exhibit or show, my creative world has always been more introverted, so it works for me.

My creative energy has been primarily influenced by my spiritual pursuits and is indeed a form of channeling. Last year however my channeling began to move from creative expression as my journaling turned more and more toward automatic writing. While I have always channeled poetry, lyrics and my own higher mind perspectives, last year I received what I can only refer to as introductory messages from two 'collectives' referring to themselves as the Andromedians and the Arcturians. Prior to that I felt the Ananda collective influencing some of my writings. I shared this in an earlier post along with the 'light language' drawings that were coming through. As is typical with me, I strolled a bit down this path and listened to the perspectives of those who intentionally channel these collectives. However, a few weeks ago I began to feel I was intuitively being guided toward a u-turn.

Something in me felt that these collectives and their messages were just an expansion of the matrix of form on a less dense level. My desire to link directly to my own higher mind and the journey beyond the world of 'them and us' was guiding me to a higher understanding. These collectives were leading me to the understanding of sacred geometry and the structure around which our world is formed. I understood this as an expansion of my initial quest to understand the link between creativity, spirituality and self-realization that had begun decades ago. I had asked for this understanding! Our answers always flow from where our attention is focused. This is the meaning of "Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened unto you." However, my intuition allowed me to see this link between creativity, spirituality and self-realization as a limiting aspect rather than a freeing aspect. Since freeing myself from any 'system' and stepping into my sovereign divine aspect is the ultimate goal in my spiritual journey, I paid attention to my intuitive nudges.

My desire to understand the link between creativity, spirituality and self-realization was prompted almost three decades ago as healing energies came through my creative process and transformed my life. Today I see that as a path I had to take to awaken to the path before me now...the path freeing me from any attachment to a system or energetic matrix in order to know or heal myself. So often we form an attachment and dedication to anything that offered us healing or guidance. This is a misunderstanding of how and why it came into our life. We must begin where we are before we can fully open to who we are! However, moving beyond those 'interventions' is always the path. Today my intuitive guidance is freeing me further away from constraint and the 'messages' of anything representing itself as 'apart from me'. I am sovereign and whole and while my experience is one of limited duality, that is but an illusion that requires further awakening. I believe this u-turn to be just that; a further awakening.

Without the introduction to these 'collectives' and their perspectives, my own higher mind could not have steered me even deeper inward, so I am grateful to have met these aspects. I am more grateful however to have awakened from their guidance which still lies within the realm of separation, however less dense. The involvement with seemingly more advanced beings can be quite captivating, but really it is only another form of separation and distraction from true awakening. One must dive deep to truly know themselves. Any hierarchy that presents a ladder one must climb in order to reach freedom does not offer freedom. This includes the realm of higher dimensional collectives, ascended masters, archangels, guides and even the concept of a universal God. Any energetic matrix, be it built upon 'sacred' geometry or not is still a matrix and therefore a net that keeps us bound within it. I am an expression of Source, period. The more energy I put into experiencing myself as such, and the less distraction I involve myself with, the better. This way of thinking blows the 'new age' community apart...and it should. That community is as much an invention of control as is religion, politics, educational systems, media conglomerates, healing modalities, and corporate elites. Until we awaken to our participation in any 'system' we can not free ourselves from 'systems'. It is that simple.....but not easy. Listening and learning from others is fine. However, staying plugged directly into my own higher self, regardless of all the teachers and mystics 'out there' has proven to provide the most direct path. Listen, glean, try on any teaching for size, but know this, anything, ANYTHING that we don't eventually outgrow will ensnare and limit us......And Source is limitless!

2016-02-04T17:25:00.002-06:00

This is a painting I did after Phil's transition three years ago today. Archetypal in nature he is represented as the wise shaman he was....and still is. In honor of this anniversary I am sharing an excerpt from a book I am currently co-authoring about the nature of conscious transitions, staying in communication with those that transition ahead of us, and living in the experience of eternal life...because there truly is no death! We just trade in a physical body for an incredible light body and step more into the fullness of our being. Misconceptions about death and the conditioning we have around that concept are the only things that keep us seemingly disconnected. As you will read in the story, Phil has never left.

STAYING CONNECTED

Unexpectedly widowed at fifty-six, a series of beautifully guided, synchronistic events, had me living at my daughter’s home just prior to, and following, my sweet husband’s untimely passing. A few weeks before his transition, he and I made an agreement to stay connected. Our beliefs supported this idea though neither of us knew just how we would pull this off. Therefore we decided he would be the one to let me know just how that was going to happen once he ‘settled in’.

Several weeks after Phil’s passing I was writing one of my evening letters to him in my journal. This a practice I had started after his transition to ease into a new way of being with him. It really seemed to help me find ‘us time’ to share my day with him this way. But it wasn’t a two-way street and I really wanted that. Since we had agreed before his passing to keep in touch, it dawned on me to give him a symbol to use to let me know he was around. Dragonfly’s had always been a personal totem for me and was even the logo I used for business in the form of my initials. This seemed the perfect symbol. As I wrote the letter telling him to send me dragonflies if he was around, I also wrote how difficult this might be since I was most always inside. Not long after I put my journal away the phone rang. Lo and behold, my three year old grandson was put on the phone to tell me about his new temporary “dwagon-fwy” tattoo. I laughed and cried and excitedly shared the news with everyone. Phil and I were in touch!

Lighter and happier, the next day I shared the news with a girlfriend as I accompanied her to an appointment she had. As we sat together across from the man she was seeing, he began questioning me rather than my friend. I explained that I was just accompanying her, but still he asked me a bit about myself and my work. As he listened a look of excitement came over his face and he reached beneath the table he was sitting behind, pulled out a rather large book and said, “Oh, you have to read this!” A huge dragonfly illustration adorned the cover of the book he held up, and my friend and I could hardly contain our amazement. The book, as it turned out, addressed many of the esoteric based questions I had been asking my late husband about in the letters I wrote each evening. This was not only his way of answering the questions, but of saying hello. I know this, because as I went to purchase the book that evening, the edition now available had a new cover..without the dragonfly! Had I not gone with my girlfriend, I’d have never seen that edition let alone been directed to it for the answers I sought from Phil. I have since learned how our loved ones can inspire our thoughts in order to align us with such synchronistic events. This is exactly what Phil had done! And he wasn’t through yet.

I began hearing from my family about their own unusual dragonfly experiences. My mother, who had become widowed only a day before me, had a dragonfly visit her patio daily that she had never encountered before. My sweet niece for the first time she could recall, not only had a dragonfly appear at her home, but it perched itself on her shoulder, which she couldn’t wait to tell me about. They randomly appeared to my daughter and my grandson’s mother around this time as well. But no dragonfly dance was as profound as the one I experienced last year.

Prior to his passing, Phil had never expressed one bit of concern about my life without him. When I would say how much I was going to miss him, he would simply reply “You’ll be fine.” For twenty-two years we had done absolutely everything together and loved the introverted cocoon we had built our life around. Imagining life without him was impossible. But now, as I look back, I wonder if he intuitively knew something I didn’t.

About a year after Phil’s passing, I went to dinner with a man I had met through yet another series of profound synchronistic events. Such alignments had become almost a way of life and I needed only to follow the clues scattered like breadcrumbs before me. Seated at a window overlooking a lake, my mind turned to Phil. He had loved the water and whenever I am near it he always comes to mind. I suppose it’s natural, after a long marriage, to wonder if your late spouse approves of your life moving along with someone new. Having had no doubt, that Phil had a hand in arranging our meeting, still I wondered what he thought. Just then a truly huge swarm of tiny dragonflies arose from the lake right in front of the window where we sat. They circled and danced outside the window the whole time we were there. For me it was Phil not only acknowledging his approval, but taking credit for the matchmaking itself, saying….”See, I told you you’d be fine.”

Dragonflies were not the only way Phil communicated. One day, not long after the phone call from my grandson about his timely tattoo, I was in my bedroom at my daughters house tidying up. I was talking out-loud to Phil as I always did, telling him we needed a better system. Dragonflies were great for saying hello but I needed something more. As I continued to talk to Phil about ways we could connect, I reached for the remote and turned on the TV. Again, perfect timing! Just as I turned on the TV a woman on the screen was demonstrating how one could use a pendulum to connect with their deceased mother. The series, which I had watched countless times, had never even remotely shown anything metaphysical….let alone a clip about connecting with a deceased loved one. Phil had done it again, and I reached for my my long forgotten pendulum; a beautiful handmade glass bead Phil had once bought me.

In the years since his passing I have learned how easy it is for our transitioned loved ones to inspire us with guiding thoughts toward things they want us to know or experience. As much as this has happened between Phil and I, I still pull out the pendulum from time to time to verify what I think I am being shown. It has proved to be a great tool for ongoing communication and greatly reconnected me to Phil on an emotional level in that first year following his transition. Apart from communicating, I use the pendulum, and have taught others to use a pendulum, to regain a physical connection to those who have transitioned. I can’t tell you how many times I have held it and simply asked Phil to use it to ‘hold my hand’. For us that means when Phil is near, the pendulum will spin in a circle with quite an energetic pull as I hold it. This worked like magic to lift my spirits in the first year following his passing, because the physical absence was so profound.

Since Phil’s transition I have been blessed with two separate mediums who have connected with Phil and given me confirmation of messages I intuitively received from him, without me sharing the tiniest bit of such information with them. This initially helped me to trust what I was picking up. Mediums are great if you can find one with a good track record. There are lots of charlatans however using something called ‘cold reading’ to appear to have a connection, so, if you are inclined to use one, do your homework. But, trust me, there is nothing like having your own ongoing connection.

My new life partner has honored my marriage and my stories of Phil from the first day I met him. Phil’s photo is on the shelf near a tiny Buddha from Phil’s collection and an anniversary gift I once gave him depicting an East coast harbor scene like those he loved. Inspired to write a book about my ongoing experiences since Phil’s transition, in hopes of teaching others about the eternal nature of life, preparing for their own conscious transitions, and staying connected to loved ones following a transition, another synchronicity presented itself. In the ever unfolding nature of such occurrences sprinkled across my life since Phil’s passing, this new man in my life recently reminded me that he once had a very successful career with a major newsgroup as an editor! Yes, as it happens, it seems I am living with my editor! You can call that coincidence if you want, and I am sure skeptics will, but Phil and I both know better! We are writing a book together and he chose the editor!

Conditioning or Creativity

2015-12-08T12:55:00.000-06:00

From my abstract Meditation Ink Painting series

This morning I was awakened with a deep knowing that is hard to put into words. Still, I feel inspired to write about it, possibly to share the insight, but also to anchor it in myself. I often have an understanding of intuitive spiritual concepts and feel as though I 'get' it until they rise again to press themselves even deeper into my awareness....as if some divine artist is shaping the clay that I am, as I shape the creative energy that runs through me. This morning was one of those times. I was shown how very much we, in modern America, have been cut off from the power of true creative energy by an intentional conditioning that we do not even realize we are living under. We use and see creative energy as a way to 'make stuff' rather than as the life force it truly is for the continual betterment of our life experience. This is not natural nor is it by accident. It is by design! Most won't read the whole article because that is how deep our conditioning runs. If you feel the need to blow off the things I am sharing, try to read on. I won't go into much detail in hopes that it won't be too much, and that it might just spark enough of a question in your mind to niggle it's way into your own a-ha moment. As you read, keep this thought in mind...'What might I create; how might my art, my work, my contribution, my life look if conditioning were not in place?'

For some time now I have felt a pull to explore the systems we shape our lives around. Those things we participate in without questioning if the arena is truly what it represents itself to be; our healthcare system, our educational system, our religious institutions, our ideas about what constitutes 'work' or career, our political/governmental system, military, etc. I'm not talking about what's "wrong" or what needs "improvement" in these systems, I am talking about the systems themselves and the intentions behind their design or re-design.

As I began to explore, I was profoundly stirred by the intentional manipulation behind all of these systems. Taking education for example, which I think most would agree is a good thing, I never before saw how it was hijacked to intentionally create a dependent 'working class'. "Study hard and you can get a good job..." "Do well in school and you will have a good career." What we don't see is that from janitors to Ph. D's anyone that trades time for money is working 'for' someone else. We are never told, follow your passion and all your needs will be met. We are not encouraged from an early age to look for and pursue an education built around those things that call us. We are grouped together, lined up in rows and taught little that we will ever use in 'real life', as we are programmed to follow instruction and respond to the ringing of a bell. And, it is illegal not to educate our children based on an "approved" curriculum. ILLEGAL!

I was shown how much of what we are taught in the curriculum has little to do with the truth. Math, science, history has all been designed to prevent us from accessing the true wonders that will come to light in the not so distant future. Our most noted scholars will look like kindergarteners in the face of what is really known by those not limited to the systems within our working class....by those who intentionally designed these systems. But this is nothing compared to what I have found in reviewing some of the very credible whistle blowers that have been surfacing in the last few years to report on the true design behind standardized testing and our school's "gifted" programs true purpose. MILAB is not a myth. And while I won't go into it here, if you have a child in school or know someone that does, you might want to learn about it. And this is just our education system! What about all the other systems we involve ourselves in without questioning the set up behind them. What if politics was intentionally designed to make you think you have a choice and that your vote was responsible for change. Wouldn't that keep the fight going between the parties involved? Yes, as it provided a nice distraction to keep us from looking behind the scene at the true manipulators of all our 'systems'!

If you are still reading, I want to share the a-ha I awoke to this morning. Because I believe that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, I came to the awareness that if Earth (3rd dimension) is a school for our spiritual evolution, then each situation or person we encounter is a lesson. Sounds simple, right? Well, let's look at what this truly means. Any arena that we are conditioned into aborts the spiritual journey. Anything we do routinely, automatically or without questioning divorces us from an opportunity for spontaneous awakening. The systems in place in our lives (school, work, military, religious, etc.) fall under the umbrella of a larger system we never even see. This is the system which divorces us from the potential that lies within complete attention to the moment at hand in every moment. Fascination, curiosity, exploration are our natural states of being! If we were not zombied out by conditioned routines and systems, exhaustion from their depleting energy drains, and then programmed by the 'news and entertainment' provided for us by the same folks behind all the other systems, who might we be? How engaged and evolved might we become? Might we, the masses, surpass those few who have designed and created a society to keep us entranced and entrenched? Ahh..and there it is, the reason this has been done. Keeping us a 'working class', believing we have to trade time for money so we can buy their goods while they keep us from free energy, abundant food supplies and all that we would ever need to truly live free and cultivate the God-given gifts of creative expression is their purpose.

I could go on about how they have stolen or circumvented advancements that would have freed us long ago from disease, famine, energy resources, etc., but if you have even read this far you can begin to pull the thread that will let you find all of this for yourselves. I am just an artist and an earnest mystic. As one who was trapped in all that I have mentioned, if I could be awakened I trust that anyone can...if they so desire. Until then I will keep the enlightening energy of creativity focused toward my own awakening and sharing that through art and writing. I will keep sprinkling my bread crumbs and loving those that mock me, believing I have gone off the deep end. They will awaken, of that I am sure. But if you are one with children, or grand children, please, look sooner rather than later at the systems you involve them in. You are their guardian, and school is not what you think it is.

Intuitive Artist

2015-11-21T14:12:00.001-06:00

The Wheel card from my original tarot deck titled, Windows On Illusion

What does it mean to be an intuitive artist? I'd have to say there are as many answers to this question as their are artists. I believe all artists are tapping into their intuition every time they create from inspiration. When we just 'let it flow' time literally stands still for us (yes...I know the difference between literally and figuratively) Metaphysically speaking, we personally make less time when we do anything from 'the zone'. That's why it seems like time flies when we do what we love...because it does! But that's not the focus of this post. This post is about the desire of an extra-sensory, intuitive artist seeking a like-minded tribe.

I see many artist friends inspired by the events in the world. Especially in light of tragedies like earthquakes, tsunami's, attacks intended to strike fear and devastation. Then there are those who are inspired to artistic activism by such things as water and food shortage or manipulation, nuclear power, sustainable farming and animal rights. But what about those of us that are inspired to action by those things most can't see?

What about those of us tapped into our clair-cognizance, clairvoyance, clairaudience, or clairsentience? What of those that are connected to their guides, ascended masters and higher frequency aspects? Sure, we can create art from these inspired connections. History is full of such works, even though many are still without full understanding by most. This is because a third dimensional mind can not interpret a fifth (or higher) dimensional inspiration. And our society, our world, at this point in time is functioning at a mostly third dimensional frequency. Therefore, those artists attuned to higher frequencies of intuitive awareness must be satisfied with the intuitive creative process itself, and the understanding that their work literally (yes, I know) anchors those higher frequencies as energetic templates serving all of humanity.

This morning I noticed several artists on Facebook inspired by the recent attacks on Paris and other, less reported attacks on countries and people of color. I found myself wanting to share within a creative community. I am after all, an artist. These people are my tribe. Then I felt myself quietly withdraw. Would they understand what the Arcturians have shared with me? Would they even know who this galactic race is? Would they be able to embrace that I can see the energetic conflict that is the true impetus behind the discord on our planet? Would they be open enough to realize that I can see that this is bigger than politics and religion because it is the forces behind politics and religion that have been running the show for generations....for eons. The answer is no. And that's as it should be. I've learned to be ok with working on the outside, looking in...at least I'm free of the matrix/ the illusion/maya...whatever ya want to call it. But sometimes, the artist in me just wants a like minded group to create with.

There are not clubs or guilds or even forums for intuitive artists that express themselves from these stirrings...these knowings. We are mostly on our own when it comes to sharing what inspires us. And for the most part that is okay. Eventually, if we are resilient, we align with those on the fringe of society that do understand and share these 'abilities'. We are supported and embraced by those in alternative arenas that know of the great awakening that is upon us. And we will find a sort of refuge there and our work will flow in the directions it can best serve. But that doesn't quiet the desire in me, that wishes, just every now and then, that I was part of a group of artists that gathered to meditate, channel and share the energies inspiring us to artistically express individual and group artwork based on the 'reality' we see.

I have found an arena for teaching the metaphysical applications of creative energy and that is rewarding work. I love teaching and working with people on how to use creative energy to awaken their intuitive 'abilities'. And synchronicity is playing it's part by expanding these workshops into transformational retreats. I know I'm not alone in this desire to connect with like-minded artists. And to that I say...A guild for extra-sensory artist's....if we build it, they will come!

More On Light Language

2015-10-13T11:11:00.002-05:00

In my last post I introduced the subject of light language by sharing a journal page I had spontaneously filled with seemingly foreign symbols and shapes. In that post I promised to share more about the nature and benefits of using light language. This post is the "more" that I promised on that subject. However, I'm only sharing my experiences and the understanding that has come to me through use, exploration and meditation on the subject. There is more available if you want to research the experiences of others.

Apart from being written, light language can be spoken or sung, moved (as in dancing or signing) and incorporated into art or designs....think crop circles/ice circles, sacred geometry, etc. While some have the 'gift' of interpretation, for the most part light language, as we know it in our current state of consciousness, is an experience that transcends the rational mind. It is a soulful utterance/movement that allows for emotional expression/release without the interference of thought. Imagine the expression of deeply felt emotions free from rumination and you have one of the beautiful benefits of light language. It is a fantastic way to give voice/expression to emotions so deep they transcend thought. It is wonderful for expressing sorrow as well as jubilation that there simply aren't words for.

The next benefit of light language is the expansion of consciousness it fosters. When we separate light language from the religious dogma that surrounds it, this "speaking in tongues", opens us to boundless information free from the limitations of doctrine. Freed from such conditioning, it is as if through the ongoing use of light language, a portal for conscious connection to the non-physical aspects of our multi-dimensional self opens. In this I experience guidance in the form of profound insight. Because for decades my work has centered on using creative energy for the expansion of consciousness/spiritual growth, my intention has been long set. Energy follows intention, therefore my use of light language in any form, moves directly into the spiritual questions I carry or the spiritual understanding I seek. This however is true for me with regard to many forms of creative expression. My directed creativity has long been a portal for 'downloads' of vast awareness/information and I feel my use of light language has only added to this.

Others teach that light language opens codes in us that unlock a type of remembrance of our limitless nature and allow us to approach the multi-dimensional nature of our being. This makes sense to me on an intuitive level. I know that my fascination with crop circles and other forms of sacred geometry is because it calls to me and connects me on a soulful level. I believe this is true of light language as well.

I find myself unconsciously singing or speaking it under my breath throughout the day. At first this surprised me each time I caught it happening. Now it is as natural as realizing I was unconsciously humming would be. Light language is a song my soul is familiar with and that is reason enough for me to enjoy it. There are distinct feeling signatures to these 'languages'. They do not all sound alike and I have personally experienced several 'dialects'. Intuitively I glean this as a type of connecting to 'ancestral aspects' of my multi-dimensional being. We live in the eternal NOW but from our third dimensional perspective everything is separated out...past/present/future. Because light language and enlightened consciousness transcends such separation, I believe my various aspects of self come through to express themselves from time to time, each speaking a different dialect.

I have experienced spontaneous interpretations following spoken light language 'transmissions'. This has most always been connected to meditation periods or times when I have set the intention to connect in stillness. One thing I know for certain is that we can all open to light language and each will benefit in their own way. The quickest way to achieve this is through exposing yourself to it and asking your higher self to facilitate. Intention is everything! While I was initiated into speaking it about thirty years ago, only recently have I been writing it. I learned of written light language, desired it, intended it, and within a few weeks it presented itself. Now writing it is as natural to me as speaking it.

I would encourage anyone who has an interest in this to explore and research this subject themselves. Youtube is full of light language videos. Yvonne Perry has written a book entitled Light Language Emerging which recounts her experiences around this subject. But as with anything spiritual, I would caution you to respect your own experience. Do not latch on to my definitions or anyone else's. Open to it, move your ego mind aside, let go of judgement and simply allow the experience. If this doesn't work you are simply 'in the way' of yourself. For this reason, many prefer an initiation into the experience. Connect with me or someone in your area that offers this service and do a consultation or attend a workshop. In doing so you will step into aspects of yourself you can not even imagine.

Light Language

2015-10-10T11:24:00.003-05:00

From my notebook....written 'light language'

I first experienced something called 'light language' almost thirty years ago but it didn't have such a cool, new mellineium name back then. It was referred to as "speaking in tongues" and it happened to me quite spontaneously one afternoon. Unbeknownst to me at the time, my daughter also experienced this while away at a youth camp organized by the church we were attending at that time. Like so many things I left behind as I 'out-grew' formal religion, (Pentecostal was my last attempt at seeking Truth through organizations) I abandoned this form of communication as well. An unexpected reemergence of this 'ability' presented itself once again this week along with the spontaneous ability to write this so called 'light language'. While on the one hand it fascinated me and I see all sorts of ideas for incorporating it in my artwork, on the other hand I know it is a natural progression of a long spiritual awakening I have been integrating for decades.

A couple of weeks ago my journaling became an automatic writing session in which "The Andromedians of Most High" introduced themselves. The "Arcturians" later did the same in both written and spoken channelings. Last year the Ananda collective first came through. So, here I am, shifting once again into new paradigms of understanding and so grateful for the downloads of understanding that accompany many of these 'transmissions'. My world is filling in with people who have knowledge of these experiences and it is a testament to the shifting and expansion that unfolds as we step into the creative journey our awakening soul seeks.

I am writing this post because I am being guided to teach these types of communications and am eager to step into assisting anyone interested in touching upon these abilities. Automatic writing is a powerful portal for communication, and light language is an ancestral part of each of us. They are a vehicle for transcending the third dimensional timeline and raising one's vibrational frequency to the fifth dimensional New Earth. Practicing light language activates DNA codes which provide an expansion of your life expression on many levels. The language can be spoken or sung while you practice your craft or create artwork. The written light language can be added subtly or featured prominently in the work itself. I will be adding workshop information to my website for those interested in checking this out for themselves, along with new work incorporating these symbols. I will also be writing a new post soon that explains the benefits of light language in more detail.

For those reading this that are quite convinced I've gone over the edge, not to worry.... I am suitably grounded for the work I am coming into and have never felt more purposeful in my life. Connecting to non-physical assistance is nothing new for me as I have been in 'communication' for years. This is just an expansion of the clair-cognizance I have drawn on for decades and I am excited to share what unfolds.

Intuitive Channeling Through Blank Verse

2015-09-17T17:03:00.002-05:00

Why is it easier to point out the weeds in the garden of others than pull our own? For the most part it is because we really do want to help others. And.... we really don't want to acknowledge the cries of our own wounds! That's the truth of it. We shine a very bright light on a deeply hidden aspect of ourselves every time we judge another or their actions. Those things we admire and desire as positive attributes, we have a hard time locating in ourselves, so we adore them in others. Those things we disdain or judge as negative in others are equally reflective of a hidden aspect of self. Weather these things actually exist in the other person or not matters little when it comes to self healing. If I experience them, they exist or have existed in me. So, how do I know if they are healed within me or not? There is a trick to recognizing this. The more emotionally charged I become over the actions of another, the more this aspect is trying to get my attention to be healed inside of me!!!. This doesn't mean that the other person isn't expressing what I see, they may or may not be. But pointing it out in them will never heal it in me! Railing at them about it or celebrating them for it will not quench it in me. And that is what I came to do! As Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, "I do me. For that I came." In truth, that's what we all came to do.

Channeling blank verse has always been my way of opening to let my higher mind teach me. This practice has developed into a workshop I teach for introspection through channeled verse. Below is a piece I was inspired to receive many years ago as I realized that projection was responsible for so many different religions and spiritual teachings. Enjoy.

Out Of The Woods

We are not
wandering together
lost in a dark, dense wood.

We are,
each of us,
the dark, dense wood
in which we are lost.

The sooner we stop listening to
those calling from the edge
of their perceived freedom,
the sooner we will discover
our own.

It is an inner path....solitary
but with common perspectives
that fool many into believing
it is a shared journey.

Unfortunately, knowing this doesn't mean
I am out of the woods yet....
but remembering it keeps me from
calling to you from the edges.

sls

Ascension Alignment; Bridging Heart, Mind and Will.

2015-09-15T12:24:00.002-05:00


A bit of ephemeral art; grass seeds placed in a spiral on a rock in Creede Co.

It's important to understand that some people awaken first at the level of the mind, others first have a heart awakening, while still others are awakened initially at the level of personal will. Not realizing this three-fold journey, is often a stumbling block toward conscious maturity. Unless all three levels are awakened, conscious maturity remains elusive. A state of awakening in only one arena can seemingly reek havoc within the life experience. Evidence of this is being played out on the stage of human existence right now in a profound way.

I was recently inspired to listen to what is being said about this pivotal point in time from various platforms/teachers. New Thought teachers, Jewish mystics, fundamentalist preachers, channelers, and alternative journalists/broadcasters are all weighing in on the global shifts happening at this time. As I listened I was aware that many of these 'sources' pointed to much the same "evidence" that we are indeed in the time of great change. Some had more information than others but none contradicted each other in their "evidence". I was acutely aware that each were accurate in their perceptions....(and this is the important part).... based on the level/frequency (dimension of awareness) from which they were speaking. In other words, while all might see the same patterns in something, they can only interpret and share them from the frequency/level of awakened perception they experience.

As a biblical scholar points to all the prophetic passages that line up with the occurrences we are seeing in the world they are accurate in their recognition of these 'signs'. But because they are steeped in duality (good vs. evil) their interpretations are wrapped in third dimensional 'warnings'. Fear is the underlying vibration as they are told to 'repent and get this message to as many as possible for the salvation of their souls.' From the level of mind, this is a very sincere message and mission. The trouble is you don't realize that some have transcended this level of frequency and have a completely different interpretation/experience of the same "evidence". This duality perspective is also true of the alternative news journalist/broadcaster pointing to the 'conspiracy' evidence that lines up with these times. They too are warning their listeners from the perspective of mind and an attitude of care and concern that is aligned with and interpreted through their third dimension awareness. Survivalists are largely awake at the level of will. Caught in third level duality they respond from fear. Fleeing the country, arming themselves against an attack, stockpiling years worth of food/water and getting the message out to as many as possible is their message and mission. A great one, if you are also perceiving things within this lower 'survival' frequency.

Those experiencing higher, upper third and fourth dimensional frequencies do not demonstrate the same fear with regard to these times because they know what is happening from a higher perspective and they understand these times as a bridge. Many have in fact been consciously working at calling in the necessary light to anchor these frequencies/times. They are awakened at the level of heart. Some have food and water in reserve, cash on hand and other necessities should there be any slow down in getting these things for a while due to weather, banking and shopping issues, etc., but for these, mindfulness, having awakened at the level of heart/mind and will, is the reason rather than the fear and desperation carried in the masses. In moderation it's a smart thing to do, but from a place of conscious awareness rather than fear. Those only awakened at the level of heart might not prepare at all for the playing out of these shifts on the stage of the world. This will be experienced as difficulty if 'real world' conditions prevent easy access to food, water and money for a time.

I grew up and live in a hurricane zone. We always took precautions. I still do. Knowing what I know with regard to the impending economic shifts, weather shifts and the possibility of going off grid for a while, (awakened mind) I've added to those precautions a bit. But not from a fearful perspective. I spend a great deal more of my time in prayer, creative meditation and personal awakening as I ground myself in the frequency I choose to align with during this time of great change (heart and will). I chose to be a conscious bridge during these times. It was and is my reason for being here in this lifetime. This revelation presented itself as conscious maturity unfolded in me at the level of heart, mind and will.

Once we have awakened at the level of heart, mind and will we are to continually cultivate the expansion of our awakening. We can all grow in our awakening no matter the area awakened. Maturity comes when we grow in all three areas.

We are all awakening. We are all moving from lower vibrational densities to higher frequencies. Some are consciously aware of this while others are not. But this is what I was made aware of as I listened....'everyone is correct from their level of perception and they are lovingly assisting those that resonate from that same frequency. Only when we try and change someone who does not see it from our level of perception can conflict arise. Loving everyone where they are is the way to truly embrace all. Everyone is serving! And if we remove the fear from ourselves we can learn something from each perspective....because in the Oneness of All, we are everyone'!

A better use of our time and energy comes from looking within rather than outside ourselves. Every macrocosm has a microcosmic perspective. Are you awakened at the level of heart, mind and will??? Or just heart? Just intellect? Just will? I'll do a post later on each of these and what that might look like. But for now, don't confuse yourself by listening to all the opinions of all the talking heads and wondering whose right and whose not. Move inside yourself and recognize where you are, where you want to be, and prepare accordingly.

The Akashic and Ascension

2015-09-01T16:20:00.000-05:00

Digital self-portrait

Knowing that the eternal 'now' is all that exists and that it truly is where our gifts and abilities lie, I was curious about what part accessing the Akashic Records played in our personal growth and ascension process. I had pondered the question for a couple of days and posed it to my higher mind. This morning my answer came as I sat to connect with guidance. My channeled writings are first and foremost always for me. They further my understanding and contribute to the ever-growing relationship I consciously cultivate with my higher mind. However, sometimes the messages have such a feeling of global information that I like to share what comes through. This mornings message was one of those. Take it for what it's worth and if it resonates with you, file it away. If not, then ponder the question for yourself and see what comes through for you. We can never have enough perspectives on such a rich resource as the Akashic Records.

THE MESSAGE:

One aspect of The Asakhic Records can be understood using the analogy of a board game. If you found a board game that only contained the pieces that move around the board, but no board upon which to move them, the pieces would be disconnected from the game for which they had been created. Yes, they could be used otherwise...as a child's toy perhaps or incorporated into an art piece, or crafted into a piece of jewelry, or used atop a cake as decoration, or any similar purpose, but they would not be fulfilling the purpose for which they were created. Tuning into the Akashic Records is like discovering the game board for which you were created in this and all parallel (past/future) incarnations. The Akashic Records help you (the pieces) make sense of 'the whole'. The Records can do this because they hold ALL of the memory! Through the Records you can access that which you weren't able to consciously bring into this incarnation! Referencing the Records assists you in making sense of your life, of the patterns you want to heal, the gifts you want to explore....and the very piece you came to play in the 'game of life'!

I loved that short and sweet analogy! After this message came through I continued to receive clarity about the way I personally access the Records. It is a deeply personal experience and ever growing. It is not part of a system or formula. I've tried those and was even certified in a popular course for accessing the Akashic Records. That approach, though helpful for many, did not 'work' for me. What works for me is building an ever growing intimate relationship with non-physical consciousness. By opening up to it and letting it teach me how to listen, subtle nuances and tender whispers guide and teach me. And lest you think I was gifted this from the get-go let me assure you, I worked very hard for decades doing introspective work to develop this connection. In fact, it has been my life's work and my joy.

If you are wanting to access the Records or simply plug into your own higher mind, my suggestion is this, know that you can, and ask your higher mind to show you how. As people we are accessing so much non-physical assistance these days, that even those who never heard of, let alone believed in these abilities are awakening to them daily. We are on the brink of becoming a fully activated, fully conscious society without limited senses due to an energetic alignment that has not been accessible for centuries. Now, more than ever before, if you seek guidance you will be guided and you will learn.

Wordless Poems and Image Stories

2015-08-27T11:36:00.000-05:00

As I have shared before, creative energy is the primary tool I use in my shadow/personal growth work and is foundational to the Intentional Arts process I teach. This choice was born out of a spontaneous encounter I have shared before so I'll just briefly recap it here...

One night in 1991 I was awakened in the middle of the night and drawn to the art studio in our home. Something beyond my normal waking self guided me, and the painting that would emerge over the next several hours. I was as much a spectator of the process as if someone else held the brush. Eventually the energy withdrew and I discovered that hours had flown like minutes. As I stared at the piece that had been painted, I had an experience I did not know existed. A type of information download occurred resulting in an expansion of consciousness that was palpable, profound and deeply personal. Waves of emotion moved me through tears and joy as a type of uncommon healing permeated my heart and mind. My counseling background gave me a great foundation for understanding the profoundly healing nature of this experience, so I dove deeper into understanding and nurturing this creative healing process. I have practiced and shared it ever since.

I found that when I focused deeply on anything I wanted to understand, eventually that understanding would emerge through creative energy. I began to be intuitively informed that all energy is creative energy. Artwork was in many ways like a dream portal for symbolic imagery and communication, only I didn't have to be asleep for the messages to filter through. Another plus was the informational 'downloads' that accompanied these experiences. Unlike a dream, it was always clear what the creative experience came to convey. Blocks of information came into my mind that awakened and enlivened me in ways it is impossible to imagine apart from the experience itself. This was powerful because I had tapped into a type of communication that came directly through me, about me, without any sort of middleman, therefore I could completely trust the information I got.

As the years went on I began to create this way without posing questions. I began to invite this energy to simply 'be' with me and teach me what it wanted to teach me. It can sound crazy and certainly esoteric but I knew this was a spiritual experience; a sacred communication. Eventually, and for the last two decades, broader messages with more universal meanings emerged. I still created some pieces just for the fun of it, but even then an open line of communication was always present. Creativity is a very meditative process and in that relaxed, receptive state, if one opens to it, communication flows effortlessly between ones higher and lower mind. Yes, I had a spontaneous awakening to this reality but it is easily learned and applied.

A few years ago I was inspired to create balanced totem like paintings built around a central core or 'spine'. Eventually I developed a blind print process that allowed for the manipulation of media to create very intricate shapes and forms along a central line. Using a variety of media I further defined each painting until an image-story that spoke to me emerged. These were to me, wordless poems or image stories awaiting the teller. As I first began sharing them, I noticed that different people discovered different imagery within the same painting. This fascinated me even further and I was compelled to keep creating this wonderful pieces.

I was guided to understand that the 'spine' in the paintings mirrored the function of the human spine in communications between our own higher and lower mind. From the crown of our head to the root of our spine light engages and in-forms buried or hidden aspects, coaxing them into awareness. As an energy worker (reiki master/teacher) this made perfect sense to me, and the artwork captivated me in new ways.

Over the last three years a series has emerged with pieces ranging in size from 16"x20" and 11"x14"works on canvas, to smaller works on heavy card stock that range in size from 8"x10" to 4"x6", and tiny 1"-2" miniatures on bamboo paper. While I intuitively understood the meaning of the work on a personal level, I have been guided to understand that the size variations as well as the imagery itself is part of the overall message. This is because the entire series of paintings tell the story of transmutation; bringing our shadow aspects into the Light of conscious awareness/awakening/expansion and healing. It is important to understand that I did not know this fully throughout the three years I spent creating these works. Much of the understanding of the overall message came through as the miniature series began to grow.

I was shown that the larger paintings, with less hidden imagery, represent individuals that have done much introspective work and have little left to clear. These paintings read much the same from a distance as they do up close. Many of them are reflective of freedom or beauty and simply encourage positive states of being such as soaring or serenity. Some individuals have more deeply buried aspects that need to be coaxed into the light of awareness by peering deeply within. These pieces read very differently from a distance as they do up close. Frightening or whimsical faces recede and emerge as the viewer explores these smaller paintings up close. Lastly there are those individuals that have turned away from the light for so long they need a magnifying glass to see even one tiny shadow aspects hiding from the light of their conscious awareness. The miniature paintings speak to this, and a magnifying glass is provided for viewing the tiny hidden aspects within each miniature piece.

Together this series and my story about the evolution of this intuitive process I call Intentional Arts make up the foundation of my One Woman Show (and tell). Included are other art forms from sculpture to textile pieces just to demonstrate that any exercise in creativity can be a vehicle for connecting with our higher mind/guidance. I'll share more about that in future posts. Until then I encourage you to think differently about your creative energy. Use it to ponder the deeper questions of your soul. Ask about the meaning of life and let go of any answer you already have. Because even if you do have an answer, just letting go of it will open a door through which more revelation than you can imagine will flow through.

Albums of this series can be viewed by clicking on the PHOTOS link and then the ALBUM link on my Intentional Arts Facebook page. Information about the Intentional Arts process and my One Woman Show (and tell) can be found at my website, http://susanlewisstorey.com

The Shadow and Ascension

2015-08-26T17:51:00.001-05:00

As individuals we are a microcosmic reflection of the universal/cosmic macrocosm. The energy (thoughts, beliefs, fears) we must embrace and transcend/transmute are reflections of the very energy the universe/cosmos must also embrace, transcend/transmute. The difference is the universe/cosmos is fully aware of this process and many of us are blind to it. Though we are in the midst of it, though it is taking place all around us and within us, if we are aware of it at all we are primarily projecting it outward; projecting it as something to be feared or embraced, dreaded or excited about.

There is a lot of talk these days around the subject of ascension. Charged with words like "the rapture", "the second coming", "the ascension", "4th/5th dimensional shift", many weigh in on this topic from varying perspectives. The terms used depend upon which 'camp' you listen to. There are those in the middle who are so busy with the busy-ness of life that they aren't listening to anyone and this topic holds absolutely no meaning at all. This shift, regardless of 'belief in it' or 'recognition of it', is happening to us all. On universal, global and personal levels changes are taking place. For most individuals this is happening primarily on an unconscious level.

Personal 'awakening' is not an event! This is a process and, in many ways, it has been going on for eons and you couldn't miss it if you tried. It is taking place in each and everyone of us and awareness is the key to a gentler ride. Universally, yes, an energetic shift like none we have witnessed in our lifetimes is upon us. We are in a transformational aspect of the process that will astound our world as these shifts play out in our third dimensional perspectives. But the good news is everyone is coming along for the ride. As a student of these energies and aspects who consciously works directly with the enlightenment process, I continually bring an unconscious level of awareness into the light of my own mind. I continually shift and ascend. It is my work, and for thirty years I have had the good fortune of having this conscious process as a full time job. I absolutely love it! And I am grateful to the shadow aspects that introduced me to it and continue to facilitate my ascension process.

That's right, the shadow is there to escort you into the ascension of your very soul! Bringing the shadow into light is the most rewarding and exciting work I could ever imagine doing. I share this to encourage those of you frightened or confused by the talk of ascension, and later the reality of it you find in your midst, to stop, take a breath and move into your center; your heart-space. Peace awaits you, eager to help you embrace those shadow aspects holding the very energy you need to transcend. That's all personal ascension is! A tiny piece of fear floating to the surface of your awareness to be healed. These fears often wear big hairy costumes or carry frightening horror stories with them in order to get your attention, but unmask them and they are tiny aspects in need of love and acceptance in order to make you whole. All you have to do is the work directly presenting itself to you. Face the fear at hand and as you heal that shadow aspect you acquire more light. That is all ascension is! The acquisition of more and more light. And get this.....your shadow aspects are lined up in perfect order to be handled by the exact amount of light you have at any given moment to embrace and transmute them!

As I have shared before, creative energy is the primary tool I use in my shadow work process. A few years ago my artwork took a completely different direction. I began creating balanced totem like paintings built around a central core or 'spine'. From the moment I began creating these pieces they absolutely captivated me. Over time the larger paintings on canvas gave way to smaller and more intricate pieces. After creating a series of small works I felt compelled to paint miniature pieces that required a magnifying glass not only to paint, but to even be appreciated once the piece was finished. I didn't know at the time that this reduction in size was a very significant part of the series as a whole. Then one day my higher mind made me aware that the entire series of paintings from large to miniature tell the story of transmutation; bringing our shadow aspects into the Light of conscious awareness/awakening/expansion and healing. I will share this revelation in more detail in my next post along with several of the paintings. Until then I hope you embrace your shadows as the escorts they are into your individual ascension.

No Place Like Home

2015-08-25T09:54:00.001-05:00

I've been channeling artwork, poetry and guided messages for decades. Recently someone told me I was in direct communication with my ascended Lemurian aspect. While I know and trust the information I receive is coming from a higher aspect of my projected incarnation, there is no deep resonance with this 'Lemurian' reference. Though I have to admit there are a lot of aquatic references in my artwork, and with my deep love of the ocean, I can't deny water elements heavily influence me. But what has intrigued me more than anything about this topic of origins, is not so much the identification with ancient incarnations and lands, but my absolute lack of identification with anywhere in the here and now.

When a new job gave my guy an opportunity to move south, I campaigned for the familiar; the county I was born and raised in. Now don't get me wrong, it's nice here and I have met really wonderful people and truly enjoy being closer to family I rarely got to see. But it really awakened me to the fact that no place ever 'feels' like home to me.....and I have lived in some beautiful places.....places people travel from all over the world to see and experience. Maybe it's my introversion but I have never been called to immerse myself in the culture or nature surrounding any area. In fact, I have never truly identified with life here on Earth. I don't 'get' third dimension thinking. Duality, judgment, competition, recognition, distraction, the huge gap between the have's and have not's, the palpable fear within diversity, the endless debates within politics...heck politics on any level just seems like some huge shell game to keep everyone focused on life in 'the matrix'. All the 'systems' in place seem designed for that very purpose.

The more I look at this the more I embrace the truth that Earth is not my home. It is simply where an aspect of me resides to further a mission my soul chose. When I look at my journey from being born into this dimension, indoctrinated with, and educated by broken belief systems that still persist, it's no wonder I shook myself awake from them through rebellion and the threat of isolation! It's the only thing that makes sense to me.

I figured out a long time ago that my work was to awaken myself from the illusions of this world. And with that awakening came the guidance and channeling that led me deeper and deeper into truths so profound that sharing them with anyone who has not begun the awakening process is impossible. I am grateful in my awakening to have found others on these roads less traveled. Perhaps we will return together one day to the place where we truly feel at home; distant stars, ruling planets, constellations which hold the guiding aspects that sustain us in this foreign land. Until then we will continue to shine enlightenment through questioning the status quo, refusing to participate in the shell games, and making art that reflects the truth of who we all truly are..... beings of light and love.

The Meaning Of Life and Creative Self Inquiry

2015-08-08T13:22:00.000-05:00

From a series of original paintings soon to be shared on DVD entitled Intentional Arts; A One Woman Show

The meaning of life is to plug into one's individual non-physical aspect and express themselves from that perspective of pure light. It took me almost sixty years, and no doubt countless lifetimes, but I finally uncovered that profound but simple truth. I say un-covered rather than discovered because it truly is an unveiling process. See, any knowledge gained from external sources or reasoning through conditioned perceptions is limited and therefore cannot be whole! The dependence on and attachment to these fragmented perceptions are the very thing that blocks ones infallible and personal non-physical guidance system! Spiritual self-inquiry not only offers the process of unveiling, it introduces you to your own personal guidance system! And it is as uniquely attuned to you as you are unique in this physical reality. As an artist creative energy was my spirituality. As I came to know it apart from 'making stuff', this powerful energy moved through me to clear away the blocks and opened me to direct guidance from my own non-physical aspect. I'm not talking about guides and angels, ascended masters or even God. I'm not advocating or discounting those relationships in the least. I am talking about something scientifically measurable within the energy spectrum of your physical and psychological being. That is, connecting with the non-physical aspect of your very soul, which is projecting the physical form you experience as your life in this physical reality. I am talking about establishing a direct channel of communication to your higher mind absent of intercessors or middle-men.

Recently I was with a woman who was born with the ability to see and interpret the non-physical energies associated with each person. She remarked that I was in direct communication with my soul aspect and that it spoke through me all of the time. I had been aware of this for years but it was a profound experience to have it acknowledged by someone who could actually see beyond the light spectrum most of us operate in. I also knew that this direct connection was the result of the creative self-inquiry work I had dedicated almost thirty years to. All your answers truly are within. And as for the questions that come at you about the meaning of life....they rise from the same source that waits to answer them....your soul.

I AM my art - Metaphysics And Creative Energy

2015-08-06T12:44:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted in a very long time because I have been involved in some profound changes in my life. These began just prior to the sudden and unexpected passing of my husband, Phil, in 2013 and have continued. This post is a 'coming out' of sorts to a community I have participated in predominately as an artist. To those who know me as a student of esoteric studies and lightworker, nothing I share here will be surprising, except for a recent decision. That is to merge these aspects publicly in order to share an expanded perspective on the use of creative energy. As a highly introspective introvert mine has been a deeply intimate journey. Were I not being guided to share my experiences with the profound connecting and healing aspects of creative energy I would be happy to remain cloistered away in my studio....in my own little corner, in my own little room.....so to speak. But I am being guided outward in a single direction, and the beginning of this transition is sharing with one another the two worlds I have learned and grown from.

As is true of most creative types, my passion for creativity has been with me since childhood. Also present was a pervasive curiosity that was insatiable, and like the small child that asks "why" without ceasing, this has continued throughout my life. Who we are, where we come from and what we are doing here was never far from my innermost thoughts. While it has been my life's mission to answer these seemingly unanswerable questions, I have not been alone in these quests. Until recently I had my partner, Phil since my mid thirties, and I am still embraced by a sisterhood I have had since my 40's who walk along side me in this journey toward spiritual awakening and metaphysical abilities.

As an artist I was always much more interested in creative energy itself rather than the media through which it was expressed, or the 'product' it produced. For quite some time I was perplexed as to why I had no interest in building a portfolio or artistic career. My association with shows, awards and publications was mostly at the urging of others or as part of group projects. Once I achieved these I noticed I carried a 'been there, done that' energy around that aspect of achievement. Recognition did little for me in the way of feeling 'accomplished'. What did bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment was the creative process itself. I was fascinated with the way creative energy moved through me and 'in-formed' me. Much of the time I was aware that I was simply the instrument through which creative energy moved. This is not an unusual experience for creative types either. In fact it is this active meditation aspect of art-making that has so expanded both the art and craft industry we have today. However, in my mid-thirties I was shaken to my core as some introspective questioning I had been doing was answered through creative energy in a most unusual way. I was literally awakened in the middle of the night, drawn to my studio in an almost trance like haze, and while I 'watched' from one vantage point, a huge painting was created from another vantage point...through me. As if this was not amazing enough, this was not the most profound aspect of this experience. Following hours that flew like minutes, I found myself on the sofa in my studio starring into this new piece of artwork while what I can only describe as downloads of non-physical communications filled me, healing and informing aspects of a fragmented self that I was not even aware of. While this type of 'direct communication' is common place for metaphysical practitioners today, it was not common place at that time, nor was it something I understood at all. But I knew it was good and I knew it was valuable.

With a background in counseling I was aware something profound and more alive than any psychological tool had been accessed and I would not rest until I fully understood it. From that day forward my prayer and my quest was to understand and align with this powerful energy, and this unequaled healing process. As I set out to understand the relationship among creativity, spirituality and self-actualization I did not realize the long and winding journey it would be. Now, almost thirty years later I can assure you it has not been without its rewards and gifts of the Spirit.

Because of this quest I have studied many energy healing modalities and even become certified in a few, however these can't begin to compare with the ongoing connection I have developed with Direct Knowledge through higher mind. Through channeled artwork and writings and daily instruction my awareness has grown profoundly. For those that have said to me with regard to spiritual matters..."Well, you just can't know"... I reply, "Oh yes you can! Once you drop all your stories and conditioning by plugging directly into the rest of yourself; your own personal non-physical aspect, you can know absolutely, profoundly and personally!" because that's how it works. The meaning of my life is to plug into my own Personal Guidance System and express myself from that perspective of pure light. And to all those who feel guided to focus their creative energy in the direction of spiritual awakening and metaphysical understanding I can only say that of all the beautiful things I have created, this awakening I continue to experience is truly my greatest work of art.....I AM my art!

And now this blog will reflect all that I am with regard to creative exploration, insight and expression. I will included channeled writings and esoteric revelations along with my artwork and shows centered on sharing all that is available through the medium of creative energy itself. I have included a page on the blog that shares my story in more detail ( I AM my art- The Metaphysical Application of Creative Energy). I have also updated my website where I share even more of the process of this that I call Intentional Arts. I invite you to explore these if you feel interested in knowing more. It is with gratitude that I thank the wonderful friends and teachers that have embraced me in both the creative an spiritual arenas. My journey would not be complete without both 'camps'.

Bird Inspired Sculptures

2014-09-04T15:00:00.000-05:00

In 2011 I began sculpting a series inspired by bird imagery. The first collection, some of which are depicted above, featured masks, tiny windows revealing glass beads inside that allowed the sculpture to double as a rattle. These were so popular that I continued to sculpt a new series each year for release just before the end of year holidays. Rather than sharing similar characteristics, the second group, some of which are pictured below, are more individual in nature.

The third group, pictured below, has probably been my favorite to date. I chose to have them look as though they could have just been unearthed, from an archeology site. Again I went back to the concept of similarity among the designs...as though they were individual members of a shared species.

The popularity of these palmed sized creatures has been exciting to watch. I have begun to play around with the design for this years collection. I am thinking of doing them as couples. Two to a set, similar in design with more human faces. The first pair of these have winged their way to Memphis via my girlfriend and business partner. Watch for a posting of them once I get the flock finished.

Balancing Act

2014-09-03T15:19:00.003-05:00

Stacking rocks in Creede Colorado

It's been almost a year since my last post and nearing two years since being catapulted into the sudden and unexpected realm of widowhood. The loss of my husband was preceded two days before by the passing of my father and had me grieving the absence of the two most influential men in my life. This and standing in as a caretaker for my sweet sister/friend of more than 20 years as she battles the same diagnosis my Phil received (just a week following his diagnosis), has kept me very focused on the journey that is life. In all this I am grateful for my spiritual practice in A Course In Miracles and the teachings of those who assist me in awakening from the daily trances we call life rather than getting snagged and pulled under by them.

My work has sustained me and the journey into life anew has been filled with many gifts and insights. On the studio front much has happened, not the least of which was the loss of almost all my blog images. Fortunately the text portions remained and I have only to upload the associated imagery. This glitch however has given me the opportunity to rethink the blog-sphere and how I want to use it. Instead of different blogs for different media, I have decided to create one space for sharing my work in textiles, painting, and sculpture. This will take quite a bit of cutting and pasting...and more than a bit of editing, but I hope to have it done this week. My poetry and prose blog will remain in tact at www.susanstorey.blogspot.com.

I am happy to report that my life has filled with wonderful new experiences and several months ago a very special someone came along to share it all with. A fellow artist, he and I have found a lifestyle that embraces the lives we created before meeting, while supporting the one ahead we intend to nurture together. From time to time I'll post some of his studio work just to lend a glimpse into the fascinating realm I am privileged to live in each and every day.

My own work continues to evolve as does my creative process within the series of paintings I have shared thus far. Hopefully I'll get some new work posted soon. To all those who have embraced me in the last two years with prayers and extensions of kindness I love and thank you so very much. My life has been filled with a depth of understanding and compassion that only times of loss can usher in. My friends and family have been truly a Godsend! I love you all.

The quilt below was a group project that I worked on just before Phil learned of his illness. My proposal to the group of this subject matter was perhaps a foreshadowing of the balancing act my life was about to become. The top photo is reflective of a full circle journey, stacking real rocks in Creede Colorado on what would have been our 22nd wedding anniversary.

Pretty Little Mini-Quilts book

2012-10-30T17:39:00.000-05:00

When Lark Books invited me to submit work for two publications, both entitled Pretty Little Mini Quilts, I selected three from my American Family Album series. Since many of the quilts in that series are larger than required for this book, I went to my 'Snapshot' section of that series. I based these little gems on two non-professional style photographs; the old photo-booth style pics or snapshots taken by family or friends. I love the 'posed' nature within these otherwise casual moments. Lark chose the piece entitled 'Portrait of Velma'. An avid quilter before she lost the majority of her eyesight, Velma was my fathers mother. I was especially thrilled that this was their choice. Commemorating a loved one in these little art-quilts portrays the subject beyond the image in the photo; the personality and idiosyncrasies truly come through. And while all my pictorial art-quilts do this in some way or another, these little ones offer a type of fine-focus aspect that larger more complex works don't invite. Measuring 12" wide by 17" in length and heavily embellished with beading, embroidery and of course quilting, I loved doing these so much that a new series has emerged. Entitled 'Snapshots' this work eventually moved beyond my own family photos and commissioned works, now including any found snapshots that captivate my imagination. Only one problem....so many photos, so little time! :)

Affordable and whimsical, if you are new to commissioning art work, or new to art-quilts, these are often a good place to engage the process. My 'Snapshot' art-quilts are so popular in fact that I now offer gift certificates for those wanting to introduce friends and family to this wonderful unexpected art form. In my next blog post I'll feature a few more from my last American Family Album exhibit.... just to share the fun of these tiny textile treasures.

Something A Little Fishy

2012-08-06T16:15:00.000-05:00

Tsukineko Ink on pale Batik fabric,

here is the work at the drawing stage.

From the drawing board....literately! Since drawing is my first love, bringing my sketches to life in hand drawn art-quilts is always fun. I wanted to post a few 'before' pictures to share the drawing part of the process before I move to the quilting stage. This drawing was done with blue Tsukineko ink on a piece of pale cotton batik fabric and measures 40" wide by 18" tall. I have a bit more painting to do, but only deepening blue of the border. A few other colors will be added in the quilting and embellishment, but for the most part this will be a monochromatic piece resembling a carved relief.

When I began painting this piece all I had worked out was the woman and fish. I drew those onto paper first, then transferred them to the fabric with a pencil. Because I prefer to work intuitively rather than have everything planned out, the rest of the image evolved from my imagination as I painted around these central figures. Above is a detail photo. The background will recede a bit more because I plan to quilt it with dark thread. This will allow the figures to be featured even more, and they will be quilted with lighter threads. I'll be posting the finished piece as soon as I have it's done

BELOW:

The quilting completed and the facing applied, I have chosen the title, 'Something A Little Fishy' for this title of this new piece. As you can see I made a few changes to the right side of the drawing before quilting. I felt that darkening the right border to match the left helped balance the piece better. A bit of beading and embroidery will finish it off. But first...a few detail images to give you a better look at the free motion quilting....

The finished piece and detail images.

New Venue

2012-08-06T16:10:00.000-05:00

I am so pleased to be included as one of the artists at the new venue in Houston, Sparrow and the Nest. I have chosen this wonderful space to preview a new series and am also offering some original ink paintings from my Zen Stones series exclusively at Sparrow and the Nest. Stop by their website for a peek and if you are in Houston it's well worth your time to check out this treasure of a shop. The owner, Stephanie Lienhard is such a visionary. Offering only artisan crafted items in every price range, she truly supports the 'handmade' movement and gives everyone the opportunity to own and collect one of a kind pieces of art and treasures for the home.

The Bee Holder

2012-05-09T16:47:00.002-05:00

The Bee Holder, art-quilt 30.5"x30.5"
This piece was purchased by the University of Houston and
hangs in the University of Houston Women's Resource Center.

Picasso meets Klimt was the initial inspiration behind the imagery of this art-quilt. However, as the work evolved I began to receive symbolic nudges. Thinking about beauty being in the eye of the beholder, the phrase 'bee holder' flashed into my mind and I was off to research symbolism associated with the bee. I learned that just one of the many associations was 'right use of creativity and imagination'. That did it! I adjusted my pattern to include two arms wrapped around the woman's knees rather than one, and placed a vintage bee stickpin between her thumb and fore finger. The orange hair, which was part of the original design, fit perfectly with the representation of creativity as orange is the color of the chakra associated with creativity.

Update: Purchased by U of Houston in the fall of 2013!!!

Journey Women

2012-05-08T16:38:00.003-05:00

Journey Women,(aka Blue Lady) 12"x30" art-quilt

It was great fun designing and executing this piece and it has proved to be the jumping off point for several works in this style that feature women as the main subject. Upon completion I intuitively heard the name of my closest friend. Then I saw how much the figure resembled her. Synchronistically, the flower symbolism also represented her family. Therefore it seemed only fitting that this piece hang in her home.

Deep In The Heart

2012-04-12T16:58:00.001-05:00

Deep In The Heart, this entire piece was created using only one fabric, manipulated with ink and fused to the dark black background.

Homesick for the star studded country sky that eludes me in the city, I was inspired to bring the feel into my studio. The title is a nod to the song lyrics "The stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas." However, no matter how many photos I take they just don't convey the feel of this art-quilt in person. The realism of the tree bark was achieved by shading a single print fabric that I cut into this interesting twisted branch. A handful of multifaceted crystals are scattered among tiny silver seed beads to suggest the stars in the night sky. They twinkle and gleam as it is viewed from different areas and that adds such a dimension of interest and fun. This 3-D quality creates quite an illusion when viewed in person. This piece has inspired a nature/woodlands series that I am considering exploring in the next year or so.

Joy Unwrapped

2011-12-15T12:10:00.000-06:00

Meet Joy Unwrapped..a tiny Christmastime sketch that spilled out my pencil.

There is nothing as relaxing as spending my time curled up on the sofa, drawing the day away. Preferring to discover what wants to emerge, I rarely have anything in mind when I draw. This is how I spent Christmas, and this sweet girl is what became of my efforts. I have named her Joy.

I think she presented herself as if to validate the part of me that stands back from the whirl-d around me this time of year. Being one that prefers peace and quiet over hustle and bustle, her stoic posture almost surely reflects my withdrawal more than twenty years ago from traditional celebration. Her silly hat and untied ribbons represent the part of me that believes we are each the gift we must unwrap in order to find true joy. Her crossed arms reflect her firm stance in the determination to know herself beyond all distraction.

But the real gift she brings me is the inspiration to create a series juxtaposing serious portraiture against whimsical adornment. I am not sure of the media I will use but it will be fun figuring it all out.

Happy holidays everyone!