I came across some unfinished sketches I started, so I finished them.

I wanted to share this recent creation that’s keeping me inspired and focused.

Since the beginning of the year I’ve had just had too many things going on and trying to keep track of them was making me crazy. I have found this to help me a great deal I call it my Vision and Inspiration board. On the left side I have a my projects all lined up, shamanic, art, writing and a few mundane. Then on the Right side I have inspiration, inspiring symbols, quotes and a painting gifted to me from my boy friend. In the center I have my manifesting heart with 3 projects placed inside as my main focus to be completed.

Above the board is a painting I did after doing a journey in which I asked Spirit, what am I here to do? I was shown this image. In the circles where there are words I saw images of myself doing each of those things. This painting keeps me focused on the things that matter to my Heart.

Not only is it a great way to keep focused and inspired, it’s helping me generate new ideas for future projects. The board helps me to not try and do everything right now. To plan my time better. If you are having a hard time focusing on projects try creating something fun where you easily and gently remind yourself when life happens.

]]> http://wildmanstudio.com/?feed=rss2&p=2710 0 http://wildmanstudio.com/?p=2710 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WildmanStudio/~3/AlOXVxAH4Hs/ http://wildmanstudio.com/?p=2697#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:31:42 +0000 West http://wildmanstudio.com/?p=2697

Underworld ©1992 J. W. Hardin

Wow, it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve been able to get to the blog. It’s been a very active beginning of the year and it seems like this whole year could turn out this way.

My day job has been busier than usual and art, writing, and healing projects are all consuming my spare time it seems. But I have been good about making down time for play and socializing, can’t make it all seem like work.

This past weekend was another shamanic apprenticeship class, can’t believe I only have 2 more sessions, Vision Quest in June and final class in August. Then I will be able to do the 3 year advance apprenticeship. This past weekend we did psychopomp work. Psychopomp means guide for the dead. I have done death-walking in the past, it’s fulfilling work.

This past weekend was very fulfilling and I experienced something profound, that I’m still reflecting on. As a reference, shamanic journeying is sending our soul out of the body into the Lower, Middle and Upper Worlds where we explore and learn about whatever we set our intent on. Shamanic healing and shamanic work of most any kind is all spiritual healing work coming from the souls journeying. This past weekend was the first time I witnessed my soul and then felt my ego as separate. I was doing pychopomp work with a relative in a shamanic journey, it was a clear experience, I was compassionate and articulate doing the work with this other soul. Then I felt a tear run down my cheek and that brought me back to my body for a moment and that is when I experienced my ego as separate from my soul. My ego was experiencing loss and sadness and my soul was over joyed to be of service to another soul who I loved.

That experience of the 2 different feelings and seeing myself as more than just my body and experiences in the here and now has really opened up new doors of perception. I now have a reference point for ‘letting go.’

I’ve done a few sketches form this weekend and have added to my list of art projects a series of soul/psychopomp images.

Last week I sent in my Sketchbook Project sketchbook. I had a lot of fun doing. I came to the conclusion while doing all these sketches that I really enjoy drawing trees and landscapes. Especially, when I add in the faces and spirit beings.

Next, I’m going to rework these sketches and then make some watercolor paintings based on them. I might not do them all, but there are several I really like how they turned out.

I had a lot of fun and think I might do it again.

I come to the realization this morning that something is bothering me. I’m started making more work for myself to distract myself from the work I already have to do that’s actually more important and in alignment with who I am.

This is typical behavior for myself when I get stressed about doing something that provokes fear in me. I have a few projects that are doing just that, there are parts of these projects that push me beyond what I think I’m capable of. So to make it impossible to accomplish I create more work in other areas of my life and tell myself these are just as important and spread myself as thin as I can so I have reason to fail. Because that is easier than being successful.

It’s funny how we wish for things to be a certain way and Spirit responds, and starts opening the doors so we have the opportunity to reach out and make the wish come true. But then doubt and fear step in clouding things up, am I worthy of making this come true? Do I have the skills and know how?

Of course, I am worthy and I do know how to make it happen. But if I do it, then it’s real.

I need to step back an refocus on the work at hand and not create new work right now. Focus and rededicate myself to the tasks at hand. I am worthy of being successful and I have the knowledge I need to do it.

Sneak peek at my sketchbook project.

This year I didn’t make any resolutions or lists of goals for the new year. I’m simply going to be more committed to the work I’m already doing.

This month is already been very busy with work and projects at home. Wrapping up my contribution to the Sketchbook Project. I’ve really enjoy working on it. In fact I might rework some of the sketches and make some paintings from them. More on this in future post, but pic in this post is sneak peek from “A mostly imagine hike through Highbanks Park.”

I’m also busy with shamanic work, I’ve come to the conclusion that shamanic work creates more shamanic work to be done, it’s never ending and continually growing work. Spirit will give you as much work to do as they think you can handle. I’ve got a lot of work to do, ha!

I’m getting a lot of requests for teaching Reiki. It’s been several years since I’ve taught a Reiki class. I really do enjoy teaching, I especially love teaching about Reiki, healing and energy work. I’ll be posting more as things get firmed up for where and when, but I expect to teach Reiki 1 and Reiki 2 this year.

One of the other things I’m committing to more is being aware of when I feel creative to do the creative work I have. I’m also creating ritual around being creative, specific times during the week I show up to do the work regardless of whether or not I feel like being creative. One of the triggers for creativity for myself is photography. I find that if I’m not really feeling like painting or drawing, if I pick up my camera and go outside or even in the apartment start taking photos, it inspires me to be creative and get to drawing and painting. I’ve got a lot of creative projects in the works.

Ash Cave Waterfall © J. W. Hardin

Reality is only as rigid as you want it to be. I can say science tells me X=X or my religious book says X=X, it’s rigid, safe and secure. Imagination and creativity allows for X≠X, for the possibility that X can be anything in an instant. When I allow for the unknown, that quite simply anything can happen, this gives my imagination and creativity even further reach. When something unexpected happens it’s an opportunity to make my reality bigger than I could imagine. To reach farther, to change completely, to be something new and different. But in order for the unknown to have a space in my reality I must be willing to be wrong. If I’m not willing to be wrong then I will stay in the X=X world and the unknown will go about it’s business.

If you are wanting to transform your life, you need to be able to be wrong. The only one that has something to lose is our ego, so why not take a chance and be wrong. Be land flat on your face wrong, right into a cream pie the whole world is laughing at you wrong.

How bad do you want to change? Are you willing to let it go and be wrong?

Snow Raven © 2011 J. W. Hardin

2011 has been a year where I’ve become clear about myself. Clear about what I want in my art, my relationships and life.

I would say that most of this has been coming up and changing me through the work being done in my shamanic apprenticeship. It’s been a lot of work learning about myself and what makes me tick. Learning to be a better person. I’m extremely grateful for my teachers and fellow apprentices.

I’ve released a lot this year, and I’m still working on releasing more. Released expectations of people and allowed them to be themselves, well this is still a work in progress with some people, but making the effort. One of the most memorable message I got from Spirit was “Love people where they are at.”

I became more clear about my art and my style and the work I wish to move forward with. I struggled with this one. I see what others do and how they do it and I would want to do it that way as a means of fitting in. When I have a my own art style and need to focus on that and keep growing and refining that and not someone else’s style of doing things.

I’ve let go of many physical possessions this year, things I didn’t need anymore, things that had lost their meaning or usefulness to me. I still have some more to do around this letting go, a bit at a time. It’s nice having less, it allows me to focus on what I need to focus on.

I became very clear about what I was looking for in a love relationship. This came up repeatedly through out the year in healing work and in intuitive readings. I had to become very honest with myself, do some forgiving and then I had to let it all go. Let go of the expectations and allow the universe to bring me together with someone if it was meant to be. Then I met Robert and we are crazy for each other.

It’s been a great year and 2012 is looking like a good year to continue manifesting the things I’m become clear on. I hope your new year brings you everything you need.

A lot of internal work going on this December. I’m preparing for the coming year which is promising to be an amazing year already.

I only have a couple days left at my day job for the year. Then I have just over 2 weeks off to let all the quiet percolating to come out and get expressed.

This website is one of things to get completely redone. I’m archiving the site as it is now and starting from scratch. I may find a place for some of the old posts.

New things, lots of new things in my life.

My Dreams have changed in the past month, I keep getting told in dreams to Dream bigger, to be bigger.

Doing everything I can to embrace that.