On my art table: The Buddha’s Blessings + a speed painting video

Sometimes, I come to the painty table to play; at others, to relieve stress. Sometimes, I approach my art practice as therapy; at other times, I allow my emotions to direct my colour choices and mark making. And sometimes, I come to the page with deep reverence and to give gratitude for the many blessings in my life.

This was one of those times.

I’ve long wanted to paint a Buddha, but I didn’t want to paint Him with the usual peaceful face and closed eyes - you know the kind of Buddha painting I’m talking about, right? The ones that you find hanging in most home interior stores - pale blues and calm yellow tones, with a huge Buddha face, eyes closed, a serene look on His face.

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Unboxing The Mystical Shaman Oracle

I saw the Mystical Shaman Oracle cards on Amazon last month and fell in love with them. There was something about the imagery that really spoke to me, and despite my best intentions of not buying any tarot or oracle cards for at least six months, I clicked on the purchase button quicker than you can say “Hey presto!”.

Then followed a wait of a couple of weeks - not only was the deck on pre-order, it would be shipping from the US. As I waited for them to wing their way to me somewhat impatiently, I was also berating myself for not being able to resist the siren song of a shiny new deck of cards.

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In pursuit of passion: India’s first DIY woodworking instructor

I have written before against the popular trend towards quitting your day job to follow your passion, and about defining success on your own terms. But behind this clarity, as is always the case, was a lot of confusion. Books helped a lot when it came to finding my answers, as did long discussions with the husband, who is uniquely qualified to talk on the subject. He is a living, breathing example of someone who has always followed his passion.

His first passion – for sports, and more specifically tennis, he converted into his day job. He’s been teaching lawn tennis since over 25 years, so he is intimately familiar with both the ecstasy and the agony of making your passion into your day job {which is possibly a post for another time!}Continue reading→

Why books have forever scarred my life

Why books have forever scarred my life: the hero's call and dramatic expectations of change

I’ve always been a voracious reader. Growing up, I was the nerdy kid who could be found with her nose in a book. I spent most of my summer holidays lost between the pages of a novel, imagining myself in different worlds and far flung places; fighting heroic battles and going off on adventurous quests.

For a long time – longer than I care to admit – I was somewhat disappointed that my life was never as heroic or dramatic as all my imagined lives were, when I was growing up. I’ve had my share of adventures and gone through periods of intense change, yes, but the plot lines have been messy, and the trajectory has been slow and incremental. There have been no dramatic twists and turns, no neat tying in of my existential anxieties to create an epic story of my personal transformation.Continue reading→

Tarot reading for May 2018

I don’t know about you guys, but April has been super busy for me! I have no idea where this month has flown, and what do you know, we are in the fifth month of 2018 already! How is time flying so fast?

Anyhow. Without further ado, here’s your Tarot reading for May 2018.

Tarot reading for May 2018

Remember, this is a general Tarot reading for May, and my intention with this one was: What do my blog readers need to know this month.Continue reading→

The power of a daily practice

The power of a daily practice: lessons learnt at the painty table

I think it’s no secret that acrylics are my favourite art medium. I love the ability to texture and layer, to leave hidden messages and power symbols buried under layers of luscious paints. These characteristics of acrylics also make them a much more involved medium to work in: I can spend days fiddling with layers and styles; etching and writing; fixing and tweaking. And while I love it, I also wanted to explore the whimsicality of quicker illustrations and fewer layers of paint.Continue reading→

Tarot reading for April 2018

I have to admit, I’m kinda sad to see the end of March. I absolutely loved the energy of the month, as I spent some time every single day at the painty table. Ah, how that makes my heart sing! I’ve also made excellent progress with my oracle card deck; now, I need to take a bit of a pause and see what elements are missing from making it a cohesive deck. As I put the deck to the test, I thought it would be fun to use them for your Tarot {rather Oracle} reading for April! This month we have a 2-card spread, that tells us what to embrace and what to release.

Remember, this is a general Tarot reading for April, and my intention with this one was: What do my blog readers need to know this month.Continue reading→

Journey of a seeker: Devotion as a spiritual practice

Devotion: what images does the word conjure up for you?

Until about a decade ago, it brought to mind images of the prayer room at home, of the temple I visited as a child, the church I sought refuge in during my teenage years when I was looking for peace.

Over the years, though, this image has changed. Devotion, for me, is no longer limited to prayer; it has become much vaster and deeper than that.

For me, devotion is about the tending of the flame: being deeply aware of my own needs and desires, inner impulses and self care. Because it is only when I am nourished and looked after on the inside that I can devote myself to the outside.Continue reading→

Making magic: Creating my second oracle card deck

how to make an oracle or tarot card deck If you’ve been dropping by here since a while {thank you!}, you may remember that I was creating a set of oracle cards in March last year. You can catch up with that post here, if you missed it.

It was an exciting project, and instead of the 30 cards that I had planned to create, I ended up making a 45-card deck with a fully functional guide book! Kristen is hosting the Create the Oracle Deck Challenge again this year, and I am busy working on my second deck of oracle cards. I would never have believed this last year – that I’d have another deck living inside me, waiting to be born into the world!Continue reading→

Tarot reading for March 2018

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad to see the end of February! The month has been marked with allergy attacks and a general sense of discontent, but March blew in with a breath of fresh air. Maybe some of it has to do with the fact that the month started with a four-day weekend, most of which I have spent at the painty table! Anyhoo! Without further ado, here’s your tarot reading for March 2018.

Tarot reading for March 2018

Remember, this is a general Tarot reading for March and my intention with this one was: What do my blog readers need to know this month.Continue reading→