The 2022 book bingo reading challenge

Read more, read widely in 2022!

The 2022 book bingo reading challenge

I’ve really enjoyed hosting the book bingo challenge these last two years, and have been blown away by how many of you joined in! Thank you for all of your comments, emails and Instagram DMs through the year — I loved being a part of your reading journey! And of course, I’m hosting the book bingo challenge again in 2022!

Read on for all the details, changes, and additions this year.

Continue reading

The ultimate New Year gift guide

Thoughtful and quirky gifts and experiences that support small, sustainable businesses

Ultimate new year gift guide supporting small sustainable businesses

With the end of the year fast approaching, it’s time to start planning your Christmas and New Year gifts! Be it for Secret Santa at work, stocking stuffers for family, or thoughtful gifts for close friends, choosing the right gift makes all the difference. And if you’re like me, worried about stepping outdoors due to a pesky new virus variant, why not try shopping from the comfort of your home?

You don’t have to buy boring, unimaginative gifts either. Instead, I’ve put together some thoughtful, quirky, whimsical gift ideas, all of which also support small, sustainable businesses. In my book, that’s always a win!

Continue reading

December 2021: Tarot spread for the new moon in Sagittarius

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast, exploration of the the Sabian symbol, mini ritual, and additional resources for the December 2021 new moon in Sagittarius.

Tarot spread for the December 2021 new moon in Sagittarius

The December 2021 new moon falls in the sign of Sagittarius. The freedom loving Sagittarius archetype is in a constant search for inspiration, new avenues of exploration, and adventure. This is a sign that gets bored of the status quo easily, and needs the rush of a new quest to keep them on their toes.

Spiritually, the Sagittarius archetype teaches us to cultivate our own personal relationship with the divine. Contrary to what most religions and a lot of spiritual teachers say, you don’t need an intermediary between you and Source/God/the Universe. You have that connection available to you at all times. Learning to tune in and trust that connection is where a lot of us seem to stumble, though.

Continue reading

How information overload hampers your creativity

On the infinite scroll, inbox overwhelm, and the importance of conscious consumption to creative living

On this episode of the Art with Soul podcast, we talk about information overload, how it impacts your creativity and your art, and how to create healthy boundaries around how much information you consume vs how much you create. Let’s get into it!

Continue reading

An ode to the owl: a mytho-philosophical exploration of owl symbolism

A prose poem, plus an exploration of the symbolism of the owl through the lens of Indian mythology, philosophy & spirituality

Owls in Indian mythology, symbolism of owls, and a prose poem on owls

There’s something about owls —
mysterious creatures of the night,
their golden eyes, staring unblinkingly
into the shape shifting shadow
and then lightning quick —
they pounce.
fear, like a mouse, held firmly in their talons.

Continue reading

November 2021: Tarot spread for the full moon in Taurus

Tarot spread for the November 2021 full moon in Taurus

The November 2021 full moon falls in the sign of Taurus. The Taurus archetype is grounded and steadfast, calm and composed, firm and also somewhat stubborn. This is a sign that is practical and earthy, and is associated with material pleasures, desires, luxuriousness, and abundance.

Spiritually, the Taurus archetype teaches the principle of belonging through presence…our presence as sacred human beings…honouring the body temple…honouring the flow of life. This can be difficult given the society we live in, which praises the hustle over reverence and treats time as money rather than a finite resource that should be used wisely in the pursuit of the things that give us meaning.

This month, we also have a lunar eclipse, which will be visible from the Americas, North Europe, eastern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. Lunar eclipses typically help us to release things that no longer serve us. The seeds that you planted six months ago, at the solar eclipse, will also start to blossom around this time.

Continue reading

On my art table: Urban jungle

An abstract urban landscape painting and a prose poem

Abstract painting urban landscape

What a miracle you are
sweet little pea
pushing your way resolutely up
through that sidewalk crack.

There’s no one quite like you
in close vicinity —
you look around you
at all the sidewalks
and all the sidewalk cracks
as far as your eye can see.

You realize that you’re all alone
oh no, not alone — unique
swaying with the slight breeze
that swirls around your tiny leaves
beaming up at the sun
as it kisses your tiny petals
at the dog who walks around you
wondering at this tiny, fragile thing
that stands there so sure
so delighted at the simple joy
of being here
of being alive
of just being

Follow my art on Instagram!

Continue reading

November 2021: Tarot spread for the new moon in Scorpio

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast, exploration of the the Sabian symbol, and additional resources for the November 2021 new moon in Scorpio.

Tarot spread for the November 2021 new moon in Scorpio

The November 2021 new moon falls in the sign of Scorpio. The Scorpio archetype is known for its intense power and its ability to transform, much like the butterfly emerging from its cocoon, ready to fly. The Scorpio archetype isn’t afraid of the birth-death-rebirth cycle, for it is only when parts of us die and are reborn that we can fully transform.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that spiritually, the Scorpio archetype teaches us to surrender – to align our human will with divine will. It can teach us that sometimes our human trials can reveal a need for deep healing. This is not always easy to live with or to understand, especially when the need for healing arises from trauma, and yet on the other side of working with and healing trauma there can be deep and valuable transformation.

Continue reading

The messy middle: dealing with an artist block

Peeling back the layers on my own creative block.

The messy middle: dealing with an artist's block. Creative block

On this episode of the Art with Soul podcast, we talk about how to deal with an artist’s block. As I record this episode, I’m firmly in the middle of a creative block. So I decided to peel back the layers and open up about why I think I am feeling blocked, and what I am doing during this fallow time. I hope it will prove to be of value, especially if you are in the middle of a creative block too. I see you!

Continue reading

On my art table: Family lines

And the legend of The Red Thread

Intuitive figurative painting family lines

Color. All of my paintings start with an exploration of riotous color. And marks. And scratching into paint. Painty play.

From those initial layers, images emerge. With the stories that they want to tell.

My job is to find those images. To listen to the pieces of their story that they share with me as I paint.

Continue reading