Art has huge transformational potential I have discovered! It seems like an obvious statement as it’s hard to not get touched emotionally when visiting an art gallery, however how many of us actually give ourselves time to create art for ourselves?
Well I have just had the pleasure of collaborating with Brighton based artist and friend, Meriel Nicoll, who leads groups through a journey she calls “Process Painting”. We joined together and held a 7 day retreat at Rural Escapes Portugal, where she led a group of women through this process and I taught yoga based on the themes that came up in during the day.
The week was extraordinary in many ways. As a participant I felt as if the paint and brushes were leading me on a journey. I never thought about what I was going to paint, instead I let the paint, paper, brushes and paper speak to me. At first it was the colours I was drawn to – yellows and oranges smiled at me as I approached the art table.
My first strokes were abstract, splashes and strokes and swirls covered the paper joyously. I then added more paper and greens, blues and turquoise beamed at me tempting me with their depth. Again I found myself creating an abstract picture of brush strokes and swirls.
Then the word yoni appeared in my mind – I knew instantly that I had to paint a yoni – this was bizarre for me as it’s not something that I would want to paint, or even know how to paint. But it was a clear message. So I got out of my head and let the paint and brushes lead the way. The more I painted the more an image appeared.
Finally on the last day I began to paint the face. At first I thought she was going to be wild Kali with tongue sticking out and a necklace of skulls, but as I painted a peaceful face appeared, a face I could only describe as the Buddha. I call her Buddhalala.
I looked at Buddhalala and instantly recognised her innocence, her curiosity, her depth, her lack of judgement or concern of others judging her.
I could see her connection to life – her legs representing the forests, the vegetation, the food we eat, her hair representing the sun and the fire of life, sustaining us, driving us, our passion. Her face representing the sky, the universe, our dreams, our peace, our connection.
She (my painting) is still unfinished, I feel I could paint her for the rest of my life. When I look at her I see the birther and protector of life, I see the divine feminine, the Goddess. I see that she is in all of us – female and male – there is no separation, there is no end and no beginning, there is only awakening into consciousness. She reminds me to remember this truth and that I (and all) will feel at peace in that knowing.
Hari Om Tat Sat!
If you want to join Meriel and I for our next retreat in 2020 then please email me and I will add you to the list (date to be confirmed) info@ruralescapesportugal.com
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