Color Drenched Dreams | Interview w/ Artist Gillian Keller of Enlightenment Barbie

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“Do anything, do something, do the first crazy thing that comes to mind.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Gillian Keller, an Artist, whose creations pour from deep wells of colorful visions and psychedelic wisdom. Connect with her on Instagram: @enlightenmentbarbie or www.enlightenmentbarbie.com Here is Gillian in her own words on her creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I work in so many mediums! Painting, collage, photography, and digital art are my main focuses as a professional artist, but recently I’ve been designing wearable art in the form of kimonos and outfits… and soon, I’ll be coming out with coats! Everything I make is colorful, spirited, bright, psychedelic… Basically I do my best to put my soul and my color drenched dreams into physical form. Why? I can’t help it! I think the one thing I am here to do is create. It brings me joy to create. And the things I create bring joy to others, which is a beautiful bonus. My mind gets filled with ideas and new ways to express them- if I didn’t create in some way, I might explode! Creating art is my celebration of life. But I mean, I also create in the way I move through the world, the people I meet and how I interact with them, the foods I cook, the environments I create- I think everyone’s life is inherently creative. We get to pick up our proverbial paint brushes and make marks across the canvas of reality that we walk through. Basically reality seems like a big interactive art performance to me! What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? Probably my own mind, actually. Especially the tendencies of my personality towards perfectionism and self judgment. If I am focused too much on perfecting a piece, or executing a particular element of a piece in the ideal or perfect way, I freeze and overthink my process, causing doubt and overly critical thinking, which halts all creative flow. And often the thing I’m trying to do turns out worse than it would have, if I had just flowed with it! Recently I taught myself a really simple practice, for when I run into that potentially perfectionist moment in the studio- I tell myself, “Don’t think, just do.”  And I try to take one deep breath, and draw myself back into the quality of play and imagination I embodied when I was a kid- and then, I just DO. Do anything, do something, do the first crazy thing that comes to my mind. It feels ridiculous at first! But, what ends up happening is a very spontaneous kind of, yeah, childlike creativity that feels free and loose, and results in the creation of something that is novel and unexpected. Way cooler than what the perfectionist would have come up with! Similarly, the self judgment piece can hinder my flow- I often have so many ideas that I wish there were two of me, just so I could get more done.  And I can tend to judge myself on the amount of great things I’ve managed to produce in my life, as compared to the amount of great ideas in my head that have never entered the physical world!   But I remind myself that I am only one human, at least in this physical incarnation, and I kinda have to be okay with that!  This same issue can cause me to become really obsessed with being prolific, even when I don’t feel very good- and when I push and push and push- it causes me to burn out.  Within the last few years, I have challenged myself to be okay with doing less, rather than more.  Even FORCE myself to do less!  Because ultimately I want my creative process to feel like a natural element of my life, not something that my life force is forcing! Haha.  If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? You’re not what you created yesterday. What I mean is that you’re not limited to the version of yourself that you hold in your awareness. Often times we go through the motions, living out our lives based on the specific person and personality that we have decided we are- based on life experiences, our reactions to them, our decisions and opinions, our styles and portfolios, etc… We can very easily pigeon-hole ourselves into a curated human being that others expect from us, and even that WE expect from us.  If you ever feel sort of stuck, or blocked, or claustrophobic- my best advice is to say “fuck it” and let the imaginary walls down for a minute– see what happens when you approach each new day as a brand new being- try drawing from the vast ocean of everything, rather than the limited “self” that you think you’re supposed to be. Because really, we ARE that vast ocean of everything, and always have access to it. A good friend of mine told me that anything I make is still my work, no matter what it looks like or how it’s made. Don’t be captive to expectations, and allow yourself to BE the experiment of life! What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? Well, for me, the reason I was able to start making the kind of audacious art that I make now stemmed from a crazy spiritual ZAP that happened to me, out of nowhere, back in 2013. I called it the Big Zing, because that’s what it felt like. It stripped all fear from me, and all I was left with was pure radiance. Which I guess you could say, gave me the courage to create with wildness… to go on a quest to make beautiful things until I die. Ultimately as the years …

Read more “Color Drenched Dreams | Interview w/ Artist Gillian Keller of Enlightenment Barbie”

Stitching Love & Joy into Fashion | Interview w/ Dressmaker Emma of Pin Clothing

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“To be able to express your personality with what you make and to be able to share that joy with others is an invaluable experience on which I thrive.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Emma, a dressmaker whose 15 year devotion to fashion that is fun, colorful and fearless has added tremendous joy to the world. Connect with Emma on her website at www.pinclothing.co.uk or Instagram @pinclothing.co.uk Here is Emma in her own words on the creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I make clothes because I want to be different, I don’t want to wear what’s in fashion or what the celebrities are wearing, I just want to wear clothes that are comfortable and that make me smile, simple.  Pin Clothing is an indie fashion brand that makes easy to wear, bright, fun clothing for the child at heart. Ever found an amazing garment but it’s in the kids section? Well Pin Clothing aims to fill that ‘dress like a children’s TV presenter’ gap in the fashion market. I love anything with a bright colour and a quirky print, the more random the better! I actively seek out the most amazing fabrics, sourcing pieces from all over the UK and Europe. If the fabric looks like I could find it made up as something on the high street – then it’s a no from me!  Pin Clothing is all designed, cut, sewn, marketed, packaged, and even dropped off to the post box by myself! I’m a self taught dress maker and I work from my studio in the heart of Northampton, and have been doing so for the last 15 years. I pride myself on the quality of my work and I’d never let something out into the wild that I wouldn’t be proud to wear myself. What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? As a creator, one of the biggest hurdles I face is staying focused on a single project for long stretches. I suspect this is from a long awaited ADHD diagnosis, my mind is constantly buzzing with new ideas, and sometimes a stray piece of fabric or interesting idea can pull me away from the task at hand. Another hurdle I sometimes encounter is translating those bursts of inspiration into finished products. While the initial spark might be strong, keeping myself organized and on track can be a challenge.   Prioritizing tasks, setting realistic deadlines, and managing my time effectively are all areas I’m actively working on improving. It can be frustrating at times, but I’m learning strategies to avoid creative chaos and ensure my projects see the light of day. What I rely on most to keep myself on track is a weekly schedule, which I would prepare the week before, with set time frames for certain tasks. The satisfaction of ticking tasks off of my schedule keeps me on track! If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? Embrace the spark, wrestle the chaos! ADHD can bring a constant stream of ideas, but struggle with focus. See this as a double-edged sword!  Capture those sparks with quick notes throughout the day, then at the end of the day, come back to them to make a proper plan for those ideas rather than instantly getting distracted by them throughout the day. Finished is better than perfect:  Don’t get bogged down in the pursuit of perfection.  Sometimes the best way to move forward is to simply get that idea out of your head and into the real world! You can always work on it more later. Find your tribe: Surround yourself with other creative minds who understand your struggles and celebrate your successes. An accountability partner or supportive community can offer invaluable encouragement and keep you motivated. I’m so lucky that I work from a studio inside an old shoe factory that’s also filled with other lovely creatives that we can bounce ideas off of, or connect over shared issues we face as creatives. Before this I was also a member of various local groups who would meet up regularly to network and share ideas! What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? It’s the joy of taking something raw, plain and uninspiring and turning it into something beautiful and useful. To be able to express your personality with what you make and to be able to share that joy with others is an invaluable experience on which I thrive upon. Want to connect with Emma? Check out Emma’s colorful and fearless fashions on: Instagram: @pinclothing.co.uk Website: Pin Clothing Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression? If you want to feel free to create from the heart, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.

The Value of Authentic Creation | Interview w/ Cosmic Antenna Brittney Monster

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“I am creating to set an example for others to show up authentically and to feel empowered through their own visions.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Brittney Monster, a Visual Artist, Poet, & Cosmic Antenna whose creations reflect the integration of shadow and lifelong journey to wholeness. Connect with Brittney Monster on Instagram: @brittneymonster and www.brittneymonster.com Here are Brittney Monster’s own words on the creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? My expression has evolved in so many ways over the last few years! I love to paint images from mythology, meditations and dreams with acrylics. With my small gouache and ink illustrations, I tap into a lighter, fun side of illustration. In my digital art, I get to enjoy collaborating with other people to make their visions come to life for their brands. Additionally, I am part of a writing group that explores ways to play with our creativity using poetry, visualization practices and sketchbooking. Juggling these forms of expression keeps me motivated, inspired and balanced in my production! Ultimately, I feel I am creating to set an example for others to show up authentically and to feel empowered through their own visions. What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? When I focus on an outcome or transactional expectation, I start procrastinating. I’ll clean the entire house, make up more chores to take me away from the project, and have emotional breakdowns. The key to balancing lies in creating without expectation, staying on course with my “Mission”, pushing through the pressure and remembering to play. Facing the Unknown with excitement, rather than fear. Practices that I actively nourish and cultivate, such as sweat lodges, moon phase rituals, monthly astrology check ins, community weaving, strength training, yoga… these consistent things get me back on track when I really derail. The art moniker I’ve chosen – “Brittney Monster”- is very much me and my shadow, integrating. If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? Never underestimate the power of your stories. The things you create have exceptional value. The joys of touching another’s heart while their journey seems dark outweigh the doubt, embarrassment and frustrations of your breakthroughs. What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? Creating with an awareness and responsibility to bring chaos into form. Want to connect with Brittney Monster? Check out Brittney Monster’s authentic creations on: Instagram: @brittneymonster Website: www.brittneymonster.com Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression? If you want to feel free to create from the heart like our featured Creator, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.

Life as a Collage of Divine Expression | Interview w/ Artist Liz Sanders

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“Creative expression is infused in every day I breathe and everything I do. We create our lives and our realities just as we put a paintbrush to canvas or pen to paper.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Liz, an artist whose creations channel a surreal and divine expression of life through colorful collage and paint. Connect with her on Instagram (@lizsanders_creates) or her online shop. Here is Liz in her own words on the creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? Visual expression has always been the spark at the core of my being. Marks, colors, creating with my hands fuels me with joy and cultivates deep connection. Right now, my visual art practice’s focus is collage and painting. The main series I’ve been working on is my “Collage Doodle” series. This series started as a way out of my creative block and into creative play. The colorful abstract compositions with some surrealism are windows into my subconscious. It’s been through many remixes starting with 5″x7″ collage compositions into a projection art installation and now into paint translations of the original collages. You can see in [the bottom half of the image below] the “Stairs to Starry Sight” painting of the “Stairs to Starry Sight” collage. I’ve also been working on a new series of abstract collages seen in [the next solo image] “Rainbow No. 1.” Early on in my creative journey, if I was asked about my creative expression I would have only talked about the visual artist part of me. When in reality, my creative expression expands so far beyond that facet of myself. Creative expression is infused in every day I breathe and everything I do. From cooking to dancing to holding myself in the hard moments and through riding the waves of life. I learned how vital my artistic expression is to my life force through years stuck in a creative block. I love to create because my soul needs it and craves it. I create because it’s my birthright as a Divine soul. I create because I am made as a reflection of the Great Creator. (Just as you are too!) What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? I spent many years disconnected from my artistic practice and I still get blocks to this day (like literally this week!). All sorts of things come up with blocks — fears, emotions, wounded parts, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, limiting beliefs — stuck energies. What helps me stay in alignment and flow is by first remembering that moments of clunkiness and feeling stuck are an inevitable part of the creative process. And in fact are what make the process so satisfying upon completion. And that through this challenge I will be transformed anew! I acknowledge it and send it love and compassion. Then, I have a whole list of rituals that I offer up to that wounded blocked part – sometimes she just needs to be seen and heard and other times she just needs to dance it out or write down all her thoughts or infuse the practice with play. What I seek to do is engage with the feeling, get to know it better and create space for flow. Additionally, I have routine practices that help me stay in flow like breathwork, meditation, body movement and sunlight. To sum it up simply: lots of compassion, being in conversation with what all parts of me need and self care. If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? Keep showing up! Not for the likes or the validation or whatever your ego may want, but for the inner child in you. For the deep desire of your soul to create. For the sheer joy of the process. Because it’s your birthright. Because it’s your power. Because it’s your freedom. And when you live in your fullest expression, you give permission to everyone else to lean into their authentic expression too. What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? Being an Awakened Creator means that you are awakened to the greatest power within you – your creativity. That we are each our own Divine beings with souls meant to create. This practice is one of deep spiritual communion. Connecting the seen and unseen worlds. Converting figments of thoughts, ideas, and energy into something tangible. We are all receivers of creative energy — ready to be awakened and cleared so that we can channel Divine expression. It’s not just a practice of “art” but also a practice of “life.” We create our lives and our realities just as we put a paintbrush to canvas or pen to paper. Your creativity is infinite and it seeps into every aspect of living. Want to connect with Liz? Check out Liz’s divine creations on: Instagram: @lizsanders_creates Her Online Shop: Liz Sanders Studios Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression? If you want to feel free to create from the heart, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.

Letting the Music Speak for Itself | Interview w/ Music Artist & Producer Leash Da BEAAST

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“I have the hardest time expressing myself, so music and poetry are my mediums for expression.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Leash Da BEAAST, a music artist & producer, whose rhymes and beats speak volumes of unspoken words straight from the heart. Connect with her on Bandcamp, Instagram @beaastonthebeat and @unlisse_productionsllc , or TikTok: @beaastonthebeat Here is Leash Da BEAAST in her own words on her creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I love to create music and content surrounding it. Music is my escape from the outside world, and my therapy for coping with my anxiety and depression. I have the hardest time expressing myself, so music and poetry are my mediums for expression. https://weareawakenedcreators.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/4.mp4https://weareawakenedcreators.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/6.mp4 What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? Sometimes, I do find myself comparing where I am in my journey and my successes to others via social media. This causes me to lose confidence within myself and my craft temporarily. That is when I take a break from social media, constantly remind myself of my accomplishments thus far, and also remind myself even the most difficult times are necessary in my journey and development. And it helps me to embrace the darkness more. If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? DON’T let anyone dictate how YOUR art should be depicted. You do what feels right to you whenever it comes to your art or anything you desire in life. https://weareawakenedcreators.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/8.mp4https://weareawakenedcreators.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2.mp4 What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? Being an Awakened Creator means being fully aware of your artistic capabilities, your triggers, your solutions, your everything. And embracing every quality about yourself, good and bad. Want to connect with Leash Da BEAAST? Check out Leash Da BEAAST’s honest lyrical creations on: Bandcamp: https://leashdabeaast.bandcamp.com/  Instagram: @beaastonthebeat and @unlisse_productionsllc  TikTok: @beaastonthebeat Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression? If you want to feel free to create from the heart like our featured creator, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.

Tapping Nature’s Wellspring of Inspiration | Interview w/ Visual Artist D Valenzuela

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“The way things work in harmony in nature and the fact that nothing goes to waste is so inspiring. The tiniest things often hold the most magic.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on D, a Visual Artist, whose appreciation for nature’s inspirations, big and small, has opened a wellspring of creative biodiversity.  Connect with D at her website, Etsy shop, and Instagram: @daydreamn.d Here is D in her own words on her creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I am inspired by my surroundings and the natural world. The tiniest things often hold the most magic. Drops of dew on fungi, snails with their intricate shells, different textures of moss and lichen, worms and the way they wiggle. The way things work in harmony in nature and the fact that nothing goes to waste is so inspiring. I often think of my childhood and time spent exploring outside in Colombia during the summers. Catching frogs, watching rain gather, all of the vibrant greens. My abuela’s paintings and creations molded space in my mind for so much wonder. Having children has reawakened that childlike sense of wonder and it’s a gift to be able to be amazed by such small, simple things. I feel I can never run out of inspiration because I know where to look when my well is running dry. What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? My own mind often gets in my way. I overthink my process, or sometimes the way I present it. Imposter syndrome sets in and I wonder to myself what I am trying to gain out of sharing my art. I think social media is such a double edged sword. On the one hand, we are so lucky to have it at our disposal and make connections with people from all over the world. We can reach so many eyes and hopefully, hearts. On the other hand, we can find ourselves in a nasty comparison war, fixated on numbers and trying to appease an ever changing system. It’s such a crazy dance. But I think when you find community, the good outweighs the bad. You support each other and stand together in solidarity. You bounce ideas back and forth and get honest feedback. You water each other and cheer one another on as you grow at different paces. It’s beautiful, really. When I’m feeling out of alignment, I often think of my future self, my past selves, my ancestors, my children, looking at me where I am at in any given moment. And no matter what stage I am at, I know they’re proud that I am brave enough to silence my fears and chase my bliss.   If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? Don’t allow yourself to be defined by your own ideas. Learn to become flexible, allow yourself to suck at something new, and actively try to engage in the art community that you find supports and welcomes you. Make friends with other artists, collaborate and dream up possibilities. Do that thing that makes you cringe a little (and find the bit of freedom that comes with allowing yourself to do it). Look at the world through your creative, curious eyes, and you’ll never run out of inspiration.  What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? An Awakened Creator is someone who is sure of their own vision and purpose. Even if that vision changes often. The journey isn’t a perfectly straight, tidy line. There are detours, hiatuses, and road blocks a plenty. But an Awakened Creator always returns back to their vision because in following and sharing that, they find their purpose. Want to connect with D? Check out D’s nature inspired creations on: Instagram: @daydreamn.d Etsy: Daydreamndart Her website: daydreamn-d-art.shop/ Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression? If you want to feel free to create from the heart, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.

Coloring the World with Joy | Interview w/ Artist Maricarmen Smith

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“We all have special gifts to share in this world and your creations are the medicine.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Maricarmen, an artist whose vivid creations inspire incredible joy, happiness, and inner peace. Connect with her on Instagram (@maricarmensmithcolorhappyart) and her website. Here is Maricarmen in her own words on the creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I have always loved colours, painting, drawing, doodling, dreaming, singing, dancing, playing. However, as I grew up, I got distracted. In 2019, during a womb ceremony, I remembered what I always knew: I love to create. Due to limiting beliefs, I hadn’t fully claimed my passion until that day. After claiming my passion for painting, I launched my first painting idea. Then the pandemic hit, and during the lockdown I got plenty of time to paint. I paint intuitively, following colors and marks. Looking back at one of the paintings of my first collection in 2020, I realized something inside me was bubbling with happiness. I discovered my authentic creative expression is joy! My soul loves to create things that bring joy, create inner happiness, make me feel alive, excited, and raise my energy. This feeling of harmony extends to my shamanic healings, where serving and helping equals joy to me. Over the years, I’ve realized I am here to gift joy, express joy through all my creations and interactions, and when my soul is happy, I’ve accomplished my goal. This translates into my customers’ feedback, mirroring my feelings of joy, gratitude, happiness, and appreciation for my art and healings. What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? I am a dreamer and this archetype can sometimes sabotage me. Being a projector in human design means being seen by others lights me up, but external validation can also be sabotaging as I get too excited and then feel down when there is none. With my sun in Leo, this can also pose challenges. To stay in alignment and flow, I become aware when I feel down and consciously write a gratitude list of all that is around me in the moment. I also practice kundalini, self-hypnosis, and do rituals. If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? Become very intentional with what you consume and who you surround yourself with. There is so much noise on social media, constant advice on how to reach, how to get, how to increase, if you are not doing this, if you are not doing that. Listening to all these can lower our energy. Remember that every journey is different and unique, comparing yourself to other creators can bring us down. We all have special gifts to share in this world and your creations are the medicine. Your intuition is here to guide you, and the more you listen, the stronger it gets. Focus on serving and creating what you want to experience in this world. I believe We are here to experience and enjoy life with its up and downs, yin and yan, light and dark. Understanding that there is always a balance, a harmony, that some days will be awesome and some days won’t, will help you feel content and accept everything in your life. You are enough now, not when you have the certificate, when you finish art school, when you get the customers, the sales, the job, the million followers, etc. You are worthy with or without these things. What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? Being an Awakened Creator to me means feeling the joy and excitement, enjoying my life now, being at ease, accepting the gifts I have, sharing it with the world, letting go of old patterns, surrendering to the mystery, and trusting Great Spirit speaks through each of my offerings. https://weareawakenedcreators.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Maricarmen-Jan-2024-FEATURED-CREATOR-A.mp4 Want to connect with Maricarmen? Check out Maricarmens’s joyfully colored creations on: Instagram: @maricarmensmithcolorhappyart Website: https://maricarmensmiththejoyfulartistthatspeaksthroughcolour.com/ Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression like this Creator? If you want to feel free to create from the heart, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.

Whisperer of the Wood Spirits | Interview w/ Wildcrafter Z of Divinitycraeft

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“Art has always been an alchemical language, and part of being an Awakened Creator is recognizing & embracing that.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Z, a wildcrafter whose breathing life into the wood spirits all around them. Connect with them on Instagram: @divinitycraeft and Etsy at the Divinitycraeft shop Here is Z in their own words on the creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I love to create expressions of more-than-human kin. Plant spirits, animal spirits, Otherworld faces. I am deeply inspired by my own spiritual journeys and by ancient art uncovered by archeologists. I adore all that feels timeless, cryptic, and ritualistic in nature and I hope that is conveyed through my creations. What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? Allowing myself to follow inspiration when it arises has been one of my biggest challenges. Sometimes this means carving for days on end, creating spirit after spirit until the creative itch is satisfied. Sometimes that means week-long breaks in order to avoid burnout. I’ve learned to never force myself to carve if I’m not inspired, it’s important to me to keep the passion in this craft. Following inspiration and trusting my whims is how I stay in alignment. If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow Creators, what would you say? If I could offer words of wisdom & support to fellow Creators, I would say: celebrate your art even if you know there is more growing ahead! Celebrate your wonky art, your unpredictable art- if you are in love with the process and the result, the passion only grows. Don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never seen attempted before! What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? Art has always been an alchemical language, and part of being an Awakened Creator is recognizing & embracing that. Being an Awakened Creator means creating with the purpose of sharing medicine and vision. It’s infusing each creation with akasha and reverence, it’s allowing art to be a messenger. Want to connect with Z? Check out Z’s wildcrafted spirits on: Instagram:@divinitycraeft Etsy: DivinityCraeft Do you want to align with your most authentic creative expression? If you want to embody the Awakened Creator within you, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space forevermore. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for FREE.

Stripped Down to Black and White | Interview w/ Painter Stephanie Burks

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“If you’re not happy with whatever it is you’re currently working on, that just means it isn’t finished yet.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Stephanie Burks, a painter whose creations intimately explore the raw and soulful truth of black and white.  Connect with her on Instagram: @monochromaticcreations & Facebook: Monochromatic Creations Here is Stephanie in her own words on her creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I’ve always been drawn to black and white, because to me, it feels stripped down. There’s only the soul of the piece and the emotions it evokes. Bringing something from my mind into existence and having it provoke an emotional response in just one person, myself included, is one of the best feelings in the world. What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? I used to say it was time, but I’ve recently learned that it’s more about self discipline. I’ll convince myself that I have no ideas or that I just don’t feel like painting, but once I pull out my canvas and brushes, it all just pours out of me. So, being disciplined enough to make myself do that is how I stay aligned with my artistic soul. If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? If you’re not happy with whatever it is you’re currently working on, that just means it isn’t finished yet. What does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? [Being an Awakened Creator means] to love and appreciate art in all forms from all artists while also loving and respecting your own. It’s about becoming a better version of yourself through the journey of self expression, and knowing that you are unique, special, and needed right now, exactly as you are. Want to connect with Stephanie? Check out Stephanie’s monochromatic creations on: Instagram: @monochromaticcreations Facebook: Monochromatic Creations Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression? If you want to feel free to create from the heart, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.

Immersed in Her Own Creative World | Interview w/ Multidisciplinary Artist Luna Laila

by Amanda StoneAwakened Creator SpotlightPosted on No Comments

“Don’t follow the crowd, follow your heart and peace of mind. When it comes to creating, embrace a leisurely pace; there’s no rush when crafting timeless art.” Today’s Awakened Creator Spotlight is on Luna Laila, a Multidisciplinary Artist, whose creative offerings reflect her bold, unique, spiritual, and sometimes surreal experiences. Connect with her on Instagram:  @lunalaila77 or her website: www.lunalaila.com Here is Luna in her own words on her creative journey and what it means to be an Awakened Creator. Tell us about your authentic creative expression. What do you love to create and why? I have a deep passion for crafting visual art in the medium that resonates with me at any given moment. From creating tattoos to producing paintings, customizing clothing to filmmaking, I consider myself an all around visual artist. Painting is my preferred means of expressing my soul; when I blend colors and apply them to a canvas, I experience a sense of peace, as if I’m immersed in a profound meditation, channeling energy from the universe. As a spiritual individual, I find my greatest well-being and vitality in translating the creative images from my mind onto a canvas. It makes me feel alive. What most often gets in your way as a creator and how do you stay in alignment and flow? The primary obstacle in my path is, ironically: myself. I often find myself stuck in a cycle of negative self-talk, responses to past traumas, self-doubt, and self-sabotage. However, I am steadily gaining awareness of these tendencies, which ultimately serves as the antidote. As I become more conscious of my thoughts and the barriers I’ve created, I not only identify what hinders me but also learn how to overcome it. By acknowledging an obstacle, I believe it becomes possible to shift it. I stay in alignment with myself by doing a lot of self reflection, praying and practicing gratitude. It is a practice that gets you in a healthy flow of thought during the day. I believe everything is mental, how you see the world is how your state of mind is. If you could offer words of wisdom or support to your fellow creators, what would you say? If I were to share words of wisdom with my fellow creators, it would be to dedicate some time to solitude and the art of being alone. Invest in personal growth and self-care. Only when you are healed, you contribute to healing and helping the world, only then will you have the necessary resources. Show yourself love and remember to grant yourself moments of rest, cause I noticed the modern world tends to glorify workaholism as the norm. Don’t follow the crowd, follow your heart and peace of mind. When it comes to creating, embrace a leisurely pace; there’s no rush when crafting timeless art. How did you become a part of the Awakened Creators community and what does being an Awakened Creator mean to you? I became part of the community because [Amanda] reached out to me and told me some sweet motivating words of my art. I felt it in my heart, and saw the beautiful page she created and I wanted to be part of that community! Want to connect with Luna? Check out Luna’s bold and unique creations on: Instagram: @lunalaila77 Website: www.lunalaila.com Do you have the desire to align with your authentic creative expression? If you want to feel free to create from the heart, my HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide will show you a pathway home. I will personally guide you (with quick video lessons) through a simple yet powerful creative ritual that will bring your heART back online so you can start creating from that space again. Access the HeART Alignment Creative Ritual guide for free.