Monday, March 16, 2015

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Lucia 14


Shaded more blankets today, getting the basic lines and shadows on the paper.  Shaded more on Lucias face, smoothing things out a bit.

Today I used my crystal grid for the first time that Angie gifted me before my crystal healing.  As she laid out the formation for me to see, my eyes started to tear up.  Lucias mama is so generous, knowing just what I needed to work on my drawings.  The grid is composed of a large piece of rose quartz for the center, smaller rose quartz on the end of the six points, apache tear between the center and points of rose quartz and rhodonite between the six rays.  


Crystal Grid for Grief work


Soon I will be batiking the flower of life, sacred geometry design on squares and tie dying them according to chakras.  These will then be used as crystal grids.  Excited.


my humble workspace

Lastly, Kole is finally reunited with his mama today and she happily received his drawing.  We met at a Vietnamese restaurant, enjoyed yummy food, talked about our families, friends, life experiences and parted ways.  So happy to bring joy to Koles mama in this way, for them both. 



Sunday, March 15, 2015

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Lucia 13



Feeling satisfied with Lucias face for now.  Worked mostly on her blankets today.  Yesterday I felt so fatigued and sleepy, so I took the opportunity to rest and renew.  Nobody wins when the artist works while fatigued.  I think Friday was so magnificent and healing that I needed a day to recover.

Lucias mother, Angie, from The Moon + Stone Healing is a Usui Reiki Master Teacher, Advanced Crystal Master and Certified Crystal Healer.  I made an appointment for a crystal healing to see what its all about.  I am very curious in nature and love to experience new things, we can learn so much from others.   When I arrived at Alta View Wellness Center I was greeted by serene and relaxing music, quiet and peaceful atmosphere.  I had the chance to review the selection of crystals, handmade jewelry and other local artisan crafters on display.  Then I was whisked away into a beautiful room (one of the many beautiful rooms there - massage, reiki and other offerings are also available) full of beautiful crystals.  I noticed a beautiful crystal grid layout under the spacious and luxurious table.  The pillow was so fluffy!  Angie made me feel at home and comfortable.  We chatted a bit beforehand about my expectations, things I wanted to work through and what the process entails.  We started by meditating and we carried the meditation through the whole session.  Angie started by checking my chakras health, then after receiving the information needed, she began laying crystals upon my body in a crystal layout.  I had an eye pillow covering my vision during the session and unfortunately could not watch this curious and wondrous work.  After she laid out the first round of crystals, I felt heavy and breathless.  Then the name LUCIA passed in front of my eyes (still closed, still dark, still under an eye pillow) all of a sudden I burst into tears, my whole body shaking.  Then after a minute I felt a calmness wash over me.  I felt it necessary to tell Angie about Lucia and the calmness that I experienced after.  She too acknowledged Lucias presence and pointed out Mother Mary and Magdalene had made their presence known too.  Mother Mary often comes to me during channeled meditations and last month I felt compelled to purchase a Mother Mary statue to compliment my Sacred Heart Jesus statue.  She anointed the crystal over my heart chakra with rose oil and continued.  I released (cried) a few more times during the crystal healing (which is normal) and when she finished we went over everything that happened.

One of the first things she told me was the layout she used and the crystals she used.  She proceeded to tell me all my chakras looked good.  A few were smaller but the crown, third eye and throat were open, so she just supported them while she worked with the others.  I was not unbalanced as I felt, but rather needed to open the channel connecting my chakras, if I understood correctly.   Then she asked me if I had been thinking of cutting my dreadlocks.  Yes, I had been considering trimming them, but hadn't yet because I felt I was doing a disservice to my friend Houd.  I had put them into dreadlocks just days after he decided to end his time here on earth and I was afraid if I cut them I would be somehow cutting that period of remembrance and memories out of me.  Angie told me the message came through during my healing that if I wanted to cut my hair that it was okay to do.  Clearly my friend Houd was there too (it felt like him anyway) telling her these things.  She also told me a bald man with a bit of hair above his ears and a belly called me Mandy, told me he loved me and was always with me.  I immediately felt this was my Pap.  I'd been waiting for a long time to hear something from him, anything.  My spirit guide, the most stunning, strong and motherly native american woman you've ever seen, made herself known to Angie and communicated to her spirit guide.  We discussed many other things and she showed me so many beautiful crystals and messages during our session.  At the close she asked me which chakras I'd like to work with and before I could answer she took the words right out of my mouth.  The crown, third eye and throat was her recommendation.  She pulled out three beautiful crystals for me to work with and sent me home with a bag of bath salts.   I cried and cried on the way home, thinking of my Pap.  I'd waited so long to hear from him, I miss him so.

My crystal healing was amazing, I felt great when she was finished.  I was tired the day after but I think that is probably normal recovery as with any type of healing or exercise.  I write this out for you knowing not everyone believes in God, crystal healings or the spirit worlds existence.  That is okay with me, but understand I write this, because it happened and I must speak my truth.  I cannot cover myself up anymore because of what others believe or don't believe.  This is my experience with crystal healing and yours will doubtfully be exactly like mine if you decide to get one.  It was amazing and beautiful and healing and everything I always thought it would be.


So I trimmed my hair today...


I feel lighter and stronger and ready for this year.  Things are getting real.



Friday, March 13, 2015

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Lucia 12



Still adjusting Lucias nose today.  I focused solely on getting it acceptable.  Anyone that knows me knows I'll be making more changes on it again in the future.  Ha.


Today I am heading out to spend some time with Lucias mama.  I'll be getting a crystal healing from her at the Alta View Wellness Center, its wonderful how we can all benefit from each other in some way.  Everybody has something to offer, something to teach us, love to share with us and some of us can even heal the healers.  I'll let you know how my time well spent with Angie from The Moon + Stone Healing turns out.



Thursday, March 12, 2015

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Lucia 11


Adjusting tones and shadows on Lucias face.  Wasn't happy with her nose and worked primarily on that and shading.  This portrait will undergo many changes until its just right.  It is very challenging for me to NOT draw what I see.  I have reference materials to use but my eyes are wanting to make it just as they see it.  I will just keep plugging along until it all feels right and looks right.  I'll know it when it arrives.


Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Lucia 10


More work on the lines framing Lucias face.  Shading on the blanket and shading on the birthing mama.  Defined her nose a bit more.  Really enjoying this portrait.  A pure, innocent soul. 

I really love the relationships formed with the family of my portrait subjects.  We will always have a sacred connection through their loved ones.



Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Lucia 09


Back at it today.  Lots of things happening in our home at the moment.  Husband had surgery and recovery during an ice storm and 7+ inches of snow two days later.  I've felt like a single parent, taking care of children, all household chores, shoveling and taking care of my husband.  On top of that grieving the anniversary of my friends death, which reminds me of all the other family and friends that have gone.  Then I think of my drawings.  So rather than work on dear little Lucia during the midst of all this turmoil of frustration, exhaustion and sadness.  I took a week to recover myself and I'm back at it with fierce intention.

I adjusted more shadows and tones on Lucias face, finished the base of lines on her hat.  I shaded the clay birthing mama more and added definition.  Lines are beginning to make me comfortable and I worked more on the lines on the blanket as well.  Lots more work to go, we are still in the beginning stages.  I also lightened her lips as I felt they were a bit too dark. I am enjoying all of this baby love - chubby cheeks, little noses, soft lips.  When Lucias mama posts new pictures of Lucias baby brother (just a few months old) and he is in the perfect position or has similar lighting - I snag them to use to assist me in this drawing.  Lucias baby brother and her have very similar facial features and I couldn't reconstruct her without him.  I love how we are all connected.


Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Dear Departed Drawings ~ Lucia 08



Yesterday was a sad day.  My friends two year anniversary day of departure from our earth.  Houd was such a special person.  So many qualities, compassion and soul.  He is missed.  I felt inspired today to work on Lucia.  And I did.

I added more shading to her face and eyelids.  I also filled in more shading on the clay mama and started more blanket shadows.  A bit more on the knit hat as well.



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