Stephanie's Studio

Fall has hammered me. I believe I have SAD  (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This type of disruption happens every year. Lessening of outdoor light, naked trees, leaves blowing about--BINGO, my spirits fall. Most days, I'm flat lining. I know there are full spectrum lights available. Must get one of those. Meanwhile, I've been trying flower essences, essential oils, meditation, naps, whatever...still SAD takes over, thus less and less blog posts, writing and other creative production. This empty basket represents the harvest. SAD isn't just about the weather and light changes for me, it's about the harvest. I have posted quite happily about sowing seeds, putting good energy out into the world. But what I'm noticing is how many things I've put into that harvest basket and then tossed back out and into the universe. That makes me sad too. My debut novel, so to speak, was to be published spring 2015. No go. Too many problems and issues to move forward on tha...

             Toxic people and situations are like the many mysterious viruses we pick up during cold and flu season.  You can never be quite sure how you caught them and really the most important issue is simply, how do you get rid of them?  How much effort does it require and what are the repercussions for your brain, emotions, psyche, spirit and indeed your soul to banish or purge?  One of the first causes of action is analysis—a good shaman will do this analysis—examining every aspect of the environmental situation and that includes the mental, spiritual and physical.             Toxic people and situations may or may not have spiritual entity attachment.  Needy spirits, bad spirits, playful and mischievous spirits may inhabit the toxic source.  You always need to be aware of such potential and you need prophylactics—daily ones and in this cas...

The only word I can use for restorative yoga yesterday is phenomenal! I was drawn to this new studio for two reasons, my old one closed and this new studio has an open hand as its logo. It seemed welcoming and it was. It is called Ahimsa, meaning do no harm—especially to yourself. I was drawn to the particular class I went to because in its description it mentioned that it helps quiet down the monkey (busy) mind. Good grief! Don’t we all, living in these times, have monkey mind? Couldn’t we all stand to be kinder and gentler to ourselves? We are our own worse critics about everything including our looks, talents, skills and abilities. I don’t know what had gotten into me, except that it must have been monkey mind. I have not been in a class to do restorative yoga in years! And, the years just keep sailing by. There are only so many that the Goddess grants us.  Why? I ask myself, do I deny myself the simplest and purest pleasures in life? Why become some wrapped u...

I started to seriously work the Mandala into my art in late August of 2011.  This painting is one foot square and it explores Wind Energy.  This is my Artistic Statement for this series: My paintings explore natural forms of energy and they employ Islamic patterns and Native American basketry designs which are digitally manipulated and layered starting with a foundation of acrylic skins.   Islamic patterns have many universal themes, while also embodying sacred geometry.   They offer the opportunity to engage with pure abstraction and are open-ended, lending themselves to various interpretations, yielding to the vision of the artist.   Native American basketry designs are powerful circular forms that also utilize patterns that speak to the human condition, life cycles, ceremony and ritual.   Bringing the two diverse iconic cultural expressions together imbues my work with transformative power.   I use the Mandala forma...