Magic Medicine

Intentionally cultivating a soul-led creative life.

The honest truth about being an artist.

Sometimes, it feels like a struggle to fully demonstrate what I preach.

I put all this pressure on myself to demonstrate living a soul-led creative life through my art and art-making practice. And I often feel like I fall short.

After all, art is how I got started on this path.

Of course, the inner conflict and torment I put myself through is all totally self-inflicted!

“How can I call myself an artist if I can’t demonstrate my entire existence through my art!?!”

“How can I call myself an artist if I don’t always enjoy making art to sell???”

“What kind of artist doesn’t always love showing up to make art, even if its just to make content for social media (I’m supposed to love this stuff under every circumstance!)?”

And many more of these kinds of unhelpful and ridiculous ideas that float around in my mind from time to time.

The truth is, my art practice may have led me first to explore the concept of creativity and well-being and now FINALLY to fully step into my expansive, purpose-driven work exploring the spiritual power of creativity as a magic medicine to heal, empower and transform (That took some brave leaps and a lot of trust in the process, let me tell you, but it feels so good to claim it!). But this way of honouring creativity led by the soul is so much more than my identity as an artist and, let's be honest, your capability or interest to make art.

In fact, these are the very ideas that keep us separate and keep this magic medicine out of reach.

A magic medicine I discovered that mixes embracing your truthful creative essence and learning how to freely express that into your life and into your work, as you lean into spiritual awakening, personal growth and evolution.

You and me. We’re both creative, artist or not.

We both deserve to live a soul-led creative life that honours our unique creative essence and is led by our higher wisdom and connection to the universe.

Whilst your unique soul-driven creativity may encompass all manner of creative endeavors, I do believe that the discovery of your creative essence through creative writing and art-making mixed with powerful spiritual concepts, questions and tools is the most powerful personal growth and transformation you will ever experience.

This magic medicine is a powerful catalyst to help you start intentionally cutlivating your own unique soul-led creative life. The gentle nudge to safely move you forwards.

How do I know? I’ve lived and breathed this magic medicine for more than a decade.

So it’s time to start writing about the down-to-earth reality of what it means to choose creativity, to live from the soul and to honour who we really are deep inside.

The fact that I discovered this beautiful way of experiencing life through my art does not mean my art has to dictate how I share this powerful message.

I’d like to experiment with capturing how I embody all of this by sharing snippets of my own life, my own journey. I may or may not include joy, healing and empowerment found in my art practice, but I will most definitely include an honest account of my creative life choices, breakthrough by breakthrough, led by my heart and soul.

Embracing the creative journey of life

So, where to begin?

I guess I’ll start not at the beginning of my creative journey but at the beginning of my commitment to art as part of my future.

My journey over the past few years has taken me from thinking I wanted to paint all day, every day, and to make a living selling my paintings to feeling ick about painting for selling at all!

At times, it has felt like my creative process was being hijacked by some ulterior motive—money, fame, success, external validation ????

I know it's a bit cliche, but was I even chasing these things? Did I really think these things should come from my art? Consciously, I don’t think so.

I’m not sure I ever really sat down and checked in with myself to make sure I actually wanted these things at all, that these were my heart-centred goals. And I guess that’s the point. This inner soul-led inquiry is at the heart of how I support women moving through their own challenges and inner conflict. You simply can’t skip that part.

What I knew for sure, was that my art journey was part of my future.

And my identity as an accountant, business leader, and, quite frankly, employee was over.

And what did I do?

I stepped fully and completely into the unknown.

And, oh boy, it changed me !!

A couple of years later, it turns out I’d gladly swap those cookie-cutter life measures for:

Abundance,

Service,

Freedom,

Curiosity,

Deep inner truth and connection, and

A Home Sanctuary.

Hmmm… what a shift in perspective!

The truth - I don’t always have the energy or desire to paint… or demonstrate art exercises that support inner connection in a sketchbook… and that’s the reason if I’m honest I’ve not really been painting much and every attempt to start a new series or sketchbook concept, falls flat on its face after a mere couple of weeks.

It’s because I’m doing it because I think I should, the logical route, the path that might make sense to everyone else, the safe, the small path. It becomes more of a chore than the playful, curious experiment that it should be.

And this keeps me out of alignment.

Don’t get me wrong, art has brought me great joy, healing, and peace, and I’m sure it will continue for the rest of my life. But there’s more…

You see, as my artist journey evolves, the play and newfound expression and experimentation that came so easily, and had such a profound impact at the beginning of my journey is now more elusive.

And it's leaning into the play, and the vulnerability that comes with it, which is so transformative and really helps you tune into who you really are at an intuitive level.

Without the vulnerability found in play we are merely following the rules and we stop growing and learning and evolving.

This is why I include art-making activities in my coaching work with clients because it's an easy, accessible way to show people how play and free expression are really simple, powerful and transformative tools, especially when you don’t often give yourself permission to get arty or creative.

Ultimately, soul-led creative living is about leaning into your playful feminine creative power and learning to value and prioritise this wise inner way of being. It’s really important. I believe any creative outlet that you are drawn to will help you to lean more deeply into this powerful energy.

The AHA moment is learning that we need to better balance this gentle, receiving, soft, creative feminine energy in our lives with the productive, efficient, get-stuff-done, action-taking masculine energy that we are conditioned to prioritise.

The excuses we carry around that tell us we don’t have time for creative pursuits are the very thing that keeps us disconnected and, quite frankly, exhausted in our busy lives.

Art aside, a big part of my own soul-led creative life is pouring my heart and soul into my home both aesthetically and from a practical, functional point of view. In fact, as I hinted before, cultivating a home sanctuary is one of my core values, and when my home is that true sanctuary, it provides an anchor for me so that I can serve all areas of my life fully and abundantly.

But that sanctuary needs love, time, attention and care or it gets overgrown, weedy, cluttered, dusty and things start to break (I believe from a broken heart).

Ultimately, my home sanctuary when cared for, gives me the time, energy, safety and love that helps me to thrive. It helps me stay flexible and open as Miss D grows. It helps me create an inviting space for connection with family and friends. It helps me get into the right state of mind to get into creative flow. It helps me serve my clients and support their transformations.

Your priorities and values may be different. You may get that same buzz and energy I’m describing from creatively travelling the scenic route with no fixed address or from long hikes fully exploring a trail and getting curious about all nature has to offer. Or it might be sustainable, low-tox living and growing your own food and cut flower garden.

For me, creating a home sanctuary has been and will always be vital to my well-being. As this realisation is setting in right now in my life and I’m noticing all the overgrown weeds in this special place, I’ve been reflecting on what a home sanctuary really means for me and it’s so many things -

a space to make my art,

time to make things with my hands and decorate or repurpose what I already have,

pots and vases filled with seasonal flowers,

a place to play, express and pour my unique creative essence in whatever project feels good in the moment,

nourishing lunches made from scratch spent in my tranquil garden surrounded by nature,

fresh homemade sourdough bread,

connection time spent with family and friends,

carefully curated displays of art and sentimental treasures, and lovingly selected, practical yet stylish furniture pieces,

tidy spaces (and cupboards and draws) free of clutter,

to be held by an empowering space to grow my business so that I may help many women heal and transform

clean sheets, plump pillows, daily bubble baths and comfy slippers.

So what’s your thing? How will you cultivate your soul-led creative life so that you may connect within, let your soul lead, allow your creative essence to shine, nourish yourself and find new ways to express your inner truth?

Where are you holding on to old ways of being that are safe, make sense, that you can justify to others, AND what do you really want instead?

Thanks for reading

Take care,
Sam x

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