Solar Plexus Rising | Chakra Painting with AI Inks | by Terri Spaulding

This is not just another painting of the sun.

This is what I “see” when I do reiki.

This is a solar plexus chakra (represented by the color yellow) showing me she is desperately wanting to shine. She is less than bright, after years of holding in fear, worry, anxiety, and the incredibly false belief she is not worthy of all that she desires. But that bright yellow center shows me she is working her way up and out of the mud she’s been stuck under.

As she fights to reclaim her happiness, and shakes off the junk she’s held in her gut for years, she is getting help from other energy centers in her body. Her throat chakra (represented by the light blue dots) where her true voice and her true self awaits, is aware that yellow is not standing in her power or in her truth, and needs assistance. The energy of the throat wants to help rekindle yellow’s flame, but cannot break through the barrier of mud , nor through the wall of lies yellow tells herself.

Also attempting to come to yellow’s rescue is the third eye chakra (represented by the dark blue dots and blobs). This chakra of inner wisdom is tired of being ignored and suppressed, and wants to get in to help yellow, too. But her attempt is blocked as well. Only when the solar plexus chakra is fully functioning, fueled with willpower and self esteem, can the third eye join forces and allow authenticity and gut instinct to lead the way.

And then there is the chakra of the heart, who is isolated in the middle. Since there is no balance, no flow of energy or cooperation from the energy centers, she is helpless to heal with her love. She grows tired of sending in love (represented by the green), with little to no acceptance, and begins to lose faith that she can make a difference.

This story of color in the painting above tells me the person within whom these chakra centers dwell is tired, overwhelmed and needs some mind, body + spirit restoration. At times, we all need help from the outside to guide us forward on our healing journey. If you are feeling off, or stuck, or unsure of how to begin your self-healing, schedule a reiki session with someone you trust. Even one session is enough to clear out some of your mud, restore balance to your energy centers, and set the foundation for continued self-healing.

I firmly believe in reiki’s healing power, as it once was the jump start I needed to reclaim my joy.

One year ago today I wrote a post announcing Phase 2 of my dream, the opening of a space where I felt comfortable holding workshops and making connections, and the beginning of Soulistic Sisters, a partnership with two crafty and artistic friends offering opportunities for others to come create with us. A year away seems like a long time when you are in the planning/idea stages of a dream, in reality it flies by, each month going faster than the next.

I wouldn't exactly say the past year has been easy, yet in reflection, it also has not been hard. I suppose as with any new venture, there were highs and lows. The highs for me were the times my workshops and classes filled up with people eager to learn and create, and/ or the times where I felt what I offered helped someone move forward with a new understanding, a new resolve to make changes to be happier, or to see things differently. The lows of course, were the times when no one showed up or no one seemed interested and we had to cancel (and yes there were plenty of those). It is normal to take it personally when something doesn't go as planned, to think you are the problem or the reason, and yet I know how silly and unhelpful that kind of thinking is in the long run. Throughout the year I clung to the thought that what is supposed to happen, will happen, even if it was just me and one other person who showed up for a class.

Working around our full time jobs has meant our offerings were hit or miss with our audience. We played around with days, times, and new ideas to attract more people to our studio. We repeated some classes that were popular the first time around, and stopped offering the ones where no one seemed interested--even if we ourselves still loved the idea. We tweaked, refined, and retooled and asked for suggestions as if searching for a magic formula of success, finding in the end, there really isn't one. We just have to trust and believe that what we are doing, we are doing for all the right reasons, and that what is supposed to happen, will happen.

The encouragement we received from those of you who frequent the studio has been great fuel for us to continue moving forward and to keep believing that if we "build it, they will come". To the many of you who have supported, shared, suggested, reviewed, and encouraged others to join you at our studio, we are so grateful to you. Growing our reach (without spending a lot of marketing dollars) is not easy, and it is only through word of mouth and your help, we have been even a small bit successful. Thank you for the love. Thank you for your trust.

Believing that each person who walks through our door is a uniquely talented artist (in some medium), and that every artist needs a group of supporters and challengers to learn from, is what will keep us going. I believe that our mission to bring people together to explore, connect and create is so important. I know it has moved me out of my comfort zone while at the same time helped me find my groove. I have found an outlet for a creative spirit I didn't even know I had. I have learned to manage chaos with mindful artistic activities and I relish the opportunity to share more of what I have learned with others.

I love our little space, I love the variety of things we offer, I especially love the unique and beautiful souls who come through our door to learn, to teach and to share. As I begin to plan another year of activities I will be leading, and look for areas in which I can grow my own knowledge base, I trust the universe will help it all come together. Just the way it is supposed to.

We must all believe in our own abilities, to seek new ways to work from our place of ease so that we can shine our brightest light, without fear, without regret, and by doing so help others begin to shine theirs. I hope our studio continues to provide an outlet for others to shine. To help them find their tribe and their supportive accepting community. To expand horizons. To open minds. To help everyone begin to believe in their own unique, creative, beautiful spirit.

Namaste. Cheers to seeing you at the studio soon.

Terri