The Spiritual Artist Podcast (Christopher J. Miller)

Podcast Host Chris Miller does a deep dive into Alex Cook’s new book, “You Are Loved: Spiritual & Creative Adventures,” and discusses key concepts with the author.

In his authentic memoir, Cook shares his battle with depression, his years of Prison Ministry service, and his love of God through personal stories of humor, poignancy, and faith. He emphasizes the importance of presence and listening while creating. “When you are being present, you bring with you all the tools that you have amassed,” according to Cook.

Alex shares the importance of his deep connection to God in his work and process. The artist has learned to move beyond his emotions and into his connection with God as his source of creativity. He listens to Spirit, chooses which feelings are more compelling, and releases the others. Discussion includes the need to be fluid while working and consciously overcome the willful desire to control. According to Cook, “Prayer works best when I’m not willful, but I’m willing to go with the Spirit.”

Since 1997 Alex Cook has created over 200 murals in 20 states and four countries. Alex’s work focuses on community and spiritual themes expressed through nature imagery and storytelling. One of Cook’s current endeavors, the YOU ARE LOVED mural project, makes murals whose image is simply the words “YOU ARE LOVED.” His YOU ARE LOVED mural project emphasizes that “People feel safe when they know that they are loved and valued.”

To date, there are 80 YOU ARE LOVED murals in 13 states and two countries. They are in schools, homeless shelters, prisons, worship communities, and more.

The book is available at www.stonebalancer.com/you-are-loved-memoir and on Amazon. 

For more information, visit www.stonebalancer.com and www.youarelovedmurals.com.

As a bipolar artist in Lewisville, Texas, resident Charles McDowell merges medication and art therapy through his mastermind group, MyPolarLife. Charles explains that his artwork is inspired by the complexity of the human mind and the void between mental illness and mental clarity.

Podcast host Christopher Miller and Charles discuss what it means to be in a flow where you give up expectations and keep yourself “straight.” Art inspires people, and Charles believes that the artist will be successful if one person is encouraged.

Charles and his group choose their languaging carefully, always remembering the positive gift in their mental situation. Everyone’s experience of mental health is different. Learning to embrace your current mental situation is a central theme of his recent work. As spiritual artists, we bring “all of ourselves” to our art.

According to Charles, mental illness is overthinking. He recommends “pouring yourself into your talent” and focusing on others are two ways to get out of yourself and deal with mental challenges.

In addition to MyPolarLife, Charles strives to destigmatize the conversation around mental health by participating as an active member of the Society of Depressed Artists (SODA), located in Dallas, Texas. He also participates in events that provide a portion of his sales to the non-profit, Foundation 45, a health awareness group that offers services in Dallas-Ft. Worth. You can see Charles and his work at the Coral Reef Coffee Company in Lewisville, Texas, on April 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. A portion

Charles’ mixed-media paintings can be seen on Instagram @polar seeker. For more information on Foundation 45, visit foundation45.org. Listeners can find The Society of Depressed Artists on Facebook: soda_dallas.

Terry Rickman is a body and gender-affirming portrait photographer who creates a safe, nurturing space for LGBTQ, Trans, and Non-Binary people to get personal portraits. The conversation includes a deep dive into body image and acceptance of our true identity. 

Terry's process involves helping clients appreciate their bodies and present themselves authentically. He describes how we absorb language from the greater society that is often negative or self-deprecating, and we use those words when describing ourselves. While you may find specific features of your body that you aren't happy with, you can still appreciate them, according to Terry. 

We are whole individuals with multiple features that create unique, valuable spiritual humans. We can't love our bodies all the time, but when we have those unloving moments, find one good thing about ourselves and focus on it.

The discussion examines personal pronouns and how our society has built a world based on gender roles. Terry encourages the listen to release their baggage on limiting beliefs about appropriate clothing and accessories based on stereotypical gender assignments.

For those learning to review their true selves, Terry emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people to move into a space of being more fully yourself. Portrait photography is one way to affirm and share your individual story.

For more information, visit www.www.ProudFamilyPortraits.com and follow Terry on Instagram @terrywrickman.

Mixed Media Artist and owner of the Art Love Gallery in Provincetown, Massachusettes, Jackie Fuchs, shares how to “lean into” your pain and heal yourself through the use of stories. She encourages artists to reflect on the story they are telling themselves about their art by asking these questions. Why do I do what I do? How do I do it? And what does success mean to me? 

She reminds the listener to embrace their feelings, even if they’re painful, and seek out tools that heal themselves. Tools include positive self-talk, meditation, choosing emotions, and reflecting on the story you tell others. She asks listeners to avoid using the term struggling artist. “If you’re painting, what is the struggle?” she asks. Words are part of your story.

Jackie reminds artists to invest in their success by participating in art fairs and workshops and surrounding themselves with a support group. As a gallery owner, she also encourages artists to find their unique voice and ensure that their portfolio displays that voice consistently. 

Conversation references “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman and “True Love” by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Jackie Fuchs is a mixed media artist and gallery owner and currently resides between the Hamptons and Provincetown, Massachusetts. She’s owned six different hair salons while teaching art and clay classes to children and adults. Jackie has also served as a motivational speaker at art fairs and shows. For more information, visit www.GalleryArtLove.com or follow her on Instagram at @ArtLoveGallery_studiojackie

For more information on the importance of language, listen to Season 1, Episode 9: Writer and Wordsmith Wilene Dunn Demonstrates the Power Behind Words.  

A unique storytelling episode by CJ Miller revisits Chapter 3 of his book “The Spiritual Artist.” He reminds us to practice moments of awe throughout the day by being present to the world’s beauty around us. When we align with the world around us, we open ourselves to Spirit’s message.

Chris shares one listener’s story who clarified the practice by seeing God in everything and everyone. She experienced moments of God.

The conversation includes the importance of surrendering, but not necessarily excepting, our present life situation. It is at that point of surrender that we receive guidance.

Chris recommends Season 1 Episode 12, where he interviews singer/songwriter Gary Lynn Floyd and revisits Gary’s song, “God in Everyone.”

Visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com or purchase “The Spiritual Artist” on Amazon for more information.

Writer and Podcast Host CJMiller explain two terms used throughout his book, “The Spiritual Artist.” The conversation focuses on Creative DNA and the Intelligence of Being.

First, he explains the importance of not letting the word God get in the way of your relationship with this power. He asks us to look for the spiritual essence of this power rather than a specific name and choose the best name for you.

Chris explains a term coined by Twyla Tharp, Creative DNA. How every one of us has a unique pattern behind our creativity, which out pictures in the creative discipline we gravitate to, the tool we use, and our artistic preferences.

Chris asks Spiritual Artists to be mindful of their Creative DNA and recognize who they are. He cautions them against imitating our creatives, for it is a crime against your Intelligence of Being.

When we follow the Intelligence of Being that we are born with, we find a clear path unfolds. Once we recognize who we are, we can consciously choose to change elements that no longer excite us.

 We already have the recipe for success within ourselves. Our Intelligence of Being is always speaking to us if we only learn to listen.

He encourages listeners to visit “The Spiritual Artist Podcast” YouTube channel and listen to his Guided Intentional Meditation to Awaken Your Creativity.

Entrepreneur, author, and innovator Wilene Dunn returns to The Spiritual Artist Podcast to share her trademarked Power Statement process. Power statements are more than positive affirmations but a way to impress the subconscious and create anything you desire. 

The conversation starts by emphasizing the importance of belief in manifesting your desires. When we align ourselves with new thoughts, we create possibilities. And according to Wilene, “We live in the impossible.” A well-crafted Power Statement helps us believe differently, and our chosen words create our reality. 

She explains that focusing on our condition (situation) only makes more of that situation. We are to declare and focus on what we desire. We don’t have to worry about the “how,” for there is a creator beyond us that can support whatever we claim.

Suppose you’re going to believe in the impossible, then why not believe in the most extraordinary impossible possible. According to Abraham Hicks, “You can create a castle as much as a button.”

Steps include visualizing precisely the thing you want and the feeling of completing it, creating a mental picture, writing a statement that emphasizes that feeling of fulfillment, and much more. Always remember to end your Power Statement with gratitude.

Be sure to listen to Wilene’s earlier podcast in Season 1, Episode 9, titled “The Power Behind Words.” The words you choose define your reality.

Download the Power Statement worksheet by visiting www.spiritualartisttoday.com. The link is on the home page and included in Chris’ bio. For more information or Power Statement coaching with Wilene, visit www.wilenedunn.com.

When we practice seeing the abundance around us, it creates an abundance mindset. Spiritual Artist Podcaster Christopher Miller explains how mastering abundance is as simple as noticing the abundance you already have. Using the Law of Attraction and a little bit of patience, we can create mountains of abundance in our lives. Create abundance. Develop abundance. Be abundance. For more information, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com

As an Art Therapist, Creativity Coach, and Couture Embroiderer living in Australia, Crystal Gaye teaches her students to surrender to their internal guidance system and step outside their comfort zone. Crystal shares the importance of going within before entering the studio and asking, “What would I like to express through me today?”

When using art as a spiritual practice, a conscious connection to your higher power is your number one priority. Crystal explains that surrendering to this higher power keeps her work on the “growing edge.” While she continues to make progress, she’s not quite yet living it fully 100%. Often, she said, we are so busy doing that we cannot hear our inner voice. 

Crystal shares her process of progressive painting. Progressive painting is when you start an image with only one task, adding marks and colors each day for 30 days. There is no goal to sell the finished project. “Each step informs the next,” said Crystal. “It’s a transformative process to arrive at the solution you seek.”

Conversation references “The Body Never Lies” by Alice Miller and “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown. According to Crystal, when we surrender to our uniqueness and practice vulnerability, we realize our unique expression is enough.

Crystal Gaye is an artisan specializing in French Couture Embroidery, an Art Therapist & Creativity Coach. Crystal is passionate about inspiring creativity in others and sharing her skills and knowledge with students worldwide. You can study with Crystal via Zoom or her online courses. For more information, visit https://www.crystalgaye.com.au

Discover new artist tools on how to spiritually grow. One of the earliest lessons we learn is about the importance of tools. You're more than halfway there if you use the right tools for the job. But using the wrong tools or relying too much on your devices can hold back your creativity.

In this artist chat, CJ challenges you to let go of a tool and try a new one. Experiment with your suite of tools and expand your creative boundaries.

You must have the right tool for the right job, but it's your spiritual responsibility to be aware of the tools that you're using.

On a spiritual level, consider the tools and habits you learned as a child from your parent, family, peers, and culture. Are they serving you? What practice can you release to make room for a new beginning?

You are not your tools. But you do get to pick the tools that you use!

For more information or virtual coaching, visit http://spiritualartisttoday.com.

Texas-based photographer and multi-media artist Kris Hundt shares her Peter Pan approach to creativity in this delightful interview. She consciously maintains a state of play where she doesn't judge her subjects and shares herself in a place of joy.

According to Kris, it's by letting ourselves become vulnerable and opening a space for whatever it is that we enter the realm of creative play. She has learned to see her photography clients and students without judgment and let them be who they are. She approaches each portrait as a collaboration with her subject, drawing inspiration from the personal connections she forges during the shoot. 

As a teacher, she encourages people to play. People get caught up in their heads instead of letting it flow through their hearts. 

A lifelong traveler of exotic locales like Egypt, Israel, Guatemala, the UK, Ireland, Italy, Peru, and the Andes Mountains in Ecuador, Kris shares her story of the secret of a smile and a thank you when traveling alone. Gratitude opens many doors. 

Along with photography, Kris has been expanding her creativity in other fields such as mosaics, paper arts, mono printing, and knitting. The list goes on and on.

She shares her "shooting from the hip" project with the listener. Take your phone, find something, and photograph it every day for 30 days. Learn to play with your filters and notice the different ways of viewing the same thing.

Practice the art of play by letting yourself have fun, release your desire for perfection, and be present with what is—learning to let it flow and being okay with what happens.

For more information on Kris Hundt, visit https://www.krishundt.com.

Are you pushing too hard? Or are you not focused enough? 

Podcast Host Christopher Miller explains Chapter 14, “The Rule of Medium,” from his book “The Spiritual Artist.” Achieve The Rule of Medium by practicing presence in your studio. Look for the flow in everyday life and practice The Rule of Medium when driving or walking down the street. When we push too hard, we meet opposition. When we’re not focused enough, we also discover resistance. Take this practice one step further by recognizing the Rule of Oneness. Let someone go ahead of you and feel your oneness with everyone else. When we are in Medium, creativity flows through us.

For more information, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com

Podcast Host Christopher Miller and Author Wilene Dunn share the lesson of letting go. When we accept the current situation, we open a portal for new things to arrive. Sometimes the problem has nothing to do with you; it’s just not working.

Writer and speaker Wilene Dunn shared the concept for her new book, “If a Bee Were Like Me.” Don’t blame yourself, others, or the environment; take radical responsibility for your life. If we stay in resentment or the blame game, we don’t allow Spirit to provide solutions.

When you find yourself protesting, you’re not allowing what is. We move forward by allowing ourselves to act on our feelings.

After listening to this self-help podcast, take a few moments to center yourself, get quiet and identify something in your life that you can released. For more information on spiritual coaching or the podcast, visit https://www.spiritualartisttoday.com.

United Kingdom mixed media abstract painter, coach, and mystic Irene Purcell shares the importance of vulnerability and connectivity in the creative process. After completing a deep dive into Nicholas Wilton of Art2Life's CVP course and Louise Fletcher's "Find Your Joy" course in 2019, Irene realized she was ready to take a deep dive into exploring her theme 'Everything is Connected.'  

The podcast begins with a quick mention of the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Irene shares her thoughts on England's national mourning.

She talks a little about the practice of sharing feelings and thoughts in journaling.  There are many therapeutic benefits of journaling, and aspects of the process are demonstrated in Julia Cameron's process of morning pages.  

Identifying as a mystic, Irene understands that mystics are those who experience a personal revelation from God that reveals the truth that the whole universe has a power behind it, and we are all loved and adored. At the age of 30, Irene underwent a life-changing experience, and one thing she subsequently realized was that our resistance to vulnerability causes separation from others. 

For 15 years, from age 31 onwards, Irene was part of an evangelical Christian church and eventually realized through a vision that doing the business of church was keeping her from her relationship with Jesus and from more fully walking in his way. She has expanded her spiritual landscape and explains that becoming more fully human is an ongoing process. 

"What do I have to offer? Who I am. That is it. That's all I have got," said Irene. "My vulnerability is my safest place. There is nothing to live up to and nothing to prove. I can just be." 

For more information about Irene, you can find her on Facebook under "Irene Purcell Art" and Instagram @irenepurcellart. Her website is https://www.irenepurcellart.com  Irene currently assists Louise Fletcher with her online art program, https://www.louisefletcherart.com

Podcast Host Christopher J. Miller shares the metaphor of being in the hallway. Being in the hallway symbolizes the times in our life when we may be overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply not sure what we want to do next.

Chris reminds the listener to give themselves permission to stop and be in the hallway because sometimes inspired action takes time. Accept the hallway, ground yourself and let yourself be.

Chris shares an exercise from Lama Surya Das’s book, “Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss and Spiritual Transformation.” In this book, Das explains how to choose a personal mindfulness bell. Learn to practice being mindful by selecting a sound, thing, or word you often hear and using that experience to trigger a mindful moment.  For example: the siren from an ambulance or fire truck is the mindfulness bell that Chris has selected.

One form of mindfulness is getting quiet, going within, and stopping our thoughts. Sending out love is another form, according to Chris.

Exercises: This week, let yourself be in the hallway and pick a personal mindfulness bell.

For more information on Chris or to schedule a personal coaching session, visit https//spiritualartisttoday.com.

#practicepresenceofgod #lamasuradas #mindfulnesspracticeforbeginners

What is your Spiritual Practice? Podcast host, Christopher Miller shares the importance of spiritual practices and the many ways to incorporate them into your routine. Spiritual techniques include:

• Taking a morning walk.
• Meditating.
• Focusing on the good.
• Noticing moments of awe.
• Listening to inspirational podcasts.

Chris introduces Susie deVille’s book, “Bouyant,” and announces an upcoming interview with the author, who will present her 5M’s, another form of a spiritual practice. He emphasizes that we can’t control our environment or the people around us, but we can control our thoughts by focusing on a feeling.

Take the first 60-minutes of your day and reserve it for Spiritual Practice. Pivot and get back to Spirit.

For more information on Chris and his spiritual online coaching, visit https//spiritualartisttoday.com.

Business Coach and Author Susie deVille believes that the process of creating is fueled by five essential practices that assist entrepreneurs and leaders in reclaiming their power and inspiration. She shares how many business owners gravitate toward analytical "left-brain" actions and lose access to their most potent tools: intuition, imagination, and ideation.  

Susie shares her process known as the 5Ms™: meditation, morning pages, movement, moments of inspired learning, and making something. The 5Ms™ are powerful ways to interrupt your pattern of thoughts and behaviors. Susie encourages listeners to "get in the balcony of your perspective" and completely shift their lives and businesses.

Podcast host Christopher Miller shares his passion for Richard Nelson Bolles' book, What Color is Your Parachute? and one of its exercises that focus on writing down past achievements. Susie calls the process "Play Histories" and asks her clients to write stories and, upon completion, go back and circle the verbs. These verbs are powerful hints about your core essential self and help us remember what brings us alive.

Creativity is a state of connection and ground for an entrepreneur. In the moments of creating, we send down a taproot into our depths, allowing intuitive hits to rush to the surface. Once our intuition is ignited, we learn to trust ourselves, break through being stuck, and enjoy newfound clarity that powers our ability to reach our goals.

Susie cautions the listeners on the tendency to avoid their truth by engaging in habits that buffer us from experiencing our feelings, such as overworking, perfectionism, numbing food, and alcohol, and letting negative thoughts go unaddressed. Use her process to relax, recenter into your authentic vitality, and access your creativity back channels.

Susie deVille is a speaker, author, and Founder & CEO of the Innovation & Creativity Institute, a coaching firm connecting entrepreneurs and business leaders to their innate capabilities, guiding them to lead from a place of creative confidence. Susie is on a mission to show entrepreneurs and creators the power of trusting themselves and how to work lighter while making higher profits. Her book, BUOYANT: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free, is available wherever books are sold. For more information, visit InnovationandCreativityInstitute.com. 

Seeking clarity for life? In the episode, Chris continues his conversation about “being in the hallway” or being in that in-between place of indecision caused by a loss of job, change of relationship, health challenge, or other life experience.

Chris explores Ellen Debenport’s book, “Hell in the Hallway, Light at the Door,” and notes her definition that “prayer is focused thought that moves energy.” When we know that spirit is always speaking to us, we can set a clear intention and pray with the intent to “reveal what needs to be revealed and heal what needs to be healed.”

Chris reviews some of Ellen’s guidance tips on being in the hallway, including not skipping the grieving, expecting delays, accepting where you are, taking responsibility, being willing to forgive and seeing the situation or person differently, and asking others to hold the space for you.

Ask yourself, what is in this situation for me? Reveal what needs to be revealed. For more information, visit https//spiritualartistoday.com

Podcast host, Christopher J. Miller shares his insecurities when viewing the work of a talented artist. When he feels jealousy or envy, he uses the emotional experience to remind him of his own unique value. We succeed when we fully embrace our individual creative DNA with 100% authenticity. If you're feeling jealous, consider that you're not fully expressing yourself.
Chris announces an upcoming podcast interview with Cynthia James to discuss her new book, “Does My Voice Matter?”
For more information, visit https//spiritualartisttoday.com.

Podcast host Chris Miller reviews the best gift ever given to him; when his sister affirmed that he "bounces" back from bad experiences. He accepted this belief at a very young age and has declared it his own throughout his life. He encourages the listener to pay attention to their thoughts, affirm the good ones and pivot the negative ones into positive ones. The episode concludes with a positive spiritual declaration. 

#beliefssystem #belief #spiritualdeclaration

Transformational coach and inspirational leader Cynthia James introduces her new book, "Does My Voice Matter?" Cynthia explains that the term "voice" is used as a metaphor to define the aspect of being more fully yourself. She encourages the listener to be more fully who they are, whether an author, painter, or writer, and let themselves be seen in the world.

She asks us to take action when we hear that inner calling and claim our unique voice. She believes we deprive people of our gifts when we hold back from our whole self.

The past doesn't define us, and we get to choose how we want to respond and show up in the world at any moment. She reminds the listener that no matter how we show up, somebody won't like it.

When we learn to listen and ask heartfelt questions, it opens space for both people.

Each chapter starts with a chronological timeline of world events by decade, followed by Cynthia's own experiences during that same time period.

Cynthia emphasizes the importance of coming from the heart when creating. She challenges the listener to work from the heart and let their authenticity come through. 

At the end of the interview, she encourages readers to do the exercises at the end of each chapter and let the process work for them.

Cynthia excels as an International speaker, coach, singer, and multiple award-winning author of What Will Set You Free and Revealing Your Extraordinary Essence and #1 Amazon Bestseller for I Choose Me: The Art of Being a Phenomenally Successful Woman at Home and Work. For more information, visit http://cynthiajames.net. 

Yoga teacher Lisa Coyle returns to The Spiritual Artist podcast to discuss the destructive cycle of stress and anxiety on the body. Her deeply informative podcast explains how the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work and the importance of restorative practices in your daily routine. According to Lisa, our parasympathetic system supports us; the more we let go, the more we are supported.

Lisa practices yin yoga and yogic sleep to counter the adverse effects of chronic fight or flight on the body. Yogic sleep is a restorative guided meditation where your body and mind sleep while your consciousness remains awake. When in yogic sleep, the body heals, repairs, and detoxifies. According to Lisa, “We are nothing more and nothing less than part of universal consciousness. My consciousness is still alert, but my mind is quiet during this sleep.”

Chris and Lisa discuss the rampage of autoimmune issues in society today based on poor digestion. Poor digestion, air quality, and stress out picture as autoimmune issues, and there is a direct gut/brain connection. A chronic deluge of stress hormones weakens the digestive system. Chris asks the listener to mindfully notice how much time they spend in a stressful state during the following week.

Lisa closes the episode by sharing her technique for deep diaphragmatic breathing to quiet anxiety and stress whenever it occurs.

Lisa Coyle, RYT, HHC, AYS, is a Para Yoga Nidra Certified Teacher, a Yoga 4 Cancer Certified Teacher, a Yoga and Meditation Instructor, a Holistic Health Coach, and an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant. For more information on her coaching, visit www.lisacoyleyoga.com. Her Yin Yoga Yogic Sleep class is available via www.thematyogastudio.com on Zoom.

Podcast host CJMiller asks listeners to be willing to examine their beliefs each day. When we learn to "be the watcher" of our beliefs, we begin to actively participate in creating our lives. Are your current beliefs moving you forward, or are they holding you back? There is no right or wrong, but there is a "right for you."  

Take extra care this week to watch your thoughts and ask Byron Katie's question, "Is this true?" to become a creative co-creator.

For more information, visit https://spiritualartisttoday.com

#byronkatie #beliefs #bethewatcher

Michaela Haas, Ph.D., an award-winning reporter and author of three non-fiction books, wrote her most recent book looking for answers to a chronic health issue she experienced. 

Two psychologists, Richard G. Tedeschi, Ph.D., and Lawrence Calhoun, Ph.D., coined the term "post-traumatic growth" from their work with survivors. Michaela wondered how other people navigate through trauma, illness, and death.

In "Bouncing Forward: The Art and Science of Cultivating Resilience," Michaela interviews iconic "mavens of post-traumatic growth," including Writer and Civil Rights Activist Mia Angelou, ex-POW Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum, famed jazz guitarist and Holocaust survivor Coco Schumann, Buddhist Teacher Roshi Bernie Glassman, and many more.

Michaela gravitated toward Mia Angelou's definition of resilience. As opposed to bouncing forward, resilience explains that we can never bounce back; we will never be the same after that loss, but we can forge a path ahead, and it's not something that happens immediately.

She discovered a change in five different areas of their lives:

• Personal strength
• Deeper relationships with others
• Newer perspectives on life
• A new appreciation for life
• A change of spirituality

Michaela emphasizes that one of the essential components of resilience is joining like community and sharing your experience. "No one can do it on their own," she said. "Finding support is the most crucial step." She now defines herself as a solutions journalist, seeking stories of effective, reproducible solutions to society's most pressing issues.

Michaela is a contributing editor for David Byrne's Reasons to be Cheerful and has been writing for the New York Times, AlJazeera, Rotary International, the Huffington Post, CBS, and numerous other media. Awards include the Professional Excellence Award 2022-2023 from the Foreign Press Correspondents Association & Club (AFPC-USA), Winner ASJA Health Writing 2022, First Place Environmental Reporting LAPress Club 2020, a.o. Find her at www.MichaelaHaas.com

#solutionsjournalism

Power Skills Specialist Lee Ann Piano shares the importance of writing a Vision Statement to achieve what you desire. As the New Year approaches, Lee Ann reviews four reasons to start with a clear vision for your life:  

1. Vision moves you forward with passion and purpose.  
2. It helps your dreams become bigger than your past  
3. Gives you clarity  
4. It gets you in the game of life and keeps you there  

Lee Ann explains the importance of knowing your Why before writing a vision statement. What is your reason for being? According to Lee Ann, if you don’t direct your life, your life will direct you. Your life comes down to choice. Are you choosing to be a victim or an overcomer?  

Once you are clear on your why statement, write out a vision that follows the rules of the 3Ps; make it personal, positive, and present tense. Our subconscious mind is programmed to receive information best in this format.  

She recommends a neuro process known as autogenic conditioning. Autogenic condition relies on writing, seeing, and speaking the vision aloud. When you add feeling, it ensures that the message reaches your subconscious and accelerates the manifestation.  

Lee Ann and Chris discuss a reinforcement technique. Use your vision statement to create the password for your computer or phone. Take the first letter of each word and make a password. Every time you enter your password, it reinforces your vision.  

During the podcast, Lee Ann shares her journey through the trauma of breast cancer and 33 radiation treatments. As she received the treatments, Lee Ann would envision her life 5, 10, and 20 years after the diagnosis.  

It is not big enough if your vision does not take you out of your comfort zone. Most importantly, you must be decisive about your idea. Absolute belief, tenacity, and action will hold the vision.  

Lee Ann reminds the listener not to limit themselves. Don’t settle. And don’t try to figure out how it will happen; believe that it will happen.  

In conclusion, Lee Anne shares five daily reflection questions to confirm that you are growing and course correct with your vision.  

• What am I proud of today?  
• Where did I make my most progress?  
• What did I learn today?  
• What will I do differently tomorrow?  
• What am I grateful for?  

Lee Ann Piano is an author, speaker, and sales & leadership coach who has been fine-tuning the performance of professionals nationally and internationally for over 20 years. She has equipped thousands of individuals with forward-thinking, real-world tools that accelerate influence and impact change.  

Lee Ann is a master facilitator and skilled developer of people. Her knowledge and expertise as a John Maxwell certified trainer and coach, coupled with her award-winning sales success in the telecom, software, and real estate industries, enable her to create new, innovative programs that speak directly to the needs of today’s empowered professionals.  

For more information, visit https://leeannpiano.com. 

Good things require space. Look to nature as an example. Podcast Host CJ Miller asks listeners to take the step and let things go to create space for new possibilities to arrive. Sometimes we must be willing to release in faith before we see the next step. What is holding you back? Let it go this holiday season. Empty a closet or stop an activity taking space in your life. Or consider giving up an obligation that is no longer serving you. If you wait for new things to arrive before you let go, it won’t happen. You have to create space first.

#letgo
#emptyacloset
#newyearresolution
#howdoiattractpositivethings

Contemporary metal leaf oil artist Michelle Sakhai reveals her process of connecting to deep feelings and transforming them into love when she paints. She shares the importance of sitting with our emotions, even those parts of ourselves that we avoid, and by honoring, them, we transform them.  

"It doesn't matter what your paint, whether figurative or abstract, but it matters that you are present and connecting to your higher self," she said. It's a form of meditation because you connect to a deeper part of yourself. 

Michelle has used breathwork, prayer, incense, and other aspects of her native upbringing that represent home to align with her creative state. Everyone's tools will be unique to them. Michelle cautions that you should never be so attached to your tools that you can only work with them.

Be prepared to try new things. Being uncomfortable can be good; challenge yourself by choosing something outside your comfort zone. 

Michelle explains that working with metallic leaf belies a childhood spent in the hills of Japan near a Buddhist temple. She was reacquainted with metallic leaf when visiting an Asian exhibit in San Francisco and loved the texture, brilliance, and way that metallic leaf catches the light.

Michelle uses metallic flakes loosely to capture light and flutter with passing movement. "You don't stop the leaf from falling off the painting," she said. "I put so much on that even if some falls off, there's plenty left." It's the changing and evolving aspect of the art that Michelle likes so much.

Michelle Sakhai is a contemporary artist who specializes in metal-leaf oil paintings. Her mixed heritage has shaped her as an artist. With both Persian and Japanese roots, her art derives influences from both cultures. Family trips to Japan initially exposed her to metal leaf and inspired her to become a pioneer in this medium.

Sakhai's paintings are exhibited in worldwide galleries, including Tokyo, Ibiza, Miami, and New York City. Her art remains in private and public collections, including the Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, and Kamakura Park in Japan. 

Sakhai's work has been exhibited in Universities, including Stamford, Michigan Medicine, The Academy of Art, Hofstra, and Mary Hardin-Baylor. She recently published her first book on Amazon titled 'Awakening,' a compilation of 200 paintings.

Follow her on Instagram @michellesakhaiart or visit her website www.michellesakhai.com for more information.

Podcast Host Christopher J. Miller kicks off the new year by asking listeners to claim their Superpowers and release their New Year’s Resolutions. What we focus on grows. When we concentrate on lack, we attract more lack. When we focus on abundance, we attract abundance. Our Superpower is what makes our unique expressions of Spirit! 

What is special and unique to me? Many Superheroes hide behind another identity. Are you disguising your gifts because you’re afraid they are unacceptable? Chris challenges the listeners to let their Superpower show. Have you hidden your Superpower?  

Realize that you have many different Superpowers. After this podcast, take 10 minutes, reflect and write out three Superpowers. Ask yourself, “Spirit in me, what is my Superpower, and how can I express it?” 

Visit http://spiritualartistoday.com to sign up for the online SEC Community Book club. 

In this episode, Podcast Host Christopher J. Miller shares his experience with Deepak Chopra's Law of Pure Potentiality and the Gap. Chris urges listeners to stretch the moment of empty space before making the next decision on their canvas or in their personal lives. 

As an artist, don’t rush to the end and don’t repeat past successes. We are here to be original creators. It’s about the journey, not the destination. Discover new aspects of your Creative DNA by not filling space too quickly. Set your intention, make space, and let Spirit bring you countless possibilities. 

The longer we are able to stay in the space of the unknown, the more creative opportunities will arise. While it’s scary to be “in the Gap,” know that one key principle of nature will work for you. Nature abhors a vacuum, and Spirit will respond to your intention through divine intuition. 

Make sure to follow this podcast by clicking on the three small circles in the podcast player. Visit http://spiritualartistoday.com to sign up for the online SEC Community Book club. 

#field of infinite possibilities 

#deepak chopra motivational speech 

#creative field of possibilities 

#its about the journey not the destination 

#nature abhors a vacuum law of attraction 

Podcast host Christopher Miller explains what it means when something or someone is not on your path. Citing a real-life example, Chris shares his frustration when someone is not genuine and how he learned the importance of listening to his intuition. People aren’t always self-aware. Sometimes they’re just not on your path.

If you try to force things to happen, your trying to tell a Greater Power what to do rather than listen to guidance. However, when you commit to saying that someone is not on your path, you can’t harbor anger or ill feelings because resisting them keeps them on your path.

When we don’t listen to our intuition, we are not listening to our Spirit. Do you listen to the voice or try to force something to happen? Where in your life are you trying to force things to happen right now?

When you argue with them, you are putting them back on your path, and they are blocking you from the next great thing. Spirit is always leading you to wonderful new opportunities. Listen and let go of the ones that aren’t on your path. Trust that the next best thing is on its way.

#howtodealwithsomeonewhotreatsyoubadly

#hesjustnotthatintoyou

#trustyourinnerknowing

#trustyourintuitionaboutaperson

#trustyourintuitioninrelationships

#justnotonyourpath

Women are often shamed for using skills traditionally attributed to a good salesperson. Miriam Thiel, a conscious business & life coach, helps women entrepreneurs connect the dots to feel good about marketing and sales conversations without giving up on integrity. Through her unique process of breathwork and belief examination, Miriam helps woman embrace their full potential.  

In this episode, Miriam shares her personal sales journey and explains how being an introvert can benefit sales. She explains the importance of active listening and transparency in a business exchange. Miriam encourages radical change by recognizing when you are uncomfortable and locating the belief behind that feeling.  

Before entering any conversation, you need to feel in balance with yourself. If you enter a conversation with fear, people notice that. Miriam encourages you to enter relationships with vulnerability and authenticity.  

According to Miriam, listening is an excellent Superpower. We all want to be seen, heard, and understood. Empathy and care for the other are valuable to a sales relationship. 

Create the space for the client and yourself to say “no” if necessary; you don’t need to work with everyone.  

According to Miriam, we live in systems, and sometimes, these beliefs are deeply ingrained in both men and women. While some traits are encouraged in men and some in women, it’s when we become whole beings and welcome all qualities in ourselves that we arrive at true abundance.  

Miriam uses Revelation Breathwork and cites one of her favorite books, “The Body Keeps the Score,” by Bessel A. Van der Kolk, for reference.  

Women can embrace their “sales side” by focusing on their connection with others and how they bring a valuable service to them. If you’re scared, you’re focusing on yourself; focus on the other.  

For more information, visit her website, https://www.miriamthiel.com, or follow her on Facebook at @itsmiriamthiel. More information about Chris is available a https://www.spiritualartisttoday.com 

 

How can you be a better public speaker? Author and speaking coach Gail Larsen shares her transformation process with the listener. Each of us brings a gift to the world that is original and is our form of art. Transformational defines when things shift; through our internal growth and throughout the planet. 

Gail’s book reviews all the technical skills of Speaking, but approaches speaking holistically, starting with the heart of your Speaking. She believes that your original talents and skills are your Original Medicine and encourages her students to name their medicine and stand in the power of it.

Her process distinguishes between the Comfort Zone of speaking and the Home Zone. The Comfort Zone encompasses the professional persona and credentials we traditionally associate with public speakers. The Home Zone defines your “Original Medicine” message and the story that only you can share. Gail says you find your audience if you are true to yourself.

When we speak from our Home Zone, we are present in the moment with our true story. It’s a place of vulnerability and truth. Gail believes that if what we share is not emotional, it will not touch the audience profoundly and transformatively.

She shares a favorite quote by Martin Shaw, an acclaimed teacher of myth and storyteller. He claims, “You don’t trap a story. You track it.”  Gail’s methodology and concept were also influenced by Angeles Arrien and her book titled, “The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrier, Teacher, Healer, and Visionary.

Gail Larsen is the author of Transformational Speaking: If You Want to Change the World, Tell a Better Story, Gail has been in the world of speaking for decades, first as an SBA award-winning entrepreneur and soon after that as the first full-time executive of the National Speakers Association. 

Her study informs her work of cross-cultural and perennial wisdom. Her focus is on uncovering our true gifts before applying strategy so that our work is original, sustainable, and genuine. She offers Transformational Speaking to a global audience through her Online Academy and live immersions in Santa Fe, NM.

She served on the faculty of Omega Institute from 2008 until Covid! Several of her graduates have been named to Oprah’s Super Soul 100 as awakened leaders who use their voices and talents to elevate humanity.  www.realspeaking.com 

Dorayne Breedlove is a storyteller, musician, artist, spiritual mentor, and teacher who leads drum circles and sacred circle dances. In this episode, she focuses on the practice of a labyrinth walk. 

Unlike a maze, a labyrinth is not designed with choices. There is one path that twists and winds your way to the center of the circular maze. That same path is followed to exit. According to Breedlove, a labyrinth walk is a spiritual walk that serves as a metaphor for life; there are a lot of twists and turns—the challenge is to stay present. 

Dorayne currently mentors children in a private learning association called The Pride. She provides project-based learning to these students and explains how she and her partner, Doug, instructed them to build a labyrinth near Austin, Texas. By entering a cycle in the middle of the location and using a long, marked rope in a compass-like manner, the group moved native rocks to define the path. 

The conversation includes a mention of Lauren Artress's book called "Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice.  

Dorayne’s process starts with centering and connection. She sets an intention, whether to feel peace, process emotion, or gain insight about some life situation. 

Dorayne uses the inward journey for RELEASE. While walking this portion of the path, she releases judgment, control, negative feelings, fear, and shoulds. She creates space to receive. 

Once in the center, she RECEIVES impressions, guidance, insights, and intuitions. 

After leaving the center, she RETURNS with gratitude, reflection, and thoughts of integration. 

The podcast concludes with Dorayne sharing her enlightening thoughts from a recent walk. To find a labyrinth near you, visit www.labyrinthlocator.com. You can download a practice sheet on the Practice Guides subpage of www.spiritualartisttoday.com. 

For more information on Dorayne's programs for people to connect within and with others to feel love, support, reverence, and relatedness, visit www.DorayneBreedlove.com

Is doubt holding you back from creativity? Podcast host Christopher Miller reminds you that you already have everything you need to create original, one-of-a-kind art right now. 

Can I make magic happen on this canvas? Am I unique? Am I worthy? He shares a chapter from his book, "The Spiritual Artist," on the Intelligence of Being and asks listeners to recognize this intelligence within themselves. 

How does a cantaloupe seed know how to grow? There is a certain logic, a system behind the cantaloupe contained in one tiny seed. It has an intelligence of being. We also have this built in design. 

We recognize the intelligence within and simply let go. Accept what it is. Resist judgment and fear. And let the intelligence behind us walk us through the creative process.  

If you doubt something, perhaps you're trying too hard. Trust that you are unique and special. You have an "Intelligence of Being" built within you. 

Sculptor, Painter, and Artist Curtis Frederick reveals his process toward achieving timeless flow. Curtis uses various spiritual exercises, including writing morning pages, turning off the mind, emotional release, and dance. 

 Curtis shares how he used Julia Cameron's Morning Pages process from her book, "The Artist's Way." The practice involves writing three pages of a stream of thought every morning. Podcast host Chris Miller elaborates that morning pages are an excellent opportunity to stand back and watch your thoughts from afar. 

How do we get to that unplanned place?  According to Curtis, the artwork will define itself when we let go, be vulnerable and embrace our imperfections during the creative process. He emphasizes that good artwork is about telling a story. 

According to Curtis, the worse thing an artist can do is focus on what others want and what will make them happy. As artists, we should look within ourselves for expression. We often fall into the trap of looking for what's trending and trying to figure out the audience rather than letting our inner out. 

Curtis emphasizes his desire to create emotional art. While cuisine, religion, and language vary worldwide, emotions are universal. He encourages artists to love themselves first and make time for creativity. We can be accepted if we express ourselves. 

Curtis Frederick is an artist, sculptor, and painter in Dallas, Texas. He is an award-winning artist across the United States. Some of his exhibitions include Buchanan Center of the Arts (IL), Craven Art Council (NC), Farmington Museum (NM), Blue Line Arts (CA), Craighead Green Gallery (TX), Cooperstown Art Association (NY), Alexandria Museum of Art (LA), and Art League of Hilton Head (SC). 

His work has also been featured in the book "Gate Posts With No Gate- The leg paint project"- Shanti Arts Publishing. For more information on his work, visit www.curtisfrederickfineart.com. 

Podcast host, Christopher J. Miller shares his three-step process to move from disbelief to belief.  Sometimes we feel blocked by our beliefs when changing our lives. How do we change our life situation? We change our limiting beliefs. 

First, start by cracking open the door and just considering the possibility.  We once believed that man couldn't fly, but it's possible today. Our ancestors wouldn't have believed that we could land on the moon or communicate without wires. 

Second, claim a similar experience from your past. Look back in your history and see where you achieved something you considered impossible. Download the Practice Guide online and make a list of past successes. 

Third, do a multisensory visualization. Close your eyes and use all five senses to experience it in fruition. See it in your mind's eye. Hear it. Taste it. Touch it and experience the feeling of what it would be like once you achieve this creative manifestation. 

For more information or to download a practice guide, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. 

Podcast Host Christopher Miller got out of the "wrong side of the bed" this morning and feels anxious. In the episode, he shares the importance of accepting your emotions and letting them take you on a journey.  

How do you process negative emotions? By accepting and feeling them completely. Emotions are what make us humans and connect us to others. Let your feelings take you to that next creative place.  Ram Dass states, "As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be, you can't see how it is." 

Part of being a Spiritual Artist is surrendering to what is. You can't resist your emotions, whether it's what you're experiencing in the art studio or in your life. Chris explains what he means by saying, "Be still. Listen. And know that you are a Spiritual Artist." 

He reminds listeners of the importance of having a spiritual practice and reading something inspiring first thing in the morning. He references the Guide for Spiritual Living magazine published by the Centers for Spiritual Living. 

Ask yourself, "How do I feel right now?" Whatever the answer, accept what it is.  

For more information or to download a practice guide, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. 

International Coach and Senior Trainer for the More to Life Foundation Ann McMaster shares how the More to Life methodology reveals your Real Reality.  

More to Life is based on Dr. K. Bradford Brown and Dr. W. Roy Whitten's training program that enables people to make fundamental changes. Their premise is to be awake to reality– the reality of our essence, relationships, and the moment and circumstance in which we find ourselves. 

Ann walks Podcast Host Christopher J. Miller through one of his recent Lifeshock experiences to demonstrate how the process works. After we experience a Lifeshock, we interpret the experience based on our current situation and belief systems. This response is known as Mindtalk. With clarity, we revisit the Lifeshock and ask ourselves three questions. Are our thoughts true or false, or do we simply not know? The process helps us live in the real world instead of one made up in our heads. The ultimate goal is learning to live our true destiny.  

Ann aligns herself with this saying, "I am who I am, You Are who you are. My journey is my Journey; Your Journey is not my journey. And all journeys work in the big scheme of things." 

To understand more about the thinking mind, the feeling heart, and the knowing gut, Ann refers the listener to another book titled "Mbraining: Using your multiple brains to do cool stuff" by Grant Soosalu and Marvin Oka. 

Ann reminds the listener of one undeniable truth, "We belong right here, right now." 

Ann McMaster has been training, coaching, and working with people from Europe, New Zealand/Australia/Fiji, Mexico, Colombia, and South Africa – where she lived for two years. She is a psychotherapist, trainer, consultant, and coach. She has worked with people across the US, the UK, Mexico, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Brussels, Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and South Africa, where she lived for two years. 

As a Senior Trainer for the More To Life Foundation, she has also led courses for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Texas and California. She has been a consultant for the New Mexico State Prison System. She is the author of "Lifeshocks Out of the Blue: Learning from your Life's Experiences," available on Amazon.com. 

She loves working with people and learning about new ways to make a difference in the world.  You can check her out at www.annmcmaster.com. For more information about More to Life events, visit www.moretolife.org. 

Dallas Glass Artist Amy Voss shares her process for making glass sculptures from damaged guitars, dealing with criticism of your art, and other essential life lessons. 

Amy was passionate about music and was attracted to creating art from old guitars. She explains that she avoids huge grout lines by cutting precise glass and using Frit and gold leaf gilding. She doesn't use resin on the entire face of the guitar because it creates a manufactured look; she prefers leaving a raw, organic look to her glass sculpture. 

During the interview, Amy and Chris discussed the importance of being present while working and spending the appropriate amount of time. According to Amy, you enjoy the process for what it is, or you shouldn't be doing it. Ourr art comes from a place that is personal to the artist. What's important about your art is your experience when you make it. 

Amy and Chris discuss stepping out in embarrassment. Amy often stands anonymously by her work during a show while listening to the viewers' comments. 

Amy encourages artists not to respond to negative criticism. She needed her life experiences to learn how to let things go. Get to a point when you have zero fucks to give. Surround yourself with people that do get you. Take the good with the bad, and don't take it personally. Sometimes making your point and making yourself heard happens by being silent. 

You cannot separate personal growth from creativity. According to Amy, life imitates art. The more confidence you have in your work, the better your work is going to be. 

Amy grew up in Houston, TX, and graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. After graduating college, Amy worked in the entertainment industry as Southwest Promotions Director for Lyric Street Records, Affiliate Relations Director for ESPN Radio and ABC Television network.  

A self-taught artist, Amy experimented with various approaches before she landed on her signature style: One-of-a-kind glass sculptures that incorporate the body of an acoustic guitar as the canvas. 

In 2009, she launched glass Axes to sell bespoke works and educate customers about her process. Many of Amy's guitar sculptures have been acquired by private collectors, including entertainer Katy Perry and renowned entertainment industry execs, hotels, and restaurants. She is currently represented in Europe by Hiren Kothari of Gallery Privé. Amy currently resides in Dallas with her husband and son. 

For more information about Amy, visit https://glassaxes.com/ 

In this episode, Dallas-based multi-media artist Ann DeRulle shares how she receives intuitive guidance to create her transformative, inspirational, and uplifting paintings. She sees an image or hears words instructing her to create detailed pictures that display sacred geometry, often tiered through plexiglass layers that emanate transformative energy. 

Ann and Chris discuss her creative process and how she receives Divine Guidance to make art that resonates with energy. Chris experiences an "aha" moment when he realizes that he can receive guidance during the planning stage of a project as well as during the creative act. 

According to Ann, humanity is migrating from an external world of 3-D external sustenance to a 5-D world of eternal sustenance. She deconstructs her "Love Without End" painting to share how her geometry, grids, color choice, line work, and position provide an energetic charge. Other images in her 5-D Transformative Series include Evolution, Inspiration, Consciousness Manifested, and Ascension. 

Ann's ever-evolving work synthesizes 25+ years of scientific/spiritual/art study, including more than 15 energy-balancing modalities plus intuition. In addition to her artistic creations, Ann provides energy healing to individuals and environmental remediation to home and office locations through her Quantum Solutions business. 

Ann asks the listeners to recognize themselves and their environment. What are you resonating with that you don't want to be resonating with? And what do you want to resonate with? 

Ann DeRulle founded Life Changes Unlimited in 1997 and integrates 25 years of scientific and spiritual training in personal empowerment consultations using her exclusive Quantum Solutions process. Ann also clears toxic, detrimental energies in our homes and offices by transforming them into positive, life-enhancing energy through her Zapp Technique. For more information, visit https://annderulleart.com. 

Are you in the channel of love? Are you practicing love consciousness?  After Podcast host Christopher Miller spends the afternoon volunteering in the Equity Texas booth during Carrollton Pride, he realizes that we have one resource that will never run out; love. 

Why celebrate LGBTQ diversity? Because diversity inspires creativity. Chris notices the incredible creativity in dress and expression. Each attendee demonstrates their self-love through their clothing and generosity. 

Why do we often find ourselves hesitant to practice love? What are we afraid of? We have two main reasons we resist love; we're worried that we only have so much available, and we think we must be totally like those we love. 

Real love isn't limited. When we love one thing, it doesn't take our love away from us. There is no limitation to the amount of love we can share, and when we love and accept others, it doesn't make us all alike. 

If those reasons aren't enough, Chris explains a practical reason to demonstrate love. When we practice love consciousness to release creativity, we create possibilities. When we are feeling love, we are most aligned with Spirit. When we are in a state of love without judgment or fear, that is when creativity and ideas flow. These ideas have no limitation to solving any world crisis. 

Are you in the channel of love? Chris encourages the listener to practice loving those they encounter this week despite whether they are like you or of the same beliefs.

Artist Rebecca Collins returns to The Spiritual Artist Podcast. Rebecca Collins is a mixed media artist working in mosaic, collage, watercolor and digital arts and was Chris’ first podcast interview more than two year ago. 

Rebecca reminds listeners about the importance of slowing down and being present to the process both as a teacher and as an artist. As a teacher Rebecca is very aware of time; she wants to ensure that each student completes the process.  

Rebecca has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer for more than 8 years and shares the importance of enjoying each day and recalls a lifetime of meeting deadlines and high productivity. As a greeting card illustrator, she produced a dozen/dozen card sets at one time. Learning to group her tasks as a mosaic artist.At this time, she has decided to focus more on her larger pieces that take longer to produce. 

Rebecca revisits her mantra, “The more you do, the more you can do.” She realizes that it’s a true statement but it no longer serves her. We can choose new beliefs. As Spiritual Artists we constantly reexamine our beliefs. Rebecca notes that when we work slower, we increase our stamina and can work longer. 

Rebecca explains that by slowing her body she can slow down her thoughts. Mosaics are very therapeutic because they are like working a puzzle. Rebecca uses drawing to slow her mind and be present. She explains how to see by drawing upside down. It’s learning to see what what is there and not what we think is there. She emphasizes the importance of seeing with fresh eyes. 

When receiving her 3-hour transfusions, Rebecca started a series of healthy cell drawings and self-portraits to chronicle her journey through healing. 

Rebecca teaches at the Creative Arts Center, Makers Connect Gallery and in her home studio. For more information, visit  

After visiting Daniela Pasqualini at her show, Podcaster Chris Miller furthers the conversation by asking about self-marketing, spirituality, and more. Daniela uses gratitude as a creative spiritual practice and radiates incredible positive energy.

When approaching a lousy day, she uses routine, exercise, and focus to move through them. She uses exercise to free her mind and sets an intention every week. Daniela uses heavy texture in her paintings achieved through acrylic and impasto. Her work is to be seen and felt and, depending on perspective, has a feeling of movement.

In the interview, she deconstructs her thought process behind a painting titled "Mesmerizing Waterfall." The image illustrates mediation's goal: to step back from our thoughts and get out of our minds.

Daniela concentrates on marketing your art business in the second half of the interview. She introduces the BLEND acronym. B stands for “Be Open” to criticism. Not everyone will like your work. L stands for “Learn””. Learn everything you can about marketing and organizational skills. E stands for “educate yourself.” N stands for “networking” and supporting other artists. D stands for "Don't Give Up" and "Don't Compare Yourself to Other Artists."

She recommends concentrating on one social media channel and focuses much of her efforts on Instagram. She primarily uses videos and reels to post on the channel. Her marketing content mix is 60% showing and advertising what you do, 20% educational, and the remaining 20% entertaining. She ensures she hits these goals by creating a content calendar based on each weekday. The artist recommends using an Instagram business account so you can check the metrics. Other tips include making shorter clips, using trending music, and adding a hook to the beginning of the clip. A call to action should be at the end of each post.

Gratitude and positive energy are your most potent marketing tools. Daniela is a self-taught Italian-born artist now living in Dallas.

Daniela has been featured in countless exhibitions worldwide, including locations like the Vatican and the Louvre. She is represented in galleries across the globe, including Asia, Europe, and here in the United States, and has been featured as a best-selling artist." The active artist has three children under the age of 11. For more information about Daniela, visit www.danielapasqualini.com and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_by_dany/ 

Dr. Lori Eanes, D.O., Author, and Corporate Wellness Speaker, shares her "Five Simple Solutions for a Healthier Lifestyle" with podcast Host Christopher Miller. Chris is having a frazzled morning when Dr. Lori advises him to stop, listen and retrain his brain. 

At no time have we ever had so much information and distraction, and it's leading to a mental disorder. Dr. Lori says," We have to control the mind and not let the mind control us."  

According to Dr. Lori, Americans consume 50% of all the drugs manufactured worldwide. We have become an overly medicated society. Integrative medicine balances the wisdom of history with the science of today 

Dr. Lori teaches integrative medicine, which uses all forms of healing, including herbology, nutrition, mind-body medicine, exercise therapy, and meditation. 

She encourages the listener to ask their doctor what they do for their wellbeing. She doesn't focus on how to treat an illness but, more importantly, why we get sick. 

The conversation mentions Louise L. Hay's "Heal Your Body" book, which matches mental causes for physical illness. If you have digestive issues, Dr. Lori asks, "What in your life on your not stomaching?" Look for the why of disease and disorder. What was happening when this occurred? 

The podcast host reminds the seeker always to remember the Law of Cause and Effect. We can't get more healing and less medicine until we get to the cause.  

Distracted? Dr. Lori resets her nervous system to a Zero Point every morning by turning her phone off and meditating or dancing. It's essential to gather your energy so that it is concentrated and focused on where you want to be. 

Five simple solutions are taken from Dan Buettner's book, "The Blue Zones. 

The Blue Zone describes a place on the planet where people live longer, healthier lives. What are they doing that contributes to this wellbeing? 

Dr. Lori shares Five Simple Solutions for a healthier lifestyle. 

1. Nourishing the body 
2. Quieting the mind 
3. Moving with Intention 
4. Seeking out Joy 
5. Having Gratitude for all things in life. 

Look at your constitution and develop a personalized health plan for yourself. According to Dr. Lora, "Doctors shouldn't just treat you; they should teach you." 

For more information or coaching, visit https://www.drlorieanes.com/ 

Creativity is a way to let emotions flow through you. When we express feelings, we facilitate the experience, but when they are repressed, they block our access to higher thinking and intuition. In this episode, Dr. Jayne Gardner, Performance Business Coach with a background in family therapy, explains that buried emotions never die, but they make us sick. 

According to Dr. Jayne, our emotions are part of our brain. We like to believe that we are thinking rational beings, but we are usually emotionally reactive. Learning to manage your emotions is critical to thinking higher innovative thoughts. Many of us have been taught to think through problems, not feel through difficulties. In the podcast, Dr. Jaynes uses her hand to demonstrate the three parts of the brain; the thinking, emotion and bodily functions brains. 

Dr. Jayne says the emotional brain can be more potent than the thinking brain. How do our brains feel emotions? The assumptions you made as a child form your belief systems, and they unconsciously lead you around. 

The more you allow your natural emotions to be there, the more you can move up the emotional scale. You can download a copy of this scale by visiting www.spiritualartisttoday.com/practiceguides. 

Dr. Jayne shares how a history of childhood emotional repression and the unwritten expectation that women cannot convey certain emotions blocked her from accessing her best thoughts. She explains the importance of feeling anger and uses an "anger bat" in privacy to move through the state. According to Dr. Jayne, that sound goes directly into your emotional brain when you scream. Screaming is the fastest way to eliminate any emotion. 

Our pure potential is limited until we release these negative emotional connections from the past. She advises the listener to go back and talk to their younger self and ask him/her/they how the experience felt. Dr. Jayne believes that we have to relive that experience and feel the emotion until we rise to and through the point of anger. 

She shares a few tips for processing emotions; practice awareness, take action, journal in the first and third person, and face the feeling. When we integrate our mental and emotional intelligence, we improve our access to our intuition and creativity. 

The conversation includes discussing Brene Brown's book, "I Thought It Was Me." 

For more information on Dr. Jayne Gardner and further reading material, visit https://drjaynegardner.com/  For more information on The Spiritual Artist podcast, visit www.spiritualartistoday.com

Join podcast host Christopher Miller as he explores the philosophical and spiritual implications of making AI art with artist Jeff Perkins. 

Jeff is an AI artist who seeks to use artificial intelligence to create stunning artwork. Blending technology with creativity, Jeff would like to be part of the movement to expand the art world's horizons using artificial intelligence. 

Chris challenges Jeff to answer, "Do you believe that when you make a digital image, there is a spiritual reflection of who you are contained in the final work?" 

Jeff explains that he feels the presence of something other than himself in his process and defines the experience as a form of co-creation. He does find himself experiencing flow when working on an image. 

Jeff begins the interview by presenting the term Digital Perspectivism. Digital Perspectivism is the view that reality is an abstraction; we perceive it from our perspective. In essence, this term means that all realities are valid, but all are different. 

He suggests that when we deal with others in life, we can be more compassionate and understanding toward them if we accept the idea of perspectivism. 

AI art can democratize art-making because it is now available to everyone with or without traditional training. However, he cautions that there is much to be discussed regarding ownership and copywriting of original work but believes that by using AI to create, we can expand the horizons of the art world. AI is forcing us to question what identity is. What is the ethical way of handling someone's digital persona? How do we address these concerns? 

Jeff briefly explains the process of entering a prompt, regenerating the results, and experiencing random effects. Randomness is built into the AI logarithm. According to Jeff, with every regeneration, we see the results mutating. However, each time we decide to regenerate an image, we are bringing ourselves into the creation of the project. We co-create with artificial intelligence.  

Jeff has found himself exploring gender and sexuality roles in his imagery because he wants to see images affirming his identity. LGBTQ themes are a significant area of focus for Jeff, who lives with his husband, artist Michael Duncan, in Dallas, Texas. He takes a digital perspectivist approach to AI art that seeks to validate diverse experiences mediated through digital technology. 

Chris and Jeff discuss the variable of randomness built into AI systems. They don't respond to the same prompt the same way each time. If your prompt is too specific, it can hinder the AI's ability to make adaptations. Learning to be open to random results is another trait of a spiritual artist. 

At the conclusion of the interview, Chris and Jeff reviewed the experience of making digital art. They noted many spiritual similarities between traditional and artificial intelligence systems when creating new work.

You can find examples of Jeff’s work on Instagram by visiting: jeffperkins_1452. 

Podcast host Christopher Miller sits with Irish Mixed Media Artist Iseult McCormack to discuss her upcoming solo show, "When I Close My Eyes." 

Iseult paints intuitively, drawing inspiration from the universe of her dreams and emotions. Her work explores the interplay between chaos and harmony while inviting viewers to connect and find their meaning in each piece. 

The artist believes in practicing the presence of love when she is in a flow state. Iseult shares her disappointment with overly planned paintings. Instead, she chooses to practice emotional presence when painting her spontaneous work.
  

In recent years, Iseult learned to stop trying to please others, let go and allow herself to make mistakes. As a Spiritual Artist, she listens to her intuitive voice, co-creates with some sort of higher power, and relishes being in that warm, comfortable place of connection. Iseult often uses writing to jump-start a blank canvas and is fearless in making big moves. 

She quotes writer Madalyn Beck, "Start over, my darling, be brave enough to find the life you want and courageous enough to chase it. Then start over and love yourself how you're always meant to." 

She ends the interview by reminding the listener to "notice what you noticed" and be a mindful creative artist.  

Iseult (E-sul-t) McCormack is an intuitive abstract artist from Bray, County Wicklow, working in mixed media. Iseult has delved into numerous mediums and traversed many creative paths, leading her to a place of profound peace and fulfillment. Within this realm, she thrives, translating her innermost visions onto canvas and inviting viewers into the ethereal landscapes of her dreams. 

For more information on Iseult, follow her on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/iseultmccormackcreations/ 

Creative Earth Coach and Artist Claire Takahashi explains the practice of creating a Morning Altar or Earth Art from natural objects. She guides her students through the process of creative sculptures with grass, rocks, leaves, seeds, and petals found in a wandering process. 

Claire believes it is essential to realign ourselves with nature to restore creativity and live more colorful lives. Morning altars are a tool to tap into your imagination and what you're feeling in the present moment. Using petals, the gifts of the Earth, to build something.  

She refers to David Abrams b book, "Becoming Animal" in which he explains that we have lost our connection to this planet and have become isolated from nature. She advises listeners to engage in a morning practice of connecting with nature, whether through a brief walk, taking off our shoes and connecting with the Earth, or building a morning altar.  

Podcast host Christopher Miller explains the importance of calming practice before entering the art studio. It's in a ritual that we align ourselves with a Greater Power. 

Claire is a self-taught artist who shares her watercolor experience and its fluid characteristics. She often incorporates natural objects in her work and is attracted to the unpredictable nature of watercolors. 

Chris and Claire share their experiences with different paper and board mediums, including the difference between hot and cold press paper.  They advise the listener to be present and notice the difference in art materials. 

She shares her process for listening, which includes wandering in nature and noticing what is speaking to you, pausing in place, and then letting the site wander around you. Ask yourself, how is she (nature) smelling, tasting, and speaking? 

Next time you drive around, lower your windows, smell the air, and be more present. She cautions, "Nature isn't always comfortable, but nature is honest." 

Claire Takahashi is a Creative Earth Coach, meditative guide, and artist of paint, petals, and words. She is certified as a Wayfinder Coach and a Morning Altar Teacher.  

Through her 1:1 coaching, creative workshops and Earth art guidance, Claire helps other humxns to reconnect with the Earth in their bones, uncage their inner creatures, and live with more colorful and restorative creativity.  

Claire is also the host of The Mindful Creature podcast, guided meditations for reconnecting with our creature cousins and calming our inner landscape. 

Besides her coaching and workshops, she is working on her first poetry collection and the second season of The Mindful Creature. Claire lives in the Pacific Northwest on Coast Salish lands, and most days, you can find her spattered with soil, paint, fur, or all three! 

You can find out more about Claire or join her monthly creative creature newsletter at www.clairetakahashi.com or find her on Instagram @claire.takahashi 

The podcast host gives a Spiritual Artist Chat about the importance of being like a child. We're always told, "Don't be Childish," but Chris tells the listener to do the opposite. He shares his experience while taking an old-fashioned bubble bath and the importance of using water to become more present. 

Notice the light hitting the bubbles, the sensation of the water on your skin, and the way the steam rises from the bath. Avoid creating a to-do list or thinking of ways to improve your life situation while enjoying your bath. As an option, he encourages the listener to bathe, shower, swim in the pool or go to a public park with a water fountain. Water grounds us to the present moment.

He explains how most of us try to solve a problem by changing a physical manifestation rather than focusing on staying in the space of spirit. By being a child, we access our inner intuition and guidance. 

The spiritual realm is much stronger than the physical realm. An idea or thought is more potent than any manifestation. You don't need to do anything but be present to the spirit in you reacting to the world around you, and then creativity happens. 

Trans femme, genderqueer spiritual drag artist Bonnie Violet shares how the creative process out pictures in her drag performances and speaking engagements. She has learned to lean into Grace to expand her role as an artist and let her inner child out.  

As a child, she was constantly told that she was not masculine enough or big enough by her father, but drag lets her lean in and embrace her femineity. She explains how today's gay, lesbian, biracial, and trans stereotypes limit our full creative expression. Our relationship to how we see ourselves impacts how we approach our lives.  

"When you see me, if you only see a trans person, then you don't see me," she said. "There's more to me than that."  

Bonnie Violet shares her definition of grace. When we recognize our grace, we realize that we are already worthy. We don't practice creativity to make ourselves whole; we are creative just because.  

She explains how grace has expanded her view of life. She uses the definition of a White House as a metaphor. When a 10-year-old defines the term "White House," it differs from that of a 40-year-old. Our understanding of what "a white house" means enlarges. We can lean into our knowledge.  

Bonnie has learned to embrace herself wholeheartedly and continues to reveal parts of her that were always there; that is the gift of being a queer, trans, drag artist. She has the opportunity to push limits and boundaries.  

Grace puts God back into her life. Bonnie Violet explains that she gets to be part of her creation. She is a co-creator with the creator and has agency. Her creator is always with her.  

Bonnie ends the interview by reminding the listener that art helps us stop long enough to be present with ourselves. She has chosen to lace her narrative with a spiritual threat and enjoys teaching that process to others.  

Bonnie Violet is a trans femme genderqueer spiritual drag artist and digital chaplain. She is a YouTuber & Host of a queer chaplain podcast with such series as Drag & Spirituality, TranSpirit & Faith Leaders.   

She co-hosts Splintered Grace with her conservative Christian aunt & At the CCC recovery podcast.   

Creator and founder of Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV & AIDS (a.l.p.ha.), the annual Drag & Spirituality Summit.  

Bonnie Violet shares her experience, strength, and hope with HIV for 24 years, recovering from drugs, alcohol, and sexual assault, among other things, for 14 years in classrooms, community centers, churches, online, and pretty much anywhere else she is invited.  

 As a queer chaplain, she is present with people in death and dying to self by helping to lace one's narrative with a spiritual thread to remind one of their resilience, strengthen faith in self, create serenity in the now, and instill hope for their future. 

For more information on Christopher J. Miller, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com or purchase his book on Amazon.

My solo show closes this weekend, and I'm taking a short respite in Santa Fe. I decided to re-release one of my favorite story-telling episodes about friends, trust, and guidance. I hope you enjoy this early episode

A Recap:
Listen to this heartwarming story about Chris' recent trip to Santa Fe. After taking several weeks off from producing "The Spiritual Artist Podcast," host Christopher Miller shares his harrowing adventure through the hills of Santa Fe to visit a sick friend. Chris initially met artist Carolyn on his first journey to New Mexico and felt a deep desire to visit her during a time of need. A flat tire, an intermittent phone signal, and rocky terrain challenge him to understand the true meaning of control and Spiritual guidance. He is reminded to seek those moments of awe; look for beauty, release control, and trust his Spiritual guidance.

For more information, consider purchasing a copy of "The Spiritual Artist" on Amazon or visiting http://www.spiritualartisttoday.com.

CJ Miller invites Scottsdale, Arizona gallery owner and art blog educator Jason Horejs (pronounced Horsh) into his recording studio to challenge misconceptions about best artist practices. Jason’s recent blog titled, “Why Artists Should Focus On Quantity Over Quality,” caused an online stir. 

Jason unpacks the benefits of focusing on quantity over quality and shares his experience on how galleries work, how to approach galleries and create long-lasting relationships with them. 

According to Jason, some quality can only come through quantity. By focusing on output and striving to increase production we grow as artists. He notes a parallel between artists that are successful and prolific. The more work you put into the world, the larger your success. He declares that we should aim for both; quantity and quality. 

Multiple benefits come from shifting into a quantity mindset. An artist should review their current level of production and increase it by 25%. Artists may labor over artwork longer than they should according to Jason. CJ and Jason discuss Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule. There is no substitute for being in the studio and creating.  

CJ shares the importance of following your intuition; quantity makes you better and better at following that conversation and listening to that impulse. 

He shares three key additional points; you deserve to be in a gallery, it’s a numbers game, and develop a consistent brand. 

Jason encourages artists to know that they are good enough to get into galleries. There are many different galleries and there is a place for your work. The key is to align it with collector interests and demands. Start the process of locating galleries immediately.  

What does a gallery consider when choosing an artist? An artist should focus on creating consistent and cohesive work. When a gallery sells a work they need to do marketing, promote your work, and sell it multiple times. If your work is completely different, that process has to be restarted each time. 

When you find a passion in a style, dive deep into it. Find a common thread in your work that ties it all together and demonstrate consistency in at least five of these areas: subject matter, color palette, style, thematic elements, medium, and presentation. 

Finally, once you start approaching galleries remember that it’s a number game; approach many, many galleries. You’ll go through many no’s before you get a yes’s. Use the mindset of approaching 100’s of galleries. 

Jason claims Nike’s tagline, “Just do it,” when creating art, and keep in mind the logistics of building a successful art business. 

CJ Miller takes a break from painting to share his experience of feeling blue and depressed. He encourages the listener to feel the emotion and keep on painting. When we feel our emotions, they process through us and take us to a new place. He also discusses his childhood experience with Seasonal Depression Disorder and how he learned to walk through emotions he cites a recent interview with Dr. Jane Gardner who explains the Emotional Scale and how we must feel an emotion completely before moving on to the next step. Watch “How do Emotions Hold Us Back from Creativity with Dr. Jayne Gardner” for more information. CJ reminds us to keep painting. 

A pdf of the emotional scale is listed on the Spiritual Artist Today website in the Practice Guides section. What sad song is CJ really into right now? "Dear Insecurity" by Brandi Clark featuring Brandi Carlisle.
 
https://open.spotify.com/album/5vLQakn5RIIinS715tqgjI Learn more about CJ, his podcast, book, and retreats by visiting www.spiritualartisttoday.com. 

CJMiller podcaster sits down with Las Vegas, New Mexico, Print Maker and Artist Julie Sola to discuss the importance of working from within and focusing on what excites you. Julie sells her work at several markets, including the Santa Fe Railyard Artisan Market. 

Drawing on early childhood memories of her grandparents and Mexican culture, she focuses on whimsical images of animals. Owner of Fat Crow Press, Julie Sola shares how her work tells a story.  Her business, aptly named Fat Crow Press, is based on crows because she feels that crows are loud, noisy, and demanding. According to Julie, crows ask us to get a grip and move on.  

CJ and Julie discuss the importance of creating what makes you happy and interest you. Julie doesn't worry about trends; she focuses on what comes from her heart.  "If I like it and it brings me joy, there has to be others that resonate with it," she said. 

Based on her Mexican heritage, Julie likes to use animals to convey a story, and it is up to the reader to determine what they are seeing.  Julie enjoys creating a narrative with her work driven by imagery rather than words. She has two books available via most bookstores and Amazon, "Run Fast, Milo!" and "Possum Dreams." 

Chris reminds the listeners to view abundance in many ways, not just financial. There's an abundance of time, flexibility, friends, health, choice, and more. 

Julie lives by Abraham Maslow's phrase, "You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety." 

We all have moments, like oh, it wasn't a good day at the market, but you have to be brave and keep moving. We are artists for the rest of our lives. Julie shares her new obsession, "RoadRunners," and explains that her process starts with an idea that she sketches, draws onto linoleum, and then prints. Her work seems to develop a touch of whimsy as her process evolves. 

Julie and CJ discuss the PBS Series Craft in America. The show highlights the maker community throughout America and the importance of taking pride in your culture and learning a craft. 

"I'm in love with what I'm doing, so I'm going to keep going," she said. 

For more information or to purchase her work, visit https://fatcrowpress.com/. For more details of CJ’s work, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His book, "The Spiritual Artist,” is available on Amazon. 

In this podcast, Chris and Jennifer Roig Francoli discuss her new book, "Make Great Music with Ease! The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life." The book is now available on Amazon. Jennifer Roig-Francolí is a prize-winning violinist, certified Alexander Technique teacher, and creator of The Art of Freedom® Method for conscious living and masterful artistry. 

Jennifer and Chris share the importance of the body when creating music and art. Jennifer shares how she overcame her mind/body split caused by her upbringing through a traditional religion, which denied the body. She unconsciously believed that the mind was more important than the body, but now she knows that is entirely wrong. We are one undivided self: mind, body, and spirit. 

How does the body come into play? According to Jennifer, what is happening in the body correlates with what is occurring mentally and emotionally inside of us. You must get to the source of the problem, which is how you think. When we have thoughts of judgment, fear, or anxiety, it affects our bodies. As children, we often develop fears of the creative process. When we introduce anxiety or fear into the equation, it is translated as tension in our body. It reveals itself in our artistry when we grip our bodies or grind our teeth. 

According to Jennifer, art is a minimalist process, a subtractive technique. When you get all the excess stuff out of the way and leave only you, you allow the ideas to come through you. They will be shaped by the container that you are in. When musicians play, it is never the same way twice. 

Jennifer emphasizes the importance of recognizing that you don't know what is coming through you, but you are open to discovering it. Her process involves the whole self, mind, body, and spirit. If we do not examine our whole selves, then unpleasant habits creep in. 

She emphasizes the importance of being carefree instead of being too careful or careless. It is the middle space where we find our freedom. Jennifer reviews her "Art of Freedom Method," which has five life pillars: purpose, mind, body, spirit, and artistry. 

She describes this as a conscious awareness or being the witness to ourselves. It's about being present with curiosity. Jennifer and Chris agree that the creative process involves letting oneself become an instrument of something more significant than our little self. Jennifer reminds the listener that we become open to experiencing our artistry when curious and aware.  

For more information on Jennifer, visit her Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/groups/J30DPC/ or her website at www.ArttofFreedom.me. Her unique and inspiring online coaching programs empower musicians of all kinds to break through personal blockages to healing, joy, and musical success. 

CJ opens this podcast by pondering the concept of gratitude. He shares his appreciation for a great year, including multiple speaking engagements at several art groups and Artisan Santa Fe, his successful solo show "Emotional RollerCoaster," and his first Spiritual Artist Retreat at Lake Texoma, north of Dallas. 

He mentions that the highlight of his Spiritual Artist Retreat was realizing the importance of finding an art community. He encourages the listeners to find a local group of artists in their community. 

According to Chris, gratitude is shifting consciousness and aligning yourself with this higher power. Creativity occurs in a space of gratitude and love. Align yourself with the love of everything around you and put yourself in that space where you can receive divine intuition from Spirit. 

He shares his Receptivity Chart and explains that Spirit speaks to us always, but when we are in love and gratitude, we hear the message most clearly. He describes a simple gratitude practice where you use your fingers to count up to 10 things you are grateful for and the importance of starting small. Slowly work yourself up to more substantial and decisive points of gratitude until you mention at least ten things. It will become easier and easier to feel gratitude.  

We always have the choice to feel fear or see ease in any situation. Still, when we use a gratitude practice, we align with Divine Intelligence and open our receptivity channel to its guidance. 

For more information, visit www.spiritualartistoday.com or purchase his book, "The Spiritual Artist" on Amazon. 

Podcast host CJMiller invites Muralist and Multi-disciplinary Artist Alex Cook to return to the show to discuss his "Your Are Loved" mural ministry and share his thoughts on empowering emotions. 

Alex recently completed a newly commissioned 11' by 55' mural in Downtown Dallas' Thanksgiving Square with a slightly altered message of "Love People." The Thanksgiving Foundation's mission is to come together on common ground to negotiate differences and create understanding and appreciation of our diversity.

Alex shares his technique of geometric painting that explores color, line, and pattern on a large scale. He chooses to simplify letters into geometric shapes and notes that we, as a culture, agree that certain curves and lines have meaning. He explains that murals give a community a way to express their beliefs. 

Alex doesn't choose to control the creative process; it's about letting in new ideas. He doesn't push himself out of his comfort zone but pursues what interests him passionately. 

Alex has created a mural ministry to promote the concept of "You Are Loved." Alex believes that when people feel loved, it makes a difference. His murals are present in 24 states, and his goal is to have one in every state. 

The artist shares how a passerby was affected by his message and tries to decide if she should forgive someone. The statement triggered her reflection. Alex believes it is the artist's job to be available and answer these questions. 

According to Alex, we focus too much on negativity and don't notice the childlike positivity many people exhibit daily. He believes that we can create a culture where it is safe to love. 

The podcast ends with CJ questioning the role of emotions in the creative process. According to Alex, we are more profound beings than our emotions. Feelings can lead us to a deeper place, but sometimes they can block us. Sometimes, he chooses to abandon what he feels is in service to his greater desire to make good art. 

We navigate the wilderness with our eyes on Spirit, and the Northstar is love. 

Alex Cook is a multi-disciplinary artist living in Boston, MA. Since 1997, he has created over 240 murals in 22 states and six countries. In 2014, he made the YOU ARE LOVED Mural Project. He has written and recorded six albums of original songs and performs around the US. He recently released a book, "You Are Loved, Spiritual and Creative Adventures, A Memoir". He is an avid basketball player and collector of art books. For more information, you can follow Alex on Instagram @stonebalanceart or visit his website https://stonebalancer.com 

There is a force behind all things, and Chris calls it Creative Intelligence. He sees this force most clearly in the natural world, where an abundance of plant and animal life continues to increase and multiply. He shares that to practice creativity, we must first form a belief. We must believe that what we desire is possible. Then, we must continue to expand the boundaries of that belief to experience greater and greater creativity. 

He shares how this process worked for him in 2023, when he left a secure corporate position to pursue his art, speaking, and teaching practice. Chris discusses his most recent experience going beyond his edge of belief by participating in a pop-up art show in Dallas. His installation fees were higher than expected, throwing him into a fear spiral. He began to question his belief in Creative Intelligence.

As artists, we must have faith and belief by stepping out and trying new things. Are there things beyond your comfort zone? Is the idea of that goal pushing beyond your belief? Do you really believe? 

What to you do when you challenge the edge of your belief? Write down your desire.  When we set our desires, we attract countless possibilities. 

Then, review your life history and check all of the times you stepped beyond your comfort zone and were met with success. Write down at least ten things. These are miracles that occurred in your life. 

Shore up your belief and support it with previous success. Everything you have achieved came from a creative desire and was answered by Creative Intelligence.

Next, list what you can believe in. Start small and create a possibility list. If I can believe this, then maybe, just maybe, I can believe that. 

As you go into the new year, expand your belief. Finally, see yourself achieving what you desire in your mind's eye.  

Trust that Creative Intelligence will deliver. For more information, visit www.spiritualartistoday.com. CJ's book, "The Spiritual Artist,” is available on Amazon. 

In this episode, sculptress and mixed-media artist Molly Sanger Carpenter shares her process of listening. She starts with a sketch but listens to her inner self throughout the process and lets the image unwind. The sculptress uses oil-based modeling clay to create a latex rubber mold for her delightful frames. She often reuses her molds with different subject matter and has made over 30 unique molds. She completes each frame with unique mosaic and painted features. 

CJ and Molly discuss how every artist has strengths in certain senses, whether audial, visual, or kinesthetic. While each of us is unique in this aspect, learning to trust the process and believe in the magic by listening to what's happening inside you as you create is essential. 

As a Quaker, Molly has learned to “listen to the inner light" in the art studio. Another pillar of her faith is seeing God in others. She believes God is within everyone, no matter who they are. 

CJ "sees God in everyone" or sees love in everyone instead. He shares his recent experience at JFK Airport, where he projected love onto every passing person. He encourages his listeners to try this practice the next time they are in public. 

CJ and Molly refer to Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic" and the concept of a creative muse. When we follow the guidance of this inner Muse, we receive endless amounts of creative inspiration. We learn to listen to the creative impulse and get our ego out of the way.  

Molly recognizes that many artists are connected to where they are when they paint. She calls this a "sense of place." Is it necessary for your work to communicate that place when appealing to your client base? According to Molly, there is nothing inherently wrong with your work, whether it conveys a sense of place or not, but exhibiting it in the right place is vital. 

CJ classifies Molly's work as "Whimsical Romanticism," noting that it does reflect her place in Southern New Jersey: immense skies, sunsets, and wide-open spaces.  

The podcast concludes when CJ and Molly agree that artists reach people and can choose to "Be Love" for others. 

Molly Sanger Carpenter works from her Salem, NJ, farmhouse studio. Trained in classical sculpture techniques and materials, she now often incorporates elements of mixed media to create her artworks. Her current focus is creating "fine and unusual" art icons, combining sculpture, glass, paint, and 24k gold elements. 

Molly has her work in many galleries on the East Coast. Molly has been featured in exhibitions throughout the Mid-Atlantic and beyond over a decorated 40-year career, including many galleries and venues in Delaware, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and NYC. She has an upcoming show in Traverse City, Michigan, in the Higher Art Gallery. 

For more information on Molly, visit https://mollycarpenter.com. She can also be found on Instagram by searching for @mollyscarpenter. 

For more information on CJMiller and his spiritual art retreats, visit https://spiritualartistoday.com. He can also be found on Instagram by searching for thespiritualartistpodcast. 

Crystal Nelson is a mixed-media artist based in the DFW area. She studied printmaking and painting at the University of Texas El Paso and recently retired from teaching art for over 25 years. 

In this college artist interview, Crystal shares seven ways to make shapes. Crystal often starts her work with collages by working out the color, shape, and textures. She uses a variety of methods to create exciting shapes in her work.

Crystal recognized that she has a limited visual vocabulary after realizing she tends to repeat the same shape repeatedly and has investigated novel ways to discover new shapes. 

Number 1: Look at the packaging in your recycling bin and examine it for new shapes.

Number 2: Cut plastic letter stencils in half to create fresh shapes.

Number 3: Explore negative space around letter forms on stencils.

Number 4: Before glazing, move the layer of transparent shapes around to see if they reveal a 3rd shape. 

Number 5: Paint your tissue paper with watered-down Golden Fluid and gel medium, and let it dry before using your stencils to cut out new shapes.

Number 6: Use cheap Sulphite drawing paper and paint with sample house paint. Both paints are latex and work together. Extra tip: Use pre-painted Sulphite drawing paper to test placement. 

Number 7: Cut your shapes of old newsprint or porous book pages. According to Crystal, creating a story, whether layered or textured, is essential. Painting is a dance of adding and subtracting. At the end of the episode, Crystal reminds the listener, "In creativity, there is getting attention and paying attention," and there's room for both. 

Crystal has created art as long as she can remember, but for the last 4-5 years, she has primarily focused on making process-driven abstract art. She loves exploring intuitive abstract acrylic painting through textures, shapes, and color and finding the story within her surfaces. 

She teaches mixed media and Gelli printing workshops and recently curated the Deconstructed Exhibit for the Visual Arts League of Lewisville at the Lewisville Grand Theater. Crystal's motto is "Seek Beauty, Seek Truth". 

For more information, follow Crystal Nelson on Instagram @crysdnelson. For more information on CJ, follow him on Instagram @thespiritualartistpodcast or @cjmillerart 

In this podcast, CJ Miller explores and unpacks the effects of trauma and creativity with psychotherapist Dr. Don St. John.  

Dr. Don has spent a lifetime exploring healing modalities after being raised by a physically and verbally abusive mother and an "almost non-existent" father. His recently revised book, "Healing the Wounds of Childhood and Culture," is available on Amazon. He has been engaging the four pillars of wholeness for almost 60 years: the Somatic, the Psycho-emotional, the Relational, and the Spiritual," and has taught and presented to the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Brazil. 

CJ shares how he often asks his art students to reflect on their lives and see how their artwork was received as a child. He has found that moving past these situations can release new levels of creativity. 

Dr. Don explains that his first response to the abuse was to freeze and live in a fantasy world. It wasn't until his early twenties that he recognized a need for healing. "Trauma affects your entire being, even your very tissues," said Dr. Don.  "It affects our ability to relate to each other and our capacity for love." There is a creative aspect in turning those wounds into gold. 

The interview includes the importance of listening to ourselves and others, addressing stored trauma in the body through the Continuum Consciousness movement, reexamining cultural belief systems, expressing gratitude, and listening to that internal voice for guidance.  

Dr. Don reminds us to view trauma resolution as an "adventure of a lifetime" and recognize that you're having this moment because of everything that came before. 

Dr. Don is certified as a Continuum Consciousness Teacher and believes in releasing trauma through the body. Trauma keeps us from living in the present because we are trying to protect ourselves from the wounds of the past. He assists people in fluid movement explorations to release trauma and resistance. 

Continuum is an approach to exploring how we live in and move through our bodies. Continuum is a portal to a deeper awareness of, and connection to, embodiment, movement, learning, growth, well-being, and creativity. Attention to internal experience through breath, sound, meditative awareness, and fluid movement expands our experience of embodiment. Listeners can find local teachers for this modality by visiting www.continuumteachers.com. 

In conclusion, Dr. Don encourages listeners to embark on their healing journey and become lifelong learners. He encourages everyone to be aware of the benefits of therapy and concludes the interview by asking, "Can you let love in? Can you increase your capacity for love?" 

For more information on Dr. Don St. John, visit https://pathsofconnection.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/don.s.john.90
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/don-st-john-36636a55
For more information on CJ Miller, visit https://spiritualartisttoday.com 

How do we use our perceived disabilities and turn them into assets? In this episode, Host CJ Miller interviews Photo Realism Artist and Art Educator Leonard Buscemi (Lenny) on a unique gridding system that has propelled his students to win state and national awards. 

Born with ADD and dyslexia, Lenny was raised in a "disability-aware" household and forced to discover fresh ways to navigate his artistic skills. He's developed a precise method of gridding to create stunning works of photorealism, leading to a life-long passion for helping those with mental handicaps and disabilities. 

While waiting for his father during a sales call, Lenny found a book with an art activity where you draw as you look at a grid overlay on an original image. Later, he read about Johannes Vermeer and the use of a camera obscura. A camera obscura is a box, tent, or room with a small hole in one side or the top. Light from an external scene passes through the hole. The artist used a projector to trace the image. Lenny was experimenting with these techniques when his teacher emphasized the imp 

His art mentor often said, "It doesn't matter how you get to the result with artwork. It's the result that matters. You don't walk around a museum and say, "How did they do that." 

Lenny discusses how to make a grid for painting to help his students with their process. He found a way to use the system without leaving marks on the art and recommends starting with black-and-white projects before moving on to color.  Lenny references the book by Betty Edwards, "Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain," as good reference material. He recommends breaking the art process down into bite-sized pieces. 

CJ and Lenny discuss the importance of honoring art students by displaying their work at home and in schools to encourage creativity. He believes in positive reinforcement. Lenny says, "Inspiration is for amateurs. It's about doing the work." 

Lenny paraphrases Romans 8:28, "All things work together for those who love the Lord." 

According to the art educator, "We can experience bad things and say they destroyed us, or we could say that they created character in us so we can assist others." 

Podcast Host CJ Miller sits down with writer, artist, and podcaster Sally Jean Fox to discuss her new book, "Meeting the Muse After Midlife, a memoir about finding hope and meaning after 50"– mainly through creative expression. 

Sally's journey includes releasing limiting beliefs, tapping into her intuition, and listening to the guidance of two muses, Isabel and Marco. She explains that aging is not all doom and gloom, nor a bed of roses, but the ideal place to take creative risks. We keep our imagination and creative power throughout our entire lives. 

CJ opens the podcast by asking Sally to unpack one chapter of her book, “Finding the Girl in Madras." Sally explains how the "girl in Madras" is her own younger self and shares how two boys teased and humiliated her in fourth grade. She carried the shame of the experience for many years. As she began her muse-led journey, she released the pain caused by their comments and accepted herself. 

Part of her healing included drawing faces and realizing that there are no ugly faces for an artist. Ultimately, it became a healing journey. CJ encourages listeners to find a childhood photo, re-examine it with fresh eyes, and send love to their youthful selves. Sally recommends drawing the photo, writing about it in your journal, or even singing a song about it. 

Sally originally hesitated to share the concept of her muses, subtle personified presence that came into her life for guidance. Her first muse, Isabel, was gentle and maternal. Her second Muse, Marco, had a stronger, encouraging voice. While she wrestled with the question of their source, she decided it didn't matter; her muses rebuffed her inner critic and provided a counterweight. Approval is seductive, she emphasizes, but ultimately, we should enjoy the freedom to be ourselves. 

Sally refers to some of Father Richard Rohr's teachings: the first half of our life is about building infrastructure, ego, and financial gain; the second half is an opportunity to embrace our spirituality. 

Ultimately, she encourages the listener by issuing this challenge, "Do you help people in life? Do you forgive? Do you seek joy? Do you want to eliminate suffering in the world? Those are the things that speak to me." 

The writer holds an MBA and PhD from Fielding Graduate University and lives with her horse and husband on an island near Seattle. For more information, visit her site, www.engagingpresence.com, and follow her Engaging Presence blog, or listen to her podcast, "Vital Presence."  

For more information on CJ's book, podcast, or Spiritual Artist Retreats, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His book, "The Spiritual Artist," can be found on Amazon. 

CJ interviews Dan about his current one-person show, "Pollinator / Not Pollinator (But mostly Bees)," at the Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park until April 28, and about the challenges of a solo show. Dan shares how he considered many different aspects when theming his show: 

• The Texas Discovery Gardens location 
• His attraction to drawing insects 
• His environmental consciousness 
• His poetry 
• A bit of humor  

He explains how producing a solo show differs significantly from submitting to a group show. It forces you to focus on your message, quality, and intent. A solo show expresses a unique aspect of you; who are you?  

Environmental awareness is a strong message for Dan's show. Art has a responsibility to express the existential issues that we face today. You cannot find a place on the earth that doesn't have evidence of human beings.  

Dan's show features paintings of insects and animals, all represented in a square format. Dan chose to present each creature abstractly to make an environmental statement. Additionally, he wanted to challenge himself compositionally by working within the confines of a small square. This exhibition showcases Dan's unique artistic style and his commitment to environmental awareness.  

Dan uses writing and fine art separately as well as together. CJ and Dan discuss how he included poetry in his show and agree that artists don't have to "stay in our lane." We can mix different artistic disciplines.   

Dan Collins, the local Dallas artist and poet, has maintained an artistic practice his entire life, participating recently in group shows such as Fresh Faces 2 x 2 at the White Rock Bath House and community art events such as the White Rock Studio Tour. He is co-owner of Tree House Studio with his wife, Rebecca, where they offer classes and workshops. His poetry has been published in various print journals and online. He is a commercial printer by profession. Now that he is closing in on retirement, he is looking forward to devoting all his time to visual and literary creative pursuits. He has contributed to and participated in the local literary scene in various capacities for over a decade. 

For more information on CJ, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com.
Instagram: cjmillerart, thespiritualartistpodcast 
TikTok: spiritualartist123 
YouTube: spiritualartist123 
Facebook: @thespiritualartistpodcast

In this episode, host CJ Miller questions Peace and Human Rights Activist Hadi Jawad on ways each of us can promote peace in our communities. How does someone promote Human rights and Peace on an individual scale? Hadi encourages the listener to familiarize themselves with the 30 principles of the Univeral Declaration of Human Rights and begin looking at news articles through the Human Rights lens. 

Podcast Host CJMiller met Hadi Jawad while serving on an Interfaith Panel with a diverse group of Christians, Muslims, and Jews and quickly became friends. According to Hadi, it is ingrained in the human spirit to love and be kind to each other. 

Hadi is a Dallas peace, justice, and human rights activist. He is a follower of the principles of non-violent resistance, as exemplified by the Reverend Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, and he opposes militarism and war. He served on the board of the Dallas Peace Center as an organizer from 1997 to 2015, chairing their Middle East Peace Committee and media spokesperson. He led efforts to organize protests against the US invasion of Iraq that culminated in the largest anti-war demonstration in Dallas history on February 15, 2003.   

Hadi comes from a culture steeped in oral tradition and values the importance of storytelling and shares a story from his youth playing in his neighborhood. A wandering Sufi walked by and engaged him. The Sufi was dressed in traditional clothes and holding a begging bowl. At the end of the conversation, the Sufi stabs the dirt with his stick and picks something up. He motions for Hadi to put it in his mouth. In his memory, Hadi tasted the sweetest candy that he had ever had in the whole world and recognized the mysticism of the world.  

The future activist was always gravitating to finding the good and miraculous in relationships. While Hadi was passionate about mathematics, he didn't want to enter the arms industry as an engineer, and instead, he pursued managing and owning a forklift business. Only years later did he listen to his true calling and decide to be an advocate for Peace and nonviolence. 

According to Hadi, Judaism is the root of a tree, the trunk and the branches are Christianity, and Islam/Sufism is the foliage. Hadi explains some principles of Sufism. Sufis believe that anything material and non-material is one being, regardless of the question: Love is the answer. He defines this as the unity of being. 

How do you stay in the centeredness of Peace: 

1. When you're heart is being pierced, feel the pain and stay true to yourself. We are connected through our suffering. 
2. Reach out to others. 
3. Express gratitude for being alive.  

Hadi is drawn to helping the underserved. He tends to look for opportunities to help those who have fallen through the cracks, and he believes that comes from his mystical side. He's drawn to mysticism and mystical thought and believes that love is mysticism.  

According to Hadi, mystics understand that many of our desires are counterfeit coins and that mystics know where to find the real gold. Hadi shares a story about a villager who demands a diamond from a mystic. The diamond is represented as a rock, and the villager returns it the next day and says, "Give me the wealth that made it so easy for you to give the largest diamond in the world away." 

Hadi believes that mystics know where the wealth is. It's not in your car. It's not in your relationships. It's not in a mansion. It's in our hearts. It's in love. 

Hadi is working with  Rick Halpern, Director of the Human Rights Program at SMU, to make the City of Dallas a Human Rights City that supports the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document is uploaded to the Spiritual Artist Today website and can be found in the practice guides section. 

He concludes the inter

Podcast Host CJMiller sits down with SUNY Old Westbury Assistant Professor and Mixed Media Artist Fred Fleisher to discuss symbolism in art. 

Fred talks about creating art that deals with duality issues and the perceived separateness of each other. The imaginative artist shares his process and expanding practice in maintaining presence and flow when creating his 2-dimensional paintings and sculptural installations. Fred incorporates humor, cynicism, and satire into his work by combining symbolistic elements from our everyday social fabric. In essence, the artist uses humor in art to "get through the day" and deal with society's current challenges. 

His process includes surrounding himself with a studio full of iconic "parts," entering a flow state and combining different elements to express himself. He discovers an idea for something, works it out, and then allows some freewheeling while sketching the image.  

Fred uses his phone and iPad to set up his rough composition. From there, he goes to his canvas, where the idea progresses and emerges. "I allow energy to unfold and see what happens when I put disparate things together," he said.  

His creations include assemblage art as well as 2-dimensional surfaces. Fred sources " Spiritual Moderns: Twentieth-Century American Artists and Religion" by Erica Doss and "The Spiritual Artist" by Christopher J. Miller as inspired sources.  

In conversation, Fred ponders whether symbolism can stop us from spiritually communicating something more significant, while CJ ponders the opposite. As CJ prepares for an upcoming show, he struggles with not adding symbolic elements. 

CJ shares how many of us try to qualify our spiritual worth by whether our art is successful. We are not trying to validate our worth when we create art. Both agree that we shouldn't let our perceived identities stop us from connecting to Spirit.  

CJ and Fred also discussed the writing process. CJ encourages writers to get their thoughts down quickly and edit later. Fred references "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. 

According to Fred, creating art is a way to stop the mind chatter, the thoughts of duality, and practice presence. The podcast concludes with Fred sharing how communication, both verbally and through art, is the key to personal growth. For more information and samples of Fred's work, visit https://www.fredfleisher.net. 

Fred Fleisher is originally from Pennsylvania and has lived in the New York metropolitan area for over twenty-five years. After enlisting in the Army, he earned an MFA from Queens College, CUNY, a BFA in Painting & Drawing, and a BS in Art Education from Penn State University. Both nationally and internationally, Galleries have represented his work, and he has had recent solo exhibitions in Brooklyn and New York City.  He has been included in several exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions while working with curators in the art world. He also organizes and curates exhibitions and is an Assistant Professor at SUNY Old Westbury. 

For more information on CJ and his art retreats, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His book, "The Spiritual Artist," is available on Amazon. 

Podcast host CJMiller chats with artist and author Sharon J. Burton about affirmations and her upcoming book release, "Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations and Inspiration for Creativity at Midlife."  

Sharon believes that many people from her generation have been suppressed from being creative, and when they arrive at midlife, they often have time and money to be creative but encounter blocks. Sharon shares her story of rediscovering her art side and describes her book as a love letter to others, saying, "You can do this."  

Each chapter shares her personal story and presents a starting affirmation. The reader can adopt that affirmation or create one more specific to their needs. An affirmation should be written in the present tense. She encourages artists to pivot negative beliefs into positive language that begins a new thought pattern.  

The author shares how she selects a new affirmation each day based on her intentions for that day. Before she journals, she writes an affirmation seven times. This ritual puts her in the right frame of mind before beginning the creative process. She also suggests putting your affirmations where you see them in your studio throughout the day. CJ places his affirmation on his mirror to read every morning.  

Each chapter deals with issues often faced by artists. CJ and Sharon discuss an issue artists deal with imposter syndrome. Sharon asks the listener to locate where the feeling came from; did someone say something, or was it a voice in your head? Then, write the opposite in an affirmative statement. Write who you truly are.  

She cautions that affirmations are a good tool but not a magic pill. Sometimes, we encounter blocks that require professional help. Affirmations are just tools that are part of your arsenal for being a creative person. 

The artist concludes the podcast by encouraging everyone to celebrate and embrace their creativity.  

Sharon J. Burton is an artist, art curator, poet, teaching artist, yoga nidra guide, certified creativity coach, and founder of Spark Your Creative based in the Washington, DC, area.    

She is also the host of Spark Your Creative Podcast, which features artists and other creatives using their unique talents to create more mindful communities and a safer world.   

She is the author of Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations and Inspiration for Creativity at Midlife, published by Swiner Publishing Company, which will be released on May 14, 2024.    

• The book launches on May 14 with a sale on the ebook Kindle version (let's not share the price)  
• A Virtual Launch Party will start at 7 pm ET on the Spark Your Creative Facebook and YouTube page.  There will be book and swag giveaways, a reading from the book by me, and interviews with two artists who contributed to the book.  
• To learn more about the book, people can visit https://www.sparkyourcreative.com/book.html.  

More information about CJ, can be found at https//www.spiritualartisttoday.com 

How do we navigate grief and process it? Most significantly, how do we handle emotional triggers when they seem to reinvigorate past grief? Podcast Host CJMiller sits down with Reverand Lora Brandis, a Unitarian Universalist Minister with experience as a congregational minister, hospital chaplain, and spiritual director. 

Lora shares her personal experience navigating grief after the loss of her daughter, stepdaughter, ex-husband, and college friend in the space of only two years. It's essential to talk about our grief and death. We are afraid of the sadness we see in others. When Lora tells her story, she recognizes that it does stop the conversation. 

There's something about acknowledging death; it gives us space to understand that we are all dying. It's going to be sad, and people will miss us. Denial of death runs through religion and our society.  

Lora continues to serve as an on-call hospital chaplain, providing spiritual support for those in hospital emergency rooms as a witness to their experience. She shares a recent experience that triggered her memory of the loss of her ex-husband, including a situation with an emergency vehicle, the ride to the hospital, and the final realization that nothing could be done to save the patient.  

She introduces the term "metabolize grief." Lora lost her daughter only months before COVID-19, and she found herself isolated in grief. She shares how something would trigger her, and she would stop midstride and sob. It's essential to give your whole self time to process the loss. 

Lora lists several practices to walk through her sadness, including journaling, meditation, prayer, reading, painting, and gardening. Her spiritual practice includes journaling, and she consciously decided to write down every detail from the day of her daughter's death. A way to save it but not keep it active in her mind.  However, she cautions against getting stuck in your story. It's crucial to monitor ourselves if we feel caught in grief and retelling our story repeatedly. 

Sometimes, we don't have as much choice as we think when our emotions are triggered; we have to surrender to them. She suggests finding your squad of several close friends to walk you through the process with good boundaries. 

Lora reminds us that we are meaning-making creatures. We make meaning from our experiences. The question to ask about a trigger is, "How am I making meaning now in this moment?" We can change the meaning of triggers if we let them, and we can change how we make meaning of our lives.  

The conversation references Megan Devine's "It's OK That You're Not OK" and Eckhart Tolles's "The Power of Now." She also recommended www.refugeingrief.com. For more information on Lora's spiritual coaching or to book her as a speaker, visit www.lorabrandis.com. For more information on CJMiller's book, speaking, and spiritual art retreats, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com.  

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Today, I’m reading “One Agreement” from the introduction of my book.

Starting on June 1, 2024, I will begin reading excerpts from my book, “The Spiritual Artist,” while you doodle and let your subconscious mind process the ideas. You do not have to be an experienced artist to participate in this challenge!

I recommend purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. By working on the spiritual (conscious) level, you can expand your creative expression!

I’m taking a break from recording new podcast interviews through June, but I will be uploading my 30-day Doodle Book Challenge each day. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com or visit https://spiritualartisttoday.com

Podcast Host CJMiller sits down with mixed-media artist and empath Kimberly Morrow. The teacher and multi-media artist shares her story and explains that being an empath isn't always easy. Only through life experience has she learned to navigate her ability to sense the emotions, feelings, and energy of those around her.  

Sometimes, an empath takes on a person's feelings nearby, and she has to move away from them and disconnect herself from the situation. She shares the concept of energy vampires and how she distances herself from these sorts of people. As a child, she would hide from others and avoid group environments.  

Kim believes all living creatures have an energy field extending beyond their body. As an artist, she often monitors the proximity of those around her when she paints. If they have negative energy, she finds herself moving away from them. Kim has learned to step back from her emotions and reexamine them from a distance. 

CJ and Kim share the challenges of doing all-day art shows and how they can deplete empaths of their energy. When we are empaths or highly sensitive people, we must nurture ourselves. How do you take care of an empath? Kim and CJ feel that a hot bath is one of the best remedies to calm your energy down. Kim believes there is a difference depending on the salinity of the water; submersion in a lake, river, and ocean is slightly different.  

As Kim has aged, she's learned to appreciate and value her enhanced abilities, but most importantly, to trust them. Her highly sensitive skills are a tool for navigating life.  

Follow Kim on Instagram @kimberlymorrow.art.design. For more information on CJ, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Chapter 7: Recognizing Spirit.

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Today, I’m reading “One Agreement” from the introduction of my book.

Starting on June 1, 2024, I will begin reading excerpts from my book, “The Spiritual Artist,” while you doodle and let your subconscious mind process the ideas. You do not have to be an experienced artist to participate in this challenge!

I recommend purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. By working on the spiritual (conscious) level, you can expand your creative expression!

I’m taking a break from recording new podcast interviews through June, but I will be uploading my 30-day Doodle Book Challenge each day. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com or visit https://spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level!

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level! The book can be purchased on Amazon.com.

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level! The book can be purchased on Amazon.com.

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

Take the Doodle Book 30- Day Challenge This June

Podcast Host CJ Miller is taking a break from recording interviews through June but will be uploading his 30-day Doodle Book Challenge the entire month. 

Commit 20 minutes each day to your Spiritual Art Practice. Starting on June 1st, 2024, CJ will begin reading excerpts from his book while the listener doodles and lets their subconscious mind process the ideas. He recommends purchasing a sketchbook or ream of white unlined paper and a box of 24 or more Crayola crayons for this exercise. Expand your creative expression by working on the spiritual (conscious) level! The book can be purchased on Amazon.com.

If you have any questions, feel free to email him at cjmiller@spiritualartisttoday.com

I truly appreciate all of the Spiritual Artists who have followed me during my June Doodle Book Club. Here's a bonus reading of a very relevant and informative chapter from Pema Chodrin's book titled, "The In-Between State."
It reminds me of the chapter from my book called, "The Rule of Medium," but speaks to our human situation. Enjoy.

Podcast Host CJMiller sits down with Lisa Tahir, LCSW, to discuss her book, "The Chiron Effect: Healing Our Core Wounds through Astrology, Empathy, and Self-Forgiveness."  

According to Lisa, The purpose of The Psychoastrology® of Chiron is two-fold: The first purpose is to reveal the unconscious patterns sourced in the reader's core wounding. The second purpose is to learn how to heal those places through empathy and self-forgiveness.  

Chiron is a heavenly body with an odd elliptical orbit, first discovered in the 1970s. Although it was first called an asteroid and classified only as a minor planet with the designation "2060 Chiron" in 1989, it exhibited behavior typical of a comet. Today, it is classified as a minor planet and a comet named after a Greek Centaur known for the healing arts.  

Lisa combines the study of astrology with psychotherapy to review patterns in our lives that return repeatedly in different variations. According to Lisa, her process helps people heal those wounds. She explains that our thought patterns dictate our belief systems and actions.  

"We are like a mini solar system," she said. "We orbit things, and they orbit us, and we can shift those orbits to bring more joy in our lives."  

CJ asks Lisa to explain the three primary attachment styles: secure, anxious, and avoidant.  

These attachment styles are formed in our youth and are often carried throughout our lives. They are based on how we felt love when we didn't and the meaning we assigned to it. The early template of our relationships imprints on us and becomes a model for the future.  

Truly healing invokes forgiveness and compassion. Lisa shares a process of visualizing a younger self and walking them through forgiveness. Her book is an invitation to make small shifts in your behavior, thoughts, and belief systems.  

According to Lisa, we tend to have the same attachment style with prosperity and abundance as we do with our inner personal relationships. 23:16  

For more information, visit https://www.nolatherapy.com/chiron/. Scroll down the page and click on the blue button to find out what sign your Chiron is in. Be prepared to enter your date of birth, place, and time.  

To learn more about CJ and his Spiritual Art Retreats, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. 

CJ shares some thoughts on creating in the state of love. If we create with money in mind, we limit ourselves to the physical plane and work from a place of lack. We create with spirit most successfully when we keep our eyes and hearts in a place of love and make decisions from that place.

Enjoy this 5-minute message and share it with your friends. For more information, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com.