How did you feel?

From where were you inspired?

What seemed to want to express itself through you?

As creator, as artist, a vibrant flow of energy flows through your whole body.  You know you are part of something greater.

The Divine flow that moves you needs to come to earth, in physical form.  To express itself in form through you, the artist.

Meister Eckhart says it beautifully, “Whatever I want to express in its truest meaning must emerge from within me and pass through an inner form. It cannot come from outside to the inside, but must emerge from within.”

Fueled with the breath of inspiration from within, you, the artist, begin to paint, sing a song, move in dance, write words, or use other materials for expression in creating.

The outer world of daily tasks and the chatter in your mind both disappear, and your focus comes to the task before you.

You can feel the call from within, and you know it’s time to take action.

So, you begin.

You lose track of what’s outside in the world – schedules, meals, tasks, and time.  Your thoughts dissolve.  This vibrant creative force infuses your whole being. You feel fully alive.  And joyfully engaged.

​Your process may be smooth and flow easily at times.  It may be bumpy and chaotic at other times.  It may move quickly. Or slowly.

But, it’s not time for judgment or critique.  Nor for thinking.  This is the time for presence in the moment.  Surrendering to the process and that which moves you from within.

And when your creative moment is done for that day, you are pleasantly drained, for you feel complete.  You are grateful. And now satisfied, you rest peacefully.

The sweet nectar of the Divine has been brought to Earth through you.

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​Creating art, when focusing on the process and not product, can help us to access a meditative state, tapping into a deeper and quieter part of ourselves.  A place of inner stillness without the busyness of the mind.Here we can enter a feeling of flow and freedom, free of judgment, separation, and physical boundaries. A space without limits.  A space for self discovery and expression.   An opportunity for healing.Human beings are naturally creative.  It is part of our nature.And being creative brings us back to this state – our true nature.Our true nature that brings us to a place of balance and a place of health.

At age 42, when St. Hildegard felt God commanded her to write down and share what she had experienced, she did not act on this call to create immediately.  She felt insecure and inadequate.  Unable to write.

Soon, she became sick. She interpreted her illness as a consequence of her resistance to the Divine.

Finally, after some time, she gathered her courage and strength and began to write.

Once she did, she was able to move beyond her self-doubt, and she felt her own strength grow, as Divine inspiration moved through her.“Beaten down by many kinds of illnesses, I put my hand to writing. Once I did this, a deep and profound exposition of books came over me. I received the strength to rise up from my sick bed, and under that power I continued to carry out the work to the end, using all of ten years to do it.”  – St. Hildegard of BingenSt. Hildegard, despite her frequent and debilitating illnesses, found the strength to begin the creative process of writing.  Or maybe one can say, beginning her creative process of putting hand to writing gave her the strength to continue forward.  Moving through the obstacles when they arose.  And experiencing joy in the journey.When was the last time you engaged in art in a way that created a meditative state?   Too long?Maybe you don’t think of yourself as an artist?  The good news is you don’t have to!  You are a creator – one who creates out of the materials that long to be used for creation.As human beings, we are naturally creative.

You may be pleasantly surprised to discover how much art you have inside of you.  Yearning to be discovered and come out in the world.

“Humanity, take a good look at yourself.  Inside, you’ve got heaven and earth, and all of creation.  You’re a world – everything is hidden in you.”  -St. Hildegard, Causes and Cures

Which art calls to you today?

• Music
• Dance
• Painting
• Drawing
• Clay/Pottery
• Weaving
• Writing
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Using objects – beads, glass, jewelry
• Something else?

As you engage in art, in creating, energy begins to flow. For energy flows toward creativity.

And where energy flows, a powerful healing force can arise.  For yourself. And for the world.

Creativity is not a solitary movement. This is its power. Whatever is touched by it, whoever hears it, sees it, senses it, knows it, it’s fed. That is why beholding someone else’s creative word, images, idea, fills us up, and inspires us to our own creative work. A single creative act has the potential to feed a continent. One creative act can cause a torrent to break through stone. -Clarissa Pinkola Estes

In this season of spring, of growth and renewal, discover how art can be a meditative practice.  Begin today so you can….

1. Enter into self discovery and self expression.
2. Step out of the busyness of the day and the mind, to a state of presence.
3. Engage in a creative process with flow and freedom.
4. Connect with the Divine through inspiration.
5. Begin the flow of a powerful healing force.

Inspired to engage in art as a meditative practice, but want some guidance?  Join my series of classes on Healing with St. Hildegard that are starting very soon!  Register here for a discounted price before April 7th.