Scilla
Copyright Janet Hovde
I am beautiful.
I am safe. I am safe.
I have choices in every moment.
I fully reside in my body.
I am joyful.
I am clear.
I am carefree.
I belong.
Last week, I spent 3 ½ days in the Art as Journey class at Grand Marais Art Colony on the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. I went with an amazing friend, spent time in a room with 11 other amazing artists, with an amazing instructor, basking in the amazing energy of Lake Superior. I brought one of my little paintings (Here Comes the Light, which you can see in the painting gallery on this website), an enlarged pattern made from the painting, a stack of hand-dyed fabrics, and my trusty sewing machine. Others brought canvas, paper, acrylics, gold leaf, watercolors, ink, pastels, cement(!) and cameras. My experience was profound. I felt baptized into this community of artists, which is fitting as the Art Colony is in a building formerly used as a church. In the early afternoons, golden light streamed through the church window onto my sewing machine. I think I was getting a special blessing.
I knew the experience would be an important one . . . and sometimes when I am heading into a BIG experience, I need extra support prior to the event. An intuitive friend helped me through my pre-BIG-day bumpiest period. I also journaled and created “I am” statements to shift my energy into a calmer mode.
When we use sentences starting with the words “I am,” our bodies sit up and pay attention. And all our little cells say, okay, I’ll align with that. Whether we say “I am stupid” or “I am wonderful,” all our body hears is “I am” and it hurries to obey us.
At the beginning of this post, I have shared some of the “I am” and “I” statements I used to help myself before and during my art colony experience. If you like any of them, say them aloud (or silently, or type them, or sing them, whatever works for you) . . . and notice your energy and your body aligning with your statements. And if you like, leave a comment about your experience with these statements here . . . or share it on Face book with the button below . . . or send me an email. I am loving it!
You art journey sounded amazing, Janet! I can only imagine your journal!
I know what you mean about our “I am” statements. It took me quite awhile to make the declarations “I am a writer” and “I am an artist”. For too many years I allowed myself to fall into the comparison trap which led to me feeling inferior. No longer!
I LOVE Grand Marais. That is way up there, isn’t it? I just loved the energy there and now I know why! I remember thinking, “I could live here” – that is how much I loved it. Is that what it is called, The Art Colony? I did not see it when I was there. What a cool place and a cool experience. I love that you were blessed for your special event. Nice.
Oh what a wonderful experience Janet. The energy of Lake Superior is really amazing isn’t it, and the place you were at sounds glorious. Creating in community can be quite an awesome experience.
How wise of you to get the pre-event support you needed, and what wonderful I AM statements. Beautiful.
Janet, it sounds like you had an amazing and very healing time at Art as Journey. Thank you for sharing about it. I had never heard of this place. I love the ‘I am’ statements. These days I am using them with the Violet Flame and love how I feel when I do so. Blessings! xo
inspired and grateful,
my cells are going to get an extra dose
of light today:)
-Jennifer
Testing this area here to make sure its working.