“Have you ever wondered if this fear haunting you serves more of a purpose than to be something you wish away?”

Whenever a light or alert on my car comes on — I trust it and respond accordingly.

I don’t ignore it or make it mean anything about who I am or my day or anything. I just stop and get more gas, or schedule an oil change. No big deal.

And yet when it comes to my emotions (especially certain ones like anxiety or grief), how often is my impulse to ignore or to feel like their presence is a personal shortcoming?! Instead of just an emotion — just an indicator of the energy I’ve been creating with my thoughts and relationships and words.

It’s just a notification of how I’m doing. A car light. Support requested. It’s nothing inherently bad or shameful or wrong.

And even though in my mind I know this is a misbelief, remembering it in my body and energy in the moment is the real work, and for me, nothing is more supportive of that (ok ok outside of therapy, coaching, and meditation) than my creative practice.

My portals series is all about what happens when we lovingly compost our wounds, triggers, emotions, old ideas, and hold radical and loving space for 1. what is present (even as it’s passing) and 2. what wants to emerge.

I fell into this series because often when i’m creating, I think I’m consciously exploring one emotion or idea (like here with anxiety), but then I step back and find myself surprised to feel another element present (love, acceptance, peace).

I loved that duality in this painting.

The buzz of the black and hot pink background (created via relief prints — a wink at the way our environments shape us) contrasted by an almost screen of gray-green fog.

The two figures in the front: the forest of matte black calm as night and the final addition of the teal glitter crayon. That last mark felt gleeful.

Gleeful. An expression of life. Same as my anxiety. I just judge one more harshly, but they’re both the same.

Beautiful, vibrant, signaling expressions of the life within of me wanting to be known and seen.

Colorful. In process. Worthy.

Want to take this message home and hang it on your wall?

Anxiety is the Love Letter from my Body Reminding me of the Freedom Left to Claim is an original mixed media painting on 6×8 inch paper matted to a striking 11×14 inches using all museum-quality materials to ensure the work brings you and your loved ones smiles for generations to come.

I’d love to send it to your family today!

Want to make your own?!

Want to create your own intuitive painting?! An excuse to kick back, put on some jams, and finger paint (or color or collage or ______) for a bit — connect to your own fierce and loving feels!?

I’ve created a free tutorial you can use to do just that! Let me know how it goes.

Enjoy!

“the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting, over and over announcing your place in the family of things”