hello, love.

today you are invited to have your own little opening ceremony for entering he{art} PORTAL, and connect with your inner artist.

here is what to prepare. gather:
- a sketchbook or notebook and pencil (plus crayons/colored pencils if you'd like)
- two throw pillows or cushions
- things to make a circle big enough to sit inside of comfortably. follow your intuition and have fun with this. it can be flowers or house plants, candles, rocks, seashells, art supplies or books

- a candle and matches.

you can tailor this ceremony to what feels good and inspiring to you, but i am going to offer some guidance for a starting point.

create a circle with the things you collected. make sure it is large enough to sit inside of and still have space for a cushion in front of you. set the two pillows on the floor inside of the circle and make sure the candle, sketchbook and pencil are within reach.

the circle signifies your entry into the sacred space of this retreat, and into the portal of our own heart. enter it with intention and sit on one of the cushions, facing the other. once the ceremony begins, everything is perfect. there is space for any discomfort, disappointment, mistake. we can be with whatever comes up and allow it to pass through us.

light the candle as a reminder of the fire that is your heart. everything gets purified through the fire of your heart.

time to get in touch with your inner artist. pick up the notebook or sketchbook and take a trip down your personal history. try to remember something you used to draw as a child over and over again. something that fascinated you and you drew obsessively. if drawing doesn’t light you up, take some time to journal about something that sparked your inner artist as a child - like the first set of crayons you can remember. or you could journal about details from your childhood that are dear to you and you can remember in vivid detail. the more detail the better.

once you have connected with your inner child through drawing or remembering and writing, set down the notebook, and allow me to guide you through a short meditation practice that invites your inner artist to speak to you. (the meditation is attached in the video on the left).

you can end the ceremony by processing that encounter in your journal. enjoy.

love,
-ag.