af Adam | jan 16, 2015 | Collaborating, Creative workshops, Finding courage, From my life, Visionmap
Let it be no secret! I love doing this:
….Yes, I love it when we honor our sincere wish to make life count, and when we use creativity as a tool to make that happen.
That is why I, in the beginning of every year, work with my visions in words and pictures. That is why I create Vision boards. And that´s why I love teaching Workshops using that and other creative tools.
This year, however, it seemed like an uphill process. At least at first; no inspiration, no joy. No feelings of anticipation when trying to catch my visions for 2015.
That´s when a group of ladies asked me to make a workshop and help them create their vision boards for 2015. “Oh no”, I thought, “I haven´t even created my own yet, and I honestly feel a bit stuck”. But that is the trick with these or any process. They DO work, but only if we DO them! And I had been stalling in “no action land”, which is exactly what so easily happens when what we need the most is to simply begin. And keep going with small steps. We humans can help each other so much, and sometimes asking someone for help might be the very thing that will help that person too. Good to remember!
So, inspired by the request I gave it a go with my own visions. It helped. I found out several things that I had not seen, that explained the resistance I felt. I saw that I needed to give myself permission to search for new ways – with business and with other areas of life – to really ask again from scratch what route it I wanted to take, and to be willing to make some changes. To say more boldly NO to things that no longer fits, even if it looks like it will generate an immediate income. To insist on working from a core of joy and service, rather than pushing myself into areas that clearly steals my energy. To dare not meeting expectations, my own and others. To dare listen, every day, to my intuition, which has proven over and over again to be a most trustworthy tool.
Slowly but steadily the fog lifted, and I began feeling that childish anticipation again. If I can, I know you can too! You can read more about creating a vision board RIGHT HERE.
Or, if you live nearby (Sjælland, Danmark), you can join my New years Vision workshop on saturday the 24th of january. A FULL day of diving into you own visions, using some wonderful creative tools like writing, movement and “Vision Boarding”. Sounds good, right? So, if you live in Denmark, this might be for you, I would love to meet you there:
Till soon, love from Lise.
af Lise Meijer | dec 6, 2013 | From my life, Paintings, Prints, Soul speed, Uncategorized
“Joy under the tree”. New painting. Available for purchase HERE, as the very first of a series of small and affordable paintings on Etsy, yay!
Strange how we humans create traditions and then keep them up long after no one can remember or manifest their true meaning. Strange how just a little awareness can shift that.
One day a most wonderful Christmas tree presented itself to me. A tree standing alone in a winter landscape. And yet not alone. It was part of a beautiful world of life, not visible to the eye unless you were able to see through the cold winter earth beneath its roots. There were presents under the tree! But a very special kind. The kind that makes you still with wonder and joy. They were pure life energy and juices from trees and plants withdrawn into the ground to be stored and renewed during the cold season. And they were wrapped in a deep understanding of the cycle of life and death.
I saw a world of promise and new life. Forces making ready for the year to come. And I noticed how the tree was settled, knowing that what the eyes can´t see is still there, as pure joy under the surface. That this is another kind of spring, felt by those who are able to be so still that they can hear what goes on under the surface.
Detail from York Minster
This December I will try once again. To do what I can and leave the rest. And not be driven by traditions. But rather use them as an opener and guide to what may be a hidden truth. Remembering that true presents has joy and connection and don´t come with a demand. I know it´s not easy in this world. But I firmly believe we can create our own new traditions, little by little. Traditions connected to something true. Something real. Even if it´s something we can´t see it with the eyes.
Here´s to lots of true joy under the trees this year!!!
Xx Lise.
PS: part of my sanity in times like this comes from the small (or sometimes big, yay!) moments of reconnecting with myself through writing morning pages. Lifesaving. Really.
af Lise Meijer | maj 5, 2013 | Creative Quickie, Painting process, Paintings
First I created the background, using different patterned papers, gluing it directly on the white canvas with golden medium glue.
Adding loose layers of acrylic paint, then sketching and painting an image. And adding more paper.
Wonderful painting mess….
Here I used some of my Molotow pens to draw coloured lines of detail.
I often create 2 – 3 paintings at a time. For many reasons: One can dry when I work on another; it takes the pressure off having to create one perfect piece and I love how they almost speak together during the process. Also, it´s much faster to paint that way, and I love the feeling of getting a lot done!
Trying it on the wall many times during the process
Finished piece, “Imagine”. Text reads: “Imagine that you woke up one day to discover a flower much greater than you ever expected growing out of your own pot.” Prints available here. I´m thinking this one would love to appear as part of the postcard series very soon, it seems to be destined for that.
If you are interested in buying originals, contact me and I´ll send you a list of the ones currently for sale.
The inspiration to this painting came spontaneously during a “Creative quickie”, which is something I love to do as a quick and easy way of getting the creative juices flowing.
af Lise Meijer | feb 16, 2013 | From my life, Uncategorized, Visionmap
I am a fan. Of creating visionmaps. Or making drawings of our visions. Of writing thank you notes for things yet to happen. Or speaking our innermost unbelievable dreams out to a trusted friend or admitting it in a journal. I´ll get to why I am a fan…
For those of you who always wondered what those visionmaps are all about, or maybe just love to sneak peak, here´s how I create a visionmap, step by step:
1. Choose a theme for your visionmap
Find something you´d love to have more of in your life. I use journaling time for the choosing and finding out. You can choose to make a map of anything you want: A visionmap for attracting a loving partner, for a fulfilling worklife, a specific dream, for more sense of quiet in your life, more energy, or, like I do every year, a visionmap for what you wish for the coming year. Basically you can make a visionmap about anything you want to strengthen in your life.
2. Spend 45 minutes browsing (not reading!) through magazines, cutting out images for your map.
You cut out any image that rings with your vision. Be greedy, just cut, so you have lots of images to choose from later!
The important thing here is to go for images that for some reason appeal to you. If you for example want a lifestyle with more healthy food, and are making a map for that, you don´t need a ton of pictures with green salads or herbal tea. Find some (and if you don´t have any, browse the net and print one or two out), then go on collecting pictures that associates with the feeling you get from eating healthy food. Perhaps pictures of children playing, a sunset, birds flying. Friends laughing. Choose pictures that give you a happy uplifted feeling, that will support your vision! Get the picture?
3. Spend the next 45 min´s laying out and gluing your cut out pictures to your piece of cartboard.
Have fun with it, and if you wish, leave some space for wtiring small messages or confirmations on the map. If you like, Add some details like a coloured frame or small drawings, glitter, or other decor. Totally optional. I also recommend adding a bright picture of yourself somewhere.
This year I went a bit bananas and actually photoshopped a painting by me onto a magazine front-page and printed it out. It looks totally real. I am actually curling my toes right now with embarrasment!!! But still, it makes me believe that of course those magazines (or similar ones) would feature my art this coming year, thereby making it more known to people. Something very valuable if you want to sell art. You dont´t have to go this far at all, it takes some time of course, but it does put a big smile on my face every time I walk past it!
(Finished Visionmap)
4. Hang your map!
You can hang it wherever you choose. In your bedroom, the living room, or on the inside of a closet so you see it everytime you get dressed. I personally love to have my map hanging close to where I work in my studio. But do make sure to hang it in an honorable place where you see it often, every day if possible.
(“Just knock”, print available here)
Why I am a fan?
I love this process for several reasons. It´s easy and playful and anyone can do it, with or without great creative skills. It combines logic with intuition. But mostly: it strengthens our belief in our dreams, thereby attracting those things in our lives. I have seen and felt how it works, over and over, in my life and in other people´s lives. I have taught it in workshops and seen the glow on people´s cheeks as the process works it´s wonders. It´s so simple, you just have to do it.
It´s not like a quick-fix wishing list. It´s a tool that assist you in the sometimes impossible task of finding and acting on your innermost whispers of what it is you are meant to be doing, eating, working with, dancing with, living with, in this life.
Of course it´s not the map itself that has magic pixie-powers to make your dreams come true. It´s you! By first creating (spending prescious time, energy, focus) and then watching your visionmap daily over a period, you tune yourself in a powerful way to those visions. Creating a visionmap is a powerful help to keep believing that things far beyond your current situation are actually possible. Yes, they truly are, for each single one of us, and for you too!
Down to basics:
What you need:
*Stack of magazines
* scissors, pens and glue (I prefere a stick)
* Piece of cartboard or thick paper
* 2 hours for yourself (or 2 x 1 hour, or whatever you can manage), good music and your favourite drink
Hope you´ll have a go, and if you do, I wish you a wonderfully playful process. I mean, it doesn´t hurt to try and you may just be surprised at the outcome!
