Unstoppable A pledge that became this artist s soul path. p.3 NOW. of the YOU ARE FASCINATING. Jane Dunnewold on proudly claiming your artist self.

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1 ART SOUL of the YOU ARE FASCINATING Jane Dunnewold on proudly claiming your artist self. 1 p.6 THE ART OF THE SOUL ARTOFTHESOULNOW.ORG NOW Unstoppable A pledge that became this artist s soul path. p.3 Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use PHOTO BY #HORNICKRIVLIN

WELCOME to the ARTWORK BY KRISTENFAGAN.COM THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I TOIL AWAY IN THE STUDIO, attempting to create something original, only to have my inner critic become an obstacle to the inspiration.

There also are several people in my life who would consider themselves driven by their spirituality.

That space is where the Art of The Soul Now originated. And now we want to share the experience of the crossroads between creativity and spirituality with you.

2 WELCOME to the ARTWORK BY KRISTENFAGAN.COM THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I TOIL AWAY IN THE STUDIO, attempting to create something original, only to have my inner critic become an obstacle to the inspiration. Precious are the moments when that judgmental voice disappears, opening a space for the spiritual to enter. I am fortunate enough to work with creative people every day, and each of them inspires me. There also are several people in my life who would consider themselves driven by their spirituality. But what about that place, that unique, sacred spot we find ourselves in when we hold open space for both creativity and spirituality to coexist? That space is where the Art of The Soul Now originated. And now we want to share the experience of the crossroads between creativity and spirituality with you. Join us for stories and inspiration that explore this often-untapped place in our lives. We re just getting started. With gratitude, THE ART OF THE SOUL It is said that imagination is a doorway into the divine. CREATIVITY + SPIRITUALITY= FACEBOOK.COM/ARTOFTHESOULNOW We are adding more inspiration and takeaways every day. Whether you join the conversation or just want to quietly absorb the ideas we share, Art of the Soul Now is here for you. Share your story Do you have a story about how your own spirituality and creativity feed each other? Share it with us. It could appear in the next issue! hello@artofthesoulnow.org 2 THE ART OF THE SOUL ARTOFTHESOULNOW.ORG Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use

ORG Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any

3 How a Pledge of Unity Led Me to My Soul Path e l b a pp o t s Un 3 BY LARISSA DAVIS THE ART OF THE SOUL ARTOFTHESOULNOW.ORG Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use PHOTOGRAHY BY #HORNICKRIVLIN

A year ago I was in a very different place with a very different outlook. I never imagined I would be here, now, doing what I am doing. But that was because I had not allowed myself to dream.

4 A year ago I was in a very different place with a very different outlook. I never imagined I would be here, now, doing what I am doing. But that was because I had not allowed myself to dream. Two years ago, I worked as a graphic designer. I had chosen graphic design because I thought it would be a reasonable line of work with which to earn a living, and it gave a slight nod to my creativity. For 20 years I worked in that field and I did well. As the family breadwinner, I was able to provide for us. The further I got into my career, and the more responsibilities grew at home, the harder I worked to fit myself into the idea of being a graphic designer. The stakes were too high to entertain any other ideas. How else would we survive? Anytime I felt uncomfortable, or unhappy, or stressed, I quickly turned my thoughts to other things and dug myself in more deeply, taking on more responsibility at work, pushing myself harder and harder. Then, two years ago, my job as creative director at a large company, a job I had held for 15 years, was eliminated. I was laid off. I was cast adrift or set free, depending on your viewpoint. Amid my confusion and fear about how to provide for my family, I heard something from within. An inner voice whispering, Hey, you do not even like this kind of work. This is great, let s do what we love! But, I was in panic mode. So, I turned away from that inner voice. I picked up the pieces and quickly started my own business, doing the same things I had done in my old job. I thought I had safely dodged the bullet. But then my firstborn child left for college. This rocked my inner world. And the voice, the voice I had run from for so long, spoke up and said, NOW, the time is NOW. I knew this voice, what I call my soul, was right. I could not ignore it any longer. I had been living my life based on ideas and fears coming from what I now term my left brain. It had been in control for years, but it was not delivering me to where I longed to be. I seemed to be stuck in a backwater, an eddy in the river, spinning round and round. And I felt a rift within myself. I had not been listening to my inner voice. I sensed that in order to move ahead I had to begin a conversation. So I made a covenant a pledge. I spoke it aloud: I will not take any steps forward or make any major decisions until I have unified myself. My first step: meditation. I had resisted it all my life. The truth was I felt I was destined to fail. I believed I could never settle my mind and, even if I did, I was terrified I would discover I was an empty shell with nothing inside. But armed with the conviction of my pledge, I began to meditate every day. Next, an online search led me to a young psychologist in Sweden who had a Facebook group called The Conscious Change Club. I joined and began following her soul-searching exercises. Then, in November, a close family friend died unexpectedly. The outpouring of love at the service sparked deep self-reflection. What would my obituary say? What would people say at my funeral? I spent a tearful evening crafting both my current and my dream obituary, a sobering exercise that strengthened my devotion to my quest. I started dreaming and imagining and desiring for the first time. I allowed that inner voice free rein, and my mind began bubbling with ideas. And then IT happened. In late January I had the dream that called me back to art. This was the dream: I am visiting an old friend. We have not seen or spoken to one another for many years. And in the time since I last saw her, she has been widowed and raised her two girls alone. To cope with her grief she took up painting. And she had a cult following because her paintings often depicted future events. She learned her craft from someone who was as much a spiritual teacher as a painter. She paints every day. She sits down at her easel to paint, and I sit beside her. I watch as she paints a photo-realistic image of a field. As I look from the canvas to her face I see that her eyes are closed. I woke up and knew it was time for me to make art again, and to start making it religiously. That day I got out my old pencils and a journal, and 4 THE ART OF THE SOUL ARTOFTHESOULNOW.ORG Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use

I began sketching my cat. I noticed that when I was sketching my mind was still, that I felt quieter and more centered when I was drawing than I did when sitting and meditating.

First, I was so excited by the insights I was gaining through the personal development exercises I was doing through the Facebook group that I offered to lead the women through a couple of them.

5 I began sketching my cat. I noticed that when I was sketching my mind was still, that I felt quieter and more centered when I was drawing than I did when sitting and meditating. So I began drawing every day. In February, I went to a new friend s home for a weekend retreat with five women. Two significant things happened. First, I was so excited by the insights I was gaining through the personal development exercises I was doing through the Facebook group that I offered to lead the women through a couple of them. I felt tentative, but the women were receptive and within 15 minutes, this group of five people, some of whom had never met before, were sharing things that in normal circumstances may have taken years to uncover, if ever. Second, creativity found me. I created my first art quilt that weekend, and it was magical. I felt alive with creative energy, working into the wee hours of the morning, surrounded by other creative women, supporting one another as we each created in community. I had never had such an experience before. above: Blue Liberty (detail) 34" x 38" This raw-edge appliqué quilt was created in February 2017 in the company of 5 amazing women and a creative muse in the hills of Vermont. above: Emerge 30" x 40" acrylic on canvas was created shortly after Unstoppable (see cover art) as a meditation and mantra for the unity of my being, the balance of physical and metaphysical, left and right brain, soul and body. After that I was on fire. I had two passions now: personal growth and creativity in community. The sharing together while creating was amazing. The sharing through personal growth exercises was powerful. Together, I was sure I was onto something life-changing. So I married these two experiences to forge a new path, a new direction, my life work, my why. My soul path. I made a commitment to do everything I needed to in order to make this dream real. I promised my inner voice, my soul, that I would NEVER abandon it. And I would break through any barriers I encountered on this quest. I would be unstoppable in my pursuit of this dream. The image of the elephant appeared to me as a symbol of unstoppable energy, and I manifested this symbol as a piece of fabric art. I began with a piece of fabric 6-feet wide and 7-feet tall. I outlined the shape of an elephant with a marker. Then, I wrote all the things on this fabric that I was committing to. All the energies I would need to fulfill my contract. My soul was aching to do this work, to forge this path. I had never felt such desire, and I knew it would take more strength than I had ever summoned to bring it to life. It would take the strength of an elephant. And so Unstoppable was born. My first intentional art piece, Unstoppable was created to strengthen my resolve to break through all barriers to make this dream come true. I launched my new business, Soul Path Art, in July. In addition to creating art, I share the techniques I use, inspiring and guiding others to connect with their soul, discover their passion, and walk their own soul path. To learn more visit LARISSADAVIS.COM PHOTO BY 5 THE ART OF THE SOUL ARTOFTHESOULNOW.ORG Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use

YOU ARE fascinating WE CONSTANTLY ARE INVITED TO LEARN LESSONS IN SPIRIT, culture, energy and expectation. Remember the fresh idea that no one wins if we downplay our talents.

But how to maximize potential? How to strike a balance between inflated ego and healthy self-esteem? How to proudly claim the Artist Self?

When the playing field is leveled it s no longer valid to believe we re better or worse than anyone else. There s no judgment. We re all fascinating in different, distinctive ways.

The qualities we have to share. How best to serve: humbly, graciously.

6 YOU ARE fascinating WE CONSTANTLY ARE INVITED TO LEARN LESSONS IN SPIRIT, culture, energy and expectation. Remember the fresh idea that no one wins if we downplay our talents. They are meant to be used. Each combination is distinctive and fascinating. We are fascinating people capable of touching others lives in powerful and life-changing ways. But how to maximize potential? How to strike a balance between inflated ego and healthy self-esteem? How to proudly claim the Artist Self? Begin by embracing the reality that when you get right down to it, everyone is fascinating. When the playing field is leveled it s no longer valid to believe we re better or worse than anyone else. There s no judgment. We re all fascinating in different, distinctive ways. Accept this. Then it s easier to state what we re good at or what we have to offer, without sounding braggy. The conversation becomes a discourse on what we bring to the table. The qualities we have to share. How best to serve: humbly, graciously. That s the key to self-esteem, defined as having respect for yourself and expecting respect from others just as you extend respect to them. It s a mutual admiration society of the highest order. And how about this? Accepting that everyone is fascinating means you must accept that you are fascinating. JANE DUNNEWOLD JANEDUNNEWOLD.COM 6 THE ART OF THE SOUL ARTOFTHESOULNOW.ORG Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use

Each day well-lived is a thing of beauty, giving us a more satisfying past and more promising future.

7 FAITH and your creativity All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. JRR TOLKIEN Life is lived one day at a time. But many of us find ourselves straying out of the day at hand into the past or into the future. The past is finished; the future is not yet here. Only the day that we are in can be lived. Each day well-lived is a thing of beauty, giving us a more satisfying past and more promising future. As I pray each day for knowledge of God s (or the Universe s) will for me, I am led to the next right action. Whether our daily habit is By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before. UNKNOWN asking for God s (or the Universe s) will there is always some small something we can do to make our present productive. As we focus on the now, we are rewarded by a sense of well-being. Our daily life becomes fulfilling. One s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. HENRY MILLER Dr. Carl Jung believed that the latter part of our life was a time for reflection. Thinking back over the years that had passed, we are able to understand their meaning. When we honor our life story through exploring our memoir, in art or words or teachings to others, we leave behind a legacy. We tell our descendants who and what we were. We see how our past has brought us to where we are today. JULIA CAMERON CREATIVITY + SPIRITUALITY= FACEBOOK.COM/ARTOFTHESOULNOW See you there! 7 THE ART OF THE SOUL ARTOFTHESOULNOW.ORG Fiber Art Now All rights reserved Fiber Art Now grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use

Manifest Your Dreams Page 1

Manifest Your Dreams Page 1 Table of Contents Introduction... 3 Is it Real?... 4 The Power of Positive Thinking... 5 The Law of Attraction... 7 Eliminate Negativity... 10 Affirmations... 11 Manifest Your