Sometimes we just need little inspiring reminders and supportive words that fuel the voices within that can sometimes become faint when there are other influences we allow to infiltrate what we know.

So today I’m just sharing some inspirations from messages I’ve received to support continued belief in my dreams and in staying true to who I am despite ANYTHING. Perhaps they might speak to you today as that synchronous nudge, answer, or message you were asking for or needed.

I was touched by this beautiful birthday card I received from my parents yesterday with this message pictured above.

I also received another birthday card with a message with five years of shifting meaning that came to me now in a new way, pictured below by my dear friend, Laura.

And yesterday, as I was listening to one of my cds I was intuitively drawn to while I was painting, I came across one of my many favorite songs, which holds these lyrics by Pamela McNeill, as message. It’s on a Yanni cd and the song is called “The Promise” :

The way the moon bends down to light the sea

And catches hold

Of mountains strong

They stand beside me and all that I am

They have written in my soul

I’ve made a promise to never lose sight

Of the dream that leads me home

And this much I know

Time like a river

Sends me away

But here on these shores

My heart remains

From these shores I came

A tender wind that reaches through the years

And sings me on

Through joy and pain

It breathes within me and all that I am

It has written in my soul

I’ve made a promise to never lose sight

Of  the dream that leads me home

And this much I know

And this much I know

Reblogged from TRANSITIONS:

“Denise, Hello again!!! Hello to Everyone here and boy do I feel you. Thank-you so much for your helpful reply’s to my last comment/question. I do have more questions and would like your guidance again, please. It seems that many of us lightworkers/starseeds/wayshowers etc., have been moved around, suffered all these symptoms and wondered if we were going crazy, have been alienated by those still asleep and overall have felt that we do not belong anywhere and have no idea how to proceed into the future …

Great insights on “Ascension and Earning Money” for those having challenges in the now with financial abundance

New Sacred Tattoo Design by Tania Marie

Today I’d like to share an interesting journey that led me to an answer and some cool unfoldings and new discoveries. Every now and then I like to share the stories behind some of the creations that channel through, as they hold some cool synchronous messages, as well as shed interesting light on supportive information that can be of benefit to others.

I was commissioned to do a custom sacred tattoo design by a very magickal client near the end of January. This client found me by divine connection, had never wanted or even had any tattoos until now, and provided no instruction saying they were leaving it up to my guides and theirs for this creation to manifest – basically stating the belief it was an attunement process for both of us and I’d know when to start and would be guided through it now that the connection had been made.

I so loved the openness to this magickal flow that was initiated and felt an extremely deep honor in being part of the energetic co-creation.

As instructed, I let myself be guided as to when I’d start, as if I tried to start when timing wasn’t ready, I came against huge blocks, was pulled everywhere else but to focus on the design, and felt unmotivated. So I honored the trust and opening and let things percolate in the background.

When timing felt ready I began- first allowing to listen, I also started following some energetic leads of things I was sensing in research to see where things lead, and then asking for inspiration in meditation for an image.

I then saw in my mind’s eye this image that I’d drawn five years ago right before embarking on my second trip to Egypt – this one for a 9-9-9 event – 9/9/2007. I received the image in a dream, which involved a man I had not met in this life yet, but ended up being on the trip, which I drew when I awoke. I brought it with me to Egypt and showed a few people to see if anyone knew what it meant or if it had any meaning at all. I was hopeful that since these people were highly enlightened individuals, all with unique spiritual gifts, we’d be bound to discover some meaning. But, nobody knew what the symbol was, although found it interesting. I kept it in my Egypt notebook I’d taken notes in from that trip and hadn’t looked at it until I was prompted from this nudge.

I put it aside, as at first I wasn’t getting the connection since I didn’t have any idea what the symbol was. So I continued my researching of other nudges. I then suddenly stumbled upon a symbol that looked very similar to mine, while perusing other info and symbols. I started reading about it and following other threads leading me to more similar images and information that finally was revealing to me what I had stumbled upon in my own unique way.

The symbol information and others’ depictions of it was supporting the image I had drawn that basically held the same characteristics and energy. The symbol is called First Matter or The Prima Materia – The One Thing. Some also refer to it as Chaos (or Chaostar) or Earth of Paradise. Sometimes depicted as the ouroboros and even sometimes as two dueling dragons at each other’s throats, releasing inherent male and female energies through the shared blood – similar to the Yin/Yang symbol. To me, it also could be similar to Hunab Ku – The Galactic Butterfly.

Some explain the essence of the First Matter, which is chaos, as seeming to evoke octal or octagon imagery. For alchemists, chaos is the First Matter and the source of all transformative energy. This eight-pointed star (the “Chaostar”) is symbolic of the chaos and power of the First Matter, which captures within its design the fractal concept of “order within chaos.

“…the first matter, as the origin of all things which exist, must be found prior to the division of the universe into the duality of mind and matter.”

I took my original symbol I’d drawn five years ago and fused it with new, potent energy I felt guided and inspired to incorporate to create a portal symbol of this energy for my client in the now. I felt, for several reasons, guided to encircle the symbol with an artistic rendering of two dragons connected as a unified essence in that Yin/Yang, Oneness-nature, minus the dueling energy. Instead, I had them energetically “holding” the energy of the symbol between them, representing alchemical magick within our ability to masterfully co-create. The essence of the idea that even though something seems chaotic and operating outside our control, there is a harmonious order that is within our grasp when we unify our parts. I felt that each represented the empowered male and female circling continuously in harmony. The image came to birthing conclusion on yesterday’s Pisces New Moon.

My client was right. This would be an attunement process for us both, revealing some interesting things. The journey in creating this piece is also VERY mirroring for me. It unlocked some hidden wisdom that supports my “now” experience of  this “order within chaos” concept as source for transmutation and transformative integration to wholeness. A little lesson in spiritual alchemy and how to perceive things through a different lens of divine perfection for what is in manifestation, regardless of how it appears. As always, symbolism will speak to each person in relative ways.

The alchemists believed that no transformation—whether in the laboratory, in the body, or in the soul—could succeed without the presence of a mysterious ingredient known as the Materia Prima (First Matter).

I love the cohesive threads that unfold when we heed the nudges.

For more interesting information, here is a cool article from Morning Star Portal called: Spiritual Alchemy: The Prima Materia

http://www.morningstarportal.com/primamateria.html

Perseverance to see what we have set forth in motion through, regardless of what things seem like.

Trust to keep believing and knowing that the goal is near.

Grace to be in your divinity.

Steadiness to take time to reflect, keep balanced, make calculated moves with little to no effort and in deliberate steps – think of the tortoise.

Wise discernment to understand and know which choices best honor you in every experience you engage in.

Releases of all old baggage once and for all that no longer serves you and in letting go of old structures, patterns, beliefs, and ways of doing things.

Allowance in vulnerably embracing and asking for help from friends, loved ones, your spirit guides, the angels, elementals, the Universe, etc. and letting go of control in order to receive that which you ask for in a more appropriately aligned way that matches the new you you are becoming.

A lesson I am having to learn every day with some very loud and clear nudges. I know like many, I have experienced the consistent drive regardless of the bumps in the road that can in the moment feel completely defeating. Yet, it’s time to change the way we have been operating and for some that may be more extreme than for others, especially in reference to the types of messages we receive to get our attention. Yet things ARE really shifting. I’m seeing this rapid change over the last couple of months and I can see how my intentions are starting to manifest. So its not the time to throw in the towel even when we get hit over the head with something that can feel so discouraging, as it is reminder to us not to take with us anything old and to ensure we continue the journey anew. With the right adjustments we will leap ahead even though the steps may “seem” slower in the moment. Don’t get caught up in the details and the illusion. We cannot bring the old into what is unfolding collectively. We are so close and we are not alone in this.

I had recently gone through a sort of physical breakdown of adjustments that needed my attention and tending to, in bringing forth my last remnants of biggest challenges in life, loud and clear. And once I started to embrace the understanding of this and shifted perspective, along with getting more grounded and doing supportive things energetically, things instantly did start to shift my experience. Then came the next hurdle, or remnants of those things not quite finished, with bigger messages that would definitely be attention grabbers, which happened recently with major allergies I’ve never had in the mornings (that I finally have a handle on) and then yesterday in falling off a stool and having what appears to be a foot fracture. Accident? Of course not. An ingeniously devised mechanism of knowing how to click the light bulb on for me – a way to make myself stop.

As always, I find the message in what takes place. Not everyone has to have extreme things, but being that I’ve been an extremist, the only way my essence knows to get my attention and stop me, is to literally stop me! So while I could have remained on the floor when I fell (which I did for a few minutes of tears and pain) in discouragement and given up, I got up and said I understand. Thank you for loving me enough to help me see the way. If pain is embraced, it holds its polarity of joy for you to experience. I’m currently working on naturally healing this fracture and know the time in doing so will be beneficial to revamp some things and take a step back.

So while this may be a very challenging period, I remain optimistic and positive that the things I’ve energetically focused on are coming to be and are actually manifesting, so I have this downtime to make the refinements, take care of myself and be taken care of -calculatingly pull back the reins just a bit, before I get ready to take off. It kind of reminds me of the movie Sea Biscuit (yes, here comes another horse story) and the amazing heart of that little horse who loved to get wind of the disbelief and obstacles that seemed insurmountable (even with a fractured leg) and once he embraced that spirit of nothing can stop me even though my legs may be shorter and it seems physically impossible, the courage of my heart and the love for running free will get me where I want to be – and I’ll do it on my terms and as a whole being with all of my parts in tact and operating authentically. This fracture is but a temporary resting point to get deeper in touch and come back even stronger, as well as let things catch up with how fast I was going so that divine timing can unfold.

I’d like to leave you with these very inspiring quotes to help support any disillusionment, discouragement or dismay you may be experiencing. I know how that feels and have been there many times. What I’ve learned is to turn the painful energy into fuel for my passionate fire and continue to believe no matter what things “appear” to be or what anyone else says. I see the bigger picture, not just the pieces and I know there are no limitations unless I believe so. What could be grim to one, is an opportunity in the making for another. The choice is yours to lovingly make.

“The challenge is to believe your dreams in the center of illusion.” Emmanuel (Pat Rodegast)

“See the world as if for the first time; see it through the eyes of a child, and you will suddenly find that you are free.” Deepak Chopra

“A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed. It feels an impulsion. this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and patterns behind all clouds. And you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.” Richard Bach, Illusions

“Walk on a rainbow trail; walk on a trail of song, and all about you will be beauty. There is a way out of every dark mist, over a rainbow trail.” Edward A. Navajo

“A small boy looked at a star and began to weep. The star said, ‘Boy, why are you weeping?’ And the boy said, ‘You are so far away I will never be able to touch you.’ And the star answered, ‘Boy, if I were not already in your heart, you would not be able to see me.’ ” John Magliola

 “Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands – a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world.” Sidney Lovett

“Be inspired with the belief that life is a great and noble calling; not a mean and groveling thing that we are to shuffle through as we can, but an elevated and lofty destiny.” William E. Gladstone

 “Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.” Dale Turner

 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

“Dynamic choices made in the physical, the daring to follow the path set by the heart, are the only prerequisites to ultimate success.” Mentor, Agartha

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed, but with what is still possible for you to do.” Pope John XXIII

 “We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” e.e. Cummings

“As long as you’re actively pursuing your dream with a practical plan, you’re still achieving, even if it feels as though you’re going nowhere fast. It’s been my experience that at the very moment I feel like giving up, I’m only one step from a breakthrough. Hang on long enough and circumstances will change, too. Trust in yourself, your dream and spirit.” Sarah Ban Breathnach

I do everything by eye and of course, as an artist, I just sort of blend in what I am intuitively drawn to. This blend makes about 2 full glasses (maybe a little more) and tastes a lot like a pineapple blend even though there’s no pineapple! Yes, it’s magic! The photo isn’t so good in capturing color, but when stirred, it has a beautiful, deep peachy hue – kind of like a melon.

So this is “about” the all organic ingredients I remember for today’s juice I’ll call Living Sunrise:

4 large apples

1 pear

1 large cucumber

1 1/2 inches of ginger

10 large strawberries

2 medium oranges

1 lemon

the equivalent of about 2 – 2 1/2 large carrots

As always, you can use your left over fiber from your juicer to create some raw vegan yummies like dehydrated veggie burgers, add the fiber to make your own blend of raw crackers or bread, or add to raw cookie or cake recipes! Enjoy!

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” James M. Barrie

Joy with Raja Seraphina

Of course those that know me know how deeply connected I am with rabbits. As a vegan and lover of all animals and beings, I have felt connected with animals since birthing into this Earthly experience, but rabbits are just, for whatever and many reasons, extremely dear and close to my heart and I resonate profoundly with them. Not only do I connect and understand them in a very personal way as a reflection, but I absolutely adore their magickal and precious essence in a way I can’t describe.

As I speak, my dear little Joy (lop eared bunny) is exploring my office and came to rest right next to the table that holds my large Quartz Crystal Skull, Raja Seraphina – a profound sign of her supporting what I am writing and connecting with the energy, as Raja Seraphina possesses the integration of both empowered female and male energies. (I’m actually really proud of her because she is on the wood floor, which was a fear she has been learning to overcome all by herself. She has learned to be safe on the floor in my/our sacred space, so I’m sure she will soon be exploring the entire house freely. A great example of how we can overcome fears).

I’ve been honored to have 3 bunny loves in my life, one of which is Nestor, whom I speak of often and has departed this Earthly plane. Part of the reasoning for the white hare in my painting, has to do with very personal healing stories connected with her, as well as simultaneous, collective healing that spoke through her for the essence of the painting.

The other 4 paintings depicted either a male or female being as one of the main focal points of the message, and as mentioned are fully integrated/empowered males and females that have embraced the empowered counterpart within them. However, for Spirit, we move beyond depictions of polarities, even in integrated form, and go straight to the heart of integration – and that is where the white hare comes into play.

Hares, throughout time have been associated with a whole myriad of powerfully profound, transmutational energies, as we will see in these excerpts from druidicdawn.org’s post, Hares and the Spring Equinox:

“Ancient peoples found hares one of the most mysterious and perplexing animals around. Hares were thought to be hermaphrodites, male one month and female the next month.” …”The ancient Greeks asserted this was so too, and associated hares thus with powers of self-impregnation and something we now call superfoetation. Superfoetation is “the fertilization of an already pregnant female which causes the simultaneous development of eggs of two different ovarian cycles within the genital tract.” …

“The ancient Mediterranean peoples also all believed that the male hare could also become pregnant.”

…”Going back to the idea of balance between the masculine and feminine at the Equinox, we mustn’t forget that many religions and myths, especially those derived from mystics and shamans, believe that the true nature of ourselves and the divine is found in the union of opposites. And from this union of the Masculine and Feminine, all Creation breaks forth into life and consciousness. It then makes sense that anything in nature that brings together the masculine and feminine, be it sexual intercourse, self-replicating plants, or in this case, hares who interchanged between male and female, were all held as some of the highest most sacred subjects in our world .. because they embody the actual creative powers of the universe.

For many of the reasons stated above, the hare has long been thought of as a mediator of the sacred…

Not only does the hare have lunar connections, but also many Buddhist and Hindu texts describe the hare as a creature of fire, but not just any fire–the same consuming sacrificial fire of the phoenix, then to rise again out of the ashes. The hare in this sense is not just a symbol of cyclical life like the moon and in many tales blatantly depicted as a bringer of reincarnation to mankind, but also in the same way, it becomes a symbol of simultaneous destruction and recreation that is at the very heart of all Life. Life is not just about being creative, but also requires the balance of first being destructive…

For all these reasons, the Hare then is not only associated with the Moon and the Sacred Fire and Spring, but also with the dawn and more importantly, with enlightenment…

Traditionally, the Easter Bunny, actually a Hare, was said to lay eggs at Easter. This concept is of course very strange to our factual minds, but taken symbolically, the Egg is not only Potential, but it also represents the Cosmos, the very ground of Being from which we spring–no pun intended! One only need think about the Cosmic Egg and the Druid’s Egg to begin to get the full scope of this meaning. No wonder then that the Hare was at one time considered both male and female. To produce the cosmos, both must be present.

This union of masculine and feminine makes the Hare an excellent symbol for marriage…

Other associations with the hare that I won’t go into now are witchcraft, or in ancient societies, with the seer or shaman–the hare is also the trickster figure in many stories, who outsmarts Winter and Death…

Overall then, the Hare is a symbol of many things, all involving balance, Life, creative potency, regeneration, fertility, and eternity. This symbolism manifests in associations with Springtime, the Dawn, the Moon and Sacred Fire, the Egg, the Circle and Infinity symbol, Marriage, Androgyny and Hermaphroditism, as well as Madness, Genius and Inspiration (which seem to go hand in hand).”

To read the entire, very insightful post, please visit: http://www.druidicdawn.org/node/1490

We still have another month or so to go before the Spring Equinox, but as “time” is speeding up and I’m always several “bunny leaps” ahead, I continue to post things before we get there, to support the space in the now for that energy integration to begin.

After reflecting upon the information, I think you start to get some of the picture for why the hare was the channeled message I received to depict in my painting, Spirit. The rest, we will have to save for another story. For now, I leave you with “Spirit” to receive its message.

Spirit by Tania Marie

Life Renewed by Tania Marie

Today I thought I would share a compilation of several quotes chosen to match the energy I feel would be supportive for others at this time. Now and then I will do this, drawing upon a themed message to be supportive for you and us all. Since all information is recycled and we are either remembering it, reiterating it, or reminding ourselves of it, (nothing is truly new and from the collective pool, it’s only shared through different channels in energetically unique ways from each so that it gets out to many who need to hear it in that particular way in that particular moment) then it is good to hear from many sources, the repeated messages we are trying to support ourselves with over and over until it clicks and we “get it.”

Today’s inspirations to reflect upon are themed around authenticity, self-awareness, perfection and wholeness in the here and now, self worth, seeing the bigger picture synergy, shifting perspectives to see what you are missing, change….

May you find value in who you are, what you are capable of creating and this very moment of divinity.

“Awareness is our true self; it’s what we are. So we don’t have to try to develop awareness; we simply need to notice how we block awareness with our thoughts, our fantasies, our opinions, and our judgments. We’re either in awareness, which is our natural state, or we’re doing something else.” Joko Beck

“As you recognize that you already own the wholeness you seek, and no one outside you can give you more than you already are, dysfunctional situations will evaporate like bad dreams exposed to the morning sun.” Alan Cohen

“Enlightenment does not ask you to be perfect; it simply asks you to find perfection right where you stand.” Alan Cohen

“The only thing more important than being good is being real. Authenticity is kinder than resignation without conviction. Truth leads to good faster than good leads to truth. Ultimately truth is good, but you have to live it from the inside out.” Alan Cohen

 “When your sense of worth exceeds your conditions, conditions will shift to match your vision.” Alan Cohen

 “The greatest gift that you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention.” Anthony J. D’ Angelo

 “Life is like a finger, pointing to the Moon. If you look at the finger… you will miss all the heavenly glory.” from Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee to his pupil

 “Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities. Always see them, for they’re always there.” Norman Vincent Peale

 ”You do not suffer because things are impermanent. You suffer because things are impermanent and you think they are permanent.” Thich Nhat Hanh

“Healing and positive life change comes from having the courage and spiritual conviction to look squarely at life’s impermanence.” Meredith Young Sowers

 “Awareness is given to the newborn, but must be sought by the adult.” Mentor, Agartha

 “He who knows others is learned; he who knows himself is wise.” Lao Tzu

 “People who do not need to please are irresistible because they radiate wholeness, a rare delicacy in a world of hungry hearts.” Alan Cohen

 “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” Buddha

 “Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know it just as well as you do. We are all learners, doers and teachers.” Richard Bach, Illusions

 “What a doctor or healer tells you is a reflection of the beliefs and expectations you hold. Change your beliefs and you change the prognosis. Who is the doctor? The mind of the patient.” Alan Cohen

Mists of Avalon by Tania Marie

I wanted to share my newest creation that is now available and will be exhibited at Circa 92 for the opening on 2/25 – Mists of Avalon. As always, cameras can’t quite capture the colors and detail as vibrantly, but this definitely gives you the essence feel. As I’ve shared, music is the process of my inspirations when I create and for this painting I was lead to a particular song that I played continuously, which always takes me to this world between worlds. It brings me to a dimensional visualization experience that takes me to the mystical and magickal Faery realm. It’s a very special place I only go to, to connect with my dear ones there (a special place for Nestor and I) and to get in touch with my essence and joyous self in a dance of etheric and otherworldly splendor so that I may bring that back with me into the now world.

Once I got into that flow and dance, the image came easily, but I did go through an interesting process as I was accessing the way to bring the essence of what I feel from the music into the manifestation of this painting. I also had trouble with the title, until synchronously Laura Bruno posted just as I was asking for help with the title, her blog: Becoming Invisible and The Mists of Avalon! I knew instantly that I had received the answer to my quest – Mists of Avalon  - this was exactly what I had captured in my mind and heart’s eye. The doorway to Avalon was what I had been creating, which is imbued with the energy of what I experience there.

As you read a little inspiration from Miranda Sophia Solace of Avalon Beyond below, I will leave you to experience the piece, as it is a portal that leads to this magickal Isle of Avalon in the “other world” as the mists of the vortex energy reveals the emerging Faery realm. – a place dear in my heart.

“This Island is a realm between the worlds, an entrance in to the underworld and has been for centuries and indeed millennia a site of initiation and worship. Featuring strongly in Arthurian Legend, the Isle has captured the imagination of many who have visited there experiencing the peace and rebirth of this ancient mysterious gateway to the Goddess. 

In England there is a very spiritual and sacred place called Glastonbury which is believed to be the site of the idyllic and magickal Isle of Avalon. Two holy wells or springs are found in Glastonbury, The Chalice Well or Red spring so called because the water is so filled with iron deposits that everything it touches is covered with rust. The other spring is the White Spring whose water is full of chalk leaving a white residue where it runs. These two closely coexisting yet separate sources are held to be symbolic of the blood and the milk of the mother and the Chalice well in later years was thought to be the last place where the holy grail was seen turning the water red with the blood of the crucified Christ. Of course we know, as seekers, that the chalice is the symbol of the cauldron, the womb of the mother and people of all faiths travel to the Chalice Well Gardens to drink the holy water. 

The name Avalon means “The Isle of Apples” with the apple being the symbol of all Beauty in the Celtic tree alphabet or Oghamic system. Glastonbury is dominated by the imposing Tor, a great hill carved thousands of years ago with a labyrinth earthwork processional path. The triple circle symbol on the Avalon sign is called the Vesica Piscis – The vessel of fishes – and is wrought in iron on the well head cover of the Chalice Well. The two inner circles symbolize the physical and non physical planes of existence, the point where they overlap being the vesica, the yonic symbol from which all creation comes forth. By bringing this symbolism and philosophy to the store I have tried to promote an environment of rebirth and refreshment for all our visitors, a peaceful and otherworldly sanctuary akin to the unbelievable feeling which I encountered upon visiting the Beautiful and knowing Isle of Avalon many years ago.” 

I actually have a ring that has a miniature symbol of the ancient cover of the Chalice Well of Glastonbury on it. (pictured left) Devotees of Arthurian Legend recognize this powerful symbol – believed to be a bridge to eternal life. The two intersecting circles, as shared, form the vesica piscis: symbol of feminine divinity, and the union of spirit and matter.

Enjoy your journey as you travel to this mystical land and don’t forget to keep the magick in your heart and to integrate into your experience daily!

Reflections by Tania Marie

Happy Love Day to everyone! It’s a conscious reminder day that if every day isn’t a love-filled day, to make it so! Love is the most powerful energy in the Universe.

“Love is a force that connects us to every strand of the universe, an unconditional state that characterizes human nature, a form of knowledge that is always there for us if only we can open ourselves to it.”

Emily H. Sell

“The heart is the only constant and sure beam to follow ones cosmic door of understanding.”

Mentor, Agartha

In honor of this love-filled day, I am sharing a love and passion of mine, as well as a love gift special. Some of my most favorite paintings I’ve created have been the animal companion portraits I have supported clients with. I have featured some of them in this blog to share, for those who haven’t seen them on my website.

Animals are beloved friends that I am deeply connected with and it is my joy to bring their essence to life in a very unique way for others, so that the depth of their soul is brought into the light. I make a deep connection with each animal companion that I am honored to capture on canvas in order to embody their uniqueness and divinity. I have been honored to work with some really lovely souls, both animal and human in bringing these creations about.

Animals demonstrate unconditional love in the purest of ways. They also help support us to learn to love ourselves in our authenticity and to connect to our beautiful Earth Mother and nature. Their essence is a mirror of love and they hold healing messages for us to embrace and integrate.

Discoveries by Tania Marie

The first painting pictured here is called “Reflections” and was a wedding gift for a new bride and groom of their beloved animal companion, Rufus, that also reflected their love of the ocean and beach and captured the energy of the life they are embarking upon.

“Discoveries” not only was created for a family’s love of their dear little Lucy, but to capture the essence of Lucy’s spirit and love for discovery of life.

“Everyday Miracles” was a birthday gift to capture the qualities of finding joy and transformative opportunities in life that dear little Madison displays for her human companion.

“Sanctuary” captures Fidel and Potato, two very different personalities in their feline sanctum, as a Christmas gift from brother to sister.  A complimentary match of feline friends comfortable in the presence of “being,” each as they are.

“Nestor” was created of my beloved when she was a baby to capture her magickal innocence and the tenderness of her child at heart radiance she embodies and instills within me.

Sanctuary by Tania Marie

Each piece has not only reflected the soul of the companion, but carries a message through that animal companion to its human companion to help embrace the energy they have to share and the support they impart as inspiration daily. There are always many layers to the paintings I create and these animal portraits are no exception.

If you are interested in a truly timeless piece of art that will touch your heart always, please contact me with your requests. I am offering through this blog, a 40% discount on my animal companion portraits in honor of the love I share for all of creation. This special is good through May 31st, 2012. 

Here are a couple of testimonials from happy human companions:

“We love, love, love the painting. The colors used for the sunset are breathtaking and the way they mesh together shows true talent on your part. Rufus looks adorable too! He looks just like the picture Dave sent you when Rufus was a puppy, but with a slightly more mature look to him. Rufus sitting in the water symbolizes to us, our deep sense of spirituality, which we share with each other and with Rufus. Rufus, the beach and the ocean are very meaningful to us and to our relationship. All three are great sources of inspiration, spirituality and positivity for Jim and I. The beach, coupled with Rufus, is like hitting the jackpot for us, and then add the bond that Jim and I share, and the feeling is beyond compare; beyond our wildest dreams. Thank you for artistically tying the beach and Rufus together to create a beautiful painting that Jim and I will cherish forever.”

Sincerely,
Amanda, Jim & Rufus Flanagan
Long Beach, NY

Everyday Miracles by Tania Marie

“Tania, I wanted to write a testimonial on your site about how much I loved the painting you did of Madison. I wake up to it every morning and I can’t tell you how happy it makes me. I received this painting as a surprise birthday gift from my dear friend. I was speechless when I first laid eyes on it. The colors, so bright and majestic, immediately catch the eye and slowly begin to unveil a story; Madison’s story. Tania is articulate and captured Madison’s true beauty and essence in this painting. I am extremely impressed by her work and can officially say I received the gift of a lifetime. I will cherish it forever. Tania is extremely talented and I am so fortunate to have received a piece of her work.
Thank you again for creating the gift of a lifetime,”

Nikki Del Plato, NY

Nestor by Tania Marie

For more information about custom Animal Companion Portrait commissions please visit: http://taniamarie.com/animalportraits.htm

To see larger image of the paintings in this blog please visit: http://taniamarie.com/gallery5.htm

~ May this day and always be a day you reach to the depths of your heart and live the fullness of love that you are. ~

Sacred Tattoo Design by Tania Marie

As our inner and outer worlds continue to rapidly change, more and more people are being drawn into the world of body art, especially with the shift in perspective on how tattoos can actually help support a new reality of experience in your life. Sacred tattoos that are consciously and intuitively chosen in a way that most supports the intentions, needs and empowered healing you desire are increasingly becoming the new paradigm of tattoos that mirrors the now. Spiritual tattoos are one of the fastest growing areas of tattoo subject matter – a recent survey of tattoo artists found that one third of those getting tattoos choose designs that reflected their spiritual or religious beliefs, which is particular strong among first timers.

The feedback I hear from clients and others who embark on a sacred tattoo journey are truly inspiring and beautiful. For those who have chosen this as their path and empowering tool of choice, they have been awed by the powerful ways their lives and those around them are affected simply by being more conscious with their choices and decisions in what they decide to create with their body art, realizing the skin can be a portal opening with many benefits. What is placed on the skin, then penetrates through to the DNA and energetic levels.

This is the basis of my book, Spiritual Skin – Sacred Tattoos: More than Skin Deep, and what drives my passion for helping to support others with custom sacred tattoo designs that they can then have inked by a tattoo artist of their choice, or now, can have created as temporary tattoos as well.

For more information on my book and the custom tattoo design service I provide, please visit: http://spiritualskin.com/ . You may also contact me with inquiries at tania@spiritualskin.com 

My hands with sacred tattoo designs

I thought it would be fun to share some of the facts and statistics of the tattoo world, which demonstrate how this area of interest continues to grow. The more recent jumps in numbers are something I have myself been keeping an eye on, experiencing within my day-to-day interactions with clients and personal observations since this is my area of passion and interest. I am also seeing how a new genre of temporary tattoos are now even hitting the high fashion, Paris luxury and runway scene at the height of couture, which we know then has the trickle down effect. Having studied fashion marketing and trend forecasting, I know that once something hits the fashion world, it infiltrates not only a market once not reached, but will continue to affect the markets that take off of the precedents set in high fashion.

This is a very interesting thing to see, as this will ultimately take tattoos into a greater realm of overall acceptance, as it penetrates people’s conditioned beliefs about them, but it is my goal to help support a conscious revolution of sacred tattoos that can help benefit more than the aesthetic eye on a collective level. I just think it’s super cool to see things shifting as that is the first step to opening the  gateway to unlimited treasures that will then be revealed upon stepping in.

I thought it might be fun to share some statistics, which come from www.vanishingtattoo.com to show the effects tattoos are having on the world in the last decade or so.