This morning, after a serene start, a dabble of some art, I was on my yoga mat, relaxed and ready for the practice. Eyes closed, I could hear the birds chirping as the sun slowly rose. My man could be heard, feeding our pup, and Yoga with Adriene’s voice gently guided me along.
In this moment, I experienced a sensation of mundane, day-to-day awe. I had created this. This pattern. This moment for me, I’d made this new cycle, something that now is everyday.
Rise with a smile, wake up me and the house, then go to my space for mindful movement, for working out. After that, it’s tea and brekky in hand, as I head down the stairs to my magic Lab. For here I am now, writing for an hour, accompanied by friends from all around the world, as part of the London’s Writers Salon.
I’ve been embracing the ideas of peaceful patterns. And to play with alliteration… they’re Peaceful, Powerful, Playful, Purposeful, Passion-filled Patterns.
So what is a pattern?
A pattern is a rhythm. A continuous, repetitive design, something that often attracts the eye, with many layers of big bold statements and intricate interwoven details.
When it comes to myself, patterns also mean something else.
They mean the habits I create, and the flow of my life – the natural cycles of the world itself. For aren’t the seasons patterns? Aren’t the moon cycles too? How about the growth of a plant from seed to bloom? That’s a pattern too.
In my art studies, I’ve been sketching from a book called Designa for about five years. It was a gift from my man one Christmas right around the time I’d started to dabble in illustrating coloring pages.
The patterns in this book are mesmerizing, inspiring, and incredibly technical to create.
And yet, they’re also overflowing from all sources of life.
The trees to the bees, the flowers and the leaves, all of it has patterns that when we look close we can see.
So, as I’m beginning my dance down the aisle, beginning to imagine myself in a wedding dress and a radiant smile, I’m beginning to look closely at myself, in a love and curiosity filled way, for aren’t I, the Bride, the star of this big day we’re planning? (Yes, yes, the Groom is vital too! But he’s the King, and the Queen is the beauty on his arm, isn’t she?).
Enjoying a lovely night for a friend’s Portland wedding, several years ago.
As I look closely, I’m trying to apply all that I know from my studies into health, happiness, and inner harmony, to truly believe in all the good things I think.
In addition to the photo album I’ll create for me (and for my family), I’ve had the inkling to turn my story into something more. And I think it starts with these peaceful patterns, the sacred-geometry inspired art I’ve been creating.
Art is a focal point, an aid for staying centered, calm, confident, creative.
And this year, I’m going to use my art with intention.
All my life, I’ve used art to manifest things – good things! – into my life. I’ve sketched, journaled, and visualized real and tangible things into my life.
Yes, there’s action too, I’m a brightly buzzing bustling busy bee, so there’s lots of tangible doing too. But, as someone who often struggles to express my opinions, to state clearly what I want, to know how to articulate my often dancing thoughts, taking the time to pause, to pay attention inward and just peacefully paint these patterns. It’s refreshing how it helps me complete outstanding stress cycles, and how I can tap back into this feeling later in the day.
These patterns are going to act as a brightly shining light, a messenger of the great messages, in an accessible and educational form, that’s something for me to enjoy and something to help my story take form.
It can feel weird to change. To go from one version of yourself to the next, and I’ve been finding these peaceful patterns have been helping me smile and surrender, to embrace with love the ever-continuing flow of abundance.
And changing I am!
And it’s more than just working out and writing, I’m planning a wedding, becoming a Wife, adding a new layer to me, opening another door for positive change. It’s a time to re-imagine, re-fresh who I want to be, and I’m excited to be here, to be writing, to be sharing these little snippets of my journey.
Here’s to sippin’ on life,
Top photo from my neighbor’s lovely garden.
