creativenachos.com Blog

January was the launch of my first ever newsletter YAY!!!! It’s so much fun to write and share but I wanted to add a special little something for my subscribers – a contest! That’s right I challenged my subscribers to write a love story in 30 words….yes only 30 words OR they could paint a painting using a limited number of colors. Then I would randomly pick 1 winner to win a brand new painting. I think it’s wild that almost everyone except for one entrant chose to write the story!

Well, as luck would have it, two names fell out when picked randomly from a hat – I’m old school and still prefer that approach to the random generator thingy. Well, I do not believe in coincidences; I believe things happen as they are supposed to so we have 2 winners!!! I’m SOOOOOO excited to give away 2 paintings to 2 winners – one from the US and the other from Australia. Talent runs rampant around the globe as you will see!!

Thank you to ALL of the folks who entered I LOVED your work and now drumroll please, the two stories that won are:

1. Floating upon euphoric clouds… rolling waves of lust, excitement, heartfelt longing, aching, craving emotions for a beautiful individual drawn into my heart and soul… two hearts as one… true love.
- Nate, Australia

2. 

Love Story

In awe
I stare down at vulnerability
Fat cheeks
Eyes rolled behind semi-closed lids
My full cream life giving milk becomes
A primordial bridge between
My womb and her world
- Suzy, United States

What I love most about these works – they are such different takes on love! That was the beauty of every entry – love appears to us in so many ways.

Thank you to you all and congratulations Nate and Suzy. YOU have both inspired me in ways you can never imagine!!

Leave a little love for these folks, they deserve it then tell someone you love them!

When we come into the world, we know in our heart that we are limitless. We see this in the way we learn to walk – we believe we can and no one can tell us otherwise. The same is true as we learn to talk and so on. We fall down, we make mistakes but we get up again and again in pursuit of our dream.  We are Soul Travelers on the Adventure of a lifetime.

However, somewhere along the line we are told that we “can’t” or “shouldn’t” do/think/say things. This limiting thought process stays with us as we grow until we become adults who believe that we “can’t” be the beautiful, vibrant, radiant soul that we are inside.  Somewhere we come to believe that it is more important to be liked, to make others happy than to be our true selves and share our true gifts with the world

I believe those limits – societal, familial and self-imposed – are simply false.  Over the last two years, I have worked to push every limit in my life and I continue to do so today. I have fallen and gotten back up more times than I can count and each time I am stronger and more willing to be me! It is fear of not being accepted, of looking foolish, etc. that keeps us from reaching our full potential.

Throughout this five-week limited enrollment course, we will strip away labels, limits, and inner barriers that have been created to keep us in this “safe” space that promotes absolutely no growth. Through mindful, creative exercises, you will challenge yourself to see beyond your current limits and put yourself in a position where you are free to truly live the life you dream of as the person you were always meant to be.

You will receive:

-        Guidance on how to break through barriers, surrender to your life and tap into your personal truth

-        Mindful exercises in art, writing, photography and more to incorporate into your daily life

-        Encouraging, inspiring videos

-        PDF’s  with information that you will refer to again and again

-        A key to a safe environment where you can share with like minded souls

-        Personal, focused attention from Natasha

If you choose to join me on this limitless road – and I sincerely hope you will – you will have opened a door to your truth and will be able to walk through it with the love, strength and support of soul travelers like you.

The cost of this workshop is $65 and it will begin on February 15^th, 2012. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Natasha@creativenachos.com

What do you think? Are you ready to see how bright you can shine, how limitless you can really be???

When is it exactly that we start to try to “fit in”? When is that first message sent that our eccentricities, quirks and gorgeous imperfections were not “right”, or “good enough” or “less than”? When do we start to hear that we need to try to fit in??

Why would we ever tell our children that?? It’s a lie and we buy into it when we are growing up but then we become adults who are trying to find that inner child we hid. OH! It seems like such a waste of time. We limit ourselves and we don’t even realize we are doing it after awhile. The idea that we can create our reality and our life seems to lie buried beneath the idea that we need to create things like everyone else. WHY?

I’m DONE trying to fit in. I am so flawed, imperfect, and quirky it’s nuts. For example, do you know I can’t stand the thought of touching wet wood so I can’t use wooden spoons when cooking? Or I can wiggle my ears so well I’d make you laugh?

Inside I might just be different shades of pink, purple and orange. I might be striped, sparkly, dancing, singing, quietly reading, drawing on cave walls, crying, laughing like a loon and more. I am guilty of laughing and crying at all the wrong times. I don’t fit anywhere and for the first time I LOVE that about me. Fit in? No way!! I was born to stand in alignment with my own imperfections! Celebrate your insides on the outside – celebrate YOU!

Original Work by Natasha Reilly, Copyright 2012

Sometimes in order to feel whole or good within, we need to give away our love. You see we will never run out of it and the more we give the more we find within ourselves. So go ahead. Don’t be shy – share your love! The world needs it.

A beautiful artists friend of mine is sharing her love and passion in a new class, Partnering With the Spirit. It’s such a beautiful offering. Take a peek and see what her love might add to your life and your Wild Creative Heart.

I send you love.

Original Painting by Natasha Reilly Copyright 2012

I am losing myself. I am lost within my life. The things I’ve believed, the feelings I’ve had, the limits I’d accepted – everything is slipping away and a new landscape is being born. Like lava pouring from a volcano into the ocean, new land is being formed inside. It has not always felt good nor has it been pleasant but I feel excited and scared. I feel ready and prepared. Where will it take me I don’t know but on y Soul Traveler journey I’ve learned it’s time to surrender to the discomfort and the wandering so that I may find myself, so that I may grow and become the soul I was brought here to be.

In removing the negative stigma that surrounds “surrender” I find freedom. In surrendering I am finding deep, vibrant, soulful colors and new patterns that don’t conform to limits.

What does surrender feel like to you?

Original Painting by Natasha Reilly Copyright 2012

Intention.

When we begin a work of art with an intention it allows us to let go f the idea that has to be anything specific. It simply has to be something created with the feelings we have within. On my Soul Traveler journey I am learning about the power of intention. My intent when I began this painting was two-fold. I was thinking of someone specific and wanted to bring the nature to life. In addition, I wanted to play. I wanted my fingers to move across the canvas with the grace of an ocean wave on a warm summer day.

When we carry intentions in our hearts, we have the ability to discover a new depth we otherwise might not see.

Do you carry intentions in your heart and mind when you are creating/living this life?

Original Painting by Natasha Reilly Copyright 2012

When I began this work I had a focus. I don’t like to start with more than an intention. I was going to create something specific and in the middle of it, everything changed. This was not what I intended to create but my hands would not stop. I forget that when it comes to creativity, my brain is not in control.

This Soul Traveler adventure that I am on keeps bringing me these lessons and with each one life becomes richer and my deeper than I’d ever imagined. I find myself listening closer to the voice within. This work was a reminder that our heart and soul have something to say and if we let go enough it will come to life. I have been working on letting go for so long that it is happening without warning – note this case above. While my head said one thing, my soul naturally chose to follow the road I’ve been working to clear for it.

All of this made me wonder something deeper. Joseph Campbell said, “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Is it possible that we plan life only to find there is another one? As I look at my life, I never dreamed I would be where I am but I’m not sure I had a solid plan either. I’m still pondering.

Did you plan your life?

If so, is it what you thought it would be or is it something wildly different?

Original Painting by Natasha Reilly Copyright 2012

I am whirling,
churning,
turning,
burning color –

Like a shooting star,
A red giant,
The moon itself or
A black hole.

I am hot,
Explosive,
Passionate,
Mesmerizing fire –

Like cinders,
Lava,
A volcano,
Like new Earth.

In the middle of it all –

I am multicolored feasting fish
The darkness of the ocean,
Sensuous night,
And bright sunrise.

I remember.

Natasha Reilly 2012

When the entire family gets sick, when the wee one won’t sleep, when all assistance disappears it’s easy to feel defeated and hate everything. The hard thing is to just look at it all as a moment and keep moving forward. The hard thing is to remember that practice – painting, writing, whatever art you choose – will save you despite any hardship.

This is a another lessoned learned on my Soul Traveler journey. When the shit hits the fan – and it will from time to time – and all the cartwheels in the world won’t protect me, I can’t lose myself in it. Yes, I will care for those around me even when I’m sick (a very tough part of the parenthood biz that no one tells you) but even if I make a mark on a page or make up a song while singing to my little one whose stomach aches, I need to practice my creativity. I need to release what’s within – even pain. Turning pain into something else – it doesn’t have to be beautiful it just needs to be honest – can give me the boost I need to keep getting up despite lack of sleep and remembering that in the end, it will all be ok. In the end, we’ll all be ok. In the end, I know who I am. I’m a Soul Traveler on an adventure.

Soul Traveler lesson? Keep practicing your craft.

Don’t let life stop you because it will try again and again.

“Angel on the Road”

Original Photo by Natasha Reilly 2011

Happy New Year!!! I hope that the New Year started off with a hum, a sort of slow, building rhythm that will become a symphony of beauty in your life during 2012!

For the last two years, I have chosen a word for the year. This year, the word – or I should say phrase – came to me in a dream. Normally my dreams are crazy but this time there was a specific focus. There was a theater and above in bright, sparkling lights was the phrase, “Adventures of the Soul Traveler”. That was when I knew; this phrase is meant to be my mantra for 2012. These are the words I will return to each time I need focus or lose my way.

In only two short days, I have begun to travel the road of the soul. Yesterday, I reminded myself of the importance of NOT trying. Each time I “try” to create something I think people will like it flops. I MUST be true to myself. In creating art that comes from within me, I come to life. In addition, I felt the urge to have someone say, “Yes Natasha, your art/writing/whatever is good.” But alas, it is important that I remember that I do not need others to validate my work. So long as I listen to my heart I will create what is needed. I have to be true to me.

My soul is awake, learning and loving. Yes, this is going to be an amazing adventure. I can feel it in my bones and I feel incredibly lucky to share this journey – my truth – with YOU!

Oh and I have a few, exciting things coming this year – classes, fun,creative things and more – so why not sign up for my cartwheeling newsletter and be the first to know when new things are on the horizon. Just sign up for my newsletter on the left <—- and I promise I won’t inundate you with stuff..I will merely invite you to play and delight you with treats!