Here’s what’s come out of saying “Yes!” to a request by Spirit when they told me I had a job to do this December.

We’re co-creating an online program within a safe & sacred space for daily connection to bring the true Holiday Spirit into the lives of those moved to join this 1-month private Facebook Group  called the Holiday Spirit Circle (Dec. 1- Jan.1).

So if you’re looking to bring more of the sacred into December, no matter your spiritual beliefs, watch the video above and FEEL if you’re moved to join the circle.

• Perhaps you’re so busy you need structure and community to ensure creating sacred space can happen.
• Maybe you find this time of year challenging and need help co-creating a more meaningful involvement.
• It could be that you’re looking to raise your vibration and tune into your inner guidance to create the best 2024 possible.
• Or you’re simply inspired to join me for this inspired online Holiday Spirit Circle because it feels right for you.

Take inspired action for yourself or as a gift for someone you know would benefit. You can buy your membership here.

Every morning, Monday to Saturday at 7am Newfoundland Time (5:30am Eastern), I will lead you Live through a Spirit Calling Card reading, affirmations, a channeled guided meditation based on your needs, and more. These daily Facebook Lives are roughly an hour long.

***You can also tune in at your desired time to watch the recordings and participate in group discussions.

The Holiday Spirit Circle is a safe and loving co-created space  (a private Facebook Group – requires a Facebook profile to join), where we’ll be co-creating sacred space to tune in and connect this holiday season.

This daily December practice is aimed at helping you to align to your Highest Good & to the Divine, no matter your beliefs. 

There will also be:

• daily discussion prompts
• weekly special events
• community connection

to deepen your connection to Self, Spirit & others this holiday season.

I was Guided to create the Holiday Spirit Circle for the community and for me – that together we may experience true Holiday Spirit as we transition to a New Year aligned with our inner Guidance.

Full Price:   $111 Canadian

Spirit Subsidized Price: $44 Canadian
(only if truly required please)

 

Buy your membership here

 

 

The most popular post on my website is the 2015 Guide to Intuitive Painting (available in French & English), getting an average of 4000 visits a year. It goes over the paint layering technique I taught during that year’s cross-province tour with both francophone children & adults. Those workshops were roughly 3-hours each.

On October 14-16th, I got to go back to the Port au Port Peninsula on the west coast of Newfoundland to teach intuitive painting to 9 francophone youths (ages 12-13 + our volunteer’s 8 year-old) during the Jeux de l’Acadie en région (regional Acadian Games).

This time, we had 14 hours together to go deeper into intention setting, painting techniques, visioning meditation, and integration of the techniques into a second free-style painting.

As you’ll see in the video below, my 9 girls did amazingly well, learning the technique and then adding their personal artistic voice to the final piece.

We also created the group painting above on Sunday to thank Gaston Létourneau, the coordinator of Franco-Jeunes Terre-Neuve et Labrador, who gives so much of himself to the youths of this province.

So enjoy this short video I created on the 2nd day to include in an upcoming online exhibition for the parents. Note that only the paintings that were finished at the time of filming are included. All the students’ paintings will be part of the slideshow on participant & parent night.

Are you ever presented with a challenge you feel is too daunting to succeed at? 

If so, you may want to add the song “I Believe in Miracles” by Fearless Soul to your playlist – I love it when it comes up on my morning dance shuffle.

I’d been organizing this workshop for months. The Games had had to be postponed, so it had given me more time to envisage the flow for a multi-day workshop. I was confident and enthusiastic about that.

But on the morning of the 14th, I found out that there had been a mixup with the truck rental. Instead of sharing the driving of 1 large vehicle with Gaston for our team of 4 and all our stock, we’d have to rent 2 smaller ones. That meant leaving a couple of hours late and having to be the sole driver for 9+ hours from St. John’s to Grand’Terre (Mainland) to get there on time to open the Games & teach.  

With only a few quick breaks, we arrived just in time to set up (thank goodness for volunteer help!) and then teach from 8-10 pm, when I’m usually in bed. Yikes!

My workshop continued 8:30 am to 7:30pm on Saturday, and from 8:30am -1pm on Sunday. The youths had a few extra hours after that both days for sports. Intensive & fun!

Having a support team of volunteers and staff was invaluable. Thank you Josette & Kyle and Gaston & Elizabeth!

Luckily, the participants of the culinary workshop helped their leader prepare delicious meals to sustain us during these Games. We not only fed on the creative energy of the process, but great food too.

During the slower 12-hour drive back to St. John’s on my own through rain & fog on Monday, I reflected on how amazing it feels to rise up to a challenge and to witness the fruits of creativity blossom. And blossom they did!

The children did great! I did great! Together, we gave it our all during this intensive weekend, and I believe we’re all better for it. Success!

So although the scheduling was a stretch of my comfort zones, I’m glad I said “Yes!”.

In addition to our group experience, I’m also grateful for

• the gorgeous fall colours on the drive there & back,
• the beautiful suite & great hospitality at the Inn at the Cape in St. George (25 minutes drive from the school), where I could recharge my introvert batteries
•  my 2-hour break on Sunday afternoon (see video below). My exploratory drive brought me to a kitchen party in the next village, where I got to waltz with a gentleman of my father’s generation and boogie with some friendly local women who were intrigued by a stranger at their weekly gathering. How fun to stretch my comfort zones again for some local culture.
• having my own vehicle (go figure!) for added freedom and a more relaxed drive home.

The lesson for me was:

“Remember that when a task seems too daunting for success, take it one breath at a time. You’ll be surprised at the resources (yours and others’) you can pull from to co-create something amazing! Just believe that everything happens for a reason, go with the flow, smile, and stay aware of your mindset.”

Hope this story gives you courage to embrace a challenge and stretch your comfort zones too. You just might get a great dance out of it too!

Have you turned your passion or play into your profession? Bravo! There are so many benefits to doing what you love! But that’s not what I’m moved to write about today.

You’ve likely heard the expression “Healer, heal thyself!

The classic movie image of a doctor smoking while eating junk food from the vending machine comes to mind.

You’ve likely seen plenty of other examples of experts who don’t always practice what they preach. 

Are you a nutritionist so busy with clients that you have no time to cook?

Have you neglected your inner-child because you’re overwhelmed with parenting chores?

I recently heard about a landscape architect whose property was a disaster area because he spent all his time transforming other people’s spaces.

You get the picture. Does it apply to you in any way?

I’m a firm believer that challenges happen for us, not to us. 

It doesn’t mean I don’t have my share of resistance when they happen. But eventually, I can see the silver lining. Even the pot of gold!

I’d spent half a day setting up my studio for a paint party for 2 of my friends before heading off to Ottawa to be with my father for December.

This paint party was my birthday gift for Leslie and Christmas gift for both she & Kerri.

I was excited to share my passion and play with them.

My intention, however, was to set them up with academic grade canvas & paints while I created a piece with my professional supplies … just in case I wanted to sell it. 

But the Universe had other plans.

I’m not saying I caused the water boiler to die, spilling half its content on our basement floor before we realized what was happening.

I am saying that what first appeared like a really disappointing change of plans, turned out for the best. 

Once my house-sister and I took care of the water crisis, with the wonderful and speedy support from a plumber friend, I packed up the painting party supplies to take over to Leslie’s house.

If you watched last week’s Artsmarts video, you know that it’s an elaborate process with a lot of supplies. There’s no way I wanted to traipse up the 30 steps to the car with all my professional supplies and tools as well…. so I didn’t.

This was going to be a painting just for me. Forget potential income. Just play, Dominique!

No matter if I’m painting a channeled piece to sell or for a client’s Soul Energy Portrait Experience, I love what I do. I get great benefits from allowing any piece of art to be co-created through me.

But there’s a certain freedom that comes from letting professional expectations and subconscious pressures go to just play. 

After all, that’s what I teach in the intuitive painting process – no expectations, no mistakes; simply layer after layer of expression and exploration.

So play we did – the kind of sacred play my friends and I love to partake in. This time, it involved paint.

I led them and my inner child through the intuitive painting process, incorporating ceremony and intent throughout.

What joy! What discovery! What beautiful sharings about the messages we were receiving from our process, all related to our original intent for 2022.

11 hours later, we were all thrilled with the love & light we allowed into our day and into our art. 

What a great way to set the tone for the coming year.

My painting now hangs in my bedroom, anchoring the energy and intention I set for 2022: “I am open to giving and receiving love.”

It may be unsellable to my standards … but that’s a good thing! 

How can you bring some of your passion back home to yourself this holiday season?

Is it time for some self-care?

Is there a project you’ve been craving to tackle, just for the fun of it? or for the function of it in your life?

Remember that often, the gift you give yourself has benefits for those around you.

The reverse is also true – the true gifts you give others often gives back to you too, especially if that isn’t the motive.

I wish you a very happy & fulfilling holiday season doing what you love and being from that space of love – whatever that means for you.

If you wished you could have been part of our painting party, I’m offering a rare opportunity this January in the St. John’s, NL area. It’s been a long time since I’ve offered a workshop in person. Here’s your chance.

Treat yourself to a full-day of sacred exploration through intuitive painting.

In this full-day workshop, you’ll infuse your painting and your life with meaningful intention while listening for the guidance that comes through the intuitive painting process. 

No experience necessary. Really! No matter if you’re completely new to painting or a professional artist, you’ll benefit from this joyful way of exploring and expressing your heart’s desires and intentions for 2022.

This workshop dives deep into the sacred art of intuitive painting – beyond the technical to the transformational.

You’ll leave with so much more than your uniquely-you painting, unlike anyone else’s in the class. 

Join me, Saturday January 22nd from 8:30am – 6 pm (open until 8pm if you need extra time to complete your painting).

The Birch Centre, 120 LeMarchant Ave. in St. John’s, NL

Maximum 6 participants. VaxPass required.

$225 includes lunch and all painting supplies. Register here.

And if you’re not in the area and want to give it a try, check out my Guide to Intuitive Painting for the techniques and add your own ceremonies throughout. Enjoy!

“I am so grateful to have such a beautiful friend and gifted artist in my life! Dominique’s ability to intuitively nurture your highest self from within you to an expression of yourself on the canvas is nothing short of amazing!  She helps you tap into the creative well within you to find your own presence and then helps you transform it from feelings to paint! (even if you don’t think you are creative!)  The layers of love and life that are intertwined in your canvas will always be special to you every time you look at your artwork!  The beauty of Love is within each of us and Dominique’s Love of beauty empowers your highest self to shine! If you don’t know what to gift that someone special in your life – this is one they will never forget!  A gift that honors their highest self!”

Kerri Best – Flourish Energy Wellness

Feel the Shift. Raise your Vibration.

20 % OFF All Energy-Art Prints
Your choice of size & Medium

Free Shipping in Canada
Great Shipping Rates Everywhere Else!

November 19-25

If you’re going to stretch your skills and comfort zones, why not do it on a very public stage? That’s what Spirit seems to have in store for me, so I’m passing the challenge along to you too. Let’s all participate in Atlantic Sketch, part of this year’s online Atlantic Visual Arts Festival (FAVA). Trust me, all skill levels welcome!

When I got the call, I was honoured and thrilled to be asked to represent Newfoundland & Labrador in this year’s online version of the FAVA. After all, my 2018 experience as godmother to the festival in New Brunswick was the highlight of my artistic career!

When I was told what it involved, however, I couldn’t help but both cringe and laugh. Yikes! I don’t qualify for this… do I?

One artist from each Atlantic province will be sending 3-5 sketches a day to the FAVA Facebook Page as part of the Sketch Atlantic facet of the festival (September 23-26). 

Now if you know me well, you know that I was scared of drawing. It’s part of why Spirit called me to the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art in 2013/14, so I could get over this fear, this block.

I may have been loosely painting what I saw with my eyes closed or what emerged from the layers of liquid acrylics since the 80s, but when it came to drawing something real, like a person or 3D object in front of me, I’d get all anxious.

Vienna did wonders for that, but I haven’t sketched since … 6 years.

Not coincidentally, I’d decided to bring my small sketch book and pencil kit to Ireland for my planned 2-month solo backpacking trip there. 

That didn’t happen because of COVID, so the Universe found another way to encourage me to fulfill that intention … this time on a very public stage.

How could I not say YES!!!

What a great opportunity to let go of the ego! I accept this challenge to just be & sketch without worrying about “what people will think”. Does that sound sketchy to you?

If my facing my fears and doing it anyway can inspire even one other person to do so in any area of their life, then great!!!

There’s a public facet to this challenge for all Canadians.

Join in no matter if you’re a professional artist, do observational drawing for the fun of it, or want to try it for the first time.

If I can do it, so can you! You don’t even have to represent your province -lol!

Atlantic Sketch is on now on the Sketch Atlantique Facebook Page until October and there are great prizes.

You can read more about the guidelines here.

Send your recent observational sketches (not from a photo) to [email protected].

If you’re feeling sketchy about being an artist, this storybook video says it all!

It made a difference in my life when I was introduced to it during a drawing class in Bali in 2014.

What a great reminder before I embark on this very public presentation of my own sketches.

Tune into the FAVA Facebook Page Septembre 23-26 to see my sketches roll in along with those from the other Atlantic representatives.