Tag Archive for: mandala

Peace Garden II -the painting

Traditional gardeners are creative nurturing people with a mix of vision, knowledge, and passion for the outdoors. They ground themselves in the earth and connect to Nature as they plan, observe, listen, weed, allow and cherish the results of their co-creative efforts.

Creating your inner peace garden is much the same. The tools, layout, colours, and textures will be as unique as you are, but the results identical – peace. It all starts with intention and a passion for your inner world.

What do you need to create your own Peace Garden?

What nurtures your soul? What grounds & connects you? What do you thrive in watching grow? What needs to be weeded out to allow for healthier expression of who you really are?

“Peace Garden II” (24″ x 24″)  –– Buy here.

Painting the Path to My Peace Garden

I smile when people say “You’re so patient!”. They can’t imagine the time and concentration it takes for the amount of detail in some of my pieces.

I can’t imagine my life without it. There’s a reason I call part of my process dot-therapy.

There’s nothing quite like being in the zone for 12-16 hours nurturing my soul in the co-creation of a painting.

Layer by layer it evolves at the same time as I do – with whatever cathartic process, energy work, exploratory play, or meditative technique inspires me in the moment.

Intuitive painting might not be your thing. It’s not for everyone.

The trick is finding what helps you grow your inner peace – on your own or with others.

The seeds of peace have always been present at your core. It’s that Divine Essence at the heart of you. 

May the labyrinth of your life bring you back to your core to re-discover your birthright. 

Peace Garden II

Painting is my sanctuary and the themes of many of my paintings reflect that. This one is no different.

Folks often ask how long it takes to create my paintings.

This one took 30 hours + a lifetime of practice, training & living.

Enjoy all the details – like the chakra-coloured dots around each glass-bead covered triskele fountain.

The triskele is an ancient symbol of earth-sea-sky, body-mind-spirit, of the holy trilogy. It’s about motion, momentum, action.

Notice the perfection of their imperfection – how some of the triskele symbols are off-centre – reminding us to accept our “flaws” and ever-changing process as we align with peace.

I knew I had to lengthen the passage to the labyrinth at the heart of this mandala. It’s an invitation for you to accompany me on the journey – that sacred discovery journey that brings you to your centre so you can come back out again with greater peace.

Does it speak to you?

Title: Peace Garden II
Year: © 2018
Size:  24“ x 24 “ (61 cm x 61 cm)
Artist: Dominique Hurley
Materials: Professional acrylics, glass beads & mica (love & compassion) & channeled energy work on gallery-wrapped canvas with painted edges. No framing required. 
Genre: intuitive painting, visionary art, energism art, spiritual art, inspirational art
Price: $1,727 CAD – Buy here.

Note: “Peace Garden II”  comes with a soft paintbrush that can be used to gently navigate your way through the labyrinth – on the wall or on a table.

Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

“All In One” – A Summary of the Twelve Universal Laws

Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

The Law of Rhythm: Enter the Mandala

Law-of-Rhythm-Dominique-Hurley

 

Welcome to the Law of Rhythm. This is  Mandala #11 in the Enter the Mandala Project, an artistic and spiritual quest to better understand the 12 Universal Laws.

The Law of Rhythm tells us that nothing is random. There’s order in the Universe through the repetitive movement, patterns, and cycles in everything:

  • the waxing and waning of the moon and planets
  • the ebb and flow of the oceans
  • the cycle of the seasons
  • the peaks and dips in the economy, politics, spirituality, and relationships
  • the ups and downs in our emotional, physical and mental energy
  • the successes and challenges in business,
  • etc.

Everything is either growing or dying.

By understanding this rhythm, we can act accordingly and sensibly.

Mastering the Law of Rhythm means finding balance and equanimity no matter which way the pendulum is swinging.  

It’s about getting off the emotional roller coaster to be in a state of inner peace and joy, no matter what.

Before getting more into the specifics of how to use the Law of Rhythm to your advantage, let me take you through the intuitive and creative process behind this painting.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

Listen In

I love the Guided Visual Journeys my team of Divine Helpers take me on. 

I ask a question, close my eyes, and start downloading a mini-movie filled with amazing imagery and symbolism. The interpretation comes later.

Listen in – this is the intuitive reading that gave birth to the Law of Rhythm mandala (18 minutes).

And here’s the Spirit Calling Card spread I got at the beginning of the reading.  They were right – the symbolism they gave me for this painting was very clear.

SCC-Template

Would you like an intuitive reading to support your path to your Highest Good?

Learn More

The Creative Process

I didn’t know the names of all 12 laws before I started this project. But when my Guides asked me to do 12 mandalas on the Universal Laws, I found the list of 12 online. Right before I start my intuitive reading, I read an introduction sentence or two on each.  But it’s only after I’m done the Guided Visual Journey and painting that I like to read what others say about the Law online.

It’s amazing how this time, almost all the symbolism that’s in the painting was talked about on other sites. What great confirmation!

My Guided Visual Journey was accompanied by sound this time – the rhythmic tic tock of the clock or metronome. My first 3 layers of repetitive patterns and cycles were created to this rhythm.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Symbolism Close-Up

The Ginger Bread Man

The symbolism for the Law of Rhythm was really clear…

Except for the gingerbread man.

It was cute seeing him rock side to side as he walked to to the rhythm of the tic tock.  I smiled when he appeared again swinging from the pendulum. But if it wasn’t for Google, I don’t think I would’ve figured out why he appeared here.

Do you remember the story of the gingerbread man? I didn’t.

He escaped from the old woman who baked him only to be chased by a pig, cow, and horse. In the end, a fox tricked and ate him.

According to Wikipedia, the story “depends on rhythm and repetition for its effect with one event following hard upon another until the climax is reached”.  That’s life – rhythm and repetition. The trick is not letting it take you off guard. Don’t let it eat you up!

In my painting, I linked the gingerbread man to the emotional roller coaster that comes from not understanding the Law of Rhythm. What goes up must come down. But if you get that it’s all part of the ride, you’ll enjoy the journey more.

The Monk

In my vision, I saw a monk sitting on an island of calm.

I painted him under a 3-D disk of gel. When I apply this medium, it’s white. But it spreads for hours and takes about a day to dry. Observing this process reminded me of the patience and time it takes to train the mind.

 

Take a look. The roller coaster that started at the extremes turns into gamma brain waves on each side of the monk. This represents the transcendental mental states scientists found while studying Tibetan monks in meditation.

Your Turn

Can you see how the rhythm of nature is reflected in the cycles of life and everything in it?

How is this true in your

  • health & fitness?
  • relationships?
  • personal finances?
  • productivity?
  • emotions?

Are you living in the world of extremes or finding balance to overcome the negative downturns?

Know that the pendulum will keep swinging. If it’s down, know that it’s going to head back up. Don’t sabotage yourself by lowering your vibration and getting depressed. If it’s up, don’t overindulge so that there’s nothing left when it starts heading down again.

Examples

If your income is flowing in big time, don’t spend it all. Save some for when there’s a natural slow down in cash flow.

If you’re in a peak physical state for some competition, know it won’t stay that way forever. You’ll need rest. You can’t keep pushing yourself to the max year-round.

If the contracts / clients aren’t as frequent during a period of the year, take the time to learn new skills and create new products.

If your relationship is going through a rough patch, focus on being more unconditionally loving – to yourself and your partner. It doesn’t always mean it’s over.

If you’re mentally tired and not as productive as you’d like, don’t give up.  Take advantage of that natural flow to schedule time in nature or networking opportunities.

Basically, don’t fight the cycles. Work with them to your advantage.

Can you think of other examples to help us understand? Please add your comments to the discussion below.

 

Go to Mandala #10: The Law of Polarity
Go to Mandala #12: Law of Gender
Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

Enter the Mandala: The Law of Relativity

The-Law-of-Relativity-Dominique-Hurley

Here it is! #9 in the Enter the Mandala Project. This is a series of 12 mandala paintings co-created with my Guides to help understand the Universal Laws.

This is “The Law of Relativity”

So what does it  mean?

You create your misery by comparing yourself and your life to what you judge as better people, circumstances, or times. Everything is relative. But do you use the Law of Relativity to your advantage or disadvantage? 

Nothing has meaning except the meaning you give it. Love what is and be happy.

You can break free from your limiting perceptions through the creative transformation of mind and spirit. Use your judgements to teach and guide you out of the darkness and into the Light.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

Read on to find out more about the intuitive reading, creative process, and symbolism in this painting.

The Intuitive Reading

These guided visual journeys make for great entertainment. But they’re a lot more.

Packed with symbolism, they’re a source for creative inspiration and learning.

While you listen (23 minutes), notice your judgments about events in the story. Let your observer-self help you recognize that nothing has meaning but the meaning you give it.

You’ll notice my painting doesn’t include the whole story … I left out the prisoners being roasted on a skewer at the poolside feast…  they didn’t seem to mind their fate, but I definitely put meaning into it.

Here’s the Spirit Calling Card spread from the start of the reading.

Law-of-Relativity-SCC-Reading-Dominique-Hurley

Find out how one of my intuitive readings can help you answer questions in your life.

Click Here

The Creative Process

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

All sorts of comparisons stopped me from being in love with the present:

  • I tried painting the animals in relation to the size of the children and they ended up lost on the canvas. I painted over those.
  • I kept comparing my representational figures to other artists’ work and to reality – yikes!
  • I  missed the vibrancy of colours in previous mandalas…

It’s only when I stopped comparing that I could enjoy the process.

But my experience wasn’t a loss. It was part of my Guides’ teachings – a gift. Seeing it that way cleared the path for my 12-hour flow the next day.

The Symbolism

Main Characters

Our main characters in this story created chaos through comparisons. Kids and bluejays arguing about games. Rattlesnakes fighting over a book. Rabbits having a tug-of-war with a carrot.

Instead of enjoying their fun, wisdom, clarity, abundance, creativity, and intelligence, they used the Law of Relativity to their disadvantage.

This isn’t good or bad. It just is. These experiences are what led them to the lessons that came after.

The Well

Law-of-Relativity-detail-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2778

Once inside the fortress, they met a judge, who acted as both their teacher and their guide.

Everyone had a  different reaction when he showed them a well. They related it to their past.

For the kids and dog, it was a good thing. They remembered drinking and splashing around after playing in the heat.

But for the snakes, it was a bad thing. They were afraid because one fell down a well and the other had to pull him up with the bucket.

The rabbits also judged it negatively. They’d lost a baby when machinery arrived to dig up a new well.

The well on the screen had no meaning except the meaning they gave it.

Traditionally, a well symbolizes a womb, birth, rebirth, forgiveness, Divine Love, cleansing, and quenching our thirst for higher knowledge.

By understanding the Law of Relativity, we too are offered a chance at rebirth.

Chess

Law-of-Relativity-detail-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2776I’m not a chess player, so I was curious to read why my Guides had chosen this symbol. My first thought was that it had to do with contrast or black & white thinking.

According to vopus.org,

“this game transposes cosmic archetypes, truths about the initiatory road and talks about the ingredients necessary to efficiently fight against the Ego.”

Many who teach the Law of Relativity say that it’s through our tests and initiations that we’re given what we need to strengthen our Light. Mindful effort and step-by-step decision-making will creatively transform our mind & spirit.  This is what the game of chess is all about.

Fortress & Firecrackers

A fortress can mean many things:

  • the obliteration of something at its roots
  • elimination of negativity or troubles
  • security / positive power

Firecrackers represent:

  • a fresh new outlook on life
  • celebration
  • beauty blossoming out of darkness
  • positive new changes

In my vision, the children and creatures strapped themselves to firecrackers to shoot above the fortress walls and back into a better version of their lives.

They broke free from their limiting beliefs and judgments.

Your Turn

Try this.  The next time you have a negative judgment about yourself, someone else, or anything at all, stop.

  1. Figure out what you’re comparing.
  2. Congratulate yourself for noticing it.
  3. Remind yourself that there are no judgments – good or bad, better or worse, until the mind gets involved and compares it to other things.
  4. Analyze what you’re meant to learn here.
  5. Love what is, no matter what. (The Work by Byron Katie is a great tool for this).

It’s your responses to the situations in your life that are important for your growth.  There will always be people who are richer, happier, thinner, more fit, more productive, more intelligent, more successful, etc.  The reverse is also true.

If you’re going to compare your life to others, focus on what’s working for you. Use the Law of Relativity to your advantage, not your disadvantage.

Are you focusing on what’s going well or what’s going wrong in your life.

Are you focusing on the challenges or on the gifts that came from them?

What’s one comparison you’ve made today that led to feeling bad? Turn it around to help you feel better. Tell us about it in the comments below.

Go to Mandala #8: Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy
Go to Mandala #10 - The Law of Polarity
Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

Enter the Mandala: The Law of Attraction

The-Law-of-Attraction-Dominique-Hurley

Follow your bliss and you’ll attract the keys to unlock your magnific-essence. The Universe will answer your prayers.

When my Guides first asked me to create a dozen mandala paintings based on the Universal Laws, this is the only one I could name. Welcome to mandala #7: The Law of Attraction.

Did you see the movie “The Secret?”  That’s what made The Law of Attraction so popular.

My favourite mentor though is Abraham channeled through Esther Hicks.

Painting this mandala while listening to Abraham Hicks on YouTube was pure bliss.

As Joseph Campbell said:

“If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”

“Follow your bliss.” That’s what the Law of Attraction is all about.

Today, I give you a new twist on the teachings, this time from my own team of Divine Helpers.  You get to listen to the intuitive reading and see how I created this mandala with many of the symbols they provided in my guided visual journey.

May this inspire you to put the Law of Attraction into action.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

Listen In

When I ask Source, my Spirit Guides, and Angels a question and close my eyes, they deliver a mini-movie filled with symbols – it’s like watching a Disney-Pixar film filled with lessons. It’s beautiful and meaningful.

I asked on behalf of you and me, so trust that there’s a message here for you too.

As you listen (30 minutes) and look at the painting, think about what these symbols mean to you. What messages do you get?  

This was the Spirit Calling Card reading I got at the beginning. Perfect, don’t you think?

Law-of-Attraction-Dominique-Hurley

Would you like your own intuitive reading? I also offer Guided Visual Journeys for couples and work teams.

Click to Learn More

The Creative Process

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Symbols


I offer some insights, but feel free to add yours to the comments below. Let’s learn from each other.

The Planetary Prayer Beads


Law-of-Attraction-wip-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2592Prayers beads are common in many spiritual practices. I grew up using the rosary to focus my mind and prayers. Mala beads are now popular with the yoga crowd and those following Buddhist rituals.

Seeing that friendly giant using the planets to pray in my vision was heart-opening! It reminded me of:

  • the gravitational attraction of the planets in an expanding universe
  • astrology
  • something much greater – a higher power
  • the universe answering our prayers

Can you add to this list?

The Mountain Slide

Law-of-Attraction-detail-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2639

In my vision, I saw  kids sliding down a huge spiral slide that went from the top of the mountain all the way through the earth.

As they laughed and played, their joy attracted all sorts of goodness to them.

It was like static attracting lint.  The happier they were, the more pixy dust they collected on the way down.

When they got to the other side of the planet, they had no trouble running back up to the top to go again.

The soundtrack was great – imagine a busy water park on a hot summer day.

Before going down the slide again, the kids would put what they’d attracted into their locker.  These lockers had no doors.  I got a real feeling of trust and abundance from that.

If you look closely, you’ll see symbols of love, peace, joy, health, wealth, happiness, and more in those lockers.

The Power of Emotion

If the line-up for the slide got too long, the children held hands at the base of the mountain and sang.

This was all about keeping the emotions high.  There was no impatience or frustration.

These kids were still connected enough to Source to know that feeling good is what brings more goodness into their lives.

Abraham Hicks calls that your emotional guidance system. No matter where you are on the scale below, all you need do is start thinking thoughts that make you feel a bit better. It’s not about giant leaps up the ladder. Just head on up.

So if you’re in a state of despair, for example, anger can be very helpful. But if you’re worried, don’t let it turn into anger. Do something or think something that might turn that anger into a less charged frustration.

The Emotional Guidance Scale (From the book “Ask and It is Given”, pg. 114)

  1. Joy/Appreciation/Empowered/Freedom/Love
  2. Passion
  3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
  4. Positive Expectation/Belief
  5. Optimism
  6. Hopefulness
  7. Contentment
  8. Boredom
  9. Pessimism
  10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience
  11. Overwhelment
  12. Disappointment
  13. Doubt
  14. Worry
  15. Blame
  16. Discouragement
  17. Anger
  18. Revenge
  19. Hatred/Rage
  20. Jealousy
  21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
  22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness

Like attracts like. So what are you feeling today? 

The power of emotion was shown to me over and over again in my guided visual journey. I chose to represent this as swirls of colour, both in the circle of singing children and the characters in the outer ring of the mandala.

That’s where you’ll find:

  • the meditators who connected to Source by quieting their minds;
  • the skater who went from feeling totally neutral to joy through her passion;
  • the kids who were playing marbles (their futures were swirling inside those “marbles” – another word for mind and rewards).
  • the magnets that were created by those emotions
  • the keys (including a USB key, which I thought was funny) to unlock what we desire in this life

Pulsating Shining Rings

There are no accidents in intuitive painting.

I wanted to paint the pulsating heartbeat of the world from my vision.  I started with a bright blue pulse around the mountain, but when I stood back, it overpowered the other elements.

So I covered it up. But its energy and texture are still there.

Then, I painted a golden heartbeat ring instead.  Love it!  It’s about life and the vibration we send out into the world by our very being, both on the surface and below.

We don’t have to be loud about what we want. It’s all about asking and receiving through what Abraham Hicks calls the Art of Allowing.

Good Things Are On Their Way

I was in such bliss painting and listening to Abraham Hicks that I know more good things are on their way. I trust that.

I ALSO know I’ve attracted a slow start to the sales in my online shop because of all the technological stress and near burn-out I experienced while creating it.  

I wasn’t always following my emotional guidance system.

But that’s OK. It’s all part of the learning.

I know that doubt, regret, or complaints would only stop the abundance of clients and experiences I’ve asked for. I’ll just stay in my bliss and take action when inspired.

These mandalas have been great teaching tools for me, and I hope they’ve helped you too.

What’s one thing you can do today to follow your bliss?

Go to Mandala #6: Law of Compensation
Go to Mandala #8: Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy
Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

Enter the Mandala: The Law of Compensation

Law-of-Compensation-Dominique-Hurley

Holy Camoly! Where do I start?    

How about with “I love this mandala!”

Welcome to #6 in the Enter the Mandala Project – The Law of Compensation. It’s part of a series of intuitively sourced paintings to better understand the Twelve Universal Laws.

If I had to pick a favourite mandala right now, this would be it.  I’m sure it’s not the first time I think that about a new painting, but I’m on a post-painting high right now!

Basically, this law says that you get what you give.

The more you contribute in life, the more you receive from the Universe. Of course the opposite is also true.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

The Creative Process

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s another version of “you reap what you sow”, which we also saw in “The Law of Cause and Effect“.

Actually, I’ve just read that some people group these two laws together.  But I’m glad I have 2 different paintings for them. The teachings I got from the 2 intuitive readings were unique and worthwhile.

The Intuitive Reading

I’ve just re-listened to the intuitive reading I did almost a month ago for this mandala.  That’s where I got all the symbols I used here. I thought I’d done a good job of including the whole reading in the painting, but now I see that I just scratched the surface.

Our Divine Helpers delivered quite the mini-movie for this one – a 23-minute trip I invite you to listen to.

Here’s the Spirit Calling Card spread I got at the beginning of the reading.  It’s yet another invitation to reflect on the Universal Laws to create the life you were meant to live.

Law-of-Compensation-SCC-Dominique-Hurley

A Closer Look at the Symbols

Law-of-Compensation-wip-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2487I love this gal!

At first I didn’t get why Medusa would show up here.

But she isn’t Medusa.  She is the spirit of a being actively giving, receiving, and building in the world.

Her tentacles reach out to take and share the riches of the world. Her hands open to receive, and her mechanical arms work in the fields and cities to create abundance.

I have to say … I look at construction crews and their machinery quite differently since I painted her.

On her forehead, or third eye, I painted the symbol of eternity, or the number 8 (symbol of abundance).

At one point, I entered through her eye and into the depths of her cavernous mind. That’s where I saw some of the symbols that I painted on the outside of the canvas: the treasure chest of riches, the committee meeting, the caveman drawings, plants, and a warm golden light. I also added the cauldron and watermelon field from an earlier part of the reading.

The more you give, the more you receive… Think about it. How do these relate to the Law of Compensation for you?  

Then you’ve got Robin Hood and Peter Pan.  Why do you think they showed up in my vision? I got a sense of purposeful community when I saw them flicking back and forth in my mind’s eye.

Peter Pan’s gang also brought magic and mischievous playfulness while Robin Hood’s band of Merry Men brought moral fairness or justice.

Law-of-Compensation-wip-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2490

After that,  you’ve got the caterpillars inching their way up the leaves, eating and defecating as they go. They later grew wings in my reading.  I believe they represent fuelling up with enough energy for transformation. I also got a sense of our abundance being used and recycled as fertilizer for future growth.

Take a look between the stems. You’ll see a reflective pool of water. It not only provides a mirror for our main character, but life-giving droplets dripping from the roots. That’s where they became ballet-dancing feet in my vision.

So are the drops feeding the plant or coming from the plant and nourishing the earth?  I got the sense that things are multidirectional in the Law of Compensation.

And what about those endless doors opening to the depths of the Universe? That’s where Earth, as a bouncing ball, came to rest. It’s also where its growth was being measured against the door frame, just like when parents mark the heights of their kids at various ages.  The more doors you open with your generosity and kindness, the bigger your world becomes.

How do you like what’s happening on the outside ring of our planet? In my vision, the entire surface was covered in a highly textured network of richness and community.  Everyone’s tentacles were wrapped around the planet, linking to each other in a spirit of friendship. Together they created the flow of giving and receiving.

There were cities and forests, fields and livestock.  Don’t you just love how the sheep is wearing a sweater made of its wool?

I’m not sure if Tinker Bell is flying around the canvas adding sparkle everywhere, or if it’s being generated  by the giving and receiving happening there, but the whole Universe sparkled from an abundance of love and beauty.  I used 3-D sparkle paint to outline the beings and mica chips around the outside of the planet (for love and compassion).

I tell ya, when our Guides get together to deliver these mini-movies, it’s fantastic!  You can get your own personalized symbol-filled Guided Visual Journey to find answers for questions in your life – click here for more information.

More on the Law of Compensation

Law-of-Compensation-wip-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2491Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that each person is compensated in an identical manner for what he or she has equally contributed.

That can be a lot or a little.

He called this the Law of Compensation  – the law of all laws.

Bob Proctor, who you might recognize from the movie “The Secret” explains it more in this video.

So if today is a reflection of what you’ve given in the past, how can your choices today attract what you’d like to receive in the future?

The Law of Compensation in Action

Last Friday, my 16 students graduated from their intensive 5-week English as a Second Language Explore program at Memorial University of Newfoundland. It’s my fifth summer in a row teaching it.

Once again, it’s been such a rewarding summer! I’m not just talking about the very appreciated income. I’m also talking about the fulfillment that comes from fully dedicating myself to my class for 5 weeks.

As anyone who has ever taught will know, the more you give, the more the students will give back. It just warmed my heart to see them embrace what I had to offer and flourish in the environment we created together. That’s not all. The more the students gave, the more they got out of it, and the easier it was for me to teach them.

These super motivated students, mostly from Quebec, won government scholarships to improve their English and experience a different part of Canada. They g0t 16 hours of class a week, plus afternoon and evening activities, workshops, presentations, outings and weekend day-trips.  And, of course… homework.

In addition to class prep, I spent much of my free time during the past 5 weeks correcting journals and essays.  I know before I start that I won’t be getting much painting or socializing in for 5 weeks. That’s partly my choice. Teaching takes a lot of energy for an introvert like me.

But as I said, it’s so rewarding!  I designed a program that’s as much about personal growth as it is about language. I love what I can offer here and the students do too.

My employer has also been very appreciative of my work. She’s offered me special curriculum development projects in the past that tapped into my creativity at times when I needed the income.  For example, I got to develop a whole series of listening skills lessons based on inspiring TED Talks.  I also developed 3 thematic units that were fun and educational to develop and great to teach this year.

I’m coming to accept that I’m a multipassionate being. I don’t know if I’ll ever be a full-time artist year-round. This year, I only taught ESL for 5 weeks, and it was nice to get out of my hermit cave and explore and express my love of beauty and the beauty of love (my mission) in the classroom.

I’m grateful for it!

Your Turn

I’d love to hear what you think some of these symbols might mean. Pick one (or more) and leave a comment below.

Do you resonate with this Law?  Feel free to share your stories. Thanks.

Go to Mandala #7: Law of Attraction
Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

Enter the Mandala: The Law of Cause and Effect

Law-of-Cause-and-Effect-Dominique-Hurely

Here’s mandala #5 in the Enter the Mandala Project, a series of intuitively sourced paintings to better understand the Twelve Universal Laws.

Welcome to the Law of Cause & Effect.  It teaches that today is the result of your past thoughts and actions. Tomorrow is being shaped through your thoughts and actions of today.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

The Challenge

The Law of Cause and Effect has been the most challenging of my Enter the Mandala Project paintings to create so far. I not only connected to Light and Love, as is my usual practice in the studio, but also to Darkness and Fear.

It was a journey into contrasting choices, emotions, thoughts, actions, beliefs, and resulting realities.

At first, I struggled with the idea of including the dark side in my painting. My Divine Helpers explained, however, that this was a necessary element of the teaching tool I was co-creating.

The Intuitive Reading – Visual Journey

As with all the Universal Law mandalas, I started with an intuitive reading. This is a visual journey that my Spirit Guides and angels take me on in response to my request to explore each law. It’s where I gather my ideas and symbolism.

During this reading, my whole body and energy field was plunged into a state of despair and fear. It was only momentary, but I’ll admit, it was much easier to focus on that yuckiness than to focus on the joy and manifested success of the second part of the journey.  That in itself was part of my lesson.

Listen in if you’d like to hear the stories behind this painting. I was so surprised by the “bad trip”, though, that I didn’t really succeed in expressing the fullness of my experience.

The Spirit Calling Card Reading

It was only after the reading was done that I understood the full message of the initial Spirit Calling Card spread.

SCC-Law-of-Cause-and-Effect-Dominique-Hurley

By experiencing contrast (love / fear), we can better appreciate the power of free will – the power of the thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and actions that we choose every moment of every day.

“Man becomes what he thinks about all day long.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we can fully appreciate our own creative power, we open ourselves to unconditional love – for ourselves and others.

What else does this reading mean to you? Feel free to comment at the end.

Enter the Mandala: The Law of Cause and Effect

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Karmic Wheel

Law-of-Cause-and-Effect-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2296bIf you believe in karma, you believe in the spiritual principle of cause and effect, not only within this lifetime, but across lifetimes.

Good deeds and intentions lead to happiness and bad deeds and intentions lead to suffering.

The karmic wheel at the center of this mandala represents the cycle of life – our repeated births, rebirths, and opportunities to work out our karma.

“Situations seem to happen to people, but in reality, they unfold from deeper karmic causes. The universe unfolds to itself, bringing to bear any cause that needs to be included. Don’t take this process personally. The working out of cause and effect is eternal. You are part of this rising and falling that never ends, and only by riding the wave can you ensure that the waves don’t drown you. The ego takes everything personally, leaving no room for higher guidance or purpose. If you can, realize that a cosmic plan is unfolding and appreciate the incredibly woven tapestry for what it is, a design of unparalleled marvel.” 
― Deepak Chopra

The Chains

Everything happens for a reason. In fact, everything in our current reality is linked to what came before it.  

I represented this chain of events / thoughts/ feelings with 2 chains circling inside the mandala.

The Teeter Totter

Law-of-Cause-and-Effect-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2296

I love it when this happens.  After seeing a teeter totter in my intuitive journey,  I found one on a cause and effect website, where I was looking for quotes to add to this post.

The teeter totter is a great representation of the physical side of the the Law of Cause and Effect. If one side goes down, the other inevitably goes up.

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” ~Sir Isaac Newton

In my vision, I saw the teeter-totter transform into both a pendulum and the balancing scales of The Lady of Justice, adding to the relationship between choice and consequence.

Fishbone Cause and Effect Diagram

This symbol came out of my Internet research, not my intuitive vision.  It’s called the Ishikawa Diagram.  It shows the various causes for a particular event, grouped in various categories.

I used this graphic symbol in the base of the teeter totter to represent how our past has led to our present.  I also used it in 2 of the corners pointing outwards, to reinforce how we are creating our future through our present decisions.

Buddha says it well:

“If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present.”

This is the quote I wrote in the outside ring of the mandala.

Would you like a free print to download

and my “Top Ten Tips to Empower Your Space“?

Fear

Law-of-Cause-and-Effect-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2297

The dark side of my journey was like being an actor in a horror movie.  I knew it wasn’t my reality, but I witnessed and felt the physical, emotional, and mental consequences of

  • addiction
  • unhealthy eating and viewing habits
  • fear, anger, hate,
  • inner and outer violence and the threat of violence
  • reactivity,etc.

Needless to say this part my intuitive and creative experience wasn’t fun.

It took conscious effort not to let it affect me… for too long.

I have to admit, though, scrawling all those cartoon swear symbols added a bit of comic relief to the heaviness.

Love

The lighter side of the picture was inspired by the story in my vision.

Law-of-Cause-and-Effect-Dominique-Hurley-DLH_2304

A little boy wanted to befriend his new neighbour, who spent long periods of time sullenly staring out his window.  The boy followed his inner guidance through a series of inspired actions (having a lemonade stand to raise enough money to buy a baseball and glove). He was then able to draw our his neighbour and they connected through this shared passion, becoming good friends.

Instead of focusing on the separation between them, the boy kept a loving vision in his mind. From there, he followed his inner guidance, leading to growth, fun, and friendship.

I also included the cheering crowds from my vision, standing in front of marquees announcing love, peace, joy, health, and success.

Change your actions, and you change your life… Transform your thoughts, and you will create a brand new destiny.” Adam Sicinski 

Oops

Law-of-Cause-and-Effect-Dominique-HurelyDo you notice how the words love and fear are not facing the same direction?

Well, that was a gentle lesson on the law of cause and effect.

I was watching something online when I was painting these words. My spacing was great, but I guess I was too distracted to notice “love” was heading in the wrong direction.

There are no mistakes. I smile now. It’s a perfect “accident”.

Your Turn

Are you currently sitting on the Love or Fear end of the teeter-totter?

What future  are you creating with the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of today?

Please share one choice you’re making in the next hour to pivot more towards Love?

Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

Enter the Mandala: The Law of Correspondence

Law-of-Correspondence-Dominique-Hurley-Enter-the-MandalaI just heard the musical theme to the Twilight Zone  as I was looking up the meaning of one of the symbols I was given for this, the 4th Enter the Mandala Project painting, the Law of Correspondence. I know that tapping into my intuitive process to generate a better understanding of the Twelve Universal Laws is tapping into the mythology of the world through Divine Oneness – but I do enjoy a good confirmation of the new normal. Here’s what happened.

The last symbol I Googled to write this post was the pinecone (that I embarrassingly kept calling an acorn in the recording. Even English teachers make mistakes when verbally translating the array of visions appearing and disappearing inside visual journeys. Trust me though – it was a pinecone).

As I was painting this central element to the Law of Correspondence, the core within, I loved its symbolism as the seed from which all things grow. I saw it as a representation of the mind. I understood that the world as we see and experience it emanates from our thoughts and feelings. I also understood that the community barn-raising spirit that I was shown inside the pinecone meant that the more we nurture and cultivate our inner world, the more our outer world will match our true essence. 

As above, so below, as within, so without…”  Hermes Trismegistus

I also got that the light switches that appeared in my vision and that I painted on the wedding band – the union of the inner and outer world – represented our moment-by-moment choice of light or darkness – of love or fear.

Here’s where my jaw dropped. When I looked up the pinecone online, I found a website that described its symbolism and history.

“Our “Pine”al Gland, shaped like (and named after) the Pinecone, is at the geometric center of our brain and is intimately linked to our body’s perception of light. … It is considered by many to be our biological Third Eye, the “Seat of the Soul,” the “Epicenter of Enlightenment” — and its sacred symbol throughout history, in cultures around the world, has been the Pinecone.”

How cool is that! I don’t remember learning this in my Sacred Codes classes at the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art, but I’m sure the pinecone was used as an example of the perfect Fibonacci sequence in our Sacred Geometry class.

All I know is that what I learned on the website above and another on the pinecone in art & architecture affirmed my connection to the Universe, Source, and my team of Divine Helpers in the co-creation of this series.

I’m human… this was comforting!

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

The Co-Creative Process

Once again, I started with a Spirit Calling Card reading to open the intuitive process. At first, it seemed to speak more about the process itself than about the Law of Correspondence.

SCC-Law-of-Correspondence

If you think about it though, it really does relate to the Law of Correspondence.  It’s asking us as a community to open to what is happening in our minds as a gateway to transformation.  There we have it – as within, so without. As above, so below.  This is as true on an individual as on a collective level.

Listen In

As usual, there was a lot of symbolism provided through this visual journey. The feeling, however, was simply matter of fact. That in itself is revealing to me – there was no judgment, just a simple mirror.  If there was celebration and growth in the inner ring, it was married with growth and building in the outer ring.  If the world was barren in the inside, it was dry and crumbling on the outside.  Just a fact – no drama.

As you listen, please remember that when I’m saying acorn, it was actually a pinecone. There are no accidents though…. an acorn would have been just as symbolic.

From the Inside Out

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Law of Correspondence Symbolism

This is how I interpreted the symbolism I received. Feel free to add your own in the comments below. This is a community effort!

The Pinecone

DLH_2203

Let me add to what I’ve already said in my introduction.

Whatever is growing within our inner being spirals out into the world.

Our current reality, therefore, took roots within our minds.

The Wedding Band

The gold wedding band represents the union of the inner and outer worlds.

How do you like my glorified stick people?… 🙂

I chose to represent the barn-raising spirit, the child with the reflection bowl, and the light switches on the ring instead of in the pinecone, where I originally saw them.

What kind of activity is happening within your mind today? Are you flicking that switch on or off?

The Roots


DLH_2226The roots pass beneath the wedding band, underlying the union of the inner and outer worlds.

They spread into the world like a web, extending beyond the limits of our perceived reality into the fabric of all that is – the invisible – the Universe.

As I was painting them, remembering the vision of the eyeball, they also felt like veins. These are a symbol of Life Force – the roads by which we feed ourselves and our vision.

Now, as I look at it, I sense a 2-way direction to the movement in this mandala – from the inside out, but also from the outside in. What does this mean for you?

The Trees

The Pine Trees in the Ring:

In my vision, I saw the minerals from the wedding band leaching into the world, nourishing it with its goodness. In addition to the larger roots, I chose to represent this by painting pine trees, their roots firmly planted inside the ring and their branches extend into the outer ring.

What we sow in our inner world takes root and spreads into our outer reality.

Pine trees are always fully present in the pinecone.  Similarly our full potential in this world already lies within us. By tapping into our true essence and nurturing our growth, we too can evolve as we were meant to do / be.

DLH_2223

The Tree of Life:

The tree of life often represents life, hope, truth, and healing. It’s a mystical tree, symbolic of the connection between our human and spiritual being-ness -inspiration (in spirit).

As a mandala, these paintings can be contemplated from any direction. Depending how you look at it, the fruits of this tree are hanging off the roots.  What could this mean to you?

The Pine Trees in the Corners:

These two pine trees are barely visible, outside the perceived limits of our reality.

Yet they grow and bear fruit, fed by and feeding the roots or veins that circulate through our full and mysterious existence.

I’d love to hear your interpretations on these.

The Cranes

DLH_2214Since my time living in South Korea, I’ve accepted cranes as symbols of longevity. They have a very long lifespan.

They’re also associated with a successful marriage, very appropriate here.

I wasn’t aware that cranes were also symbolic of the family tree.  This adds a further element of time to the root system of this mandala.

In terms of divinatory meaning, one website says:

“If you see a crane flying, it may be drawing your eyes to the heavens, lifting your spirits, and inspiring you to trust in the universe.”

Beautiful message!

Ordering & Receiving

Those active little people inside the pinecone were seen sending out paper airplanes into the world.  They’d written down their orders and instructions based on what was happening in the inner world. I liked the lighthearted playful energy of the mind / inner world I witnessed in this vision.

Then came the delivery trucks and construction machinery, answering to the guidance from the inner world.

We’re constantly placing orders and receiving – on a conscious and subconscious level.  That’s definitely something to think about…

The Eye

The entire mandala can been seen as a giant eye, but I also chose to paint an actual eyeball, looking straight up, as I saw it in my visual journey.

The eye is often seen as a window to the soul. It’s also a symbol of focus, vision, awareness, presence and intelligence.

For me, this eye is a reminder that we live in a dream, an illusion. Nothing has meaning but the meaning we give it. How we perceive the world is based on our inner reality. The eye here represents a passageway from consciousness to enlightenment.

What does it mean for you?

The Cycles

DLH_2224

Circling the extremities of our perceived world are the cycles of the natural world.

First, I was shown the tides and waves, moved by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon on the earth.

Then I was shown sunsets turning into sunrises, a continuous cycle of death and rebirth. Their colours are reflected around the 4 main elements within the mandala.

Everything is in motion. The momentum we create at our core sets the pace for what we experience here in this lifetime. Yet, with every new day, we are given another opportunity to re-create a world more aligned with that golden essence that lies within us – the one that may have been covered with the dust of time.

Your Turn

What other messages have you received as you’ve entered this Law of Correspondence mandala?

How do you dust off the cobwebs of your mind and shine your golden light into this world?

Law-of-Correspondence-Dominique-Hurley-Enter-the-Mandala

I’d love for you to share in the comments below.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.

Journey Into the Law of Action – Enter the Mandala

The-Law-of-Action-Dominique-Hurley

This is it! The 3rd of the Enter the Mandala Project paintings – The Law of Action.

When fuelled by the fires of purpose and passion, each inspired step towards your dreams will lead you to the doors and tools you need to achieve them. 

The Law of Action is not about aimless busy-ness. It’s about the continuous process of tuning in, communicating to the Universe, staying open and receptive, and following through on guidanceIt’s this kind of action that creates the necessary momentum to manifest your vision.  

So take the steps, open the doors, collect the right tools, navigate the brainstorm web, send your smoke signals to the Universe, allow, receive, and create the reality you wish to see in the world. It’s all possible through the Law of Action.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

Read on to find out more about how I tapped into the symbology for this painting.

Spirit Calling Card Message

First, I used my Spirit Calling Cards to invite my Divine Helpers into the intuitive painting process.

SCC-Law-of-Action-Dominique-Hurley

You’ll hear me chat about these cards at the beginning of the recording below.

What a great reminder that “reflecting on the fruit of our purpose”, or visualizing our desired results and focusing on the WHY we do things, is a crucial part of the Law of Action.  It’s also the initial step in changing how we see, feel, and experience the world – our truth.

It was also a reminder that action which isn’t sourced from within won’t lead to an inner or outer reality that is aligned with our true essence.

What does this mean to you? I invite you to ponder on this message and share your insights in the comments.

Listen In

These readings, especially the Divine Storytelling Times, raise my vibration to such delightful levels. This one was so much fun!  

The symbology was so rich that my mind wanted to jump ahead and start interpreting as the story was evolving.  Active listening skills apply to intuition as well… best not interrupt Source, my Guiding Spirits and Angels while they’re speaking 🙂 …. 

Although these visual journeys aren’t new to me, tapping into them as part of my painting process is! I’m so grateful I was guided to create this series – for both artistic and spiritual growth.

Go ahead, listen in (17 min).  The mini-movie description starts after the Spirit Calling Card Reading.

Reflecting on the Journey:

When I think of volcanoes, I’m reminded of what a medical intuitive once told me. She commented that my eczema (skin condition) was like a volcano. The internal pressure of not listening to my inner guidance was causing stress on the system.  If I only took care of the symptom on my hands, it would simply erupt elsewhere on my body.  I needed to recognize and honour its core message.  I needed to listen before the pressure of holding my purpose, passion, and emotions deep inside created irreparable damage.

The volcano in this reading felt like our purpose calling us upwards into the Light. It’s the creative fire that lurks beneath the surface, brewing and bubbling. It’s inspiration percolating. It’s the source of own powerful brilliance. It feeds our dreams, which then feed our actions.

In this vision, the spinning merry-go-round (think of the symbolism of that word!) sent celebratory sparks that ignited the volcano, creating a glass tower that reached upwards towards that Light, leading us to the bigger picture with every step. Both the tower and staircase were manifested from the pressures of this same inner world. By tapping within and taking each step, our actions then manifested the doorways and tools necessary to create our landscapes.

You’re advised to stay grounded while connecting to your Higher Vision. Let the smoke signals rise up from the platform of your goals. Don’t block the mouth of the volcano and don’t wait until the pressure mounts to an insupportable level. The price of ignoring our Spirit Calls can be high indeed. Eczema is but a minor reminder when I am off my path …  Luckily, I eventually listen, heeding that warning.

What are your warning signals? Are you listening?

The Layers

As with many of my intuitive paintings, this one evolved in layers. Each new one inspired the next. There was little planning involved. I simply took action, trusting that the next step would reveal itself.

1.  The Inner Fires of Creativity and Passion:

Fire and water mixed to include the earth and air elements all present in volcanoes.

2.  Guided Action – Collecting the tools:

F-Law-of-Action-wip-DominiqueHurleyDLH_2059

You may not know how all of your guided actions fit in the big picture, but trust that layer upon layer, this will reveal itself to you.

See the slideshow above to witness the evolution of these many layers.

 

3.  Momentum:

I used ground up pumice (volcanic glass) to create the raised surface of the merry-go-round/tower and the rim of the volcano.  Pumice energetically helps us rise above our challenges by giving us the insights necessary to move forward. Perfect!

I represented the  inspiration / action cycle through the brainstorm web I saw in my intuitive journey as well as in the arrows pointing inwards towards our dreams/goals.

 

4.  Allowing:

Allow Dominique! Allow!  This is the area where I’ve repeatedly been told I need to practice more.

Coming from a military family and with decades of professional education and experience in recreation and teaching, I have become very good in the left brain areas of planning and implementing. The more anxious I get, however, the more controlling I become, wanting to force things into being. Then I start spiralling into fear, losing my inner peace. That’s when I become so goal focussed that I forget to enjoy the journey. Sounds familiar?

Luckily, life has taught me that the more I trust my intuitive guidance and the power of manifesting, the more my dreams are achieved with ease and grace. This is not about sitting back and passively waiting.  It’s about doing things when moved to do so, and paying close attention to what is being called for next. One step at a time.

My six months of fundraising to go study art overseas for a year is a perfect example.  I worked intensively, but it was so strongly guided that I not only succeeded in letting go of the fear around my project, but exceeded my fundraising goals.

My time painting in Austria, Bali, and Italy is proof to me of The Law of Action. First, I sent smoke signals to the Universe about wanting to get over psychological blocks to drawing (sometimes unknowingly). This was fuelled by my passion and purpose as an artist. I then received unmistakable guidance about the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art. Once I accepted the call and affirmed my intentions, the action steps revealed themselves through messengers and inner work. I opened a lot of doors and worked with lots of tools.  Some stretched my comfort zones and some were criticized by other artists (like auctioning off all my artwork starting at the cost of materials). I went against the social norm, but that didn’t phase me because I was tapped in to something greater.  I trusted the inspired process full-heartedly and my dreams became a reality. No regrets!

Can you think of a time when this was true in your life?

Start with baby steps.  Listen and trust your intuition.  The more you do, the clearer your Spirit Calls will be and the easier it will be to create your dreams.

Your Turn

What would you like to achieve? What first step could you take today towards that dream?  Please inspire us with your stories or share your impressions of this painting and process in the discussion below.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
Did you find this inspiring? Please share it.