believe

True As Blue

| Bonnie Kelso

Deep in my heart I’ve been wanting to write a Children’s Picture Book about global climate change and our role as stewards of this beautiful planet we live on. I’ve been waiting for a story to come to me ever so patiently. Then, just yesterday it appeared! As I sat in my backyard and wrote in my journal next to my favorite tree, the words came through my hand and I don’t even really know how. I believe it may have been from a source outside of myself. It felt like an out of body experience. I love it when that happens!

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For the joy of it!

| Bonnie Kelso

trust

My illustrations are a reflection of my inner child. I can remember drawing my own characterizations of animals since I was in Kindergarten. When I was in the first grade I won a poster contest about listening. I drew animals with big ears. When the teacher announced to the entire class that I had won, I heard a classmate say, “We all know her Dad drew it.” I was horrified and heart broken. It’s true my Dad can draw, but he didn’t help me, not one bit. Already being fearfully shy, I didn’t know how to express my distress over the comment and began crying right there in front of everyone. Over the years I have realized how precious our creative lives are to us. I try to express this vulnerability as well as beauty in my art. My intention as an artist and writer is to encourage people to express themselves creatively and become more resilient to criticism, especially that dreadful inner-critic.

How are you using your creative life? Do you feel like you have one? I’d like to reassure you right now that you do. When was the last time you engaged in a creative project just for the joy of it? Sometimes I feel like we put so much pressure on ourselves to create something amazing that we never even start. It’s true there are a lot of amazing creations out there. The other side of this truth is that these things were created because a whole lot of other things (things that may not have been so great) were created first. So, take the pressure off yourself and create something for the pure joy of it. No expectations. Just joy.

Xoxo,

Bonnie

Bonnie Kelso writes and illustrates books that celebrate diversity, creativity, and all the special qualities that make each of us unique.

©Bonnie Kelso and Creating Your ExperienceVitalize Your Creative Life is a workbook based on a series of classes I designed based on creating from the energetic space of your inner child. In this workbook, I encourage you to rediscover the creative kid inside of you by coloring, scribbling, and even drawing stick figures. This is a very approachable book for people who want to begin exploring their creative life in a playfully spiritual way. Read more…

Igniting Artemis

| Bonnie Kelso

Happy Thanksgiving!

I always feel that I have so much to be grateful for. I really do, even when things are not so awesome. Gratitude is what has kept me going over the years. It’s what keeps me connected to spirit and source.

I was recently gratitude-gifted with a beautiful smoky citrine generator crystal. Isn’t it just gorgeous? (note: buy crystals from nice people) This act of gratitude compelled me to start igniting my new character, Artemis. I’m getting amazing results already. So much inspiration is starting to pour in, it’s hard to keep up with it all.

So on this full moon Thanksgiving, I’ve set up a little altar by my workspace. I even created my own little 3D Artemis out of sculpey. She’s got her magician’s cloak on and we’re ready to make some serious children’s book magic. In addition to the altar, I’ve got a moon calendar starting tonight. So, this cycle will go from full moon to the winter solstice.

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New! A Playbook for Creative People

| Bonnie Kelso

dinoHow do you record all of the ideas and insights that come to you every day? Dean and I have been using these customizable Playbooks for the last few years. I’ve made a few adjustments over the years and now I am ready to let you give it a try as well. This tool is in the testing stage so I am very open to receiving feedback on how you use it, what you like about it and how you think it could be improved.

I understand that they may not be ideal for everyone, nor are they meant to be used by everyone. They work well for me and Dean, but we have extremely busy minds that love to document growth as it comes to us in all sorts of symbols, dreams and messages from all the mysterious realms of life.

PlaybookCoverSM tiltIf you are looking for a new creative planner to try this next year to keep your thoughts organized and track your daily evolution, I hope you will give this Playbook a try. It has been an amazing benefit to my own spiritual and professional development as a creative person over the past few years. I love starting each day with a cup of coffee and My Playbook.

I look forward to hearing what your experience of it is. It’s currently available through Amazon so you can order a copy to use for this coming 2019 annual cycle.

Here’s a short video showing you mine and how I use it. I’ve upgraded the cover and fixed a few typos, but for the most part the interior is exactly as shown. It’s 8.5 x 11″ so you can write and draw BIG! 🙂

May all your creative ideas be recorded and treasured!

With love,

Bonnie

Bonnie Kelso writes and illustrates children’s books that celebrate diversity, creativity, and all the special qualities that make each of us unique. Her book EVER OPEN is now available on Amazon in print and for kindle.

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Deep in the heart of the Everglades, 26 tiny eggs are beginning to hatch in a giant nest under a tall cypress tree. The fourth alligator to see the light of day is about to embark on a classic hero’s journey. Join Baby D as he explores his world through the innocence and wonder of a natural dreamer. Discover what makes him special while pondering what it might be that makes you special, too.

The Red Crayon

| Bonnie Kelso

Dreams are so weird. Well, mine are to me. If I told you about them you would probably find them really boring, so I will spare you that. I did have one last night where it was a dream inside a dream. Those are rare. In my dream I was telling two people about what we were doing in a dream, and yes, their eyes were glazing over as I spoke… in my dream!

Although most dreams are strange and hardly seem worth remembering when the alarm goes off in the morning, some dreams seem to demand our attention. Those dreams feel more lucid and not like a dream at all. There’s something different about the light, the feel, the sounds and the overall intensity of them. Have you had one of these lately? Do you know what I’m talking about?

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Mine was simple and non-threatening. It was a red crayon. It was just lying there waiting for me to pick it up. I remember exactly what it looked like.  It was one of those big chunky crayons, made for little hands. It was new and perfect in shape and form. The tip was an unpressed cone of wax, still shiny from the processing plant. The paper sleeve on the crayon was free of wear and tear. I could tell it had not been handled much, if at all. It was as if this crayon had been perfectly preserved from childhood. My childhood. It was being saved for now. Saved for me to take and use in my 48th year of life. Perhaps in the past I have used other colors. Maybe those have already been worn down past the paper wrapper, but not the red. I’ve never used the red. Why? Is it too bold? Is it too everything I have never felt qualified to do until now? Continue reading →

Shine on you crazy diamond!

| Bonnie Kelso

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This diamond goddess has been showing up for me lately in a lot of ways. It’s like she wants me to make a wish and I have to say it’s been a little intimidating. I’ve always been really careful about wishes, because I always get what I wish for. It’s just sometimes I get a lot of other stuff along with the wish that I didn’t really want or think about as being part of my wish coming true.

What would you wish for right now? Are you prepared for your wish to come true? What else might be bundled in with the granting of this wish? Do you still wish for it anyway?

“Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!”  – Pink Floyd (Gilmour/Wright/Waters)

Shine on you crazy diamonds!

Love,

Bonnie

Bonnie Kelso writes and illustrates children’s books that celebrate diversity, creativity, and all the special qualities that make each of us unique. Her book EVER OPEN is now available on Amazon in print and for kindle.

EverOpenCoverTilt

 

Deep in the heart of the Everglades, 26 tiny eggs are beginning to hatch in a giant nest under a tall cypress tree. The fourth alligator to see the light of day is about to embark on a classic hero’s journey. Join Baby D as he explores his world through the innocence and wonder of a natural dreamer. Discover what makes him special while pondering what it might be that makes you special, too.

Virtual Purge

| Bonnie Kelso

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The other working title of this post is “Why I left Facebook.” 

This is not written with the intention of starting a debate on the vices or virtues of Facebook. In fact, I am only beginning my virtual purge with Facebook, because it has historically preoccupied the most of my energy. Even when I’m not “on it” for long periods, it doesn’t seem to matter. Someone might say, “I’m sure you saw what I posted on Facebook,” and then I  would be reminded that I am a part of it even if I’m not actively engaging with it.

I had a student a few years ago who told me she wasn’t on Facebook and had no intention of creating an account. I remember how envious I was of her. I remember saying, “Wow, I wish I could go off it, but I need it for my business.” I think that’s when the seed was planted. I began to ask myself questions, like:

Do I really need it?

What has it actually done for me?

How has it affected others?

How much of my energy does it consume?

What would I miss about it if I left for good?

So, years later, I am finally free of it once and for all. It feels like a burden lifted. In this year of authentically being myself, I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t need it. I can be free of anything I want to be free of. The Universe has my back, so any social media platform can hardly ever compete with that.

So, that’s me reducing my digital footprint and reserving my energy for the bigger and better opportunities that are coming into my life every day, not through the internet, but through the people I connect with in very real ways.

The spiritual energy that I use to connect with others is independent of the world wide web. It is not virtual at all, but in fact very real.

I may have left Facebook, but I have not left my friends. I have no intention of leaving any of you. Always, feel free to connect with me directly.

Lots of love,

Bonnie

Friday = Art

| Bonnie Kelso

Uranus

On April 18th Uranus was conjunct with the Sun. This is an aspect (Uranus conjunct the Sun) that I have in my natal chart, so I felt it very strongly last week. Big changes are afoot! It’s an exciting time right now for me. More news soon…

Have you felt this Uranus energy, too? How did it feel to you? To me it feels kind of like this picture. Don’t worry, you are the mature tree and you are a ready to receive this dynamic new energy.

Your Creativity Coach,

Bonnie

Bonnie Kelso is a Creativity Coach who uses Creating as a healing modality. She is the author of Vitalize Your Creative Life, a workbook for engaging with your inner creative child. She also facilitates creativity workshops and classes locally in Las Vegas, NV. She is the creator of the ABCs of Conscious Creating, a guided self-study program that delves deeper into the spiritual realm of your unique creative potential. Are you ready to start right now? Do you have 5 Minutes?

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#the100dayProject

| Bonnie Kelso

So, I just found out about this project that’s apparently been going on for years and it’s basically hijacked my world right now. I’m not even sure where to start… It’s delightfully simple and based on a premise I can totally get behind (because it’s pretty much the same idea behind my 5MinuteCreator ebook). It’s an Instagram hashtag that heroically tries to motivate people into doing something creative every day for 100 days. Special shout out to Elle and Lindsay and www.the100dayproject.org.

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#the100dayProject, Day 4

Okay, so I was feeling really in a slump, emotionally and creatively. Yes, this even happens to Creativity Coaches. It’s something everyone struggles with from time to time, but the difference for me now is Continue reading →