healing

The World

| Bonnie Kelso

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My theme for October is “The World.” I have been around the world several times. I’ve clocked in some significant mileage. Trust me, the WORLD is BIG. I’ve been thinking about how small my personal world feels compared to the BIG WORLD. I have chosen to make my world small. I love my personal world so much. I would do anything to protect it. If it weren’t for my soul’s constant urge to evolve, I might just stay in my little beautiful world forever. So, once again, I take a deep breath and choose to step out of my comfort zone and share a little piece of my personal world with the great BIG WORLD, in the only way I feel authentically called to do, through my art and encouragements.

“You make me start when you look into my heart
And see me for who I really am.

If you can’t change the world. Change yourself.”
– The The , Lonely Planet

May your world be the perfect size for your soul’s evolution.

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.

Strength

| Bonnie Kelso

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Strength is the tree that can bend in the storm without breaking. This image from my sketchbook and includes an art card featuring the painting “Tiger in a Tropical Storm” by Henri Rousseau. It’s hard to tell if the tiger is frightening or frightened. I like that about the painting. Sometimes we are both in the face of fear when we are trying to summon our own courage.

I wish you the strength of a tree and the courage of a tiger, or the strength of a tiger and the courage of a tree to help you through whatever it may be that is challenging you right now.

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.

Aloha!

| Bonnie Kelso

Breathe in the aloha. Enjoy seven minutes of relaxing nature videos I shot from the beautiful Hawaiian island of Maui. Slack key guitar music by Dean Perry. Enjoy!

♥

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

The Lady of Shalott

| Bonnie Kelso

I’ve been taking these old art postcards I’ve collected over the years and altering them in my sketchbook. “The Lady of Shalott,” is a painting by John William Waterhouse. It was inspired by Lord Tennyson’s poem about a woman who is an artist. She weaves in a tower and lives an isolated life. She can only watch the people living their lives near the city of Camelot. She can’t even look at them directly, only through their reflection in a mirror. Here’s a portion of the poem:

There she weaves by night and day, a magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say, a curse is on her if she stay
to look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be, and so she weaveth steadily,
and little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.

One day she is tempted by the sight of Sir Lancelot who is very handsome. She breaks her spell, and looks upon him directly. The mirror shatters and she knows because of the curse that her time is running out. She takes a boat towards Camelot, but dies before it arrives. Lancelot looks over her tragic death with sympathy.

Lady of Shalott SM Continue reading →

Being Guided

| Bonnie Kelso

woodsSMI had a dream that as I walked through a thick wood, trees fell all around me. The sound of them crashing down was very loud and terrifying. Even though I was afraid I just kept moving forward. I felt like I was somehow protected and that they wouldn’t hurt me. Continue reading →

The Owl

| Bonnie Kelso

Ever since I became a Mom my symbol for my relationship with my children has been the owl. Learning from the energy of the owl has given me confidence over the years. I can still remember how frightening it was to bring children into the world. I didn’t feel able to protect them and I questioned if I was qualified to guide them. Then I saw an owl in a meditation and many meditations after that one. It was a giant owl with wings Continue reading →

My friend, Karen

| Bonnie Kelso

Today I want to tell you about a friend of mine who passed away ten days ago. If you didn’t know her, I have a feeling you will find her story inspiring. If you did know her, then together let’s take a moment to remember her and celebrate her amazing art and resilient spirit.

Welcome
“Welcome To My Garden,” by Karen Wheeler

This is one of Karen’s recent works. It is titled “Welcome To My Garden.” I remember talking to Karen about this piece quite a lot. It was a challenge for Karen in many ways. First, it was very difficult for her Continue reading →

A Friday Art Deviation

| Bonnie Kelso

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This week has been pretty intense. I have been processing a lot of internal shifts as the circumstances of life change around me. The Archangel Jeremiel came to me strongly as we entered the month of June. This painting is a bit different than how I usually draw, but in a lot of ways it was very freeing to create without censoring what came through. I will show you the phases of the image so as to explain how it just kind of made its way onto the paper. I consider this intuitive painting. I often teach this method of creating art in my workshops. It focuses on freeing yourself creatively by trying new things and playful experimentation.

IMG_3101The first image is the paper collage. I knew I was going to paint an angel. That was my only intention. I wasn’t even sure it was Continue reading →