Good-bye 2022. Hello 2023, and a new book from me :)
Woo-hoo! Yes, another celebration, and this one feels quite cathartic. I hit submit a few short days before the first of January, and it felt good! I'm blessed to share this moment with you.
The title "THE TREASURED CHEST" carries a message I hope you will take to heart - to cherish and value your inborn essence, the treasure you carry within, your beautiful diamond, your Divine soul, and the many stunning facets that make up your being. It's filled with close to 50 poems and illustrations, as well as empowering affirmations.
Originally, I put this book together just for me, to close a chapter on a challenging time that also fostered tremendous personal growth. These poems are a mix of ones that spilled into my journal as I wrote my morning-pages as well as those that came to me following a meditation. I feel attached to some of the poems, while others feel as if they came from somewhere else, about someone else, and perhaps even, for someone else - which was one of the reasons I felt I should share this book, as opposed to keeping it private.
A bit about the soulstrations: These illustrations grew from my wanting to learn how to create copies of my art so that I can gift them to family and friends quickly and easily. Though I wouldn't be drawing each by hand, the prints would still be designed by me, and therefor contain my love, regardless. This desire led me to getting an iPad, learning how to use this incredible app that I'm absolutely crazy about, called Procreate.
The first time I used Procreate's "assisted drawing" tool was nearly two years ago. I was at my kitchen table, it was midnight. The house was quiet, except for me - I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud. I was just so incredibly amazed and delighted by this tool and what I was able to do with it. This may sound totally out there - but I see it as an invisible hand that plays along with me, and in tune with me, as I draw.
I never quite know what art will appear on the page. I come in having one idea, and by the time I'm done, it has transformed into something that I'm not even sure I can dream up, had I done it by hand. And yet, it is from my spirit. I start with words or lines from my poetry, and draw them as I see them in my head. The tool then replicates them depending on the setting I choose to put in place, and I might change that setting a number of times within one illustration, depending on the look and feel that I want from the image.
Over time, this became my go to for relaxation, for settling down before bed, for quieting racing thoughts, for being one with my soul. I also began to notice that this new practice of mine was actually entertaining - not so much as I draw - I'm usually in a deep flow state then, but more so, afterwards. When I look at the final result - and oh!! especially when I learned to use the time-lapse tool. Wow - talk about magic! It plays back your process and steps from start to finish. How cool is that? It is mesmerizing to watch!!
That was when I decided to share my poetry and illustrations with other sweet souls. The warm, kind, positive and enthusiastic feedback was a definite pull to making this book public and sharing it with other by the way of self publishing. With all that said, I was still a bit unsure. Would people take all the writing literally? Much of the poetry hints at feelings, but the style is probably not for everyone. I had to let go of the concern of judgement, let it go, let it go, it's almost become my motto.
I'm at the point in my life where I ask "G-d, what do you want me to do?" The answer that comes to me needs to be enough. Until another direction is presented to me. I've learned to trust my intuition - unless I am overtired - in that case I let the matter rest, until I get rest!
As I write this to you now, I had a good night's sleep, and can tell you that this it's not me being critical, but simply stating - this book does not contain my best exclusively, it also contains the illustrations from when I just started playing with digital illustration. I playfully call my earlier works "cave-man" drawings.
I wonder if you can pick them out - I scattered them randomly through the newer designs /soulstrations. I chose to include them because I feel that doing so represents acceptance - of what we may view as imperfections though they really may be seedlings with potential for growth. Ultimately this book's underlying message is of self-love, empowerment, care and connection.
People have often suggested that I color in the illustrations, but I found that I hesitated. I still do, and I'm not fully sure why. For now, I feel my purpose is in offering them by way of this book for YOU to enjoy! It was actually after being told a few times "Oh, I wish I could color these in" that the thought came to suggest that readers let their inner child out to play by coloring the drawings.
What was essentially a poetry/art book that I meant to create for myself as a keepsake, transformed and blossomed into a poetry/coloring book for you and others to enjoy. I hope you will - and if you do, kindly leave a review. I usually read through reviews before buying , so I know that it makes a difference in spreading the love.
Thank you for celebration this milestone with me. This book marks the birth of a new beginning as I fully embrace my creative essence, and get to connect with you in a way I had not imagined before this book came into being. I humbled and in awe by how G♡D created us and connects us to one another.
Should you choose to order the book, I'd love to hear which of the poems resonated with you, and how you enjoyed the soulstrations / coloring pages.
Here's one that I hold dear:
Serenity
Liberated, saturated
Allowed to be me
Me with all my uncertainty
Embraced my quirks
My seriousness, my kookiness
My loveliness
They wonder and worry
Yet know not my story
Think I should, could, would
Be this way or that - skinny or fat
They, the voices inside and out
To them I shout
Ha! Go on, stare
See if I care
I don’t any longer
I’m a hundredfold stronger
It’s but a miracle, me
In all my complexity
Cried rivers through the years
Fed fish with my tears
That was then, this is now
I stand humble, oh so proud
Soaking raindrops from above
Feeling all-encompassing love
Sun-shower of will and power
Most resilient flower
Inside and out, one at last
Finally me, at peace with my past.
My hope is that "The Treasured Chest" inspires you to embrace all your stunning facets, put the past behind you, bring joy to your present, and light to your future.
Sending purple balloons filled with love,
