Oh Blessed Be! Welcome to this New Season!

Happy Spring Equinox to those on my side of the celestial equator and Happy Fall Equinox to those on the other!

But did you know that tomorrow, March 20th, is also International Happiness Day?

The day recognizes that happiness is a fundamental human goal, and calls upon countries to approach public policies in ways that improve the well-being of all peoples. …The initiative to declare a day of happiness came from Bhutan – a country whose citizens are considered to be some of the happiest people in the world. The Himalayan Kingdom has championed an alternative measure of national and societal prosperity, called the Gross National Happiness Index (GNH). The GNH rejects the sole use of economic and material wealth as an indicator of development, and instead adopts a more holistic outlook, where spiritual well-being of citizens and communities is given as much importance as their material well-being.

So may this not only be a new season in our calendar year, but a new era on the planet.  Happiness is indeed a priority! And it starts with you.

Happiness comes from the inside out.

Although it’s important that governments jump on board the happiness wagon, let’s play our part.

Call in your Team of Divine Helpers and ask them “How can I be happier this week?”.  Pick the painting that speaks most to your heart. Then, scroll down to read its Oracle Message.

Each of the messages includes quotes by Paramhansa Yogananda, the author of “Autobiography of a Yogi” and the guru of the Ananda Village in California, where I’m currently doing karma yoga for 2 months.

Dear Beloved,

Stand tall and open yourself to the Divine within you.

Your Light is so bright, reflecting the Light of All that Is. Take the time to nurture and connect to it. Feel the exaltation of living as a unique expression of the Divine.

It’s true. Your life is not without challenges. How you experience them depends on you. Don’t wallow. Seek the Light. Where attention goes, energy flows.

As Paramhansa Yoganada said:

“The best way to be unendingly happy is to be conscious of the Divine.”

“Whatever comes of itself, let it come.”

“There are no obstacles: There are only opportunities!”

“Forget the past, for it is gone from your domain! Forget the future, for it is beyond your reach! Control the present! Live supremely well now! This is the way of the wise.”

Focus on what you love and let all else to fall into its rightful place. Attract what you want. Align with the Universe, raise your vibration and shine!

Allow your wellspring of unconditional love, gratitude, purpose, and passion to overflow.  You are radiant. You are a lightworker.

If you’ve picked this painting, you’re invited to get up and dance to Bobby McFerrin’s song “Don’t Worry Be Happy“. And if dancing doesn’t do it for you, find what does and be happy now.

Painting: Exaltation (SOLD). Order prints here.   

Dear Beloved,

How are you growing and nourishing deep roots in your life so that you may bear the rich fruit of happiness? 

This is not an outward journey. It’s an inward one.

Are you dedicating enough time and energy to your spiritual practice? How can you invest more? or make what you have more quality time? 

When times get busy or moods get low, it’s easy to let your happiness practice aside. But that’s like depriving your roots of nourishment, only to result in the withering of your Life Force.

If you’ve picked this painting, you’re invited to make wise investments on what has the most returns – in the here and now and every here and now that comes after it.

As Paramhansa Yogananda said:

“Happiness blooms naturally in the hearts of those who are inwardly free. It flows spontaneously, like a mountain spring after April showers, in minds that are contented with simple living.”

“Accept change as life’s only constant. Life is change.”

“Never lose hope. Your soul, being a reflection of the ever joyous spirit, is, in essence, happiness itself.”

“Open the portals of calmness and you will find the bright sun of joy within yourself.”

So go ahead. Make your happiness a priority. It’s your birthright. It’s your magic. It’s the fruit that you will then share with others.

You all deserve your taking the time to find that peace, that calm, that happiness that’s already inside you.

Painting: Happy (SOLD). More on it here….  Order prints here.   

Dear Beloved,

The happier you are, the easier it will be for those around you to be happy too.

There’s nothing selfish about doing what you need and being who you truly are in order to connect to that happiness at your core.

So what makes you truly happy? Is it really that new pair of shoes, chocolate sundae, compliments from your partner, achievement, or award?

Or is it the joy that bubbles up from being simply and completely in the present moment, loving what is, recognizing and feeling the Divine within yourself and all around you?

As Paramhansa Yogananda said:

“Even if life gave you at one time everything you wanted – wealth, power, friends — after awhile you would again become dissatisfied and need something more.  But there is one thing that can never become stale to you – joy itself.”

“In all your seeking among different things, directly or indirectly, you are in reality seeking happiness through the fulfillment of your desires. Why not seek joy directly? Why seek it through the intermediary of pleasures and objects?”

“Happiness comes, not by helplessly wishing for it, but by dreaming, thinking and living it in all circumstances.”

“A good rule to live by, and one that will take you sailing through many tests in life, is, under all circumstances, to remain even-minded and cheerful.”

“The self-improving man is the increasingly happy man. The happier you become, the happier will be the people around you.”

The key to happiness is that your soul and your life are in sync. Are you living as your True Self? Do you even remember who that is?

Pause for moment to take an inventory of what you prioritize in life. How can you raise your personal Happiness Index to contribute to the National Happiness Index and the International one too?

Take the time to reconnect – through meditation, Right Living, spiritual practices, loving service, and being content with life as it is.

Be happy now!

Painting: Divine Union (SOLD). More on it here….  Order prints here.   

Happy International Women’s Week!

As we gear up for International Women’s Day on March 8th, I invite you to embrace your Divine Feminine, no matter your gender. 

Reclaiming my Divine Feminine was a crucial part of my personal journey. Intuitive painting and intuitive living have been amazing support to my embracing my Divine Feminine. That’s why I teach them!

In our western world,  Masculine qualities are taught and reinforced. Success usually means doing, achieving, rational logical thinking, perseverance, resilience, courage, strength, Left Brain, etc.  These are awesome qualities. But there’s too much emphasis on them.

At one point, an intuitive healer told me “Dominique! Your right brain is shrinking. Do anything! Cut paper dolls!” She wanted to encourage a rebirth of my creativity after I’d spent a few years focusing on being a Left-brain support to an artist that had enough Right Brain for a team of 20. I’d completely neglected my own creativity. I was living an unbalanced life, and it was taking a toll on my body, mind & spirit.

So today’s Love Oracle is all about embracing your Divine Feminine Qualities. These are:

• Creative
• Intuitive
• Emotionally intelligent
• Right-brained
• Vulnerable
• Nurturing
• Cooperative
• Wanting to be rather than do
• Acting for the experience of joy rather than outcomes
• Seeking self-mastery for the greater good
• Defining success through relationships

So ask your Team of Divine Helpers and Higher Self what you need to focus on to embrace your Divine Feminine. 

Pick the painting that calls you the most. Then scroll down to read its message. 

Dear Beloved,

Do you need a hug? Does someone in your circle?

If you’ve picked this painting, your Divine Feminine is asking you to reach out with your arms and heart wide open to connect, truly connect, with another human being. 

Perhaps you’ve been so busy with your to-do list that you haven’t had or taken the time to reach out to a friend.

Are you so focused on the physical needs of your family that you’ve missed their emotional needs?

Maybe you’ve been in cocooning mode and it’s become so … comfortable.

Whatever the case, spread those lovely wings of your and spread your love. 

You are pure Divine Love at your core. And so is everyone else around you.

Connect to that loving nurturing part of yourself and let Her be all she was meant to be – for yourself and for others.

Who comes to mind, to heart when you read these questions?

• “Who needs me right now?”
• “Who do I need right now?”
• “Whose company do I enjoy?”
• “With whom is it easiest for me to feel loving?”

Then take inspired action. Schedule a time to meet. Call them to remind them they are loved. Express your love in whatever way you’re intuitively guided.

Make someone’s day. It’ll make yours too.

Painting: With Arms Wide Open (SOLD). More on it here….  Order prints here.   

Dear Beloved,

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine….” Come on, sing along.

That little light of yours is enough to dissipate the darkness. Let it shine. Let it guide you.

Every time you light a candle, call in your Team of Divine Helpers to be here with you. Let the flame remind you of that God-Essence that already shines brightly at your core.

Then close your eyes. Ask for Guidance for your Highest Good and the Highest Good of All. Then Look. Listen. Sense. Know/remember. Smell. Taste. Use whatever intuitive channel is most open to receive. 

Life is so much more fulfilling when your intuition leads the way.

Embrace your Divine Feminine. Let Her connect to the bigger picture – the one that can only be seen when you join your light with its Source.

Then engage your Divine Masculine to help you take inspired action to manifest your best life. 

What are your Spirit Calls?

What does “Follow your Bliss” mean to. you?

What does your heart crave to be, to feel, to do?

Ask your Team of Divine Helpers to add their light to yours so that the road ahead becomes clearer. 

The answers are all within you. They’re in your Light.

Use whatever intuitive hearing aids that you need to tap into them. Try an intuitive walkabout or an intuitive vision board. Do some automatic writing / journaling. Pull some oracle cards, use a pendulum.

Eventually, you won’t need the tools and will be able to simple shine the inner light of your Divine Feminine more brightly to immediately connect to the best answers for you.

If you haven’t already, listen to my 75-minute Intuition into Action free tutorial here.

May it help you strengthen your relationship with your intuition.

May it help you shine your unique light brighter in the world. You are an individualized expression of the Divine. Embrace that!

Painting: Our Lady of Light (SOLD). More on it here….  Order prints here.   

Dear Beloved,

You are a beautifully emotional being – that’s part of the gift of being human. If you don’t acknowledge or accept your emotions, there’s a price to pay.

If you picked this painting, you’re being invited to embrace your Divine Feminine by honouring your emotions. That’s how you’ll increase your EQ – your Emotional Intelligence.

Let’s look at a lotus flower. Rooted in the mud, it rises through the water – the realm of emotions. By the time it emerges into the light above the water,  it has completely cleansed itself of that mud. Its petals are designed to do just that.

So are you.

• Do you ever feel your emotions aren’t appropriate?
• Are you afraid you’ll be judged if you express them?
• Are you worried that your emotions aren’t as important as other people’s?
• Do you need to learn to explore and express your emotions in healthy ways?

The only way to live as your True Self is to get comfortable with your emotions.

If you’re not being real, being authentic, it can have health consequences in body, mind & spirit.

So embrace your Divine Feminine by increasing your mindfulness practice. Become more self-aware of how you feel. First with yourself. Journaling is a great way to do that.

Love yourself through those emotions. Be aware of how you judge yourself for what you feel. Do you even give yourself permission to feel?

Next, if needed, call upon your emotional support system. Let go of your story, the details and the drama. Work on staying focused on seeing, accepting and loving those emotions so you can process them more quickly.

What do you do to honour your emotions in a healthy way? What makes this challenging for you?

The majority have never been trained to comfortably and constructively process emotions.

According to Goleman’s EQ theory, there are five core components to EQ: empathy, effective communication or social skills, self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation. 

If this peaks your curiosity, follow that intuitive nudge to learn more.

Your ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you is a skill that can be developed.

Investing time on fostering your EQ is a gift that will keep on giving.

Painting: The Perfect Unfolding (SOLD). More on it here….  Order prints here.   

What do you want in life?

Where do you imagine yourself being in 5 or 10 years?

What are you passionate about? What brings you joy?

What matters most to you?

You’d think these questions would be easy to answer, but for many, they’re not! 

If you’re stumped at these questions, you’re likely not living your life to the fullest. Maybe you’re just going along day by day going through the motions.

Do you feel you’re wasting your precious life? Are you living the life others wanted you to live? Do you envy those who seem to be living in alignment with their True Self?

Whether you’re at a complete loss as to who you truly are or simply want to live more in alignment to your values, your faith, your purpose – it’s a good thing you’re here.

Are you ready to shift life into gear? Your gear?  Know thyself.

Ask your Team of Divine Helpers “How can I know myself better to live in alignment with my Higher Self?” Then see which of the paintings above draws you the most.

Once you’ve picked your painting, scroll down to read its Oracle Message. Then, remember to take inspired action to get to know yourself even better.

Dear Beloved,

How can you add space in your life to reconnect to your Self?

Is your life so noisy you can’t hear your Self? Perhaps it’s like that by design – so you wouldn’t have to listen. Or is this simply a super busy chapter of your life by nature?

If you’ve picked this painting, it’s time to create space for you to pause, just be, and listen in Nature.

Reconnect to the magic of the natural world, to the Elements. They can help you.

You are a part of Nature. Does that concept feel foreign to contemplate or oh so true!?

By developing your relationship with nature, you reconnect to both the human and spirit nature of your being. 

Spending time in nature is great for grounding to Mother Earth, connecting to the Universe and tuning in to your intuition.

So get your bare feet on the ground or your bare hands in the snow or in the earth. Hug a tree. Make snow angels in the park or hike along the coast. Are there any hot springs nearby? Are you a polar dipper?

You can choose to take 15 minutes in your backyard or a week at an exotic destination, but whatever you choose, don’t fill that time with distractions.  

Pause. Listen. Meditate. Ask and be open to receive answers. Follow your flow. Let the weather, the creatures, the scenery talk to you.

If you have specific questions in your life or are faced with difficult decisions, try an Intuitive Walkabout in a natural setting.

You may feel jittery or bored. It takes a while to decompress or to get used to a slower truer rhythm of life.

Memories may come up of what you used to love doing outside. How can you live the essence of that memory today?

This may be cliche, but success is a journey, not a destination. Remember to take the time to enjoy the journey of life. Your inbox will still be full when it’s time to transition to the next phase of your soul’s life.

So how can you appreciate this life in this body in this time and place on Earth? How can you cultivate a nourishing partnership with nature? 

It’s there for you. You’re also meant to be there for it – in whatever way is meant for you.

Think about that and take inspired action – schedule time in nature and follow through. You not only need it, you deserve it.

Painting: Nature Bound (24″ x 48″). More on it here….  Order prints here.  Buy the Original here. 

Dear Beloved,

You are everything that you’ve ever experienced – in this lifetime, and if you believe it, in previous ones too.

Who you are today is part nature and part nurture.

Knowing what has brought you here and now is a great way to understand why you act and think the way you do.

Self-understanding can lead to shifts in lifestyle, career paths, perspectives, behaviours, and so much more. 

Do you know who you are? Do you know what brings out the best in you? The worst?

Do you feel you’re living on purpose?

What self-discovery tools do you find the most fun, the most revealing?

Is it astrology? genealogy? Akashic Records? numerology? spiritual books? journaling? personality tests? mindfulness? exploring interests? discussions with various kinds of people? reflecting on your past? professional therapy?

The list could go on and on.

If you’ve picked this painting, you’re being encouraged to delve deeper into self-awareness play in whatever form speaks most to you.

It’s an invitation to step off the hamster wheel to take a good look at yourself, so that you can more consciously choose the who, what, when, where, why and how of your next best steps in life.

And remember to Lighten Up. You’re a spiritual being in human form for the fun of it.

Happy trails!

Painting: Journey of Self-Discovery (24″ x 48″). More on it here….  Order prints here.   Buy Original Here.

Dear Beloved,

Are you having relationship problems in your life? Meditate.

Are you having financial difficulties? Meditate.

Is your health challenging you? Meditate.

I recently heard something like this in a sermon. It certainly confirmed my decision to spend 2 months at an ashram to learn to meditate at a deeper level.

According to Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings:

“As you progress in meditation, gradually you experience an ever-increasing inner peace and joy that comes from the soul. In the most exalted states, your soul realizes its complete oneness with God. This is the goal of meditation — ecstatic, superconscious, blissful divine communion, which is called samadhi.”

Doesn’t that sound amazing?

This takes time. Lifetimes. It takes motivation. It takes practice. It takes finding the kind of meditation that resonates most with you.

If you’ve picked this painting, you’re being asked to ponder if what’s described above is a priority for you. 

If you’ve answered yes, take inspired action. Over and over again. 

Seek the teachers that align with your soul callings. Dedicate the time. Invest in your ascension.

With that growing inner peace, all your challenges and problems will seem different. You’ll connect to inspired actions. Miracles and magic will appear on your path.

Reflect on how reading this was received.

How do you feel about meditation? What makes it easier for you to meditate? Can you arrange more of that in your life?

And if you think this painting had a different message for you, great! Meditate on it. 

Peace be with you!

Painting: Time of Ascension (24″ x 48″). More on it here….  Order prints here.   Buy Original Here.

As we approach Valentine’s Day, let’s look at unconditional love.

What is unconditional love? A definition I’ve long contemplated is that to love someone unconditionally is to see them for who they truly are, accept them as they currently are, and wish for their happiness without expecting anything in return.

There are a few challenges here.

First, to see someone for who they truly are – at both a soul and human level –  we need to be able to see past the words, behaviours and many masks that so many have become used to wearing – sometimes different masks for different occasions or environments.

Next, to accept someone as they are in the moment – with all their quirks, behaviours, beliefs, drama, judgments, etc. is … tough. Their being-ness often splashes on us or our space. It may even go against everything we believe in, value, or want around us. Fear for ourselves and for their future brings in elements of control, manipulation, and all sorts of getting into their business.

And lastly, the most exacting of all – to not expect anything in return. Now that requires a level of selflessness that’s rare in this world. The closer they are in our inner circle, the harder this one becomes. The more their decisions seemingly affect us, the more we may feel our own happiness is at risk. Therein lies the spiritual practice and a discussion far beyond the scope of 1 blog post.

Rare are those who grew up unconditionally loved. Most children know at a deep level that when they are “good”, they are “loved” and when they are “bad”, they are not. They can see it in the look on people’s faces or hear it in the tone of people’s voices. They can feel it too. They shape their behaviour to please the conditions of parents, teachers, peer groups, society, etc. This is conditional love.

I also believe that everyone is doing the very best they can at any moment  – and that can vary with time. So there’s no one to blame in this world of conditional love. How can someone who has never been unconditionally loved then turn around and unconditionally love another?

The lack of love in the world dates back from the beginning of time on this planet. But the more aware we become of our lack to focus on learning to love ourselves and others, the more we can change the tides of time. The more we can ascend as individuals and as a planet.

That’s this week’s theme.

So take a good look at the 3 paintings above. Choose the one that calls you the most and scroll down to read its Love Oracle message. Does it inspire a shift in how you live your day – in how you see, accept and love those you’re with … you included?

* Note: Original Paintings will continue to be on sale through my online shop while I’m out of the country for a few months. If you’re interested in a payment plan, please contact me before Valentine’s Day. 

Dear Beloved,

Take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror before reading on. Listen to your inner voice – is it the voice of someone from your past, of your ego, or of your Higher Self?

…

Now look again. Fake it til you make it if you have to. Talk to yourself as if you were truly seeing yourself through the eyes of your soul, of your Higher Self, of your Guardian angel. Use whatever works for you.

What would pure unconditional love say to you as you look deeply into your eyes?

How did that feel? Did you say it or hear it only at an intellectual level?

Try it again. Now this time, let the words absorb into every cell of your body.

Let them open your throat chakra, the chimney between your heart and third-eye chakra (intuition).

Let them penetrate through the walls of your heart.

Basically, feel the words as you speak them out loud.

Then repeat them in your mind, continuing silently. Allow love to imbue your thoughts.

How does it feel? Familiar? Strange?

With years of unconscious negative self-talk, self-criticism, and judgment, you may have carved grooves in your thought-patterns.

This exercise will help fill those gutters with love and create new pathways to self-love. 

If you feel you need to, schedule this exercise daily or weekly to transform your inner landscape.

Or simply pause before every mirror you encounter in a day, smile, and love yourself. Rinse past conditioning and repeat. You deserve it.

Dear Beloved,

Have you ever closed your eyes while standing in the sunshine? Have you truly basked in the warm glow of the light. Have you noticed how bright the world seems, even through closed eyelids?

The Love of the Divine is always shining upon you.

You are seen for who you truly are.

You are accepted at your current stage of growth, whatever that happens to be on any day.

You are loved unconditionally.

But as the walls of a windowless basement cannot let the light in, a busy stressed-out life of fear can block your sight to what is always present. 

So take a moment to pause & pray. That’s like moving up one floor to a room with large windows. Use whatever words feel good to you. Here is a suggestion.

“Dear Mother/Father God, Guiding Spirits, Archangels, Angels of Light & Love, to all beings of all dimensions who wish for my Highest Good, help me to feel your Love. Help me to let the Light in. I welcome the warmth of your Love within and all around me. Shine your Light brightly in my life that I may see beyond my conditioning, that I may emerge more fully as the individualized expression of the Divine that I am. Thank you for fuelling the divine spark within me. Amen. So Be It.”

Now, when you’re ready, step out of the house, into the great outdoors, and start looking for the love & beauty in the world. Seek and you shall find. Your sight will penetrate others’ walls. Your scenery will appear brighter, more abundant, more vibrant.

I see you, says your Team of Divine Helpers, says the Great Creator. Feel how unconditionally loved you truly are.

Feel the warmth of that shine penetrate your very being and reflect it back.

Shine your love and the world will also reflect it back to you.