Introducing my 44 Wisdom Card Project

For the last 10 years, I have been an avid card reader, seeking inspiration from tarot and oracle.  For me, they are energy messengers – messengers to my soul, helping me to gain insight about life, situations and also helping me to gain clarity and depth. 

They don’t ‘tell’ me what to do and they certainly don’t ‘scare me’ - energy cards and tarot for that matter, are not here to do so.  Maybe, many years gone by, we would have sought out guidance from a soothsayer, a healer, a wise one, but they would use them as tools for conversation, for depth and for healing.


I have often felt guided by my spiritual guides, human and animal.  They are always beside me.  It’s not magic – it is energy.  When we spend time with our cards, we imbue and transfer our energetic message and we become akin to the cards and to the stories they hold.  

Their origin may have religious symbolism, if you so desire, you can find those types of energy cards.  More often you will find energy/oracle cards that feature connection to Angels, Fairies, Animals, Goddess, Celtic Mythology, Kabbalah, Buddhism, Zen, including the iChing. I have quite a wide selection of them all – about 10 sets but my favourites that stay by my side are my Osho Zen, Fairies, Angels, Goddess, Glastonbury Tarot and Native American Animal Medicine Cards. 

I have been building to this.  It started back in 2000 when I created my own set of Inspiration Cards – a set of small cards that contained favourite words, affirmations, lyrics, symbols, pictures.  These Inspiration Cards were kept in my handbag for quite a few years and I would often ask questions and see what the response would be.  They always gave me something to think about and ponder.  Something to get me to seek deeper answers.  

So now I am creating a 44 wisdom card set with a book that I will write to provide the messages.  

How is this project different?
In all the cards you can buy, the artwork is generally painted by a variety of artists who have submitted their work (or been commissioned).  The messages and words are written by the healer/writer/channel

I’m going to be doing both.

For this original card set I will be the artist creating the imagery, channeling the symbolism and the 'Writer of the Messages' for each card.

Where will you get the Inspiration for each Card?

Every card will be inspired by someone who has meant something to me, someone who has inspired me or taught me something.  They could be people I know, or people I don't know, living or passed over. They may be people I have seen from afar.   They may also be from dreamtime and with symbolism that I can’t recognise.  It will all unfold.


As I delightfully skip along with this project I will post pictures of the finished canvases and make prints available.  The ultimate end will be to create a full set of cards and have them published and made available for purchase.  

When I have completed all 44, I will hold an exhibition to show all of my wisdom canvases - not quite sure where this will be at the moment.   The next step is to gift the finished pieces to the people or their family who have been an inspiration for me. 



I have been greatly inspired by Lori Portka and her Hundred Thank Yous Project go visit her here to find out all about it.

How and Why did you decide on the number 44?

44 is a magical number.  To me, but also in other Oracle/Wisdom Card Sets.  It also happens to be my 44th year this year. 

At the age of 11

This was a memorable year for me.  My primary school teacher in top Juniors told my mum “Julia has art in her soul”.  Have you ever heard anything so delovely from a teacher? He was my favourite teacher.  So incredibly creative, musical, artistic and funny with it, with the most fabulous handwriting.  

He encouraged my musicality, my creativity and my art. I used to sketch, paint, sing, play the piano and the recorder.  He gave me confidence to perform and be up front in the choir.   I would sit for hours writing little stories and used to make up my own Mr Men book - I remember one, called "Mr Posh Nosh".

11 was the start of something.

At the age of 22

I was very ill and debilitated with M.E/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome).  I had a diagnosis, which took 18 months, it was looking very grim.  Now living back with my parents and having to resign from my job, my independence and my life.  It was doom and gloom time.  

However, something in my soul stirred.  I had a certainty that I was going to heal myself and it was at this point, aged 22 that I really began my journey of Healing ME.  Art, craft, creativity and writing played a huge part in that healing process.  I rekindled my love of creating, designing jewellery, tapestries, making clothes and combined with learning all about therapies that would heal me, I made different choices.  

Although it wasn’t until I was about 29 until I felt fully well, 22 was a turning point.  

Big Turning Point.

At the age of 33

I was living a life that was false.  I was married, wanting closeness, intimacy, babies and a complete family life.  This wasn’t reciprocated.  I was feeling very low in confidence and my relationship was making me feel like was I doing something wrong.  My creative self was hidden in a closet.  I was coasting – wanting sexual closeness, family and a sign that things would, could, be more joyful.  

At 33, I turned within again and realised I had to heal myself.  

Heal ME.  

Again.  

Only this time it was me, and not M.E.  

I turned to DIY, painting and renovation, anything for a creative outlet.  It was through this process of creativity and reconnecting with spirit, visiting my 2nd home of Glastonbury that I realised, there was more and I had to have the courage to let go.

I tried to heal my marriage but it was not to be.  I left with a sad, sad heart and it took me many years to heal from this heart pain and to allow someone in again.  Through Creativity, Art, Healing and Words, I found Me over the next decade.

Now at nearly 44

My life feels like it has come “back to centre”.  I am in tune and connected to spirit, to earth, to love, to art, to words and to health and healing.  I am, thank goddess, in a loving new marriage with a beautiful soulful warrior who protects me, encourages and inspires.  My life work is exciting with pure potential.

When I look back through the 33 years since being told I had ‘Art in my Soul’ I know that I have.  I have honoured it.  There were a few bumps along the way but I have honoured it.

I have more to do and more to create and I will continue on this soul art path.

Although the grey hairs are more prevalent and I never did have babies, which does make me sad, I know I have a purpose and that’s to help, support, introduce, guide and show others how to do the same. To Heal Themselves.

This is the long version of my 44 Wisdom Card Project and why I chose 44 cards. 

I intend to complete this project by July when I’m celebrating. 

Thank you for reading thus far and please share any memory below that you may have of me at 11, 22, 33 and nearly 44.  

What fun, let’s get started. 

Much Love

Jules xxx

Finished Knitting My Handies

Well I have now finished my first pair of handies.  It wasn't without practice.  I did actually have to unpick, then start again a few times.  I cast on 36 stitches and really thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.  I have discovered a whole new way of meditating, plus I just adore taking my knitting with me if I know I have to go somewhere and wait, or "just in case" I may have some time spare.   It's so relaxing and very therapeutic.  For a chatterbox monkey brain like mine, (happening internally of course, you'd never think I was a chatterbox to meet me, or would you?) it is very calming as I'm concentrating on not dropping any blinkin' stitches.  

I taught myself how to cast on and off via You Tube, particularly loved Knitting tips with Judy 

My mum helped too but I actually have my mother-in-law staying and she's been knitting for 58 years and so it's wonderful to have her on hand (sorry, cue pun).  Her name is Judy as well (how mad is that?)

I love turquoise and these just sing to me and so lovely when I'm writing.  I have now started on a pair for hubby (black mix, he didn't fancy turquoise) and he's going to wear them under his gloves when he's on his scooter - it's sooooo chilly here at the mo. 

A bit thank you to Henny Designs who inspired me, whilst I read her blog post about knitting. Love her stuff.

Much Love

Jules xxx

Creating a Clearing

There has been something brewing.  Inside.  I couldn't place it, but it felt uncomfortable.  Wasn't sure what it was.  Then it suddenly made an appearance.  I had become, suddenly, overwhelmed by all things technological.  

Now this is slightly odd for me as I'm a tecky kind of girl.  I love my mac and internet, email, blog hopping and all the delights to be found.  But of late, I have found that it's interfering with my own process and progress. 

I have a deadline to write my second book and I also have other projects that are cooking.  I just couldn't seem to function because I have been spending time looking at what everyone else is doing.   I don't mean that I have been googling and goggling and wasting time, I just mean it is not directed nor focused really.

I meditated on this and realised that when I was in France, writing the first book, I had no distractions.  

I had just discovered one artist whom I loved, Suzi Blu, she inspired me.  I stuck with her.  I didn't really look at other people's work, or joined groups, etc... I took the time to develop my Craft. 

Painted, Wrote, Painted, Wrote, Painted, Wrote, Dreamed, Painted, Wrote, Painted, Wrote, Dreamed.

Created.

Before you knew it, I had a plan, I had connected with myself, with nature, with the written word and my dreams.  I had connected with Jules DollyWitch Craft

Then on returning and making a life back in Liverpool and being with Mr Hubs, I got caught up in everything else, taking part in e-courses, back to back, having an online community of friends who I hasten to add, have never met.  This was all good.  However it has been brewing, stewing and now it has to take a back seat while I get back to what it was I was doing.

Internet saps energy unless it is focused.  For me, it's no good use of my time.

I want and need to connect with nature, I need to get outside, I want to connect with my community, the physical in-person one. 

And oh, I realised only the other day that I have NO Marketing Plan, WHATSOEVER, Nothing, Nada. How do I market myself, how do I promote myself.  Mm... good question.

No plan.

So this has to change and I am now seeking out someone whom I can work with to support this plan.  

I am clearing a clearing.

Thank you for reading, much love

Jules xxx

Writing and Meditation

I have a deadline to write my 2nd book by the 31st March.  That's quite a tall order - one that I hasten to add, I set myself to the publisher.  With everything else I'm doing during my week I have started to be reeeeeeallllly strict.  So I have set myself some rules: (lets call them guides, being gentle with myself)

• Get up early and write for at least 2 hours while the world sleeps.
• Walk Lucy as a lovely break before I get back into it again.
• No Answering le Phone (landline/or moby): that means, putting phone on silent, turning off vibrate and turning it upside down (or better still leaving it in another room).  
• No sneaking a peak at Facebook unless I'm on a break.
• Turn off email so I don't see it arrive.
• Drink cups of tea at allotted Tea point. 
• Drink Water (still or sparkling - whatever le mood takes)
• Have Jan de Vries Concentration Essence often: works beautifully to get me in to writing focused mode (or anything that I need to do, for that matter).
• Play my lovely Baroque music -to get my brain into a lovely yummy place.
• Have Snacks as long as it's not chocolate brought in by hubby (whoops); aiming for apples, bananas and other healthy things.
• Break up writing with Goddess Leonie's meditations: if you haven't tried her meditations and you're a Goddess (well we are, aren't we?) then I would skip along to her portal GoddessGuideBook - it's AWASH with wonderful resources and a community, which I haven't dipped my toe into yet, but do intend to.  You can just buy the meds, but if you want the whole shebang, you can join the circle for $99 for the year.  There's so many inspiring courses, kits, ebooks and inspiration there.  Her meditations help me heaps at the moment.   I have a flaxseed eye pillow which I wrap around my eyes and I go off on a journee with her soothing Australian lilting accent.  I do one of these in between any writing I am doing.  

I just Choose and Go.  Check her out

I have two other projects which I'm working on:-
1 with Hubby
2 with me and chez Art.

Hope Monday's being a lovely Monday today
Much Love
Jules
xxx

PS I will phone you back when I can if you phone me! Hope you understand though.

My Muse (she's the one who reminds me to take a break)

Welcoming the New

Where did December go?  I realised I have taken a step away from blogging this past month.  It wasn't intentional but I am really glad for the space.  More so these past 2 weeks have seen Jules doing alot of reflecting and looking back on the year.  Having a book published in April, developing my first Jules Dolly workshop in May, going to Portugal to do Flora Bowleys' Bloom True workshop, which taught me such a different way to paint (you can read about it here, if you fancy). I got married in Gibraltar and that was such a highlight for me. (Go here if you'd like to nose in)  I tallied up that I have done 12 commissions this year, which is one a month - that ain't bad and I'm pretty chuffed. 

Lucy wasn't well in June, but thank goddess, she's doing really fine and taking all her herbal medication. 

Next year is in the planning.  I have been writing my course and will hopefully reveal this soon, it's something I'm collaborating with hubby.  Exciting.

I have 10 weeks to write my 2nd book 'Creating your First Ever CV in seven easy steps', that is going to mean the next few months of strict structure, which is good for me.  

Here are some of the highlights for me this year:-

We're now a scooter family!

Just received my book in the post from the publishers

My first Jules Dolly Art Workshop in May 

The 2nd Canvas 'depth' from Bloom True with Flora Bowley

The 1st Canvas 'thought bubbles'

Hubby2B

Getting thee wed in Gib

Honeymooning in Gib

Connect the Dots, my biggest canvas yet - 3ft x 2 ft

Me and My Maid of Honour

Will, me and stepdaughter Janelle

A gift to a friend and her hubby to commemorate their wedding day

The Lovely Lucelee

Continuing with my oracle project 

Recreating my art'heart space.

Learning to Knit!

Anyone want to see what I knit!?!?

And so now to say cheerio to 2011 - you were good, there were ups and downs but I'm growing and learning all the time and finding my 'soulful way' all the time.  Can't ask for much more.

Hello 2012.

It's good to see you.

Much love
Jules xxxx

"A Year of Wishes: by Lori Portka and Lisa Sarick and My Wish

A Year of Wishes by Lori Portka and Lisa Sarick

I stumbled across Lori Portka's Etsy shop about a year ago now, her work is just so inspiring and is the foundation to her Hundred Thank You's project.  It's where she "dives deeply into gratitude".  A hundred paintings, a hundred people, a hundred days.  You can read more about it here.

So when I saw that she had joined with Lisa Sarick to create the 2012 Year of Wishes Calendar, I was pretty taken in.

I visited Lori's site just the other day and they are giving away 5 calendars.  To be considered we just had to leave a comment with A Wish We Wished for Ourself.  I got very carried away and didn't read it properly.  I launched in to my wish for 2012.  The deepest wish that really resonates with me.

I didn't post this wish for the competition because I thought it was not 'for myself'.  I decided to post the wish here - my place for all things.

I wrote this 2 days ago and then there's a whole debate today in the news 'should animals be stunned before slaughter' and the moment for this Wish is even more pertinent.  It was difficult, really difficult for me to read this article as I totally feel the pain of these animals.

Anyway, here's my Wish.

If I really had to choose a wish right now, it would be that human beings started treating all sentient soul animals, of the earth, sea and air,  with love, care and respect.  This is not an airy fairy wish because I think someone will like it. This is a deeply held passionate wish.

My wish is that we don't differentiate between the love of a dog and the dis-love of a cow.
That the husbandry and treatment of a pig is different to that of a cat.  That we look after our guinea pigs but cut down the habitat for our wild birds and animals.

I wish that all human beings realise that the way we treat our animals is a pure reflection on how we treat each other.  If we just took the time to see that even though we don't speak their language, they are consequently inferior and therefore we can dominate them.

I wish that human beings make a shift and act in a way so that they treat all our lovely animals, farm animals, pets animals, wild animals, as if they were a member of their own big family.

I wish this wish so much because I feel it is the foundation for love and respect for our own human evolution.

This wish is coming from my heart, I get so very upset when I see and hear about the sheer disrespect for our sentient planetsharers.

It was good for me to write down my wish for myself, now hopefully, my wish is out there. 


Blessed travels, little wish.


Much Love
Jules xx

Deconstructing patterns and LIFE

So I'm in week 2 of my surface pattern design course and I'm sketching quite a fair bit.  Looking at patterns and gaining inspiration from everything around me.   I need to spend some time now on re-establishing my artist space as I'm a bit all over the place at the moment.  

I noticed these PUKKA teas in the health shop and how they had taken the same design and used different colours for the various flavours.  Interesting stuff heh?!?! It's amazing noticing that we have patterns all over the place.

 I have been playing around and see what I can see in the papers I have around the home.  I realise that I have done this ALL MY LIFE. Creating flowers, faces, and deconstructing things.

Pages from my sketchbook

I am feeling a little overwhelmed with things at the moment.  I seem to be scattered.  I'm deconstructing my life (again).  I have so many splits in what I do that it's a challenge sometimes to know if I'm doing the right thing. Trying to work through my week and siphon off time.

Creating Art Canvases, Creating Calendars, Writing my 2nd book proposal, Working as an external marker, Careers Coaching, Health Shop Advisor, Workshop designer and facilitator at a school, Student of Surface Pattern Design. 

Do I need to stop and just focus? Do I need my own coach?  

Much Love

Jules xx

Patterns patterns everywhere

Out walking first thing with Miss Lucy Russell... now I generally like taking photos when I'm out with her, this morning I was looking at patterns ... and I found quite a few.  This is the first start to the course I'm doing over at with Rachael Taylor at Do What You Love.  I'm getting inspired. Hopefully to translate into some sketches.  There's a wicked bunch of people from all over the world and everyone seems so experienced! Yikes! Not overwhelmed.

I'm always drawing leaves like this

Love the swirls in this gate

Amazing & Natural

Rhodedendrum before flowering

I often draw these leaves too!

Even Miss Lucy was checking out the patterns

But then she wanted a TREAT! 

Will post more when I get with the sketchbook.
Much Love
Jules

I'm getting seriously serious

I took the leap - and that leap is towards The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design with Rachael Taylor Designs.  I have deliberated and dabbled about beginning this course for such a while now.  I have been pulled to applying my designs on surfaces but I really have not been sure where to begin.  I have lacked confidence that my work is good enough.  With no tuition, formal training or guidance, it can sometimes be a mind boggling place.

So when I saw that Rachael Taylor Designs had joined forces with Beth Nicholls from Do What You Love to create a 3 module course all about SPD, I just thought "yep this is it".  So after much dowsing to confirm my intuition I decided to enrol on Module 1.

Kick off is tomorrow, Monday 14th so I'm really excited to not only meet so many creative spirits from around the world, but also to learn and apply the course to my life.

With this and writing my 2nd book I'm going to be a busy lass.

I'll post often to show you what I'm up to....

Much Love
Jules xx

Do What You Love - Bloom Postcard Swap

I have been really slow on this postcard swap, mainly for 2 reasons:

a) I was getting married early September in Gibraltar and when I signed up to the swap, I realised that I still needed to buy my dress (yikes) and organise various elements so I didn't allocate time for the postcard making : (

b) I tried something different and it took me a while!  I decided to take an original painting of mine and transfer it to a piece of material, then enhance it with paints and add some stitching.  I felt it went a tad wrong and I beat myself up about it.   I spent a good few weeks having internal dialogue meetings - can I send it, should I send it?

Anyway, I decided to just do it.  I sent it to my lovely contact Briana in Canada and I was so delighted to hear that she received it and she really liked it.  I decided to decorate the envelope as I have been into doing that lately.

All of this was brought about by Beth Nicholls, she's the lovely lass over at Do What You Love and she's pretty amazing.  Check out her website and ecourses that she's offering, "Do What You Love E-course" (which I did back in the spring -Can't recommend highly enough.)   The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design which starts on Monday (I'd love to do this), and Hello Soul Hello Business which begins in January 2012, with author, artist and possibilitarian Kelly Rae Roberts.