colleenchoi

[colleenchoi]

First painting of 2021! El Tepozteco, protecting the natural order. We think we are in chaos, but really we are like ants running around finding our footing again. Very soon we will have a new way of being, a new rhythm, and the natural order of life and Earth will be restored. These mountains are making sure of that! #watercolor #handmadewatercolorpaint #handmadewatercolor #organicpainting #nature #landscape #travelingartist #ilovecolor #mountains #sacredsites #starseed #lightworkers #naturealwayswins #earthfirst #naturespirits #mountainking #rainbow #arttherapy #healingarts https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6gKoOhEDx/?igshid=14afjtwqnmiep

[colleenchoi]

While they've never been formally dated, locals say some of these ancient olive trees are up to 2,000 years old. Connecting with this tree, she told me she wants to be seen, and gave me this image. They want to be seen, not just for their beauty, but for what they have been doing for us and our planet from the beginning of their existence - praying, connecting with our ancestral light, and creating their own grid to anchor this energy through their roots into the Earth. In the same way, our ancestors created ancient temples and sacred sites in collaboration with other beings to connect with the stars and with each other. These temples form an energetic grid on our planet, and has served as our "north star". The time has come. The trees invite us humans to begin again, intentionally connecting and creating an energetic grid of our own. The time has come. The trees remind us that we are to create a web of light drawing in higher dimensional energies that break up darkness, support those still hidden in the shadows, and call in the wisdom for the next 2,000 years. The time has come. All species in our natural world do this, tuning into different frequencies. This is why we feel a sense of calm when we commune with nature. The time has come. We as humans have the power and gift of creation. It is our purpose and contribution to our planet that we join all of the other beings in our natural world in anchoring in energies for our future generations and our planet. The time has come. #handmadewatercolor #treewisdom #treetalk #olivetrees #ancientolivetrees #travelingartist #greece #aegina #ancient #empathwisdom #lightworker #lightworkers #starseeds #watercolor #ilovecolor #starseed #lightworkers #lightgrid #deva #earthismyhome #nature #beauty https://www.instagram.com/p/CIx8OoYBfMm/?igshid=1qxkgo2fkb8t8

[colleenchoi]

#watercolor #handmadewatercolor #nature #ilovecolor #travelingartist #pigments #indigo #añil #mica #earthwisdom #emotionalwisdom #empath #lightbath #breathe #magic #lightwins #sun https://www.instagram.com/p/CIAhybHhZ3H/?igshid=164b00lgvf6io

[colleenchoi]

*please read my last post before this one.. the words wouldn't fit into one 😝* ...Remember I have been in a process of remembering. Remembering who I am, why I incarnated, and who I came here to be. I allow myself to expand my being as far and as big as I can, inviting my power from the far reaches of the universe to return. It's time to play. When I'm in my power, all of the problems I face and trauma I need to heal don't feel as overwhelming. They are like mosquitos we flick off one by one. Yes there is still pain. Yes the process can still be intense. There's no bypassing what we came here to learn and feel. But in my power, I no longer stew in the trauma, nor flinch and cringe in anticipation for it to resurface. It's like a thunderstorm rolling through quickly to bring a double rainbow.  Layer by layer the clouds clear and I find myself in the good stuff - the depth of my being which finally has space to come out and play. dance. sing. breathe. invent. envision. carve more sphinxes. build new pyramids. Now imagine 7.8 billion of us living in our full power. Climate change - mosquito. Poverty - mosquito. The 1% who think they rule us - mosquito. We have better things to do than fight in war. We are too busy loving than to allow an outdated system to seperate us. 7.8 billion communing with the Earth. 7.8 billion connecting with each other from the depths of our being, fully seen and celebrated. Do you remember who you are? I remember you. (2/2) Some fun exercises that I do: Stand on top of a mountain or hill, with the view of the world below you, and take it all in. Stand next to a waterfall and let the power of the water vibrate through you; feel the thrill wake up your cells. Breath in the wind. Look up at the stars with your arms wide open and say out loud "I am ready." #solofemaletraveller #travellingartist #earthpigment #eggtempera #doubleexposure #photography #ancient #remembering #reclaimyourpower #power #freewill #soverignty #breathe #color #empath #soulwisdom #empathwisdom https://www.instagram.com/p/CFrsagShjjh/?igshid=d7ptyx25ril8

[colleenchoi]

Remember When I first arrived, I went to visit this sculpture. I was jet lagged and run down from my trip. I sat under this Sphinx and went inward. The tension in my throat and the spinning in my head went away as the Sphinx anchored me to the here and now. The Now that is still, and forever will be, ancient. Imagine, this sphinx was created 3,000+ years ago in Egypt, brought over 1,500 years ago by a Roman emperor, survived the changing hands of religions (who destroyed a lot of pagan artifacts), witnessed a bunch of wars, and is now resting in a busy tourist spot for us to come and connect with. Talk about time travel. What if, in a past life, it was you who carved this Sphinx? What intentions did you put into it? What energy did you collaborate with? What did the stone say while you were working? What if it was you who helped design the pyramids? What if you were once a particle in the wind traveling the globe to cleanse the air? Were you once an earthworm prepping the soil for the Bodhi tree to flourish? Were you a bird singing lullabies to a baby redwood tree? Did you adventure through galaxies to other star systems collecting magic? Did you swing on a star of Orion's belt, looking at Earth hoping to visit one day? What if it was YOU? Do you remember who you are? Can you feel into all that your soul has experienced? Can you feel into the cosmos with a sense of home? Can you feel into the spirit world, guiding us, cheering us on? Can you expand beyond what your eyes can see, into the infinite space that your heart can touch, and remember: "All of this is within me." All of this is within US. (1/2) #earthpigments #eggtempera #travelingartist #thoughts #reclaimyourpower #power #ancient #sphynx #solofemaletraveller #ancient #soulwisdom #ilovecolor #remember #doubleexposure #artistofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CFpV4v7BhtA/?igshid=g97miyfsufgw

[colleenchoi]

Oneness What does oneness really mean? What does oneness feel like? I've been exploring this for a while now, using my emotional body as my guide. In my life, I've come across many people who tell me "Empathy is holding you down. You have to get past it" "Oh... you're an empath" (as if it's a disease) Some people put so much focus on opening the third eye and then tell you to meditate away your emotions. Bullshit! Instead of telling people to not be themselves, I say let's learn to open all of ourselves and use all the gifts we have to connect with our world. Yes, empathy is a gift; my emotions have been my greatest teacher. Can you feel what it is to be a raindrop as it hits the ground? Can you feel the dance of a bird? A rock collecting the energy from the sun? A tree when squirrels play on its branches? What does it feel to be the color turquoise with waves of light bouncing within? Or a music note traveling through space? The wind with an important message it's carrying? Dogs talk to me through my emotional body. So does my basil plant. Trees cleanse me and invite me to connect my roots with theirs. When I float in water, I let myself dissolve. I surrender to the consciousness that is holding mine and in that space we become each other. Separate but together. With our own ways of experiencing the world, we merge to share a piece of each other and in that connection our hearts grow. Water's flow meets mine in infinate peace and harmony until BAM! A wave smacks my face reminding me that I am human, I am alive, and I have to keep walking just as water has to continue drifting along. Shape shifting. Touching every crack, crevice and particle on our planet. How does oneness feel to you? If you have a hard time feeling oneness, ask your local empath (especially children) for guidance! 😉 #earthpigments #gold #lapislazuli #handmadewatercolors #eggtempera #travelingartist #solofemaletraveler #watercolor #newmoon #oneness #empath #empathsurvivalguide #empathy #emotionalwisdom #emotions #multidimensional #shellgold https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPns6uhjFf/?igshid=basskprwm7dc

[colleenchoi]

The Welcome Party! #watercolor #handmadewatercolor #nature #ilovecolor #travelingartist #greece #pigments #earthwisdom #emotionalwisdom #empath #landscapepainting #freedom #breathe https://www.instagram.com/p/CIAfDSNhumM/?igshid=1qtzmacoecguh

[colleenchoi]

Spent a good part of today making handmade cards for the kids in the detention centers. Having spent 1.5 years in Mexico and Guatemala doing art with children, the Facebook stories made me cry. (I haven’t even been back from Peru for a week!) Making these Cards, as I have done for hundreds of kids during my travels, is the least I can do. I wanted the cards to invoke wonder, and for these kids to reach to a deeper place in their heart for strength. On each card I wrote “Gracias por tu corazón fuerte!” Because let’s be real, their struggles will not end when they are reunited with their families. If they stay in this country, they face discrimination, fear and violence every day of their lives. In the 1 week since I’ve been back, I’ve met 5 people who were at some point in their lives here “undocumented”. I asked them for their stories, which at some point they would often have to slip in “I’m legal now”. At the end of their stories I thank them, I wish them a life of freedom and love, and I tell them I don’t care what kind of paper they have, they are human and worthy of honor and respect. So while we rise and demand rights for these children and their families, let’s also reach out to our undocumented brothers and sisters, and in some way help make their lives a little easier each day.

[colleenchoi]

Learning weaving and natural dying from the top weaver in Peru. They let me have the left over wood which will dry orange. Can’t wait to make some medicinal orange spoons! They shared the meaning of many symbols. How when the Spaniards came, many people lost this knowledge of natural dye. They are working to revive it and reclaim each community’s unique symbols. They shared that around Cusco, you will see a lot of black and red. The black represents losing the war with the Spaniards, and red means blood. The couple said they cannot use these symbols because it is not their story. Because of consumerism, and tourists wanting certain colors, some communities are losing their traditional ways and color story. I feel that it’s important we honor and witness each other’s story, and together we will weave a whole new one.

[colleenchoi]

Holy Mothers

In 2013, I was invited by Craftroots to join them on a trip to visit their artisans in Ludiya, a small village in Kutch (out in the desert near Pakistan). While walking through these colorful, round adobe huts, one of the artisans popped out of his home and walked straight up to me, bursting with excitement. He asked me if I could take photos of his wife and their first baby. I was honored. His home was simple and modest — no decorations or ornaments like his neighbors’. The only source of light came from one window. In the center of his home rests a little basket with a baby nestled in it, bundled up with layers of handmade cotton fabric. Next to his basket was his mother, sitting quietly in the shadows. Without a word, she leaned over, took the boy in her arms, and posed for her photo. Her gentle compassion, grace and state of being resembled the countless images I’ve seen of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This mother knew exactly what she wanted to remember. She wanted to remember the love that connects her with her child, forever. In that moment, it hit me: Why are we worshiping an image of a holy woman, when we can bow down to the mothers that are in front of us? To take it one step deeper, we can bow down to the divine mother that is within each of us. Every human on this planet spent a good amount of time incubating inside of the feminine divine. Some magical force turned 2 cells into over 37 trillion, and nurtured each of us to life. We floated and soaked in that divine energy. People all over the world are searching for holy water when that water is us. Our Mother Earth holds space to create all of life on our planet. That same magic is inside of each of us. Take a moment to let that sink in and deeply feel that mystery living inside of us. Feel our own divinity. We are God, and we are the ones we have been waiting for… then what are we waiting for? Does God fight wars? Does God sit on piles of cash while someone else goes hungry? Does God live in an endless loop of suffering? I sure hope not! So now the question we really have to answer is: How do 7.3 billion Gods live? We live with one heart, just like this mother and child.

[colleenchoi]

Hi Friends, I am taking orders for giclée (archival) prints on this piece I call "One Love". (PM me, Details below) I created it for the Power to the Polls contest to inspire women to use their voices and vote. I don't know if I am selected, but either way, this piece has inspired me to ask myself "How do I deepen my love?" ... One answer to this question is to learn how to be a better caretaker of Mother Earth. I can use art and join movements to speak for her, but I also need to learn how to live in reciprocity and in harmony with her and all of the life she holds. On March 26th, I'm heading to Peru for a Permaculture Design Course hosted by the Q'ero people. Not only will we be learning, but their wisdom keepers will lead us in ceremony and share the wisdom of their tribes. (There are still 4 spots left if interested!) ... Please PM me with your orders by Monday, March 12th to make sure they are printed and shipped in time. Know that this purchase will support me in my journey to deepen this love, serve our Earth, and proooobably make more art with children 😍 ... Shipping within the US included
8x10" paper size (1" white border), signed - $40
11x14" paper size (1" white border), signed - $80
12x16" paper size (1" white border), signed - $110 ... Thank you for all of the love and support you've given me over the years. It fuels me and keeps me going. Please Share!

[colleenchoi]

I'm sharing something pretty personal - my own art therapy on myself. I've been feeling the weight of the world, the cleansing, the crumbling. And in these times, I feel scared and alone. I've also been looking deeper at my Truth. It changes. My truth changes. When I'm not paying attention, it hits me right at the core of my being - contesting my self worth, my purpose, and value as a being. This past menstrual cycle, I decided that the truth of me is in my DNA. I finger painted a self portrait using my blood (took me 3 tries), and drew hands representing all of the love around me that's holding me up. All of the hands that make up who I am. All of the hands who are waiting for me to relax into them. All of the hands that come from one stem, one being. This is hanging on a wall near my bed to remind me of all of your hands. Thank you. Someone once asked me way I paint. I told them "I paint because it is like breathing" It heals me and connects me. I do it for myself. I've met many people who told me they can't paint or create. To which I respond "who told you you can't create? Your teacher? Your parents?" It is our gift and privilege to create. It doesn't matter what it looks like. What matters is that we keep creating. 🙏🏽

[colleenchoi]

Lessons from a Spife I call it a Spife. Spoon on one end, knife on the other. Yesterday I was carving a decorative twist in the most vulnerable part. I knew inside it was a bad idea, but I couldn't stop. The world melts away when I carve and something else takes over. Blisters, blood, swollen hands - it all feels so good...until... crack. 3-4 days gone. My first spoon, gone. Anger, frustration, sadness, disappointment, the "not good enough" feeling, the "you should have known better" feeling, the "wasted time" feeling, the "now what?" feeling. Any artisan knows these feelings. I learned so much about attachment from this spoon. I learned that attachment isn't such a bad thing! Holding onto all of those feeling, burying them, is what does harm. Instead, I felt each one and let it flow through me, screamed into a pillow, went for a run, got it out of my body. All these years of meditating and trying to practice non-attachment when really i just need to feel it all, and not be a robot. In striving for non-attachment, I run the risk of disassociating, pretending I don't have those emotions because I'm "not attached". In reality, I'm human. And to deeply feel each emotion as it comes and let it run it's course means I've learned and now I can relate to other humans more deeply. Afterwards, I picked up the pieces of my broken spife, finished them anyway, and glued it back together. Not a usable spoon, but I feel proud that I finished it. 💞#thoughts #lessons #lifelessons #craftswoman #artisan #madebyhand #withlove #spooncarving

[colleenchoi]

While hiking through the 100 degree dusty trail, I came upon a baby lizard, about the size of my finger. Dying. Taking its last gasps. Only moving ever so minutely with one hand. I didn't want to get too close or step over and startle it, it's going through enough already. I put out my hands and started praying "thank you baby for your courage to come into our word. Thank you for bringing in the reptilian wisdom and reminding us of our ancient lineage. Thank you for scurrying around the desert with your charm. If you want to leave, you are free to go in peace. I love you" Then the baby lifted up its head and turned towards me, opening and closing its mouth like a baby looking for their mom's breast. I took some drops of water from my finger tips and dropped it near its head. I walked away. I was thinking of staying, or moving him to shadier spots, but we humans have meddled in enough of nature's natural cycles. When I returned from my hike, I saw his body laying a few inches from where I left him. Lifeless. Life-full. 💜

[colleenchoi]

Why do the hair on my legs grow like a patch of grass? Is it because I was raised in the suburbs? Is it a reminder of where I've been? What memories do our hairs hold? When we cut them off, do particles of our Past fall off with it? 100 strands of hair a day 100 smiles or 100 cries Our past as long as the floor Swaying and sweeping. Or no hair at all, Starting anew at every moment Moment by moment. I like to sculpt my hair. An art piece of the past, That my future can grow into. #thoughts #hair

[colleenchoi]

Surrender Colleen, Surrender it all. Don't hold on like you want to Grasping Pleading Kicking and screaming To the way life was 5 seconds ago. Surrender sweet Colleen, Let it all ago. #morningmessages #thoughts #lunareclipse

[colleenchoi]

A branch creaking in the wind Sounds like little birds chirping. Who is speaking? The wind. The wind speaks, while the leaves Listen. The leaves rustle, while the birds Listen. The birds chirp, while the bugs Listen. Listening to avoid becoming lunch. Listening to know which way to fly. Listening to learn the secrets of the sky. Listen. #hammocklessons