Day 24: “My Guides, Guardians and Angels”

Beth Blair

May 14, 2019

Original Art: “Return to the Shaman”, Acrylic on Paper 18×24, 1/15/2016; “Valid Offer”, Acrylic on Paper 8×10, 2015; “Finding Stillness,” Acrylic on Canvas 16×20, 12/30/2017; Mural Wall, Acrylic, 2/2016.

Life is made of many parts, and it is more than the sum of all these parts combined. My world is made up of metaphysical symbols, signs, happenings and the mundane of paying bills and doing laundry. There is intention, most days, in the jewelry I wear, the curls in my hair and the art I create. For me, everything has meaning and is synchronistic. For me, every day is a prayer and I hope I get it right!

I have studied many healing practices and traditions. I was raised with Catholic saints and angels, with the differentiation of angels, archangels and my personal guardian angel. In the healing traditions of Reiki, there are guides and ascended masters who help a Reiki practitioner and master with the work. This is something I struggled with for a long time.  I would call on the angels, masters and guides; yet I never really felt their presence with me.  Many classmates, students and colleagues would give detailed descriptions of their guides, angels and experiences. Me, it was a blank canvas. I experienced the practice, the treatment and the interaction with the person I was working with. I would get “thoughts” to share or questions to ask, but not pictures and certainly not an additional presence in the room. The deeper I followed this path I realized that Energy has many languages, with many dialects.

Since I started painting, there has been a female form that has showed up in several of my painting.  I am an abstract or intuitive painter. I do not paint portraits or requested images. In that area, it would be stick figures. I have selected four of these paintings for today’s blog. Keeping with the theme of women as a force, I feel HER this way in these paintings. She appeared first in “Valid Offer” as an Asian woman (top right image), then as a girl with a red bow (top left) in “Return to the Shaman”. I will let you find the other two faces in the lower images. Some would call this pareidolia, finding faces in the clouds. I would say these are my guides or angels.

I once went for a session with an energyworker who asked me, “who walks with me?” I responded that I didn’t know. He then proceeded to tell me that I was surrounded with a serious posse of warriors, ninjas, wise women and a very large angel with wings. I just shrugged my shoulders and said, “interesting.” I didn’t feel them, much less see them.  What I did know is that I had a sense of feeling protected in someway or that things, even in their darkest, always seemed to work out for me. This became something that I took for granted. Like the feeling of my favorite Levis.

Part of my awakening process from my pilgrimage to Ireland is the desire to experience these guides, angels, and of course, my ancestors.  Certainly, my guardian angel, I think I have given her a tough job over the years and would like to atone for that. This morning I was sitting in my morning ritual, having coffee and reading…I looked around and saw these faces, less “Valid Offer” (She was the first painting I ever sold). My guardian, other angels or the Divine Feminine show up in my art. This feminine energy stares me in the face, every day. What is Her message? What is Her guidance? She is stoic. Have I silenced Her voice, or have I gone deaf? When did I stop listening? And, of course, I could ask why?

Regardless of the way we find our spiritual path, the work is individual and has a part in the greater story. Many traditions talk of Oneness. Some personify it, some leave it mystically hidden in plain sight. These four paintings span two years in the creative process, and four plus years since the first one. I am just now connecting these dots. I remember the moment the woman appeared on the mural. I was planning to hang a metal sculpture in the center of this mural, until she appeared. I briefly made the connection of her to “Valid Offer”. But, here in the mural, she was different. Her presence was more of looking to the center or looking to something.

Each day starts with sitting in circle with this Energy of the Divine Feminine. The power of the circle is practiced in many traditions. I even teach my Tai Chi classes in circle for the cultivation and gathering of the CHI. This is one of the unspoken lessons of my class.  Most don’t realize the healing power of the circle or notice the collection of energy that is taking place in the class. It is there. My awareness of my morning circle has shifted my “ritual”. It will be interesting to see what comes from sitting in circle with these Wise Women…now that I see them as greater than individual parts.

Do you experience angels or have a personal relationship with your guardian angel? What messages are you following? Are you missing some? Whatever your path, I wish you peace and blessings. We are all part of something on this spinning ball orbiting the sun. What would it be like if more realized this?

Blessings and peace on your journey.

Beth is a seasoned and experienced bodywork, somatic coach and wellness professional. She is available to present on wellness, bodywork and somatic topics; or individual bodywork and coaching sessions.  Bring Beth to your area for workshops, speaking events or team building projects. Personal and business coaching are also services that Beth provides.  Consider coaching for individual or small groups/teams. Contact Beth for more information and rates.