Welcome to Illuminara
Posted on 21 August 2009
I’ve kept a journal for over 25 years and collectively must have over 50 sketchbooks filled with drawings and writings that record my dreams, my thoughts and feelings, my visions and aspirations. I cannot imagine not keeping a journal because so much would be lost to me if I did not record the vibrant images and often clairvoyant dreams I experience. (Of course, sometimes dreams are mostly good for Jungian or Freudian analysis, and others are not so inspiring, so I record the ones which are important and vital to my growth and awareness—you know when you have such a dream). Mostly, though, my visions are part of a spiritual identity and my way of life as an artist. I have developed this way of life consistently over time. Since childhood, my dreams have been highly cinematic, powerful and dynamic. There is no way I can ignore them, they are so much a part of my life, they are not separate from my waking hours. They inform me and guide me.
Being more conscious and aware is my practice and the motivation for keeping a sketchbook journal. I believe in this as a practice because I believe that life is more meaningful if I am learning and deepening my understanding of myself in the world around me. Life is in fact magical, people are magical! All we experience is worth drawing and writing about, even the harsh and ugly lessons we go through, or the painful episodes. Good or even brilliant things are going on, too, and waiting to be recognized and recorded by us!
In Illuminara Journal, I am being playful with my observations as an artist, using awareness and inspiration as my muse. I invite you to keep a sketchbook journal, too. Listen and see. Honor what you know! See the world around you and make note of it—we’re all unique and deserve to have a voice.
10 responses to Welcome to Illuminara
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Wow! Fifty Sketchbooks!!
It will be so enriching to read about your dreams and see your artistic expression of them. We think your site is inspiring in a peaceful and serene sort of way…exactly where we want to be at this time in our lives as we pursue our own possibilities. The world needs to see the magic that is possible by viewing sketchbooks such as yours. We’ve always thought that your special gift is to help the world see the positive possibilities that can be manifested in this realm. It takes a magical visionary like you to show people what is possible. Janey and Tom
Tom and Janey, thank you so much for such kind words. It seems like being or feeling “illuminated” is a choice sometimes, and who wouldn’t want to feel that transformative light! I want to be playful with all the energies here, so I hope to mostly have fun with all the discoveries. I hope you’ll both enter your dreams and journal magic, too. I have learned a lot from the wisdom and kindness you two possess and share with everyone. Peace and keep a dream journal!
love,
Elaine
In addition to Elaine’s unique gifts as a medium, she is certainly one of the most talented artists I have ever known. Her capacity to be in tune with the human spirit is quite extraordinary.
Michael–you are a brilliant brilliant artist, and so is Laurie. You know I’ll hope to have you and Laurie share your brilliance by putting some art up on the site.
Your encouragement is so generous and hugely appreciated!
love,
Elaine
Elaine. WOW! I am so excited to see this website up and running. I love to see your wonderfult artistry, as you share your dreams with us. Will you have an “email sign up” so that I can receive updates to your posts on the website? And what a GREAT picture of you!
Designing lots of new jewelry lately, so stop by and see me.
Danielle, thank you so much! I will put another picture up soon of the necklace you designed for me, and you can educate us about why turquoise is so good for us. I am just so new at all this, that I have not yet fixed the e-mail sign up, but yes we plan to do that! This is brand new, this is actually really the first day of Illuminara. Thanks again and I’m excited for everyone to see your handmade jewelry.
Absolutely, I would love to share. Thanks.
Elaine,
I just saw your dream drawings–and I felt that I was transported–I was in a glorious dream as I gazed at your beautiful artwork! I am so glad that you are making your work accessible this way. I also enjoyed reading about your dreams. The message given in the red tobacco dream about the balancing of spirit and earth is similar to a message given to me in the dream I had about Eagle Horse where he told me the lesson I had to learn was to balance spirit and earth, just as you were told. Who knows–through this sharing maybe we will learn that there are people having dreams with this message all over the world!
Love, Janey
Janey, that dream was very important to you (and to me when you told me about it) and I will look in the sketchbook journal entry again from years ago, to find what Karen 4 Stars said about it when I asked her what it meant! I’ll try and find it and let you know. I agree, there is a strong, magnetic feeling now to be aware of the ways in which we actively connect (or do not connect) earth and spirit in our lives. I am really inspired by what you shared with me and I thank you!
love,
Elaine