what is consciousness?🌙 i've been exploring this question with curiosity and an open mind, and i'm learning that everyone defines it differently. for me: consciousness is awareness. i believe our conscious and biological minds are separate. our biology makes some decisions for us, but our consciousness - our inner awareness - is what makes us human. and i think art is one of the ways we explore consciousness - when we create, we're making the unconscious conscious. we're expressing awareness itself. i'm still forming my own interpretation of what consciousness is, but reading, watching, and listening to how other people explain it has helped me shape my own understanding. currently watching: https://youtu.be/aynzcAYnnJU?si=98su1-azDa1K-sb0 a panel of scientists (including one philosopher) use their areas of expertise to define - in their own words - what consciousness is. what do you think it is?🌀

✨ welcome, alchemists ✨ i want to take a moment to welcome a couple of our newer souls in art & alchemy…who have also been showing up so consistently in this space- @Michael Edwards and @Melvinia Ford🎨🌀 the way you’ve been sharing, engaging, and being open here hasn’t gone unnoticed. it really adds to the energy of this community. this space is all about art, curiosity, transformation, and spirituality…and you both embody that so naturally. it means a lot to have you here, truly🤍 i’d love to open this up a little, ✨ what kind of art have you been feeling called to explore lately? ✨ what has your current season of life been teaching you? everyone feel free to share too👀 this space grows through all of us

your mind is constantly producing thoughts. judging. remembering. predicting. commenting. but those thoughts are something you experience, not who you are. have you ever said something in anger and later said, "that wasn't me." if that wasn't you…why assume the voice in your head is you? you are the observer of your thoughts, not the thoughts themselves. or as one teaching says: "come to know the one who watches the voice, and you will come to know one of the greatest mysteries of creation." why does the voice exist? it’s your mind trying to process and release energy. sometimes it's negative, positive, or just pointless dialogue. but your consciousness is always experiencing your mental version of reality, not reality itself. and your subconscious is constantly listening to the stories your mind repeats. that voice, especially the critical one, is usually trying to protect you, but protection and freedom are not the same thing. thoughts and emotions are objects of consciousness. they are experiences moving through you, not permanent truths. the goal isn't to eliminate thoughts, but to stop letting them control you. for example: if the voice says "your art isn't good enough to share" and your reaction is to hide it… that's the real thing keeping you stuck, the pull it has on you. not the thought itself. emotions = energy in motion. thoughts are just energy moving through you. and energy cannot be created or destroyed... only transferred. so where will you allow them to go? something that has helped me a lot: getting to know the critic instead of fighting it. 1. observe & name it: notice when it appears. what triggers it? give it a name. 2. visualize it: what would your inner critic look like as a character? 3. let go of the pull when it shows up: just observe it. don't obey it. 4. move the energy instead: create, walk, dance, write, paint. let it pass through you. remember: you are the observer, not the voice. and your creativity is always bigger than your critic.🦋

shadow work gets talked about a lot…but it doesn’t have to feel heavy or isolating. it can be an exploration. a way of meeting the parts of yourself you’ve pushed away or learned to hide. because the truth is: you have to go through your shadows to fully meet yourself. 1. meeting your shadow (and naming it) notice what’s coming up: resentment? fear? judgment? avoidance? your inner critic? instead of pushing it away, name it. your ego wants to keep you safe. your shadow holds what was hidden or rejected. both are trying to protect you… just in different ways. 2. giving yourself permission pause and ask: am i ready to explore this? what do i need right now? what feels safe? this stage is about curiosity, not pressure. if you feel ready: where did this come from? when have i felt this before? 3. the tools + sitting with it create a safe space, set an intention, & notice the trigger. then let it out: journaling, speaking out loud, creating, completely feeling it fully. let it be messy. afterwards… reflect: what shifted? what still needs attention? what did you notice? you can reframe what came up into something softer, something supportive, and turn it into an affirmation. example, shadow thought: “why do they have what i want? that should be me.” reframe: "this is showing me a desire i haven’t fully owned yet." affirmation: “what i desire is possible for me too. i trust my path is unfolding in its own timing.” shadow exploration isn’t about fixing yourself, it's about understanding the parts of you that never got to see the light. so i’m curious, ✨ how do you define your own shadows? ✨ what does shadow work look like for you? this is a space where all parts of you are welcome🖤

I love to share art. These are some of my paintings. Michael Edwards Left to right Spiritual Mirror Stallion Whales Gate