The Art of Energy and Prayer

By Ojanae Ellison

For centuries energy and prayer have been known partners--you can’t have one without the other. Even people who don’t believe in a higher power believe in energy, and those who believe in a higher power, no matter what that is, believe that their prayers are answered in the form of positive energy.

According to the website for Kauai’s Hindu Monastery Hindus pray to, “A one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both Creator and Unmanifest Reality.”

On their website, The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, an organization which strives to accurately explain the full diversity of religious beliefs, world  views, and systems of morality, ethics and values, state that Buddhists believe their prayers go to Buddha, and Muslims pray to Allah for all things in their life.
 These religions are just some of many that believe in praying to a higher power about life situations.

 

Although these prayers are not answered immediately, the relief felt in releasing some worries has instant effects. In an article published in the Huffington Post, journalist Richard Schiffman says, “A wide variety of spiritual practices have been shown to help alleviate the stress levels, which are one of the major risk factors for disease.”
 

According to a 2013 Pew Research Poll done for Psychology Today, people who pray “are nicer and more forgiving, have better self-control, deal better with stress and trust easier.” This is because, in praying, the body releases stress and worries and allows for a person to be at ease. When people are at ease, they are happier. Happy people make other people happy.
 

Those who do not believe in a higher power can still benefit from the positive energy and effects of prayer without going against their belief systems. Research shows that mediation has the same effect as prayer.
 

Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiovascular specialist at Harvard Medical School and a pioneer in the field of mind/ body medicine discovered what he calls, “the relaxation response,” which occurs during periods of prayer and meditation. At such times, the body’s metabolism decreases, the heart rate slows, blood pressure goes down, and our breath becomes calmer and more regular.” [1]
 

Through prayer and meditation, people release energy into the universe. This energy affects others. Some call it karma, and other says what goes around comes around. It simply means that whatever is put out into the universe will return. Whether through prayer or meditation, put out the type of energy that you would like to receive back. As little as five minutes of prayer or meditation in the morning or evening or evening may seem like a little thing, but it can make a big difference.

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[1] “Why People Who Pray Are Healthier Than Those Who Don’t” by

Richard Schiffman

Elisabeth Ladwig shares The Making of Time Capsule

I think creatively altering images is a wonderful form of energy that should be celebrated!  No one I know does it better than Elisabeth Ladwig.  Being in her inner circle, she has shared a video that takes us behind the scenes.  Click on the photo below to take you to her webpage and watch the video!

 

~    ~   |  The Making of "Time Capsule" |     Elisabeth is working on a series of haunted houses lost at sea, the first of which come out in the next newsletter. But for now, here is a new video of stills showing the making of "Time Capsule". While it would be extremely difficult to show all the steps that go into creating the final image, the video does reveal the basic behind-the-scenes framework of the creative process ~ and the mess I made on the deck bouncing sand off an umbrella. Enjoy!   "Time Capsule" © Elisabeth Ladwig   View Elisabeth's portfolio   ***************************************************************************   |  Follow Elisabeth on Facebook  |                View portfolio at elisabethonearth.com.

Art Comes to Life at William Paterson University August 6th

Art comes to Life The New York Botanical Gardens Saturday, August 6, 2016 Join us at the gardens to see American Impressionism come to life in a captivating garden-wide exhibition. In the Conservatory, stroll through an American Impressionist garden, a stunning interpretation by Francisca Coelho of the alluring gardens that influenced iconic artists such as Childe Hassam and John Singer Sargent. In the Art Gallery, view a beautiful complementary display of more than 20 paintings and sculptures by these famed artists and their contemporaries that capture the colors, shadows, and ephemeral quality of light they observed in the natural world and infused in their distinctive imagery. WP alumna Diane E. Israel ‘74, artist & educator, will offer an informal talk as we travel to the gardens. The bus leaves WP at 8:45 a.m. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase lunch at the gardens. New York Botanical Gardens - Impressionism: American Gardens on Canvas Saturday, August 6, 2016 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Bus will leave from WP Lot 5 at 8:45 a.m. $45/per person (each WP alumus/a may bring up to 2 guests) Register HERE    Ticket sales are final and ticket costs are non-refundable. Proceeds from this event benefit The Fund for WP.
	300 Pompton Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470     973-720-2175     a

New art from Elisabeth Ladwig

Herbal remedies are the ultimate healing through nature, using what mother earth provides to heal mother earth's children.  Elisabeth Ladwig captures this feeling with her newest art.   |  The Herbalist |   Having a partially wooded property means there are always a couple of surprises each Summer that send me fetching the wildflower field guides, and over the next several months, the local farmers' markets will be reminders of just how much medicine is inherent in the Earth. The Herbalist's relationship with the Nature is symbiotic: as she gathers her medicine, she encourages the plants to grow by tending them with care and harvesting with respect, taking only what she needs. In response to the generosity and abundance of the planet, she raises her bouquet in gratitude. "The Herbalist" © Elisabeth Ladwig View Elisabeth's portfolio View portfolio at elisabethonearth.com.

Letting Go with Oracle and the written word

Professionally, I am a teacher. That is how I pay my rent. How much teaching is done by my own volition? I am not sure sometimes. However, I am sure that leading others to writing as a primary source of detox is the best kind of teaching I can do. As a writer, artist, educator, and participant of the Mind Key project, my purpose has leaned more toward helping others find the stories they need to tell. As resistant as some may be, every single person has a story in words, pictures, or song. Once the creative outlet is found, we can let go of everything else which feels the need to hold us back.

Creativity is an integral part of connectedness and restructuring, and some of us need a little more than guided journals or story-starters to produce writing for healing. A deck of oracle cards can create the bridge between emptiness and fulfillment - and fulfillment, healing, and connectedness are the necessary molecules of Mind Key.  That same deck of oracle cards can also lead you to release things that are no longer serving you.

Three years ago I never would have thought that a deck of cards could hold so much power. When I taught Pre-K several years back, a mother of one of my kids gave me an email reading with a deck of angel oracle cards that floored me with its accuracy and depth.

My very first deck - Chakra Wisdom Oracle Cards by Tori Hartman

Though I was initially skeptical due to my tainted metaphysical past, I quickly learned there was something genuine about the use of oracle decks. There was no, “I see a scratch-off lottery win in your future.” There was no, “Someone you know on the other side is trying to contact you! She has a vowel in her name. A…E?” Nope, Janan was legit, and she was my first exposure to the spiritual tool of card divination. 

In addition to learning different spreads and letting the messages and the pictures speak to your life, many oracle decks can be used as journaling and storytelling devices. In fact, if you check out the web pages or YouTube accounts of many tarot and oracle enthusiasts, you’ll find that many use oracle decks to help motivate a variety of creative endeavors. In a previous blog, I reviewed Leonie Dawson's Create Your Shining Year workbooks and mentioned how effective Dawson’s approach was to planning and visualizing a productive year. I may not have mentioned, at least not in much depth, the use of her favorite oracle deck to create a foundation for each month. A card can be drawn once a month, or twelve cards can be drawn at once. Either way, Dawson’s workbook devotes several pages to your own oracle card insight and reflection. 



From The Chronicles of Destiny 
don't leave home without it.

The versatility of oracle cards is tremendous, and the freedom of expression they induce often surpasses the tarot system which is more concrete. In a way, oracle decks are your every day, “average Joe” source for card divination, for lack of a better description. Nevertheless, a new enthusiast who wants to use oracle cards for journaling and creative writing may run into a problem - deciding on a deck. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of decks from independent publishers as well as large publishing houses such as Llewellyn and Blue Angel. 

The Chronicles of Destiny by Josephine and Emily Ellershaw

Chakra Wisdom Oracle Cards - Tori Hartman 

StoryWorld Cards - Caitlin Matthews 

I have lost count of how many decks I have acquired in the last year and a half. Admittedly, there are a few decks I can sell due to a lack of connection to those decks. Talk about release, its very difficult to know when/if you should let a deck go because you never know when it might be just what your soul needs.  But there are other decks I feel would dry up my creative well if they were ever lost or ruined.

This, ladies and gentleman, is how I let go of the mundanity of every day life, when I need to remember that there is something more to me than this and that. Check out my next column about the decks listed above which will include recommendations for using them as  creative and reflective tools. 



Tara Ann Lesko

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The Green Tara Chronicles - The journey from the confines of believing in one thing to the freedom of believing in everything



Morristown, NJ Event - Gallery Show: Ethereal Worlds

 

Elisabeth Ladwig, a popular contributor to Mind Key's successful second anthology: Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance continues to release her babies into the world, participating in a new gallery show at the trendy 70 South Gallery in Morristown, NJ.  Please support her and her stunning works of art by attending between now and July 8th.



 

 

NJ EVENT: St. Catherine Art Expo March 11th-13th

 St. Catherine of Bologna, Patron of the Arts Association is holding their

This is a wonderful event that encourages us to use art to stay connected,  touching those parts inside us we don't give enough attention.

Amateur and professional artists of all mediums will have their work displayed in this juried exhibition.  Live music and free hors devours each evening, and a poetry reading at 7pm Saturday.  Free admission, donations gratefully accepted.

For more information, visit www.stcatharts.org or stop by www.mindkey.me/calendar to view this and other great events.

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If you are interested in having your event, business, product, or idea highlighted on Mind Key, visit www.mindkey.me/promotion.

Connect with your Muse at Mind Key's Winter Solstice Celebration

Red Room, art and poetry by Tara Ann Lesko

To not live some sort of creative life makes little sense to me. I love creating with words. I love working with collage paper, scissors, and glue. In the rigmarole and chaos of the 21st century, it's too easy to fall into a drone-like eat-sleep-work routine. Creative endeavors such as visual arts, gardening, dance, or writing pull us out of the abyss of the mundane. Only when we create do we reach a deeper understanding of ourselves and our places in this world.

Bare Bones, Tara Ann Lesko

             With the support of Mind Key, Muses with Scissors hopes to prove that there is no such thing as sucky, talentless art. If it moves you or makes your eyes dance and your soul hum, then it's art. But more importantly, art is the vehicle for energetic and spiritual change, and deep personal growth.

You are not bound by right or wrong.

 
           At the Muses with Scissors booth this Saturday, be prepared to lose yourself in an array of colors, patterns, pictures, and positive affirmations. Muses was designed to take a different approach to the art and wine party craze. Your party host comes to your home with all of the materials needed so that you and your friends can enjoy a meaningful and explorative art experience.

          The focus of each party is collage making and you will have the opportunity to work with various media. Your party host will also supply prompts and inspiration to spur on the creative vibes.

          At the Mind Key Winter Solstice Celebration, all are invited to the Muses table to dig into collage making. Instructions and prompts will be provided so that you may get a taste of what a collage party has in store.

          Tara Ann Lesko, creator of Muses with Scissors, will also have some of her collage poetry on display and for sale. Stop by and grab a framed print, handmade affirmation and greeting cards, or a bookmark for the word and art lover on your list.



From the Vine, Tara Ann Lesko 

Learn more about others at the festival:
About the festival
The Village Shaman 
Living your most radiant life
Muses with Scissors creativity for all
Essential oils and goddess energy

The Making of Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance

See how editor, Danielle Rose compiled the art and writing from contributing artists and writers to create Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance, an anthology of art and writing that speaks to balancing the shadows and light within.  She takes us through the inception stage of the book, the program used to create the spreads, and how the file was rendered for proofing before being sent to print.  Plus get a sneak peek of the interior art!

Help us get this project rolling by preordering your copy today at www.mindkey.me/anthology --we guarantee it in your hands by the holidays... makes great gifts for anyone on your list interested in the beautiful, as well as the dark in life.

Having trouble ordering?  We've got you covered:

Juggler of the World, art by Dana Bree

Artist and designer, Dana Bree, has always been intrigued with questions of alternate realities, past and future lives, and our present course.

“I have always loved to make art, draw and paint what I see in real life as well as give voice and image to my dreams,” Dana said. “I have always had a very active, colorful and memorable dream life.”

Dana's artwork is a fantastic and bold melding of dream and reality, creating the perfect jumping off point for conversations about the metaphysical, spiritual and magical realms, which are often born of a similar melding.x

As an artist, Dana believes that a connection to, and an opportunity to discover new things with like minded individuals, is essential to her health, happiness, and creative progress.

The Master Juggler, as in "Yin and Yang"

“This has also allowed me to move forward into metaphysical realms with healing and helping others as well as myself,” Dana said.

Dana's art has been inspired not only by her dreams, but by the inspiring life she has led, running a lodge on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, diving in the Indian Ocean and managing a resort on a small island off the coast of Mozambique, and growing inspired in the concrete jungle of New York City.

In the Master Juggler, shown here, Dana brings together bright and contrasting colors to create a feeling of expansiveness—as is seen through the cosmos peeking out the juggler's window—as well as perspective as he looks upon the Earth as it juggles between the cracked egg and the 8-ball. The combination of the three in suspension represent the fragile nature of our existence in the universe. This image can be seen in its full resolution, full-color glossy beauty along with other inspiring art and writing in Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance, releasing this month.  Pre-order your copy today to ensure yours is in hand for the holidays.

Photograph of Dana Bree by Trix Rosen ©2014

To Dana spirituality is constant evolution. "I am continually discovering new ways of being, seeing, dreaming and feeling and knowing that all possibilities are a limitless state of being,” she said.

“I seem to be moving in more interesting circles and vibrations these days and it is reflected in my happiness and my art.”

Help us get our beautiful anthology off the ground by pre-ordering your copy today, and guarantee it is in hand for holiday gift giving this season by visiting www.mindkey.me/anthology

How do you glisten? Artwork by Heather Taylor for "Yin and Yang"

Today, Mind Key writers, Tamara Rokicki and Danielle Rose, share their thoughts on anthology contributor Heather Taylor and her photography which is included in Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance, available for preorder today.

Heather Taylor is a mom first, but she refuses to let motherhood define her solely, and is continually creating, whether photography, art, crafts or food. 

Glisten Dichotomically by Heather Taylor

Tamara writes that in Heather's anthology photo, Glisten Dichotomically, shown here, Heather brings us an ethereal concept wrapped in raw natural beauty. 

"The spirit of the earth reaches out from the picture and allows us to connect with foliage, landscape and wildlife," Tamara said.  "I can hear the footsteps reverberating off the wooden planks of the trail, the cool air caressing my face as I take in the smell of sage and earth."

Tamara appreciates the yellow selection of the leaves, as she writes that yellow expresses energy, joy and happiness, and stresses the importance of positive vigor and contentment even throughout the coldest phases of our lives. Tamara is particularly struck by this message as we revel through autumn to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for winter by taking courage and inspiration from Mother Nature. 

This photo is also her son's graduation portrait, and it reflects Heather's passion for her family, who have inspire her to show the world the amazing gifts a family can bring and the legacy it can leave.

Heather's spirituality is essential to her as a person and allows her to see the world with a wide angle perspective. 

"I hope through photography to remind people to always look at life and the people you love with a different perspective sometimes," Heather said.

Glisten Dichotomically shows us beauty in all phases of life, and as Tamara writes, "that beauty around us is at its peak only when everything has a season.  It  is a reminder that the world follows the fecund cycle of life, blossoming and fading—a rebirth of the senses, passion, and life.

"Glisten Dichotomically highlights Mind Key’s focus to connect with nature and ourselves on a deeper level."

To view Heather's art and the work of other inspired artists and writers, visit www.mindkey.me/anthology today and help us fund this project with great discounts before its too late.

Check out more from the interior of "Yin and Yang" by clicking the image to the left, and our other reviews:

Kevin Hall's Using Light by Night

The Spirit Deer

​In early summer of this year, I popped my shamanic drum circle cherry. I had an idea of what to expect, but the actual experience differed greatly from my expectations. Thanks to fellow Mind Key members Vera Remes, Reiki Ruth, and Danielle Rose, I now have a hunger for shamanic journeying and working with spirit or totem animals. 

​Somewhat deep in the woods of Ringwood, NJ, a group a seekers and I came together around a lush fire with drums, shakers, Smores, and hot dogs. Before this meeting, I had not spent much time in the woods, and I hated realizing what I had missed. Spiritually consuming nature is a necessity to true connectedness, no matter where you are mentally or emotionally. The most anticipated event at this drum circle, besides all the melted chocolatey and marshmallowyeuphoria, was the meditative journey to the spirit animal.

​

​Now, some say you should not reveal what your power animal is. I am going to break the rules, so to speak, because I personally feel your animal is your animal no matter what. In a way, I believe by sharing my story, I give my totem even more significance. On that early summer evening in the woods, I connected with the deer. In all honesty, I was really hoping for a wolf. I've had an intense fascination with wolves and was a bit skeptical as to whether or not the deer really suited me.

​Shortly after this circle, I stumbled upon the art of Laura Daligan at lauradaligan-art.com. As I was flipping through slides of her visionary art and painted drums, her "Spirit Deer" (pictured here) almost knocked me on my skeptical ass. Staring me in the face was the same deer I came face to face with during my meditative journey in the New Jersey woods.

​Those eyes. I could not get over those eyes. Needless to say, Laura Daligan's "Spirit Deer" does not allow me to deny this animal's spirit. 

​I may not agree with the suggestion of keeping your spirit animal to yourself, but I do agree with one thing. You cannot pick your power animal on a whim, hence why my beloved wolf wasn't for me. According to Takatoka's presentation, "Spirit Guides & Totems",  "An animal spirit guide cannot be chosen by the individual...These 'games' do not work and they give their victims false impressions that may lead a sincere person far astray from their goal of connecting with animal spirits to help them in their walk in life...The Spirit chooses you and they decide to whom they will reveal themselves and make their friend." 

​If you want to find your power animal, spending some time with your favorite tree in your backyard or walking through an unmanned path can increase the likelihood of encountering your animal spirit guide. Additionally, no one else can pick your animal for you. Connecting is up to Spirit and your willingness to open up to it. Pay attention to recurring images and signs. Engage in guided meditations and shamanic journeys, and once you find him or her, give thanks. (Takatoka, Manataka American Indian Council)  

"Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance"- The Mind Key Anthology, Second Edition

As the Mind Key Project continues to grow and evolve, we are looking ahead at some exciting collaborations.  One of them is the second edition of the Mind Key Anthology, a collection of art, stories and poems that reflect Mind Key’s passion for life and discovery to one’s purpose. 

The first edition of “The Mind Key Project:  An Anthology” attracted the exquisite work of many artists and writers, all of which contributed to the book by sharing their love and passion for life.  The beautifully composed book shared captivating images of nature, magic and health while reflecting on intrinsic stories of faeries, Celtic rituals, and much more. Visit www.mindkey.me/anthology to see some interior images and purchase a copy of this first edition.

Mind Key is thrilled to announce the making of a Second Edition.  Focusing on the balance of life and of the human spirit, “Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance” will reflect on the essential equilibrium of light versus darkness.  Centering this theme on a gray scale tone and wintery attitude, the visual book will explore the ever changing world, where light and darkness work together to achieve balance and harmony. 

The Second Edition of the Anthology will delve deeper into the Mind Key focus.  The understanding and mastering of balance is the core of Mind Key’s message to discover what makes us whole individuals and how to achieve a healthier, more passionate life.  

Mind Key editor, Charla Dury, who also edited and contributed to Anthologies, says, “I’m excited about the new Anthology as a place to explore the darkness and the light within myself.  I also enjoy watching others’ experiences of the same concept because they’re never the same as my own.”

“Yin and Yang: The Duality of Balance” will be an 8.5" x 11" glossy photo book, its contents contributed by talented artists of any genre.  The Mind Key community and anyone interested in submitting their work are encouraged to do so. 

Click here to view our guidelines and deadlines and to submit your work. Artists will be notified by November 1^st if their work has been selected to appear in the Anthology.

The Teacher-Student Connection: Standing on each other's shoulders

Carol Douglas ~ Petal Doll

Teaching is source of creative influx for sculptor and jewelry maker, Carol Douglas. She began her career as a teacher and has since moved into sculpting for herself and others. Now, after many years creating on her own, she has returned full circle to teach metal clay and polymer clay workshops to students of all expertise—from the amateur to the professional.

 The rewards of passing on knowledge come back tenfold, Carol says.  In addition, sometimes a student takes a lesson and does something so creative as a result, that she finds herself inspired to go further next time. 

“It’s a synergy,” Carol said.  “I start on your shoulders, then you can start on my shoulders, and it goes on and creates a pyramid where we keep going up.  If you don’t share, then everyone stays on the ground level digging in the dirt.”

Carol Douglas ~ Butterflies

When Carol was teaching, she soon became resentful that she wasn’t sculpting for herself.  “I thought, if I don’t do it for myself I never will,” Carol said. “I hadn’t developed my own style, but I had been learning the notes during that time [as a teacher], learning how to troubleshoot, and in showing others to do stuff I learned how to do stuff by myself.”

By that time she had done a lot of the technical legwork needed to have a firm basis for her own creations and, as such, thrived when left to her own creative devices, winning a number of awards and having her work highlighted in a number of prominent publications, the least of which being “The Mind Key Project: An Anthology.”  Even today, however, she often finds her students creating something she may have never dreamed of doing.

Carol Douglas ~ Dragon Creature

“It’s not to be jealous that you’ve made something better than I’ve made,” Carol advises. “But [as a teacher] to say: how can I make something better… and then you can learn from that and make something better too. It makes me step up to the plate and keep reinventing the wheel.”

Copper pendant, by Danielle

I had the blessing to take one of Carol’s intensive workshops, and tried my hand at sculpting with a tricky medium—metal clay—for the first time.  Carol taught the basics, and from there I found myself manifesting an idea that she said was certainly not a beginner’s project.  I had struggles along the way, and during each step, Carol came in to help me fix my mistakes, and troubleshoot the issue.  When my piece came out of the kiln cracked down the middle, there was no stress, we simply went about fixing and re-firing it.

Danielle's Eagle Face

When we worked on polymer dolls, I took her idea of creating a bird-man and morphed it into an eagle from a creative meditation we’d done earlier that week.  I followed her instructions, then went off on my own, and was amazed and thrilled by the result.  Notice the photograph, and be aware that I had never sculpted anything more extravagant than a sinewy dragon necklace in polymer, and had certainly never—ever—thought I could do something as intricate and alive as a face. My creativity might be all my own, but I attribute my success wholly to Carol’s adept and sincere instruction and desire to see her students thrive.

Although Carol was almost fifty when she finally went out on her own (ie: not as a teacher), she says the benefit to starting later in life was that she was wiser for it, recognizing that she wanted to do what she wanted to do, rather than create things for others or in order to make money.  It was a poignant reminder of why she went into teaching in the first place—to give students the room to make their own creations from no one’s imagination but their own.

“I still wanted to play and experiment,” Carol said.  “But it’s important to me to do something that is important to me.”

Carol Douglas ~ Dragon Beaded Necklace

Meet the Community: Tara Ann Lesko

“I live my life between my ears.”

Tara Ann Lesko

Tara Ann Lesko

In sixth grade Mind Key writer Tara Ann Lesko’s elementary school librarian asked the class to write a story based off a picture prompt of a dove that looked like it was flying off the page.  What ensued was a story about a motherless girl who watched the doves on her wallpaper disappear one by one, until one day she saw them flying outside her window. 

Tara’s story brought her teacher to tears. 

“[Writing has] been who I am ever since,” Tara said.  “It’s defining of who I am.”

A teacher and tutor of English, Tara admits that she was a writer first and last.  “My identity is comprised of poetry and prose,” Tara said.

This is what she loves to do, and she is good at it. She delves into her interest through creative non-fiction and essays, and her poetry has been published in literary magazines. Tara also expresses her creative talents in drawing, painting, collage, jewelry making, photography and outdoor pursuits such as biking, all of which she says makes life more fulfilling than watching TV.

“I have known since childhood that I needed and wanted an unordinary existence,” Tara said. “I knew I would never escape the mundaneness of life, but I always knew I wanted something bigger and better than the usual school-work-sleep routine.”

Most of Tara’s evenings are spent completing work she’s taken home.  She also teaches college classes at night.  To her being connected is more about disconnecting from the day-to-day grind, and the arts are her way of doing that.
 
“When I am not working, I do everything in my power to wrap my life around art, music, and literature,” Tara said. “Those outlets for disconnection are what helps me reconnect to what identifies me, beyond what I do for a living.”

 Although she identifies herself as a spiritual person, Tara makes it clear that her sense of spiritual connection through organized religion has been minimal.  She has identified herself as Christian, but without becoming baptized or “born again.”  Instead she is compelled by more metaphysical incarnations of spirituality, like chakra healing, crystals, meditation, yoga, angels, and oracles to name a few.

“For me, spirituality is something I have never seen as a concrete thing although Lord knows I have tried to solidly connect to a higher power… I believe in a God. I have faith in him or her and pray my thanks and my requests, certainly not as often as I should…. My mind is open, but too open to identify [spirituality] as any one thing.”

One of Tara's Collages

For Tara writing combines her creative endeavors with her spiritual beliefs, as is clearly seen in her memoir in progress: “The Golden Skillet,” a story about how food shapes our experiences and our perspective.

“I am someone who continues to battle with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks despite the positive turns I have taken in recent years,” Tara said. “Spirituality and creativity are necessary for me to stay balanced, focused, and breathing.”

Stay tuned this weekend as we share more about Tara Ann Lesko.  She is one of Mind Key’s authors,  the winner of April’s “Minute Novel” contest, and her work will be featured in "The Mind Key Project: An Anthology," publishing this June.  Her writings can be found on Mind Key's blog as well as linked to at www.mindkey.me/tara.

We will be sharing more of her art, as well as her book her on the blog over the next two days.