Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

“Nature is a beautiful designer and we are reminded of mother earth’s creations at every turn. Nature conspires with us and for us. It is part of us, we are part of her and we are all connected.“ - These are the opening words on the welcome page of my book, Botanical Mandalas.

This is Episode #4 and today I am talking a little about my very first book I self published called Botanical Mandalas and offering a giveaway! Full blog post at louisegale.substack.com

I self-published my very first book in 2018. A passion project called ‘Botanical Mandalas: Draw, Paint and Create Expressive Mandalas Inspired by Nature’ It was inspired by a practice I had been taking part in to combine the healing energy of nature with the meditative process of mandala making.

When I first moved to Spain (in early 2013), I had no art materials and no dedicated place to create in, so I would take myself out into nature to explore the local area.

As I walked along the beach, barefoot on the sand, I felt a sense of tranquility and soon found myself creating little circular designs on the beach with shells, stones, wood, flowers and whatever I would find on my daily walks. Not only was it a way to create with nature, but it also enabled me to spend time looking more closely at the little treasures I found as I went about my walk.

Below is one of the first shell mandalas I documented.

This was the beginning of my journey into Nature Mandala making. I had been doodling in my journal on the beach in the weeks prior and sometimes those doodles grew into mandala designs. But more specifically, this practice had morphed into using botanicals and objects from nature to form a designs within a sacred circle.

This practice was not only the beginning of an amazing creative journey for me, but also a wonderful way to practice the art of letting go. I would create these little mandalas of found objects and then leave them for others to find or for the sea to wash away.

Image: Botanical Mandala using Rose petals, pods and more.

At the time, I could not find any reference to these types of mandalas so I started my own creations guided by my time in nature and called them ‘Nature Mandalas’ and then of course decided on the name of….’Botanical Mandalas’.

I’ll be sharing so much more about this process here on Creative Connection with Nature, so stay tuned!

Mandalas versus Botanical Mandalas

The word mandala comes from Sanskrit language loosely meaning "Circle” or “Completion” which promotes peace and balance. 

Mandalas can be used as a tool for self-reflection and are often used for meditation, relaxation and as part of a particular therapy to help patients tap into their sub-conscious. Drawing your own mandalas can be both inspirational, symbolic and therapeutic.

Image: An example from my journal in those early days.

More traditional mandalas are formed with a framework that can be broken up from 8 to 36 (or even 72) segments and divided with concentric circles. The motifs can be geometric, contain swirls, lines, dots, arches and more.

Botanical Mandalas celebrate the beauty of nature and our personal relationship with the natural world around us.

These can be:

* the natural mandala like form of a single flower such as a daisy, sunflower or dandelion that already exist in nature. or 

* a more self constructed mandala design (using traditional framework methods) with various flowers and fauna motifs repeated out around the center point and growing towards the outer edge of the circle. I teach this process in a free ‘Introduction to Botanical Mandalas’ mini class on the Skillshare learning platform. (click here to get 3 months access to this class and 1000s of other classes for free) or you can purchase the mini class on my learning portal here to keep forever.

Images: Examples of two types of Botanical Mandalas

About the book

Image: Taking my book out for the day in Spain.

Reconnect to Mother Earth and recharge your creativity by combining the healing energy of nature with the meditative process of drawing and painting mandalas.

My Botanical Mandalas book is your guidebook to slowing down and journeying within, while creating organic expressions of the natural elements that most speak to your unique way of looking at the world.

* Discover simple ways to capture inspiration from nature’s beauty.

* Delve into the inspiration from a single flower or leaf as you begin to see nature with new fascination!

* Learn to draw simple organic motifs you can incorporate into lovely mandala designs.

* Explore fun ways to use watercolor and mixed-media in your mandala work.

One part inspiration, one part how-to, Botanical Mandalas is full of inspiration for reconnecting with natures beauty to inspire you to create expressive mandala artworks. It includes drawing, painting and mixed-media projects to find endless inspiration for your own botanical mandala journey.

Image: Painting a Spring Flower Radial Mandala. One of the projects inside the book. AND…. the art I chose to be on the cover of the book! You can also learn to create all sorts of mixed media Botanical Mandalas in my online masterclasses here.

A few lovely words about my book from readers below. More can be found on Amazon

THE GIVEAWAY!

Hosted here on my ‘Creative Connection with Nature’ Substack.

TO ENTER

* Add a comment to this post* and let me know why this book would be a wonderful addition to your arty book shelf.

* Restack this post* with a comment sharing how this book could help others looking to connect with nature and their creativity.

*If you are reading this on your email, to ‘comment’ and to ‘restack’ the post please go to go to the Giveaway post {#4} on louisegale.substack.com You can restack it on your desktop or on the Substack app, (which is free to join) using the little circular arrow sign at the bottom of the post.

The deadline for entries is 4pm EST/9pm GMT on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

THE SMALL PRINT

* One person who has left a comment on this post and restacked the post by the deadline will be chosen at random to win a copy of this book (includes access to the book club too). The winner will be announced at the top of this post the day after the deadline.

* You do not need to subscribe to enter and no purchase is necessary.

* This competition is open worldwide for anyone over the age of 18.

* The choice of winner is final and there is no cash alternative.

If you are just reading or listening to this and have missed the giveaway, please do consider subscribing as I do offer more giveaways. If you feel called to purchase my book for yourself or for a friend/family member, remember you also get access to the Book Club with some extra downloads and videos from me.

Image: Double spread from my Coloring Botanical Blooms, Bouquets and Mandalas Coloring book.

MORE GIVEAWAYS and MY THANKFUL SALE!

I always love to host giveaways during November as a way of saying thank you to YOU! I have published 7 books, so look out for more giveaways over the coming weeks ahead!

Writing and contributing to arty books is something I absolutely love doing and you can find more info on my press page here (books and magazines I have contributed to) and all of my own books are listed here. I am excited to create more in the near future.

I also have my annual Thankful sale on which is offering 40% off all of my online art courses and 50% off bundled courses, so if you are interested in taking a class with me, this is the time to grab a spot and gift yourself (or others of course!).

If you’ve read (or listened) this far, I want to let you know how grateful I am that you make space inside your inbox and day for my newsletters. Thank you for supporting the work I do by subscribing. I hope I can continue to inspire

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Well hello November and hello to you dear listener and reader! 

This podcast is titled ‘Hello November’ and is Episode #3 on the listening list. It includes a free coloring page download, info on the global art swap and 5 ideas for practicing gratitude.

Welcome to A Creative Connection with Nature and this little corner of mine in the online world with me, Louise Gale. 

I am a Mixed Media Artist and most of my time here will be spent sharing the little creative ways I weave nature into my art practice. I will also be exploring and sharing little snippets of inspiration for you to explore your own.

Read the written post at https://louisegale.substack.com/

So what does November bring for you? 

I always feel that in November we are called to focus on being even more thankful and exploring ways we can give and receive heart energy around the world.

Gratitude connects us to the present moment and can be as simple as noting down 3 things (in the morning and then again at night) that have made you smile, or that you are thankful for.

Being grateful and noticing every little detail of what is beautiful in our life and world, enables us to radiate more positive energy. This positive energy helps us feel good about ourselves and the world around us. It becomes a habit, a practice, a way to live every day.

By taking time to do this, it slows us down, enables us to notice beauty in the everyday and most importantly to help radiate positive energy within us. By consciously thinking or writing down what we are grateful for, we will be collectively sending good energy out into the world. 

Image: Heart Stone found in Woodstock, US (a creative weekend away with my friends when living in America)

When we are grateful and open our hearts everyday:

* We start to find good energy flows back to us in various ways.

* We begin to see the good in everything and everyone.

* We notice the opportunities from all of our experiences.

* The glass is always full.

* The energy of what we are thinking and feeling will always be reflected back to us.

* There is always an opportunity to learn and grow and take the positive.

So in addition to the points I just noted, here are a couple of other ways we can invite gratitude in over the coming month and get a little creative too!

#1: Download my November Nature Inspired Coloring Page

On the first of every month, I share a printable colouring page that you can download and color in. Since creating my own colouring books and printables, I have found this a lovely way to invite some calm into my day. If I have many other commitments, then I can spend simply 10 minutes colouring in to flex my creative muscles!  Share short colouring videos over on my TikTok and YouTube shorts if you want to follow along. 

Download yours here. https://louisegale.substack.com/

#2: Join my November Postcard Swap!

Your heART really does make a difference and receiving a gorgeous postcard through the mail makes even more of a difference to each and every person in our creative community who join the swap. I host these 3-4 times a year.

heART exchange is a global art swap to create, share & receive LOVE in the form of gorgeous pieces of postcard sized artworks. Each person who joins the swap is given 3 people to send their creations to and the only rule, is that you create with your heart open and include a positive note for the recipients on the back of your postcard or as a little love note inside.

Above: Mother (Michelle Kennedy Rembert) and daughter take part together to send and receive postcard love around the world 

I started this lovely postcard swap back in 2010 when I also wrote a blog called ‘Your heART Makes a Difference” which explored the energy of our hearts and how we could share more good energy through creativity and heart energy. The blog, alas no longer exists, thanks to a hacker!

I am so happy to still host the global heART swap and also have 3 ebooks I created with all the contributors to that website available in my Creative Library (free goodies when you subscribe) Peek below.

So if you are interested in joining in, we also have a Facebook Community here where you can connect with other art swappers and share your postcard art!

#3: Start your own gratitude practice.

Grab yourself a blank journal and simple write in it once or twice a day. 

First thing in the morning: When you wake up, set your intention for the day by recognising 3 things that you are grateful for. This could be something as simple and fundamental as waking up, the sun shining, a day of possibility ahead.

Last thing at night: Write 3 things in your journal you are grateful for to close off the day. These can be things that the day brought you or general thankfulness for what you have. 

If you are feeling a creative spark with your gratitude practice, create a beautiful journal page using your art materials and write what you are thankful for in a creative way. 

A little heads up here also - My 30 Days of Gratitude offering is getting a ‘10 year anniversary’ makeover, so I hope to offer that again to you sometime in 2025.

Image: A journal page focusing on gratitude which is one of the lessons in my Spring Clean Your Life class.

#4: Grab a copy of ‘The Magic’ by Rhonda Byrne

If you are looking for a way to invite gratitude into your life on a daily basis and would like some prompts or more guidance, I would highly recommend ‘The Magic'. I have worked through this book a couple of times already and it is an amazing book to revisit. Especially wonderful if you take it with you and sit out in nature somewhere!

Image: Reading ‘The Magic’ at the beach in Spain.

In this book, you are taken on a 28 day journey to recognise all the amazing things already in your life. If you understand the Law of Attraction, then you will know that this daily practice will essentially attract more goodness. It is life changing.

#5: Celebrate the joys of the season

The Creative Connection with Nature post coming mid-month is all about being inspired by Leaves and that post will be full of creativity! So below is a little snippet of inspiration to get the month started! Let’s get outside and celebrate the joys of the season in the area where you live. Take some lovely slow walks, spend time in nature, soak up the chilly mornings and darkening skies in the afternoons as we begin to cosy up inside the winter months ahead. 

Images: Some creative ways to connect to the season; make a nature collection, press petals and leaves, draw a Botanical Mandala or sketch little motifs on cards.

If you’ve read (or listened) this far, I want to let you know how grateful I am that you make space inside your inbox and day for my newsletters.

I would LOVE to hear from you, so please do comment with 3 things you are grateful for or any thoughts on what kind of creative inspiration you would like me to share with you going forward.

Thank you for supporting the work I do by subscribing. I hope I can continue to inspire.

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Image: An Autumnal collection with little sketches inspired by the season.

Hello dear friend and welcome to this little corner of mine (within the Substack platform) which is where I will be exploring my own Creative Connection with Nature and sharing little snippets of inspiration for you to explore your own.

I am a Mixed Media Artist and most of my time here will be spent sharing the little arty ways I weave nature into my art practice. I wrote a little welcome post here if you would like a little background.

Image: Time in the labyrinth barefoot at the foot of the mountains at Ghost Ranch, Arizona. Photo by Ashley Fincham of A Global Walk

There are so many other creative ways to connect with our beautiful natural world and some of these may also find their way into my writing here.

Creative connection can also be discovered through cooking, gardening, crafting, making botanical potions, teas and tinctures and so much more… even spending time photographing the beauty we find outside can spark a creative path.

Image: A few different ways to weave nature into art

What are some of the creative ways you currently connect with nature?

Are there practices you would like to carve into your day?

I would love to know, so please comment below.

Rest and Reset

I have been giving myself a little rest and reset time whilst back in the UK. For the last year now, I have been splitting my time between Spain and the UK and am still in the process of settling into this new way of life. It is a wonderful opportunity to seek out the best of both places, but the challenge has been switching gears (as so to speak) into a specific routine each time I change my environment. Something I hope that nature can help me with.

Image: Autumn leaf on my beach in Spain.

So this last month or so, I decided to step away from social media a little, take myself on a wellness weekend, get back to my daily walks (many in the rain!) tidying up the garden area around my new UK Garden Studio (huge undertaking!) to make a veggie and flower garden to flourish for 2025. And…. seek out ways I can connect myself back to the natural world no matter where I may be.

Image: A Harvest Heart at the Verve Festival in Wiltshire, UK.

Whenever I feel a creative block, nature always guides me on a new path. Not only can we connect with the healing energy it provides us, it is a constant true friend, full of inspiration for our creative practice. I have gotten a little lost with my creativity of late, so this is the beginnings of that path through the forrest of trees, helping me find my way back. Reconnecting with the love of writing in a blog format (that’s here!) and connecting with you. So thank you so much for being here.

Lets slow down and connect

This October, and we are soon to be in November…..as the leaves are turning here in the UK, days become shorter and flowers turn to seed, lets slow down and spend some time observing nature and capturing its beauty in a creative way. Below are some of the ways I plan on beginning my journey back over the comings months into Winter and I hope they inspire you also.

Please do also comment with some of your own ideas and activities which help you connect back to nature. This is just a starter list of 10…

* Morning walks, spending as much time walking through natural areas as possible.

* Really take time to observe nature around me as I go about my day.

* Savour the changing season, the rain on my face and the wind in my hair. What sounds, smells and atmospheres are being created by nature.

* Picking up nature and creating little collections. (Something I always loved to do and want to return to).

* Using my collections as a jumping off point to sketch and create.

* Press my collection to preserve and use in art later on

* Identifying natural items I can make things from… (thinking Rose Hips at this moment!)

* Gather flowers, leaves, and other natural elements, to create prints to use in art or collages later on.

* Gardening! This is my current project - to create a new area next to my art studio in the UK, full of veggies and flowers for 2025.

* Writing. Something I am so happy to be sharing here on Substack. Taking my time to flex my writing muscles again and using the inspiration found in nature to do so.

* BONUS for October! I just signed up to these 52 Creative Classes (many inspired by nature!) for only $75. I am also offering a Clay Botanical Class as part of the Bundle offering! Maybe I will see you there. This offer is only until October 29, 2024.

Image: Making a Creative Meditation for myself whilst raking up the leaves in the garden (for the compost bin!).

I am so thankful to be embarking on this journey.

Image: Although not real flowers, I wanted to bring an element of being in nature into my studio in the UK. I painted the walls blue and I feel a sense of peace and calm, even on those days that are dark and stormy!

This is my UK sanctuary in the garden, where the birds sing, the winds blow and this time next year, I envision a thriving area full of veggies, flowers and creativity abound! I’ll share the state of the garden soon!

Image: Finding a peaceful moment in nature. Photo taken by Ashley Fincham of A Global Walk at Ghost Ranch, Arizona.

Thanks again for reading (or listening) along.

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome ❤️

I have recorded an audio version of the post (with some extra snippets), so if you prefer to listen, this is for you.

Above image: Walking the Labyrinth at Ghost Ranch, Arizona. Photo taken by Ashley Fincham of A Global Walk.

The World is My Art Studio & Nature My Materials.

ART will always be... flowing from my heART, coded within nATuRe and within the centre of our eARTh. 

Hello there, friend.

I am so happy you’re here. You are so welcome. This Substack space makes me feel a little nostalgic for the old days of blogging. (I started my first blog in 2009) and my intention for this space is to find that feeling I had when I first started writing and sharing my art in those early days of the online world.

I plan on sharing my own journey for a deeper connection with nature through my art so am looking inside of myself to ask what would I like to write about and how could I serve / inspire you.

I’ll start sharing twice monthly studio news in October, 2024 to begin my own journey back to a deeper connection with nature and creativity.

Creative Connection with Nature

Above: Driftwood Art in Costa Rica. Nature were my art materials in 2020

Connecting to the healing energy and beauty we find in nature has long been a thread that weaves itself through all of my creative projects. More so now, I feel that I am longing to go deeper, go slower and (re)connect myself back to MORE time in the natural world.

My current work schedule means many hours on the computer and as I now find myself living in both the UK and Spain, I am longing for that balancing and healing energy that nature provides.

Above: A page from my Spring Clean Your Life class journal.

This substack will be my little sanctuary to write and share my nature-inspired art as I explore further.

Above: One of the Artworks commissioned. My canvas work is inspired by nature and I love painting cascading flowers.

My Intentions for this space

I plan on sharing:

* My own explorations into the natural world, being inquisitive, going barefoot on the earth, slowing down and finding my own Creative Connection with Nature.

* Paintings and poems inspired by moments in nature

* How to tap into the healing energy of nature with creativity.

* Nature collections from my beachside studio in Spain and my Garden Studio in England.

* Monthly studio news

In terms #3 and the healing energy of nature, I guess there's many ways of doing this, but one of the ways that really got me started on this journey and started with writing books was creating botanical mandalas for this book. So that was really about tapping into the healing energy of nature and combining that with the meditative process of mandala creating. And I have a whole masterclass series online of online classes all about exactly that. And I guess they're kind of like my signature classes. 

So, this new space is born. A quiet, slow journey back into (re)connecting with nature to inspire my ongoing creative journey. I hope to inspire you along the way.

Love Louise xx

P.S. When I first thought about starting this Substack, I was going to call it Dream-Inspire-Create which was the name of my very first blog. I wrote a little backstory post here if you are interested in reading more about that.

I would LOVE to meet you here!

Above: Giant heart Stone found on the beach in Costa Rica, 2020.

If you've read this far, thank you! I’m so glad you’re here! If you would like to receive my posts via email, please subscribe below.

Please also introduce yourself in the comments. I’d really love to connect with you.

Lots of Love Louise xx

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

A little intro to my audio posts here and what I plan on sharing with you.

Image: The inside cover of my Spring Clean Your Life Journal. Hand-painted with that lovely Spring feeling!

Hello dear friends. Welcome to this episode. I thought I would squeeze an extra podcast in this month! If you celebrate Easter, I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend.

This podcast is Episode #11 on the listening list and I’m talking a little about Spring Cleaning!

If you are listening to this on Substack, you can simply scroll down to see the images and videos included in this post. If you are listening elsewhere, please pop on over to louisegale.substack.com to see the full post there.

Welcome to A Creative Connection with Nature and this little corner of mine in the online world with me, Louise Gale.

I am a Mixed Media Artist and most of my time here will be spent sharing the little creative ways I weave nature into my art practice. I will also be exploring and sharing little snippets of inspiration for you to explore your own.

Read the full blog post at louisegale.substack.com

I am in the UK at the moment and there has been this wonderful Spring feeling for a few weeks now since I returned from Thailand.

The sun has been shining and it has been a joy to be in my little Garden Art Studio at the bottom of my mums garden, planning a new creative project and clearing out some clutter - this is both mental and physical. I have to admit, I have had a deep mental block with my creativity for a while and I am starting to feel a new sense of wonder after my travels and working in the garden for the last couple of weeks.

So, for those of you who might be new here. This time last year, we were deep into the renovations of my UK Garden Art Studio! A project which at the very beginning felt like it would not come to fruition. But a year on, I am now enjoying this peaceful little sanctuary at the top of the garden and I am dreaming about the next stage which is cultivating the garden area around the studio. There are some short work in progress videos from last year on my YouTube Playlist here.

Seeing how much progress has been made reminds me to keep chipping away at those little steps to keep moving forward with my visions and dreaming about what this time next year may look like. Not just for my little art studio area in the garden, but for my creative life that has been overshadowed by other work commitments.

Image above: A page from my Spring Clean Your Life Journal when I was visioning my Spanish studio renovation a few years ago!

When I have that feeling of being a little stuck with my creativity, it usually means that I need to move some energy somewhere in my life.

Traveling to a new country and taking some time out is a wonderful escape of course and I feel so fortunate that I was able to take that time. But, actually clearing physical AND mental space in our current environment is what is usually needed the most.

Clearing space also helps clear the mind and make room for new opportunities and possibilities. So when I clear space, I tend to also do some visioning too so I can start to invite those new things in once I have let go of the ones that no longer fit in my life.

Image above: A spread from my Spring Clean Your Life Journal for Module 4 of class when we dive into visioning!

Why is it important to clear mental & physical clutter?

So what are the key benefits to clearing some space and why do we need to do so? One of the biggest problems associated with mental and physical clutter is how it keeps us stuck in a home or level of thought that leaves us little or no room for growth.

Like a plant in a pot that is too small for it’s roots, we outgrow our own pot. This is when we begin to see our relationships suffer, business opportunities dry up, health and energy lowering, and finances becoming tighter.

……And this is exactly how I am feeling right now. As I work on planting and growing a garden around my UK studio, I am also feeling a need to plant, nurture and grow seeds for my own dreams to expand and flourish.

Decluttering, simplifying and clearing space helps to remove mental and physical blockages from our lives that stops all the positive energy to flow freely around us.

Positive energy is what promotes success. Energy is everywhere. The human body and everything around us is an energy system resonating at different vibrational energy levels throughout the day.

WITH CLUTTER YOU HAVE…

* Low vitality and energy

* Less opportunities flowing to you

* Lack of abundance

* Feeling of being stuck

* Low thoughts and feelings

* Pessimistic thoughts

* Anger

WITH CLEAR SPACE YOU HAVE….

* Improved energy and interest in life

* Happy surprises, good fortune

* New opportunities, better finances

* Life flowing smoothly, active,

* Energized

* Improved energy and interest in life

* Optimistic, forward thinking and positive happy mood.

It really is a wonderful way to reset!

Clear Some Space to Invite Exciting New Possibilities In!

We are currently in the waning phase of the moon cycle (until the New Moon on April 28) and this is an amazing time to let go of what is no longer needed and do some Spring Cleaning in life!

So, in the spirit of this new season, I am offering a special 30% off Flash Sale on my Spring Clean Your Life Journal class. This class is also part of the ‘Dream Life Class Bundle’ so I have left the 50% offer on the bundle of classes here also.

Below is my journal cover. I love to paint my journals and sketchbooks. So much fun!

Image above: My Spring Clean Your Life Journal cover.

Of course it doesn’t need to be Spring where you are to give your life a little lift, and “Spring Clean Your Life” is perfect for any time of the year to dust off your own cobwebs and clear some space to invite exciting new possibilities in and get our creative energy to flow.

This fun and creative class will take you through activities to help you:

* Clear the Mind of Clutter to Live more Mindfully

* Clear Space and Physical Clutter

* Restore balance & well-being in every area of your life.

* BONUS: Create a Sanctuary in every room in your home.

We will also create our own "Spring Clean" Art Journal to track our journey along the way! Below are just a few of the pages and downloads from the Spring Clean Your Life Journal class! So much more inside.

I will be leaving my newly planted veggie garden in the hands of my mum and heading back to Spain next week. I am so ready to get into my apartment there for some Spring Cleaning and sorting as I embark on finishing up my paintings for the gallery for June. More on this in my next podcast and post. Its going to feel so good to get back to some painting art (not just fences) next month!

If you are not able to take the Spring Clean Your Life class, here are just 5 ideas to give your life a little Spring Clean over the coming week. Maybe just choose one area.

1. Declutter Your Digital Space

* Unsubscribe from newsletters you never read.

* Organize your desktop and delete old files.

* Clean out your photo gallery and back up what you love.

2. Review Your Inner Circle

* Reflect on who lifts you up vs. drains you.

* Set healthier boundaries with people who add stress.

* Reconnect with someone you genuinely miss.

3. Clean Up Your Mental Clutter

* Notice how you speak to yourself — would you say that to a friend?

* Replace one negative thought a day with something kind and true.

* Try journaling or daily affirmations.

4. Reevaluate Your Routine

* What habits aren’t serving you anymore?

* Could your mornings or evenings use a refresh?

* Swap “doomscrolling” with reading, stretching, or silence.

5. Let Go of the “Someday” Pile

* Projects you’ve been putting off forever? Either do 'em or ditch 'em.

* Donate those “maybe I’ll wear this” clothes.

* Delete saved links you’ll never click again.

* Make space for what actually matters now.

This lovely new season can be thought of as a reset — lets flow with it, not against it.

I would love to hear your thoughts on whether you are doing a little Spring Clean yourself at the moment. Which areas are you focusing on? Please add your comments below.

If you’ve read this far, I want to let you know how grateful I am that you make space inside your inbox and day for my newsletters.

Thank you again for being a subscriber. Wishing you so much love and feel free to ask me any creative questions at all!

Thank you for supporting the work I do by subscribing. I hope I can continue to inspire.

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Image: Finding many hearts at the beach

Hello dear friends. Welcome to this episode. I am back from Thailand! What a difference 6 weeks makes! Being away I have learnt many things, about myself and a little more about the world around me. Taking time to relax nourishes the soul and being away from my regular environment has helped me feel more grounded and at one with nature. It feels a little like I’ve been in a time warp, time has not been important and not really touched me during that time. I have just been here. Simply being.

Here are a few of the many things that I have re-remembered about life, that I’d like to share with you. Being in this wonderful place has really enabled me to focus on what I believe to be just a few of the philosophies to a good life, and these can be applied no matter where you are in the world.

This podcast is Episode #10 on the listening list and includes your FREE monthly Coloring page and a little reflection from time spent in Thailand.

Download your FREE monthly Coloring page below.

Here I am coloring it in with watercolors!

Click the button below depending on your preferred size/format.

If you are listening to this on Substack, you can simply scroll down to see the images and videos included in this post. If you are listening elsewhere, please pop on over to louisegale.substack.com to see the full post there.

Welcome to A Creative Connection with Nature and this little corner of mine in the online world with me, Louise Gale.

I am a Mixed Media Artist and most of my time here will be spent sharing the little creative ways I weave nature into my art practice. I will also be exploring and sharing little snippets of inspiration for you to explore your own.

Read the full blog post at louisegale.substack.com (If you are receiving this via email, it may be cut off at the bottom)

Reflections

Just being, connected to nature, sounds of the ocean and spending time outside, has given me permission to spend uninterrupted time to look inside of myself. Understand more about who I truly am and how every experience, every person, everything is part of who I am. Knowing thyself is the most important thing. This is what guides us to the “what” in our life -our passions, our purpose.

Spending six weeks in Thailand this past February and March (to escape the winter!) was a gift of time to myself and for my boyfriend. We were to explore (my word of the year), relax, slow down, enjoy new experiences and spend time in nature.

For me, it was also the opportunity for some head space away from “work” to think about how I would like to take my creative projects forward.

Above: Being at the beach before everyone else was so tranquil and special.

From the first morning, when I woke up to the sounds of nature, I knew my time here would unfold and flow effortlessly. When I look back, it felt a little like being in a time warp; time wasn’t important (apart from when we had to catch ferries!) and it did not really affect me. I guess I made time to not think about time. I was simply being.

Image: Morning walks along the beach

Since returning home to my own little UK sanctuary studio in the garden, I’ve been reflecting on this magical trip and the wonderful practices I adopted over there. I’d love to share six t hings (and there are many more!) that I observed – things that I’m consciously making time for now I’m home so that soon they’ll become a way of life.

#1 Wake up early and make time for quiet moments

Image: The beauty of light

Every morning during my stay in various areas of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, I woke up just as the sun was rising. I noticed that the locals were all early risers, like us. Near where we were staying there was always someone out in the garden, sweeping, weeding and taking a quiet moment to themselves to be happy as they started their day. I stood many mornings watching one of the local girls as she glided around the garden areas, gracefully picking up fallen blossoms with a contented smile on her face.

One day a wave of calmness and tranquility came over me as I observed the girl gathering flowers to float in the fountain, for guests to enjoy, her gentle walk was almost meditative.

What quiet, contemplative moment would you like to introduce to your morning?

#2 Make time to set positive intentions

Image: A Creative Offering of Fallen Blossoms

There is much dedication to a morning ritual of placing offerings on the street, in temples and outside homes or businesses. Throughout the day women spend hours gathering petals and lighting incense so every morning everyone and everything can be blessed. As I walked the streets, every now and then I’d catch the faint aroma from these little parcels full of positive intention. There’s so much beauty in these simple and meaningful creations.

One morning I was lucky enough to see a gardener meditatively picking up the fallen blossoms of frangipanis and gently laying them out to create a heart shaped offering for guests to enjoy.

I made sure I took time to walk in the gardens or along the beach to create some quiet in my morning. Such a special time of the day.

What morning ritual do you have to help you set your intentions for the day?

#3 Make time to go barefoot

Image: Barefoot Living at the Beach

Walking barefoot on the earth or sand is proven to have huge health benefits. One of my favourite quotes is “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet” by Thích Nhất Hạnh. I interpret this simply as walk with slow intention and feeling. When you watch many Thai people walk barefoot in nature, you see how the art of walking is a mindful process. Every part of their foot touches the ground; every part is connected to the earth.

One of the customs that I loved was the simple act of taking off your flipflops when you walk into a shop or someone’s home – it’s something we rarely do now in our western world and I have found myself adopting this now I am home.

Above: A frequent scene along the street as everyone leaves their shoes and sandals by the front door.

Every day I did something for myself, be it stretching, walking, meditating, taking photos, exploring, drawing, eating good food, walking on the beach or just simply taking time to watch the ocean roll in and roll out. Self-care has always been a challenge for me – I always have a task to complete, a blog post to write, someone to help out which I all love doing, but self-care has to come first. Caring and nurturing yourself, your well being is the key to appreciating yourself and gives you the energy to use your gifts to help others.

Where can you go barefoot to connect to the earth’s energy?

What can you make time for everyday to give yourself some self-care?

#4 Make time to smile, live simply and beautifully

Image: Fallen beauties from the trees

Everyone in Thailand smiled. All of the time. I guess that is why it is called “The Land of Smiles” I felt like the whole island was one big beautiful smile. Everything the Thai people do, they do with a smile. Many people are living in basic conditions, but the richness of their existence is evident in the way they approach everything in their day. From the well-blessed offerings in the morning to banana leaf cocktail sculptures in the evening.

Special little touches such as washing your feet in a water bowl full of frangipani flowers, putting flowers under the massage table so that you have something pretty to look at while you relax and placing petals shaped like hearts in the bathroom, come with positive intention and meaning. It’s done simply to make you smile. What’s more, the words “Khop Khun Ka”, with palms placed together (as in a prayer) and a gentle smile and nod, were said often and always meant from the heart.

What simple day to day activities can you make more beautiful?

#5 Make time to explore

Explore: My word of the year for 2025

We explored three different islands on this trip. Each was beautiful and different in their own way. One thread that ran through the whole time, is the beauty and peacefulness of time well spent in nature we found there.

The colours and textures made my creative well fill up to the top!

My word of the year is guiding me to also explore where I want to take my creative life and I spent lots of time in nature, thinking about the direction and how I want to spend my time when I returned from my trip.

I find it such a challenge to juggle work and find time to truly be creative and it is something that I am longing to settle! Living between the UK and Spain has its creative challenges also, but I think the way to look at it is to choose different projects that can thrive in these two different environments.

Taking time to explore really expands your understanding of how others might live, cultural differences and enables you to also think about changes to your own life and how you want it to be.

#6 Make time to be creative

Image: Taking inspiration from Thailand back to my studio in the UK. I’ve been recording some new lessons for a program I am part of coming out in July! So watch this space.

Making time to ‘just be’ in this beautiful place and get into a creative zone was the ultimate gift to myself as an artist. It was a reminder that taking a whole day, weekend or even a week to focus on feeding the soul with creative inspiration is something I rarely do.

The biggest lesson I took from my time away was to make time to let my creative energy flow freely for extended periods of time and not ‘fit it in’ between work, to do lists or projects that have me glued to the computer. Creativity and art is something I’ve promised myself I’ll make more time for.

Above: A reminder to find that balance.

I also found a child-like playfulness whilst in Thailand. What a feeling! A reminder to find play in my creative life too!

Being in this wonderful place enabled me to reflect on what I believe to be the philosophies of leading a good life – and these things can be practiced no matter where you are in the world. I pledge to make time for all of these important things, and more…

What do you pledge to make time for?

Some other thoughts on areas to make time for:

* Personal Growth – Investing time in learning, hobbies, or self-improvement helps you develop new skills and expand your potential.

* Mental and Physical Health – Spending time in nature and prioritizing activities like exercise, meditation, or rest improves overall well-being and reduces stress.

* Relationships – Making time for loved ones strengthens connections, builds trust, and creates meaningful experiences.

* Productivity & Success – Dedicating time to important tasks leads to progress, achievement, and a sense of accomplishment.

* Joy & Fulfillment – Engaging in things that bring happiness, like creative pursuits or fun activities, enhances life satisfaction.

* Exploring other environments - Traveling to other countries exposes you to different cultures, languages, and ways of life, helping you gain new insights, challenge your assumptions, and develop a more open-minded worldview.

I would love to hear your thoughts on areas you are focusing your time on these days. Please add your comments below.

If you’ve read this far, I want to let you know how grateful I am that you make space inside your inbox and day for my newsletters.

Thank you again for being a subscriber. Wishing you so much love and feel free to ask me any creative questions at all!

Thank you for supporting the work I do by subscribing. I hope I can continue to inspire.

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Hello dear friend, I am currently taking some time out in Thailand, exploring and finding my own little sanctuary in nature. I will be sharing some insights when I return later on this month.

So as a new season is unfolding, I thought I would share some ideas on finding your own sanctuary in nature.

I love to discover little nature sanctuaries when I travel, but there are also so many, right on our own doorstep.

This podcast is Episode #9 on the listening list and includes your FREE monthly Coloring page and ideas on finding your own sanctuary in nature.

Download your FREE March Coloring page below.

Welcome to A Creative Connection with Nature and this little corner of mine in the online world with me, Louise Gale.

I am a Mixed Media Artist and most of my time here will be spent sharing the little creative ways I weave nature into my art practice. I will also be exploring and sharing little snippets of inspiration for you to explore your own.

Read the full blog post at louisegale.substack.com (If you are receiving this via email, it may be cut off at the bottom)

A Sanctuary in Nature

A sanctuary in nature is a place of peace, refuge and renewal found within our beautiful natural world. It is a place which can be beside a stream, on a quiet beach, on a mountaintop, a field full of wild flowers, a space where you can disconnect from the noise and distractions of everyday life and reconnect with yourself and the natural world around you.

Providing you with a sense of stillness, where the only sounds could be birdsong, leaves blowing in the breeze or the gentle flow of waves on the shore. Sounds that invite quiet contemplation, relaxation, and a feeling of being connected with nature.

Not just about physical isolation; it’s about the feeling of harmony, knowing and connection that the space provides. Whether it’s a vast, untouched wilderness or a quiet corner of a local park, what makes it a sanctuary is the way it allows you to slow down, breathe deeply, and feel at peace.

Above image: A beautiful spot beside the Lily pond - At the Omega Institute, update NY.

When we spend time in nature, our connection to mother earth deepens, it heals us.

Our body hums a sweet harmony, our breath slows down and our heart beats in time with the song of the earth. We feel connected. Free. As one. Complete. A sanctuary in nature that is our ‘home’. Being in nature is our natural existence and over time many feel that the human race has become more and more distant from that connection.

Technology has opened up an amazing world of opportunities and connections, which can often become a constant distraction from our human bond with the natural world. As our time in technology increases, so does the need for re-connecting with mother earth. A connection that is needed more that ever.

My Art Studios are also Sanctuaries, surrounded by Nature.

I am so fortunate to have a wonderful studio overlooking the sea, at the beach in southern Spain. This has fuelled so much inspiration for me over the last 10 years. It is in my apartment, is teeeny tiny, but I still manage to paint huge canvases, record my online classes, store art materials and work from here, overlooking this gorgeous view.

When I changed my living arrangements last year, now splitting my time between my home in Spain and my mums place in the UK, one of the first things I thought about when I arrived back in the UK, was how I would create a little creative sanctuary surrounded by nature.

Image: Bringing the feeling of nature inside in my UK Garden Art Studio

This is how my UK Garden Art Studio (at the bottom of my mums garden) began its journey! My boyfriend and I (and initial help from a local carpenter!) spent time here and there during Sept.2023- July 2024, renovating my dads old shed (which was almost falling down) into my new Art Studio and Sanctuary!

It was a project that at the beginning felt impossible, but I had a vision and I am so happy that I stuck to making that vision come to life! I also wanted to preserve the shed that my father loved so much and spent so much time in, during those long summer days.

The little studio is surrounded by nature and I wanted to create the feeling of having nature inside with me also. It is a sanctuary for me.

Here is a short peek inside. You can find all of the progress videos seeing it all unfold on my Youtube playlist here.

Even when I find myself roaming around a new country, I always find my favorite places, a perfect little sanctuary in nature. That feeling of being completely connected with earth, nature, oneself. Being grounded. Often in busy cities, there are little pockets of nature sanctuaries that you find along the way. And how wonderful these are.

Below is one I found just off one of the many busy, dusty streets of Kuta in Bali. This became my go to place of peace and being surrounded by all of those blooms was heavenly.

The hanging blossoms also fuelled some creative inspiration for me. I pin point my current obsession with painting falling blossoms to Bali!

They always find their way into my canvases and when they do, I am transported right back to these nature sanctuaries. Above and below are a few paintings with my falling blossoms.

Image: Mini painting on coffee stained paper. Little sketches I made in Costa Rica with limited art materials.

Both Blossoms AND beaches are ALWAYS a sanctuary for me.

I longed to live by the sea for many years and that became a reality in 2013 when I purchased my apartment in Spain. Barefoot walks on the beach, seeing the ever changing view of the sea from my studio and having so much inspiration on my doorstep to be found and collected.

When I am overseas, time spent at the beach is where I find peace and stillness. I have 100s of photos of sunsets from when I was in Costa Rica. It was a ritual for our little group to meet there at sunset every evening. A magical memory.

Image: Just one of the glorious sunsets in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. A beach that would normally be busy, but at peace in 2020.

Nature is such a strong influence in my art.

Alot of my artwork is inspired by the healing energy we receive with tranquil time spent in nature. Cascading blooms, quiet places to contemplate, seaside serenity, flourishing gardens and scapes that bring us back to a calm place within our space.

Image: “Quiet Waters” Acrylic on canvas inspired by the sea views in Spain.

What are some of your most favorite moments in nature? How do you remember feeling in these moments? How does nature influence your own art making?

Where are Your Sanctuaries in Nature?

Above image: A page from my Spring Clean Your Life Journal Art Class.

Think about how you feel when you find yourself in nature. What natural environments light you up the most? The smell of a forest after a rainfall? The salty air on your lips when you walk on the beach? Maybe the colors of wild flowers in the countryside?

5 ideas to discover /create your own sanctuary in nature

* Wake Up Early with the Sun and for SolitudeWaking with the sun is a wonderful way to connect to nature. The start of a new say. Even popular nature spots can feel like sanctuaries during early mornings, when the light is soft, the air is fresh, and the world feels still. Only the birds and the breeze as your companion. If you prefer to awake later than the sun, choose a place that feels peaceful and away from distractions—this could be a garden, a clearing in the woods, a lakeside, or maybe even a quiet corner of a park. Look for places where you feel safe and undisturbed.

* Surround Yourself with Nature’s Elements

To create a sanctuary at home or in your studio, you can make small changes to encourage a deeper connection with nature by adding natural elements:

* Water: A small fountain or a birdbath can enhance tranquility.

* Plants & Flowers: Native plants attract birds and butterflies, making your space feel more alive.

* Rocks & Wood: Natural materials create a grounding and earthy atmosphere.

* In my UK studio, I hung silk flowers and wysteria to bring that sense of being in nature inside.

* Use Sound to Enhance Peacefulness

Pay attention to natural sounds—wind through trees, chirping birds, or flowing water. If you're in an urban area, consider wind chimes or a small water feature to try and mask any city noise you may have.

* Engage Your Senses

* Touch: Walk barefoot on the grassor sand when you can. Feel tree bark (hug a tree or two!), or dip your hands in water.

* Sight: Arrange your space with calming colors like greens, blues, and earth tones. You can also bring nature inside with flowers in a vase, or driftwood you find at the beach.

* Smell: Incorporate fragrant flowers, herbs (lavender, rosemary), or even essential oils.

* Hearing: Let nature’s sounds guide you, or play soft, ambient nature sounds if needed.

* Limit Distractions

Keep phones on silent, avoid bringing work-related thoughts, and focus on being present in you nature sanctuary. Use your sanctuary as a place for deep breathing, meditation, or simply sitting in stillness. Journaling or sketching can also be a wonderful way to connect to yourself and nature. .Let your sanctuary be a place where time slows down.

And as a bonus idea….Visit or spend time in your sanctuary regularly

Sanctuaries become more meaningful the more time you spend in them. Whether daily, weekly, or whenever you need a reset, make it a ritual to return. If like me, you make your art making space into a sanctuary, it will be the most wonderful healing and creative place to be.

Simply open the door to your own sanctuary in nature, no matter where that may be.

I hope I have given you some ideas and if you have a favorite space, sanctuary or natural place you love, please do share with me. I would love to hear your thoughts.

If you’ve read this far, I want to let you know how grateful I am that you make space inside your inbox and day for my newsletters.

Thank you again for being a subscriber. Wishing you so much love and feel free to ask me any creative questions at all!

Thank you for supporting the work I do by subscribing. I hope I can continue to inspire.

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Top image: Flying in a propeller plane in Costa Rica, 2020.

Hello lovely friend and Happy Lunar New year (the New Moon was a few days ago on January 29th!)

This podcast is Episode #8 on the listening list and includes your FREE February Coloring page, Word of the Year (yes, its not too late to come up with one), a flash sale on my Mantra Mandala class AND news of an adventure I am embarking on!

Download your FREE February Coloring page here.

Welcome to A Creative Connection with Nature and this little corner of mine in the online world with me, Louise Gale.

I am a Mixed Media Artist and most of my time here will be spent sharing the little creative ways I weave nature into my art practice. I will also be exploring and sharing little snippets of inspiration for you to explore your own.

Read the full blog post at louisegale.substack.com (as this email may get cut off at the bottom)

So what does February bring for you?

I just returned back to the UK after spending 6 weeks with the winter sun in Spain and it is still very much in the depths of winter here.

On some days, there is that beautiful promise of Spring and I have been making time to get outside and face the weather on my walks, whatever that may be! Embracing the elements can also be invigorating and awakening! When the sun does shine during these winter months, it really is such a blessing.

Image: Moody sky from my Studio in Spain. Love the changing view from here.

Often, this month can feel like the lull and those winter blues can linger. I think I always suffered from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which is why I always loved travelling and escaping this time of year! But if I cannot get away, I have found that getting outside, celebrating the beauty of nature and taking time walking and exploring has made such a huge difference to my own mental health.

This month, I am escaping and am off on a new adventure! I am gifting myself some time, creative inspirational space, sun and 6 weeks in Thailand. I have been longing to take an extended trip since my last one in 2020 and I am so excited I am gifting myself this time again….and who knows what adventures, opportunities, challenges and life changing moments await me along the way! More on my adventures below….

One intention is to fill my cup with the beauty of nature I will discover there and use this to inspire new creative projects.

Image: Nature found in Bali.

Actually, during this month I spent in Bali, I wrote the first few chapters of my book - Botanical Mandalas: Draw, Paint and Create Expressive Mandalas Inspired by Nature.

Happy New Lunar Year!

This Year of the Wood Snake is filled with abundance, wisdom, intuition, strategy, and stunning success! This is what my favorite Feng Shui master (The Tao of Dana( says and she also states that….”What's most exciting about this Lunar New Year is the promise of major transformation. Snakes shed their skin and emerge bigger, brighter, stronger, and more dynamic afterward. What would you like to shed this year that will radically remake your life and help you emerge stronger than ever?”

A journal spread from my Spring Clean Your Life Journal class HERE

I love to use this time between the New Moon (Jan 29) and Full Moon (12 February) to really set some intentions. Below is a list of some of my January New Year merging into the Lunar New Year activities to inspire you.

I hope these activities inspire you to continue to go slow and follow your dreams in 2025. My year always seems to really start on the Lunar New Year cycle!

* Creating a Vision board for 2025. My full instructions were published on Substack here earlier in the month.

* Year ahead spread using my Chakra Color Affirmations Cards (also on the above substack post)

* My Big Dreams, Small Wonders Workbook (if you missed this FREE download, click here)

* Word of the Year (more info and your free download below)

* Create Mantra Mandalas to inspire the year ahead. (Special offer on my class below)

What is Your Word of the Year?

I do often feel that the ‘real’ new year does not quite begin for me until the Lunar New year and how wonderful it has been to enter into 2025 quietly and calmly. Slowing down, taking things in and thinking about what I want to create this year.

Maybe you can create a lovely board or sign for your word and hang it up. Below is one I created for when LOVE was my Word of the Year and I had thing hanging up in my studio all year long. Love seeing it everyday.

Image: My Word of the Year Mantra Mandala. We create this in my Mantra Mandala class

I love creating these in the round and combining collage with hand-painted elements.

Our true selves have the opportunity to thrive and plant seeds out into the world for our hearts desires. The parts of our soul that are yearning to be expressed.

¨My Body is Alive and My Spirit is Free¨ Below is a little timelapse peek into a bonus tutorial from the ‘Bloom from Within’ module in my Mantra Mandala class and I am offering 15% off here so you can dive in now and create your own Mantra Mandalas in 2025. Shhhh! I have also left the ‘Dream Life Classes’ bundle offering open at 50% HERE.

In this class, we will use the power of words and images to set intentions for the year ahead and vision all the things you would like to invite in for an amazing 2025.A perfect way to begin this Lunar New Year.

Living my Word of the Year!

Every year, side by side with many of my creative kindreds around the globe, I choose a word to live by for the year ahead. A word to help me focus on what I want to attract into my life, the feelings, people, places and experiences.

Download the Word of the Year Worksheets here and work through the questions to find your Word/Theme. These questions will help you get clear about your word (the what) and what your motivation will be (the why). The pages are also in my FREE Big Dreams, Small Wonders Workbook here, so if you have already downloaded that, you can find them there too!

I would LOVE to hear what you come up with. Or perhaps you have already chosen a word for your 2025. Leave a comment on my Substack post and share! I would love to know.

Image: Five years ago in Cambodia.

I have not shared this yet, but I decided that my word for this year would be EXPLORE. This means many things to me, but mostly, I wanted to get away on an extended trip to relax and fuel some creative inspiration. I have some creative projects whirling around in my head which involve exploring new materials and processes with nature (of course!).

And…now I am living between two countries, I am finding it a challenge to remain in the UK during this month of ‘winterness’ before any sign of Spring will appear.

I am still working out my schedule for this new life and I think it is very likely that I will be exploring and heading off to warmer climes during February and March each year (if everything aligns and allows me to do so!) Spending January in Spain is a perfect way to start a new year and following the winter sun is something that makes me feel so much happier.

The last time I took time to just be and venture far overseas was 2020.. and…. what an adventure that turned out to be. My initial three month trip to Cambodia, Australia and Costa Rica turned into an extra THREE months in Costa Rica.

Despite everything that was going on in the world at the time, being in Costa Rica actually turned out to be rather magical. I will share more about that here another time as I had so many beautiful connections with nature. I also simply created with what I could find at the beach and in the local store on the edge of the jungle. I want to feel like I did on that beach at 5am, gathering little treasures and feeling so inspired and I often find myself dreaming about those times at the beach and sometimes being the only soul there.

I cannot believe that was FIVE years ago. This new adventure is overdue for sure. And although I do not see myself collecting shells like I did in Costa Rica, (I am only travelling with a carry on!) I know that the nature I will find in Thailand will inspire me with all its beauty.

A little snippet of my creative balcony scene below when I was stuck in Costa Rica! I just gathered inspiration and art materials wherever I could find them.

It was during this time, that I came up with the words that are at the bottom of my substack emails. “The World is My Studio & Naure, My Materials”

Of course, we can find creative inspiration on our door step, and don’t get me wrong, I do absolutely LOVE the two countries I currently call home as they offer such different perspectives and environments. But from time to time, there is something about being out of my comfort zone and somewhere far away from my regular routine that sparks renewal and rejuvination inside of me. Especially on a creative level. That time has come again.

I look forward to sharing some of my inspirations with you when I return in late March.

If you’ve read this far, I want to let you know how grateful I am that you make space inside your inbox and day for my newsletters.

Thank you again for being a subscriber. Wishing you so much love and feel free to ask me any creative questions at all!

Thank you for supporting the work I do by subscribing. I hope I can continue to inspire.

Thanks for reading Creative Connection with Nature - by Artist Louise Gale! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Creating Visionboards or Dreamboards is a powerful way to attract experiences, people and places for your 'dream life'. Above is one I create in the Mantra Mandala class.

This podcast is Episode #7 on the listening list and includes information and insight into creating a visionboard for the year ahead. I hope this episode inspires you to dream big and perhaps create one for yourself, maybe forging a greater connection with nature for the year ahead.

If you are listening on Substack, you will find all of the images in the main post. If you are listening elsewhere, then please pop on over to louisegale.substack.com to see the visuals that accompany this episode.

Welcome to A Creative Connection with Nature and this little corner of mine in the online world with me, Louise Gale.

I am a Mixed Media Artist and most of my time here will be spent sharing the little creative ways I weave nature into my art practice. I will also be exploring and sharing little snippets of inspiration for you to explore your own.

Read the full post at louisegale.substack.com

Dear friend, as promised in my previous letter, below is all the info on how to Create a Vision Board! This year, my board will have even more natural elements added to foster an even greater Creative Connection with Nature for myself in the year ahead.Spending relaxing time with old magazines, gathering images that inspire us and embody what we want our year ahead to look like is a wonderful way to set intentions.

Every January in-between the NEW & FULL MOON, without fail, you will find me creating some kind of vision board for the year ahead. I would usually plan this to coincide after the new moon and before the full moon in the Big Dreams, Small Wonders online class when I run that live and for many years, I also hosted an in-person event at my home (with friends, snacks and lots of lovely champagne!).

Below is my board from last year. There is always an element of nature and creativity (of course!) in my boards. This board is up on the wall of my UK Garden Art Studio and I keep all of my boards with a hope of framing them and putting them up on a wall somewhere someday!

Above: My 2024 VisionBoard

Before you vision your year ahead, it is also a really great practice to review and celebrate what has passed, you can work through many of the processes I do for each year in my FREE Big Dreams, Small Wonders Planner.

Words and Images together are so powerful and those of you who have been following my work for a while know how much I love visionboards and using these tools to create a life I love! Below are a few of my vision boards from previous years.

What is a Vision Board?A vision board is simply a board of any size, which has pictures, words and other items collaged on to it. The purpose is to create a picture or vision of what you want to attract into your life; this could be where you’d like to visit or live, changes to your existing environment, life or how you would like to feel.Why is it important?Having a physical representation of what you want posted up where you will see it everyday, will tune your brain (like a little radio signal) into these things as you go about your busy life! Visuals are powerful as they tap into your subconscious more than words do. I really like to use a combination of visuals and words as the words will also help increase the emotional response. I usually keep my vision board in my bedroom so I wake up to it everyday or in my studio to look at throughout the day. AND of course, it looks pretty in your home. 🙂 From personal experience I have seen the power of these beauties from leaving my job and reconnecting with a creative life in 2010, moving to a home with a studio in 2011, living a more simpler life in 2012 and changing my life completely and moving to Spain in 2013! In 2014, it was more about how I wanted to feel and slowing life down a little! (I also manifested a trip to Morocco!). 2015 and 2016 were all about nature, creating and enjoying life by the sea. 2018 was about my new book and so on!

Above: One of my most favorite boards. This is from 2016

I still keep all my boards close by as there are still a few things on them manifesting. 🙂

Materials and Getting Started.

* Thick card or poster board of any size.

* Magazines of all kinds (you never know where your visions will be found)

* Glue – I like to use acrylic medium which is what I use in my mixed media creations or you can use modge podge – I find it doesn’t ripple the pages like elmers does and lasts longer than a regular glue stick.

* White sage (optional)

* Music – something restful to help your mind be quiet and open. I like soft classical or spa music. (something without words or singing so you don’t get easily distracted with the words)

Remember you don’t have to do this alone. You can invite your family and close friends to take part.Before you begin, get yourself grounded.

* Put on some uplifting or relaxing music and breathe deeply.

* If you can find yourself a space where you wont get interrupted or plan an event with friends, even better!

* Burn some white sage for purification in the air and to create a clear environment. You can read a blog post of mine on how to make your own smudge stick here

* Close your eyes, focus on what you would like to invite into your life. Set the intent for the activity.

Above image: VisionBoard from 2015. This was all about color in my life.

Types of Vision Boards

There are three main types of visions boards that I have created over the years:

1) The Inviting, allowing and open to the universe Vision Board

Create this vision board if…

* You are not sure what you want yet

* You need to lift your spirits after a time of feeling down or uncertainty

* You know you want to make a change but just not sure how and what.

How to create your board:Start to go through your magazines and simply tear out images that speak to you, don’t ask why yet, just continue to collect the images and words. Once you are done with collecting these, look through and ask yourself what this image or word might mean for you. If you are not 100% sure, but really like the image or word that’s okay, still put it onto your board, the answer will present itself soon enough. Let your heart and intuition guide you.

Above image: Another favorite one from 2013!

2) The "I know what I want in my life” vision board

Create this vision board if….

* You know what you want to invite into your life

* There are clear things you want to manifest in your life

* You want to change your current situation, environment and surroundings

How to create your board:Go through your magazine and look specifically for images and words you know you want to manifest or bring into your life. i.e. I wish to live in the country and have a veggie garden – look for images of vegetables, countryside and all things relevant.

3) The themed vision board or “Mood board”

Create this vision board if:

* There is a particular area of your life you are looking to work on – your career, health etc

* A big event like planning a wedding, party or holiday

* You are planning on redecorating your home or buying a new wardrobe of clothes and want to collect inspiration

How to create your board:Go through and choose images and words aligned with your theme. This can also be very much like a design mood board. I like to use these on pinterest mostly to collect images of lets say, a space I want to decorate or how I want my balcony to look in the summer.

and…. of course in addition to the vision boards above, you can also create a monthly collage to dive deeper through Moon Dream Boards like the one below. I used to create these every month too.

Steps to Creating Your Vision Board

* Go through your magazines and start collecting images and words that resonate with you (don’t glue anything yet!). Don’t rush, this is a powerful exercise to attract your visions. Then grab the images and words you have collected.

* Start to go through your images and lay them out on your board. This is highly intuitive part of the exercise so feel free to move them about, take out ones that no longer feel right, you may see a theme starting to emerge.

* Firstly position a photo of yourself right in the center, smiling happily to show the expression when all these things come true in your life.

* When you are ready, start to glue your images and words onto the board. You can also draw and add additional words yourself as you build your imagery.

* When you feel like you have completed your board, hang it somewhere prominent for you to see everyday.

There’s no right or wrong way here, just go with your instincts and be open – this is the most important thing. You may be surprised with what comes out!Most importantly, enjoy the process!

Above: A photo of my when stranded in Costa Rica, March 2020! I made my Dream Board on my balcony!

Class Sale Extended!

Due to many of you asking, I will keep the Dream Life Classes sale price until the end of the month. So you can still get the Mantra Mandalas Class for only $34, Big Dreams, Small Wonders for only $59.99, Spring Clean Your Life Journal class for $59 OR get all 3 classes for $127.50 (valued at $235) 50% off all Dream Life classes in the bundle here. Offer ends at 11.59pm ET on Friday, January 31.

There is still time to dive deeper into creating an Awesome 2025! Join me for the Dream Life package and get 50% off!

Ready to live your Dream Life? I have used these exact tools to create a life I love! All classes are instant access as soon as you register, self-paced and forever access! Published in your learning portal account.

This bundle includes:

* Big Dreams, Small Wonders Program (value $99) On sale for $59.99

* Spring Clean Your Life (value $79) On sale for $59

* Mantra Mandalas, affirmations and intentions (Value $57) On sale for $34

Another great way to find guidance for the year ahead!

As a little side note, another lovely way to set intentions or receive guidance for the year ahead (or anytime you feel pulled to do so really!) is to pull cards from a card deck. These can be any types of oracle or vision cards, but I love to use my own Chakra Color Affirmation Cards. Below is my pull for 2025.

I use the clock as a way to choose cards for each of the 12 months of the year and then one for the overall theme which goes into the centre.

A printable pdf of my 84 card deck is available for $19.99 here (with video instructions) and you also receive them for free when you join me in my Chakra Color Art Journal Class which is also on sale until the end of January.

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