Larissa Russell 0:06
Hi everyone, Larissa Russell of Creative U Healing, and I now have with me Rachel Awes. Rachel Awes works as a psychologist, art playgroundist, I want to ask questions about that. An author who loves listening to the beauty and people and animals and all living colours. Her four published gift self help books are infused with loads of her colourful drawings, all designed to affirm the human heart. Her newest illustrated personal growth gift book is called the relationship book and is all about loving yourself in all relationships. Her most tender and mighty hope is to hold up a mirror for many reflecting at party truth of your boundless worth. And love that, I love that. Welcome, Rachel.
Rachel Awes 0:56
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Larissa Russell 0:59
Well, I'm excited. I do I do want to ask this question first. Because I saw this. And I was like, I love that art playgroundist. What does that mean?
Rachel Awes 1:09
Well, it's my made up term. And it means that when I make art, it feels like I'm on the playground again, like an elementary school, and I'm running the field with my friends. The wind is in our hair, and we're free.
Larissa Russell 1:24
I love that. I love that. Because I think it's so true. Like, we just need to play more right and be so attached to the outcome of our creations. We're just allowing that play.
Rachel Awes 1:36
Yes, absolutely. Yeah. It's a deep soul invitation, isn't it? It's one that hopefully, we knew as children. We knew we came into this world knowing it.
Larissa Russell 1:50
We did we came in, and then we lost it somewhere along the line for most of us. So yeah, getting it back. Getting it back.
Rachel Awes 1:57
Yes. Yes, absolutely. And that play is well, it's light. And it is and airy, and yummy. It is also serious. It is also it involves her imagination, which is very powerful. I also don't want to underestimate the powerful nature of play as well.
Larissa Russell 2:19
Yeah, I think it really opens us up when we can allow ourselves to play to really get the imagination, but also that freedom that we don't often give ourselves. And we can delve into things and really explore with curiosity. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So can you share a little bit of your story and the path that's brought you to where you are now?
Rachel Awes 2:48
Well, since we began with play, I think the path I'm at now is a full circle and a deepening to the path I knew as a child. I did like to draw, I did like to write poetry. I loved my time with my friends, especially one on one. I loved colourful clothing, like just numerous things, right. And these are all the things I've returned to and build time. And so being a psychologist is so much the relationship thing and one on one, and, and then the folding back and drying and writing and all the things like so I think that is all a big part of what I've been up to is like trying to catch up to who I once knew I was. Yeah.
Larissa Russell 3:44
Yeah. Because we were once that way. We need to get back there.
Rachel Awes 3:51
Yeah. So may think that getting back there is, is having some kind of a commitment to our joy of noticing. When we feel more joyful, even in the little things, what pair of socks you pull out of your jar, or can just be the ordinary daily things. But I think that noticing what sets our heart beat even like all that's right, I like banana bread, or watermelon, or whatever the things are. Those are all clues back to the child and all clues back to the home within.
Larissa Russell 4:28
Yeah. I love that. I love that. So when you think of the term healing with creativity, what does that mean to you?
Rachel Awes 4:38
Healing with creativity.
Well,
I think about what it's going to help to anchor this for me to think about a time period where I've done some healing. And when I think of that, I think of this year I've had a whole thing with my thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that regulates a lot of things in their throat region. And it's just affected a lot of things, my energy and sleep and numerous things. And so, creativity with healing, I think, for me, has meant leaning back in and really deeply listening to what's going on for me. Because when I think of creativity, I think of outside the box, I think of not comparing ourselves to others, I think of not doing something necessarily in a way because it's, it's prescribed, or you've seen it that way. But it's actually taking a fresh look, a quieting look inside, and really listening to what wants to be known. And creating something new, like responding with a new way. And so, for me this year, in my healing process, it's meant in that listening, it's like, the new things that want to be known is okay, Rachel, let's find some new ways that will even better support you because you've been working so hard. I have now begun a Chi Gong weekly class, which is people more often hear of Tai Chi, it's similar. It's moving with breath work. And it's just very lovely. And I've returned to seeing a spiritual director who's super supportive. And I could say a number of things that I do, I'm meditating twice a day now, just. But what it's meant is what? What is something new? And current? I think that's part of it to what I have to catch up with myself. So what may have been healing in the past doesn't mean it would be healing now, or that it's current for me now, or I'm just thinking out loud as us it was such a beautiful, great question. Those are some thoughts off the top
Larissa Russell 7:31
I love it. I love it. Because it really, it's such a personal question. And it's something we try to answer all the time. We're just dealing with creativity. And, and it really is, it's that tapping into what's going to work for you, that allows you to move and flow to allow things to release can't become known to you. And it's gonna be a different answer for everyone.
Rachel Awes 7:57
Right. And I think a different answer for everyone. I agree and a different answer at different points in time for the one person, right.
Larissa Russell 8:06
Yeah.
Rachel Awes 8:08
Because I think that we are. I mean, well, we're always like, at the core of who we are. I also think that we're evolving hearts and souls. And so sometimes in my therapy practice, I will say to people when they're surprised, like, I thought I dealt with whatever that was, I thought I forgave that person, or I thought I was over having dreams about that one thing, or I thought I was and sometimes I'll say, like, I think that you did the really good work at that time. And now you've grown and evolved. And so to keep integrating that those knowings and it's like, it's gotta get reintegrated into your evolved self. Maybe there's some new things to do for your healing. Now, that's like this incredible opportunity to even deepen the healing. I mean, healing is messy. I think that it's right. It's not like, oh, healings, all neat and linear always and. Right. I think it asks a lot from us. I think it's hard work. Yeah, it's a whole interesting thing to take a look at. It really is.
Larissa Russell 9:36
I just love what you said. Because it is it's, it's messy. And, and often we get started thinking we want to do the healing work, but it's messy. And our brain kicks in. It's like, No, we don't want anything. We don't want change. And then things start to change. And we're like, backpedalling, and it's like, but I need to move forward. It's like, yeah, I call it the Cha Cha of healing.
Rachel Awes 9:58
I love that so much. The cha cha of healing, right.
Larissa Russell 10:03
Back and forth and sideways, just all over.
Rachel Awes 10:06
And oh my gosh, I adore that.
Larissa Russell 10:08
Yeah, it because it is, it's very messy and but so worth it when you work on things, but you're right, we don't go through things. And then it's like one and done it. I equate it to that ball of yarn and you're pulling it and then you come to a knot and then you stop and you work on that knot. And then you're pulling it in, it's good for a while and all sudden, there's another knot. And you're like, Oh, I thought I gotten knots and just keeps getting all tangled and messy.
Rachel Awes 10:36
Right? It can be so tempting to say forget it, or I'm putting this down or and then never ended up with amazing sweater or whatever the thing might be.
Larissa Russell 10:48
Yeah, yeah.
Rachel Awes 10:51
I want to back up from that statement and revise it a little bit like you may not get a full sweater. But maybe you get a scarf out of the part you did do right? So it's the bit of unknotting you did do even if you end up putting it down does do something. Right? Yes, just or do I want to keep going with this?
Larissa Russell 11:12
Yeah. Fine. Find. Once you get on a roll, though it's a little bit addictive. The healing work is because you're like, Oh, I know how much better that made me feel. So now if I keep going? I know I'll feel even better. Yeah. So a lot of exploration and curiosity, I think that comes in the healing
Rachel Awes 11:32
So true.
Larissa Russell 11:36
One of the questions that our listeners have asked us to ask is about music. And because I do not listen to music, when I'm working, I listen to music when I'm driving, and I listen to music when I am cleaning. That's pretty much yes. But many people listen to music, when they're creating when they're writing when they're like any type of creative act. Making learning is music, a part of how you move through your creativity.
Rachel Awes 12:08
I would say most likely, I'm similar to you, and that I really want quiet when I'm writing maybe it's more when I'm writing because I think I need to when I'm searching for words, I need so much stillness to go fishing for those. Maybe if I'm painting, if I'm beyond the general conceptual part of paint, like I have the general idea, or then I can have some kind of music going. The last thing I painted, I had on an Andy Gibbs station and was super enjoying that like duet with Olivia Newton John. And that was really fun for me. And another thing that I do musically is when I meditate recently, I put on what is called the spa station. It's just instrumental and very like one song may be just really soft, gentle piano music. It's just very ethereal sounding. And so for my meditation anyway, it feelsvery like a really nice accompaniment. I will say if I was painting and I could blink and just be magical, I would maybe put into the room some magical woman playing the harp. That would be just fine with me. Yes.
Larissa Russell 13:42
Yeah. And music has so much emotion attached to it. And again, and again with for everyone. And so I thought it was an interesting question that that we've been asked to ask. Yeah, because I hadn't thought of it because I don't listen to music when I'm creating. Yeah, I very much sit in silence for my writing and painting, I really need to tap in to the energy to the divine. And so it never crossed my mind to play music and then to hear how many people do just like, Oh, am I missing something? Right comes with its own energy. Yes. Music is one of those ones that absolutely changes for everyone. How they how they show up.
Rachel Awes 14:29
That's very true. Yeah.
Larissa Russell 14:32
I love that. I love that. Well, tell us a little bit about what you create. You've got books, but you talked about your artwork and I know you have an Etsy shop. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Rachel Awes 14:42
Sure. I think my inspiration for creating my books really began and stemmed from my inspiration from my therapy clients. And what happened is that over the years, I've heard them see So many inspiring, insightful, sometimes funny, but truths and insights out of their suffering. I've just been super inspired by that. A number of years ago, I began jotting some of the things they would say down that took my breath away. That led me ultimately, to create my first book, which is called All I did was listen. And that book, each page spread has an anonymous client, quote, my written reflection that's kind of pull me are pearls like, and then my colourful illustrations. And that whole book is really about this. This order, starting with messiness inside leading up to I am, who I am, who I am, like just this story of transformation of coming back home to ourselves. And so that these quotes provided an inspiration and framework that began in my mind to tell everyone's story. What we all being human walk through in that and of course, with our own distinct stories, but there's such common threats. Then the drawings themselves the illustrations, that first I wanted to try to use something like other people's art, I was looking at Picasso's, I liked the line work. And then at the time, my youngest son, tapped me on the shoulder and said, No, Mom, this needs to be your art. But I really hadn't made art since I was a kid. I just, I believed them. And then I was prompted to get a bunch of stuff from the art store and work with a quote and work with my line work until I found what felt authentic coming out of my pen, and what colours express that quote the best. It's been a really beautiful exercise, being creative. Again, really listening to my deepest self, and listening to what really, I find inspiring, listening to what I would want to share with others, and a way of encouraging them. All of my art and all of my books are really about affirming the human heart, and about providing snapshots, if you will, to people to prompt them to think about their deep worth. And their beautiful hearts in new ways. What I've heard from people is they tend to land on people's bedside tables, because it's their sort of little intimate conversations that I'm having with people. Yeah.
Larissa Russell 17:58
Yeah, I love that. Well, I have to definitely check those out. Because that sounds exactly like what I like on my bedside table. Oh, get up and you open it and you get to be in one place or follow you just whatever message you need at a time.
Rachel Awes 18:17
Yeah, yeah, I could if if you'd want. I could read a brief excerpt from I would love maybe, from my newest one that you mentioned the relationship book. This is structured in a way that the chapters are various relationships, relationship with myself, with food, with clothing, with animals with people, community divinity. And so those are the themes. But I will find one that's maybe in the first chapter, which is about relationship with myself. And here, for those who are watching, here's just an illustration coming from this one. This one also has some anonymous client quotes in it. And this one the quote is, I'm feeling more depressed, and I'm realising I need to create experiences that are wild and beautiful. And then I wrote, When standard self care practices aren't sustaining my well being I turned to experiences that are wild and beautiful. I walk in the rain. Picnic behind a waterfall. build a tree house, Plum base and food, knit sweaters for trees. watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon. Show up at a friend's door and sing. read poetry at midnight. Right to an elephant. Say a purring prayer with a tiger at the zoo. Somehow these all get inside of me and work their magic. Can you see the colourful hot air balloons travelling around now in my breath? How about the elephant inside my palm? Who's writing the back
Larissa Russell 20:01
I love that.
Rachel Awes 20:03
Thank you.
Larissa Russell 20:04
Thank you. And your books are available at on your Etsy shop. And yeah, we have your link here. And your art is also available. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And then you're offering our listeners free diving in book included, they just have to say that they heard you on the podcast, and you're going to include that for them with any purchase at your Etsy shop. And we have the link. So we'll put that below. Do you have any final thoughts that you'd like to share with everyone? Before we go today?
Rachel Awes 20:39
Maybe a final thought? Is this. Your question that you asked earlier today of what for you is creative healing or? And so for the people listening? I almost want to say I just really trust you're tuned in today. And so the rhetorical question of what's creative healing for you? And was there any clues to that in our conversation today? And the extra encouragement I would give in that is, make sure there's some joy, that's a part of your answer. That that's going to help, like, fill it out, give it roots and make it sustainable.
Larissa Russell 21:23
Thank you for that. Thank you so much. I want to thank you for being here and sharing today.
Rachel Awes 21:28
All right, thank you for having me again. Alright.
Larissa Russell 21:32
To our listeners. We will see you again next time and in the meantime, I wish for you amazingly creative days.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
