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Energy Gathering: Intention, Creativity and Hawaiian Teachings

Energy Gathering: Intention, Creativity and Hawaiian Teachings by Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici | #AspireMag

In Hawaiian tradition, we honor our ancestors.

When I visit Kilauea Volcano or travel off island, I chant my aloha and recite my mo’okūauhau, my ancestry to announce myself to the land. I believe your ancestors are invisible support. When you know your support, you can tap into energy you never knew you had.

In Western culture there is an emphasis on independence and self-sufficiency. Of doing it on your own. Paving your way. And yet, there are ancient teachings that recognize the power of support.

How can we do both? Share our uniqueness and individuality AND have support?

Seven years ago I was a stay-at-home mom who had completely lost herself in her kids. My husband was traveling for business and my days revolved around feedings, changing and playdates. I knew something was wrong when I didn’t want to get out of bed anymore.

I asked God for something. Anything to help. After reading the book, A Gift of a Year, I decided I wanted to try painting and writing. I hadn’t done either since grade school, but the thought gave me hope and made me look forward to waking up. In my in-box popped an email from Shiloh Sophia announcing a six month painting and writing mentorship program. A sign.

(C) 2016 painting by Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici
(C) 2016 painting by Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici

Creativity saved me

I had no idea what I was doing, but I didn’t care. I was doing something for me. I felt alive for the first time in a long time. During the program, nap time became my time. I painted. I wrote. I dreamed. I grew. I learned.

I rewrote the I’m not creative story I had been telling myself for 30 years.

After months of creativity, I was reborn. I had reconnected with spirit. I saw the glimmer of a bigger vision, a dream. Most importantly I had stopped living in martyrdom blaming my husband and kids for my unhappiness and started living a life that brought me joy. Painting and writing were my healing practices and every day I grew stronger. I remember the day I called myself an artist.

After a year I decided I felt strong enough to help others. I gathered 6 women in my home and held my first woman’s circle. I felt like I was passing something on, some healing. After a year of holding circles and small workshops, I wanted more. I wanted to grow.

I knew better

I’m ashamed to admit it, but like a teenager, I believed I could do better on my own. I decided to go somewhere else for support. I stepped away from my creative community and hired a coach, entering the world of business. I was wayyyyyyyyy out of my comfort zone. I learned this other way of sharing my work in the world. I learned how to host online events for thousands of people and hold sales conversations. I learned how to create 1-on-1 clients and fill a group program. I was successful and miserable.

Learning the hard way

I had taken my coach’s teachings and had grown successful in business but hadn’t listened to her coaching on how to create a life alongside my business. I was driving myself into the ground. When I was with my husband or kids I would be checking emails. I barely painted anymore unless I was teaching.

My wake up call was a hospital stay where the doctor said I was lucky to be alive. That time reminded me of my Mom’s stay in the hospital when I was 13. Only Mom didn’t make it. I vowed I wouldn’t let history repeat. I wanted to be there for my boys. I decided to do things differently. Life was too short not to live the way I wanted.

I went back to basics, to things I wanted to do. What was my way? I sorted through what I had learned from my mentors and teachers and decided what was best for me. I saw the immense amount of wisdom and available support. I saw where I needed support and reconnected with my creative AND my business community. I no longer cut off parts of myself to be successful. I learned how to do both.

When I recognized my lineage of teachings and opened myself up, I had access to immense amounts of energy and support. I could be independent me and still didn’t have to do it on my own.

Ready to tap into your unique energy and support?

Energy Gathering: An Intentional Creativityâ„¢ Practice

Grab a piece of paper, pencil, some markers/crayons/colored pencils and let’s go…

  • Set your intention to gather your energy and find the support you need. Right now, is there some area you need help/support? Write it down with pencil on your paper.
  • Creativity: On top of your intention, with color, draw a tree trunk with branches. Draw giant leaves and for each leaf, write the name of someone who has been a teacher or support for you, someone you learned a lesson from. Write what you learned from them. Use colors that feel good for you. Include family, teachers from school, courses, friends, sports, coaches, books, etc. Anything that has radically shifted the way you show up in life.
  • Gratitude: Look at your Tree of Support and really feel the support you have. Teachers, friends, family, seen and unseen support. Feel the gratitude that they shared the wisdom that came from someone else handed to them, handed to you. Gratitude you didn’t have to learn it all on your own.
  • Inspired action: What do you feel called to do? Reach out to thank someone? Support someone yourself? Add something to your current teachings? What leaf can help you right now? Take action.

And if you’d like, create your own Mo’okūauhau from your teachers before you. Here is mine:

I learned art from Shiloh Sophia who learned from Sue Hoya Sellars who learned from Lenore Thomas Straus. I learned writing from Mary MacDonald and poetry from Caron McCloud. I learned joy of movement from France-Laude Gohard who learned from Debbie and Carlos Rosas. I learned business from Shanda Sumpter. I learned hula and Hawaiian tradition from Kumu Hula Nani Lim Yap who learned from Auntie Pilahi Paki and Uncle George Na’ope and Auntie Iolani. I learned to follow my dreams from my Mom Susan Elen Sage who learned from Fredrick Sage who learned from Fredrick William Sage who learned from.…

Who have you learned from? And who are you sharing with?

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About the author 

Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici

Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici is an intuitive creativity coach who helps women access their intuition and creativity. She guides creatives to get their book/art/workshop/creative business out of their heads into the world. She has helped over 22,000+ women through her Woman Unleashed Online Retreats, private and group programs. Learn more at
www.TheRadianMama.com

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