Emily of Alamandria

Views from the street. One of the most significant and special characteristics of my exhibition was the gallery’s location. Anyone familiar with Upper Cuba Street, Wellington knows that it is incredibly heterogeneous and eclectic and the people that came into the space were from remarkably diverse walks of life.

The personal struggles of some visitors were palpable, however, the insight, connection and perception they often shared with me regarding the works and their personal process with the activity sheets was inspiring and deeply moving. I came away feeling deeply humbled, and with a renewed sense of certainty that my approach—bringing art and activity as a healing, self-reflective and creative practice—is much needed in the world.

And dear Alba deserves an honourable mention too. Her presence with me throughout was so important. She attracted people into the space and scared a few away too! A lovely young woman who spent a long time on an activity sheet at the art table said, “I saw the gallery and your exhibition this morning and thought I would come in after work. But walking home I felt so tired and so I walked straight past to go home. Then your dog barked at me and I thought that was a sign to come in”

I have been meaning to post a more cohesive collection of photos of people from the opening night of my The Sacred Grove Exhibition – so here they are!

It was a truly magical occasion because of all these special people. Thank-you so much for coming and blessing the gallery with your presence everyone!




Loving our family photo

Thank-you for the gorgeous flowers
& thank-you so much for these photographic memories!

Last day of the exhibition which has been so rich with visitors. We are open for another two hours until 4pm. Still time to come and experience the numinous paintings and have a reflective artistic interactive experience with the activity sheets!

And of course Alba the gallery pup will be here with her favourite blue balls awaiting cuddles 🩵🐾

Come to the gallery for an interactive experience!

This week has been incredible with people visiting the gallery and using the activity sheets that connect with the paintings’ themes. Quietly sitting at the table with art materials, they have undertaken their own tranquil and reverent process. I have been incredibly touched by some of the sharings and the time taken to explore the themes personally.

This opportunity is open to everyone during opening hours. All are welcome! 🙌🏼

The opening of The Sacred Grove was a numinous event. I am so grateful to all the special souls who came with so much goodwill, love and open heartedness for myself and the artworks.

My dear friend and Alamandria cohort, Mark Geard, gave a special introduction prior to my own speech where I talked about the personal journey I have taken with the artworks over the last two decades. We will both be facilitating ‘The Easter Triptych Workshop’ this Sunday morning, a special event for those who wish to have a creative, reflective experience exploring the themes of the paintings. See www.alamandria.co.nz for more details and registration.

Opening Hours
Tuesday – Friday: 11am – 6pm
Saturday: 11am – 4pm
Sunday: Workshop Participants only

'How do you know when it is truly intuition and not wishful thinking? Because intuition makes you feel uncomfortable. Fantasy doesn't.'
– Caroline Myss

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Hello beautiful Wellington wāhine,

I am going to be offering some Women’s Creative Mindfulness Sessions on a regular basis at my home in Karori and would love to invite you to come as participants or to spread the word to other women who may be interested.

I have created these soul nourishment sessions as an ongoing series, a time to step out of your day-to-day responsibilities, productivity and stress, and be held for a time in a safe mindful space and creative process. Each session may include a breathing exercise, meditation, visualisation, group sharing and creativity – in which absolutely no prior artistic experience is necessary.

Each session will have a theme – with the first theme being ‘Courage & Intuition’. We will be taking a gentle look at how we can step into the powerful natures of our own inner guidance and acknowledge the courage it takes to follow our intuition when there is so much that demands our attention as we try to honour the needs of others.

Monday 25 March 10am – 11.30am
Limited spaces of 6 people per session
$35 per person
Please book online at: https://www.alamandria.co.nz/event-details/womens-creative-mindfulness-courage

“Colour can give life to our thinking, and one way to ensoul the light is to think colour as vividly as one can. That is a kind of meditation, and meditation is the one truly free, moral deed humankind can do on this Earth. All the rest is mainly necessity”⁠
– Liane Collot d’Herbois⁠
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We live in an incredibly crucial time in which it is essential for human kind to undertake practices that awaken and enliven our heart realm – our capacities of brotherliness and sisterhood, compassion, mercy, understanding and selflessness.

The heart energy centre, known in Sanskrit as Anāhata, is represented by the colour green. A clear, radiant emerald green. Powerful and cleansing forces radiate from this colour. One only needs to gaze at a verdant natural landscape of trees, plants, and other greenery, to experience an inner harmonising within our soul. Such is the wisdom of Mother Nature.⁠
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As part of our meditation we may envision a radiant light pouring down from the heavens, through the crown of head, down into the emerald green of our heart realm. This ‘spirit-sun’ can warm and enliven our heart space and in-turn flow-out as a loving force into the world.⁠
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You may like to speak these words inwardly as you breathe:⁠
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Breathing in: “I breathe the light and warmth of the sun into my heart”⁠
Breathing out: “I send this warmth and light into the world”⁠
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We have been experiencing an inordinate amount of rain and grey skies here recently in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and so I sat down yesterday in front of my chalk pastels and asked myself the question: 'How do I want to feel?' This is what arose. ⁠
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When I look at it, I feel a certain kind of hope and magic. ⁠
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I use this same question when facilitating colour soul moods with my Creative Life Coaching clients. It is so important that we are able to create a vision – out of our own selves, without relying on others – that is nourishing and uplifting for us. Whether it be a visualisation, a colour soul mood, a journal entry or something else. ⁠
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In this way we can become empowering instigators of our present and future forming selves. Becoming more practiced and familiar in the ability to enhance, uplift, and creativity articulate our own soul mood – transforming our environment within and without. ⁠
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Colour soul moods are healing and revivifying on a day that is dim in light, cold in temperature, grey in colour and solitary in nature (or overly social and in need of a time of reflection).⁠
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Therapy is for EVERYONE, EVERYDAY. ⁠
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How are you taking care of your soul needs today? I would love to know. ⁠
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Recently one of my Creative Life Coaching clients shared a story with me. ‘In the mornings’, she said ‘I often go outside and I place my forehead to the ground. I say thank-you and give my gratitude to mother nature, and then I say ... I’m sorry.’⁠
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I was very moved by this picture she gave. One of appreciation but also a daily atonement for all that we are doing to our sacred Papatūānuku. ⁠
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We talked about how in colder weather, we can put our forehead to a branch or trunk of a tree as we undertake this special ritual, if the ground is too wet or cold to kneel.⁠
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My client is a woman of substance and bravery, once an environmental activist she has put herself on the frontline of protests and knows what it means to stand up and stand strong in the face of powerful forces that harm our precious environment.⁠
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During this time of great catastrophe for the earth and its offspring, we can each nurture and grow our relationship with nature, beginning with these gentle, yet poignant communications by offering our appreciation, our apologies and then asking ‘what can I do to help?’⁠
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This story is shared with the permission of my client.⁠
📷 Ricky ⁠
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.co.nz⁠

‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me’. This is a saying I grew up with as a child.⁠
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But the truth is that words and the energy they emit, are powerful beyond measure. Or actually they can be measured and have been for many years through experiments with water, people, cells and plants.⁠
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Ikea did an experiment whereby they took two plants (same type of plant, same soil, same stage of growth etc) and with one they spoke kind, loving, motivating words and with the other, they bullied it. This photo shows how they both gradually changed over time.⁠
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I just wanted to pick-up that dear plant on the left and give it a big energetic hug. One day we will realise that this experiment is a kind of torture to living organisms.⁠
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Just like getting a pet, introducing plants into your home is a commitment. You need to care for them, find out what kind of light, environment and ongoing nourishment they need as far as minerals, soil and water. ⁠
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If you speak kind loving words and really observe your plant, it will tell you what it needs, in a multitude of ways.⁠
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Calling a plant a special name and engaging with it, shifts the energy of the plant, yourself and your home. Bringing our awareness to mother nature in this way offers another example of how we can awaken to all life around us, nurturing it through our own attention, care and heart warmth.⁠
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Screengrab from the Youtube video: Bully a plant: Say no to bullying

Hello wormy worms! Here I am taking a little peek at the worms which are in abundance in this lovely moist compost bin kept in the shade at the side of my house. ⁠These little squirmers are helping me to keep my compost journey going on all fronts!⁠
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When my 9 year old niece, Indigo, was staying a while back, she came with me when I went to put the compost out so she could see the worms. She brought her dessert treat, an ice-cream, with her but once she saw the immense worm population, she no longer felt hungry! All that yummy, squirmy goodness must have done something to her tummy LOL 😂
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She also said – 'don't touch the worms you will burn them!' I was like 'really??' So I did a bit of metaphorical digging and found that worms breathe through their skin, which is very permeable and covered with mucus that helps them absorb oxygen. So if you are going to touch worms, make sure your hands are free of any residue that may be absorbed (from food or hand moisturiser etc), and potentially have your hands a little cool and moist with water. A good thing to know because I am sure that touching worms is at the top of your list!⁠
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Recently there was a magnificent storm and the top blew off this container – which had never happened before so I think maybe I had not fastened it properly. A couple of days later when I went down to put my fruit and veg waste in, not a worm could be seen and usually there are thousands in all states of growth! They had all slipped down away from the light. Thankfully they are all back now and turning my compost into brown gold for my garden!⁠
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More compost inspiration can be found at Blue Borage Gardening
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