Laura Hollick - Soul Art Studio

As 2009 comes to an end I find myself doing my usual reflecting on the year, taking stock of what worked and what didn’t work, what was life changing and what challenges were faced and embraced.

Some of my own personal highlights were the ‘Birth Your Dreams’ exhibition and deepening my own commitment to my purpose.  My purpose is to grow spirit on earth. I do this by creating my own artistic visions and guiding others to create their lives as an expression of their spirit.

Laura Hollick with her 'Pink Dragon'. Photo by Brent Perniac

I started thinking of the people who  touched, moved and inspired me the most this year. People who are creating and living their lives as an expression of their spirit.

I decided to create my own personal Top 10 List for the most Inspirational People of 2009.

Laura Hollick’s Top 10 Inspirational People of 2009 (in alphabetical order)

1. Ali Brown My personal mentor. Ali is a self made multi-millionaire teaching women entrepreneurs how to thrive in business by creating a lifestyle that matches their values. www.alibrown.com

2. Brent Perniac Celebrity Photographer. Having known Brent for a number of years, I witnessed him take  huge steps towards his dream this year. He opened his own studio and was published in People, Us, and many other leading magazines. www.brentperniac.com

3. David Neagle Spiritual Business Coach. David continues to surprise me with his insights and wisdom.  Every time I listen to him I feel my energy go up a notch. www.davidneagle.com

4. Guy Laliberte Creator of Cirque du Soleil, Creative Entrepreneur. Here is a guy who makes dreams REAL. His creativity and business savvy have inspired millions of people around the world. This year Guy travelled to space to further demonstrate that anything is possible with imagination. www.cirquedusoleil.com

5. Joe Hollick (Yes this is my Dad) He relentlessly brainstormed ways to make Hamilton known as the ‘City of Waterfalls’. He is transforming the image of Hamilton from the Steel City to the most beautiful city in the world. See article about Joe

6. John Galliano Fashion Designer and Creative Visionary for Dior. Galliano provides such a joyful creative vision for fashion while fusing cultural elements in new innovative ways. www.johngalliano.com

7. Kevin Thom Photographer. Kevin has the most precise eye, every image he creates is absolutely flawless.  Kevin has been instrumental in the evolution of my business and my ability to take an idea and make it real. He is the most generous, caring person I know . www.kevinthom.com

8. Lissa Hill Designer. Having worked with Lissa personally over this year I witnessed first hand how much passion is contained within this one person. She consistently stretches herself into new territories in order to make her dreams a reality. www.lissahill.com

9. Melanie Gillis Photographer specializing in erotica photography. This year I watched Melanie step into her power as a woman and claim her niche in erotica photography, she will be launching a new erotica website this year. www.melaniegillis.com

10. Peter Ormond Green Party Candidate. Peter leads by example. He is consistently rethinking his lifestyle and the lifestyle of Canadians to match the most earth friendly expression possible. www.eco5.ca

Thank you for your inspiration!

Creating costumes and masks offers the profound opportunity to explore the inner yearnings of spirit. These costumes and masks are examples of my spirit expression, which I refer to as characters from the Mythology of the Inner World.

Laura Hollick's inner being Soul Art costume sketch

'Native Princess' costume by Laura Hollick. Model Maeghen Gibson. Photo by Melanie Gillis

Laura Hollick in her feather skirt. Photo by Melanie Gillis

'Tribal Walker' Soul Art costume by Laura Hollick. Photo by Johan Wigt

Tribal mask collage by Laura Hollick

'Silly Girl' Soul art costume by Laura Hollick. Photo by Paul Potter

'Blood Currency' Soul Art costume by Laura Hollick. Photo by Paul Potter

Would you like to create your own Soul Art costume and mask?
Contact Laura Hollick for details on Soul Art sessions

3 Simple things to Live Your Spirit:

1. Connect with what makes you feel the most yourself.

2. Design your life around being yourself.

3. Decide to make being yourself your top priority.

This sounds simple and it is!

‘Union of Opposites’ photo of Laura Hollick with Mark Wedderburn wearing Laura Hollick’s headpieces. Photo by Melanie Gillis.

There are opposite polarities that exist within you. Have you noticed how one minute you can feel
completely overjoyed and the next minute you can feel bitterly angry?

It can be confusing when this happens, and the tendency is to cling to the side that feels
good and avoid the aspects of yourself that are dark and uncomfortable.

If we try to cling to one side we feel frustrated and eventually binge on the opposite side. If you’ve ever tried to be positive all the time you will know exactly what I mean. Eventually the negative thoughts come pouring out.

I don’t believe our purpose is to try to be positive all the time. Since we have the full range within us,
why not make friends with all aspects of ourselves.

When you allow the full rainbow of yourself there is a deep sense of fulfillment, which stems from
feeling whole.

To feel whole you must allow and include the full rainbow of yourself.

When you marry all aspects of yourself you can experience a love affair within yourself. I call this the union of opposites.

Try this SOUL ART exercise…

Think about an aspect of yourself that you have labeled as negative or uncomfortable. For example: fear

Find its opposite. For example: the opposite of fear, to me is relaxation.

Now create a quick sketch to represent each of these aspects of yourself. For example: you will have a sketch that represents the negative aspect and a sketch that represents the positive aspect.

Now, create a new sketch and see if you can introduce the two, see if you can get them flirting together. Mix and mingle the two qualities.

You never know it might end up in a full blown affair, even marriage!

Experiment with uniting your opposites.

Have fun!!

Creating and living your dreams is RISKY BUSINESS because everytime you attempt to move, shift, grow and transform into that grander version of yourself, your mind gets busy trying to scare you into staying in exactly the same position.

Have you ever experienced this?

You feel the inspiration to grow, and you start moving in the direction of your dreams and then….Fear hits!

Okay, you are not alone. This is actually a healthy sign that lets you know your mind is actively serving you.

Your mind is designed to keep you safe and secure. If you begin to move into new territories and new experiences your mind translates that to be insecure, because it is unknown. As a loving, loyal servant to you, your mind will make you afraid so that you do not move into a potentially unsafe experience.

That is great to know, but now what!?

The big question is how t0 continue moving in the direction of your dreams even when your mind is trying to scare you into staying where you are?

I saw a beautiful quote that I would like to share with you:

“Your fears are not walls, but hurdles. Courage is not the absense of fear, but the conquering of it.” -Dan Millman

Creating and living your dreams is RISKY BUSINESS because it will bring your fears forward. But, that doesn’t have to stop you.

If you are determined to create and live your dreams, then you will need a strategy for when the fear hits! I’ve designed an exercise for you to try when you feel fear set in.

This is for the brave soul…..

Living your dreams exercise for when the fear hits!

Take notice of what you are feeling and thinking. Write down on a piece of paper an exhaustive list of everything you are afraid of. (really include everything)

Once you’ve got your list of thoughts, acknowledge your mind for making you aware of these thoughts.

Recognize how your mind is doing an excellent job of trying to keep you safe. This is an important step, don’t overlook this step, really take the time to acknowledge your mind and Thank it for serving you.

Once you have fully acknowledged each and every fear thought. You are going to look at that very same list, but this time, looking at it through the eyes, and heart of your spirit. What is your spirit’s perspective on these thoughts?

For each and every thought you have listed record your spirits perspective on each one.

Now, introduce your spirits perspective to your mind and notice what happens.

Enjoy being exactly what and who you are celebrate every aspect of yourself!

As you are changing and evolving in your life:
Be kind with yourself
Be conscious
Have fun!