Aurora Art Therapy...

Just over a month ago, Tony and I started renting an art studio for us to pursue our creative dreams.

For me, it's about creating a space to run sessions and workshops for my business Aurora Art Therapy and to grow my own personal art practice. Tony is using the space to create amazing prints using alternative photographic print processes - cyanotype and platinum palladium printing.

Originally we saw a bigger studio (with a window that let in lots of natural light) but it wasn't available at the time, so we took a temporary space in the same building and set up there in the meantime.

We have loved creating a space - filling it with lots of cool art materials and decorating it to feel warm, bright, creative and inviting. And despite the fact it wasn't the exact space we wanted, we both really loved it. And then, just last week, the other studio became available and we finally got to move into the newer bigger space. I haven't got a picture of the new studio yet (the one above is of the first studio), but it's totally awesome and we love it too!

Yesterday, I was very excited to finally launch my business website! It's all about my art therapy practice and I think it reflects well the colour and passion I have for art therapy. Click on the link and have a read... If you live in Melbourne (or you are planning a visit) you might like to come along for a private session, or maybe do a group workshop!

Welcome to Aurora Art Therapy.

Mandala Healing...

Three months ago today I had a hysterectomy. It was not what I had expected. For some unknown reason I expected it would be easy. Don't worry, I am totally fine, I'm referring to the time following the operation - the recovery. I believed I would not take the suggested six weeks to recover, that I would, within just a couple of short weeks, be up and about as if nothing had happened.

Of course, I was totally wrong.

My belief that I would recover at a greater pace than anyone before me, that I would be back at my studies within two weeks, that having someone at home with me for the first week, was really more for company and entertainment than a requirement... was all wrong.

I spent 4 nights in hospital and then my partner Tony collected me and took me home. My healing was slow. And at times painful. I was exhausted. I slept long hours, got out of bed with my body aching, then slept for much of the day on the couch. I could barely walk for any distance and when I did venture out, I did so at a snails pace. Tony was amazing. He looked after me every minute of the first week - until he returned to work for a holiday! And even then, he would come home each night and cook and clean and pick up after me.

The six weeks they told me I would need to feel even remotely back to normal was, funnily enough, as they advised. Seems they did know more than I did in these matters! They were not exaggerating.

I had big plans for my down time. Art. Writing. Catching up on some school work. Seeing friends. Going out for coffees. Learning a language. Reading. Watching endless movies. But truth be told, apart from a few visits from friends, I managed very little.

I started my first mandala the day of my operation, with big plans to do more. I had a book I wanted to fill. But it wasn't until ten days later that I finally had the energy to come back to it. For the next three months my mandala book became a big part in healing and my journey back to health. It was what I reached for when I was under strict orders to rest but had enough energy to concentrate. And once I was feeling better, I continued to reach for it as a daily ritual. And today, three months after my hysterectomy, I completed the last mandal in my healing mandala book. Forty-eight in all.

I am happy to say, I am feeling so much better than I did this time three months ago. Each week I have improved and I am now ready to face a healthy 2014 with energy and enthusiasm. With thanks to my friends and family for checking in, with big big thanks to my gorgeous man and with deep thanks too to my mandalas, as each one of them created a link in the path to health and wellbeing.