Lago Atitlan, Guatemala Love x

Here at the airport on my way back to Costa Rica after the first of 12 blessed months-to-be of 2015 ... What a journey! I knew before I arrived here in Guatemala that I wasn't going to be satisfied with a measly 10 days, and ended up changing my flight to the end of the month before the week was up. Immediately welcomed by my new lifelong friends, Ginou and wolf, I spent my first week at their place. It didn't take long for me to feel anxious and lost, as I tend to when I arrive in a new place. Some things never change. But once I established my purpose to paint people into the world, I became settled into extreme busyness. Ginou described me as a bee with fire shooting out of its ass... And it seems that this might very well be my natural state. I buzz with endless creativity and I don't chill out easily so i have been practising balancing my days with meditation and yoga. Gandhi said "I'm such a busy man that I have to meditate twice a day" and I totally resonate. In order to juggle all these projects and visions whilst travelling with my home in a bag on wheels, stillness is my best friend. Those small glimpses of eternal silence and calm existence instil me with a sense of connectedness that is required in order to keep going... With intentions to make some money I secured a gig painting a wall at a sweet motel! After three days of negotiations, agreement was made and I arrived with all my bags, not expecting him to cancel the agreement after it was made! Things tend to work out for the best, and his guilt lead him to give me a free room for the week... And what a lovely room it was! :) super blessed with good fortune, I was then offered the best room in San Marcos which was something like living in a lighthouse or a boat. A platform glass house on the water, I watched the rainbow sunrise from my bed every morning and only had to open a door to be welcomed by bellowing volcanoes that overlooked the magical lake Atitlan. An experience I will never forget, those two weeks in that room were filled with creative inspiration! A beautiful woman named Vanesa had asked to shoot some pics of me, and having somehow gathered an incredible collection of handmade clothes that somehow matched my mystical bedroom, we played dress up and recreated the scenes made only in dreams. Two camouflage paintings where created, and deep meditations were shared. And because spirit is very generous, I house sat my beautiful friends Faery house for the remaining three days of my time in San Marcos, whilst they went to the rainbow gathering. Walking through the small streets of that town could end up being a whole days excursion of socialising with the beautiful people... Eating tamales and tostadas was heavenly, so cheap and so good, imbued with the love of the women who fed us every day. I had intentions to go to different places, see more, travel etc... but in the end I stayed in San Marcos and got to truly feel the vibe of that one town. I created seven artworks in total and performed my poetry at three events, sharing parts of my heart never share before. Each experience with its own story, lessons and memories... I have climbed a few mountains in vain and accepted the spontaneous change of plans, allowing magic to happen through the unplanned synchronicities is worth each and every supposed breakdown. Learning how to flow is one of my greatest lessons.

I will never forget January 2015 on the magical lake Atitlan that rises mysteriously 3cm a year and holds the secrets of ancient Maayan culture. Surrounded by volcanoes, no doubt this lake has bubbled and boiled once upon a time long ago. One of the volcanoes fumed many times a day, and bellowing smoke could be seen from across the lake whilst I painted. It's seems there is always more In this world that I have not seen or experienced, more to enrich my mind and heart and soul. My gratitude for this life is overwhelming. Every single being I have met has enriched my experience in some way, as is always the case. Whether through alignment and resonance or insight and reflection, each person offers me the opportunity to grow. It is always our choice whether we receive the lessons presented to us. Practising trust and discernment and walking the tightrope of self love and humility is central to the happenings of this story. This is indeed a never ending journey of spiracular growth and I am so honoured that creative collaborations shower my trail of adventures. I continue unquestioningly in my callings paint, to merge, to reflect, to write, to travel and to connect deeply with those who are ready and willing. Indeed like a bee with fire shooting out of my ass, I continue to buzz with excitement and enthusiasm for the possibilities of this life.

Now as I fly over Guatemala back to Costa Rica, I prepare for another adventure of painting and presenting in three festivals over the next 6 weeks whilst doing my by to organise my debut exhibition in Australia for May. So much to do, I breathe in every moment, one step at a time, trusting that my drive to create and inspire the world is worthy of all my efforts. Tomorrow I shoot my crowd funding video and begin my campaign to support me support pachamama. Looking forward to including you all in this process of creation. Together we make a dream of life. Remember to ask for what you need, spirit is looking out for each and everyone. 

Blessings,
O.
xx