Life

A Healing Blessing

December 12, 2016December 12, 2016 Erin Keane

Each of us needs healing in our lives. One of the marvelous way to offer healing is to offer blessing to those we love and care for. The gift of blessing changes the way you see yourself, and experience your mind, and body. The gift of blessing also offers a sacred space for love and transformation to happen deep within the very cells of your body, which in return creates healing and health. Illness, pain, suffering etc. are released from deep within you and light and wholeness fill your body, mind and spirit.

blessing-of-healing
May you be blessed.

Blessings, Erin

If you would like a custom blessing, prayer, image ect made for yourself, family or friends, or a print of my work please contact me here. Like my Facebook page Bella Bleue Healing , or follow my Instagram Page ErinKeane.Design for more of my artwork.

Healing, Inspiration, Life's Journey

Learning to Soar with Unexpected Change

July 17, 2013July 18, 2015 Erin Keane

The last two afternoons a beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly has danced by me while watering my garden. Yesterday, I was filled with a sense of joy, imagining that this beautiful butterfly came by just for me: gifting my eyes with its gentle freedom and beauty. As it danced away, I went back to my plants and forgot about my encounter. Today however, I experienced a sense of blessing and wonder, as we were graced to cross paths again. And thus, I let my gaze linger longer and watched this beautiful creature dance across the open air, moving around freely. And as I watched, I noticed the way the butterfly soars with joy. It fluttered from here to there, and wandered wherever it chose to go. There was nothing stopping the butterfly’s movements. In some ways the way it fluttered by, seemed almost unintentional, as though the butterfly was filled with joy and just absolutely embracing its freedom to fly.

This image of the butterfly embracing its freedom delighted my spirit, and thus, opened my heart to looking deeper into the gift of this image and how it speaks to life. Butterflies are often associated with the symbolism of change. Because of their wonderful metamorphosis from a caterpillar walking along eating leaves, to a beautiful creature who opens its wings to fly, change is the perfect symbol. This second encounter wasn’t just by chance. As I watched this butterfly, my thoughts and feelings began to open and I began to understand that the butterfly’s dance was a way the Divine was inviting me learn.

Life has been bringing with it experiences I, and others, haven’t really chosen to learn from. In the last few months I have had a few different friends who have been going through difficult and unexpected change in their lives, and I also have been recovering from loss and change. And grief is very deeply rooted in all these life experiences. Yet, as the butterfly invites us to discover: one form of dying may lead to another form of living. And although it may be a way of living that we have no road map for, we can still discover delight, beauty and hope in spite of this change.

I imagine sometimes that the caterpillar has no way of knowing that she will become a butterfly. And as her daily life goes on, she knows she must eat, and then somehow within her, she knows to make a chrysalis, and then she transforms into her freedom of flight. And when this gift of flight occurs she is frightened and unsure of her new wings, maybe she is even saddened by the change in her body, but then she opens them and begins to fly, and this change opens her eyes to new discoveries and blessings.

So we too can be like this beautiful butterfly, unsure and feeling saddened by the way our life has transformed, but as we begin to take the next step, say the next word, breathe another breath, we can begin to discover our new path may bring with it new beginnings, and healing. This acceptance of change though comes in time, and for each of us when this time comes may be different. Additionally, we have to be open within ourselves to see the gift in the road ahead of us, because despair and negativity can also keep us stuck where we are. This gift of discovering new ways to be free within ourselves is also a process of healing after the grief. Each time we allow ourselves to awaken to a new day and live after the change is taking a step towards healing, a step towards dancing again, signing again, feeling like you again, etc. And maybe one day like the butterfly you will again feel deep within the joy of being you, and experiencing your life as gift. And maybe like the butterfly, your story, your presence with someone, will also invite them to begin to heal, because they will witness how you have also learned to soar even with all you’ve been through.

Blessings to you as you begin to soar!

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

Please also visit my photography site: Photography by Bella Bleue.

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

Inspiration, Spirituality

Healing is right outside your door

June 8, 2013June 13, 2013 Erin Keane

It’s been awhile since I sat down to write to you. Yet, every single day you have been in my thoughts, and my prayers. My blessings surround each of you a hundred times over, and embrace you with softness, peace, safety, and love. You are each a beautiful, authentic vine growing forth from the tree of Life. And it is a blessing to accompany you in your journeys as you accompany me.

I have needed some deep healing in my life this last month and instead of writing I have been turning to the natural world for comfort and healing.

Nature offers me its love each day. It connects me to the deeper spiritual nourishment my soul needs.

Have you ever taken notice of how a broken plant heals and grows as long as it is tended to? It needs to be given light, new soil, pruned, and watered. We are similar in our need to be tended to by being comforted, touched (we all need to be held) bathed (cleaned, forgiven, offering forgiveness, etc.) and to be in the presence of light (sunlight, hope, joy, etc.).When we are tended to in these ways we can be renewed and healing will happen.

In my own life I experience a deep connection to God, the Divine in nature. It is where I see balance and know of harmony. There is even a melody in nature that I hear, and feel within my whole body that creates equilibrium: it’s the sound of tree leaves blowing in the wind, the melody of the birds, the colorful dance of the flowers.

I invite you to be present in nature. To be still and watch and listen, the kind of listening that comes forth from your whole being.

Recognize your connection to the earth and how the earth responds to you.

Notice how nature accepts you as part of it.

Notice the little things: an ant walking, a fish coming to the surface, birds flying in the sky, the intricacies of a tiny flower…

There is something sacred in the earth for each of us.

The earth heals, us day by day, just as it heals itself.

We also bring healing to the earth as we notice and care for it, which in turn heals us. In other words, when we offer love we receive love.

May you be blessed by the earth’s healing gifts today and always.

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

Please also visit my photography site: Photography by Bella Bleue.

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

Connecting to the wonder we are, Healing

Creativity Heals

May 12, 2013June 13, 2013 Erin Keane

It is quite amazing how being creative allows you to heal. It re-centers your mind, and gives your emotions an outlet–a place to go outside of yourself, in a healthy way. Creativity also brings you closer to the Sacred–it connects you to that deeper spirit within yourself, the spirit of love that dwells within you, and connects you to the Divine or that which you call Sacred.

Since the spring weather arrived here in the Northeast, it has become more and more difficult for me to sit down and be creative. My son is 3 1/2 and needless to say, everything in life is exciting, and three-fourths of it happens outside. So by the time I get some time alone to write, I am too tired. But today, I found some time to be creative and played around with my photos, Photoshop and my love for words and created something for you. So I feel better…

How does creativity awaken your spirit?

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

Connecting to the wonder we are, Healing

Solace in the Night

May 1, 2013June 13, 2013 Erin Keane

There can be great solace in the night, when you take the time to pray, meditate, or just allow yourself to relax. May you be blessed with some time for yourself, to reconnect to the wonder you are and draw closer to the miracle YOU are.

May your night be full of blessings!

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

Connecting to the wonder we are, Discovering Strength, Healing

The Earth’s Healing Messages

April 21, 2013April 21, 2013 Erin Keane

The earth brings forth healing through its wondrous beauty, its inspiring growth, and its ability to survive even when faced with incredible storms.

These words, are ones I needed to write as my heart is finally able to grieve over the last week of sorrow, & uncertainty that has happened around our city. They are also words that remind me of endurance, and strength. And they are words, that I hope inspire you too. They certainly are not the words and images I would usually use for Earth Day, but they are the ones, that come from my heart right now.

Placing my hands in the dirt these last few days, to bring forth a fertile ground for my plants to grow, has been my comfort, and a place to leave my sorrow.
The wonder that comes as I watch new buds come peeking through the soil, and the anticipation to see the beautiful flowers that will peek out, gives me a sense of hope.
Knowing that life is still beautiful despite, the pain that has happened around my city this last week, brings healing to my weary heart.
Even though a plant may break, it has the strength to keep growing, and living. And that even after horrendous storms, roots that run deep and hold strong to the ground will not falter. We can overcome, and be strong and recover, because Love wins, and its roots always run deeper than any pain.
There is an amazing sense of calm and peacefulness that erupts gently within my heart, when I am at the top of the mountains, or along a beautiful coast line, and this connection to the earth transcends my spirit and brings me closer to the Divine.

What happens within you when you feel connected to the earth? Where has this happened for you? Go there in your imagination and allow yourself to feel.

Our wonderful Creator, knew we needed this earth. It is where we are able to connect to a sense of wonder, and awe. Experiencing the earth allows us to free our imaginations and inspires us to sing, paint, photograph, write, run, play ball, ski, climb trees, etc.

The earth really is a place of wondrous healing.

How has the earth brought healing into your life?

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

Connecting to the wonder we are, Discovering Strength, Healing

It’s Okay to Cry, Really It Is

April 11, 2013June 13, 2013 Erin Keane

Why do people cry?

“Maybe emotion becomes so intense your body just can’t contain it; your mind and your feelings become too powerful and your body weeps.”–City of Angels

Have you ever cried so hard that your tears weep from the depths of your soul?

I have. Recently…

About a month ago, I had something difficult and unexpected happen in my life. Something I wasn’t particularly prepared for, but knew could happen. And when it did, and I understood that the experience was real, I began to cry. The kind of cry where you full-out weep, with your hands over your face. And tears like raindrops creating puddles and waterfalls cascading over your hands onto the floor. The kind of tears that run down your face with trails of black mascara. The kind of cry that makes your cheeks and eyes turn red. The kind of cry that weeps deep down from the pit of your soul. The kind of cry that leaves you feeling numb when you are done.

For a few days the tears just kept coming whenever they felt like it: washing dishes, combing my hair, hugging my husband, petting my cat… I stopped here and there wiped my nose, caught my breath, and sat quietly too.I got a break every once in a while, however, where I could feel quiet and calm. And regain some sense of myself. And day by day it got a bit easier and the tears got a bit less…

Tears and crying are a part of our creation; they are a part of our human design; i.e., they are a part of life. We hear of people weeping in stories, we watch it happen on TV, and we also weep. Tears have a purpose in our creation. Something changes in us when we cry. So I ask, What changes within you when you cry?

For me I realize over and over it’s like the quote at the begining from City of Angels: allowing ourselves to cry allows the deep pain within our bodies to be released. Crying allows your mind, body and spirit to release the pain, the anger, the grief, the anxiety, and the fear. And we are changed by this release.

Are you one to cry and let out your grief? Is it a comfortable release or something you avoid?

We each make meaning out of our emotions and others emotions differently. Tears, and crying can mean very different things to each of us. Thus, we all have different comfort levels with grief, and especially grief that is outward, such as tears. Tears can be a very natural and comfortable release for some of us, and for others of us, tears can be very uncomfortable and try to be avoided. How we make meaning out of our expression of emotions effects our journey of healing.

When I worked in the hospitals and visited patients, sometimes we would have a deep conversation that opened itself to the person needing to release their suffering through tears, and yet s/he would stop himself/herself from crying because s/he saw tears as a sign of weakness. I would encourage him/her to let out the tears, but often the person was unable because s/he wanted to be strong.

I believe tears, are a great source of healing for us. And thus, allowing ourselves to cry makes us stronger because when you cry you make space within your mind, body and spirit for healing to happen. Instead of holding in anxiety, grief, anger, fear which weaken us and can make us ill, your body is being given permission to heal because you are “letting go” of these feelings.

So my answer to my question, What changes within you when you cry? is:

CRYING allows You to BEGIN to HEAL.

So even if you haven’t been one to cry, or even if you are one to cry..

Remember, sometimes it is good to cry and let grief have its way. Your tears allow you to release pain, sorrow, and disappointment, in a very bodily, and emotional way. And allowing yourself to cry makes room for healing and hope.

May you allow yourself to grieve when you need to, and to open yourself to hope and healing, as you go through the process.

And most importantly as you grieve:

Be gentle with yourself, you are a marvelous creation, even your tears are a part of the wonder you are.

There is a Divine LOVE ready to embrace you.

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

Connecting to the wonder we are, Health, Inspiration

The Healing Wisdom of Your Body: A Metaphor

April 4, 2013April 5, 2013 Erin Keane

Your body holds a deep wisdom. Your deep truths to healing and connection flow right in the very cells and tissues of your created body. When you listen to the wisdom of your body and work as a partner in your body’s healing you actually become healthier.

A metaphor for the wisdom of your body:

Pregnancy is an amazing and mysterious state of life. When I got pregnant with my son, I was amazed at how my body just seemed to know exactly what to do. You are going about your normal way of taking care of yourself: eating, working, exercising, talking, & sleeping, and yet your body is being transformed millisecond by millisecond to make space for a little person who will be changing your life forever. Your organs are being pushed around and moved to different places in your body, and yet they still function exactly the way they are supposed to in order to keep you living and well. You don’t have to give orders or say, move this way; they just know. Your body knows.

I’ve always been the kind of person to pay attention to what my body is telling me. But I haven’t always been very good at listening to what it is really saying. When I was pregnant I started to really listen though. And I realized that my body really is a miracle.

Your body really is a miracle.

I didn’t have to tell my body to produce milk for my son, it just did.
I didn’t have to tell my organs to go back to where they belong after birth, they just did.

I did have to care for myself though, and show my body gentleness and respect, so that I could heal. We have to work as companions with our bodies towards our healing. Your body already knows what it needs to do to seek healing and well-being for you-i.e. bodily wisdom, but you need to work with your body so that the healing can be effective. If you work with your body to be well and heal, you will heal.

If you work against your body or do not take care of your body your healing will take longer and your body may work against you–I also know this is true because I had many healing complications after my pregnancy because I wasn’t taking care of myself (my postpartum depression was in control then).

What has your experience of physical, mental or spiritual healing been like for you?

This metaphor of pregnancy and the wisdom of your body isn’t just for those who have given birth, it is a metaphor of bodily wisdom for all persons.

Your body knows what it needs to do
to heal
to create
to be well
to regain strength.

Take time to be with yourself today
to listen to your body
to be aware of your body
to feel your body
to experience your body—being cognicent of all your organs, cells and tissues working to keep you well.

Your body has deep wisdom. Learn from it. Nourish it. Love it.

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

***I originally wrote this post about a year ago, but wanted to share it again, because its message is speaking to parts of Life that I am encountering in myself and others at this time.***

Blessing, Connecting to the wonder we are

Resurrection is a Daily Gift

March 31, 2013March 31, 2013 Erin Keane

Today is a new day!
It is another day of life.
It is another day for you to feel.
It is new day for your body, mind and spirit.
It is a new day:
You are evolving,
You are changing,
You are deepening,
You are surfacing.

It is a day of resurrection.
A day where new life can begin in you.
It may not be a huge moment,
Or a burst of enlightenment,
It may be something as simple, and huge as,
I’m a bit better today,
I feel a bit more like me,
I discovered I’m not alone at this moment.

Whatever it may be,
Today is a new day.
Resurrection comes when you are transformed
in a moment,
to believe even more deeply in the miracle you are.
It’s that moment where you are struck with the awe
that there is no one like you
not now,
not ever.

It’s a new day!

I believe you are enough!
I believe that you are a living miracle!
I believe that you are here for a reason!
I believe that there is an incredible Spirit of Love
that lives within you,
and for you!

It is a new day for you to begin to believe and live this as your truth!

This is a new day!

I have faith in you,
and I have faith in the Gift of your Life.

I believe.

In you.

I believe.

In me.

I Believe.

A very blessed day of New Life to you today and always!

Wishing you a very blessed Easter!

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

Connecting to the wonder we are, Inspiration

Spring into Hope

March 20, 2013March 20, 2013 Erin Keane

The last couple days, I’ve been needing LIGHT in my life. Light that brightens my spirits, comforts my heart, and reminds me that there is HOPE.

Yesterday was a miserable winter day, and my heart was weary. It was the kind of day, where you remember the things you’ve put aside, because you’re working at healing from them, and then they just pop up uninvited. However, when I awoke this morning to the sun shining through my window I was filled with a pleasantness within, a sense of hope, and a feeling of “You’re going to be okay.”

It is such a gift to know that when we were created that Light itself in nature, was created with us, to heal, to provide hope, to offer warmth, to inspire, to create growth, etc. All of these are gifts that bring our spirits to a place of goodness, and wonder. And it is a free gift that just shows up.

Today is the first day of spring in the Northern hemisphere. I haven’t seen my tulips yet, but I am hopeful.

Yes, I am HOPEFULL.**

May you be blessed today with LIGHT and may your day be full of HOPE!

Blessings, Erin, Bella Bleue

See my Facebook page for daily inspirations and messages.

**if you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy my post HopeFull Healing

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