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Joos's journal

20-10-2020

Joyous strength

For this painting I also tried to remain as free as possible.
The woman is standing in the center of the four directions.
In the South is the earth, with the color red.
The West is blue, the color of the element water.
In the North, the element is air, Spirit. The color is white.
And in the East is fire, renewal, with the color yellow.
She seems to be happy to be standing in her power.

 

14-10-2020

Free

After freely painting the background I had no idea how to proceed. Something was blocking inside me.
Then I gave myself permission to continue painting colors, without being preoccupied with the result.
It became abundantly clear that a woman showed herself, seen from behind.
I now realize how important it is to be aware of the back of my body, both for feeling strength and for opening deeper to the mystery.

 

30-08-2020

The great unknown

When we have the feeling that our life is stagnating, we are at a zero point.
The way forward is sometimes to be silent and to ask ourselves carefully what we do like.
For me, part of the solution sometimes lies in following a new painting course.
The woman in this painting looks back at what was and doesn't know yet in which direction she wants to move forward.
The great unknown is in front of her.

 

28-06-2020

Souvereign

The other day I wondered why I could paint such a powerful, independent woman and yet not quite feel, embody, her firmness in myself.
This morning it became clear to me that I had not listened enough to my intuition in everyday life. That’s when I started to feel a little peevish, without knowing the reason for it.
When I opened up to my inner voice, it became clear that I had to cancel a few fixed appointments.
As soon as I did, my energy and peace returned.
The woman in the painting aligns herself, opens herself, to the light, to the information that comes to her, with her whole being.
Apparently, that's what I'm being asked to do.

 

02-05-2020

Gentleness

A big spider was sitting on the wall this morning
What to do but ask for help from someone to remove him like I always did?
There was no one around but me.
I had to find my own solution.
With a kitchen towel I embraced the spider softly, gently,
bringing trust so that he would let himself be surrounded by my touching hands.
Sunlight was shining through the door I just opened.
When we were outside my hands let go.
The spider fell from of the towel towards his freedom.
All of a sudden I felt how gently my husband used to do this
and missed him dearly.
At that moment I felt that his gentleness for nature was abiding with me.

 

03-04-2020

Peaceful and joyous

Sometimes the painting process requires a real transformation.
This "Earth angel" appeared during a "Mother Earth" course with Michal Shimoni.
Initially she was very stressed, with dark lines in her face.
When I made her more ethereal, her expression disappeared, and I still wasn't happy with her.
Michal advised me via the Internet to bring more contrast.
Eventually, intuitively, I felt that the holy erotic wanted to participate and I used orange to cheer her up.
It worked.
She is now peaceful and joyous at the same time.

 

20-03-2020

The power of peace

I made this painting during a course with Michal Shimoni.
Tree Spirits was the theme and during the painting process I felt the tranquility I also feel in trees.
I asked: ‘What is your message?’
Have faith.
Keep the outside world out.
We are your friends.
‘How can I find my rhythm of life now that everything is stagnating and meetings are canceled?’
Let your own life reverberate.
‘Will you help me to do that?’
Sure, as long as you listen to your inner urgings.
‘Thank you.'

 

13-03-2020

The Art of Allowing

Now that many activities are canceled it feels good to be at home, needing quiet time, reconsidering what I find important.
Deep listening, painting, feeling...
It is truly the Art of Allowing through discovering what wants to happen and what brings me joy.
The task at hand seems to be to find out how we can be aligned with ourselves in a deeper way.

 

02-02-2020

Longing

There is a Power that leads us by letting us know what warms us, feeds us, brings us joy.
This Power is always here, even though we often don't listen to it.
It feels like a deep wish, a deep desire, a longing that is not always fulfilled immediately.
It is a signpost on our way to a fuller life.
In my book Wholeness complete I write, May my search for Light be life-enhancing.
This still rings true. It's an inner compass.
I want to listen to this depth, over and over.
It is the voice of my soul, my authenticity.

 

31-01-2020

Poetry

Since the death of my dear husband, I move through a period of transition.
I feel that a deeper layer of myself wants to present herself.
My thinking mind cannot make sense of this, and that’s why I have planned to write a poem every day, so that irrational thoughts get a chance to guide me in setting the course that’s indicated by my deeper self.
I'm glad I can write again.