Messages of Love
All rights reserved by Katherine Skaggs © 2006. Please do not reproduce without permission.

It was October 2004 when I finally honored my inner calling to more fully use my creative talents and abilities that I have had since birth. With the encouragement and assistance of my dear friend and most talented artisan Shiloh McCloud, I entered into a visualization to help me reconnect with my deep inner calling and creative juices. After only 20 or so minutes in a guided visualization, I entered my unused art studio and began painting again … after a hiatus of more than seven years. Not only did I begin painting again, but I also began using a new medium consisting of more brilliant colors than I had used before. These paints were vibrant, alive, intense pigments beyond what I had ever imagined in the past … including metallic pigments … taking my creativity to a new dimension … literally!

In moments, my painting experience surpassed what I had only dreamed of for many years. For some time I had sensed that I would merge my fine art talents and creativity with my intuition and spiritual guidance. Self-doubt and the “daily grind” had kept me from painting for far too long. I’ve been quite intuitive my whole life, but, like many, I had too often hidden or dismissed my intuition and inner guidance. Though I have actively worked at developing my intuition and inner guidance for more than 20 years now, when in corporate America, or around my family or mainstream friends I kept quiet … in the closet … or, low key, about my true inner knowing and intuitive promptings. I have had many reservations about using my inner guidance publicly.

However, painting intuitively immediately opened me up to energies greater than my inhibitions and insecurities. I could not deny what was flooding forth through my paintbrush and my consciousness.

Within a few weeks of picking up a paintbrush, Mary (you know, Holy Mary … Mother of God Mary!), came to me in the middle of the night and prompted me to paint her. She presented herself to me through my sense of feeling and inner hearing. I could feel how she wanted me to paint her on the canvas … the colors, the pose, the messages steeped in unconditional love. She encouraged me to continue to open to the creativity and calling of not only her, but of other beings wanting me to paint their presence for the world to experience. There was no way to ignore the guidance. It was filled with love and messages of universal truth for all to experience.

Though unfinished, I displayed Mary at The New DreamWeaver. Within 24 hours of her hanging in the store, she auspiciously connected me to her buyer, Kerrie Weitzel … now a dear friend and avid promoter of my artwork. In deciding whether or not to sell her, I was told to release her to the world, share her presence and wisdom, and make room for more beautiful beings wishing to be painted.

As different sacred images and heavenly beings have flooded in, so have continual internal encouragement from my guides, angels, and the entities wishing to communicate to the world. The inner promptings grew louder and more intense. They were now telling me to paint “Soul Portraits.”

“Soul Portraits?” I knew exactly what they were telling me. In the mid-90s I was prompted to paint “Soul Portraits.” And I did for a while in 1997. Instead of the brilliant acrylic medium I am now using, I was then using watercolors. I was less confident, not wanting to portray myself as a psychic, or really any sort of intuitive—though I had taught others how to become more intuitive through classes for more than seven years at that point.

Now it was 2003, and there was no way my guides were going to let me off the hook. They were so excited that I was painting again. Their urgings became stronger for me to do what I now understand as my soul path, or soul contract. There was no way I could ignore the messages.

My First Soul Portrait:My Self Portrait

My first soul portrait was actually a process, revealing my own soul portrait … an intuitive self-portrait. Through several different sessions I worked on one particular canvas and laid down a series of patterns, shapes and colors … not having a particular vision for what was supposed to unfold on the canvas. I just followed my inner voices and promptings. I didn’t even know it was going to be my own soul portrait when I began.

First, I painted the canvas entirely black. Next, as I began to experiment with my new and exciting paints, I painted a series of spirals covering the surface of the canvas… first using one pigment, then taking an entirely different pigment and blending it into the original spiral of pigment directly on the canvas. It was like chanting a mantra over and over, one spiral at a time, different pigments asking me to use them. I reached for each color based on intuition, not intellect.

Time passed without my knowledge of its passing. I was in an altered state, filling the canvas with spirals of beautiful paints. When I sat back from the painting, I thought, “Beautiful … different … interesting … I wonder what will come next?”
I don't know how many days, or even weeks, passed until I sat at this canvas next. But when I did, I knew it was time to actually do my own soul portrait—on top of the spirals—uninhibited, allowing color, form and pattern to flow based on my intuition and inner promptings. “Do not edit according to intellect or how you were taught to paint—paint the energy ... the feeling ... the deeper sense of love.” And I did.

The painting was brilliant … very different … unique … filled with patterns and colors I knew were opening a gateway to my higher self, my multi-dimensional self, my self beyond this reality, my self wiser than I can ever imagine in this conscious mind, my God/Goddess/Universal Self, my Soul Self. The painting was so bold and unique, intuitive … I could not ignore it. It spoke volumes to me.

It educated me about my own personal soul story. It gave me insights into my soul path, my innate connection to universal truth, and, most importantly, that I am loved beyond what I have been able to receive and accept most of this lifetime.

And though I may not be able to absorb or receive this vast love at any moment, it does not go away. They (my guides and angels) again reminded me that I am surrounded by beautiful beings of light, as is each individual on this Earth. I am not alone. None of us are alone. We are NEVER alone. NEVER … no matter how confused we may become in our journey … we are always surrounded by love, guidance and assistance. The messages of love that I received while painting my soul portrait were strong and clear and flooded my conscious mind. My heart was opened more widely. I was guided by this love, a grand and vast love capable of healing humanity in ways that I/we might only pray for … beyond what most of us can imagine … if only I/we each can learn to listen to its guidance and assurance in our lives.

With these messages of love and knowing that I experienced of my inner guidance, guides and angels, I no longer could hide my gifts and talents … no matter what excuses or insecurities I might have or want to concoct. The universal truth flooded in beyond my individual journey, beyond my little self. Though focused for me to hear specifically, the messages were much larger than me. I had to share the messages with others, through soul portraits, sacred art and writing. I could not ignore the message, “It is time that we each receive encouragement to put our insecurities aside and rise up to our larger, beautiful, love soaked, Soul Self.”

Painting Other Souls

I began to share my painting with others, talking more and more about my experience and need to paint Soul Portraits of others. Still doing my best to trust my inner guidance, I turned to my dear soul-full friend Melody, telling her about my promptings … and asking her if she might be interested in doing a trade … a soul portrait for an iridology reading. Of course, dear soul friend Melody, said, “YES!”

Prior to Melody's arrival at my home studio, I sat with the canvas and intuitively flooded it with color washes, directing the paint in different directions, abstractly on canvas, based on my sense of energy that was asking to be expressed. In 20 or 30 minutes I had painted the base colors and patterns that began Melody's soul portrait … a fraction of the time I had spent with the initiation of my own portrait.

Melody arrived, and nervously, yet somehow knowingly, I initiated the first soul portrait session with the amazing, brilliant acrylic paints flowing quickly on top of the background colors and patterns I had already laid down.

I think we might have talked and I might have timidly mentioned that we set an intention for the session. I have a hard time remembering! My guidance told me to keep it “comfortable, low key and casual.” We chatted and I painted furiously; again flooding the canvas with form, color and an infusion of energy. Melody told me at the end of the session how fascinated she was at how incredibly fast I painted. I knew it was just as if I was the vehicle for an inordinate amount of energy and intelligence to be expressed on canvas in a short amount of time.

I didn't communicate much specifically to Melody during the session. Melody spent less than an hour with me. I felt my guidance tell me that she could leave the session and I could spend a few more hours in my studio intuitively painting the rest of the portrait. And so we did exactly that. Later, when I presented the painting to Melody, I spoke more specifically of the colors and patterns in regards to her soul purpose, and the messages of encouragement and love being expressed there.

Initially timid in verbally expressing my inner guidance with any of the soul portraits, my guides and angels continued to tell me that even if I didn't find words to accompany the paintings, that the messages would flood through to the individual through the intent of the painting, the colors and patterns, and the infusion of energy that flooded through the session into the paint on the canvas. They encouraged me to speak when I heard messages, and most importantly to paint … just paint what I felt and perceived … and get my conscious, limited, insecure attitudes out of the way. I received constant love and encouragement to open up to this unlimited, universal omniscient energy. It was a blessing, a gift … one that had to be shared.

After Melody received her painting, I asked her to let me know if she noticed any particular changes, messages, or promptings. I needed some confirmation of whether what I was receiving intuitively was in any way accurate and helpful as I felt it had to be. Weeks later Melody let me know that she took the painting everywhere with her … strapped “her” into her SUV to travel safely to work and home again … that her painting's eyes would follow her around the house … that there was a definite connection and drawing into the painting when she sat with her … and eventually an acknowledgement that somehow the presence of the painting reminded her to stay on track with her life … an awareness of her soul's purpose and how it affected her choices. And yes, the painting is a “Her” a real presence, alive with powerful energy, vast love and wisdom … a true reflection of Melody not only in this lifetime, but beyond all time.

Wisdom and Love

With each subsequent painting comes another fascinating soul story … one filled with love and wisdom. Love floods the room during each session, opening the heart and mind of each being to more of who they are beyond their everyday lives. Each person receives acknowledgement and affirmations for their soul's journey. Words flow more readily with each painting—more during the session —and even more still if I will sit at the computer and allow the information to flow through my fingers onto written pages. There is always an intensely beautiful reflection of love for each individual.

I have now painted individuals, couples, humans and their animal companions, as well as a living individual and her deceased mother—not to mention her entire lineage of ancestors begging to be painted in the picture … who finally appeared in a blended energy form. Each painting brings an incredible flood of energy prompting each individual to a greater sense of love for their selves on their journey in life … accompanied by a greater sense of purpose. Not only are the recipients moved to tears of joy or a deeper sense and acknowledgement of love, but I am also blessed with an incredible sense of love, honor, humility and fulfillment. The sense of oneness with all is undeniable.

The universal message in all of the soul portraits that most wants to be expressed is that we each are so much more than we ever can see and embrace in our normal everyday lives. We each are pure love in motion. It is very important that we learn to acknowledge more and more each day that we are great beings with the capacity to initiate great change in the world … simply by being who we are. No matter how different we might feel from others, it is important to learn to listen and express ourselves from the center of love for exactly who we are. It is from this space that we can nurture compassion for our self … and for each other person on this planet. It is from this space that we can learn about grace and its transformative powers. It is only from an appreciation of a greater sense of our own self that we may realize love and acceptance for our family of humanity.

This is the love and wisdom I have been asked to share today. There are many more messages of love that I will share later … as they are vast and as endless as the drops in the ocean.

By Katherine Skaggs—The Original Dream Weaver … following her dreams and inner urges … being more of herself each day … learning to love herself and honor her soul contract … acting more courageously, outrageously herself … inviting, encouraging, challenging each of you to do the same! May we one day realize that it is through Self-love that we connect and love one another, that we heal the world around us, that we become One. Namaste!