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- Wake, butterfly -
- It's late, we've miles
- To go together. - Matsuo Basho
- It's late, we've miles
in my own words: a spiritual and artistic journey into freedom within
Hello, my name is Stephey Baker. I'm a transcendentalist artist, spiritual counselor, writer and Master-Instructor IET™/Reiki. I employ art and the creative process not only to produce work in concept, graphic design, text and photograph, but also to navigate the highs and lows of creating an inspired life.
The development and use of art and creativity as life process became my daily practice in over coming frustration. It led me to pursue a degree in spiritual counseling, which I attained from Gateway University.
I support your journey into creative living, encouraging the creation of your masterpiece called LIFE.
My creative journey as an artist, has taken many twists and turns, one of them being pursuing a license as a spiritual counselor. This was never part of the original vision. I had a passion for philosophy and religious studies while in high school. This passion became a second major in Art School but the Art was the reason for being in school.
Art literally saved my life.
I create(d) Art to express what I know of the world, the magic, inspiration and beauty. These experiences come from a deep connection with life itself, a universal heartbeat that yields breath into being. The Japanese call this “mushin no shin” (無心の心) mind of no mind, from which all things come into being.
In this realm, words are transcended by direct experience. How do you know? Because you’ve directly encountered the knowing, its essence breathed you, it alchemizes into your blood leaving you with knowing – you just know. It becomes part of your muscle memory, your cellular memory and reorganizes your foundation of movement, action and thought.
It is a place where ordinary beauty evaporates into the warmth of your heart. It touches with insight, wisdom and tenderness. It is magically ordinary, unexplainable but through metaphor and rhythm.
Vincent Van Gogh spoke of the unspeakable inspiration I’m pointing towards when we wrote the following to his brother Theo:
Art is something, which, although produced by human hands, is not created by these hands alone, but by something which wells up from a deeper source in our souls. (letter R43)
The deeper source eludes language but graciously settles onto the blank page, conversing through paint, all the while, tutoring me as the sea tutors the surfer, through color, shape, light and form. Through entering the blank page I was safe from all that could do harm. I was safe in the Muse’s embrace and with Vincent as my spiritual guide, I noticed seemingly insignificant things that hold astonishing beauty. That beauty consoled and lessened the despair I experienced during my early adult years.
No matter the struggle or pain art returned me back to myself and diffused all worry – each encounter left it’s MARK of wisdom and slowly I began to concept creating a life and the process in which I were to make it real.
This world encouraged my pursuits beyond form and into Philosophy and religious studies. I find a kindred spirit in Philosophy because it too is trying to explain the unexplainable. For this reason alone (though there are others) I devoted myself to the opportunities philosophy promises each seeker who crosses her threshold, this promise was first claimed by the ancient Greeks φιλοσοφία (philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom".
Side Bar: Dear Philosophia , You had me at Love Of Wisdom (end side bar).
Collaborating with Philosophia at the early age of fourteen, added an extra depth to expressing those observations and insights assembled as an intuitive creator. It did this through words and creative thoughts. The world that ultimately took residence within was that of eastern thought and transcendentalism. "Among transcendentalists' core beliefs was an ideal spiritual state that 'transcends' the physical and empirical and is realized only through the individual's intuition, rather than through the doctrines of established religions."
Exploring the mindscape of thought and creating through words, grounded my encounters with the Muse, where as art created a visual picture, for those thousand words to soar.
Fluttering in the realm of all possibility, inspired my art to transmute into the art of creative living, using the concepts within art as a life process to create the masterpiece called life. To create an inspired life experience while navigating the highs and lows of life. It is what helped recreate the ugly feelings of despondency, disappointment and distress, carried inside, into beauty, passion, gratitude and peace. My early adult life was experienced struggling as a starving artist who was classily depressed.
This scared me and left me feeling ridiculously hopeless. I cried a lot during that metamorphose. I’d sometimes envision myself years older and the thought of living that stuck for so long deflated me – perpetuated feelings of hopelessness. It was in a moment of despair that everything changed.
There was something in me, deep within that never broke. Though there were times I felt broken, over come by disappointment, something stronger inside saved me from myself - something was calling within. When I noticed its echos and began to listen from within,that something soothed me with an infectious idea, motivated creative concepts into being, into drawings, photography and captured words between lines on the blank page. Soon those lost helpless feelings dissipated and I renewed with possibility.
That’s when I realized what truly wanted to be CREATED and lived - hArt. Heart wanted to LIVE the dream come true! Who better to allow the dream real than heart! If not heart – the deepest part of me - then who?
Allowing myself to wonder, pursue, and cultivate that philosophical passion is what supported the final release in transcending creative depression. It’s what Freed me Within.
It’s what supported the unbinding of self-imposed limitations and the transcendence of stuck pain. It’s what allowed the expansion of a dream beyond what I imagined. In the words of film genius Robert Bresson, it’s what allowed me the courage to, “Make visible what, without you[me] might perhaps have never been seen.”
This marks the birth of origination, a new life, a life I never planned yet, is my wildest dreams come true. Like any birth, it came with a new devotion and wiliness to give, which consequently yielded a new skill - creative counseling.
Facilitating the transformation of dissipating ghosts that feed from the shadows of the starving artist into the thriving light of the illuminated artist is my Mona Lisa. This business expands from the foundation.
I want you to create your masterpiece called LIFE.
I want to sleep peacefully at night knowing I encouraged the “stuck” out of people. Knowing I seized the opportunity to stand united with another and demand the darkness, (the shoulda woulda couldas, the regret, the not enough this or that, time money, credentials, abandonment, betrayals, and nothing…) - Stand Down!
I know everyone has the ability to CREATE what they truly yearn to bring forward. I support you by providing the creative tools necessary to practice a life as a thriving creator.
What I thought I wanted, to become a prosperous artist, was just a part of the whole – not the whole itself!
The journey into yourself is one of letting go of what you aren’t and embracing what you are.
This was (IS) supporting artists liberation from starving to thriving.
The Shadow Artist never allows creativity to develop or thrive. When in the shadow's domain we forget to CREATE. We forget that as artists we are creators. We CREATE the experiences we want. We CREATE our responses to the experiences we don’t want.
As an artist and spiritual counselor, I provide creative warriorship. I am not afraid to go where resistance and darkness reside.
I’ve come face to face with the darkness within, it brought me to the edge of myself. I playfully named the darkness Shinigami, (死神, "death spirit” it is the personification of death, the grim reaper). By naming the darkness, it no longer was elusive. Though I sobbed a lot while suffering its reign of fright-night stories and threats of death, we were on a first name basis, which allowed me to extend compassion to my new friend. Once I knew my new friend, its stories no longer inspire me to live eclipsed from love - frigid in ignorance.
It is a cold experience - frozen in fear.
Upon thawing, the ability to smell stinky pooh-pooh galaxies far far away emerged (pooh-pooh = lies/illusion). This clarity inoculated me further from despair. Just as the wizard claimed domain over Oz, and discovered small behind a huge curtain, I too discovered the naughty Shinigami gnawing me heart was but a playful lil’shadow. Think bugs bunny, monster in shadow against the wall, creek swings a dry wooden door, meow goes the kitten. Seeing the shadow as kitten is what entitled me to be in darkness, yet, void of freezing in fear.
Being impervious to despair, I can walk amongst its darkness safely, free from the wrought of perpetual misery; thereby, enabling the quench of a tortured moment into the nurturing light of illumination.
When reviving “stuck” with compassion and through tutoring a practice, (mastering defense against the dark arts), a deep focus arises, yielding the discovery of goodness in the world and ourselves.
Practice cultivates observation and willingness to gaze our cocoon of fear. The sprouts of this crop, pinpoint limiting behavioral patterns that are currently active and through this realization give way to release. New patterns grow freedom within. Developing the bravery of a creative warrior returns the following insight and skills to our Being:
The Coccoon of Wisdom
- Right Entitlement
- Right Boundaries
Ethical Conduct | The Branch of Knowledge
- Right Communication
- Self-interview
- Truth-telling
- Naming Emotions
The Emergence of the Spiritual Warrior
- Right Action
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Focus
Expanding Into Flight Freedom Within
- Ordinary Magic
- Romping with Laughs
- Begin to Continue
- Deepening Presence
- Befriending Fear
Freedom Within
Re-familiarizing ourselves with these skills is what inspires us to step outside our cocoons. The possibility of Life beyond the cocoon is invigorating.
It branches us out into a world worth exploring, increases our awareness and intrigue. It allows us to make our fluttery ascension into clear skies. We continue deepening our collaboration with invisible support, such as wind, are inspired to fly and push off into the sparkly presence of moment.
Trust metamorphosis's our transcendence into beauty.
Though we can remember being a caterpillar we do not feel ourselves inching along the branch, just as when we inched along the branch there was nothing within that us let us know we will emerge a butterfly. No longer denying our iridescent wings, we soar, with wisdom, laughing in awe at our feat.
* I'd love to hear your story and how you've over come the challenges within your life. If you're currently stuck in frustration or despair please know you are not alone. There is support available. I'd be honored to enter your journey and aid you in navigating towards the light. I invite you to schedule a one-one-one session today or reach out to me via email or simply leave your musings below.
Kelly Evans, President of the Project Mgmnt Inst Central Va Chapter "I met Steph several years ago, not long after I lost my brother and then my job. At first our relationship was just business, but she not only brought me out of the darkness of my grief, she also gave me the confidence I needed to find a new job and move into the next chapter of my life.
At that time, I was lost and searching for something more but not knowing exactly what I was expecting to find. I spoke to several different spiritual advisors, but they were all just a salve to my open wounds, luckily I listened to my inner voice and was eventually led to Steph. After our first meeting , I knew she was genuine and trustworthy and truly understood what I was feeling. There is something about her that emotes honesty and trust, she has a gift for sensing your feelings and getting you to the point of identifying what is going on inside. She has a wealth of information on so many topics and if she doesn’t know is always willing to go the extra mile to find out. She is also one of the most creative and forward thinking individuals I have ever met and is open to anything you might throw at her. She put me at ease from the moment I met her and I feel lucky that she is in my life for whatever I may need either spiritual or business related.
I don’t see her as often as I would like, but I know if I ever need a sounding board she is there to listen and guide. I also know that she will never tell me how I should do something or try to force her opinions on me, on the contrary, she listens intently and then will gently nudge me to see what has been in front of me the whole time allowing me to choose what I want to believe or not, and never judging regardless of the choices I make. She wants you to find the answers within yourself which then gives you the confidence and independence to succeed in where ever your path is leading you. She is one of the most positive and creative thinkers in her line of business. Steph is an insightful guide, a gifted spiritual adviser, a trusted friend and so much more, I highly recommend her for all your needs.
I did not expect our first meeting to end in a lasting friendship, but that is what Steph is best at, finding lost souls and befriending them."
Schedule a one-on-one with Stephey
One-On-One Session | $125.00: Here is where we begin to uncover insights into what is keeping you from doing what you love and the potential action steps to move you forward into your Joie de vivre - an inspired direction that's aligned with your desires and values. We start with where you are, cuz that's the best place to begin in moving forward from being sticky, stuck and frustrated; into inspired, confident and feeling supported. Get out a paper and pen because each session is abundant in ideas, insights, healing and inspiration. The call is 60-minutes and recorded for your convenience. I can connect with international callers via skype or chat and typically serve Australia, London and Ireland each Wednesday and the first
Book A Month of One-On-One Sessions and SAVE 20% $500.00 $400.00: Clients who choose to book a month (4 sessions) in advance are provided with a private online space for the two of us to connect and correspond. Your private space is accessible via password and custom user name. It allows for me to offer you support in-between our sessions via posted inspirational links, images, thoughts, quotes, our recored sessions for you to download and spiritual concepts that I specifically write for you in effort to customize and encourage your healing journey that month. You also have the ability to write within the space, it is interactive. You can post thoughts, links, images, video, questions, insights, observations and needs that may arise during your journey. This option can be spaced every other week or weekly.
* Click on the button above to secure your One-On-One Session. Add as many sessions as you need and check out securely through PayPal. You don't need an account with paypal to secure your session. You’ll then receive a confirmation email of your payment and a brief questionnaire. Within 24 hours of receiving your payment I'll connect with you in order to schedule your session. Please note if you purchase a session after 4pm EST on friday I'll connect with you after the weekend, the following monday, to schedule your session. My time zone is EST. I typically service Australia, London and Ireland each Wednesday and the first Sundays of the month (your time zone).
I offer a sliding scale fee for teachers, students and people who want to engage the work and need support answering the calling within but are experiencing financially difficulty. Please reach out and email me with your needs. I know what it is like to be in crisis and need help yet, feel stuck and frustrated emotionally and financially. During my early years I was placed in the grace of many a spiritual teacher who offered me barter and discounted services in order to help my healing and move into the life I truly desired. I do believe we can give what we can in the moment and sometimes that doesn't look like money but skill, talent, artistry or public service. At times one can forget their worth and what can be offered beyond finances. It is for this reason I offer a sliding scale.