It brings me great pleasure to feature Artist and Cosmic Cowgirl Tracie Hanson in my column this week. When you see her artwork and experience her enthusiastic commitment to living a creative life, it will be easy to understand why I feel the way I do! This column, Dare to Bloom, is an ongoing exploration of living a creative life, so it’s the perfect place to introduce you to Tracie because she is daring to bloom and living a creative life. She is leaving behind perceived limitations and risking the sometimes painful and often scary unknown for the potential of becoming her true artist self.
Not only is Tracie a visual artist, she and her mom, Caroline Bell, have written a book, Her, a collection of 55 inspiring short stories about fabulous women!
Below she shares a famous quote by Anais Nin about taking risk for the sake of growth. That same quote has been a powerful favorite of mine for more than a decade, it inspired my thesis “Risk to Blossom,” and is a constant reminder and inspiration for growth in my life and work. And I know Tracie and I aren’t the only ones taking risks and reaching for more satisfying lives filled with creativity and artistic expression. Cosmic Cowgirls University is filled with women daring and risking to blossom into their full creative selves. Come on over and check out the summer events and courses!
It takes courage and persevering practice to do this work and speak our truths, and being part of a vibrant community of others actively engaged in living their creative lives can make all the difference. I truly believe that each time one of us takes the risk to blossom into our creative artist selves and continues to practice creative living, we boldly throw open the doors for others to do the same.
How are you living a creative life? If you’re not quite there yet, what do you need to step into the creative life you’re longing to live?
What small step (risk) can you take right now to create the kind of space and/or community you need to Bloom?
How can you daringly express your creativity today?
And now, allow me to introduce Artist and Writer Tracie Hanson. Thank you Tracie, for sharing a glimpse of your Blooming Life with us! You are indeed an inspiration!
Blooming by Tracie Hanson
Writer Tracie Hanson aka Tall Cool One
I’m a late bloomer. I was well into my late forties before I uncovered my creative yearnings. “Uncovered,” I said. Those yearnings were there alright, buried deep beneath layers of “shoulds” and “have to’s” and “supposed to’s.”
Sure, I could “pretty up” a home. Friends often told me I had “an eye for such things.” I’d also spent my early mornings pouring my heart out in journals – for years. Still, I didn’t see it. I didn’t recognize how happy being creative made me. How creative expression made my life richer, deeper, more interesting, more colorful.
Then one day just over two years ago, I can’t recall exactly when, I felt something stir. A tiny seed . . . a whisper . . . an echo. It called to me. “Listen,” it said. “Awaken. Pay attention. Follow.”
And I did. I’ve been tilling this new soil. Germinating that tiny seed, all in hopes that I will fully bloom into the artist, the writer, the woman I long to be. I want that for you too. You are the cultivator of your own sacred creative garden. Let’s get our hands dirty.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
– Anais Nin
Tracie Hanson is a mixed-media artist and creativity coach married to Derek, the love of her life.
The couple bounces between sunny Southern California and foggy Northern Cal with Derek’s two mid-sized, growing “art goddesses,” and a dog named Flea.
They all teach her much about art making and living juicy!
You can see more of Tracie’s artwork and read more of her inspiring writings at http://www.mybloominglife.com/
Isabella Vickers is an artist, writer, therapist, wife, and mother. She practices as a Jungian-oriented psychotherapist in Oregon’s beautiful Willamette Valley where she utilizes creative and expressive arts to facilitate growth and healing. She offers Blossoming into Fullness: A creative group experience for women, and she and her husband and practice partner offer Co-facilitated Couples Therapy: an innovative journey through the mysteries of dialogue, both within each individual and between, to cultivate the sacred ground of relationship. www.LivingAirDialogue.com
Tags: articles for women and girls, assigning meaning, awaken, blooming, Cosmic Cowgirls Magazine, creative action, creative expression, creativity, features, isabella vickers, living a creative life, painting, pay attention, Tracie Hanson, women-owned online community, women’s classes, women’s member tribe, women’s online courses, women’s online university, writing, Your Blooming Life
Brava Tracie! I love the painting on the cover of “Her”.
Cheers to blooming right where we’re planted, wasting no time to claim roots and blooms of unexpected colors.
XO
Thank you so much Laura!!
This magazine is like fertilizer for my creative soul!!
fantastic Tracie – you are such a wonderful soul and your energy and honesty bring light! smart magazine this one!
awesome Tracie!! your work is so inspiring!! i am so glad i found your blog. keep up your bright and creative life!
Yay Tracie! Such an inspiration.
Tracie YOU are an inspiration. I LOVE that you listened to that voice – don’t we so often miss it?? YOU listened and look at the goodness that is springing forth from you!! As someone who is proud to say I have your book I can tell you it it is FABULOUS!! You have such talent please keep sharing!