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Dr Suzanne Moss - The Artist The Coach
37 Plays4 months ago
Dr Suzanne Moss guides her students to explore and unfold their unique visual language through abstraction and meditative art methods. While undergoing treatment for serious illness, an epiphany during 2011 altered her life course and led to the development of her programs. She has since cultivated deep conversations about creativity and living whole-heartedly and helps her students gain real skills and confidence through distilled teachings and restorative life coaching.
For Suzanne and the people who work with her, art is a spiritual practice; a practice that brings a greater sense of being alive. Since 2012, when she began guiding her contemplative, meditative art programs, Suzanne’s work has evolved with ongoing curiosity and seeking excellence, with a desire to serve; to uplift through art. She has presented her courses in Australia, Italy and Germany.
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Transcript
Introduction to Marie Nicole and Her Mission
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you desire to turn your passion into income? Connect with other creative souls who also dance to the beat of their own drum? I'm Marie Nicole and I'm devoted to combining beauty, uniqueness and connection in everyday living experiences. As a creative professional and Dharma coach, I help people connect to the truth of who they are and facilitate them in embodying their uniqueness. It is my hope in this podcast that I inspire you to live your life on your terms and earn your income through being uniquely you.
00:00:33
Speaker
After all, it's the unique thread that we each contribute to the collective tapestry that creates the whole.
Digital Solutions Program and Podcast Support
00:00:43
Speaker
Before sharing today's podcast guest chat with you, I wanted to let you know about the Digital Solutions Program, a government funded initiative serving micro and small business owners, can support you in your journey. If you're in New South Wales, Australia, Have an ABN run a for-profit, micro or small business, even if you're just starting out. For a small fee of $45 plus GST, when you select the All Access option, you can receive up to four hours of one-to-one coaching, focusing specifically on your needs in the digital space. And I am one of the coaches in this program.
00:01:22
Speaker
You can also sign up for the light program which is free and get access to a library of resources and join the community and connect with others travelling the same uncharted waters as you. By signing up to the program through my affiliate link whichever option you choose the all access or light You'll also be supporting the production of this podcast as I receive a small fee for bringing you into the program. If you're not in New South Wales and would like one to one business and wellness coaching ad hoc, you can book this via the service that the rural woman is now supporting. And this option is $121 for a one hour session. The difference here is that you get to focus on whatever would be most supportive to you right now.
00:02:09
Speaker
and that may not have anything to do with your digital presence at all. But instead focusing on building your confidence or overcoming imposter syndrome, this is something I'm seeing come through a lot at the moment. You'll find more information and links for these offerings and all the details of how to connect with today's podcast guest in the show notes. So now that that's out of the way, you can enjoy today's episode, Uninterrupted. So go on and enjoy.
Meet Dr. Suzanne Moss: Art and Personal Journey
00:02:40
Speaker
Today's podcast guest is artist coach, Dr. Suzanne Moss. Suzanne began teaching and mentoring students when she was doing her doctorate in painting at ANU School of Art in 2006. Realising her students' issues and her own were not about their talent, they were around sense of worth and confidence. Suzanne guides her students to explore and unfold their unique visual language through abstraction and meditative art methods. While undergoing treatment for serious illness, an epiphany during 2011 altered her life course and led to the development of her programs. She has since cultivated deep conversations about creativity, living wholeheartedly, and helps her students gain real skills and confidence through distilled teachings and restorative life coaching.
00:03:32
Speaker
An artist, former a physiotherapist and visual art lecturer, awarded a Doctorate University Medal International Travelling Scholarship, artist residencies and art prizes. Suzanne is an abstract painter who has exhibited numerous curated exhibitions, training in that teaching, coaching, meditation and spiritual care. For Suzanne and the people who work with her, art is a spiritual practice, a practice that brings a great sense of being alive. Since 2012, when she began guiding her contemplative meditative art programs, Suzanne's work has evolved with ongoing curiosity and seeking excellence. With a desire to serve, to uplift through art, she has presented her courses in Australia, Italy and Germany.
Connection Through Digital Solutions Program
00:04:24
Speaker
Now I came to know Suzanne through the digital solutions program, which she joined after hearing about it through my newsletter, which she had been a subscriber to for a few years, but we had not actually met in person until she signed up for this digital solutions coaching. So it has been such an honor to get to know Suzanne. After our four hours of coaching was up, we continued to stay in touch and became friends. And I look forward to you all being inspired by Suzanne's story and journey doing business to her own beat. So welcome, Suzanne, and thank you for being here today. Thank you, Marie Nicole. It's a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much for the opportunity.
00:05:03
Speaker
You're welcome.
Suzanne's Transition from Physiotherapy to Art
00:05:05
Speaker
So can you share a little bit more of your background? What were you doing before you entered this life of combining art and business? o Well, a I was lecturing and tutoring and mentoring at the ANU School of Art and and prior to making that leap to to art back in
00:05:30
Speaker
but then Let me think, the 90s and then studying art school in the year 2000. Yeah, i was ah I was a physiotherapist, and but always had done some kind of creative practice. It was just that was my passion that I didn't think was allowed to explore fully until it felt really imperative. Yeah. And when did it feel imperative? Well,
00:06:02
Speaker
When my baby was two, I i started private art classes. ah just The birth of a child has changed as you. a And I just had this really strong desire to paint again. and And I followed that up with a private teacher and um worked with her for a few years before going to art school. but something else was going on too. In my practice, I had, I think three patients die within a short space of time and they were only in their fifties.
00:06:39
Speaker
ah So that was really, I hadn't, by that stage, I hadn't known anyone that had actually died. So it was quite a shock and a the realization that, you know, life can be really short and unfulfilled. And I was ah thinking, well, that's not going to be me. I'm going to follow this. Well, I thought it was a bit of a crazy dream, but it was it was just calling, calling, calling. And yeah, so that's what I do.
Journey from Teaching to Coaching
00:07:12
Speaker
But how did that lead to you actually coaching? oh o Well, ah I actually was a strength and conditioning coach years ago.
00:07:23
Speaker
ah Seems like another lifetime. and So I enjoy coaching for a start. and And I found that um when I was teaching that coaching sort of came in. I noticed, especially when I was asked to mentor first year painters. It's back in 2006. And yeah, I i just realized that these are really talented kids and and not not all kids either. We have mature age students. and And yeah, there was that
00:07:55
Speaker
the more the personal stuff. So I thought, gosh, you know, I'll i'll do some coach training. and Yeah, so so that's really, I think when you you're in a situation where you you're asked to meet people's needs, but you don't have the skills, then obviously skill up. And that's what I did. Yeah. And so can you give us some insight into your offering as an artist coach? What does that entail?
00:08:24
Speaker
Well, there's essentially three three levels of um of what I offer. And of course, I you know i want people to to have a taste of what I do. So i've i've from way back, I've offered workshops, you know low commitment kind of ways for people to experience what I do. And I'll just interrupt this for a moment to say that I discovered a method of nurturing creativity and it came strangely enough. It kind of just evolved after, you know, I went through serious illness back in 2011 and then my partner died suddenly, um around six months later. And and it was kind of like a ah reset, like I couldn't think for some time.
00:09:12
Speaker
The following year I began to research creativity and because what had got me through that time was creative expression. It was respite, it was soothing. um The two things that came out of that was the meditative art and the setting up of contemplative space. So that are the two fundamental things that I do now.
Overview of Meditative Art Offerings
00:09:34
Speaker
ah So the method that came out of that research was something that I then formed my first one-to-one offering, which was an afternoon with someone. And and that then developed into a um presentation. I was asked to give it ANU, which was really intense. And I just sort of unpacked that and created a weekend course.
00:09:56
Speaker
So that went to a retreat in Florence and there was just these all these sort of leaps that I took. Anyway, um so that sort of leads me to the second kind of offering, which is more the longer term small group work, whether that's a weekend can retreat or what I'm planning for next year is a 10 month program online, Make Your Sacred Art. and And the other offering I do is solo one-to-one over mostly over a year. And that's paint from your heart with master classes and mentoring. And that's for people that are really, really want to dive into there their painting practice. So. That's beautiful. So can you tell us more about the contemplative space and meditative practice and from your own personal experience and also that of your students? Well, creating contemplative space, I didn't even know the words for it back then.
00:10:53
Speaker
But it was something that when I was extremely stressed dealing with with treatment for for that illness. But I just felt this really strong desire to set up a space where I could just, you know, unwind and sort of take stock for what the hell's going on. um You know, and I tried to do that with, I wasn't at home, um so I set up this space and with things that I'd bought from a local Indian bazaar kind of store. Those things were were fine. yeah but
00:11:30
Speaker
It didn't have the <unk>t have any magic so i I just put that on hold for a while and would go and walk on the beach instead and that was that was wonderful and then I'd come back and and make drawings of, yeah, one of the, well at least one of the three kinds of meditative drawing that I did back then. It didn't return, that desire didn't return until 2018 and I'd actually been ah training in spiritual care at Royal Melbourne Hospital. And one of our tasks, which was my favourite, was called sacred space.
00:12:07
Speaker
And you had to set up a little space, and you know we were encouraged to provide a sensory experience and maybe lead some kind of meditation or prayer. It was completely open. ah ah The main thing was that people were able to, you know my colleagues and island and the and other staff, if they wanted to come along, got a chance to just you know settle and but contemplate and feel um yeah restored. So I really enjoyed that. and And that's kind of led into remembering of what I'd been doing, what I tried to do all those years ago. And and then I started doing that at home. and And it started quite intuitively one day, just on my way home, buying a bunch of flowers and then setting it up with a painting. And I was like, oh, that feeling of like, yes, that's it without effort, you know.
00:13:01
Speaker
and So I moved back to this area of Tumut and started learning pottery and so I could make my own ceramics to set up my own installations with the paintings and one thing led to another and I exhibited the first one back in or three years ago now. and yeah And then I started bringing the little box sets into meditative art workshops and I've only done a couple of those but ah in each of them they've been really great for people, actually there's been three now, and to set up, to have the experience of setting up a space of their own. and yeah and i the The first time I noticed that
00:13:51
Speaker
folks were a bit apprehensive and and not really knowing what to do, how to do it. So I codified a method and which I lead people through. and And you can see a short documentary on that on my website. If you want to go and have a look, that's drsusanenmos.com. I'll add that to the show notes for sure. And so what have you found like okay taking the workshops are you finding that you're then reaching your one-on-one students through workshops or what are the most impactful ways of going from not knowing someone to working with them for that six to twelve months?
Themes and Creative Expression in Workshops
00:14:33
Speaker
Yeah it's about 50-50 in terms of yes the majority ah well
00:14:39
Speaker
Some people I meet through the workshops, yes. um And it seems that my most solo clients, are I've met them you know in person. And that's usually been on a retreat or some kind of um in some kind of space that we have art and meditation in common. So yeah, the workshops have been a great way of meeting people. and And if I think back to the retreat I did in Florence, um each of those students had come from a workshop experience. So they have developed a know, like and trust
00:15:25
Speaker
which I think is really important if you're going to be spending a lot of time with somebody. Yeah. So the students that you end up like taking on retreats and working with, do they have a ah common kind of theme or story running through their own personal journey that seems to draw them to you or to your work? I think the main thing is a love of creative expression through visual arts. you know There's that yearning, I really want to paint, I really want That's usually it. I really want to paint, and but not quite knowing how to begin or thinking it's too late or thinking they're not talented enough or but some kind of sort of thing that's been stopping them for for quite some time. Saying that on the retreat, it was extraordinary because I had um one woman who was in her late twenties, one in her fifties and the other in her seventies. So, you know, that was,
00:16:23
Speaker
just right across. So age doesn't matter, you know. We're all on a different journey in this lifetime and when we decide to to do that kind of, and to open up to that kind of self-love, which I think it is creative expression is Gosh, it's you know it's time dedicated to nurturing yourself, to growing, and and to experience the the wonder of creativity. There's patience and kindness involved, which is love, right?
00:16:58
Speaker
yeah so who were So my thinking is that if you're not offering that, you know following that heart's desire and practicing that kind of self-love for what are you doing, you know same So what are you doing?
Artistic Journey and Embracing Abstraction
00:17:16
Speaker
Because you need to have a full cup yourself to be able to serve others. I admit I do get caught up in the world and you know the struggles that we have as humans on ah on the physical plane, of course. um So I need reminding. And I notice if i i notice my energy.
00:17:35
Speaker
as low, you know, slow to get out of bed in the morning kind of thing. Oh, okay, something's missing. My own practice. ah Yeah, so i I aim doesn't always work to spend half my week in in creative practice. and And that can be really like recently, as I mentioned to you before that I haven't been painting much, but ah my energy goes into other things like I've been writing and rewriting programs and things like that. so But what's more restorative for me is is actually you know the physical the physical act of choosing colours and mixing and applying and following ideas and kind of things. So but what led you to choose the area of abstract art and how has that informed your offerings and even your own art practice? Right, okay. So this ah the answer goes back to um
00:18:35
Speaker
to my honors year, which is 21 years ago. And and I had ah finished that year with a sense of being unfinished. And and even though I won a bunch of prizes, ah it felt like I didn't really deserve them. you know it was I hadn't hadn't found my way. So I floundered really for a couple of years. I was still, you know, I had a studio and I was still painting ah pretty much five days a week. and Yeah, and struggling. So I thought, gosh, you know, the only answer I could think of was to go back and do postgraduate studies. So I started my doctorate in painting and um
00:19:25
Speaker
Yeah, got off to a really weird start. But anyway, basically, I dived into a year of experimenting. And at the other end of that year, I had made a lot of, well, a lot of junk. But, you know, but that's, you know, it's a judgment, right? It's, you know, we do that. However, that was necessary to find out. And with your purge, to get to what you really wanted to create. was that but there's also feeling my way yeah that yeah yeah something in that yep that no you know so trying things out and my idea um you know once i finished that year i was saying well what is it about painting that i really love and it's the most amazing thing is
00:20:16
Speaker
You know, a painting that can emanate its own light. It it appears to be luminous. It's like, how how does that happen? So that's how I spent the next few years researching that and through my own practice as well. So it's two thirds in the studio and one third writing about what you find. You know, I had the opportunity to research in in Florence, in Italy, London, and New York, and that was fantastic to be able to do that. I just looked really closely at what artists were doing, had done, and take that, what resonated with me, take that into my own work. Yeah, so abstraction, that's how I came to abstract methods, is that, yeah, that was, through all that experimentation I'd found
00:21:03
Speaker
found my way and it was really exciting. How do you find that supports your students in delving into their expression?
Empowering Students and Fostering Creativity
00:21:11
Speaker
what the The abstraction, is that a big part of it for them? in um Yes, it is actually. ah One thing that students say to me or potential students say is, well, I'd love to, but I can't draw. um And the wonderful thing about is abstraction is you don't need to be able to draw. If you can hold a pencil or paintbrush, that's fine. That's all you need.
00:21:35
Speaker
There are ways of exploring visual language, right? Conventionally it's been to look out there and, you know, draw something, you know, to respond to what you're seeing, right? And to, and at once upon a time, a likeness of that was important. In school, it's still encouraged to, oh, you know, that looks like a tree or that looks like, especially when children are little. So that kind of conditioning is not actually that helpful because some kids just can't do that translation from the visual into the the creative thing. So the way I go about it is
00:22:13
Speaker
It's a step-by-step process of exploring the elements of visual language, so exploring color, exploring shape and line and mark and you know materiality of paint, so all those things. And that makes up the first eight solid chunks of paint from your heart program, which I've given as a four-day retreat as well, one-to-one. and That's another interesting story, how that came about, but anyway. and So when when people say, I've heard painters want to be painters say, I can't find my style. Well, this is a way to do that because you're looking at, well, what are my colors?
00:22:58
Speaker
What is my way? It's like signing your name. There's a way to making your marks. And so that's how I lead or guide students to to really sit with and experience their own way with color, shape, line, mark, all those things, and then bringing them together into composition. That's another um fascinating exploration, just of the the exploring the energy of of different kinds of composition. And abstraction has myriad ways of doing that. So it's it's really exciting territory and it's great to see what what students actually create. Yeah, and liberating for them at the same time. Yeah, to see something, you know, I've had ah
00:23:49
Speaker
I was looking back over some feedback last night and and one student saying, I ah didn't know I could make something so beautiful. I'm like, oh, that's so nice. So good to to see that. and It's just I think that's what what really um if I hadn't been able to nurture that kind of creative expression that i I wouldn't have continued but that came as a surprise to me actually early on in this small group classes in my studio where one day a woman said she was just was just silent and you could feel that there was creative flow happening. It was just that beautiful, fuzzy energy but very quiet, you know, there's a real
00:24:31
Speaker
depth of peace in it. And all of a sudden this woman said, choosing colors is like choosing life. I've gone, oh. It's just so cool to hear that. Everyone looked up and grinned and just went back to their work. To choosing their life and their colors. So what was the story you were saying was an interesting story with a student that you got.
Adapting Programs During Crises
00:25:04
Speaker
You hesitated because you were answering another question. That's right. How a pain from your heart came to be. Yeah, look, it it was supposed to be a group five day retreat here in Tumut and it was scheduled for January 5, which I think was the worst day of the bushfires here. So the week before, you know, the fires had been going a number of days. and like oh this is not looking good you know there's a pool of smoke over town and oh one of my students was asthmatic and she's called said she's up from the north coast I said I can't come I'm asthmatic and i'm like okay fair enough and
00:25:43
Speaker
So yeah, we canceled and then I rescheduled and then the pandemic hit and I'm like, Oh my God, what am I going to do? um So I decided to honor my promise and work with people one-to-one and they just pulled it in, condensed it. And yeah, did that with each of them. They didn't have to pay any any extra, but I got the experience of working one-to-one with people and and online and that was great, it was really great. and So I refined um that course and it then it developed into a longer program because a couple of those students went on inter-mentoring and they are the only ones that really
00:26:32
Speaker
continued with their practice. So I'm like, oh, OK, this is pretty obvious that this needs to be part of a bigger program that supports people in in really establishing good creative habits and build more skills. And so it was just great, great to see there the development of their art practice. and And that has then led into my more recent offerings. Fantastic. So if people want to actually can do you run workshops for people in their locations or offering a group workshop online or is that the kind of thing can they reach out for that?
Future Workshops and Creative Flow
00:27:17
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I certainly can be commissioned to, and and actually I'll tell you about an example in a moment, um to do either a day workshop or weekend retreat, that kind of kind of thing. it's It's good to customise. um for what people want and I have a whole lot of a huge amount of material to draw from which is why I'm offering the 10 month there'll be 20 creative workshop sessions um over that space over that time which will be really great so just I'll just pour everything into that um and that'll be online so that'll make it accessible to to people in other countries as well.
00:27:59
Speaker
ah Yeah, so what I'm planning is um a taster kind of, I'm calling it a meditative art starter and that'll be a workshop online. Let me think, what have I got dates? 24th of August and the 5th of October, they'll be the same and that's to get a sense of the kind of work that I do and they'll be going through five five what I see is five essential steps for going into For nurturing creative flow and going into that meditative space and being able to do that without um Being really harsh on yourself at the end of it, you know, because that's I think what happens is we judge ourselves too harshly especially for a you know, very
00:28:54
Speaker
Ah, you know, creative expression, we're in a very vulnerable space. So we need to be gentle with ourselves. And that's what I nurture. That's beautiful. So what about for you are you? You said you started
Overcoming Challenges in Art and Exhibitions
00:29:10
Speaker
a new body of work. Are you looking to exhibit? or Eventually, yeah. um There's a bit of a backlog of my work do you due to being ill and and and also the the pandemic. So I'm at the moment writing proposals to to galleries to to show that. um The Vanessa series is two years where the work I just finished early in the year and then there's this this new body of work which I don't know. When you first start out you don't know
00:29:47
Speaker
You're just trusting that, oh, well, this is showing up and I'm, this is what I feel that I must do. So I'm doing it. And there's just, you're in this space of not knowing. And it's, it's exciting too. And just giving, giving into that, trusting that, following the the intuitive prompts. And so we'll see. I have no idea where it's going. What about commissions though? If someone's got a beautiful retreat center that they would like. a body of work created for it or even their own home. Is that the kind of thing you do too? Yes, yes. I mean, ah I certainly have a work in store that that could be appropriate. So it's worth looking and and perhaps being able to create an installation from what's existing, which is
00:30:38
Speaker
ah Yeah, that's less of a commitment for me and to do that and also can be organized in a timely manner. Whereas a commission does take, can take, you know, six months sometimes. Maybe depends on on the size of it. So reach out to find out what's available is what we're saying. There's plenty of work to just put into place, right? there There is some, there's some that I, you know, but the most recent I want it to be shown as a body of work. So it sort of all works together. And that's a thing to find out about when those exhibitions are happening and to, to sign up for my newsletter, because all that kind of information is it goes out to my, my people.
Transitioning from Academia to Business
00:31:26
Speaker
So if you're interested in any of that, yeah, please sign up.
00:31:32
Speaker
head of We'll put a link to the website and they can sign up through that for sure. So is there anything else you'd like to share with us, Suzanne, like even if it's from the perspective of actually going from being in a um predictive kind of workplace to being able to create your own path to earn your living? That's probably something I'd love you to elaborate on. Yeah, it is such an excellent question because it was really hard, I have to say. And I didn't have a choice. right um ultimately We had a number of us had lost our session work at the university. and That was 2014. I would say that I have categorically failed but in business a few times right since then. It's been super challenging.
00:32:28
Speaker
And the only time I've made headway is with a mentor. And so I thank you very much for that. um And as with, there's a parallel between having a creative practice and having a business. You've really got to step out of your comfort zone if you want to those things. So doing the inner work was really important for me. um I don't, up until now, up until, let me say no, let me say up until recently, I haven't had a head of business, right? But I'm growing the skills. And I think for for people whose um gifts and talents lie more in the creative arena, dealing with, you know, you know business strategy and stuff like that is like, what?
00:33:17
Speaker
You know, it's it's a different language entirely, but you can learn that language, and certainly with someone who helps you be accountable and helps keep you on track. Because the other thing about the way we think, is it's very divergent. You know, we're sort of, oh, what about this over here? And then go off on this other track. It's like, actually, your mentor will bring you back and go, um have you done this? That's right. but
00:33:44
Speaker
ah So that's why I continue. um with the business
Solitude and Sharing in Creative Work
00:33:48
Speaker
mentor. I think it's really, it's it's crucial to for my ongoing success and development. Thank you so much, Suzanne, for sharing all of that. I'm sure it's going to inspire people who have hesitated to take the plunge. I know you said you didn't have a choice, like you lost your your actual position at the university, but how amazing though. I mean, the freedom now that you have to
00:34:16
Speaker
go on a retreat and experience something. I don't know. Is it is it more amazing than having said holiday? Tell us that part. Oh, I think i I probably take my freedom for granted now. I'd say that's and that's something that thank you for reminding me. because it's something I need to come back to and go, Oh, okay. I didn't have to rush off to a job this morning. Um, but this is, this is part of my job doing this kind of thing. So it's a change in mindset to, to, to think of these things as, yeah, this is really important to connecting with people. Um, that's, that's another thing about being a creative person is that, um, and oh look, we're all creative, right? But when you choose it as a path, there's the,
00:35:05
Speaker
There's a lot of solitude, you know, we get used to that and it's, you know, we don't usually get ideas in while we're, you know, socializing. Mostly it's seen that quiet time alone, and certainly the creative practice happens in that space. Yeah, so um it's wonderful to have that time to allow ideas to percolate and become realized. It's a privilege actually.
00:35:36
Speaker
and And that, to to come out of, it's not quite a shell, but to come out of that space and then share, it just adds such a richness to my life and hopefully those that I work with, I think but I've got 10 years of feedback that indicates that's what happens. You know, people's lives do become richer. So yeah, getting back to your question. but um
00:36:09
Speaker
it's It's challenging that look, you know, what if you don't take the challenge? What then? You know, if I if i hadn't done that on numerous occasions, I don't know that I'd be sitting here actually.
00:36:25
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's been a ah a real matter of being true to myself has been a matter of life and death. Yeah, the imperative.
Balancing Workaholism and Personal Growth
00:36:35
Speaker
Yeah, you know, and how you do things to like, I was a workaholic. I had two parents who were colleagues. So I learned that's how I learned to be in the world that you're, you're actually a good person, if you're busy, and, you know, working your arse off basically. so was It's not true. It's not true. It's so important to take time out and do what it is that you love so your life has some quality and that your energy is restored and that you can you know nurture better connections and live into your dreams. And at the end, it's a life worth living.
Personal Loss and Artistic Drive
00:37:14
Speaker
Actually, that that is something that I wanted to go back to from the point of having your life threatening illness, that drive and also the death of your partner, like that drive to keep going. Was that, did that feel like a pull rather than you striving? Like you just had no choice but to find, connect to what your life purpose is outside of the loss and outside of the challenge. Typical question to answer, but when I go back to that time, I couldn't think very well. And that's a good thing. Sometimes it's good to have your mind sort of in that space of like, you've got to reach for a thought and it's not sort of connecting. ah Going through, I don't know if others have experienced this, so I've not really discussed it with anyone.
00:38:09
Speaker
oh It's kind of like, I guess it's sort of post shock kind of state. where you can't rely on the usual ways of thinking and overthinking actually. So I ah responded more to intuitive prompts, which was a really great thing. It was amazing what came out of that time. You know, oh gosh, I'll give you a few examples if you've got time. Yeah, absolutely. I'd love to hear it. Yeah, well,
00:38:40
Speaker
Oh, gosh. Well, one was about um a friend sent me a link to an organization that offers scholarships to artists to do a retreat at a Zen center in the States. And when I looked up the kinds of retreats so where I could do or where I could go, well, like weekends, just two days. And from Australia, that's a bit silly, really. And I go, oh, this is crazy. And i I found the teacher that I wanted to work with, and that was Kazuaki Tanahashi, who was teaching Heart of the Brush, so ah East Asian calligraphy. and And so there was a link to his website and then a link to him directly. I'm like, I'm going to write to him.
00:39:26
Speaker
but I wrote to him and he said he didn't normally take private students and and he asked me to tell me he said tell me about yourself so I did and but we had this back and forth he was actually leading a retreat in China at the time ah aged 80 something and amazing person. um Eventually he wrote back saying, um come on the 21st of August and you can stay for a month. um It was just an extraordinarily generous proposition which
00:40:06
Speaker
I said yes. I just had tears streaming down my face, this amazing generosity. And I ended up staying with Kaz and his wife in Berkeley, California, and learning in his studio.
00:40:22
Speaker
It was an amazing time. And um i you know I didn't realize until I had the you know the brush, and I'm doing my calligraphy, it was it was corrugated.
Connecting with Like-Minded Artists
00:40:32
Speaker
like My hands were shaking, and I didn't know. um And by the end of the second week, it was during the second week, I noticed that mym the marks had become smooth and were flowing. So I don't know, it did something to the shock that I'd held in my body the trauma it was it just somehow released during that time such a gift so who would have known you know that that would have happened yeah i just i just had the shivers thinking about that you said a couple of stories is there anything else you can share on that your intuitive prompts oh gosh the other after that time i went to visit um uh
00:41:20
Speaker
an amazing woman, Debra Gallo, who writes a blog called Slow Muse. She's an artist and curator in Boston. And and after the retreat that I'd done in Florence in 2016, a friend of mine just contacted me and said, Debra's in Florence, you two need to meet. So we did. And we went and looked at the frescoes of Frangelico, which were extraordinary and and talked for the day, nearby coffee shop. And she said, you know, come to Boston. So after I was with Kaz, I went to visit her and just so happened that it was an exhibition on at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston called Seeking Stillness. And seeing that show, it was of contemplative art over centuries. Right. I was like,
00:42:15
Speaker
I'm one of these, this is this is my thing, this is my field, these are my people. you know It was like, oh my God, I hadn't seen such a collection of like-minded artists in one place. It was a wonderful experience. And I only got to see that because Deborah was a member. And I went back, I saw it three times. And it just, yeah, that was very um encouraging and affirming for my, you know, finding other artists, other people that, you know, the way they talk about their work, their work itself resonates with you. That's key for your artistic development. And I point people to in those kinds of directions where I think maybe they might resonate, you know, so that really helps affirm their practice.
00:43:08
Speaker
Yeah. Because it doesn't make us feel alone like crazy people doing something that no one else is doing. Yes. Absolutely. We need and community. yeah yeah select Sorry. Yeah, that's no that's exactly what I was going to say. and When you say when we end up doing things in solitude and then it's even more important than to find people that you can connect with and say, Oh, someone over there in their little pocket of the world doing very similar to me. That's awesome. Yeah. So the thing about working with you, which I just like to say is that I think you have, well, I know that you have the ability to see, you see people beyond what's showing up at face value. It's kind of like, I get a sense that you're listening deeper than just the words and you really seek to understand
00:44:05
Speaker
someone's gifts and how they are, or to help them bring them to the world in their way. I think you have a ah real gift for that. but one ah Well, I feel honored to have been working with you. This is yeah amazing. especially I'm so grateful for technology for that reason. I mean, what we haven't shared is that this is our take two because the technology didn't support us the last time. But I feel like yeah it's the fact that we can do this and we're are a couple of hours apart is amazing. so
00:44:41
Speaker
Yeah, it's a beautiful connection. And thank you Digital Solutions Program for bringing us together. Even though we were on my newsletter and I didn't mail in lists and I didn't meet you until you joined that program. and I didn't get to see your shop. Oh, I so regret that. No, well, it wasn't meant to be. a ah Well, even though there might be another iteration at some point. I don't know. I don't think that was our calling to come together in the show. And yeah, I don't know. Who knows? It didn't happen. but but we can't just but miss What was meant to happen. ah it's Beautiful.
00:45:22
Speaker
Well, again, I want to thank you so much for sharing your story and for giving us a little more depth and insight into the journey because I do i do think that'll actually flow on and impact other people in other ways. And for many months, years, as long as this is available online, it's going to be a nice touchstone for people to feel like they're not alone. They're not alone in their process. They're not alone in their uniqueness and and even coming out of that really difficult, challenging struggle and shining your light the way that you do and supporting others. I'm not saying people have to go through that to get to that point, but if someone is going through it, then you're providing them with hope for where this can lead once they connect back to the essence of who they are again. So thank you so much, Suzanne.
00:46:12
Speaker
It's my pleasure, Marina Cole. I really hope, um yeah, that's my thing just to you know to be of service and in whatever way I can. So thank you for the opportunity to share. I really appreciate it. You're welcome. So everything you need to know about Suzanne, how to connect with her will be in the show notes. And yep, all the links will be below. And I look forward to maybe touching base again with Suzanne on the podcast down in the future and see how she goes with that body of work. once it's out there but for now we'll just um sign off and say goodbye and we'll see you back here next time with another inspiring story to share. whoa Thank you.
00:46:54
Speaker
Thank you so much for your time. I know how valuable it is, and I hope you got value out of listening to this podcast. If you are looking for a coach to support and guide you through your own unique journey of creating a life you love, then reach out for a connection call. And if you'd like to connect with other creative souls in person by joining us at a workshop, a retreat, or to book a unique um shopping experience here at Creators Nest, I run those by appointment. So check out the website for more details. The link is in the show notes. Oh, and please leave a review. I'd love to hear any insights or inspirations that were activated in you from this podcast. And I look forward to drumming, dancing or soaring alongside of you.