Artwork for podcast Balance Shared
Healing through Art and Reiki with Lea K. Tawd
Episode 32nd October 2024 • Balance Shared • Michelle Lasley
00:00:00 00:32:10

Share Episode

Shownotes

Notes

Healing through Art and Reiki with Lea K. Tawd

In this episode, Michelle interviews Lea K. Tawd, an artist and Reiki master who has found her purpose in inspiring and healing through art and Reiki. Lea discusses her journey, how she integrates Reiki into her art, and the overarching impact of this practice. She also shares her experiences with creative blocks, her book 'Creativity Unstuck,' and the transformative potential of Reiki in healing and personal growth. Lea talks about her personal connection to the divine feminine and how it influences her artwork, providing insights into the unique power of combining spirituality and creativity.

00:00 Introduction to Lea K. Tawd

01:08 Understanding Reiki: Origins and Basics

05:50 Personal Journey with Reiki

08:57 Integrating Reiki with Art

16:05 Leah's Artistic Path and Challenges

24:40 Creativity Unstuck: Leah's Book

28:04 Exploring the Divine Feminine in Art

30:27 Conclusion and Contact Information

Mentioned in this episode:

Season 3 Introduction

This is Season 3, where we discuss non-linear paths to finding your purpose. I interviewed over 35 people to hear their circuitous path to finding their purpose right now.

Introduction

This is Michelle Lasley. I call all of my work Balance Shared because I truly do believe we are better together.

Conclusion

This is Balance Shared by your host, Michelle Lasley. You can find more on the web at www.michellelasley.com.

Michelle Lasley

Transcripts

Michelle Lasley:

My guest today is Lea K.

2

:

Todd.

3

:

She uses the pronouns she, her, hers.

4

:

Lea has found her purpose to be to

inspire and heal using art and Reiki.

5

:

Lea is an artist, a Reiki master,

and author of the book Creativity

6

:

Unstuck, a toolbox for making more art.

7

:

She makes heart centered, spiritual

paintings that explore the divine feminine

8

:

and are infused with Reiki healing energy.

9

:

She also gives Reiki healing sessions

and teaches Reiki and helps other

10

:

artists move through creative

blocks and blocks in their business.

11

:

Thank you so much for being here.

12

:

Lea K Tawd: Thank you

so much for having me.

13

:

Michelle Lasley: I am so glad you're here

because we get to talk about some of my

14

:

favorite things, like art, and the divine

feminine, and maybe learn a little bit

15

:

about what this, what this Reiki thing is.

16

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah, . Excited

to talk about it.

17

:

Michelle Lasley: So, I'm gonna

ask you first, so, think of

18

:

Reiki, I think of Karate Kid, Mr.

19

:

Miyagi.

20

:

Lea K Tawd: Oh, that's funny.

21

:

Yeah,

22

:

Michelle Lasley: And so, you know, he

hurts his, this is like karate kid one.

23

:

For those of you, spoiler alert,

Daniel makes it to the end.

24

:

So the champion, and he hurts his

knee, I think it was his knee.

25

:

And then Mr.

26

:

Miyagi, who's Japanese, right?

27

:

He, you know, puts his hands together

and then magically fixes his knee.

28

:

Lea K Tawd: right.

29

:

I totally forgot about that.

30

:

Michelle Lasley: So, I'm just

curious if you could go kind of, I

31

:

mean, if we could just start there.

32

:

What the heck is Reiki?

33

:

Yeah.

34

:

Lea K Tawd: A lot of

people wonder about that.

35

:

Reiki is a form of energy healing.

36

:

It was originated in Japan.

37

:

It's thousands of years old, as far

as we know, but was what most people

38

:

use now was developed by a man named

ikau Usui, or Usui Sensei, in:

39

:

He did a really intense

meditation on Mount Kuruma, and

40

:

after 21 days, he passed away.

41

:

Was like hit by this light and

it was Frankie and he created a

42

:

school and started teaching other

people, which was something that

43

:

hadn't really been done before.

44

:

It was held privately and families.

45

:

So he created a school and a clinic

and started spreading it around.

46

:

There's a lot more to the

history, but that's like a super,

47

:

super, super brief version.

48

:

When you think of Reiki, often,

like you said, you think of Mr.

49

:

Miyagi, it's hands on healing.

50

:

It can also be done virtually,

though, and I do all of my

51

:

sessions virtually right now.

52

:

What it is, is universal

life force energy.

53

:

So it's the energy that is in everything

that's alive channeled from source or God,

54

:

goddess, the universe, insert your word.

55

:

It's channeled through the Reiki

practitioner to whoever we're working on.

56

:

And a really cool thing is that we get

to receive Reiki while we're also giving

57

:

it and it can heal all sorts of things.

58

:

It's great for rest and relaxation

and supporting the immune system.

59

:

It's been used with cancer patients

to help with chemotherapy symptoms

60

:

and a whole range of things, but it

always works for your highest good,

61

:

which isn't always what we think it is.

62

:

So, so people ask me, what's

it, what can I use it for?

63

:

And it's one of those things where I

can send it to you with the intention

64

:

to treat anything and it might treat,

it will treat you for your highest good.

65

:

So it's not like.

66

:

It's going to cure

everything all the time.

67

:

That makes sense.

68

:

Right.

69

:

Michelle Lasley: I'm thinking of

Bible stories Job, right, had all

70

:

these terrible things happen to him,

and it was almost like, I don't know

71

:

the story very well, I always had

the disclaimer, I grew up Catholic,

72

:

so I know the spirit of the Bible.

73

:

But, you know, there's certain

variations of Christianity who, that

74

:

espouse if you cross off all the tick

marks, check all the boxes, then, you

75

:

know, you've earned your Corvette.

76

:

Right.

77

:

But, like, that's not what

happened to Job, right?

78

:

And he, he was very devout and very, very

faithful, and he had all this awful stuff.

79

:

Not to suggest that awful things are

going to happen when you use Reiki,

80

:

I'm not trying to make that analogy.

81

:

Yeah.

82

:

Lea K Tawd: Not at all.

83

:

Michelle Lasley: But just that openness

that, you know, like, if you wanted,

84

:

you know, go back to Daniel, you

wanted that knee cured, but maybe

85

:

there was something else serving you.

86

:

Yeah.

87

:

Lea K Tawd: Right.

88

:

Like the example I always tell

people is if you came to me

89

:

because you broke your ankle.

90

:

Or even sprained it.

91

:

I can have the intention of treating

your ankle and hopefully it will help.

92

:

And I've, I've helped people with

physical issues before, so it's possible.

93

:

But the underlying cause of the

ankle injury could be that you're

94

:

literally running around too much.

95

:

You're not taking care of yourself

and you need to slow down.

96

:

And so, That would be treated instead

where the, you're able to slow down

97

:

and you're able to be more restful

and take better care of yourself.

98

:

Michelle Lasley: Which could

look like maybe your ankle not

99

:

healing as fast as you hoped.

100

:

Lea K Tawd: Correct?

101

:

Yeah.

102

:

Michelle Lasley: Yeah.

103

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah.

104

:

Michelle Lasley: Okay.

105

:

Why were you called to even look at Reiki?

106

:

Lea K Tawd: Well, it's kind of

funny because I had heard the word

107

:

Reiki several times over the years.

108

:

I kept hearing it and I

was like, that's cool.

109

:

I want to learn it, but I don't know why.

110

:

I don't know what it is even.

111

:

I just know that I want

to know what it is.

112

:

But not enough to pursue it.

113

:

At the time.

114

:

And then in 2017, my daughter was really

little and she was a horrible sleeper.

115

:

She woke up at 4.

116

:

30 in the morning and I was totally

exhausted and burnt out and trying

117

:

to keep my art business afloat and

just afloat like Not totally dead,

118

:

you know, she was in daycare, like

two half days a week or something.

119

:

And someone suggested to me that I

start meditating for five minutes a day,

120

:

because I was like, I had no self care.

121

:

I was just exhausted.

122

:

Burnout.

123

:

Not even like we're not even

talking like massages and stuff.

124

:

I'm talking about like showering and

like, just like basic needs being met.

125

:

So, I started meditating for five

minutes a day after she went to bed.

126

:

it started opening up my being

able to take better care of myself.

127

:

And this, that's not Reiki, but

I bring it up because I feel

128

:

like it led right into the Reiki.

129

:

Because just a couple months

later I had an art opening at a

130

:

local women's wellness center.

131

:

They had like an open house night, so they

were giving away free massages and I had

132

:

my art there and it was really fun event.

133

:

And so I signed up for a massage.

134

:

And when I went in, the woman

was like, Oh, I'm so sorry.

135

:

It's not a massage.

136

:

It's Reiki.

137

:

And I, she's like, let

me get you a massage.

138

:

And I was like, No, no, no.

139

:

I want Reiki.

140

:

I don't know what it is,

but I know I want it.

141

:

And it was just a 20 minute session,

but it released like this intense grief

142

:

that I didn't even know I was carrying.

143

:

So I basically cried the whole

session, which doesn't always,

144

:

like it doesn't usually happen,

but it does sometimes if you're

145

:

holding that, it can help let it go.

146

:

And it wasn't like crying where

you're just like hopelessly crying.

147

:

It was a release.

148

:

It felt really good and it brought

up stuff that I needed to heal.

149

:

And I immediately signed up to take Reiki

one and which was a couple months later.

150

:

And during the time between that

session and that class, my intuition

151

:

just was like off the charts.

152

:

It just was growing so fast and

I started having I don't want

153

:

to say visions, kind of visions.

154

:

It's my, my meditations became

much more visual and I started.

155

:

Some of my gifts started opening up so

I was getting some downloads and things

156

:

were coming to me and dreams that stuff

that wasn't really happening before then.

157

:

So I knew I was on the right path.

158

:

And I took Reiki one in early

:

159

:

could use it with my artwork, too.

160

:

So I started using it before I created

art, I would give myself Reiki and

161

:

I, I still do this, I give Reiki to

my art supplies and the substrate

162

:

that I'm working on and I channel

it while I'm painting as well.

163

:

And then 2018 I also did Reiki two

and then master level later that year.

164

:

So, and then this year, actually I just

did my Holy Fire Karuna training, which

165

:

is just another, it's another level, a

little higher vibration version of Reiki.

166

:

Michelle Lasley: could you describe

what the difference is between using

167

:

reiki on yourself and your materials

than like say, praying or blessing them?

168

:

Lea K Tawd: Hmm.

169

:

Yeah.

170

:

In a way it's similar because

energy, I mean, all energy

171

:

work has to do with intention.

172

:

So praying like prayer, I would say

is a form of energy work and raising

173

:

your vibration and calling things in.

174

:

The difference I think is that with

Reiki I'm channeling a specific energy.

175

:

So I'm not using my own energy.

176

:

There's all kinds of forms of energy

healing, and some of them uses the

177

:

practitioner's own energy, which

can be really draining Reiki and

178

:

channeling energy from source.

179

:

So I'm not the healer

that Reiki is the healer.

180

:

And it's just coming through me.

181

:

So, yeah.

182

:

Does that sound like a difference?

183

:

I don't really, I haven't really used a

lot of prayer actually in my own life.

184

:

So it's hard to make that connection.

185

:

Michelle Lasley: yeah, that's good.

186

:

I thank you for that.

187

:

Do you feel anything in your

physical body when you use Reiki?

188

:

Lea K Tawd: Absolutely.

189

:

Yeah.

190

:

So as a practitioner, what I feel is a

warmth, a heat in my hands, and sometimes

191

:

it's really, really hot but not painful.

192

:

I also just from the practitioner

side this isn't necessarily a Reiki

193

:

thing, but a Claire thing is that I

feel sometimes other people, what's

194

:

going on in your body and my body.

195

:

So I, that happens for me sometimes and

just feel it a really relaxed feeling.

196

:

It's like a, it puts me more

easily into a meditative state,

197

:

which is the, the optimal state

for giving and receiving Reiki.

198

:

And then from the client's side,

Reiki can also feel like heat.

199

:

When I receive Reiki from

other people, I feel like I'm

200

:

wrapped up in a warm blanket.

201

:

They might feel a tingling feeling.

202

:

Some people feel cold.

203

:

I think not very often, but

just the movement of energy.

204

:

If you're sensitive to that, you

might feel movements of energy.

205

:

A lot of people will see colors

or imagery that they don't

206

:

normally see at other times,

207

:

and then the, the emotional

release sometimes.

208

:

Michelle Lasley: Yeah, yeah.

209

:

One of my first instances of Reiki

was in a weekend retreat and we were

210

:

in small groups discussing images

that came up after meditation.

211

:

And the gal who was sort of facilitating

our group asked if she could use Reiki

212

:

to help someone who was, so this gal was

to my left, and she asked if she could

213

:

use Reiki on the person to my right

to help them with the, whatever they

214

:

were struggling with with their image.

215

:

And she held up her hand.

216

:

So I was right in the middle, it

was a small, you know, we were

217

:

cornered off next to a window, right?

218

:

And I felt something pass

through like my midsection.

219

:

Lea K Tawd: Oh,

220

:

Michelle Lasley: yeah, it was interesting.

221

:

And it wasn't for me, it was

for this other, other person.

222

:

Lea K Tawd: Mm hmm.

223

:

Michelle Lasley: So I just thought

that was really interesting.

224

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah, that is.

225

:

Michelle Lasley: So you use it.

226

:

With your art as well, so not just,

I think it goes beyond, you know,

227

:

channeling energy to the tools you use.

228

:

How else do you use Reiki in your art?

229

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah.

230

:

So my artwork is was

already really spiritual.

231

:

Michelle Lasley: Mm hmm.

232

:

Lea K Tawd: I would say before I learned

Reiki I had a really difficult time.

233

:

Talking about that because

I was raised without any.

234

:

religion which in a lot of ways I'm

grateful for, but I didn't have the

235

:

language and I actually had a really

strong bias against organized religion.

236

:

And so like even using a lot of words

that are also used in spirituality, I was

237

:

like, Ooh, it just was so cringy to me.

238

:

So, Reiki has helped heal that in me and

be more accepting of other belief systems

239

:

too, which I'm really grateful for.

240

:

But it so just on a very practical

level, it gave me ease with my

241

:

own spirituality and vocabulary to

talk about it and not feel cringy.

242

:

And then I feel like it

connects me to source.

243

:

To the muse to wherever that source

of creativity is that we as artists

244

:

connect into when we're making art

because I know I'm not the only

245

:

artist who feels more like I'm

channeling than than it's my own idea.

246

:

Michelle Lasley: Yeah.

247

:

Lea K Tawd: So, but I feel like

my art already just making my

248

:

art was how I meditated and

how I practice my spirituality.

249

:

And now, definitely.

250

:

Even more so because when I call

in Reiki, it just like plugs me

251

:

straight in, like flipping a switch.

252

:

Michelle Lasley: Right.

253

:

Lea K Tawd: I'm already in there.

254

:

Michelle Lasley: Okay.

255

:

One more thing.

256

:

After you started using and learning

Reiki, did you end up using it

257

:

on your daughter and did those

sleep issues correct themselves?

258

:

Lea K Tawd: Oh, that's a good question.

259

:

I did use it on her initially and it was

really cute because she was like three

260

:

years old and she would walk around the

house putting her hands up at things

261

:

like say that she was giving them Reiki.

262

:

Michelle Lasley: Oh my gosh.

263

:

Lea K Tawd: So cute.

264

:

I don't think I gave it to her for

sleep at first, because I gave it to My

265

:

teacher said that she had an experience

of giving it to her kids and it made

266

:

them wide awake, just like a lot of

medications with kids like have the

267

:

opposite awake you sleepy effect and

so I was worried about that, but I

268

:

didn't use it with her specifically for.

269

:

But now I would say I would

imagine that would, I would do it.

270

:

I think it would be slightly later now.

271

:

Michelle Lasley: So, with a lot of my

guests this season, we start with the

272

:

nonlinear path, but we didn't with you.

273

:

So, Season 3, this is all

about nonlinear paths.

274

:

And what I'm really curious

about is you do You do art, and

275

:

a piece of me is frankly jealous.

276

:

I've been able to draw or have some

semblance of a command of line,

277

:

since I could put a pen in my hand.

278

:

But I always thought that, you know,

Van Gogh was what we studied, right?

279

:

And who wants to be a starving

artist and, you know, Whatever.

280

:

So, so, but I also love the headspace

and I love thinking and I love writing.

281

:

And so how the choices

I've made, it's fine.

282

:

I'm like making peace with it.

283

:

But what I'm super curious about

is how did you get to do art?

284

:

Like, so if you could what I ask people

to do is kind of track us back, kind

285

:

of using high school as a sort of

pivotal moment when you're asked to go

286

:

out in the world and make your mark.

287

:

What, what did that look like for you?

288

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah my super

short answer is that I decided.

289

:

Michelle Lasley: Great.

290

:

Let's have a longer answer.

291

:

Lea K Tawd: Could have quit so many times.

292

:

When I was in high school, I

did a lot more writing than art.

293

:

I kind of always made art.

294

:

I took a lot of art classes and theater

classes and but I really was into

295

:

writing in high school and I loved

creative writing and I always had

296

:

a backpack with me so that I could

keep my notebook in there and all

297

:

my markers and pens and everything.

298

:

I, you know, I would go to coffee shops

with my friends and spend the evening

299

:

writing and do like poetry readings, which

is hilarious to me because I was so shy.

300

:

I mean, I did do the drama classes,

but I did them because I was really

301

:

painfully shy and I was tired of that.

302

:

It probably, it probably helped with

the poetry readings, but thank God,

303

:

YouTube was not a thing back then.

304

:

That's all I have to say.

305

:

I'm so, so glad.

306

:

I don't know how, no, there's still

poetry readings, but I don't know about

307

:

high schoolers, like at a coffee shop.

308

:

I don't know if that is the thing anymore.

309

:

So then I wanted to, I wanted to be a

writer and I went to the University of

310

:

Iowa, thinking I would do their famous

international writers workshop, which

311

:

you definitely cannot do as a freshman.

312

:

And I was frustrated, taking freshman

classes and I don't know, a bunch of.

313

:

Random 18 year old's life stuff happened.

314

:

And I ended up moving back to Denver,

which is where I'm from originally.

315

:

And I went to community

college there a little bit.

316

:

And then I moved to Portland with

my best friend 20, I want to say

317

:

27 hours in a U Haul with two cats.

318

:

It's an adventure.

319

:

And I eventually got residency here

and went to the to Portland State.

320

:

And they did not have a

writing, you couldn't get a

321

:

degree in writing at that time.

322

:

I think you can now,

but then you couldn't.

323

:

And I had already, I was double

majoring in art and writing before.

324

:

So when I first started college, I

just wanted, I just added the major

325

:

so that I could take art classes.

326

:

I didn't really want to get the major.

327

:

But that's how it was at the University

of Iowa, you had to have that.

328

:

So at Portland State, they

just didn't have writing.

329

:

So I did, I was like, okay, I'm

just going to major in art then.

330

:

And I did.

331

:

I had my son when I was in 2002.

332

:

So that was when I was a sophomore,

like end of sophomore year ish.

333

:

So I graduated with a two year old.

334

:

And after eight years of taking little

bits of college here and there yeah.

335

:

And then shortly after that,

I became a single mom and I

336

:

was working a lot of jobs.

337

:

I think I was catering and I

had an office job part time

338

:

where I started in the mailroom.

339

:

And there was a third thing.

340

:

But I can't, I don't remember what it was.

341

:

I had so many weird jobs.

342

:

Michelle Lasley: You made mention

of working in a grain elevator.

343

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah, so that's

where I started in the mail room.

344

:

And then I moved to the elevator like

so they had an office downtown and then

345

:

they had an office at the grain elevator

and I went and worked there and I had to

346

:

be there at six o'clock in the morning.

347

:

So I had to wake my son up,

bring him to his dad, put him

348

:

back to bed and then go to work.

349

:

It was totally crazy.

350

:

And then there was this, I was the

inventory clerk, so I had to basically

351

:

all the trains and barges and everything

that comes in, they weigh the grain.

352

:

And so I had to like enter all that and

put out a report by like eight or 9am.

353

:

So I was always like frantically

typing and I got really bad tendinitis.

354

:

And tried physical therapy, tried a bunch

of stuff, but as soon as I went back

355

:

to work, it just got really bad again.

356

:

So.

357

:

Luckily, a friend of mine had an eBay

business and she had hit a wall, like

358

:

she couldn't really grow anymore by

herself, so I went into business with

359

:

her and quit my job, and it allowed

me to heal my hand and work from

360

:

home and start working on my art.

361

:

So I was able to just slowly grow it.

362

:

I just kept taking opportunities as

they came and putting myself out there.

363

:

I joined Etsy in like 2006 and did that.

364

:

Yeah.

365

:

Early adopter.

366

:

There were like, you know, a couple

thousand people or something.

367

:

Michelle Lasley: Are you still on Etsy?

368

:

Lea K Tawd: no, no, I

left a few years ago.

369

:

I decided it was worth my time

to just focus on my own website.

370

:

Michelle Lasley: Yeah.

371

:

Lea K Tawd: So it was a great start.

372

:

It was a great place to start.

373

:

Yeah.

374

:

Michelle Lasley: Okay, so you

were given this opportunity to

375

:

do more flexible work and

dedicate on your, on your art.

376

:

At one point, at what point were

you able to let go of some of

377

:

these other things and just do

your art and then, and then Reiki?

378

:

Lea K Tawd: Well, I know everything

happens for a reason, but I

379

:

still wish I had done it earlier.

380

:

It actually wasn't until

last year until:

381

:

So I, I mean, I quit doing the eBay

years and years and years ago, but

382

:

after that, I did a lot of side gigs

where I was working for other artists

383

:

and artisans and helping them do

repeatable things in their business.

384

:

And then when COVID started and everyone

was home and the person I was working for,

385

:

Michelle Lasley: One moment.

386

:

Lea K Tawd: The person that I was

working for made all of her art

387

:

on plexiglass and you couldn't get

plexiglass anymore because of all the

388

:

barriers and things that they were

putting up in the stores and stuff.

389

:

So she had to pivot her business.

390

:

And didn't have work for me anymore.

391

:

And she was fantastic to work for.

392

:

I love her.

393

:

But I always knew that when I

quit, I would finally be able

394

:

to focus on my business because

she wouldn't have work for me.

395

:

And then she would have

a lot of work for me.

396

:

And I just dropped everything.

397

:

And did her work.

398

:

And then I came back and I

was like, what was I doing?

399

:

I have no idea.

400

:

I couldn't focus.

401

:

I could never focus on my

business or like maintain.

402

:

So that's what happened.

403

:

I wrote a book.

404

:

I joined the mob, the mom owned

business group and met a lot of great

405

:

people who've supported me a ton.

406

:

And made as much money in 2020

as I was making before that

407

:

without, without any extra jobs.

408

:

Michelle Lasley: Congratulations.

409

:

Lea K Tawd: Thank you.

410

:

Michelle Lasley: That's really great.

411

:

So tell me about this book.

412

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah, it's called Creativity

Unstuck, a toolbox for making more

413

:

art, and it's a little workbook.

414

:

I just wrote it.

415

:

I really wanted to write something

that was different and just

416

:

based on my own experience.

417

:

So I've read other books on creativity.

418

:

There's tons of really great ones.

419

:

But I've been an artist since, you know,

before I went to college and I have a

420

:

lot of experience with creative blocks

and with having a strong creative habit

421

:

because I've made art all this time, even

with a kid and even being really poor at

422

:

times and having a kid and working for

myself on other things and, you know, all

423

:

the excuses that you can come up with.

424

:

I've been in those situations and

I still have had a strong creative

425

:

practice throughout almost all of that.

426

:

So that's partly because I just am so

passionate and dedicated to my artwork,

427

:

Michelle Lasley: I

428

:

Lea K Tawd: and space to, to journal

it out and, and to make a promise to

429

:

yourself that you'll start doing it.

430

:

Michelle Lasley: love that.

431

:

Where can people get your book?

432

:

Okay.

433

:

Lea K Tawd: So they, you can get

it on my website, a signed copy

434

:

or you can get it on Amazon.

435

:

Bye.

436

:

I'm hoping to have it on some

alternative booksellers soon, too.

437

:

Michelle Lasley: Oh, that sounds great.

438

:

Oh my gosh.

439

:

Okay.

440

:

I am a visual person and I like

to invite some of my guests

441

:

to sort of share a vision.

442

:

So if we could go back to your purpose

to inspire and heal using art and Reiki.

443

:

If we had more people in the world, Being

on stuck with their creativity and maybe,

444

:

you know, using art and maybe it's just

very personal, like they're decorating

445

:

a pot that they're going to plant, but a

plant in, or maybe they're creating art

446

:

journals as a way to organize their day

and it never gets shown to anybody else.

447

:

Or maybe they're doing something

big and flashy and glamorous.

448

:

And they're also, and then we

also have more people using

449

:

Reiki as this healing modality.

450

:

What do you think our

world would look like?

451

:

Lea K Tawd: I think it would be a

much calmer, happier, peaceful place.

452

:

Michelle Lasley: Yeah.

453

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah, people, I mean, a lot

of issues, big issues could be boiled

454

:

down to people not, you know, doing

their own healing in their own lives.

455

:

And it just ripples out to the world.

456

:

And so having that self expression

through the artwork and doing

457

:

healing, doing the healing work.

458

:

Michelle Lasley: okay.

459

:

One thing we haven't talked about,

and we have like two minutes left,

460

:

maybe so as much as we can cram it in

this little bit of time, how does your

461

:

artwork explore the divine feminine?

462

:

Okay.

463

:

Lea K Tawd: features some feminine figure.

464

:

And for me, that was really, it

started as exploring my own Womanhood

465

:

and like I was someone who didn't

really get along with very many girls

466

:

when I was younger and didn't feel

particularly feminine in a lot of ways.

467

:

And as I've gotten older.

468

:

So it's my art started as an exploration

of that and myself, and I quickly

469

:

saw how that actually was something

that a lot of other people felt.

470

:

And over the years it's changed because

I do feel very feminine now and I feel

471

:

really connected with that energy.

472

:

And so, it's kind of like what

I was saying before, like each

473

:

of my paintings is a meditation.

474

:

So I don't necessarily have

the image before I get started.

475

:

It comes to me as I'm working, as

I'm connecting in with the Muse

476

:

and with the Divine Feminine.

477

:

Those, the imagery comes forward.

478

:

Michelle Lasley: What's your

favorite piece you've done?

479

:

Oh,

480

:

Lea K Tawd: I actually, I

really, I really don't know.

481

:

I, I like my artwork.

482

:

I don't think I have a favorite.

483

:

Michelle Lasley: that's good.

484

:

Lea K Tawd: It's usually whatever

the newest one is my favorite.

485

:

Michelle Lasley: Would you

describe the newest piece then?

486

:

Lea K Tawd: I just finished a commission,

and it's a Woman in pink, she has sort

487

:

of this amorphous body sitting in a

meditative position on a hill and there's

488

:

lavender and rosemary growing around her.

489

:

And then there's a moon, a crescent moon

over her head with roses around the moon.

490

:

And then there's energy.

491

:

Well I paint energy with dot.

492

:

So there's like energy emanating

from the moon out the light of

493

:

the moon, but it's also energy.

494

:

Michelle Lasley: So if you follow

Lea on her Instagram, you can see

495

:

sometimes her doing, doing that.

496

:

She'll put videos on.

497

:

So can you tell us what

your Instagram handle is?

498

:

Lea K Tawd: Yeah, it's at Lea K.

499

:

Todd artist, L E A K T A W D artist.

500

:

Michelle Lasley: And where

else can people find you?

501

:

Lea K Tawd: You can find

me on my website, Leakarts.

502

:

com.

503

:

And I am on Facebook, but I

don't really use it as much.

504

:

So

505

:

Michelle Lasley: Yeah.

506

:

Thank you so much for being here today

and sharing about your I dare say magic.

507

:

Lea K Tawd: thank you so much, Michelle.

508

:

Michelle Lasley: You're welcome.

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
3. Healing through Art and Reiki with Lea K. Tawd
00:32:10
2. Explore Feng Shui for 2022 with Jillian Rothschild
00:33:23
1. Register to Vote and Listen
00:03:40
Preparing for Purpose: Insights and Stories from Michelle’s Guests
00:01:43
51. The Power of Plant Based Diets with Jeff Hahler & Bev Martin
00:28:56
50. Empowering Careers with Sudeshna Sen
00:36:16
48. Day Trading with Confidence with Marina Villatoro
00:33:05
47. Getting in Touch with Nature with Cece Heart
00:36:01
46. Motherhood, Differently with Irene McKenna
00:43:06
45. Finding Balance in All Things with Karen Schopoff
00:35:06
44. Elevating Yourself... And Your Business with Misha Bartlett
00:36:43
43. Litha, Summer's Celebration
00:04:26
42. Recognizing and Naming Trauma Informed Narratives with Kyira Wackett
00:33:47
41. 8 Steps to Great Web Design with Michelle Balge
00:38:42
40. Mom of five, Kamini Wood, interrupted her perfectionism to live her authentic self.
00:36:02
39. Dr. Alice Kerby and the Somatic Experience to Heal Trauma
00:35:58
38. This is your sign, a conversation with Katie Thompson
00:31:05
37. Debunking the stigma of CBD with Lizzy Renee
00:40:49
36. Ancestral Medicine and Systemic Racism, a Conversation with Laura Rowe
00:34:52
35. Intentional change this Beltaine
00:07:06
34. The Shame Monster of Emotional Eating with Suzanne Carpenter
00:40:24
33. Make Stress Work for You, a Conversation with La-Dana Manhertz
00:50:06
32. Sex positive relationships, a conversation with Yael Rosenstock
00:39:52
31. Manifesting Magic in the Every Day with Michelle Valenzuela
00:35:48
30. Learning to question through Ostara, a Sabbat Reflection
00:08:08
29. Part 2: A no-brainer choice to healing, discovering neurofeedback with Olga Ward
00:34:56
28. Part 1: The Cost of Trauma and Discovering Healing with Olga Ward
00:36:40
27. Realizing Financial Independence, One Person at a Time with Brad Long
00:36:12
26. Processing grief through writing, a story of birth with Alexa Bigwarfe
00:38:44
25. Change the narrative and just do it, with Erin Everleigh
00:34:24
24. Aimee Biondolillo found health after her Come to Jesus Moment
00:34:19
23. Imbolc, further celebrations of the return of light
00:09:22
22. Raising the Consciousness of Humanity with Samantha Gillis
00:32:08
21. Three Pillars to Happiness, a Conversation with Gillian Duncan
00:37:20
20. Keep Digging to Better Health, an Interview with Andrea Procida
00:34:02
19. Part 2: Ashlee Angelus, finding Beauty through the Breakdown
00:29:58
18. Part 1: Ashlee Angelus, the Entwined Tales of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
00:37:29
17. Rise Again This Yule
00:04:39
16. Shifting Mindsets with Farah Fancy
00:32:48
15. Revision culture through values, a conversation with Michelle Gay
00:30:26
14. Wine and Dine with Caroline: Taking the boogeyman out of enjoying good wine
00:34:42
13. Why does astrology matter? A conversation with Vanessa Couto
00:38:14
12. Holiday Conversation Guide: 4 Steps to Connecting Deeply
00:11:56
11. Mindfully Mastering Systems to Ease Your Flow
00:45:38
10. Get out the vote with Emma Burke
00:37:40
9. Weave the metaphysical with everyday life, an interview with Naomi Eklund
00:37:02
8. Show up generously, swag and strategy with Jamie Young
00:35:36
7. Coming into her own, a discussion with Mari Bartoo Jacobson
00:37:20
6. Live a life by design with Colin Thompson
00:36:50
5. Body positivity and the long road of ending body shaming
00:35:46
4. The Shadow Side of Attraction: Debunking the Law of Attraction with Laura Rowe
00:38:30
3. Wholehearted Parenting with Danielle Bettmann
00:37:24
2. Redefining support through candid conversations and safe spaces with Shawanda Randolph
00:36:02
1. Rise up through change, an interview with Jessica Williams
00:33:02
45. What is Tarot, Paganism, and how can you use it - with Maree Bento
00:36:05
44. How does Theresa work with the soul-preneur?
00:40:45
43. Let's (re)learn PR with Lety Juarez Sisson!
00:32:10
42. Revisiting my first interview: Mom of 4, SEO wonder, Cheryl DeClercque
00:37:52
41. Finn found their purpose by centering with the divine
00:34:50
40. Let's revisit eco-psychology with Kathy Stanley
00:38:29
39. How did Jeff find his purpose?
00:42:36
38. Let's check in about empathy with Laura Rowe
00:34:32
37. Let's listen to mom guilt again
00:41:36
36. Celebrating Season 1 and What’s Coming Up
00:07:49
35. Valuing tender care, an interview with Tiffany Chapman
00:41:09
34. Eco-psychology with Kathy Stanley
00:38:29
33. Candidate for Council: Emma Burke
00:33:10
32. Motherhood and Serial Entrepreneurship, an interview with Chrissy Marquardt
00:48:44
31. Discovering your life’s purpose with Finn Lambourn
00:34:50
30. Grace by way of grief
00:11:10
29. From Air Force to Retired, and not even 50, an interview with Misty Gremaud
00:39:11
28. Beltaine Pontifications
00:11:10
27. A discussion of immersive art with Cheri Riznyk
00:33:47
26. Following up with Beaverton’s Next Mayor
00:43:41
25. The Trauma Whisperer, Janine Wirth talks About Trauma
00:39:56
24. Astrology, sacred commerce, and business with Vanessa Couto
00:41:36
23. Engaging with Brandy Henry
00:37:28
22. Ostara’s invitation to co-create a different future
00:13:46
21. Interview with Jeff Hahler
00:42:36
20. An Interview with David Scheer
00:39:56
19. I just turned 42! Celebrating birthdays.
00:11:06
18. An interview with Lety Juarez-Sisson
00:38:06
17. Using essential oils to walk into joy, an interview with Jeni Houston
00:44:24
16. bonus Strategies for curating your brand
00:09:00
15. An Interview with Emily Mieren
00:38:06
14. bonus How do you celebrate Imbolc?
00:08:08
13. An Interview with Mari Bartoo Jacobson
00:37:40
12. An Interview with Theresa Pridemore
00:40:45
11. Radical Acceptance: Moving Beyond Mom Guilt
00:41:36
10. Interview with Laura Rowe
00:34:32
9. Happy New Year! This is an invitation for my grace, your purpose, and joy.
00:12:45
8. Merry Christmas!
00:11:17
7. An Interview with Lacey Beaty, Candidate for Beaverton’s Next Mayor
00:30:34
6. Interview with Maree Bento
00:36:05
5. Interview with Cheryl DeClerque
00:37:52
4. bonus December Essential Oil Specials
00:04:38
3. Happy Thanksgiving and Introducing Interviews
00:07:42
2. Essential Oils and a Toxic Free Home
00:09:06
1. Sustainability, essential oils, breakthroughs, and tech
00:26:29
Introducing Balance Shared, a podcast.
00:07:38
trailer Balance Shared (Trailer)
00:00:30