Michelle Lasley:
00:00:12
My guest today is Lea K.
2
:
00:00:14
Todd.
3
:
00:00:15
She uses the pronouns she, her, hers.
4
:
00:00:17
Lea has found her purpose to be to
inspire and heal using art and Reiki.
5
:
00:00:24
Lea is an artist, a Reiki master,
and author of the book Creativity
6
:
00:00:29
Unstuck, a toolbox for making more art.
7
:
00:00:33
She makes heart centered, spiritual
paintings that explore the divine feminine
8
:
00:00:38
and are infused with Reiki healing energy.
9
:
00:00:42
She also gives Reiki healing sessions
and teaches Reiki and helps other
10
:
00:00:46
artists move through creative
blocks and blocks in their business.
11
:
00:00:49
Thank you so much for being here.
12
:
00:00:51
Lea K Tawd: Thank you
so much for having me.
13
:
00:00:53
Michelle Lasley: I am so glad you're here
because we get to talk about some of my
14
:
00:00:56
favorite things, like art, and the divine
feminine, and maybe learn a little bit
15
:
00:01:02
about what this, what this Reiki thing is.
16
:
00:01:05
Lea K Tawd: Yeah, . Excited
to talk about it.
17
:
00:01:08
Michelle Lasley: So, I'm gonna
ask you first, so, think of
18
:
00:01:11
Reiki, I think of Karate Kid, Mr.
19
:
00:01:14
Miyagi.
20
:
00:01:15
Lea K Tawd: Oh, that's funny.
21
:
00:01:19
Yeah,
22
:
00:01:19
Michelle Lasley: And so, you know, he
hurts his, this is like karate kid one.
23
:
00:01:23
For those of you, spoiler alert,
Daniel makes it to the end.
24
:
00:01:26
So the champion, and he hurts his
knee, I think it was his knee.
25
:
00:01:31
And then Mr.
26
:
00:01:32
Miyagi, who's Japanese, right?
27
:
00:01:34
He, you know, puts his hands together
and then magically fixes his knee.
28
:
00:01:42
Lea K Tawd: right.
29
:
00:01:42
I totally forgot about that.
30
:
00:01:48
Michelle Lasley: So, I'm just
curious if you could go kind of, I
31
:
00:01:51
mean, if we could just start there.
32
:
00:01:52
What the heck is Reiki?
33
:
00:01:53
Yeah.
34
:
00:01:57
Lea K Tawd: A lot of
people wonder about that.
35
:
00:01:58
Reiki is a form of energy healing.
36
:
00:02:01
It was originated in Japan.
37
:
00:02:03
It's thousands of years old, as far
as we know, but was what most people
38
:
00:02:09
use now was developed by a man named
ikau Usui, or Usui Sensei, in:
1922
39
:
00:02:19
He did a really intense
meditation on Mount Kuruma, and
40
:
00:02:24
after 21 days, he passed away.
41
:
00:02:26
Was like hit by this light and
it was Frankie and he created a
42
:
00:02:31
school and started teaching other
people, which was something that
43
:
00:02:34
hadn't really been done before.
44
:
00:02:35
It was held privately and families.
45
:
00:02:39
So he created a school and a clinic
and started spreading it around.
46
:
00:02:44
There's a lot more to the
history, but that's like a super,
47
:
00:02:48
super, super brief version.
48
:
00:02:51
When you think of Reiki, often,
like you said, you think of Mr.
49
:
00:02:54
Miyagi, it's hands on healing.
50
:
00:02:58
It can also be done virtually,
though, and I do all of my
51
:
00:03:01
sessions virtually right now.
52
:
00:03:04
What it is, is universal
life force energy.
53
:
00:03:07
So it's the energy that is in everything
that's alive channeled from source or God,
54
:
00:03:15
goddess, the universe, insert your word.
55
:
00:03:20
It's channeled through the Reiki
practitioner to whoever we're working on.
56
:
00:03:25
And a really cool thing is that we get
to receive Reiki while we're also giving
57
:
00:03:30
it and it can heal all sorts of things.
58
:
00:03:33
It's great for rest and relaxation
and supporting the immune system.
59
:
00:03:38
It's been used with cancer patients
to help with chemotherapy symptoms
60
:
00:03:45
and a whole range of things, but it
always works for your highest good,
61
:
00:03:49
which isn't always what we think it is.
62
:
00:03:52
So, so people ask me, what's
it, what can I use it for?
63
:
00:03:55
And it's one of those things where I
can send it to you with the intention
64
:
00:04:00
to treat anything and it might treat,
it will treat you for your highest good.
65
:
00:04:07
So it's not like.
66
:
00:04:09
It's going to cure
everything all the time.
67
:
00:04:11
That makes sense.
68
:
00:04:12
Right.
69
:
00:04:13
Michelle Lasley: I'm thinking of
Bible stories Job, right, had all
70
:
00:04:17
these terrible things happen to him,
and it was almost like, I don't know
71
:
00:04:20
the story very well, I always had
the disclaimer, I grew up Catholic,
72
:
00:04:23
so I know the spirit of the Bible.
73
:
00:04:24
But, you know, there's certain
variations of Christianity who, that
74
:
00:04:30
espouse if you cross off all the tick
marks, check all the boxes, then, you
75
:
00:04:38
know, you've earned your Corvette.
76
:
00:04:40
Right.
77
:
00:04:42
But, like, that's not what
happened to Job, right?
78
:
00:04:44
And he, he was very devout and very, very
faithful, and he had all this awful stuff.
79
:
00:04:48
Not to suggest that awful things are
going to happen when you use Reiki,
80
:
00:04:51
I'm not trying to make that analogy.
81
:
00:04:52
Yeah.
82
:
00:04:53
Lea K Tawd: Not at all.
83
:
00:04:57
Michelle Lasley: But just that openness
that, you know, like, if you wanted,
84
:
00:04:59
you know, go back to Daniel, you
wanted that knee cured, but maybe
85
:
00:05:03
there was something else serving you.
86
:
00:05:04
Yeah.
87
:
00:05:05
Lea K Tawd: Right.
88
:
00:05:06
Like the example I always tell
people is if you came to me
89
:
00:05:09
because you broke your ankle.
90
:
00:05:11
Or even sprained it.
91
:
00:05:12
I can have the intention of treating
your ankle and hopefully it will help.
92
:
00:05:17
And I've, I've helped people with
physical issues before, so it's possible.
93
:
00:05:22
But the underlying cause of the
ankle injury could be that you're
94
:
00:05:27
literally running around too much.
95
:
00:05:29
You're not taking care of yourself
and you need to slow down.
96
:
00:05:32
And so, That would be treated instead
where the, you're able to slow down
97
:
00:05:38
and you're able to be more restful
and take better care of yourself.
98
:
00:05:42
Michelle Lasley: Which could
look like maybe your ankle not
99
:
00:05:44
healing as fast as you hoped.
100
:
00:05:46
Lea K Tawd: Correct?
101
:
00:05:47
Yeah.
102
:
00:05:47
Michelle Lasley: Yeah.
103
:
00:05:48
Lea K Tawd: Yeah.
104
:
00:05:49
Michelle Lasley: Okay.
105
:
00:05:50
Why were you called to even look at Reiki?
106
:
00:05:55
Lea K Tawd: Well, it's kind of
funny because I had heard the word
107
:
00:05:59
Reiki several times over the years.
108
:
00:06:02
I kept hearing it and I
was like, that's cool.
109
:
00:06:05
I want to learn it, but I don't know why.
110
:
00:06:08
I don't know what it is even.
111
:
00:06:10
I just know that I want
to know what it is.
112
:
00:06:12
But not enough to pursue it.
113
:
00:06:15
At the time.
114
:
00:06:16
And then in 2017, my daughter was really
little and she was a horrible sleeper.
115
:
00:06:23
She woke up at 4.
116
:
00:06:24
30 in the morning and I was totally
exhausted and burnt out and trying
117
:
00:06:29
to keep my art business afloat and
just afloat like Not totally dead,
118
:
00:06:36
you know, she was in daycare, like
two half days a week or something.
119
:
00:06:41
And someone suggested to me that I
start meditating for five minutes a day,
120
:
00:06:45
because I was like, I had no self care.
121
:
00:06:48
I was just exhausted.
122
:
00:06:51
Burnout.
123
:
00:06:51
Not even like we're not even
talking like massages and stuff.
124
:
00:06:55
I'm talking about like showering and
like, just like basic needs being met.
125
:
00:07:01
So, I started meditating for five
minutes a day after she went to bed.
126
:
00:07:07
it started opening up my being
able to take better care of myself.
127
:
00:07:14
And this, that's not Reiki, but
I bring it up because I feel
128
:
00:07:19
like it led right into the Reiki.
129
:
00:07:21
Because just a couple months
later I had an art opening at a
130
:
00:07:24
local women's wellness center.
131
:
00:07:26
They had like an open house night, so they
were giving away free massages and I had
132
:
00:07:30
my art there and it was really fun event.
133
:
00:07:33
And so I signed up for a massage.
134
:
00:07:36
And when I went in, the woman
was like, Oh, I'm so sorry.
135
:
00:07:40
It's not a massage.
136
:
00:07:41
It's Reiki.
137
:
00:07:42
And I, she's like, let
me get you a massage.
138
:
00:07:45
And I was like, No, no, no.
139
:
00:07:47
I want Reiki.
140
:
00:07:48
I don't know what it is,
but I know I want it.
141
:
00:07:53
And it was just a 20 minute session,
but it released like this intense grief
142
:
00:07:59
that I didn't even know I was carrying.
143
:
00:08:02
So I basically cried the whole
session, which doesn't always,
144
:
00:08:04
like it doesn't usually happen,
but it does sometimes if you're
145
:
00:08:07
holding that, it can help let it go.
146
:
00:08:10
And it wasn't like crying where
you're just like hopelessly crying.
147
:
00:08:13
It was a release.
148
:
00:08:15
It felt really good and it brought
up stuff that I needed to heal.
149
:
00:08:19
And I immediately signed up to take Reiki
one and which was a couple months later.
150
:
00:08:26
And during the time between that
session and that class, my intuition
151
:
00:08:31
just was like off the charts.
152
:
00:08:33
It just was growing so fast and
I started having I don't want
153
:
00:08:37
to say visions, kind of visions.
154
:
00:08:39
It's my, my meditations became
much more visual and I started.
155
:
00:08:44
Some of my gifts started opening up so
I was getting some downloads and things
156
:
00:08:49
were coming to me and dreams that stuff
that wasn't really happening before then.
157
:
00:08:55
So I knew I was on the right path.
158
:
00:08:57
And I took Reiki one in early
:
2018
159
:
00:09:03
could use it with my artwork, too.
160
:
00:09:06
So I started using it before I created
art, I would give myself Reiki and
161
:
00:09:11
I, I still do this, I give Reiki to
my art supplies and the substrate
162
:
00:09:16
that I'm working on and I channel
it while I'm painting as well.
163
:
00:09:21
And then 2018 I also did Reiki two
and then master level later that year.
164
:
00:09:27
So, and then this year, actually I just
did my Holy Fire Karuna training, which
165
:
00:09:32
is just another, it's another level, a
little higher vibration version of Reiki.
166
:
00:09:39
Michelle Lasley: could you describe
what the difference is between using
167
:
00:09:43
reiki on yourself and your materials
than like say, praying or blessing them?
168
:
00:09:50
Lea K Tawd: Hmm.
169
:
00:09:51
Yeah.
170
:
00:09:52
In a way it's similar because
energy, I mean, all energy
171
:
00:09:57
work has to do with intention.
172
:
00:09:59
So praying like prayer, I would say
is a form of energy work and raising
173
:
00:10:05
your vibration and calling things in.
174
:
00:10:08
The difference I think is that with
Reiki I'm channeling a specific energy.
175
:
00:10:15
So I'm not using my own energy.
176
:
00:10:17
There's all kinds of forms of energy
healing, and some of them uses the
177
:
00:10:20
practitioner's own energy, which
can be really draining Reiki and
178
:
00:10:25
channeling energy from source.
179
:
00:10:27
So I'm not the healer
that Reiki is the healer.
180
:
00:10:30
And it's just coming through me.
181
:
00:10:34
So, yeah.
182
:
00:10:37
Does that sound like a difference?
183
:
00:10:39
I don't really, I haven't really used a
lot of prayer actually in my own life.
184
:
00:10:43
So it's hard to make that connection.
185
:
00:10:45
Michelle Lasley: yeah, that's good.
186
:
00:10:46
I thank you for that.
187
:
00:10:47
Do you feel anything in your
physical body when you use Reiki?
188
:
00:10:54
Lea K Tawd: Absolutely.
189
:
00:10:55
Yeah.
190
:
00:10:55
So as a practitioner, what I feel is a
warmth, a heat in my hands, and sometimes
191
:
00:11:02
it's really, really hot but not painful.
192
:
00:11:07
I also just from the practitioner
side this isn't necessarily a Reiki
193
:
00:11:13
thing, but a Claire thing is that I
feel sometimes other people, what's
194
:
00:11:18
going on in your body and my body.
195
:
00:11:21
So I, that happens for me sometimes and
just feel it a really relaxed feeling.
196
:
00:11:29
It's like a, it puts me more
easily into a meditative state,
197
:
00:11:33
which is the, the optimal state
for giving and receiving Reiki.
198
:
00:11:39
And then from the client's side,
Reiki can also feel like heat.
199
:
00:11:45
When I receive Reiki from
other people, I feel like I'm
200
:
00:11:47
wrapped up in a warm blanket.
201
:
00:11:51
They might feel a tingling feeling.
202
:
00:11:53
Some people feel cold.
203
:
00:11:55
I think not very often, but
just the movement of energy.
204
:
00:11:59
If you're sensitive to that, you
might feel movements of energy.
205
:
00:12:03
A lot of people will see colors
or imagery that they don't
206
:
00:12:07
normally see at other times,
207
:
00:12:11
and then the, the emotional
release sometimes.
208
:
00:12:15
Michelle Lasley: Yeah, yeah.
209
:
00:12:17
One of my first instances of Reiki
was in a weekend retreat and we were
210
:
00:12:23
in small groups discussing images
that came up after meditation.
211
:
00:12:28
And the gal who was sort of facilitating
our group asked if she could use Reiki
212
:
00:12:36
to help someone who was, so this gal was
to my left, and she asked if she could
213
:
00:12:40
use Reiki on the person to my right
to help them with the, whatever they
214
:
00:12:46
were struggling with with their image.
215
:
00:12:47
And she held up her hand.
216
:
00:12:49
So I was right in the middle, it
was a small, you know, we were
217
:
00:12:51
cornered off next to a window, right?
218
:
00:12:53
And I felt something pass
through like my midsection.
219
:
00:13:00
Lea K Tawd: Oh,
220
:
00:13:00
Michelle Lasley: yeah, it was interesting.
221
:
00:13:02
And it wasn't for me, it was
for this other, other person.
222
:
00:13:06
Lea K Tawd: Mm hmm.
223
:
00:13:07
Michelle Lasley: So I just thought
that was really interesting.
224
:
00:13:10
Lea K Tawd: Yeah, that is.
225
:
00:13:12
Michelle Lasley: So you use it.
226
:
00:13:15
With your art as well, so not just,
I think it goes beyond, you know,
227
:
00:13:20
channeling energy to the tools you use.
228
:
00:13:22
How else do you use Reiki in your art?
229
:
00:13:24
Lea K Tawd: Yeah.
230
:
00:13:25
So my artwork is was
already really spiritual.
231
:
00:13:29
Michelle Lasley: Mm hmm.
232
:
00:13:31
Lea K Tawd: I would say before I learned
Reiki I had a really difficult time.
233
:
00:13:36
Talking about that because
I was raised without any.
234
:
00:13:39
religion which in a lot of ways I'm
grateful for, but I didn't have the
235
:
00:13:44
language and I actually had a really
strong bias against organized religion.
236
:
00:13:49
And so like even using a lot of words
that are also used in spirituality, I was
237
:
00:13:54
like, Ooh, it just was so cringy to me.
238
:
00:13:59
So, Reiki has helped heal that in me and
be more accepting of other belief systems
239
:
00:14:05
too, which I'm really grateful for.
240
:
00:14:07
But it so just on a very practical
level, it gave me ease with my
241
:
00:14:13
own spirituality and vocabulary to
talk about it and not feel cringy.
242
:
00:14:19
And then I feel like it
connects me to source.
243
:
00:14:24
To the muse to wherever that source
of creativity is that we as artists
244
:
00:14:30
connect into when we're making art
because I know I'm not the only
245
:
00:14:34
artist who feels more like I'm
channeling than than it's my own idea.
246
:
00:14:40
Michelle Lasley: Yeah.
247
:
00:14:42
Lea K Tawd: So, but I feel like
my art already just making my
248
:
00:14:46
art was how I meditated and
how I practice my spirituality.
249
:
00:14:51
And now, definitely.
250
:
00:14:53
Even more so because when I call
in Reiki, it just like plugs me
251
:
00:14:58
straight in, like flipping a switch.
252
:
00:15:00
Michelle Lasley: Right.
253
:
00:15:01
Lea K Tawd: I'm already in there.
254
:
00:15:03
Michelle Lasley: Okay.
255
:
00:15:05
One more thing.
256
:
00:15:05
After you started using and learning
Reiki, did you end up using it
257
:
00:15:10
on your daughter and did those
sleep issues correct themselves?
258
:
00:15:14
Lea K Tawd: Oh, that's a good question.
259
:
00:15:16
I did use it on her initially and it was
really cute because she was like three
260
:
00:15:21
years old and she would walk around the
house putting her hands up at things
261
:
00:15:26
like say that she was giving them Reiki.
262
:
00:15:28
Michelle Lasley: Oh my gosh.
263
:
00:15:30
Lea K Tawd: So cute.
264
:
00:15:31
I don't think I gave it to her for
sleep at first, because I gave it to My
265
:
00:15:38
teacher said that she had an experience
of giving it to her kids and it made
266
:
00:15:42
them wide awake, just like a lot of
medications with kids like have the
267
:
00:15:46
opposite awake you sleepy effect and
so I was worried about that, but I
268
:
00:15:51
didn't use it with her specifically for.
269
:
00:15:54
But now I would say I would
imagine that would, I would do it.
270
:
00:15:59
I think it would be slightly later now.
271
:
00:16:05
Michelle Lasley: So, with a lot of my
guests this season, we start with the
272
:
00:16:08
nonlinear path, but we didn't with you.
273
:
00:16:10
So, Season 3, this is all
about nonlinear paths.
274
:
00:16:14
And what I'm really curious
about is you do You do art, and
275
:
00:16:19
a piece of me is frankly jealous.
276
:
00:16:22
I've been able to draw or have some
semblance of a command of line,
277
:
00:16:26
since I could put a pen in my hand.
278
:
00:16:28
But I always thought that, you know,
Van Gogh was what we studied, right?
279
:
00:16:32
And who wants to be a starving
artist and, you know, Whatever.
280
:
00:16:37
So, so, but I also love the headspace
and I love thinking and I love writing.
281
:
00:16:41
And so how the choices
I've made, it's fine.
282
:
00:16:44
I'm like making peace with it.
283
:
00:16:45
But what I'm super curious about
is how did you get to do art?
284
:
00:16:51
Like, so if you could what I ask people
to do is kind of track us back, kind
285
:
00:16:54
of using high school as a sort of
pivotal moment when you're asked to go
286
:
00:16:58
out in the world and make your mark.
287
:
00:17:00
What, what did that look like for you?
288
:
00:17:02
Lea K Tawd: Yeah my super
short answer is that I decided.
289
:
00:17:08
Michelle Lasley: Great.
290
:
00:17:09
Let's have a longer answer.
291
:
00:17:13
Lea K Tawd: Could have quit so many times.
292
:
00:17:15
When I was in high school, I
did a lot more writing than art.
293
:
00:17:18
I kind of always made art.
294
:
00:17:20
I took a lot of art classes and theater
classes and but I really was into
295
:
00:17:26
writing in high school and I loved
creative writing and I always had
296
:
00:17:30
a backpack with me so that I could
keep my notebook in there and all
297
:
00:17:34
my markers and pens and everything.
298
:
00:17:40
I, you know, I would go to coffee shops
with my friends and spend the evening
299
:
00:17:46
writing and do like poetry readings, which
is hilarious to me because I was so shy.
300
:
00:17:51
I mean, I did do the drama classes,
but I did them because I was really
301
:
00:17:55
painfully shy and I was tired of that.
302
:
00:17:58
It probably, it probably helped with
the poetry readings, but thank God,
303
:
00:18:01
YouTube was not a thing back then.
304
:
00:18:04
That's all I have to say.
305
:
00:18:08
I'm so, so glad.
306
:
00:18:10
I don't know how, no, there's still
poetry readings, but I don't know about
307
:
00:18:13
high schoolers, like at a coffee shop.
308
:
00:18:17
I don't know if that is the thing anymore.
309
:
00:18:20
So then I wanted to, I wanted to be a
writer and I went to the University of
310
:
00:18:26
Iowa, thinking I would do their famous
international writers workshop, which
311
:
00:18:32
you definitely cannot do as a freshman.
312
:
00:18:34
And I was frustrated, taking freshman
classes and I don't know, a bunch of.
313
:
00:18:42
Random 18 year old's life stuff happened.
314
:
00:18:46
And I ended up moving back to Denver,
which is where I'm from originally.
315
:
00:18:50
And I went to community
college there a little bit.
316
:
00:18:54
And then I moved to Portland with
my best friend 20, I want to say
317
:
00:19:00
27 hours in a U Haul with two cats.
318
:
00:19:05
It's an adventure.
319
:
00:19:07
And I eventually got residency here
and went to the to Portland State.
320
:
00:19:16
And they did not have a
writing, you couldn't get a
321
:
00:19:19
degree in writing at that time.
322
:
00:19:21
I think you can now,
but then you couldn't.
323
:
00:19:23
And I had already, I was double
majoring in art and writing before.
324
:
00:19:30
So when I first started college, I
just wanted, I just added the major
325
:
00:19:34
so that I could take art classes.
326
:
00:19:36
I didn't really want to get the major.
327
:
00:19:38
But that's how it was at the University
of Iowa, you had to have that.
328
:
00:19:44
So at Portland State, they
just didn't have writing.
329
:
00:19:47
So I did, I was like, okay, I'm
just going to major in art then.
330
:
00:19:51
And I did.
331
:
00:19:52
I had my son when I was in 2002.
332
:
00:19:57
So that was when I was a sophomore,
like end of sophomore year ish.
333
:
00:20:03
So I graduated with a two year old.
334
:
00:20:06
And after eight years of taking little
bits of college here and there yeah.
335
:
00:20:12
And then shortly after that,
I became a single mom and I
336
:
00:20:18
was working a lot of jobs.
337
:
00:20:20
I think I was catering and I
had an office job part time
338
:
00:20:26
where I started in the mailroom.
339
:
00:20:29
And there was a third thing.
340
:
00:20:32
But I can't, I don't remember what it was.
341
:
00:20:35
I had so many weird jobs.
342
:
00:20:37
Michelle Lasley: You made mention
of working in a grain elevator.
343
:
00:20:41
Lea K Tawd: Yeah, so that's
where I started in the mail room.
344
:
00:20:45
And then I moved to the elevator like
so they had an office downtown and then
345
:
00:20:50
they had an office at the grain elevator
and I went and worked there and I had to
346
:
00:20:55
be there at six o'clock in the morning.
347
:
00:20:56
So I had to wake my son up,
bring him to his dad, put him
348
:
00:21:00
back to bed and then go to work.
349
:
00:21:03
It was totally crazy.
350
:
00:21:04
And then there was this, I was the
inventory clerk, so I had to basically
351
:
00:21:09
all the trains and barges and everything
that comes in, they weigh the grain.
352
:
00:21:14
And so I had to like enter all that and
put out a report by like eight or 9am.
353
:
00:21:20
So I was always like frantically
typing and I got really bad tendinitis.
354
:
00:21:27
And tried physical therapy, tried a bunch
of stuff, but as soon as I went back
355
:
00:21:31
to work, it just got really bad again.
356
:
00:21:33
So.
357
:
00:21:34
Luckily, a friend of mine had an eBay
business and she had hit a wall, like
358
:
00:21:39
she couldn't really grow anymore by
herself, so I went into business with
359
:
00:21:42
her and quit my job, and it allowed
me to heal my hand and work from
360
:
00:21:49
home and start working on my art.
361
:
00:21:53
So I was able to just slowly grow it.
362
:
00:21:56
I just kept taking opportunities as
they came and putting myself out there.
363
:
00:22:01
I joined Etsy in like 2006 and did that.
364
:
00:22:06
Yeah.
365
:
00:22:06
Early adopter.
366
:
00:22:07
There were like, you know, a couple
thousand people or something.
367
:
00:22:12
Michelle Lasley: Are you still on Etsy?
368
:
00:22:13
Lea K Tawd: no, no, I
left a few years ago.
369
:
00:22:16
I decided it was worth my time
to just focus on my own website.
370
:
00:22:21
Michelle Lasley: Yeah.
371
:
00:22:22
Lea K Tawd: So it was a great start.
372
:
00:22:24
It was a great place to start.
373
:
00:22:26
Yeah.
374
:
00:22:27
Michelle Lasley: Okay, so you
were given this opportunity to
375
:
00:22:33
do more flexible work and
dedicate on your, on your art.
376
:
00:22:36
At one point, at what point were
you able to let go of some of
377
:
00:22:39
these other things and just do
your art and then, and then Reiki?
378
:
00:22:46
Lea K Tawd: Well, I know everything
happens for a reason, but I
379
:
00:22:49
still wish I had done it earlier.
380
:
00:22:52
It actually wasn't until
last year until:
2020
381
:
00:22:55
So I, I mean, I quit doing the eBay
years and years and years ago, but
382
:
00:22:59
after that, I did a lot of side gigs
where I was working for other artists
383
:
00:23:03
and artisans and helping them do
repeatable things in their business.
384
:
00:23:08
And then when COVID started and everyone
was home and the person I was working for,
385
:
00:23:21
Michelle Lasley: One moment.
386
:
00:23:33
Lea K Tawd: The person that I was
working for made all of her art
387
:
00:23:37
on plexiglass and you couldn't get
plexiglass anymore because of all the
388
:
00:23:42
barriers and things that they were
putting up in the stores and stuff.
389
:
00:23:45
So she had to pivot her business.
390
:
00:23:48
And didn't have work for me anymore.
391
:
00:23:50
And she was fantastic to work for.
392
:
00:23:52
I love her.
393
:
00:23:53
But I always knew that when I
quit, I would finally be able
394
:
00:23:56
to focus on my business because
she wouldn't have work for me.
395
:
00:24:00
And then she would have
a lot of work for me.
396
:
00:24:02
And I just dropped everything.
397
:
00:24:04
And did her work.
398
:
00:24:05
And then I came back and I
was like, what was I doing?
399
:
00:24:08
I have no idea.
400
:
00:24:09
I couldn't focus.
401
:
00:24:10
I could never focus on my
business or like maintain.
402
:
00:24:14
So that's what happened.
403
:
00:24:15
I wrote a book.
404
:
00:24:18
I joined the mob, the mom owned
business group and met a lot of great
405
:
00:24:24
people who've supported me a ton.
406
:
00:24:26
And made as much money in 2020
as I was making before that
407
:
00:24:32
without, without any extra jobs.
408
:
00:24:35
Michelle Lasley: Congratulations.
409
:
00:24:37
Lea K Tawd: Thank you.
410
:
00:24:38
Michelle Lasley: That's really great.
411
:
00:24:40
So tell me about this book.
412
:
00:24:43
Lea K Tawd: Yeah, it's called Creativity
Unstuck, a toolbox for making more
413
:
00:24:47
art, and it's a little workbook.
414
:
00:24:49
I just wrote it.
415
:
00:24:50
I really wanted to write something
that was different and just
416
:
00:24:54
based on my own experience.
417
:
00:24:56
So I've read other books on creativity.
418
:
00:24:58
There's tons of really great ones.
419
:
00:25:01
But I've been an artist since, you know,
before I went to college and I have a
420
:
00:25:08
lot of experience with creative blocks
and with having a strong creative habit
421
:
00:25:14
because I've made art all this time, even
with a kid and even being really poor at
422
:
00:25:20
times and having a kid and working for
myself on other things and, you know, all
423
:
00:25:26
the excuses that you can come up with.
424
:
00:25:28
I've been in those situations and
I still have had a strong creative
425
:
00:25:33
practice throughout almost all of that.
426
:
00:25:36
So that's partly because I just am so
passionate and dedicated to my artwork,
427
:
00:25:44
Michelle Lasley: I
428
:
00:26:10
Lea K Tawd: and space to, to journal
it out and, and to make a promise to
429
:
00:26:15
yourself that you'll start doing it.
430
:
00:26:18
Michelle Lasley: love that.
431
:
00:26:20
Where can people get your book?
432
:
00:26:21
Okay.
433
:
00:26:30
Lea K Tawd: So they, you can get
it on my website, a signed copy
434
:
00:26:33
or you can get it on Amazon.
435
:
00:26:34
Bye.
436
:
00:26:35
I'm hoping to have it on some
alternative booksellers soon, too.
437
:
00:26:40
Michelle Lasley: Oh, that sounds great.
438
:
00:26:40
Oh my gosh.
439
:
00:26:42
Okay.
440
:
00:26:42
I am a visual person and I like
to invite some of my guests
441
:
00:26:47
to sort of share a vision.
442
:
00:26:49
So if we could go back to your purpose
to inspire and heal using art and Reiki.
443
:
00:26:55
If we had more people in the world, Being
on stuck with their creativity and maybe,
444
:
00:27:01
you know, using art and maybe it's just
very personal, like they're decorating
445
:
00:27:06
a pot that they're going to plant, but a
plant in, or maybe they're creating art
446
:
00:27:10
journals as a way to organize their day
and it never gets shown to anybody else.
447
:
00:27:14
Or maybe they're doing something
big and flashy and glamorous.
448
:
00:27:18
And they're also, and then we
also have more people using
449
:
00:27:22
Reiki as this healing modality.
450
:
00:27:24
What do you think our
world would look like?
451
:
00:27:28
Lea K Tawd: I think it would be a
much calmer, happier, peaceful place.
452
:
00:27:36
Michelle Lasley: Yeah.
453
:
00:27:37
Lea K Tawd: Yeah, people, I mean, a lot
of issues, big issues could be boiled
454
:
00:27:44
down to people not, you know, doing
their own healing in their own lives.
455
:
00:27:50
And it just ripples out to the world.
456
:
00:27:53
And so having that self expression
through the artwork and doing
457
:
00:27:59
healing, doing the healing work.
458
:
00:28:04
Michelle Lasley: okay.
459
:
00:28:04
One thing we haven't talked about,
and we have like two minutes left,
460
:
00:28:08
maybe so as much as we can cram it in
this little bit of time, how does your
461
:
00:28:13
artwork explore the divine feminine?
462
:
00:28:17
Okay.
463
:
00:28:26
Lea K Tawd: features some feminine figure.
464
:
00:28:29
And for me, that was really, it
started as exploring my own Womanhood
465
:
00:28:36
and like I was someone who didn't
really get along with very many girls
466
:
00:28:41
when I was younger and didn't feel
particularly feminine in a lot of ways.
467
:
00:28:48
And as I've gotten older.
468
:
00:28:52
So it's my art started as an exploration
of that and myself, and I quickly
469
:
00:28:58
saw how that actually was something
that a lot of other people felt.
470
:
00:29:03
And over the years it's changed because
I do feel very feminine now and I feel
471
:
00:29:07
really connected with that energy.
472
:
00:29:10
And so, it's kind of like what
I was saying before, like each
473
:
00:29:13
of my paintings is a meditation.
474
:
00:29:15
So I don't necessarily have
the image before I get started.
475
:
00:29:19
It comes to me as I'm working, as
I'm connecting in with the Muse
476
:
00:29:23
and with the Divine Feminine.
477
:
00:29:25
Those, the imagery comes forward.
478
:
00:29:29
Michelle Lasley: What's your
favorite piece you've done?
479
:
00:29:31
Oh,
480
:
00:29:34
Lea K Tawd: I actually, I
really, I really don't know.
481
:
00:29:39
I, I like my artwork.
482
:
00:29:41
I don't think I have a favorite.
483
:
00:29:43
Michelle Lasley: that's good.
484
:
00:29:44
Lea K Tawd: It's usually whatever
the newest one is my favorite.
485
:
00:29:48
Michelle Lasley: Would you
describe the newest piece then?
486
:
00:29:51
Lea K Tawd: I just finished a commission,
and it's a Woman in pink, she has sort
487
:
00:29:58
of this amorphous body sitting in a
meditative position on a hill and there's
488
:
00:30:04
lavender and rosemary growing around her.
489
:
00:30:08
And then there's a moon, a crescent moon
over her head with roses around the moon.
490
:
00:30:14
And then there's energy.
491
:
00:30:16
Well I paint energy with dot.
492
:
00:30:18
So there's like energy emanating
from the moon out the light of
493
:
00:30:23
the moon, but it's also energy.
494
:
00:30:27
Michelle Lasley: So if you follow
Lea on her Instagram, you can see
495
:
00:30:31
sometimes her doing, doing that.
496
:
00:30:33
She'll put videos on.
497
:
00:30:35
So can you tell us what
your Instagram handle is?
498
:
00:30:37
Lea K Tawd: Yeah, it's at Lea K.
499
:
00:30:39
Todd artist, L E A K T A W D artist.
500
:
00:30:44
Michelle Lasley: And where
else can people find you?
501
:
00:30:46
Lea K Tawd: You can find
me on my website, Leakarts.
502
:
00:30:50
com.
503
:
00:30:51
And I am on Facebook, but I
don't really use it as much.
504
:
00:30:54
So
505
:
00:30:55
Michelle Lasley: Yeah.
506
:
00:30:57
Thank you so much for being here today
and sharing about your I dare say magic.
507
:
00:31:03
Lea K Tawd: thank you so much, Michelle.
508
:
00:31:05
Michelle Lasley: You're welcome.