Liberation & Rejuvenation

Wow, what a year, huh? I hope that you are well amidst the pandemic and protests. I hope that the needs for liberation and rejuvenation are fulfilled in healthy ways far and wide and deep and true. I’ve been letting these hopes, … Continued

Bird of Paradise

  After a restless night with many thoughts running through my head, I turned to the therapy and medicine to be found in art and nature. I didn’t really do so with that in mind, but that’s what happened, as … Continued

Peace Tonight (Playlist & Painting in Progress)

  As I wrote in my book, “I paint and write of the deepest wounds in poetry, which seems to ease the burden for the witness and me.” Both painting and poetry have been very healing. Since finishing the book, I’ve … Continued

Stardust & Moonshine

Ahh…. I invite you to take a moment to look into your own eyes when you get a chance! Take these thoughts from the back of my book, The Girl Who Dances With Delight, with you when you do: What if … Continued

Tangible Prayers & Presence

My cousin’s family is going through a situation that has shattered the family picture they once knew. My cousin’s 16 year old son, Mason, had brain surgery for a tumor in December, 2017. The tumor was not cancerous, but it … Continued

Be Free

I wonder how this one may speak to you?   I didn’t paint it with Independence day in mind. Yet, as synchronicity happens, I painted it earlier this week as my self care act/time of the day. It was such … Continued

Worthy of Joy (& Book Give-Aways!)

Choosing the stories of our own lives with awareness and bravery… choosing joy… an encouraging conversation with Laura Di Franco, MPT, Author of Brave Healing, A Guide For Your Journey (BraveHealer.com) and Julia Ostara, Author of The Girl who Dances … Continued

Communion & Creativity

The word/idea “communion” keeps coming up for me recently. I think that is a big part of why/how/where I create from… a root. Though I didn’t necessarily realize it or intend it years ago, I can see that is a … Continued

Impeccable Words

* Note: This blog post was written before moving from the Loving Rd domain/website to Thrive True for technical reasons and before adopting the pen name Julia Ostara (which is just 2 letters different than my married name and sounds … Continued