Carolyn M. Riker, MA, LMHC, LLC
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Counseling Corner Blog

How I Tap Into My Creativity

10/1/2020

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Photo by Zulmaury Saavedra on Unsplash
The other evening, I was washing the dinner dishes and I glanced outside. What caught my eye was the colors of the sky when this ditty of inspiration came through.

“The clouds are ancient this evening. Alabaster and pink on a slate-gray sky. They stopped to say, hello. Are you okay? Close your eyes. Let’s stay here for a few and hold onto a piece of quiet. Just you and me and the earth, soaking up needed soul rays so you can stay close with the heartbeat of love and truth.”

Some of my best thought streams, come in when I’m doing the everyday stuff.

It’s a wide-open zone of receiving limitless ideas, without walls and rules and it flows freely.

Some of those ideas work and others don’t. Some pieces feel too way-out-there but some are exquisitely juicy. So much so, that I get goose bumps.

Sometimes, I’ll know exactly what I want to write and other days I struggle. Ideas aren’t always neat little entities.


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August's Parting Words

8/31/2018

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Photo by Kym MacKinnon on Unsplash
​I asked August if she had any parting words and she nodded yes and spoke:

“Yes, I do. Let me tell you. The heat rose and the sun casted shadows over you. I hope you saw the messages I left for you. Please don’t hide under the umbrella of small or wish you were different. Comparison is a bully. What they have you wish for, but do you? Do you really know you are tall in that way that spreads wings f
or all? It’s not conceited or rude to be the truer you.

Nice is fine, fine, fine but really when you’ve had enough of their abuse, show them what have you. If they leave, it’ll be okay. The strength I see in you holds universes. I have watched you for decades and this season you are ready to heed your calls. Don’t let them beat you down or restrict you; instead close your eyes and listen to the splendor of dreams within dreams. Those very etchings are the blood stains of your truths.

Trust you as you would trust seasons and river those openings to seaways. Seek the silence that becomes you and yet please don’t hide away all day. Gifts are meant to be given. And before I leave, I’m so glad you asked. I’ve been waiting for you and September stands with arms open wider than wide. You’ll be held. I promise you. Sweet blessings as summer fades. A new year always rises as autumn welcomes you.”
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Let the Hurt be Seen

8/15/2018

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I was summoned to this very spot when I caught sight of the hot, hot sun setting over a burnt grey sky where a winged shawl of angels repeated, “Let the hurt be seen.”

There beneath this oracle a hemline of trees was a chorus of protectors. And I knew it was safe as I felt the celestial fire rock me slowly to the left and circle me holy to the right; held in that pure space between sun and earth and the curve before day turns night.

​Amen. Amen. Amen.

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Art Yourself Whole

7/30/2018

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Artist: Elicia Edijanto
This is what I know…

Stay near to the twitch and tremors of nature’s voice as trees speak through the footpads of earth’s song.

Stay close to the ancient ways of solitude. No one can take that from you.

Trust your heart for she knows the path.

Protect yourself from those who steal your kindness.

Keep your inner circle small and safe. Let go of those who violate.

Notice how the wind answers the leaves and watch how the parched land drinks her rain so freely.

Find sustenance in spirit’s flexibility.

Keep open and listen and pause deeply into the reservoir of your fullest passions.

​‘Art’ yourself. ‘Write’ yourself. ‘Speak’ yourself.

​Become the dreams of your call.

Feel into the medicine of your struggles: the anxiety of a thousand wild horses, a century of depression’s sinkholes of silence.

Follow your addictions to where they may lead and ask what is lonely, bored, hungry, tired?

What are these signals trying to feed?

​Above all, lovingly support the processes of your innermost needs and take heed to where they lead you and then soar.
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    About 

    Carolyn Riker is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in private practice. She is also an author of three books. Her most recent book is "My Dear, Love Hasn't Forgotten You."

    Carolyn has a blog on Medium. You can follow her on Facebook page: Carolyn M. Riker, MA, LMHC, or her Instagram page.

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