Shelley's Interview on Shoutout Social

In January 2024, I was approached by a Website out of San Deigo for an interview about my path as a Designer and Artist.

Here is some of what was shared in the interview:

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We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelley Sophia Crawford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelley Sophia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
From an early age I was inspired by art and loved making art, I always knew I wanted to be an Artist. I was fortunate to attend a very creative alternative High School where experimenting with art was a large part of my studies. At this time I also apprenticed with a master mask maker and makeup up artist, who inspired me in the knowing it was possible for a woman to have a career and business doing what she loved in the arts. I became determined to make art the way I resourced myself in the world, and I was fortunate to have roll models that encouraged me in this direction.

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Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am a Digital Artist, Graphic Designer, and I also design Websites.

I guess to be straight up with you, I never intended to be a Digital Artist. Originally I loved painting, drawing and working with flowers and clay and using my hands to create art, I also loved making collages, and I used to spend hours cutting images out of magazines and organizing them into envelopes thinking about the visual stories I would explore bringing the images together in a collage. In my early life I always thought I would be a crafts person or fine artist. But this was also the early 1990s and pre internet boom.

In about the the mid 1990s, when the internet just started to tick up, my husband and I bought our first computer, and the following year we bought our first apple computer. He had this amazing visionary capacity to see what was ahead of us, and foresaw, what was just about to happen with the internet and so we both started taking online classes in Digital Media Design, and that was my first introduction to Photoshop and basic Website design using coding etc. About a year latter of studies, while living in the mountains of Colorado, I created my first website, in trade for two pairs of Handmade Moccasins. And I have been creating Websites and Graphic Design ever since.

Although I came into the world of “Digital Media Art” rather by chance and out of necessity (and by desire to have a pair of moccasins ), somehow grace has carried me through, to where now making art and designing digitally is actually quite a powerful medium for me.

Since 2008 I have been making different series of what I call “Digital Alchemy Collages”, Integrating my love for collage art with my skills in photoshop and this has really been a fun blending of mediums with some interesting results, and its also been a great skill which I have applied to designing interesting Web banners for my clients websites, flyers etc. My collages are also my medium for expressing and sharing with the world some of the insights and mystical ways I see the world and love as our greatest medicine is always at the foundation of my message.

Another thing I enjoy about Website & Graphic design, is that I have to use both the left and right sides of my brain, I have to be very strategic and logical and at the same time very creative and innovative, as well as have skills in connecting with and tuning into my clients and what their design needs are.

I love helping people and finding ways with compassionate listening to help them share and shine their gifts, so the process of working with others to emerge their visionary message, hone their business goals and get clear about their marketing objectives are all woven into the process of creating a website or graphic design project. This has become a very fine tuned part of what I do in my work and I love it!

I feel really proud that as a woman artist I have been able to create a business that reflects my values and allows me to serve others, using not only my technical skills but also my passion for creativity and my artistic eye.

I am excited about the Digital Alchemy Art I am currently creating and inspired by the constant challenges the “creative impulse” invites me into. By nature “Art” invites us into growth, there are always ways to keep evolving and improving as an Artist. This is especially true in the world of Digital Media as the technology and the expectations of the online marketing world are always expanding.

My current aspiration is to be finely attuned to the evolving edges of this creative environment while at the same time staying true to my personal design esthetic and values. My commitment is to the deeply intuitive and creative listening I have with my clients and supporting that process of meeting their marketing objectives in a fun, meaningful and beautiful ways, that empower their journey and process of emerging their work into the world.

Although, I came to being an artist in this way a bit “by chance”, I can honestly say I love what I do and feel very fortunate to use my gifts to support and work with others in creatively empowering ways. My biggest dream at this point is for my personal Art and offerings to also have a meaningful and inspiring impact in the world.

The journey to where I am now as an artist has been circuitous, and I see what I have become and what I do as a synergistic fusion of all the elements of myself as an artist and mystic, exploring what is possible and meeting my world in creative ways that produce beautiful results.

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Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Oh wow, there are so many it is hard to know where to begin. I have been thinking about this theme a lot though recently, about how important it is to acknowledge our mentors and our teachers in life. I actually just started a Substack Blog, called “Musing of a Rose Indigo Artist”, where I am going to be writing about the amazing mentors I have met on my journey as a woman artist, and the stories that have shaped me into who I am today.

I think foremost I have to thank and acknowledge my High School Art teacher and dear friend Betty Mayther, who taught me a lot about Art and especially about art as a modality healing.

I also would like to thank my friend Raylene Abbott who is an accomplished Author, Artist and Mystic who has also taught me many wonderful things.

Now days, my teachers are also my clients, I spend so much time deep in the creative process helping people emerge their work and the look and feel of their online presence, and this has been a tremendous learning ground, for me as an Artist, Designer and Business woman.

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What path have you chosen for dreaming into being your reality?

The time is now!

What path have you chosen for dreaming into being your reality?

The Hopi Prophecies foretold that there was a point ahead for humanity in which our world views would split. Some would choose the path of living from the one Heart ahead of them was a future life with Gaia, and good corn growing

The others would choose, the descending path, their hearts would be split in two, and their world view would descend into chaos.

At this point of the split we are given the opportunity to choose which path we will stand on and walk. It’s a covenant between you and creation.

Have you noticed- how rapidly things have changed in recent months? How polarized the view points have become.

Personally I feel this is our juncture beloveds. What will you choose? Not with your head, but with your heart? This takes a very stead fast listening to your internalized sovereign knowing. (Wondering what I mean by this? Let’s explore the conversation, in the comments)

All kinds of energies, ideologies, belief systems and power players and personal view points are biding for our buy in. The unrooted, are seeking your soul energy, because they are disconnected. It may even be that they want to distract you from your sovereignty, so you feel confused, distracted, traumatized even, so you don’t choose... and your energy gets pulled toward the downward chaos path, along with all the confusing backwards thinking.

These energies haven’t discovered yet the distinction that they get to choose love, and connection. But you as an individual can make this choice.

Stand clear, of polarization and extreme points of view. Reference yourself in the sacred, in love, in the earth, in your family and community..

in your innate and holy knowing.

(Wake up Jedis- you’ve got work to do)

From this place, we will travel together, building a beautiful understanding of why we are here, our commitment to life, and clarity will be an energy that is clearly felt. This feeling won’t be a fad or a trend, it won’t come from any one special group or hip “in crowd”, it will just emanate from the individuals who have chosen. And we will be able to recognize each other.

Trust! Choose! Dream!

Winter Solstice 2020

"Winter Rose" by Ursala LeGuin

I am the stem of my own Rose

and the root of the rowan tree

At dawn of the cold solstice

the rose blooms red

I am root and blind thorn

of the rowan and the rose

I am once born

and born blind

But See

the bare boughs

bright with berries

and the birds are fed.

“May the earths energies rise and bless humanity

At this time

For she and we are one”

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Winter Solstice Blessings, a great prayer for the activation of Mother Earth's Energy Body is Happening (NOW) this Solstice. This is a recording of some reflections on Solstice as I dropped into the infinite and let the messages flow. A beautiful vision of the Rainbow Serpent Activating into her luminous Light Body came thru, so this message can be received as a Meditation, and used as a tool to activate and inspire a deepening into Ceremony at this monumental time. For more clarity on the Ceremony at ULURU and the Rainbow Serpent, I found this blog inspiring: https://opusonus.net/2020/11/21/uluru-ceremony/?fbclid=IwAR2O_rL5HF5KeL77kxYcetQHU4tjaZYStvMR-VsPXr5SgIDGo2X_HVlZ28Y For the exact time of the Great conjunction of Saturn And Jupiter: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=Great+Conjunction+of+Jupiter+and+Saturn+2020&iso=20201221T1820&p1=1440 Here is some basic info on timings, for coordinating ceremonial timing, intention, awareness etc: The actual moment of the solstice on Dec 21st, 2020 will occur around: 10:02 am in England, UK 11:02 am in Malta (and other countries in Europe) 5:02 am Eastern Standard Time (New York) 2:02 am on the West coast of USA 12:02 am in Hawaii 9:00pm in ULURU, Australia An in-depth exploration of Winter Solstice from my Blog: https://www.artistshelleysophia.com/writings/2017/12/17/new-moon-depth-and-winter-solstice-message-2017 For more musing and sacred art: https://www.artistshelleysophia.com

Winter Solstice Message & Meditation

This is a recording of some reflections on Solstice as I dropped into the infinite and let the messages flow. A beautiful vision of the Rainbow Serpent Activating into her luminous Light Body came thru, so this message can be received as a Meditation, and used as a tool to activate and inspire a deepening into Ceremony at this monumental time.

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Winter Solstice Blessings, a great prayer for the activation of Mother Earth's Energy Body is Happening (NOW).... this Solstice. This is a voice recording & playlist. The Voice recording/meditation offers some reflections on Solstice as I dropped into the infinite and let the messages flow. A beautiful vision of the Rainbow Serpent Activating into her luminous Light Body came thru, so this message can be received as a Meditation, and used as a tool to activate and inspire a deepening into Ceremony at this monumental time. The intention of this playlist is to inspire and support personal ceremony, I have incapsulated it in the timeless (NOW), that messages can be utilized at any point in time (NOW) and still be relevant for you to receive the activations encoded within. ❤ enjoy! 🌹🙏

Winter Solstice Playlist

The intention of this playlist is to inspire and support personal ceremony, I have encapsulated it in the timeless (NOW), that messages can be utilized at any point in time (NOW) and still be relevant for you to receive the activation encoded within. ❤ enjoy! 🌹🙏

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ROSE & FIRE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Prep: A fire is prepared in pit but not lite

One special YULE Log is placed by the Altar.

An Altar is pre Prepared: with these items placed on it:

*one large candle

*incense

*a bowl of water

*a bouquet of Roses

*a plate of Chocolate

Ritual: Just after the Sun goes down the men Gather in in a separate circle from the women, and are each given a small candle, one Man will be given a larger Candle that is already lit, the others will light theirs at the fire pit. At the same time the women circle around the fire pit, and each woman is handed two Roses. Then women hold hands and begin to ground and anchor the energy in the darkness. The song “the Rose” plays. When that song completes. The next Song... the “Light is Returning” comes on that is the men’s cue to walk to the circle and surround the women. Women turn and face the men. The man with the candle lights the candle on the Altar with his candle, then a woman pics up the Altar candle turns towards the next man in the circle and lights his candle, and then hands him a Rose. Then hands the candle to the next woman who then lights the next mans candle and on and one until all the men’s candles are lite, and all the men and women are holding a Rose. (Here comes the Sun plays as Then the center fire is lite. Then some prayers or sharings are made, the Yule log is offered to the fire (need to figure out the music for this part).... and then we offer Rose petals to the fire and pass the chocolate Hug each other and close the circle .

This ritual is about first honoring the depth and darkness ( as it is the longest night) the women embody this depth as they stand in the circle holding their Roses and listening to “the Rose Song”....but then as a community we are inviting back the returning of the light, symbolized by the lighting of our candles and then the fire. The Yule log, is especially representing our commitment to loving and honoring all that sustains us. The rose petals offered, are our commitment to offering both our beauty and the things we need to release into the fire of transformation and rebirth of the light. In this way we prepare ourselves spiritually to dream deeper, into the fertile earth, as we await the inspiration of spring.

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In the Heart of Me - A Poem

In the Heart of me

A droplet in the ocean our endless collective sea.

Even if you don’t hear me, it doesn’t mean I don’t see.

A vision of remembering it’s burning to set us free.

A Lion in the Heart of me, it’s purring can’t you see. 

A fusion in the mystery awakens you and me.

Just standing Here, Now 
under this Ancient and Sacred Tree. 

A Rose in the center,

a riddle in the mind,

a path thru the forest that takes us out of time.

A river, a fountain and a breeze like a memory, that soothes away the centuries. 

Its in the silence

we touch the living history.

Digital Alchemy Collage & Poem by Shelley Sophia Crawford