Peace Rose, Strength in Softness.

The excitement, peril, intrigue, and beauty of it all.

Title: Peace Rose, Transition into Light
Key Notes Strength in Softness, Emergence
Shop prints of this painting here.

I made this painting a while back, but the story behind it and how it came to be is relevant and timely now. The worldwide upheaval occurring at this time is bringing to the surface age-old fears and disowned desires. But with our energy focused exclusively on what’s right and wrong, who's good, and who’s bad, conflict and stuckness will be the outcome.

Of course, there is right and wrong. There’s no doubt about that. But I believe that choosing our actions from the stillness will yield results that everyone can live with. Perhaps as things get more extreme, people will choose differently. Either way, the patterns of the old paradigm are shattering. We’ve all played our part and are now participating in its dissolution, both in our own lives and in the public arenas.

My attention is mostly on my work. And while I can’t give you clear and concise definitions about my reality, I can share where I’ve been and hopefully inspire you on your journey. My focus is less on mind, more on being. What I do is not so much about painting a picture. Yet, it’s as much about the craft as it is a spiritual practice.

Exquisite Paintings on the Nature of Flowers is a body of work based on a sophisticated visual analysis of Nature's frequencies = LOVE. My long-standing body of work, ongoing and now in phase two, began in the early 1990s and is the culmination of a lifetime quest—a sacred journey into the heart of Nature, beauty, and healing the myth of separation.

Muse Notes, May

Roses speak to me from a dimension of truth, beauty, and exuberance. They've shown me how to trust life as it unfolds, no matter how rough the road gets. Within the rose is a deep peace that’s super alive and always broadcasting. It’s hard to miss. Its exquisite beauty is uplifting and, for me, irresistible. Roses have been my companions since childhood.

Resistance is Futile

If ups and downs are part of life, they seem to come quicker and leave faster than ever before. Like labor pains, life takes over, and going with it makes the passage easier and less painful. Breathe and let go is the mantra of our time. Trust.

I know, it’s hard to believe, but the path inevitably shows up underfoot even when it seems unlikely. Touch the ground, and it will show up. But stepping forward, not knowing what comes next, is scary. We want to know the details and the plan, which is perfectly understandable.

But with so much being rewritten, and feeling a lack of fit to anyone and anywhere, perhaps it’s time to understand that we are creating a new future. Our choices have a deep and lasting effect these days and may not reflect so-called common sense. Something new is being written into the ley lines of Mother Earth as she reaches out to us, and we reach for a deeper connection with her. Practicing a physical art form, such as art, music, or dance (add your favorite to the list), lifts the quality of our existence.

Unusual circumstances create something new. The featured painting began and was completed during considerable upheaval. It provided a much-needed bridge as the road disappeared from my view. It was during a critical turning point that Peace Rose, Transition into Light gave me the promise of light at the end of a tunnel I felt stuck in.

Inspired by the legendary rose ‘Peace’, I made this painting over several years. On the edge of what seemed like an abyss, I sketched an under-drawing just before familiar surroundings changed scenes. The curtain fell, and another, somewhat unexpected leg of my journey began.

As I set out, launching into the unknown, the question was: Where do I belong? As I traveled, I kept this painting by my side where I could most easily work on it. It was clear that my job was to just keep going. Perhaps you can relate.

What I noticed (but resisted) at the time was that my softer side, my deep interior, was best at hearing and heeding my higher calling. Much of what was occurring was out of my hands, and conventional wisdom was of no help. Surrender was the only solution.

Change, like this painting, came a little at a time. All the while, low, slow vibrations were being sheared away by the raw force of life in me. I would not allow life to shut me down. Interesting to observe, but uncomfortable to live through. Lighter, finer, more resilient energies took their place in the newly open space of me, and an integration period followed.

I simply plodded along, working on Peace Rose, Transition Into Light a little at a time. As the painting came to life, it gave me a sense of accomplishment. One foot in front of the other, as they say. Just live your life, is what I heard. And after what seemed like an unending period, the curtain rose, revealing the next stage of my journey.

Healing Happens.

Mastering this transition, one small step at a time, was the theme.

Peace Rose, Transition into Light is about our connectedness and how the threads of light that make us all one in love, ultimately supports us. The journey has its rewards, but it isn’t always how we think it should be. Surrender plays the starring role, while figuring it all out is out.

The gaps slowly filled in as I experienced how Mother Nature grounds the divine underfoot while rooting out discordant energies. Positive energy arrived as I opened to it, giving me strength. Increasing steadiness was followed by my perseverance.

Honoring Nature helps create stronger bonds with life. It makes space for Mother Nature to land as guidance, nurture, and support for our needs.

Rewards for the journey.

Peace Rose, Transition into Light accompanied me on a journey into the unknown. Embedded within it are frequencies related to the strength and yielding qualities it took for me to remain steadfast in the face of uncertainty and challenge. This adventure required a soft approach that enabled me to emerge in one piece on the other side. And, as I was made to remember, roses are not without their fierce side.

Nature is here to take care of us and is not separate from the divine unless we make it so. Our physical reality, an interface, all of it inexorably entwined.

Parallel Realities, A Story of Survival.

Peace Rose, and the famous intrigue surrounding it.

This rose, now common in gardens worldwide, was once the subject of a perilous journey. Back in the 1930s, French horticulturist Francis Meilland developed the rose, named ‘Peace’ in the US. Politics were extreme then, and Europe was on the verge of an unprecedented dark episode with WW2 on the horizon.

Fortunately, Meilland foresaw the coming invasion, and before war broke out, he convinced the authorities at the American consulate in Lyons to transport his rose stock to safety. It was the last plane out of France. Cuttings were sent to his friends and colleagues in Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the United States.

You may have guessed that his story had a happy ending. Meilland’s rose stock survived the intrigue, conflict, and politics of the day, and its delivery was successful.

As the Second World War came to a close in Europe, the trade name ‘Peace’ was publicly announced on April 29, 1945, in the United States. Since then, the Peace rose has grown globally with great success. It’s popular, resilient, and I’ve grown it in my own garden.

Shown in progress above, the painting Peace Rose, Transition into Light. Energetic Keynotes Strength in Softness and Emergence.

A life process, my work helps me ground the path I’m on, even when I have no idea where I am going. That’s because I know what I need to do at a deeper level of my being than the mental realms can provide. I’ve learned to trust that deeper level of myself and let go of distractions that have previously obscured my path.

Science Meets Art.

Though I’m not a musician myself, sound, music, and musicians have always played an important role in my life. Music transmits frequencies in obvious and not-so-obvious ways, as my colleague Audrey Causilla considers so beautifully in her release, Piano Improvisations Vol. II. I’m honored that she chose my painting, Peace Rose, Transition into Light, for the CD cover.

As an accomplished classical pianist, well-versed in kirtan (traditional Indian devotional chant), Audrey’s music is infused with spiritual vibrations much like my own work. However, this particular CD is unique in that it was created in collaboration with the Canadian company Focused Life Force Energy, or FLFE for short, to produce something truly special. Embedded within the musical tracks are frequencies designed to create a quantum-level experience that inspires peace and well-being. I find it especially helpful when I’m feeling stressed, and I encourage you to experience it firsthand. Listen to clips on Audrey’s website and learn more about her music at AudreyCausilla.com.

The watercolor painting on the cover by Leslie Montana is titled "Peace Rose, Transition into Light". It was in the recording space above the piano, infusing its energy into the improvisations. The potency of luminosity and transformation transmitted from this painting was an inspiration for the entire process. —Audrey Causilla

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Note: I love collaborating with other artists. If you know someone who you think would be a good match for me, let me know. Or just drop a line and say hi.

Thank you for reading Muse News, Beauty in Your inbox, the Mind Behind the Artwork. I’m an independent artist, on fire for life and creativity. If you like what I’m doing, I welcome you to donate with a secure one-time donation any time you like. Your support is sincerely appreciated. Glad to have you along. —Leslie