June-Elleni Laine has been teaching spirit-inspired art at The College of Psychic Studies for more than two decades. In this article, published in the Autumn 2018 issue of Light magazine, she shares her story.
When I was a fashion designer, I created my most successful designs at times when I was sketching in a kind of daydream. Once in the zone I was able to touch on a way of knowing what to draw, without really understanding why or how. Brainstorming ideas for garments is standard practice. However, when I was in this daydream zone I noticed a more subtle aspect, a source or inspiration that fuelled sketches, which was different; the new ideas flowed effortlessly out of thin air and became bestsellers.
The zone, however, seemed like a remarkable place and although I didn't know how to enter it deliberately, I noticed when I felt calm and relaxed I was there in a instant. In time, I have come to believe the switch happens automatically when the right- brain is given room to work, that is when the left-brain logic relaxes.
Developing psychic ability
During the early 1990s I started to develop my psychic ability at the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain (SAGB); originally to put a stop to some strange and scary phenomena I was experiencing at night: voices, sensations and a sense of being outside of my body. In my efforts to make these experiences stop I started to learn more, to understand what was happening.
In time, I explored more about this idea when I was developing spirit-inspired art. Using spirit portraiture I felt that I was validating my connection to other levels of consciousness by drawing recognisable portraits of deceased loved ones and conveying accurate information seemingly from beyond the grave. As my ability to follow this very subtle lead slowly but surely increased, my experiences led me to consider the importance of looking at intuition from a new perspective. I knew there must be a way to understand and explain what was happening more objectively. I began to pay attention to the mind, the brain and the way we think. Perceiving, thinking, remembering, reasoning...
Left brain or right brain?
My interest was caught by the 1981 Nobel Prize winner, Roger Wolcott Sperry, who proved that the left and right hemispheres of the brain were able to function independently and had different areas of expertise. In his words, each hemisphere is: 'indeed a conscious system in its own right, perceiving, thinking, remembering, reasoning, willing, and emoting, all at a characteristically human level, and... both the left and the right hemisphere may be conscious simultaneously in different, even in mutually conflicting, mental experiences that run along in parallel'.
His work showed that by severing the corpus callosum - the connection between the brain hemispheres - both hemispheres could be shown to operate independently. The left side used for objective tasks such as language and logic, while the right side previously thought of as the mute sleeping partner, is used for creative and subjective tasks, such as music and spatial awareness.
I wanted to explore the potential of the 'under used' right side of the brain for myself. Sperry's notion that the two sides of our brain could be in mental conflict felt absolutely right to me. Although I did not have the equipment to physically monitor my brain, I could sense it happening within me and I was quite sure the right-side was responsible for receiving inspiration. Hands on experience showed me why intuitive ability is not easy to accept and is rarely logical. Also, how the feelings it conveys are not easy to interpret; right-brain simply doesn't have enough verbal language skills to explain it. But, if and when the inspired information is validated, the sense of excitement is exceptional.
It's in our hands
In 2004 my interest was caught again by the artist lan Xen Lungold, who in a lecture explained how cave paintings were a shaman's tool of manifestation and connection rather than simply decoration. I began looking differently at cave paintings and was fascinated by the ancient hand prints that had Gua Tewet, section of the tree of life, Borneo, Indonesia, been discovered in caves such as those in Borneo - Indonesia.
I realised we use our hands mostly for connection as well as making and creating things. The energy centres or chakras in our hands form part of the heart chakra network - and it is interesting to note the chakras in the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet are known as the small heart chakras. The heart chakra is synonymous with connection and love. It gives a new level of understanding to the phrase, 'made with love'. These cave painted hands seem to reach out to us across time. If you look at them, can you feel the connection?
Leonardo da Vinci, spirit-inspired artist
So what if the arts can and do help us create our future, or at least connect to it and possibly predict what will happen? Let us acknowledge the work of Leonardo da Vinci where there can be no doubt that his sketches of diving equipment and helicopters in the 1400s, are curiously inspired. Was he able to reach into the future and draw what he saw? I believe the answer to that question could be a yes.
I have experienced reaching through time myself and my explorations were enhanced when I connected with da Vinci's energy as I drew him as a spirit guide for an art therapist. I believe, we can benefit from our intuitive potential even more, if we can establish a dialogue between both brain hemispheres, to nurture cooperation from within. if we can learn how to interpret information the right-brain is able to grasp, we can boost our creativity and increase our potential. But to do this we must learn how to switch into the 'zone' to grab the information that sits on the edge of consciousness and then quickly switch back so we can interpret that information into meaningful language.
Performing tasks that required right-brain involvement, such as singing and left nostril breathing, can help us to enter the zone. Using the best of these techniques in conjunction with opening the chakras is a key to establishing a fruitful relationship between the two hemispheres.
Co-ordinating the brain's hemispheres
I found with practice, I was able to improve co-operation between the hemispheres and gain benefits in my connection to spirit as well as my life in general. The most apparent example of the latter was being able to overcome my fear of heights. By continually engaging a switching technique I could contain the terror normally unleashed by my fear of heights.
Using specific actions to initiate going into the 'zone' was very exciting in itself, but when I realised that I could also enter just by changing my thoughts, I was even more convinced I was onto something extremely useful. Something I wanted to share and test out with others. I was determined to develop it further and get this message out to more people. I published my debut book in 2006, The Art of Being Psychic, the first book to guide psychic development using this idea. The feedback and reviews continue to be very good from those open enough to read it, however I am aware that the word psychic in the title probably does not help it to be accepted by the more logical thinkers amongst us.
I believe that when we understand the value of our right-brain intuitive ability in a more objective way, we will find the enthusiasm to look at psychic ability and spirit inspired art with renewed interest and become pleasantly surprised at what we can achieve. I have been amazed at what I've seen happen teaching spirit inspired art and right-brain awareness over the years.
It is my opinion that the arts have a greater significance than they appear to be given by many of us today. It seems clear that artists can tap into the unknown, bringing through sketches and predictions beyond the current knowledge of the day. But I believe this ability is much more common than most of us realise; it is simply the case that most people do not take the time or care to join the dots, or perhaps validation is too thin on the ground to be believed.
June-Elleni Laine's guide to activate spirit inspired art
Open chakras of the left hand path and begin working with spirit-inspired art as follows:
1. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed
2. Make an intention to open your energy centres which are also known as chakras, and ask that you are kept safe during the practice.
3. Relax and imagine an infinite source of energy in front of you passing up through the base of your spine, being carried up on your awareness to the solar plexus chakra, which is just below your navel. Visualise it opening - If you are unable to visualise, simply acknowledge that this centre is open
4. Repeat with the spleen chakra, located to the left of your navel.
5. Repeat with the heart chakra, located at the left hand side of your chest.
6. Breathe calmly until you feel comfortable and acknowledge your openness to spirit.
7. Intend to draw something specific. This is your chance to direct your artwork as either a spirit portrait, guide connection or a message to answer a specific question.
8. Breathe through your left nostril nine times, whilst closing the right nostril.
9. Use soft pastels for spirit inspired drawings. Draw with the side of the pastel quickly without thought; actively follow the energy as you draw in free association. If you notice a need to control, stop, breathe again as above then continue.
10. Look at what forms and feel into it. Seeing what appears is key. It may seem like scribble at first but do not worry.
11. Find any obvious features or symbols and add more detail using the end of the pastel without changing the original shape; speak or write down interpretations that come into your mind. i.e. 'It looks like a bear'
12. Seek to interpret and validate your drawings for example, look up the meaning of a totem animal bear.
13. Set your intention to cleanse and close your chakras when finished.
June-Elleni Laine was a successful fashion designer for 20 years in London. She has also been a spirit artist and clairvoyant for over 20 years, and draws identifiable portraits of loved ones in spirit, and spirit guides. June-Elleni is a published author and established spiritual teacher. Having qualified and tutored at the SAGB, she now offers readings and tutors at The College of Psychic Studies. She also teaches at numerous spiritual centres worldwide, showing clients how to use their spiritual abilities for self-empowerment, helping to heal loss, for well being, to create sustainable relationships.
Take your own journey with spirit-inspired art:
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Intuitive Art: Develop Psychic Ability
CourseExplore your psychic senses through colour in this 8-week online intuitive art course.
With: June-Elleni Laine
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