Transcending Scarcity Mindset

Artist in the Minnetonka studio!

When I was in grade school, I was a rather competitive child.

I have come to realize during the past few years both just how freeing not only pursuing one’s own success, wellbeing, peace and joy is, but also so is the pursuit of one’s friends and everyone else in the world.

We are all, in every category of life, at different levels of excellence/ mastery, and I find it so beautiful that there is no ceiling to mastery. We have that eternal spark within us and in the spirit of growth and progress, we will be supported in our healing and in our inner and outer mastery.

Prayer has been a big catalyst of moving that comparative and competitive energy within myself for others in my life and for my personal individual growth. The mindset shift in me has affected my relationships with fellow community members. This has been including other artists’ and poets. This goodwill for all is the spirit of abundance I find, and it is a better way to be than shame.

As a teenager, I used to compare my “rankings” (this sounds so silly now…) with that of others. Today, I do not anymore (for the most part I would say - sometimes I have to check myself), and this has been gratifying beyond belief. I trust in my path and my divine support, and I am learning learning to trust in myself and step into my power.

Mulan With the Preschoolers!

Yesterday I was sitting in the middle of my studio, and I was the eye of the storm. The storm was all of the mistakes that I had ever made in this entire life, and I sat there facing them, honoring the beating heart inside of myself. I was facing myself. I have not always had the wealth of health and community and peace. I have been on a path of reconnection and making amends as best as I can spiritually and tangibly. Perhaps these two ways are not so separate after all.

I have a painting titled Joan of Arc. She has a light in her eyes that means a lot to me. I have never seen a painting of mine have as much God (whatever you want to call HIM/HER - I have been calling God the infinite lately). She has been broken open clearly I still see that in her face, as I have in this life, and this has exposed her to the divine.

Do you want to hear something funny? Today a vision of Mulan came to mind, a movie that I watch with my little preschoolers often (oh those special little ones!) The song “I’ll make a man out of you” is on, and Shane is training all of the soldiers including Mulan. They are having a difficult time keeping up. Finally when everyone goes to bed, Mulan with determination in her eyes climbs the tall wooden post to retrieve the arrow at its peak. The viewer can see her determination. When Shane walks out of his tent come sunrise, Mulan sits victoriously at the top of the post and sends the arrow to his feet.

Mulan is a master piece if you ask me as a film. Top ten favorite movies!

I have been doing a lot of spiritual work for the past three years especially, and I feel the most stable and also heightened/ liberated that I have perhaps ever felt in this life. I recognize that there is more progress to be made (a beautiful infinity of progress!), but I feel good and free and happy in many ways. I recently heard a talk about Alms, and one thing that I want to bring in is more service to my community. I do some volunteering, but I just feel this nudge of intuition that service is the secret!

I have been thinking about the currency of community a lot lately, and this, this this is also a secret ingredient/ an antidote. Healthy, loving, supportive, strong hearted, goodwill (oh the power of goodwill!) community is precious and what is supposed to be I have been finding. Don’t you find that so many secrets to a good life are right in front of our eyes!?

Well that is all for this blog of musings, reflections and devotions.

I will leave this post with a poem I wrote yesterday (November 10th, 2025)

Title:

One Thousand Suns, All Expressions of the One Sun— Light on Water

My heart,

Innocent and bright- eyed, became wounded. 

This glowing heart dimmed in her grief,

And in her self-victimization.

She hid so that no one could find her, 

And thereby no one could wound her. 

Alone in a dark room, 

The flaming arrows couldn’t reach her anymore,

But neither could the beauty of friendship, the beauty of laughter, nor any of life’s simple joys. 

This lonely heart stumbled across a Teacher one day. 

He taught her about the Christ Light that we all have, waiting to be embodied

He healed her fear, melting it away like ice. 

This was not all at once, but bit by bit, by the Grace of something/ someone/ 

The One who is everything Light- Infinity! Bliss! The source of all justice! Truth and Grace! 

The journey has a starting point, but there is no end, my beloved! 

For we too are infinite in our ending ascent.

We too are infinite on our climbing up the never- ending staircase! 

This heart of mine, protected by the Saint, and guided began to come out of hiding. 

And instead of falling victim to disharmonious energies, she began to hold her light strongly

To shift the disharmony into harmony (in situations that she was strong enough for- and this too increased) and she fell in love with God- and felt God’s eternal, Infinitely profound love for her— the Divine Mother, The Divine Father, the Blissful Infinite One! 

This heart still is coming into her own, still facing trial, and her Teachers are still smiling down at her and laughing joyously with her (sometimes too putting a hand on her shoulder when she cries in sadness, often about some of the cruelty of the world, and sometimes about her own limitations and mistakes too) 

She walks along the Mississippi River and Wayzata Beach today and admires the one thousand suns refracting off of the water - all expressions of the One Sun. 

Beautiful Inside and Out

-The Story of How Lorna Byrne Showed Me that I was Beautiful-

This is the story of how Lorna Byrne, an Irish woman who has seen angels since birth, changed my life.

First I saw a video of Lorna telling her story on Youtube. She seemed different in a beautiful way. She glowed, and her wisdom and peace moved me. I was moved by her having made it through with such grace so many trials throughout her life.

Intrigued, I looked at the links below the video and saw that there is a place called the Sanctuary in Ireland where Lorna does retreats. The photos looked so beautiful, and there were forest walks, Scottish Highland cows, and sheep on the property. 

Around the time that I had watched Lorna’s video, I had been wearing a red coat that I couldn’t zip up because it was too small for me. This red coat magnified my insecurity about my fuller size, as every time I would put it on I would feel “too big” and ugly.

Even though I exercised and ate a diet that would have otherwise been seen as balanced, I had to take an indisposable medication for a life threatening condition that gave me extra weight. I was fuller. This medication affects my metabolism. I found myself undesirable physically.

The next morning, after seeing Lorna’s videos about her seeing angels since her birth, I went to a local coffee shop to get a coffee and oat milk. I heard Lorna’s voice in my mind’s eye, and I felt a true peace. She said: “Buy the green coat,” and i saw an image of the Target store. Then, as if by an angel, I looked down at the cafe floor, and i saw a small purple flower that had fallen. I just felt in my heart that it was from Lorna on s spiritual level. I pocketted the flower then headed to Target.

Surely enough, I found a green coat that was big and warm that I could zip up! I purchased it, and I keep the flower in my pocket. I live in Minnesota, and the winters get bitter-cold, so it was a nice change. 

That experience was powerful enough for me that I decided to sign up for one of Lorna’s retreats at the Sanctuary. 

When I first met Lorna at the Sanctuary, the first thing she said to me was “You are beautiful.” She meant it. For that entire first retreat, people kept telling me how beautiful I was, and surely with angelic help, I realized that I felt more beautiful than I ever had! One of the women at the retreat, and i were talking, and she said “You are beautiful, but you don’t think you are.” I still had more work to do. It was interesting to me that people could tell that just be looking at me. 

Lorna’s Sanctuary is a truly divine place full of peace, abundant nature, angels and grace. It is full of friendship, healing, prayer and simple joys.

When I left the Sanctuary after that first retreat, I added several new prayers to my daily prayer list. Two of them were: “I pray to God that I know that I am beautiful inside and out,” and the other was “ I pray to God that every man, woman, and all life knows that they are beautiful inside and out, no matter what they look like.

I signed up for a second retreat at the Sanctuary six months later. I knew I had come a long way since that first retreat. Lorna said to me that my beloved guardian angel kept saying “Isn’t she glowing?” and that was truly how I felt. I felt strong, beautiful and abundant in blessings and new friends. There is something about the Sanctuary that makes making friends so natural and easy and beautiful, truly with everyone there! There are no clicks at the Sanctuary. I was the same weight, and I was still doing the best I could with moderate exercise and a fairly healthy vegetarian diet, but this time, I knew that I was beautiful. 

Lorna and I during our solo time, that everyone gets at the Sanctaury for ten minutes on teh last day, spoke about how many people spend so much energy finding themselves ugly or too big or undesirable as I used to. Lorna taught me that beauty is a radiance and something we must all know that we possess inside and out! No matter what we look like, we are beautiful, and we must believe it!

I returned from that second Sanctuary trip about a month ago, and I made so many new friends, danced, prayed, hugged beautiful, ancient Irish trees, and laughed with beautiful women, men, angels, cows and sheep!

This morning, now back in the USA, I saw a group of high school aged girls walk into the coffee shop. One young woman in particular caught my eye who was not only fuller figured like I am, but also I could just tell she didn’t find herself beautiful. Just as Lorna could tell with me! I sent her a prayer that she knows how beautiful she is inside and out, and then I put on my green coat that fits perfectly, with the flower in the pocket, and continued on with my day.

The Empowered Woman

The woman has been and still is in many places subjugated. The woman should submit to her husband? This is a sentence that makes my insides writhe and my blood boil.

Shouldn’t partners compliment one another as equals? In some cases the woman may have greater attainment, be more wise and balanced than her partner.

I feel so tormented by the “subservient woman” archetype that seems to be igniting in society lately.

Women are and always have been great poets, scholars, leaders, scientists and also warriors like the famous Joan of Arc! I feel a deep roar of protest at the notion that a woman’s only purpose is to get married “submit to her husband” and have babies. I am in no way against the family and marriage and children. My own family is very important to me. I am not even against some choosing to be stay at home moms (nor am i against being stay at home dad for that matter!). A woman’s choice to work should be her own, and it is indeed possible to work and to have a family. Also we are not cookie-cut-outs, and the choice to remain single and without children should also be protected and respected.

There have been excellent and brave women leaders in all fields in this planet’s history! There was a whole tribe of great women warriors called the Amazons. There are and have been many women scientists like Marie Curie and Jane Goodall. There are and have been great women writers like Emily Dickinson, Hellen Keller, Maya Angelou and the Brontë Sisters. Ella Fitzgerald was a great woman singer/ musician! O’ Keeffe a renown artist paving the way for workman and men artists, excelling and doing what she loved! There are great women CEOs and leaders in politics in many nations (How deeply do I want the USA to elect a woman as president- one who smashes the qualifications by a landslide! I am waiting for her!)

I took for granted all of the progress in women’s rights that the USA and much of the world made. The waves of the “subservient woman” who must “submit to her husband” (what a dangerous demeaning phrase!) and is only meant to be a mother (be a mother by all means if that’s the choice! But careers are a good thing too if that’s the choice! Do not eliminate freedom!)

In addition to my working as an artist and poet, I also work with kids because I love working with kids. Working with the youth is a job that I have seen both women and men excel at. I think of the young girls and boys with whom I work, and I want every freedom for all these kids, every advancement in education, opportunity and for these little ones to grow into empowered and free adults who are treated with respect and not forced by society into positions of subservience!

Even the notion that God is only the Father is incomplete. God is also the Divine Mother in addition to being the Father. In certain eastern traditions like Bhakti Yoga and Kriya Yoga, there is a focus on “The Divine Mother” as God. In Catholicism Mother Mary is “The Mother of God,” and yes she bore Jesus as her child and raised him along with Saint Joseph, but she is a great spiritual being in her own right as well (not to diminish Jesus- not my intention at all).

The Divine Mother is an equal to the Divine Father- both Mother and father are compliments and can lead in infinitely individual ways!

Figure Eight Flow

I heard a metaphor about what learning and education should be like that truly stuck with me. 

There should be a figure eight flow from the teacher/ material, into the mind through the heart then out through the hands! I think that society is moving away from rote memorization/ regurgitation of facts (that most of us will soon forget after the test!) and venturing into self expression, creativity, nature-connection and innovation. That is what I want to see more of! That is also indeed what I have welcomed more of into my life, especially through my art and poetry. There is some sort of synthesize/ alchemy that takes place through my head/ heart /hand.. Poems and paintings are born! And for all true artists! I always say that the artist cannot hide from the world with their art. Who the artist is and what is taking place internally will always show through a painting!

Elementals - 24” by 24” by 1.5” oil on canvas - 2025

Myriad of Elation - 48” by 48” by 1.5” - oil and mixed media on canvas - 2025

Discovery - 48” by 36” by 1.5” - oil on canvas - 2025

Discovery - Working with Kids

This painting that I am currently working on is titled “Discovery.” In it a child is exploring a puddle in his rain boots.

In addition to working as an artist/ poet, I also work with younger children in education. These little humans are very special, and I truly believe that there is no such thing as a “bad” child. This painting tries to capture the innocence and beauty of kids.

Over the past five years or so I have gotten really passionate about abstract expressionism, and this genre of art will always be a love of mine. However, I have been feeling called to return to my objective painting roots for some time! I was feeling a bit intimidated because my painter’s muscles were accustomed to the rawness of abstract expressionism.

So I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a museum that I truly love. (She and I go way back to my NE Minneapolis days!) I studied paintings that I loved, their energy and style of brushstrokes. One of the paintings that I especially love is of Saint Michael, and it was painted in 1624 by Giuseppe Cesari. I feel protected when I experience it, as if I am being watched over by the archangel.

The words “eternal student” came to mind when I entered the museum, and that is what I want to embody as an artist. There is no ceiling to beauty and mastery after all.

As I was painting this little one from the photo (still a work in progress), I focused on painting what my eyes were truly seeing. I did my best to capture the shapes, forms and colors that existed, not the ones that one would think would be accurate.

The painting is not done! Even though I am done for the day, I hear ( as if an angel is whispering in my ear cheering me on!) “refine! refine! refine Achieve a greater excellence!” in my mind.

Anyway, I have challenged myself that the next five paintings that I will create are to be objective paintings. I am enjoying the theme of children, as this correlates a with a sacredness that exists in my life already, but I also have been looking at photographs for inspiration of cityscapes and light on water. We shall see. Infinite possibilities!

All of my love,

xxx

Gena

TIME

I read somewhere that there is an angel who is a sort of time master. He can speed up time and slow it down. A second is still a second and a minute still a minute on the clock, but it’s as if there is another measure of time, perhaps having something to do with our experience of time. I love to contemplate time, as there are so many layers to this topic!

When I am painting and writing poetry, it is like having a tea with a good, good friend that I have not seen for years (one of my favorite things to do is one on one tea times!). The connection is so pure and focused, and it is almost like a dance and a song. To create is something very Holy for me, not disconnected from nature or the earth, but moving with the planet’s elements, colors and spin!

Musings of the Mind

I recently sold a painting I made titled “Grit”

I truly believe that life absolutely requires grit, without exception here on the earth. We may try to fool ourselves that some have it easy, but I don’t think any of us can pass through life without immense trial in some way shape or form. It’s like an initiation of being alive!

I am a big quote gal, and one of my favorite quotes is: “without the sense of struggle, there is no struggle at all.” It often is the “what” that we go through, but it’s the “how” we handle what we undergo. So many beautiful philosophies to contemplate here! Ha!

Lately a huge theme has been the hidden blessing in suffering. I have been embracing that concept in my own life. Suffering, not that we should go out looking for it (imo), can act as a storm that wipes a person clean. I have been deeply sobered by own personal suffering, and once as someone who used to resent it, I know hold onto its memory like a treasure.

Just some musings from my mind. (I am currently sitting in a nap room with eight quiet little preschoolers(knock on wood).

ARTIST’S EVOLUTION

I find few things more fascinating than analyzing different passages of an artist’s career. Art is such an intangible force - one that loves to evolve. The ideas in an artist’s mind spark and spark to such a degree that it sometimes seems impossible to keep up with them. Some remain unborn, never emerging into flame, and others roar and engulf the artist’s work for years and years - maybe for an entire lifetime. 

I began painting in 2015, and I was deeply passionate about portraiture, mainly using acrylics. Some animals, but mainly strong and bold women portraits. I painted that which I wanted to embody - strong self-assured, and passionate, beautiful women. I was eighteen and very much discovering who I was.

It was in 2020 that I began painting landscapes, using oil, and then came abstract expressionism. Often with my objective paintings - portraits, animals, houses, and landscapes - I would question my technical abilities. With abstract expressionism, I didn’t have any of that. I would connect with color directly and with shape, and different materials, light and texture!

I don’t think that an artist can truly separate who they are as a person from their art. No matter how hard one may try, the truth is in the brush strokes!

Poetry

Tigress

I accept the mess,

The bitter soldiers inside of me have surrendered.

The white flag has been raised,

And the doves are released. 

After thrashing and fighting 

With the invader — a tigress who seems to have moved into my head—

I have surrendered my weapons.

Let her growl,

Let her claw all that which I hold sacred

I take off my armor as I let her muddy my plans with sweet abandon—- she lives in joy.

And even in spite of her recklessness,

I have decided to find the beauty in her

I have decided not only to stop hating her, but to befriend her — as she chews on every one of my possessions, shredding them with sharp teeth. 

We are roommates now.

We are kin. 

-Gena Cohen

(Written over a cup of coffee on 02/02/2025)

“Cold and Broken Hallelujah”

“Cold and Broken Hallelujah” 24” by 24” oil and acrylic on canvas - available - created 04/03/2024

I have been listening to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and other covers of the song obsessively. It might by my favorite song I’ve ever heard. One of his lyrics is “it’s a cold and broken hallelujah,” and it just gets me every time I hear it. When I hear that lyric, I feel like all of the affiliation of the world, what’s going on in Gaza, Ukraine, and other nations sadly including the USA where I live, and also personal affliction of the individual is referenced with “cold and broken.” Then Cohen pairs these two words with “Hallelujah,” and through my eyes it perfectly describes life here - because it’s also as beautiful as hallelujah. It may be cold and broken, but there is a hallelujah in it. Life is naturally something astonishing and precious. It’s a cold and broken hallelujah.That song just hits something… wow. I was listening to a cover of it by Safetysuit, where the singer really belts out the song (which I love!) while creating this painting.

24” by 24” oil and mixed media on canvas - 2024

Altar of Sky (poetry book)

Altar of Sky is currently being written and illustrated. This will be my next book of poetry and illustrations. The first is To Sing in the Language of Bees and is out on Amazon now. I am so grateful for all of you have have read it and supported my work. Thank you:)

Here are two of my favorite poems from Altar of Sky:

I run to you 

I want to make music all day,

Let my soul speak through my voice,

Immerse paint on my hands…

And smear some love onto the canvas.

To move my hand, clasping pen, wildly,

As poetry streams in rapture onto the page 

I want to feel in art to live in art,

To drink in sky and marry the sun. 

Song

We are born and we spend lifetime after lifetime

Crafting the song of the soul.

That blood-beating heart in our chest keeps the tempo. 

The wail of the baby,

Is our first wild and untethered lyric.

For we have entered into the arena,

And we are given no words,

But only primal sounds and innocent cooing

We cannot yet walk.