Creativity, Stillness, and Braving the Unknown: A Conversation with Artist Jason McDonald

As the year draws to a close, CJ reflects on the journey of The Spiritual Artist Podcast throughout Season 4. His goal has always been to share spiritual concepts with creative individuals—whether they are artists or thought leaders—helping them connect with their unique Creative DNA.In this special end-of-year review, CJ revisits the top 5 most impactful episodes of all time and reveals his personal top 3 favorites. He highlights episodes featuring artists who have transcended their challenges to embody the essence of a true Spiritual Artist—shining as points of light for others.CJ also encourages listeners to explore his YouTube channel for visual demonstrations of his creative process, where he shares spiritual lessons through art-making. Or, stay tuned to the podcast for engaging, in-depth interviews with inspiring artists and thought leaders.His book, "The Spiritual Artist" is available on Amazon and retreat information can be found at spiritualartistoday.comCJ recommends his all-time favorite episodes:Season 2, E 28Outsider Artist Charles McDowell Navigates Bipolar Disorder with CreativitySeason 4, E88Turning Disabilities into Art Ability with Photo Realism Artist Leonard BuscemiSeason 4, E94Are we at choice when emotions are triggered? With Rev. Lora Brandis

In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode, International Coach and Senior Trainer for the More to Life Foundation, Ann McMaster, joins CJ Miller to explore how personal sovereignty and intuitive wisdom guide us toward our Real Reality. Ann, a psychotherapist and author of Lifeshocks, shares how the interplay of mind, heart, and gut intelligence allows us to move beyond social conditioning and cultural scripts to live authentically. Together, they discuss the concept of boundaries and how these not only protect our essence but also create the freedom to navigate relationships, social media, and life’s challenges with personal empowerment and clarity. Ann introduces practical tools like the Say-Do-Feel alignment to assess trust and authenticity in ourselves and others. By tuning into gut intuition and adopting "soft eyes," Ann explains how we can take in a broader perspective, discerning reality while filtering out fear-based narratives. Drawing from neuroscience, she highlights the Reticular Activating System, a mechanism in the brain that aligns perception with our emotional focus. Whether navigating social media or personal relationships, Ann encourages listeners to direct their attention toward what they do want to manifest, using intentional focus and mindful attention to shape their lives. The conversation touches on the profound connection between mind, heart, and gut, offering practical exercises to ground and reconnect with one's essence. Ann guides listeners through a powerful heart-centered grounding technique that aligns the body, calms panic, and restores clarity. CJ shares his own practice of presence and the importance of filtering out fear-based content to avoid disconnection from self, including his use of affirmative prayer as a tool to focus on desired outcomes and align with Creative Intelligence. This episode is a beautiful invitation to embrace your personal sovereignty: follow your heart, trust your gut, and honor your unique journey by establishing boundaries that maintain personal alignment and sovereignty. Through tools like mindful attention, discernment, and love-based action, listeners are empowered to remain connected to their essence while supporting others in their authenticity. Form truly follows energy—and when you align with your truth, life unfolds with greater ease and flow. For more information on Ann McMaster visit, https://annmcmaster.com/. Her book, "Lifeshocks: Out of the Blue" is available on Amazon. For more information about CJ Miller and his retreats visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com . His book, "The Spiritual Artist" is available on Amazon. 

Prepare for a heart-centered holiday with A Spiritual Thanksgiving: Gratitude, Service, and Silence. In this inspiring episode, I share three transformative practices—gratitude, service, and silence—that help align your spirit with the infinite flow of Creative Intelligence. Discover how gratitude acts as a portal, inviting clarity and abundance into your life. Learn how simple acts of service connect you to universal love, creating a ripple effect of positivity. Finally, embrace the power of silence, where Spirit speaks and guides you toward deeper understanding. As a spiritual artist, I’ve experienced the profound shifts these practices can bring, and I’ll guide you step-by-step in integrating them into your daily routine. Whether you’re counting blessings, helping others, or finding stillness in the holiday bustle, these practices will deepen your connection to Spirit and illuminate the beauty of living in harmony with the divine flow of life. Join me as we align with Spirit this Thanksgiving and create a season of gratitude, service, and peace. #SpiritualAwakening #GratitudePractice #InnerPeace #MindfulnessMeditation #SpiritualJourney #ConsciousLiving #PositiveEnergy #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #Spirituality 

In this episode, Australian artist Jason McDonald shares his journey as a Spiritual and Energetic Artist, blending his intuitive practice with years of professional creativity. Jason explores how Creative Intelligence flows through art, shaping it as a resource for personal growth and evolution. Through intentional practices like meditation and stillness, he synthesizes and anchors energy, merging aesthetics, inspiration, and spirit to guide his creative process. Jason reflects on the role of presence and alignment in art and life, offering insights on cultivating a deeper connection with the grand intelligence that informs our every moment. From grounding in stillness to navigating the chaos of modern life, he discusses how our relationship with this universal energy can stabilize and inspire us. Together, CJ and Jason explore practices like meditation, prayer, and intentional creation, emphasizing how they can help us center ourselves and align with the rhythms of life. Through vivid anecdotes and thoughtful discussion, Jason reveals how art, when created with care and authenticity, serves as a bridge to a higher consciousness. From the dance between the left and right brain to the dialogue between artist and viewer, he invites listeners to embrace their innate creativity as a birthright. Whether in stillness or movement, Jason encourages us to reconnect with the joy of creating and to honor the intelligence that flows through all aspects of existence. For more information on Jason McDonald visit his website, jasonwmcdonald.com. He can also be located on Instagram under the handle: @jasonwmcdonald.  Thank you for listening to this episode of The Spiritual Artist Podcast. For more information about CJ Miller, his art, and upcoming Spiritual Art Retreats, visit his website at www.spiritualartistoday.com. You can also find his book, The Spiritual Artist, on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with fellow seekers. Until next time, stay inspired and keep creating from your unique Creative DNA! 

In this episode, podcast host CJMiller invites intuitive artists Joe Kresoja and Tonya Henderson to explore how they connect with their inner guidance and higher selves through their creative practices. Joe, a Los Angeles artist, shares how he creates spiritual color codes for clients by tapping into their unique energy, translating it into shapes and colors. Recently, he completed a personal energy portrait for one of his projects, which heightened his self-awareness of his own beliefs and intentions. Tonya, a Michigan-based artist, paints personal energy portraits as well, and both discuss how setting clear intentions can reveal hidden desires and inner truths, beyond surface-level goals like money and success. Throughout the conversation, CJ delves into practical questions, asking his guests how they maintain this intuitive connection in their daily lives. Joe explains his process of meditation, sitting in stillness until an image surfaces, and then allowing colors and potential obstacles to emerge as he paints. Both Joe and Tonya stress the importance of releasing attachment to specific outcomes and instead focusing on the present moment. Tonya encourages listeners to let go of fear and external expectations, emphasizing that the path to inner freedom lies in shifting from reaction to mindful response. She shares her practice of daily meditation, where she asks for inner guidance and allows images, feelings, and answers to arise naturally. The discussion further explores the transformative power of intentional thought and quiet reflection. Joe offers the insight that "awareness is the currency of change," suggesting that by observing our thoughts, we reclaim personal power and create space for growth. Tonya introduces forward journaling as a tool to rewrite one’s story, encouraging listeners to assess whether their beliefs serve them or cause pain. Together, CJ, Joe, and Tonya reveal that true freedom comes from within—by peeling away external influences and reconnecting with the quiet, intuitive voice that guides us toward our best selves. This episode is a heartfelt reminder of the transformative journey to self-awareness and the power of intentional creation. For more information on Joe Kresoja and his color code paintings, visit https://www.kresoja.com/. For more information on coaching and Tonya's energy portraits visit https://tonyahenderson.com/. For more information on CJ, his coaching and retreats, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His book, "The Spiritual Artist" is also available on Amazon. 

In this episode of The Spiritual Artist Podcast, host C.J. Miller speaks with Laurie Seymour, founder of The Baca Institute and host of Wisdom Talk Radio. Laurie shares her insights on raising personal frequency and connecting to the quantum field to harness the power of inner guidance. A master trainer and executive mentor, Laurie introduces listeners to Turaya Touch© and Turaya Meditation©, unique energetic technologies designed to help individuals align with Source and elevate their creative potential. Together, they discuss the concept of “quantum connection” and how it can empower people to master their lives by consciously managing their own vibration. Reflecting on the post-election atmosphere, Laurie and C.J. delve into navigating challenging moments by asking, "How do I want to respond to this?" Laurie encourages listeners to shift from reaction to intention, finding grounding in their connection to a greater energy field. Through silence, or what C.J. describes as the “hallway” – that liminal space before a clear answer emerges – Laurie suggests tuning into the heart’s wisdom, which provides a deeper level of discernment. She invites listeners to explore their own guidance by remaining present with their sensations and responses, rather than being swept away by external events. Laurie shares her process for accessing inner wisdom and creative intelligence, guiding listeners to shift their frequency to invite more light and clarity. By focusing on the "feeling body" – an awareness that senses the energy in a statement or question – she teaches awareness as a tool for intuition and guidance. Laurie introduces her Quantum Connection Process, which empowers individuals to align their business and life with their unique creative blueprint, fostering success and well-being. Together, Laurie and C.J. explore how stepping into love and heart-centered wisdom can transform life into a continuous flow of creation, guided by spirit. For more information on Laurie, visit https://thebacainstitute or listen to her podcast interview with CJ on Wisdom Talk Radio. CJ's book, "The Spiritual Artist" can be purchased on Amazon. For retreat information with CJ, visit www.spiritualartisttoday.com. . . 

Are you a spiritual artist on a journey of self-discovery? In this video, Christopher J. Miller dives deep into the transformative shifts that occur as we awaken to our spiritual and creative potential. Learn about the seven key behaviors that a spiritual artist gradually quits to align more deeply with their unique creative expression and true purpose. These are not just habits—they are profound shifts in perspective that free you from the need for external validation, sales-driven success, and control, allowing you to embrace your authentic Creative DNA.  ✨ Watch to discover how to:  Quit the need for external validation Quit the Belief that Sales Equals Success Quit the need for Controlling the Painting Quit Narcissistic Artist Friends Who Don't Willingly Co-Create Quit Compromising Your Authentic Creative DNA Quit the Habit of Reliving the Past and Obsessing Over the Future Quit the Need to Focus on an Outcome and Enjoy the Creative Journey   If this message resonates with you, don’t forget to subscribe, hit the notification bell, and share your experiences in the comments below. Let’s connect and support each other on this profound journey of creative and spiritual awakening. 🙏✨  #SpiritualArtist #CreativeAwakening #CreativeJourney #ArtisticGrowth #MindfulCreativity #SpiritualArt #AuthenticExpression 

In this episode of "The Spiritual Artist Podcast", Christopher J. Miller interviews Tonya Henderson, an artist, intuitive, and inspiring art business coach dedicated to empowering women through her unique approach to art and energy work. Tonya, who originally trained in psychometry, views art-making as a journey, focusing on the joy of creating rather than the end product. Tonya’s classes and workshops are designed not only to teach the technical aspects of art but to nurture everyone's personal growth, helping them tap into their inner wisdom and Creative Intelligence. Throughout the conversation, Tonya delves into the importance of being fully present in the creative process, emphasizing that there is no right or wrong in art. She believes that the role of a teacher is to ensure students have fun, find their own magic, and trust the flow of creativity. Tonya explains that art often has a way of "creating itself," as it channels through the artist from a higher source. She and CJ discuss how everyone can access the 'Creative Pool,' a space of infinite ideas, by opening themselves up to Divine Intelligence, which, according to Tonya, always brings forth goodness. Tonya also discusses her intuitive art practice, where she creates Personal Energy Portraits, offering art readings that tap into the unique energy of her clients. She shares her experiences as an intuitive reader, explaining how thoughts and energy fields can influence our physical and emotional well-being. Tonya describes how she connects with Divine Intelligence to bring forward the right message for each client, often discovering deeper meanings in her artwork. Her purpose, she says, is to serve others, recognizing that we are all reflections of one another, adding to the fabric of humanity with each act of service. 

In this short clip of my upcoming podcast with Intuitive Artist Tonya Henderson, I share a personal story about my own intuitive experiences and the challenges that came with them. At one point, I felt like I was receiving negative energy or scary thoughts, so I put up a wall and decided it wasn't for me to hear. Yet, I still feel deeply empathic toward the world around me and those in need. I didn't want to turn my back on them because, as Tonya so beautifully expresses, "Anything that doesn't appear as love is a request for love." Together, we explore how tapping into Divine Intelligence—whether you call it God, Source, or Creative Power—always brings forth something good. It’s about recognizing that even when situations or people seem unsettling, the truth is that this power is guiding us toward love and healing. I share how, when someone enters my space, I always receive the right words, reminding us that love is always the answer, and there is nothing in that divine space that can hurt us. This episode offers a heartfelt look at how we can navigate the balance between empathy, intuition, and love. 

In this episode, host CJ Miller welcomes Rev. Michael Gott, Senior Minister at Unity of Houston, to explore the deep connections between creativity, spirituality, and surrender. As they discuss Michael's latest album Be Revealed, CJ asks profound questions about God, faith, and letting go of the ego. Raised in a fundamentalist, Bible-based tradition, Michael shares his journey of rediscovery, from growing up in a strict faith to rewriting his relationship with God through recovery from alcoholism. He opens up about the pivotal moments in his life, including his experiences in the New Thought tradition over the past 30 years and his evolving understanding of a "Higher Power." Michael reflects on his creative process and how surrendering to something greater than himself has become central to his art, spiritual practice, and daily life. The conversation touches on the themes of intention, faith, and transformation, with Michael sharing insights from his personal recovery journey and his ongoing work on a memoir. Key moments in the discussion include Michael's thoughts on the word "God" as a blanket we throw over the mystery of life, allowing people to find their own understanding of the divine. He also delves into the role of surrender in creativity and how imperfections, or "defects of character," can be used for good when we align with the creative energy that flows through us all. The episode concludes with Michael offering his wisdom: "You are good enough. Do what you're here to do. Don’t let the critic stop you from expressing." For more on Rev. Michael Gott and his music, visit www.unityhouston.org.