heart of compassion

A few months back, I met with a friend at Orchard Valley Coffee downtown Campbell. The energy between her and I had been a bit funky in the weeks or months preceding, and we were in dire need of a good heart-to-heart. We both needed to express to each other some of the things that had gone unsaid, as well as clear some stagnant energy that had been building up between us.

I am a great believer in open communication. I believe that nothing heals relationships like opening our hearts and speaking our truths. Holding things inside and repressing emotions never does anyone any good. With time, resentment builds as we make assumptions about what the other person may be thinking and feel misunderstood by them, rather than being open with each other about what we are truly thinking and feeling.

My friend and I met on a Sunday morning – Farmer’s Market time in downtown Campbell! There was something very special about being surrounded by the vibrant and alive energy of all the people who were out and about on this weekend morning to buy fresh produce, enjoy the sunshine, and interact with fellow human beings.

My friend was already there when I arrived and had selected a table for us. When I sat down across from her - slightly anxious about our interaction, though, deep inside, feeling a great sense of peace and calm about it -, I looked up to see one of the most beautiful paintings I’d ever seen! It was a large painting of a heart, primarily in red, yellow and orange tones – all of my favorite colors! While my friend went to order her drink, I sat and gazed in amazement at this beautiful picture. I soaked up its energy and let it fill me with a great sense of joy and wonder. I felt my heart energy open. I was in awe that I would have found myself sitting right across from this painting that resonated so deeply with my heart and soul at this particular moment in time! It felt like a gift from the Universe. There was a tremendous amount of healing emanating from this painting for me – and for my friend and our relationship together. Throughout our entire conversation, I felt as if enveloped by a warm, soothing light. It was beautiful. I was in awe.

As it happened, my friend and I had a really good interaction that morning. I felt we both were able to open our hearts to each other and walk away from our meeting feeling a great deal better about our relationship than we had walking into it! I felt as if the Universe had positioned this painting strategically to bring both me and my friend healing energy on that day. How very beautiful!

I’d meant, since then, to return to this particular coffee shop to find out who the artist was. I’d LOVE to have this painting on my wall! Today, a number of months later, I met with another person at the same coffee shop. On my way there, right around the corner, I spotted some art work displayed outdoors and realized this artist had her studio right there! I decided I would stop by after my meeting.

At the coffee shop, I sat in the same spot today as that Sunday in June, facing the wall on which the coffee shop owners display local art, and where some of the same artist’s more recent pieces were currently on exhibit. As planned, I walked over to her studio/shop after my meeting. She sat behind the counter, and I was excited to meet the artist in person! Something compelled me to tell her the story of the impact her art had had on me that Sunday morning in early June. I told her how it had ‘opened my heart energy.’ She was so thrilled to hear my words and claimed I’d made her day! In fact, she’d just been looking for a tag line for her website, and ‘Open your heart energy’ seemed to be just perfect!

I felt as if I had been led into her store today. I got to be a gift to her, just like she, through her art, had been a gift to me a few months back. We had a very sweet interaction, and I walked away elated – filled with a deep sense of gratitude and awe for the beauty of life and all its synchronicities. She sent me off with two of her beautiful greeting cards to thank me for walking into her life and giving her just what she’d needed in that moment. I walked away with the promise to manifest into my life someone who’d want to gift me the painting of hers I love most, called 'Labyrinth of Love.' :) (Can't seem to link directly to it... it's the one on the right hand corner of the top row if you follow this link... though I'll glady accept the one to its left or the first one in that row, as well. :))

If you live in the area, go visit Debbie Marie Arambula at her gallery at 327 East Campbell Ave in Campbell, CA. If not, you can check out her gallery on her website. Her art is so beautiful! Trust me, its color, vibrancy and compassionate energy will open your heart and fill you with great joy!