As the sun sets over the desert, Melody Cohn joins us at CV Hustle to share her captivating artistic odyssey, from Midwestern roots to the luminous California art scene. Imagine transforming your beloved pet's paw prints into a unique piece of art, or watching as glitter and glass come together under an artist's touch during a global pandemic. Melody's narrative is one of resilience and reinvention, where the echoes of her father's musical legacy resonate through her every creation, proving that art, indeed, holds a restorative power capable of transcending the canvas and notes on a scale.
During our time together, Melody whispers the secrets of balancing energy through Reiki practice, harmonizing it with the vibrations of a drum circle. It's a dance of well-being and resonance, where healing is not just felt but heard in the rhythm of life. We also confront the 'starving artist' myth head-on, advocating for the indispensable role of music within educational curriculums, as it shapes our very beings. Melody gracefully illustrates the parallels between chakras and musical scales, offering a mesmerizing understanding of how our spiritual and auditory worlds are intrinsically intertwined.
The episode wraps with Melody's insights into the commercial art sphere, where large events can cast a spotlight on hidden gems like Salvation Mountain, and local exhibitions at the La Quinta Museum showcase the heartbeats of our communities. As we bid adieu, we celebrate the harmonious blend of meditative arts and the manifestation of dreams, reinforcing our shared commitment to foster inspiration, whether through the strokes of a brush, the pulse of a podcast, or the chords of a melody. Join us on this transformative journey where creativity and mindfulness are not just discussed but deeply felt.
As the sun sets over the desert, Melody Cohn joins us at CV Hustle to share her captivating artistic odyssey, from Midwestern roots to the luminous California art scene. Imagine transforming your beloved pet's paw prints into a unique piece of art, or watching as glitter and glass come together under an artist's touch during a global pandemic. Melody's narrative is one of resilience and reinvention, where the echoes of her father's musical legacy resonate through her every creation, proving that art, indeed, holds a restorative power capable of transcending the canvas and notes on a scale.
During our time together, Melody whispers the secrets of balancing energy through Reiki practice, harmonizing it with the vibrations of a drum circle. It's a dance of well-being and resonance, where healing is not just felt but heard in the rhythm of life. We also confront the 'starving artist' myth head-on, advocating for the indispensable role of music within educational curriculums, as it shapes our very beings. Melody gracefully illustrates the parallels between chakras and musical scales, offering a mesmerizing understanding of how our spiritual and auditory worlds are intrinsically intertwined.
The episode wraps with Melody's insights into the commercial art sphere, where large events can cast a spotlight on hidden gems like Salvation Mountain, and local exhibitions at the La Quinta Museum showcase the heartbeats of our communities. As we bid adieu, we celebrate the harmonious blend of meditative arts and the manifestation of dreams, reinforcing our shared commitment to foster inspiration, whether through the strokes of a brush, the pulse of a podcast, or the chords of a melody. Join us on this transformative journey where creativity and mindfulness are not just discussed but deeply felt.
Welcome to CV Hustle, the podcast created to educate, inform and inspire entrepreneurship here in our Coachella Valley. Hello everyone, I'm Robert Mraz.
Speaker 2:And I am Fina Mraz.
Speaker 1:And this is CV Hustle, the podcast designed to inspire, educate and inform entrepreneurship here in the Coachella Valley. And I am Fina Mraz, one and Only Melody Cohn. Thank you for coming in and joining CV Hustle today.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much. The one and only sounds good.
Speaker 1:You are the one and only you are the one and only. So art, why don't you kind of tell our audience what you know, businesses you have, what art you kind of got you're into, kind of inform people that don't maybe don't know who you are?
Speaker 3:Well, I was born an artist. You know, I grew up in the Midwest and then I traveled here to California in the year of 2000. And I was living in Yucca Valley at this time and driving every day to Palm Springs and every day I was like you know, I just want to get back people. I moved to Palm Springs and then I met my future husband. You know it was like a friend kind of connection, but I was talking to him about the kind of art that I wanted to do. So, luckily enough, I've had a great mentor along the way, and so I evolved from acrylics which I still use acrylics and then I learned a technique which was watercolor on canvas, and that's really nice and actually I still use that technique for when anybody that wants paw art so we can capture, I can capture, I work with your dog or cat and paint their little paws and I have a little meditation with them and they're like looking at me, like are you reading my palm? And I'm like, well, we make little art out of their little palm paw prints. But this watercolor technique doesn't wash away because you seal it and it's like on a canvas board or can be on canvas. So that's something that I love to do. So I dabbled in that.
Speaker 3:And then, over the pandemic, I got kind of crazy, as we all did. We had to have a pandemic project, so I started using glitter and glass in my bathrooms. You know, I was like redid the cabinets in there. Where did you end up getting the glass from? It's broken glass that you can get at the store. It's already broken and mirrored glass, okay, and it's tempered, and so I started using this technique just to finish off the bathroom. I started doing my own paintings for you know this, and then it went beyond that. So, you know, my vision took me to different areas. You know, what else can you do with this? It's a, it's an experiment. I love being an artist and I love experimenting and and claiming my, my creations, you know, as individual and unique, one of a kind like you said, I have a question.
Speaker 2:So you mentioned that you were born an artist, so tell me what that means. Did you have people in your family? Because normally, like, if somebody's a singer, somebody in their family is a singer or what have you but where did that stem from? Do you think that's a really great question?
Speaker 3:I'm glad you asked. My father was a musician. He played the pipe organ no-transcript.
Speaker 2:I think of the dong dong.
Speaker 1:The big one in the church, or something like that.
Speaker 3:Well, he did play this huge pipe organ, one in Evansville, indiana, that was one of the biggest. You know that they put there and it's a shame because it's $4.1 million to fix this organ. So they have to take it out of this Coliseum in which they're renewing Because there's really not a need for it. People don't listen to these instruments like they used to. But there is a video that was just recently I put on my Facebook from when he played at this Coliseum is what it was.
Speaker 3:I went there for even concerts like Cheap Trick. I saw Cheap Trick. Or this coliseum is what it was. I went there for even concerts like Cheap Trick. I saw Cheap Trick at this coliseum and so they had this private area for this large pipe organ and there's so many pipes, I mean so many. But this old footage it does look kind of creepy, you know, like those old scary movies. This newscaster, jeff Lyons, is walking in, you know, and he's like capturing the building and then he goes in. It's kind of black and white. My dad's playing that pipe organ like this is like wow, it's almost eerie. But just, he loved that kind of thing and I love art and creating and music.
Speaker 2:It's all so healing. It's also kind of intertwined as well. Right, it really is so. When you moved down here in 2000 and you said you hit Joshua Tree, why Joshua Tree? What was going on there?
Speaker 3:Well, I was in a marriage, you know. We moved to where my mother and father-in-law were living up in Yucca Valley. They had lived in Palm Desert and then they moved up there. It was more affordable and we're like, wow, can we do this? And the kids were in school and we made an executive decision. There's so much to do in California. The mountains are beautiful. We didn't even care if it was the middle of summer when we visited, so we loved it so much that we made the big move and it was meant to be, because our house sold like that and they was able to come here a month before. Well, just to start school. They were here a month before we came here. But this marriage went into a divorce. You know, it was just one of those things I don't want to get into. But yeah, so art is very healing and so many more ways that I can get into it.
Speaker 2:So when I talked to you, you had mentioned that you also do Reiki. Am I saying that correctly? Yes, you are saying it. Tell me what that means, because I did look it up. I've heard of it. I've heard several people talk about it lately, more than I have that I can remember, and so I wasn't really sure what that meant. And so I did see a few people doing like movements like this on the internet, or somebody even was combing hair or something, and I wasn't sure what that meant.
Speaker 3:Well, everybody was born with this gift. It's just that if you get attuned to it, if your heart is open to it and you want to be attuned, then you can be attuned by Reiki Master and you can go through these different levels. But the first thing is is that it's universal energy and I feel that it's been around since the beginning of time. But in Japan not really that many years ago it was brought about and so it's been going big ever since, just like yoga and the new age thing. So, being attuned with it, then you have this gift that you can help, and you can help yourself with it, you can help your animals and actually when you touch your animals you're giving and receiving that Reiki with them.
Speaker 3:I mean, I do this even before I was attuned. I kind of had that feeling. With that, I would say it would be the closest if you hadn't been attuned to it. So it's invisible, of course, but energy is invisible, but it's the greatest thing of all, and so, intentionally, you pour light that you've been attuned with into areas that you feel are needed and into one's body, and you start with the crown and you also want to make sure they stay grounded. That's important.
Speaker 2:When you say stay grounded, what does that mean? That means sitting down, are you?
Speaker 3:laying down. Oh, you're laying down? Yeah, the participant would definitely be laying down and I play these singing bowls so that they can relax a little bit, and their head is on a pillow and then there's also a pillow under their legs and I give them. They can bring their own if they want. But I have two really nice crystals that they can hold on to, because when I was first being given Reiki, I had these like little, little little jumps right and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is not going to be funny, because what if I do this all the time? You know, like some like a Parkinson's or something, but I eventually got out of that.
Speaker 3:It like came out and but I'm sensitive to one's needs and by having a little, well, they're not little, but they're heavy, they weigh down the hands a little bit, so you feel a little bit more grounded in that sense, and grounding to me also is like the root chakra. This is, you know, being grounded is really important, because if we not, we sometimes get like we're all in our head thinking about this, we to do our calendars, you know we're multitasking and yet we're not taking a deep, cleansing breath and feeling that connection to the earth, or even to our base, our core. And you can do this by hugging a tree. You can drink this, you can drink red juices to open up your base, chakra.
Speaker 2:There's many things to do for each chakra, and is this part of your business? Did you have to get certified?
Speaker 1:Are you like a yoga instructor? No, I'm not a yoga instructor.
Speaker 3:No, I'm not a yoga instructor, but I learned, I took a course on how to facilitate meditations through a course of chakra dance. So I want to go back to. I used to smoke cigarettes. So after I smoked, after I met my husband, I was still smoking cigarettes and it's amazing that you know he even still wanted to date me. And he says I believe if you quit, you will have achieved the greatest thing. It's a hard thing, guys.
Speaker 3:Don't ever start Anybody, it's horrible right, and so, with his guidance, I actually quit that habit. But when I got off of work before I would even see him, I started, instead of going out to the patio to light up and pollute the garden, instead of going out to the patio to light up and pollute the garden, I was teaching myself how to meditate, and then it was like a couple years after that. Then the chakras came about and they were, you know, needing facilitators all throughout the world and I'm like, wow, you can meditate. You can, you know, activate these energy centers and you can move, you know, releasing toxins that's stored in your body. So anything we do as far as removing energy that's unwanted in our bodies, there's many ways to do it.
Speaker 3:Yoga is another moving meditation and it's a wonderful way, but we need to. Massage is really good, any kind of meditation. Reiki is a one on one, which it's really great. But, you know, meditations are really really wonderful too, because, like last night, I had a drum circle and a solar plexus meditation, because it's it's this is the divine masculine, and so we had this drum circle, and when you get together, like in this, the energy is really profound. It's like when two are more gather right, the energy is just more magnificent and it's like that energy rises. And I like holding these spaces because I feel that it's in the collective and that it's going to to Mother Earth and helping her heal, you know, by bringing some light to the surface.
Speaker 2:So when you hold these, what does that look like? Is it an hour deal? Like what is? Do you charge for that? How does that work in a business?
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's donation based, you know, on different modalities, and so, yeah, there's different modalities. Like the one meditation could be like 90 minutes long and, um, a reiki would be like an hour long, and it includes singing bowls and sometimes tuning forks and essential oils, because essential oils revive us, awaken us, you know, and so they're also related to these chakra centers. So when one is, like you know, receiving, they're like drifting off and oftentimes people fall asleep, but they're still receiving this Reiki, universal energy, that's what they call it. So it's universal energy. So it's energy coming from the universe. I'm just a conduit, you know, to this. So it's energy coming from the universe. I'm just a conduit, you know, to this. So it's, it's really special. And the sound bathing. So, before the pandemic, my husband got me these sound bowls and you know, I had a lot of time to play them. And then, in the year of 2022, we're coming out of that phase, right out of the pandemic.
Speaker 2:What are the sound bowls made out of? Is it, is it glass or is a? They could be made out of different compressed crystal actually compressed crystal.
Speaker 1:They sell them. Then they saw they have like a star in vegas that sold a bunch of those and they had them in cabo when, when we went there.
Speaker 3:They do sell them. They've been very very famous.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're pretty popular these days right.
Speaker 2:Yes, they are. And then there's different things that you go around the bowl with, correct, and what would that be?
Speaker 3:Well, there's different. There's like a mallet and then there's one that's like a little stiffer, without a padded, you know, so you can get different sounds from them. Also, tibetan bowls, which have been around since the beginning of time. You've seen them and they're like the precious metal bowls. They're like when people go to Tibet, the Tibetan bowls they're like brass bowls, so they have a sound to them as well and other musical instruments that kind of you know what ASMR is like the sound that's pleasing to one's ear when they hear something. These instruments are really good to put into a sound bath.
Speaker 3:And what I was going to say in 2022, coming out of the pandemic, I had my girlfriends come over and experience something that I had my husband help me with, because I had a vision. You know we get visions and I said, well, I would like to have them come over and experience floating on the water while I'm doing a sound bath, while I'm playing these bowls, and this has become very, very popular. You know someone, it's like floating on water. Well, if you can imagine, if you've never really done a sound bath, this is like when you lay on a yoga mat and you've got your head propped on a pillow and you want to use these healing tones, because they are healing frequencies to different parts of our energetic field. You just relax and you receive as long as you're open to it, and that goes for all energy work. You know, as long as you're open to it and that goes for all energy work. You know as long as you're open to it. And so you let these singing bowls and these frequencies just travel through you, right? And then it's something like you might even get goosebumps because they're so good.
Speaker 3:Well, incorporating one floating on the water while I'm doing this. They're traveling around, so, as you can imagine, our head is like round. So we receive and it's a miracle by God that we have it like this, because we hear better with the way that our crowns are. You can only imagine, when you're turning around, that it's like the sound is different. You know, turning around on a float because you're not, you're mobile, you're floating around and you're not just. You know staying grounded, and the grounded space is wonderful too, and you cannot go wrong. You know either way, but this was like the ultimate, this is like the immersive experience. So, yeah, and so I have those. Another thing I do with one of my friends. A dear friend of mine her name is Debbie Marlowe and she is also into Reiki and Carol Johnson. So we get together and we have these Reiki circles and so we help one another. You know, it's like just to keep each other up, because it really does lift our vibration and we just feel, we feel so much better.
Speaker 2:you know, it's like we've let go of any stress yeah, you gotta get, let that go and release right yes um, I have a question regarding you were saying the music part of it you wanted to know about um, yeah, because so.
Speaker 1:On your website it says you also use music to heal. You want to kind?
Speaker 3:of elaborate on is it is it is with the sound, the sound healing.
Speaker 1:Yes so you, you switch from what you did before to the, to the well, I used to play the trumpet in high school, so I don't think that would be very silly, maybe if you're Miles.
Speaker 2:Davis, it could be very silly right, my husband's a huge music yeah, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 3:I love all genres, I love music and, you know, I guess, with my father being a musician, that's one of the reasons why he and my mother named me Melody yeah so I embraced that. I love it about myself. I didn't always when I was younger, you know I don't think any of us really like her name. We want to be someone else's name. But the older I get I'm like wow, thank you, thank you, it's a blessing now, right.
Speaker 1:So I wanted to ask you, um, you know the stereotype of the starving artist. You know this is a podcast about entrepreneurship and business. At the heart of it you're you're a business person that makes a living through art. You know, so that that stereotype of a starving artist, is that true? Is that overblown? What is your opinion on that stereotype? For me, like when I hear artists, I'm like well, you know, they must be struggling to make it or they're going to sell out. You know to make it. You know that kind of thing. What's your take on all that?
Speaker 3:Well, I would hate to be a starving artist. Well, I would hate to be a starving artist If we didn't have other businesses too. My husband and I, you know it would not be enough to float what it is that we have. So we're lucky enough that, you know, he's in agriculture, and well, he's an artist too, and an architect, you know. So we're lucky and fortunate about that. If I was to live on art alone, I'd probably not live.
Speaker 1:Maybe you would be starving, I would be starving. Yeah, so it's not just a stereotype then.
Speaker 3:No, it's much like a musician too. I mean, musicians don't get paid very well. These gigs that they have. It's really sad that they have. They're like and and it's it's really sad I I I think that they deserve so much more because these are important things in our life, you know?
Speaker 2:oh, absolutely. And it seems like they've even taken that out of school. Like right, music isn't?
Speaker 3:that they they do still have, like the marching bands. That's true. I, I mentor um at coach. Oh, that's my alma mater, yeah, yeah. So it's through the JFK Foundation. I'm an Ophelia Girl mentor, very good. So Women Through the Valley, it's a whole other subject, but we heard the marching band the other day. I'm like wow, we all woke up. I'm like I love that power, you know the drums and the marching band.
Speaker 2:There's nothing quite like it, right?
Speaker 3:And speaking of the drums, last night's drum circle was really powerful. You know, it's like every well, those that had drums, they brought them, and so this is something that's really powerful. It just lifts up the vibration. You know you can be like this and then afterwards you're like, wow, it's almost like you captured a heartbeat through the vibration. I mean, music does that for us, whether it's drums or other. And I wanted to speak of music on another level, which most don't think about, and it's kind of going to be integral in this interview, is our chakras resonate. Hold, Hold on. What is a chakra? Okay, that's invisible.
Speaker 2:I've heard of these, but like I need somebody to help me go forward I think we've all heard the term but people that don't practice might not necessarily know exactly what it is.
Speaker 3:You're absolutely right. So we were born with energy centers that are invisible. You can look at the body, the physical body, and you can just think of the spine, you know, going up the spine, so at the tailbone, this would be your connection to the base chakra. So that is also the color of red. All right, and this is the wonderful thing. Well, like you look at a red flower or drink something that's red or eat red foods, right, just seeing this and a tree and just connecting with that red color.
Speaker 3:So the next one up is the water element. So we've got the earth, now we're into the water element, which is our sacral chakra, like our lower belly, like this is where you know, probably, belly dancing came about, and the flow of that is very like wavy and like ocean waves, right, like this is very like wavy and like ocean waves, right, like this. And it's the element of water and it's the, the key of d. So we've got the key of c and the key of d. This so gives a whole new resonance to music and music scale. And so the next one up is our divine masculine, which is our fire element, and this fire element is our masculine. This is where we need to make decisions. This is when we need that strength and endurance and that passion. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So this is where we hear the fire in the belly.
Speaker 3:Yes, yeah, absolutely and oftentimes we'll see ourself hunched over like this. Well, you know, we're not, we're not. We want to expose that solar plexus up to the sun, because it is the sun element. So the next one up, well, that would be cde, so that one would be in the key of e. And the heart chakra is the next one up. That is in the heart center and the thymus and it is the color of green and it would be in the key of f, cd-d-e-f.
Speaker 3:Yes, and that's a big one for people because we get hurt in the heart and we don't get over it. Some people just live with hurtness for the rest of their life and it's really sad because you can clear that area and when you do, you're like, wow, what I was holding against you or what I could not forgive you for, I'm over it. I'm over it because I have nothing but love to share. This is what a healing of the heart can do. So the next one up would be the throat chakra and that is the sky blue color. And this is so important.
Speaker 3:Guys, you know what we speak comes about. It's like light attracts light. So the more that we can speak positive and and not get caught up in you know the gossip, and because that's, that's never going to come from anything good. Good, you know. So it's, it takes practice, you know, and it's, and it's also in the mind too. But it's about what we listen to and about what we speak, and also about manifesting what it is that we want in life. It's a very, very powerful chakra. So the next one, up from that, is our third eye, and this is our vision. And this is where, intuitively, you might just all of a sudden think, wow, that will go with that and this will go with. And I've got to get in touch with her. And sometimes, you know, things happen and you can't explain it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're just kind of at the right place at the right time sometimes and you're like whoa, how did that come about? Yeah, yeah, okay.
Speaker 3:So that is the color indigo like of the night sky, and so that is the color indigo like of a night sky, and what would that be? C-d-e-f-g-a, and then the next one after that would be the crown chakra, and this is our connection to the other side of the universe. This is where we are connected, we all are connected, and this is where angels will come to us and ancestors, ancestors, and I like to make it when I think about it, I like for them all to be like of light, you know, because I don't like to bring things of darkness about. I always emphasize of light, because our words are powerful, you know, and yeah, the more we elaborate.
Speaker 2:I have have a question, so I cause I've been looking at your art here and I did also look at it online and I see always a kind of a pattern right and the pattern is you have this line going through and then you have like um, I don't even know what you would call that. What would you call that? You know where you've got it going up, like um smoke or it um smoke or it's um, you know something. And then it's also going down. So is that like the two different worlds you're thinking about there? Like that's what I went to.
Speaker 3:sometimes it is, and I think the one that you're you're talking about is this one. This one is called the violet flame and I have a large one of this and then I made this is one of the little mini-me's and the violet flame. So if something is bothering you and you just can't quite shake it, have a meditation with that violet flame, because it will transmute these energies and it will cleanse these energies. So I'm very big on it. It's kind of like getting right in here into this frame of mind. So, if you see it, it's going to happen, but getting into that moment and you need a meditation to get into this moment. So many of my paintings it was coming out of a meditation and a vision.
Speaker 1:So yes, so you meditate, and that's your process. You meditate and then you create that kind of the process. Yes, so you meditate, and that's your process.
Speaker 3:You meditate and then you create that kind of the process. Yes, you know, I can't actually create something like this. You know, all after days. It takes days, but the vision.
Speaker 1:That's when the vision comes, the vision.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the visions.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Well, you had mentioned that you mentor young art students in Coachella Valley High School and you know, in today's society I think you know you guys have already discussed this art is kind of being devalued in our public school system to an extent, and I, in my personal opinion, that's nonsense, because you know we all need art, art's. I think what separates us from the AI chatbots of the world because it's a soulful expression of, like, your inner being right is that that's kind of. I mean, I'm not an artist, but I would assume that you and you have these visions. That's really what it is. It's your expression of your human experience, right?
Speaker 1:so everything so what would you, what do you tell? You know, what's your advice to kids that you know outside of cvi school that maybe think thinking about going into art as a career or see themselves as an artist or want to go in an art field? What advice would you have for somebody you know that's younger? That may be? Hey, I see you know they make great work, but how do I make you know, how do I make this work for myself? You know, what would your advice?
Speaker 3:be? That's a really good question Because I would emphasize, you know, definitely express yourself. Express yourself, and there are definite credentials you can go to for school. I wouldn't. I would say, if this is your biggest passion in life, go for it, but it is difficult, okay. So it's something that like, for me it was something on the side and it and it will always be on this side, and I think when kids are going into college, you know they're going for something and they have a vision, and then they dabble in something else, right, and then they find this, and so I think it's all about creating yourself and creating your life.
Speaker 3:I wanted to say that the girls that I mentored, they're not just art students. The counselors actually pick girls that are like at risk, you know, and so with a mentor, this can make all the difference in the world. And the foundation gives them scholarships, you know, based on their credit not credit scores, but their scores in school and attendance and things. Credit, not credit scores, but their scores in school and attendance and things. And I've been a very big part of this art project because my husband founded the art project for this years and years ago. So I've been a part of it this last year a friend of mine, jana Ballman. She came up with the idea, but I've been like her little assistant with this, and the Ophelia theme is always butterflies because these girls are in school and they're like in their cocoon state, but when they graduate they're spreading their wings and they're flying. So it's really a really beautiful project. If you've never heard of it, be a great podcast.
Speaker 2:So I know a couple of the counselors over at CV High so I went to school with a couple of them, so maybe I should be reaching out to them about that. That's so great. Oh, it's a really beautiful thing.
Speaker 3:It is needed. These girls, you know they went well. I've been mentoring for years when it was pandemic time. I wasn't really good on Zoom and all of that and I was going through difficulty myself. So I got back into it a couple of years ago afterwards but they had difficulties.
Speaker 3:All students that were in school, whether during this time, whether they were studying at home, whether they were, you know, on Zoom, they learned a lot. They really learned a lot. But there's a lot of insecurity after that happened, right. So a little bit of scarcity with all of it. One beautiful thing that I love is that the Ophelia Project. They give us a manual, everything like how we're going to do the whole day and lessons for the whole year, but we open it up with a breathing meditation. So this was brought about last year even though it was kind of like doing that before, but this is now in the manuscript to do a deep breathing exercise with the girls and it really helps. You know they're coming in from stressful, you know environments, you know studying and all that, and they really do say that it helps. So, like I try to get a girl also to help, you know her the authority to do so, so she can step up to the plate.
Speaker 2:Um, so I, when I was on your I think you had sent me your Instagram um, and I did see you guys walking around and what, what is that called? You've also mentioned the word solar plex. I don't know what that means, so can you explain that to me? Yes, yes, so you're talking about, like, last night you saw us walking. Well, no, that was. I guess. I'm going off on two different things. So one, I did see that and that, when you're walking around, it reminded me of, and I don't know. I was telling Bobby, I don't know if you went to the Desert X projects there was one big basket, weave that was, and I thought that was so cool, and it kind of reminded me of that pattern. And so I just, you know, like, how do you come up with that? And is that in your backyard or is that? Was that somewhere that people go to to to walk around? You're talking about the labyrinth, sure, okay, the labyrinth.
Speaker 2:I know I'm talking about too many things.
Speaker 3:No, the labyrinth. I know I'm talking about too many things. No, the labyrinth is something we haven't yet talked about. My husband's favorite meditation is the labyrinth walk, and these labyrinth walks have been around since mid-century times. A lot of them started in churches. Oh, so it's a meditation. It is a walking meditation, it's not a maze.
Speaker 2:I think you can walk and meditate at the same time. Yes, yes, you can. I'd probably trip and fall.
Speaker 3:Well, no, it's not a maze, you just follow the way. But it seems like you're getting closer to the center, right, when actually then it draws you back out, farther away from the center. So it can take, you know, up to like, if you want to take a little time in the middle of it. So you, you walk in and you kind of like deshed things that are on your mind and bothering you. You know you follow the path, but you also are setting intentions and then, when you get to the center of it, you know you're, you're dealing with all of those things and then you just like, okay, here we are the universe and man and we just we can let this go. And then we go walk out the same way we came in and we, we release it all that way.
Speaker 3:So my husband loves to facilitate this because it's his favorite meditation and, um, he actually built that labyrinth. You know he had a little help, but he designed it and he built it. And so having group walks is really special, because you end up making room for others and things come to you. But even an individual, private walk, you can gain a lot from it as well.
Speaker 2:So when you say like, so I'm assuming you have, so you let people know, hey, we're going to have a lab, how do you say that?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'll make an event Event, okay, so.
Speaker 2:I'll make an event. Okay, so you'll make an event and then people will come. Is there like a max? You know we're going to stop at 10 people.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I usually like to stop at around 15 people. Yeah, yeah, it's not it, you know so.
Speaker 2:And is it normally at nighttime?
Speaker 3:No, no, I have things in the daytime too. Matter of fact, we've got a divine flow retreat coming up on April the sixth and this is all going to be about tapping into the divine feminine, and so we're going to have like photo shoots and we're going to have meditations, ecstatic dance, chakra dance, sound, bathing on water and grounded space labyrinth, and we're going to do photo sessions of you know it's mostly going to be women, but we've got props where we're going to set them up and take pictures and let them dress up, you know, as goddesses and just have fun being a woman and tapping into that divine feminine.
Speaker 3:Right, yeah, it's. It's important because we're so, we sparkle when we're like that, when we tap into that divine feminine I wanted. Everyone has divine feminine and masculine within them. We often think, okay, well, that's a man, he's only masculine, that's a woman, she's only feminine. It's not true. You know, balancing these energies within us make us well, we feel better about ourselves. You know, we don't. We're not overpowered by one or the other. But you should come to one of my meditations. Open your mind.
Speaker 1:But you should come to one of my meditations.
Speaker 3:So my friend Adriana and I are going to be doing this divine flow and we're really active on Instagram and putting this out there. So, like for $155 donation, you know you're going to have a little lunch and vegetables and organic tea that we have from the garden and because we got oranges and lemons and mint, and organic tea that we have from the garden and um, cause we got oranges and lemons and mint and and all of this and um, we live. This place is next to point happy mountain, so it's a very, very, very spiritual place that mountain.
Speaker 1:Anything with mountains is going to be spectacular.
Speaker 3:And then we have a beautiful garden too that my husband has, you know, planted like every fruit tree and every plant, and it's beautiful. I've actually, I made a lot of, a lot of manifestation has happened just from being there and meditating, you know, because it's like, it's like you feel aligned and then the universe is right, right.
Speaker 2:so let's do this, let's do it. I was thinking so my sage burning is like so low-key compared.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's like minor leagues.
Speaker 2:That's like baby stuff.
Speaker 3:No, it's not. It's proven. It's proven that the saging definitely works on energies. It's like. This is one thing I am very, very passionate about is cleansing our energy field, whatever it is, and that sage will definitely do it. And some people are like, what's this? It does do it. You don't even need to go heavy on it, right, but it definitely works. And Palo Santo is really good and you can always use some incense.
Speaker 2:And Bobby loves incense. Yeah, that's my thing. What's your favorite one?
Speaker 1:I don't know. I just buy them at the record shop. Whatever Dale has in supply, I pick up. But I wanted to ask you so you can't really talk art in the Coachella Valley without mentioning the Desert X projects.
Speaker 3:These are on a whole nother level.
Speaker 1:But I will kind of, since you're a fellow artist, I kind of wanted to get your spin on that whole thing. I mean, because we have people from all over the country, all over the world, coming for these art pieces now in the middle of our desert and it's just, like you know, coachella's Festival for Music and music lovers come out to that. Well, art lovers come to Desert X and it's really kind of put our Coachella Valley art scene on the map. I believe Absolutely. And so you know what's your opinion on it. I mean, there's some artists that say you know it's a little too big and takes away from you know it's a little too commercial. What?
Speaker 3:is your take on all that? I like to look at it as a very positive thing. You know this is meant for others to be inspired. There's different you know just all different ideas and what they come up with. It's amazing.
Speaker 3:And as long as there's a solid place for this and it's in that perfect place, I think it's ideal. Unfortunately, we live in an area where it's like the Marilyn Monroe place. You know it will never be settled there. You know she was there, she left, she's back and now they're not settled on that. Well, it's the same. You know, with this, you're always going to have people that are, you know, half glass, half full, and as long as it's not, you know, right in my front yard. I mean, you know what I'm saying, but they, they're very crafty and where they do put these expos and I definitely support that. And you know, over at the Coachella Fest, you know all of this, it's the whole world can can see this. It does put us on the map. I mean, maybe another 10 years, I don't know, it might be overgrown. I do know there's a place over there. By what is it? On the Salton Sea there's a place.
Speaker 2:Is it Ruben's Ranch?
Speaker 1:Ruben's Ranch.
Speaker 2:Ruben's Ranch.
Speaker 1:No, there's a. I know what you're talking about the little Badlands portion out there.
Speaker 3:Yes, there's like a gallery place.
Speaker 1:I think Anthony Bourdain went out there for a shoot back in the day. It's a bunch of graffiti and art and it's just kind of a pop-up.
Speaker 3:Right, I'm having a brain fart here. I cannot remember Salvation Mountain, that's what it is. Salvation.
Speaker 1:Mountain.
Speaker 3:It's an inspiring place to go to the Salton Sea. It takes me out there If you go in the daytime and allow yourself some time to go.
Speaker 3:They to the to the salton seat and I know, if you go, go in the daytime and allow yourself some time to go there's. They have a like a gallery that's close to it and it's like outdoor sculptures that have been, you know, like donated in this area where you know they no longer are needed anywhere else, and so they have these big sculptures and and stuff like that that are out there in the desert getting windblown and everything, but it's it's art out there nevertheless, and it's something anyone can go see.
Speaker 2:So I want to talk a little bit about about the Desert X, because one of my friends, roger, he's like the mayor by now for DHS, and there I went to a big party that they had, and I don't know why, but my mind was blown when, um, there was all these construction crews making what the artist wanted to, you know, to put up for art.
Speaker 2:In my mind I was thinking they were doing all the work Right, because, you know, like that's just how I just pictured it, and they were like no, fina, of course, if they have a you know 20-foot totem pole, it has to withstand the wind, it's got to withstand all of these you know elements. And I'm like I was just like the light went off, like oh, oh, my gosh. So you know, not only are you creating something that you know, you've got a vision that you're putting on paper. Then all of a sudden you're you're trying to translate that to somebody that's going into the construction field and making absolutely what you want and making it the way you want, you know. So that was pretty interesting to me. It just didn even dawn on me.
Speaker 3:So it's like an architect coming up with a plan. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you mentioned your husband's an architect.
Speaker 3:Yes, he builds structures for, like greenhouses, you know, or shade structures for crops of fields. Oh, wow, yes.
Speaker 2:Very interesting. He's a very interesting guy, very.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it'd be kind of nice if the desert x project had some local artists. I've noticed that most of them are from all over the world and I don't know that be nice to use one of us local artists, right?
Speaker 3:so there are, there are uh sculpturists you know, in the area and um you can see sale right aren'to right.
Speaker 2:Aren't there some on El Paseo?
Speaker 3:yeah, no, there are some really nice sculptures over there, yeah, right there on El Paseo, but now, not all of them, I don't think, are local. Local, but they're not like from you know the east coast, or anything that I know of.
Speaker 1:I think they do use some local, though, should I like did you mention her being in the La Quinta Arts? Oh, her being in the La Quinta Arts. Oh yeah, so on your website we kind of did some little investigation earlier saw that you had gotten featured in the La Quinta Museum. That's correct, right, One of your pieces was in there.
Speaker 3:Yes actually this piece back here.
Speaker 2:Tell us all about it.
Speaker 3:It's such a great, we're so blessed to have a museum. You know that they just always have the best exhibits and a museum. You know that that they just always have the best exhibits and they, you know, they are always, you know, asking um locals if they want to participate. So during the pandemic we even for years now, we've been able to be a part of their exhibits and, uh, this one just happened to be one that just expired, uh, in January. But this is the piece that I created for that it's called Desert Views. That's beautiful.
Speaker 1:If you can't see it on the podcast, check it out on YouTube, it'll be up. It's some beautiful pieces.
Speaker 3:Thank you. So the story is like these, karens, you know, if you go to the La Quinta Cove up there, they have these. And you walk up there on this hill and they're there, they have these. And you walk up there on this hill and they're there. And in many places, even like Yellowstone, they have them. Tear them down, you know. So, artists, people, you know, balance them. It's the rock balancing thing. And so there's some of the state parks are asking them to tear them down, like if you see one, to actually push it back down, because little critters and stuff are used to little rocks that are there. And then so we people come around and then we start stacking them. But, um, people still do it and it's, it's a meditation in itself and uh, right, trying to balance, well, I and I, I look at it as like, like it's almost like people, you know, watching over the valley, like this is the mountains back there in the cove, and so it's almost like a little family that watches over, you know, that cove, all day and night.
Speaker 2:So how did that come about? Like, do they, do you apply? Or how does how does that happen?
Speaker 3:Oh well, you get on their email, do you apply, or how does that happen? Oh well, you get on their email and then when they have an exhibit, they're like you know you have this time before deadline to apply for this exhibit and oftentimes they'll even give you some of the materials. You know like a canvas. So even you know, like if we wanted to use our own we could, but you know they like this particular one. They're like here, if you want a a canvas, you can come by the museum. So they are great over there.
Speaker 2:They won't work wonderfully together. Do they say, hey, it needs to be this big by this big, where you have this amount of space, you can fill it in or yes, usually they do have standard sizes that they want, so that it looks more symmetrical yeah, and then is does is that? How long does it stay up?
Speaker 3:well, it's generally through a season like this was up from October through January. Oh, so they, they have their exhibits up for a season, which is really nice, so locals and visitors can go over there, just walk on in and they're really, really great, really great.
Speaker 2:And then do they give you a night where you can be there to answer questions and things like that, with with people.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they have it like an artist exhibit, you know, so that you can meet the artist and and artists, meet other artists and you make new friends and uh, right, you know.
Speaker 2:And then at the end of that, is that something that's like commissioned they can purchase those pieces, or you, just you, they we don't list them for sale when they're on exhibit there.
Speaker 3:No, okay, now that's, that would be more like a gallery kind of thing, but these are displayed. But certainly you know, if, if you're there and you have an art that interest in in a piece you know, you would write that artist down and then after the exhibit, or maybe even at this point, you could reach out to say hey, you know what, call me baby. Yeah, I like this, it's calling me right, so this piece is for sale yes, awesome so once again.
Speaker 1:If you're on youtube, you can see the piece and you have some interest in maybe, uh, picking up a few pieces. You know, reach out to us and we'll give you the contact information thank you.
Speaker 2:Yes, tell me about the um one you have in your hand now.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that one's cool too, this one is if I was to paint, like Reiki, this would be like receiving that universal energy and the palms of my hands. This is where you would work. And when we do Reiki we don't always have to touch the participant. You can receive it without, but sometimes a gentle touch is really nice. But this is about receiving that universal energy because it just imagine receiving the brightest light and love. You know that you want to be a conduit of, to help others, sure.
Speaker 3:You know really, stress, sickness, anything that hurt and whatever is energy. You know the Reiki energy knows if, even if you're not in that area, it travels to where it's most needed, which is really beautiful. But generally, you know, you kind of feel it and you'd like give it that extra energy needed Very interesting.
Speaker 1:So I'm assuming this one came out of a meditation. Yes, I would assume, just looking at it, that that was a pretty powerful piece that, yeah, thank you saw visions of and kind of made it come to life.
Speaker 3:it's very cool, very cool well, I you know the work that I do in the healing arts. Uh it, it makes me a light worker. Have you heard of light working? So it's like all of this energy work is basically like building light, sharing light, making a place to add more light. You know, through meditations, through Reiki, through sound meditation, it's all about bringing more light to the surface for others, for yourself and your family and all those that are around you, for others, for yourself and your family and all those that are around you. And so I like to think that you know adding a little light to the canvas, you know, and when it's on the wall and you're walking by it, it might even be in a dark room and it's like sparkling at you, right? So that's like light, and like in any room, if you have a candle that's lit next to it, it's like sparkling. The ceiling fan will even allow movement in this. So I love it for the fact that you know I'm incorporating that light working into my art.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, that's great. Okay, I have a question, because now I'm going back to you had mentioned a solar plex. What does that mean? Because it's, you know, I think solar, I think the stuff that's on my roof, but that doesn't mean that I'm sure I don't think that's the same. What does?
Speaker 3:that mean Well, the solar plexus is our element to the fire, to the fire element, and this is our masculine side. So the fire is the belly, okay, yeah, okay. So the sacral, the feminine, is right below. So think of yourself as a rainbow. So we do have an inner rainbow. It's really beautiful, guys, we are instruments of God and we are so much more than we ever thought we were.
Speaker 3:And attuning these things you know, I'm getting the goosies because it's so powerful you attune yourself. You're like a fine-tuned instrument, like a guitar. When you tune an instrument or you tune a piano, it's so much and it's harmony, it's working in harmony with all of the other notes. And so the solar plexus, you know, what I like to think of, is like the Beatles, like here comes the sun. When I first got these roles, I'm experimenting with them and my husband is probably the biggest Beatle fan of all, and so like I'm having fun and I'm like I'm singing, you know, know, here comes the sun with this one which is a CDE, and I'm playing. And I'm like, oh my gosh, george Harrison creating here comes the sun and the key of E. I'm like, wow, this just came to me. So it's like I don't take it for granted that it's. It's real. This music and these colors, these images and these energies, even though are invisible, you know they're very real. Matter of fact, in a lot of my meditations we will put like an eye mask on okay, it's like a scarf and you put it on or any kind of mask. But when you're hearing the music to my meditations and yet listening to the voice, the guided meditation, you will get brighter visions. You will see things. This is when your third eye will really awaken and things will become a little bit more clairvoyant. You will see things and you will immerse yourself into the colors, into the images, and you will see things. You will immerse yourself into the colors, into the images and you will see things.
Speaker 3:And then, before the end of the meditation we often do, if it's a certain meditation, we'll do a mandala art exercise.
Speaker 3:So I like to give everybody the time it's time to. I give them a black sheet of cardstock and there's a big white circle in the center of it and I give them pastels and they can create their own art, things that they saw in their mind's eye during the meditation. And, excuse me, you start by placing one palm into this mandala and then you set your intention and then you just release, and then you just let go and it's, it's not a competition, right, it's it's just like, and then you take this home with you and then you'll reflect and you'll kind of just come back to the sacred space that we were in, learning how to hold space for others. I've had some lessons in this, but it's something I take great pride in. It's like I think the people need especially after the pandemic, people need more healing than what they think they do, and I just want to help others that are open to that, because I know the world would be just a much better place.
Speaker 1:Right, well, we're running up against time here, but we always like to ask our guests, like the last couple of questions what is that You're? You know you're a featured artist, you've been around, you've kind of seen the game. What would you, what advice would you give to maybe an some, an artist or maybe an art student that's thinking about getting into this game as a as a living, trying to get into as a business? What words of advice would you have for them? You know as a youngster coming up that you wish you knew when you were younger.
Speaker 3:To follow your dream. Follow your dream, you know, and also plan on having a job, you know, as you're going to school, because you're going to need to support yourself, but you can pursue your dream. I would never tell anyone not to not even bother, because that would be anti. What I'm all about, you know, as long as we're exercising gifts that we were born with, gifts that God has given us, we're using our talents and we're doing the best that we can guys all of us right that we can. Guys all of us right. So for that person, if it's something that they really wanted to do, do it, you know. Do follow the courses, take the courses that you know you're most interested, but also keep a little bit of mind for business, you know, keep yourself grounded, because you need to make a living and maybe one day, you know, you're going to you.
Speaker 3:If you manifest with mindfulness, if you use these energies, you can manifest being the best artist in the world. It's just it's going to take a lot of energy. You can do it though. Anything is possible. If I really wanted to, I think that I I could even do it. I haven't. It's just I haven't used all that energy. Quite Quite honestly, I don't know if my ego could take it if I became a famous yeah you don't want to be around that.
Speaker 1:So where can our audience find you and your work? Because I sure as heck learned a lot and saw your art for the first time today and it's beautiful, so I recommend our audience check it out. Where can they find you? Where can they link up with you? And, really, if they want to talk to you about some art, where can they find you?
Speaker 3:Yes, well, you can find me on Instagram under Healing Arts with a Melody and you can find me on Facebook also under Healing Arts with a Melody. You can find me on Facebook under Melody Cone and you can also find me on Facebook under Artist with a Melody, and you can also find me on facebook under artist with a melody. Um, we are located in la quinta, at this little place called images, fine art gallery and gardens and, uh, so we do classes there and all of this and, um, yeah, this is where I do everything. Know, I'm also available for mobile services, so I can, you know, go on as mobile. And one thing I didn't talk about I'd like to real quickly is the Reiki.
Speaker 3:My friend Debbie Marlow and I we are doing tandem Reiki for couples. There are couples out there that need a little extra loving energy in their auroric field, and so what we do is called couples tandem Reiki. So we put two massage tables together, we decorate it all with beautiful flowers and flower petals and essential oils and sound bowls and we bring universal energy to the couple. So they lay side by side, they hold hands and we, you know, we go around and we give them this universal energy and it helps them out as a couple, you know, for their marriage, for their parenting, for anything. It's really a beautiful thing and I think it's like for 225, you can have that done.
Speaker 1:Is it close on or close off?
Speaker 3:It's definitely close on, Close on okay.
Speaker 1:And then Fina, we might need to go. We're very loving, I don't know, but just you know if we need that little extra boost.
Speaker 3:That's true?
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for coming in today, my pleasure. I learned so much about all the great art and the work you've done over the years and we wish you nothing but luck and thanks for coming and supporting our podcast.
Speaker 3:Thank you for inspiring the community with your podcast.
Speaker 1:We're trying, so you're sharing your light too. Yeah, we're trying the best we can.
Speaker 3:That's all that we can do right too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're trying the best we can.
Speaker 3:That's that's all that we can do right. Thank you so much.