Planting Seeds for the Year Ahead
A reflection from our Art + Healing gathering at Ruya
The afternoon light felt intentional.
Sun poured onto Ruya’s outdoor patio as 21 women gathered around wooden tables, watercolor palettes open, matcha and wine in hand. The day before the first New Moon of the year in Capricorn, we came together not to rush into goals or resolutions—but to plant seeds.
Seeds of intention
Seeds of softness
Seeds of becoming
As we settled in, I invited everyone to imagine their intentions as part of a garden. One that doesn’t demand immediate results, but instead asks for patience, care, and trust. A garden that blossoms in its own time.
We began with journaling, reflecting on the different areas of our lives where we’re planting something new. Some women wrote about what they’re welcoming in. Others wrote about what they’re gently releasing. There was no pressure to have it all figured out. Only an invitation to listen inward.
Then we painted.
Watercolor became a language beyond words. Women painted emotions, calming landscapes, abstract shapes, and soft reminders of how they want to feel this year. Several shared that the last time they’d had space to make art like this was in third grade. Others used the time to reconnect with their inner child: the part of them that creates freely, without judgment.
One of the most tender moments came when each woman pulled a Creativity + Connection card. Again and again, I heard the same response:
“This feels like it was meant just for me.”
And maybe it was.
Because beneath our different stories, careers, seasons, and paths, there was a shared thread weaving us together: We’re all on a journey toward becoming our truest, most joyful, most self-loved selves.
Art gave us permission to slow down.
Community reminded us we’re not alone.
Creativity made the space feel safe, playful, and deeply human.
Healing doesn’t always look heavy.
Oftentimes, healing looks like choosing joy ✨
As the afternoon unfolded and the sun began to set, laughter mixed with quiet focus. Paintbrushes moved gently across paper. Conversations flowed naturally across the tables. The patio felt like a living, breathing container for connection.
It was a reminder that healing doesn’t always look heavy. Oftentimes, healing looks like joy ✨
What resonated with me
What stays with me most is the courage it takes to slow down in a world that constantly asks us to speed up. To choose presence over performance. To choose intention over pressure.
This gathering wasn’t about fixing ourselves.
It was about remembering ourselves.
And that feels like the most powerful way to begin a year.
What’s next
I’ll be continuing these Art + Healing gatherings at Ruya throughout the year. Upcoming dates include:
February 13: Art as Self-Love | Galentine’s Flower Vase Painting with Upcycled Wine Bottles for Ladies
February 14: Couples' Creative Date Night | Valentine’s Paint & Sip
February 21
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
And if you’d like to be the first to know about upcoming gatherings, I invite you to join my email list or follow along on social for future invitations.
Content Capture & Creative Sponsorship
The photo and video content captured during this gathering is proudly sponsored by Film Trips, a platform dedicated to documenting real moments of connection through shared creative experiences.
Film Trips curates group experiences hosted by local content creators like me, allowing guests to stay fully present while the moments are thoughtfully captured. I’m proud to be a creator on the Film Trips platform and deeply grateful for how their approach supported the intention of this gathering by capturing the energy, ease, and authenticity of the day without disrupting the experience itself.
I’m excited to continue hosting my own Film Trips experiences soon, creating more opportunities for people to gather, connect, and walk away with meaningful photos and videos they’ll actually love!
Thank you to every woman who showed up with openness, curiosity, and heart! This work is sacred, and I’m honored to hold space for it.
With gratitude,
