"Come from a place of peace, and you find you can deal with anything"

- Michael Singer

Greetings Creative Ones!  After enjoying a relaxed summer -  It is with great excitement that I share in the celebration of Fire Tree Studios 5th birthday!

• I started my business with a small loan from my parents, credit cards, little savings and student loans.  I had no idea how I was going to pay the rent. I just knew I had to do it.  Most people thought I was crazy.  There was no 'plan B'.  I had a burning relentless fire inside of me that needed to find expression in the world. That type of vision, commitment and passion brought about the resilience and persistence that has... and continues to bring me through the ups and downs of having my own business and most importan t--- standing for excellence as I serve my clients by birthing a radical new approach to creativity, well-being and living an authentic life.

• In 2010 I created a dream studio and sacred creative space (right next door to my house!)  for people to come and tap into their creativity and let go of emotional and mental blocks and obstacles to peace and flow in their art and lives.  This was a 10 year dream realized!

• I have taught along with my team of facilitators over 500 classes introducing hundreds of students to the intuitive painting process,  how to discover the power our creative potential and the practice of learning to trust our intuitive knowing in our daily lives.

• Fire Tree doubled the business in the second year by creating and offering unique expressive arts coaching and training programs.  As I learned to stay true to my various passions, I diversify my offerings.  Key learning : Do what you love in various forms. Mix it up.
  

• I have facilitated over 25 intuitive painting retreats in magical places such as a barn in Martha's Vineyard and at Pontotoc Vineyard in the Texas Hill country.

• We have lead transformational painting and expressive arts groups for students, homeless girls & teens, facilitators and counselors, homeless teenage girls, pregnant teenagers, and women in prison at the University of Texas, The Settlement Home, Caritas, Travis County Juvenile Department, Lifeworks and the women at Lockhart Correctional Facility.

• I have launched what is now the Creative Catalyst Training Program in 2008 and have trained over 10 people to master The Fire Tree Method.  (Certified Rebecca Knaggs completing all requirements receiving certification in Spring of 2011 is launching her own studio in Australia.)

• I have facilitated 3 Coaching Intensives on what is now referred to as The Phoenix Rising Experience:  Breakthrough to Passion, Purpose and Prosperity supporting people to release their personal mythology and claim true peace + power.

• Fire Tree Studios has funded a micro-credit bank in Peru to support women become entrepreneurs with profits from our programs through The Discover Hope Foundation.
  

• Fire Tree Studios has also contributed extensively both financially and energetically to Truth Be Told, empowering women in prison and beyond,  to find their voice.
  

• Launched The Art of Entrepreneurship Program and body of work in 2011 inspiring entrepreneurs to experience right-left brain wholeness to light up their businesses and their clients by using creative expression as an experiential tool for entrepreneurship.

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  And this past spring I had the opportunity to get clear about my own desires. They were changing. When I was truly honest with myself, I knew I had realized the dream of managing a full-time studio space in Austin and that my Spirit craved more freedom...an d more travel!  I was guided to release the studio space... and take Fire Tree Studios virtual!  This 'letting go' allows me more freedom to travel, focus on my own creativity, collaborations and serve in a greater way to a more diverse group of clients. All classes, workshops and retreats in Austin will be held at the historic chapel on The Commodore Perry Estate. We hosted a class there in July and the space is truly enchanting!

• Now I am in the process of writing my first book on my journey, experience and case studies on the power of The Fire Tree Method as a transformational approach to full-self expression and well-being.

Some think I was lucky or make it look easy because I am so passionate about this work.  Well allow me let you in on this...if you don't already know - the last five years have been the most challenging AND rewarding years of my life.  They have forced me to grow and expand ...and get out of my own way.  That is why I have found the entrepreneurial journey to be just another creative process and even more so a spiritual path of Self-Actualization. Any false illusion that I held of myself was quickly challenged by my art, business or clients or collaborators.  It has been a tremendous amount of growth for me.

In reflection I can share what I have most gained from birthing Fire Tree Studios over the last 5 years... is my own peace.  And peace = power in my mind. When I am at peace with myself, my life, others and my environment then I am truly owning my personal power.  When I am not then I know that there is something else I am giving my peace (power) to.  Anything can happen and yes even if you are well intended and plan well.... life will always give you lemons...it is what makes us grow!  If you meet everything with peace and the knowing that you are creative, resourceful and powerful, miracles can and will happen.  You can transform whatever life brings into anything you want that will serve you and the people around you.

It is with the deepest of gratitude that I thank you for all your support these last five years. My heart is overflowing with joy and appreciation for each on of you who have braved the creative path. I have learned so much from you and I look forward to a powerful next 5 years of igniting fires, rooting flames and transforming minds into their greatest potentials.  Look out for all new offerings coming this Fall!

Take a moment if you are moved and comment on the blog or email me any way in which Fire Tree Studios has inspired and supported you over the last few years!  I would love to hear from you.

with love, passion and creativity...

P.S.  A passionate welcome to all of our new subscribers!

Location: Martha's Vineyard
Start Date: September 9th - September 16th, 2012

Investment: $1500 Commuter options available

There is still space to join us!  Please join me at one of my most favorite locations for the second annual Martha's Vineyard painting adventure! Ever since I spent my first summer on Martha's Vineyard, it has long inspired many return pilgrimages and I have longed to create a creative retreat on this magical island-- ever since I picked up a brush in re-discovering process painting.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday October 13th, 2012

10am-5pm

What are you truly passionate about?

What lights you up?

What is keeping you from wanting you want?

What fears keep getting in the way?

How do you move into e-motion and action to keep from being paralyzed?

And.... what does your intuition have to do with passion?

In this full day painting and coaching workshop we will explore as a group your hearts desire and open the pathways that lead you to realizing what moves you so you can begin to design a life on your own terms. *Gourmet organic lunch will provided!

Spend an afternoon awakening and nourishing your creative spirit by immersing yourself in over three hours of exploration, expression, play and deep surrender. The Saturday painting session welcomes continuing students and first time painters, providing a space to journey through barriers of old patterns and stagnant, less than serving beliefs that keep you from tapping into the internal well of creativity, power and life force energy that is within you.

Early Bird Investment: $200 if Paid in full by Sept 15th. 2012.  Includes all materials, coaching tools and a gourmet organic lunch!

3 Ways to register:

1. Call the studio at 512 524 0687
2. Email melissa{at}firetreestudios{dot}com
3. Sign up on our website via pay pal by clicking the button below (cash, checks & credit cards also accepted).