A Reiki Level 3 practitioner, artist, and life coach, Guada Tagalog infuses reiki, meditation, and healing into her art. Charged with reiki, a healing modality from Japan that helps balance chakras or energy centers in the body, Guada’s art has helped people process their feelings, feel better about themselves, manifest their dreams and intentions, and even win triathlon competitions!
Here, we get to know Guada and her journey – an advertising burnout in her early 20s, how she rediscovered her passion for the arts, how images, colors, and strokes can teach students about themselves and their manifestations to attain better selves, and how she embraced her calling to create, teach, and heal others through art.
How did you become an artist? Can you recall that particular moment you realized you were meant to be an artist?
Even as a child, I was already into doodling. I liked drawing anime and houses, I even made my own paper dolls. In high school, I doodled a lot in class too but I never really considered myself an “artist” or make a career out of it. It happened after I left a toxic job in my 20s, joined a band, and was physically healing from hyperthyroidism that I got into meditation and Reiki. Then I asked my Teacher, Sarah Salcedo, if Reiki can be infused with art, and the rest is history.
I started doing this mainly because I wanted to trade something in exchange for readings and healing sessions from other practitioners that I couldn’t afford in cash. I thought, “hey, I can doodle naman, baka I can make healing art”. Apparently, this is something new to others and since then, I’ve been channeling messages and healing energy to my creations.
Can you share how your art has evolved since then?
I started with doodling and then transitioned to painting. I realized whenever I created something intuitively for a person, I also got images and messages that resonated with them and were exactly what they needed to see and hear to help in their journey. I realized that I was actually doing the Universe’s work to help others.
Now, every time I make something for someone, I get inspired by their special intentions and there is a “processing” or “message delivery” session every time I show them my finished piece.
Recently, I’ve also learned to do digital illustrations and this just opened a lot of new healing art merchandise and ideas for me to explore.
How did art healing and reiki come into your practice?
Aside from what I mentioned earlier, people started paying me for what I could do which led to more commissions, paintings sold, and even self-publishing my own oracle card decks: Inklings Meditation Deck (2018), Crystal Calm Motivation Deck (2020) and ABC of Me Affirmation Cards (2023).
I am a Reiki Level 3 practitioner but have dedicated my practice mostly to infusing the universal life force energy through my creations, instead of hands-on healing.
What is healing with intuitive art? Can you describe it for the people who are not yet familiar with it?
Healing with Intuitive Art is being able to create something by solely listening to your intuition and surrendering to its direction, not knowing what the outcome will be. It is when we let go of the mind chatter and actually listen to our heart that we can know more about ourselves or a certain concern.
Our hands are the extension of our heart, so if we just allow it to express itself without judgment or criticism, we discover something new, and in the process…heal.
In my workshops, I ask a reflecting question before every artwork as a prompt to reveal what our intuition would like to tell us. You don’t have to know any energy healing method or have any art experience to do this. All you need to do is to be open and just let your hands do the talking. We process the drawings after and we find answers through imagery, colors, and even strokes!
For you personally, how did intuitive art and healing help you?
It healed me because it gave me an outlet to create and be myself from a very competitive creative day job. Bonus kasi I can also do Reiki with it, which gives it that extra magical healing juju.
Moreover, it also gave me a life purpose – to embrace my calling to create, teach, and heal others to harness the power of art and their intuition to change their life and perspectives.
Now, it is my full-time business that allows me to be very present with my kids while serving with joy for others. Contrary to what most people say, yes you can have a job doing art.
What are reiki power portraits? How can they help improve the lives of Filipinos, stressed and stretched thin as we always tend to be?
Reiki power portraits immortalize your special intention through beautiful artwork as a reminder of who you truly are and who you can be. The message that comes with it also helps the person in their own journey. I believe that when we are able to shape our life in a way that truly brings joy and meaning to our soul, it will multiply and spread to others. When we feel better about ourselves and where our life is going, we also become better members of society and many will benefit from our good energy.
How does intuitive art help improve your clients’ lives? Can you share a few anecdotes?
I have had clients whom I made tattoos for who successfully triumphed in their triathlon competitions. Even my stickers and other merchandise provide some sort of boost in protection or “good vibes” to those who own it. It is also very humbling whenever people randomly message me on my social pages letting me know how my oracle cards have provided strength and clear guidance to them, helping them navigate their own journey. There has also been feedback that their special intentions came true after receiving their paintings or commissions.
You also draw inspiration from the mystical. Can you share how this meld into your practice as a whole?
I loooove using magical fantastical colors, marks, and imagery in my work. It just naturally flows through me. I also create sacred geometry-inspired designs. My creations range from black and gold linework to colorful out-of-this-world wanderscapes, to ethereal abstracts. Since I draw from my intuition, I just create what I feel like without constraining myself to a singular style.
How do you see your art evolving in the years to come?
I am manifesting my art to reach more people all over the world. Aside from just paintings, I am also creating more stationary and sticker merchandise now, hopefully expanding to home decor and whatever calls out to me bring more good energy to more spaces, people and communities.
As I type this, it is already 11:11 a.m., and on a personal note, I also want my art to evolve into a business that truly provides for my family since it is what I genuinely want to do for a living. I am manifesting my own healing and art studio, eventually hiring my own team, publishing more works, and collaborating / holding exhibits and workshops on an international scale.
Any tips for people who would like to try art healing?
Get a pen and paper. Say a prayer on what you want your art to show you. Start creating without thinking about what lines or shapes you are making. Then process the work and the feeling of what you have done. Healing with art is already happening to you. It can be done by anyone who is willing to listen to their heart and intuition and just create! Of course, for active healing to happen, whatever reflection you have received through your work should be partnered with action to make it real.
Any upcoming events? How to get in touch with you?
November 12, 4pm – IG Live Guesting about the 7 Types of Rest
November 18 – Soul Glow Society Bazaar at 8 Rockwell
November 26 – Healing with Art Workshop at Van Gogh Is Bipolar
December 3 – Art To Cart at Elements Centris
You may also check out my pages for more info about these events.
Facebook: Inklings by Guada
IG: @guadatagalog
Shopee: shopee.ph/guadat
I am also accepting commissions for paintings, portraits, mandalas, and tattoos. You can also book me for your solo healing session or private gatherings by sending me a message.
Photos courtesy of Guada Tagalog
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