Hey there creator, happy new year and welcome to our first Heart-led Creator class of 2025!

It’s still winter here in the northern hemisphere and this season is about being still and grounding into our bodies. I know there’s a lot of encouragement to set your intentions and resolutions for the new year and that can bring up a lot of pressure.

My invitation to you, is to remain still and prioritize rest during this season. Instead of rushing to set your goals for the year, perhaps we can meditate on gratitude for what we learned in 2024 and ground into the present moment.

Lately I’ve been repeating to myself, “be here now.” A simple reminder to be in the present moment. What is alive in your body right now? What do you need to feel nourished and supported? When we come from a centered place, we can open up a whole new space for clarity, letting our intentions come naturally.

This class is all about grounding; placing our roots into the Earth and staying in the present moment. There’s no need to rush. You’re exactly where you need to be. I’ll guide you into a grounding meditation to start our class and then we’ll move into a gentle art making process to express what you need to be grounded here, right now.

You do not need to have any art making experience for this class. Bring your materials of choice, your curiosity, and an open he(art). See you there!

Theme: Art for Grounding
When: Sunday, January 19th at 12pm EST
Where: Zoom 👩🏽‍💻

What you’ll need:

• 1 piece of large paper (at least 8.5x11)

• Color medium (colored pencils, crayons, markers, pastels, paint, watercolor)

• Pen or pencil

• Journal or paper

• Personal comforts (i.e. water, tea, candle, incense, fuzzy blanket, kitten)

Class Replay

Read more

I don't know about you, but the holiday season can be so stressful and mind numbing. Spending more time with family can be challenging because let's face it, not all of us have the perfect familial relationships.

There's the mad dash to get holiday gifts for loved ones (I personally find this one overwhelming) and the desire to get everything wrapped up by the end of the year (literally and figuratively).

Can't we just take a breather and relax? We'll, that's why our last class for 2024 is all about using art for relaxation.

We’ll go through a relaxing art meditation to help you ease your mind and ground your nervous system. You do not need to have any experience with art to benefit from this class.

Theme: Art for Relaxation
When: Sunday, December 22nd at 12pm EST
Where: Zoom 👩🏽‍💻

What you’ll need:

• 1 piece of large paper (at least 8.5x11)

• Color medium (colored pencils, crayons, markers, pastels, paint, watercolor)

• Pen or pencil

• Journal or paper

• Personal comforts (i.e. water, tea, candle, incense, fuzzy blanket, kitten)

Class Replay

Read more

You know that incessant flutter you get in your body when you stand in front of a group of people, preparing to introduce yourself? Relaying your words over and over in your head, wondering, “what are they going to think of me?” What if I forget what to say or stumble my words?”

Or, you know, worried about the future of this country (I live in the US), fearing for your safety or for the safety of others?

You know that feeling. I know that feeling. I suffered from anxiety for many years. It still shows up every now and then in certain situations. (i.e. speaking in front of a new group of people 🫣)

I was constantly overthinking and trying to predict how any situation would turn out by using evidence from the past. This is how our mind/body works, by the way, and it's a beautiful thing! Until it becomes prolonged and begins to hold you back.

We live under some level of pressure every day where anxiety can sometimes help us to prepare for difficult or stressful times. We can often regulate the feeling of anxiety through relaxation techniques, hobbies, exercise, entertainment or talking with someone.

Getting into a daily flow of art making has helped me tremendously. It allows me to have a healthy release of that energy and put it into physical form. Therapeutic art helps move the attention away from constant rumination.

Once we give it a form, we can personify, befriend, and speak to our anxiety—asking, perhaps, what it needs to subside. This is not the end all be all solution for anxiety of course, just what has worked for me.

Anxiety is often described as an alarm in the body. Therefore, talking about our anxiety alone will not make it go away.

What does anxiety feel like in your body? If it had color, shape, texture, sound, and movement—how would that take form? What is your anxiety telling you?

We’ll go through this imaginative journey together and process through art! You do not need to have any experience with art to benefit from this class.

Theme: Art for Anxiety Relief
When: Sunday, November 17th at 12pm EST
Where: Zoom 👩🏽‍💻

What you’ll need:

• 1 piece of large paper (at least 8.5x11)

• Color medium (colored pencils, crayons, markers, pastels, paint, watercolor)

• Pen or pencil

• Journal or paper

• Personal comforts (i.e. water, tea, candle, incense, fuzzy blanket, kitten)

Join Heart-led Creator Club

Join Heart-led Creator Club to access this class and you’ll also receive:

• Monthly live online therapeutic art classes, each with a unique theme—view our class calendar

• On-going library of past class replays, guided meditations, practices & resources

• Private group chat to share your creations, inspiration & curiosities

Class Replay

Read more

Truthfully, I have been so full lately; filling my time with work, applying to graduate school (I’m officially in!), teaching classes in-person and online, immersing myself in community, and spending time with people I love.

Ya know, living life to the fullest—highly recommend.

What I'm Listening To

I’ve also been in deep contemplation mode about where this Substack publication is going. If you haven’t heard, I’m pursuing art therapy and beginning my graduate studies towards license and certification starting in January. I’ve never been so sure about something in my life. This is the path I am meant to go down and I want to share that journey with you!

For now, here’s my Halloween costume that was originally supposed to be Medusa (my spray painted snakes did not dry in time *sad*) and transformed into a siren, and then I thought, it’s actually more of a banshee.

She is a mystery, like feminine nature.
She is badass.
She is magnetic.
She is enraged.
She is in lust.

Happy Halloween, spooky creators. 👻

All images: © Olivia Marie, 2024.

P.S. Our next live online therapeutic art class is on Sunday, November 17th: Art for Anxiety Relief. Upgrade to a paid subscriber to receive our class zoom link:

If you’re a current or recovering people pleaser like me, you might have been faced with the unsettling reality of blurred boundaries at one point or another. As a people pleaser, it’s common to blend your energy with someone else’s. The result? You or the other person’s boundaries are crossed and confusion ensues. Similarly, if you identify as being an empath, it's common to take on others’ feelings and emotions as your own. This can also lead to codependency and resentment in relationships. Believe me, I've been there.

So, how can we begin to repair and come back into our own?

Becoming familiar with your own energy, wants, needs, and desires is the first step. Often as people pleasers and empaths, we override our own needs in order to satisfy someone else and we’re left feeling depleted because we over gave or did something we didn’t actually want to do. Sound familiar?

In our next Heart-led Creator Club class we will practice being in our own energetic bubble, visualize what that may look like, and transform it into art. We’ll consider what you want to let in and keep out of your personal boundary bubble.

You’ll leave this class feeling nourished and reminded of who you are on the inside, so that you can begin to trust yourself and be more confident to express your own needs and desires on the outside.

You do not need to have any experience with art to benefit from this class!

What you’ll need:

• 1 piece of large paper (at least 8.5x11)

• Color medium (colored pencils, crayons, markers, pastels, paint, watercolor)

• Pen or pencil

• Journal or paper

• Personal comforts (i.e. water, tea, candle, incense, fuzzy blanket, kitten)

Join Heart-led Creator Club

Join Heart-led Creator Club to access this class and you’ll also receive:

• Monthly online therapeutic art classes, each with a unique theme

• Replay of this class and all future classes

• On-going library of guided meditations, practices & resources

• Private group chat to share your creations, inspiration & curiosities with our group

Class Replay

Read more

I didn’t think it was possible
souls crashing into another
perfectly balanced,
of synchronous frequency

I found you in fragments of memories
dancing innocently through years
of relationships 
not meant to be realized

A resonant frequency
I heard once again,
in moments of creation
sailing wistfully through our void

the moments in between
of this life and yours
we echoed each others steps
then back to rhythm again

Drunk by deja vu hypnosis

Is this what they call sacred?
The One, who completes me?
How? It’s funny, 
I don’t believe that, yet...

Maybe I’m drunk by lust
the moments in between
thinking of you
become smaller, yet..

The charge, it’s palpitating
and every time we meet
your eyes…
they steal me from now

Because, for the first time,
of all the eyes I chose
to get lost in,
I finally found what I went looking for

Love fiercely
Don't let anyone
make you feel wrong for this
Some may call it stubborn
Some may call it delusion
I call it devotion

Liminal Space

simultaneous
ending
beginning 
everything 
all
at once
the breath
in-between
where
does it
begin?
the space
between
my fingers
it knows
where
to grow
and how
to start
again

With soft petals of devotion,
Olivia

Upcoming Class

Dear Body is a podcast and photo journalism series telling stories about people's relationships with their bodies. The intention for this series is to celebrate diverse bodies, honor the resilience and wisdom of the body, and shine a light on real, authentic stories that shift our cultural narrative.

I’m overly excited to share episode 002 of Dear Body with you all. Jillian and I have crossed paths many times in our mutual communities and our approach to photography and art are so aligned. This was absolutely one of my favorite conversations I’ve had this whole year!

Jillian is an art therapist, photographer, model, and artist. She was inspired to share her story in hopes her vulnerability would resonate with other women. Jillian strides to support others and create community as seen through her various endeavors.

You can find more of Jillian’s work on Instagram: @__toomuchwoman and join her circles and events with Sisters Rising, a sisterhood community for spiritual women based in Long Island, NY.

“Dear body,

I’m sorry it took me so long to see your worth and make you feel worthy. I adopted the beliefs and narratives of others and because of it, I often looked at you with shame and anger. I had the inability to see all of the incredible things that you do and that you are and I’m sorry.

I want you to know how much I love you…I am in awe of the way that you create life, the way that you grow, the way that you shrink and all of the ways that you change and adapt to each new phase in my life. You have always been there for me, supporting me and changing with me.

My body holds a story and I am grateful for it. I am grateful for each and every experience I’ve ever had, good or bad, that has shown me how to love myself, and how not to love myself. It is still work in progress, and some days I fall back into old habits, but I am so excited for the journey back to myself, the journey of falling in love with who I am.

Thank you body for being such a beautiful teacher.”

“I definitely went through phases. At first, I liked how I felt in my body. Then, the attention aspect was fun. Because I needed that validation from people at that time because I just didn't have a strong enough sense of self. I didn't love myself, really. That's what it was. I had been through so many shitty relationships and I had been through assaults and things like that.

It all made me question myself and my body and what my worth was. Growing up with a difficult parent did the same thing. So it felt like this, ‘oh my God, people like you,’ which was something I hadn't felt ever, really. So that was really hard.”

“There’s a psychology theorist who believes that humans were born innately perfect with oodles of potential and the only reason we lose our potential and the only reason we stop falling in love with ourselves is because we meet each other.

We start to get worried about whether it's a cultural belief or a societal belief or a gender norm or this or that, that we start to put ourselves into these boxes that sometimes don't fit us. And then when they don't fit us, we're like, oh my God, there must be something wrong with me and none of that's true.

It's just figuring out the box that works for you. And Your box might be a cultivation of many different boxes. It may look super different than someone else's and none of it's wrong. Because everybody deserves to take space.”

Dear Body is supported by Heart-led Creator, a Substack publication that explores the sensual delights of the body and creating from the heart. Subscribe for updates on new Dear Body episodes and weekly love notes for creative souls. Upgrade to a paid subscription for monthly therapeutic art classes, on-going library of guided resources, and private group chat to share your creations, inspiration, and curiosities.

Upcoming Class

What you’ll need:

• 3 pieces of large paper (at least 8.5x11)

• Color medium (colored pencils, crayons, markers or pastels)

• Pen or pencil

• Journal or paper

Join Heart-led Creator Club

When you join Heart-led Creator Club, you not only access this class, you also receive:

• Monthly online therapeutic art classes, each with a unique theme

• Replay of this class and all future classes

• On-going library of guided meditations, practices & resources

• Private group chat to share your creations, inspiration & curiosities with our group

Class Replay

Read more

Wow, I can’t believe I’ve been on Substack for one year already! I started off not sure if this was the platform for me, but I have been pleasantly delighted by this incredible community. Everyone I’ve connected with has been kind, supportive, and open to creative thinking.

I’m so happy to be here sharing my art with you all. Thank you for your support!

To celebrate one year on Substack, I’m giving away 12 original mini abstract paintings with a secret note on the back. At first I was going to give them away to new subscribers, but then I was like wait! What about all my amazing OG supporters? Duh!

Here’s how you can get one:

1. Subscribe to Heart-led Creator if you haven’t already (free or paid). If you’re getting this to your email, you’re already a subscriber :)

   Subscribe now

2. Reply to this email with your mailing address so I can send you your painting! For U.S. peeps only, because of postage cost. Although, if you realllllly want one, let’s chat and we’ll figure out the cost depending on where you live.

That’s it! Take a peek at the process on Instagram:

honor.thy

A post shared by @honor.thy

Sending you lot’s of nourishment, I know a lot of us have been FEELING IT lately. Anyone else get their ass kicked by the full moon this past Monday? Just me?

Keep on creating, my friends!

Cheers,
Olivia

P.S. Our next Heart-led Creator Club class will be on Sunday, September 8th at 12pm EST. Save the date for ‘Art for Emotional Healing’. We’ll explore feeling our emotions and expressing them through art. Once we give our emotions form, we can personify, befriend, and speak to these parts. I’ve got some fun exercises I can’t wait to share!

Photo Essay: a series I share once a month of photos that tell a cohesive visual story—client work or personal work. All photos: © Olivia Marie Olszewski. Please reach out to license or order prints.

Magic lies in the ability to let go.

Often, we try to control every little detail of our lives, and usually, for good reason—historically, there is a lot we don't have control over.

And what happens then? Do we spiral or do we surrender?

Can you soften and allow in what is meant for you? Release the grip and feel how vitality pulses through your body.

You'll be surprised what magic unfolds.

I very rarely meditate in the traditional sense, but I often practice flow state.

This is a psychological state where we are locked into the flow of energy that wants to move through the body naturally. Flow state is immersing yourself in the joy of the process. I like to think of this as a moving meditation. Often, this is experienced through art (and many other things, of course).

The other day, I photographed this vibrant bouquet of flowers for hours, losing any sense of time—I probably could have kept going. In flow state we are free from self consciousness and the concept of time. It’s as if our awareness is merging with action. Practicing flow state can help wire a sense of confidence and ease in the mind/body.

I'd love to know, what gets you into flow state? Leave a comment or reply.

Leave a comment

Last week I guided a therapeutic art class, Creating Your Safe Space. In the class replay, I guide you through a visualization to imagine your safe space (the foundational key to most goals and desires) and then bring that vision to life through art. Access the Replay Here.

In case you missed my last email, I shared my decision to continue my education and get my masters degree in Creative Arts Therapy (woo!) And while this is exciting in so many ways, graduate school is a hefty investment. If you want to support this venture and the work I am sharing here, consider upgrading to a paid subscription of Heart-led Creator. I would be forever grateful!

I personally feel the Lion’s Gate portal is a bit hyped up, but I do believe it is a powerful day nonetheless. Especially this year, being an 8 year numerologically. I woke up at 8:08am and started a womb massage and pleasure practice to magnetize my current desires. So, I guess that’s something!

A dear sister, Clarisse, spoke about today being a rebirth for the soul (to put it simply). In a lot of ways, I do feel this is true. This time of year always seems to launch myself and many others into a new version of ourselves.

I see it as the last chapter of summer here in the northern hemisphere (winter in southern hemisphere). Summer has been brutal here in the northeast, with many days of soupy humid and hot weather. I’m ready for autumn, thanks.

Seasonally, autumn is a time of harvest and giving thanks to all that has come to fruition. This is a great time to finally take that action step you’ve been putting off. Leo energy and golden yellow light is on your side.

Some questions to contemplate or journal:

How are you landing today?
What is alive and true for you in the present moment?
What are you creating and bringing to life?

Right now, I am finally taking the steps toward something I’ve been thinking of for nearly 3 years (maybe more?) and has been a golden thread throughout my whole life.

Let’s rewind for a second back to October 2021. I was in Mexico with a group of exquisite women at the first Pussified Retreat. One of our workshops was an erotic and creative talent show of sorts.

We each spent some time creating something of our own, in whatever medium we chose, to express our eroticism. I remember sharing a vulnerable poem about a man I was falling in love with at a distance, fantasizing about what it would be like to be close enough to touch him. Ahhh, lust!

I was shaking, throat closing in, as I spoke that poem out loud to the group. I could have very easily taken self portraits, as this was something I was used to doing. But something told me to try something outside my comfort zone.

As each woman shared their creation, I was moved to tears. Art is such a powerful vehicle for healing, transformation, and growth.

Then it hit me.

It was in that moment I first considered going back to school to get my masters in art therapy. I ended up putting off that dream for 3 years. Fast forward to now, it’s almost laughable at how obvious it is—this is my path.

It is where my photography has always wanted to be. Sure, I can do branding and headshots and product photography, but there’s nothing like capturing the light that ignites and grows inside a woman who is fully and freely expressed in her body.

Being a caregiver for my grandmother and working with people who have special needs, art is a major part of our activities together. It is extremely valuable to people of all ages, genders, races, and abilities.

With a full heart, I have decided to officially pursue my masters degree, license, and certification in Creative Arts Therapy. I’m overly excited and can’t wait to share this journey with you all.

Life and my career, this year in particular, has paused at a standstill. Client work has been few and far between and recently being single again has opened up so much space to truly be with myself and ask the important question: what do I truly desire?

So when life feels at a standstill, know that everything is working in your favor. I promise you, one day, the door will open like this:

Creating Your Safe Space

Join me for our next Heart-led Creator Club therapeutic art class this Sunday. We’ll visualize a safe space (internally and/or externally) that supports you to be your most expressive and free self, and bring it to life through art. You'll then have a physical reminder that you always have access to your personal safe space whenever you need it. You do not need to have any experience with art making to join this class.

When: Sunday, August 11th from 12-1pm ET
Where: Online via Zoom 👩‍💻 replay sent after
How to Join: Join Heart-led Creator Club ($7/month or $68/year - cancel anytime)

Subscribe now

1:1 Sessions

Are you desiring to dive deeper into your personal intention and goals with art? Check out my 1:1 sessions offered in-person or online. Have questions? Hit reply or leave a comment—I love your curiosity <3

Book a 1:1 Session

With a glowing heart full of passion,
Olivia

As a practitioner, I always aim to hold a safe space for clients and class participants while simultaneously encouraging them to cultivate their own safety. This is the first step in moving towards almost any goal or vision you want to bring to life.

In our next class, we'll visualize a safe space that supports you to be your most expressive and free self, internally or externally, and bring it to life on paper.

You'll then have a physical reminder that you always have access to your personal safe space whenever you need it.

Join Heart-led Creator Club

When you join Heart-led Creator Club, you not only access this class, you also receive:

• Monthly online therapeutic art classes, each with a unique theme

• Replay of this class and all future classes

• On-going library of guided meditations, practices & resources

• Private group chat to share your creations, inspiration & curiosities with our group

Creating Your Safe Space Replay

Read more

Dear Body is a podcast and photo journalism series telling stories about people's relationships with their bodies. The intention for this series is to celebrate diverse bodies, honor the resilience and wisdom of the body, and shine a light on real, authentic stories that shift our cultural narrative.

Welcome to the first episode of Dear Body. This has been a long time coming and I’m so excited to share this first story with you.

My guest is Oswald Perez, an inspiring writer and poet from New York City. He writes to share the world through his eyes using words, photos, and prose. He inspires people to tell their stories because our stories are ART.

In this conversation, he recalls his journey with cerebral palsy. It was such a honor to speak with Oswald and hear about how he gained his power back after many years of challenging mobility, surgeries, and body braces. I hope you find his story as enlightening as I did.

You can find more of ‘s work on his Substack publication, The Newsletter Underneath the Security Blanket, and on his Instagram account. Keep an eye out for the re-release of his first book of poetry, A Poetic Journey, Staying at Home.

Dear body:

I see you and all your scarred glory. Those scars gave you your life.

You’ve gone through so much.

From all the surgeries to fix the deformities to various therapies to gain strength and function in how to use it. It hasn’t been an easy process at times.

But you’re here now on your own two feet. Free of braces and all the other orthopedics that limited your movement.

With each step forward, you’re creating a life that you want. Sure, it’s a work in progress. But one that should be embraced to the fullest.

Don’t let self consciousness stop you. Nor the comments about your body’s shape from other people.

Embrace every inch of your body.

Dear Body is supported by Heart-led Creator, a Substack publication that explores the sensual delights of the body and creating from the heart. Subscribe for updates on new Dear Body episodes and weekly love notes for creative souls. Upgrade to a paid subscription for monthly therapeutic art classes, on-going library of guided resources, and private group chat to share your creations, inspiration, and curiosities.

Subscribe now

Venus—the planet of love, beauty, relationships, money, art, and pleasure—has taken us on a whirlwind ride these last few months. With my Venus in Scorpio you’d think I’d be used to the constant upheaval and transformation. But alas, I am human and I am always learning how to open again.

With every heart break opening, I learn more and more about myself. Lately I’ve been asking myself the very simple question, “what is love?”

This simple question is not so simple to answer. Because love is everywhere.

Love is in the tender heart of a relationship lost.
Love is in the drifting breeze swaying through soft whisps of beach grass.
Love is in the tired hands that care for your mother as she loses her sense of presence.
Love is in every crevice of your bones, muscles, cells, and rolls of skin.
Love is in your imperfect piece of art that may never meet the eyes of an observer but it feels damn good to let it out anyway.
Love is in the way you undulate and shake your body to that new Beyoncé song that uplifts your soul to new heights.
Love is in the way you play and laugh with your children on a bright summer day.
Love is in your crooked smile that pretends you’re interested but really you’re thinking about what you want to have for dinner.
Love is in the parts of us we hate and wish were formed a different way.
Love is in your God, the Universe, and Mama Earth.

YOU, my darling, are LOVE itself.

My heart and body want to crumble to pieces at times, and hey, that’s okay, too. Because first, we must melt into the feeling. Feel first, then slowly and deliciously may we bloom into more of who we’re meant to be.

This poem fell out of me a few weeks back…

I feel myself hardening with every blow
Resisting the edge of the burn
Nothing can get in now
Coiling every corner breath escapes
Suffocating every inch
There's nothing left to touch
I would be foolish to let you in
Nothing feels real
Trust seems a silly word
I don't know how to soften
A stone left unturned
When will we realize
That's how love never gets in

These last few months, I’ve been making a lot of art (naturally), spending intimate time with myself, and leaning into the abundance of communities I have around me.

By the way, if you missed the therapeutic art class on 6/30, you can catch the replay here

Heart Break Swell

It's particularly hard
on days like this,
when I don't know what's up
or what's down.
Waves crash over and over
drowning my head
with words
I cannot understand.
The rushing tide pushing me
to the edge;
a place I long to be
—not yet ready.
Tie the boulders to my feet
as I sink down til the end.
It's not yet ready for me
to comprehend.
His silence deadens
the voice inside my head,
hardening the walls I've built,
yet again.
It's not yet ready for me
to comprehend.
Distance grows louder
touching abandoned wounds
brought to the surface
bobbing up
then back down, again.
Independent of dependence
I scream louder
at the walls
hoping the cracks
will thicken with grit.
Harden and soften
once more.
It's in these depths
I learn to love myself harder,
yet again.

May you remember you are not just a wave, you are the entirety of water itself.

With a blooming heart,
Olivia

In a world where grief is constantly knocking at our door, many of us don't have the words or know how to process what is happening inside and outside ourselves. Perhaps art can convey how you're feeling.

Liberating Through Art guides you to process and release emotions, thoughts, and energy through your artistic medium of choice. Learn how to authentically create with what is alive in the present moment and express what is true in your heart.

This class will help relieve heavy feelings and bring more ease, expression, and play to your creative practice, business, and life. Let your inner child express and be free!

You do not need to have any experience creating art for this class. Bring your materials, which can be as simple as a pen and paper.

Watch the Replay

Audio:

Join the Heart-led Creator Club

Free subscribers receive:

• Weekly love notes for the creative soul

• Post comments and connect with the community of heart-led creators

Paid subscribers receive:

• Monthly therapeutic art class, every last Sunday of the month

• Library of guided meditations, practices, and guest interviews

• Heart-led Creator Club group chat to share your creations and witness each other's growth

$7/month or $68/year 🌻 cancel anytime

What is Heart-led Creator?

Heart-led Creator is a publication and online community for like-minded creators who lead and share with their hearts. We remember better, together. Around here, we blend art with holistic modalities to open our hearts, trust our bodies, and enrich our lives with play.

This is not about being perfect or reaching a certain level of healing or success. Collectively, we understand there is not an end goal and it is about the process instead. How can we live more truly and deeply from our hearts?

Meet Olivia, Your Advocate for Radical Self Love

Hey! I’m Olivia, a multidisciplinary artist, healing arts practitioner, and lover of all things creativity, nature, sensuality, and thinking outside the societal standard box.

My intention is to share stories and knowledge that teach us to connect with our body's wisdom and create authentic art from the heart. This is a community for creators who need a gentle tug back down to earth ;) You can expect intimate stories, poetry, photography essays, and holistic resources for curious and creative souls.

Heart-led Creator is for people who deeply value their creativity and process of sharing art with the world, whatever medium that may be. You are in this body for a lifetime. How can you allow yourself to express how you're feeling inside?

You can follow and find out more about my work at these links below:

My Website

Follow me on Instagram

Purchase Photography Prints

Photo Essays: a series I share once a month of photos that tell a cohesive visual story—client work or personal work. All photos: © Olivia Marie Olszewski. Please reach out to license or order prints.

Last week I shared about a transformative women’s retreat I attended in Bali, Indonesia. What I didn’t mention was that I was also the resident boudoir photographer (for the past 3 years).

People always ask me what my favorite thing to photograph is. My answer: women moving in their embodied power. Truly, it never gets old.

Pussified Retreats has allowed me to capture every single woman who has attend this retreat since 2021 (around 60 total), resulting in some of the most incredible photographs I’ve ever taken. I will slowly post a photo story of each woman who has consented to have their photos shared.

Enjoy these photos of an incredibly evocative woman, Olivia, with the most delicious embodied movement.

With wild nature,

Olivia

9 months ago, he broke my heart, through a text message no less. In that moment, every word and experience with him before that was a lie (in my mind).

My heart imploded and exploded all at once. Shards of what was once a heart filled with love, pierced every corner of my body, leaving a million open wounds.

11 days later would be my birthday and a few short days after that, I was hopping on a plane across the world to Bali.

Getting on that plane alone to a foreign country, when he was supposed to be there with me, felt like a cosmic joke.

Every newlywed jet setting off to Bali on that plane twisted the broken shards even further into my body. I couldn’t stop crying as a stared at the empty seat next to me.

After 24 excruciating hours, I landed in Bali, one of the most sacred places in the world. A part of me knew it was meant to be this way.

I sat in a cab with a driver that wouldn’t stop asking me questions. The nail hit the coffin with, “do you have a boyfriend?”

I burst into tears. That shut him up.

I had just started seeing an art therapist and one week into my trip I was set to attend a women’s retreat with some of my dear friends at Pussifed Retreats.

This is meant to be. This is meant to be. This is meant to be.

I oscillated between this affirmation and hysterically crying in the shower of my quaint Airbnb. What the fuck am I going to do?

With the little energy I had, I turned to my sketchbook and tiny watercolor palette.

The only thing that seemed to help my confusion and chaotic thoughts was art. I painted the new landscapes and botanicals of Ubud—anything that would ground me back down to the present moment.

Slowly but surely, with every brush stoke, I pulled myself out of the black heartbreak hole that sucked me in again and again.

After one week of creating and exploring alone, I jetted to a stunning villa to fall into the arms of sisterhood. This is exactly where I was meant to be.

Before I knew it, I was screaming into a waterfall, baptizing myself with sacred waters. Just as the snake sheds its skin to rebirth, I too, was reborn.

Art and sisterhood saved my heart. And with that, a new version of myself burst into song (literally, on the last day of our retreat). My last watercolor drawings were appropriately two vulva portals and this poem:

blessings pour
wisdom above
webbed and washed
witnessed we wore
crushing rain
it washed
licked and clean
we screamed
we laughed
we skipped
we were seen
naked with filth
hands to the sky
we raise
we praise
we open
we redeem

Now, 9 months later, I bring you my heart, as we liberate through art in community. Together, we'll alchemize our inner landscape into an outer landscape, so that we can witness our own process of creation.

Read more on the page below and subscribe to join:

With a full heart,
Olivia

If this story moved you in any way, please reply to this email or leave a comment on Substack. I love connecting with you🌹

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“Olivia Marie is a multidisciplinary artist and healing arts practitioner. Her passion is to help people restore and transform through art, storytelling, and integrative practices.

Olivia is honored to share a sound blessing with our community, a transcendental transmission that will take you on a journey to intangible worlds. This blend of intuitive song and minimal instrumentals will open your heart, harmonize your inner landscape, and unify our collective with love.”

I have to be honest, I had to resist the urge to include “photographer” as a label in there. But it just didn’t feel relevant. Every time I’m asked to write a bio for myself, I want to barf.

Labels are fake anyway and if I had to label myself anything it would be, “Constantly Changing.”

At this point, I laugh at myself when I feel the urge to pivot. As a business owner, this feels scary as fuck. The voices inside my head whisper scream, “no one is going to know wtf I do.” “Why can’t you just commit to something?” “You’re going to be bad at this new thing because you’ve spent so much time and money being good at this other thing.”

I could go on, but I’ll spare you the self-destructive criticism.

So instead, I’ll share a direct excerpt from my journal that is more uplifting:

“There is a dull ache inside to let it out—stories untold and hidden in the shadows. Why do I even have to tell it—wait, I don’t. At least, not in words. Sometimes, expressing it differently is just as potent. Through a painting, photograph, collage, movement, or sound—it all works.

Expressing is my greatest joy and purpose. It comes out in all sorts of ways. Everyone is always surprised by the infinite skills I have. (I’m allowed to brag, okay?) Sometimes I even surprise myself. Like, who am I to call myself a painter and yet, I paint. I may not be a master, but I do it for my own sanity and self-expression.

To the multidisciplinary artist: you have every right to pursue the medium that feels right in the moment. Different stories and feelings may call for different mediums. You are worthy of sharing this with the world—or not. You get to make that choice.

Do what comes natural to you. This is what my Gene Keys tells me: if it is like banging your head against the wall, it’s not it. Move on.”

My Voice is Desiring to Be Heard

For some time now, I've been feeling the call to share more of my voice. Singing was the first creative practice that called to my soul as a little girl. Over time, as I leaned into visual arts, this part of me died for a long time.

It felt terrifying to sing in front of others, even the people I love. I still feel this terror rise to my throat from time to time; a black obsidian ball, lodged in my vocal chords. After careful inquiry and practice, my voice has come alive again, bursting with life and wanting to be heard.

Since last summer, I've had the pleasure of sharing vocal sound healing at the Thrive Recovery center in Westhampton Beach, invited by my dear friend Christianne Gentry—grateful for you sister! 🙏🏽

Now I get to expand this vision of sound to Divine Madness Collective gathering and exhibition on 7/13 at The Better Man Distilling Co. The description I shared above is for this event! I’ll also be showing visual art that will likely not be photography. *gasp*

I am so, so grateful for the people in my life who continue to support me, no matter what the vision is. I am constantly shifting as an artist and trying new things. It is how we grow, after all!

Special thank you to The Rose Lineage Mystery School for teaching me and holding space for throat clearing and jaw release, which has opened up my desire to sing even more. I am eternally grateful to walk this path.

With multidisciplinary passion,
Olivia

If you feel called to receive a sound blessing, join me for two community offerings coming up:

Community Healing Circle
Friday, June 14th, 7-8pm in Westhampton Beach, NY
Reserve here

Art in Motion Divine Madness Collective gathering & exhibition
Saturday, July 13th, 10am-2pm in Patchogue, NY
Reserve here

Or book a 1:1 session with me🌹

This past Monday I had a wide open day off. Normally I’d revel in the opportunity to turn off and spend the day relaxing. Instead, I found myself writing an extensive to do list of things I’ve been putting off and making plans to go to my studio and get it done.

The idea of relaxing the entire day had my body on edge. The alarm kept going off inside telling me to “get shit done”, “you must be productive”, “this is your opportunity to get ahead”, “there’s not enough time” aka “I’m not enough.” (yea, that one bites hard)

As a perfectionist over achiever, I grew up being told I need to work hard to earn success. Whatever “success” means. I was taught that tough determination and dedication is what will give me a happy and fulfilled life.

I don’t know about happy, but it sure does fill my days. Filling it to the brim so that eventually, inevitably, I’ll burn out. Only to then find myself hiding under the covers in the dark watching Sex and the City on repeat.

I brought my inability to relax to my therapy session this week. I came to the conclusion that it is a habit ingrained in me from generations of hard working immigrants. You know the saying, America is the “land of the free.”

Apparently the only way to get free is to bust our ass in a job that we hate, only to go home and bust our ass some more taking care of our family, doing chores, and putting off things that will make us happy. Because maybe, one day, we’ll get to the finish line of happiness and freedom.

I call bullshit.

After rambling to my therapist and spilling to an artist support group, I found I wasn’t the only one who has a hard time relaxing. As someone who spends a lot of time organizing community events where I live (in the U.S.), I’ve noticed many people don’t even want to socialize and spend time in community because most of us are burnt out and depressed. Thus, spinning us in a cycle of work and hibernation.

It’s sad, really. One of the happiest countries in the world is Denmark and there’s some pretty interesting research around why. First off, they work less. Got it. Education, healthcare, childcare, and maternity leave are taken care of. The average Dane is part of 2.8 extracurricular clubs. And no, not for college credit, for actual fun and being a part of the community. Yes, they have astronomically high taxes, but if you’re asking me, I’d rather be a happy human than make more money to spend on material things that drains my bank account anyway.

I learned this all from an article by . Give it a read:

Changing The Channel with Kirsten Powers

We Don't Need 'Self-Help,' We Need Support

This essay is free to read. Consider becoming a subscriber to never miss an essay and to support bringing attention to essential topics such as this Each time I look at the Publishers Weekly bestseller list, I am struck by how Americans are always seeking guidance on how to do the most basic human things: follow a healthy diet, exercise, have friends, or be happy…

Read more

2 years ago · 2075 likes · 66 comments · Kirsten Powers

Yes, take care of your individual self. Fill your own cup before filling others, blah, blah, blah…you know all the things we’re told. I’ve had some of the most profound transformations in trusted and supportive communities.

There’s something so powerful about being SUPPORTED and SEEN. So I asked myself the question, “why is it so damn hard to relax?” My conclusion: because we don’t feel supported. Therefore, on some level, we don’t feel safe.

Safe enough to relax, to receive, and just BE.

We are living in a time where organic deodorant costs upwards of $20, we are constantly bombarded by digital notifications, and lured into doom scrolling on social media. This, my friends, does not provide a safe environment to relax.

So, how can we relax?

This may be an obvious answer for you, but for those of us who can’t sit still, here’s some ideas that might help:

1. Find communities that support relaxation. Maybe that’s a yoga class, an art club, or a community garden. If money is what’s holding you back, many of these communities can be free. They’re out there.

2. Slow down. Literally, do something that you do every day, like brushing your teeth, and do it sloooooow. This was something I learned in my sex, love, and relationship coaching certification, where our homework was to masturbate every week. One of the best ways to receive more pleasure (that I’ve found) is to slow. the. fuck. down. That goes for everything in life, not just sex.

3. Instead of doing 10 things on your to do list, try doing 1 or 2. This was my therapist’s suggestion. This is usually my go to solution. Ween off constantly being in production mode.

4. In ’s new book The Art of You, he suggests an entire day of doing nothing. I’m not going to lie, this is arguably impossible for someone like me (hi, I’m a generator in human design and I like to produce). So instead of an entire day, try 5 or 10 minutes of relaxation, and keep increasing that time.

5. Go for a walk without your phone or on airplane mode. Notice what you see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. Drop into the present moment and notice how relaxing nature can be. This is one of my favorite ways to relax.

6. BREATHE. Close your eyes, put one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly. Take a deep nourishing inhale and a long, SLOW exhale. Do it now.

7. Make art. When my body wants to relax but I feel energy stirring inside, I turn to art, specifically messy, mindless, and playful art. I’ve found talking during the art making process helps my mind stray from the incessant need to make things perfect. Thanks graphic design career!

The cosmic joke of it all? The more we relax, the more efficient we can be during production time. I’d love to know, what are some of your favorite ways to relax? Hit reply or leave a comment. ❤️

Leave a comment

With a relaxed heart,
Olivia

P.S. Join me on Sun, June 30th for Liberating Through Art: a class that guides you to RELAX and release thoughts, emotions, and energy through art. If you're already subscribed, you will receive the class link. If you're not, hit that subscribe button and consider upleveling to join ongoing classes in the future. 22% off until 7/11🌹

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Dearest human,

I know you have grief, anger, pain, and heartbreak stored in your body.

I know the feeling because I've been there and I feel it. Over and over and over again.

The amount of stress, anxiety, tension, and stuck energy in our bodies can become all consuming—weighing us down like an anchor sinking to the deepest depths of the ocean.

This anchor can lead to burn out, numbness, depression, pain, and exerting unprocessed energy towards your partner, children, family, friends, and yes, complete strangers, too.

Nobody wants to live their life like that—under constant assault from our own mind and body.

Creating a war inside ourselves, creates a war outside ourselves.

Dearest human, I want you to know this: it does not mean you're broken.

No. You will never be broken.

You are not your past.
You are not your emotions.
You are not your experiences. 

You are simply...WHOLE.

Wholly holy and uniquely YOU.

So we must make peace inside ourselves.

We must come HOME to ourselves.

Dearest human,

I know you've felt joy, love, and pleasure, too.

The capacity which we can move with and through the sticky feelings, is the capacity we can experience the expansion of joy, love, and pleasure, too.

You are worthy of feeling this at any moment of any day.

You are capable of creating the life you truly desire—whatever that may look like for you.

Which by the way, is allowed to look different than some influencer, your best friend, your parents, or your siblings.

When we begin to unwind stuck energy, our creative and sexual life force begins to surge through our bodies.

This is our natural state of being—plugged into the Universe and Earth, together, in synchronous harmony.

Like tuning an instrument to contribute to the greatest symphony there is—LIFE itself.

When we are in our natural state of being, we are exquisitely creative.

This creative force can alchemize into art, blossoming relationships, quitting that job you hate with a passion, saying NO to what no longer serves you, and YES to what does.

There is no perfect human and no perfect way of being. You are already in the cauldron of creation, dearest human.

And sometimes we need a trusted guide along the way. Someone to guide you back to the home inside yourself.

If you feel deep down that guide is me, I invite you into a non-judgmental 1:1 Heart-led Session, custom created for you.

Book a 1:1 Session

With heart wide open,
Olivia

P.S. Join me on Sun, June 30th for Liberating Through Art: a class that guides you to process and release thoughts, emotions, and energy through art. If you're already subscribed (free & paid), you will receive the class link. If you're not, then hit that subscribe button and consider upleveling to paid to join ongoing classes in the future. 22% off until 7/11 🌹

Subscribe now