Art Inspiration from Raphael and Gabriel

Three years ago, I had a color dream - I simply saw vibrant wonderful colors: vivid lime green surrounded by brilliant white, surrounded by teal. It was so inspiring. I'm an artist but I wasn't painting or even a fan of abstract work at that time, so I created a still life entitled "Cream and Sugar." In the dream, the colors did appear in the form of orbs within orbs.

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Cream and Sugar  8x10" oil on canvas panel 

Contact me to for purchasing info.

Two years later, my landscapes were becoming so abstracted I was started painting abstracts. Then I remembered my memorable color dream. So I created an abstract painting from it I call "Inspired Dream." Lime green, surrounded or grounded by white, all surrounded by teal. This story is of angelic significance because green (emerald green, even teal) is the color of archangel Raphael. I now know the hits orange or bronzy colors represent the presence of archangel Gabriel, who inspires artists. So I feel very inspired, connected to and supported by Gabriel and Raphael. Woohoo!

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Inspired Dream  30x24" oil on gallery-wrapped canvas 

Contact me for purchasing info.

Yes, someone above knew before I did that I'd be painting abstracts. I've been painting for a number of years, but painting this felt different, freeing, exhilerating. I was painting wildly, using the palette knife for the first time and following my heart instead of my head. Was so much FUN!!

Do you receive inspiration from above?? In what form? Music, art, screenplays, designs? New concepts, ideas to solve problems? I'd love to hear!

P.S. In the prior post, I tried hard to get the type to match my other posts - black. But nothing doing. Then I realized the type color was teal green and the post was all about Raphael. So he definitely wanted the type to be GREEN. And so it is!

Archangel Raphael

I feel very close to and blessed by Archangel Raphael. He is the archangel of healing. I have invoked him to help my parents' with their health and my own health, and he has really come through. He is represented by the color emerald green. 

Raphael's name means "Medicine of God" in Hebrew, or "God has healed." In the book of Tobit, Raphael reveals himself as one of the seven archangels "who stand before the Lord" (Tobit 12:15). It's said that the longest speech by an angel appears in Chapter 12 of the book of Tobit. Here Raphael takes human form and cures Tobit of blindness and helps Tobit's son on his travels and delivers Tobit's family from many difficulties.

I just learned tonight that Raphael healed Tobit of blindness! My parents have both recently had fabulous results with cataract surgery, after I invoked Raphael on their behalf. They have had healing breakthroughs in many areas. Yay!! 

I often have massages by my spiritual friend and great healing worker Anne Marie Palmer. She invokes the angels and particularly Raphael before a massage. With my eyes closed I see colors in my minds eye. During my last massage I could "see" emerald green light from corner to corner of the room - in my minds eye with my eyes closed. It was a powerful feeling - surprising and comforting. I came home, checked my angel books and yes, it is indeed Raphael that is represented by green light. So he was clearly there helping Anne Marie help me! 

I recommend you invoke Raphael's assistance when you or a friend need healing. You are likely to feel or see green light, feel a tingling sensation in your limbs as Raphael does his healing work. Let me know what happens when you call upon Archangel Raphael. Ask and expect amazing healing. It may take time but it will come.

Be the Love You Want to See

One more song message story. I'm particularly open to song messages because I'm primarily clairaudient. Others are open to third-eye visions (clairvoyant). Still others are clairsentient and are sensitive to feelings and experiencing intuitive knowings. I have a bit of all three but am primarily clairaudient.

The last few weeks, I've been hearing an old song in my head that became a BIG message for me. Ever heard of the 60's song "Georgy Girl" by The Seekers? It's from my early childhood days and I was hearing a few words and a light melody:


Hey there Georgy girl, 
Do do do do do do do do do do dooooo.
La la la la la la la la la la la la la laaaa.
The world would see, a new Georgy girl.

OK, I was intrigued. I loved the spirited melody, brought up fun memories -  but what were the mysterious missing words? I looked up the lyrics and was quite moved. Here's the refrain:

Hey there, Georgy girl.

There's another Georgy deep inside.

Bring out all the love you hide, 

And oh what a change there'd be.

The world would see a new Georgy girl.

Wow! This was a big message. In the areas of my life where I want more love, I should BE the love. At the office, in my neighborhood, among friends, family and even in my marriage, I need to be the love I want to see. This takes courage.

Other artists have spoken similar themes. In the Beatles' song "The End," Paul McCartney wrote the line: In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.

I've heard this is true for anything we are seeking. Whether it's love, abundance, acceptance, fun, adventure, comfort or compassion. Whatever you are seeking, simply be the thing you want to see.

Longing for compassion - take a gift or offer a kind gesture to another.

Longing for abundance - contribute to a cause you love or give an unexpected gift.

Seeking acceptance - forgive or accept someone you have held at a distance.
Seeking love - offer deep appreciation or love in a relationship that could use rejuvenation.

I like to think of myself as a giving person. But there are many areas where I can reach out, open up, be bolder and more caring and giving. Thank you Allison for opening my eyes to new challenges and new ways to grow.

Happy communicating with your sacred guides!! Please let me know what messages you are receiving. We can all learn from one another!!

Understanding Angelic Messages

Haven't posted in weeks. But I've known what to write since my last post.

When I awoke on Saturday, July 21st with the St. Francis prayer song message, I was so excited Allison, my guardian angel, had sent me such a sweet message. Beautiful to ponder AND perfect for my angel blog. I got up early, wrote my blog post and went back to bed feeling fulfilled. What a wonderful message to share.

Oh Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

I soon learned the song message was meant FOR ME! Sometimes when we receive angelic messages, it can take time before we understand the true meaning or guidance. But we will always be so enlightened. And that's the thing about messages from your angelic or spirit guides. They bring you just what YOU need to hear, when YOU need to hear it.

Back to July 21st. I found out at lunchtime that my husband was going to have to work most of the weekend. Surprise! Not only did he have to work that weekend, but the next two weekends and VERY late each weeknight for the next 3 weeks.

At first, I was NOT happy I would have to entertain myself all weekend. And each weeknight.  Luckily I did have a big art show to prepare for, so it helped me get that work done. Notice that I've still been talking about ME.

Oh Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

That song message was my guiding light for 3.5 weeks. It was Allison's way of gently helping me become a more considerate and giving spouse. It opened my eyes to the many areas of my life where I can seek to offer support, understanding and be attentive instead of longing for support, understanding and attention.

Iridescent Spirit Figure  22" x 7' x 3" by Mark Abildgaard

I'll share more stories about the revealing nature of angelic messages in future posts. Until then, thank you St. Francis and thank you Allison for your loving and soft but obvious guidance. 

This morning's song: St. Francis' prayer

This morning I clearly heard the refrain of the song created from the prayer of St. Francis:

Oh Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Today's message was definitely the refrain of the song. In fact, it wasn't until after hearing it softly rolling through my head for 15 minutes that I began to hear the beginning of the song:

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.

I attended a memorial service last evening for a dear family friend who died suddenly and totally unexpectedly last week. We celebrated her life with a service at St. Martin's Lutheran church in Austin and then a small group went to El Gallo restaurant in Austin to remember our joyful times with this special lady.  My husband and I used to regularly join my parents and their friends on Friday nights at one of three local Mexican restaurants. Boy did we have fun!!! The stories, laughter and dear friendships that developed over enchiladas, margaritas, Mexican martinis and mariachi singers are priceless. Last night was no exception. While we were sad, we banded together, young and old, ate and drank, consoled one another, told fun stories and reflected upon her joyous vivacious spirit. Annette, we miss you!!

Funny that this morning's message wasn't either of the two hymns sung at Annette's service: How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace. It wasn't any of the songs I heard on my ipad I listened to yesterday afternoon. There were many options, but only one crystal clear message. So today, I send you consolation for your sorrows, understanding for your trials and love for your day.

P.S. Two years ago today I lost my precious Oma, my 98-year old grandmother. She was with me yesterday, her 77th wedding anniversary, as yesterday's service was in the church she and my grandfather attended their entire adult lives....where my grandfather used to sing solos regularly with his robust baritone voice. So here's to you also, Oma and Opa! Know you are enjoying being together again after being apart for 17 physical years. This pic is of Oma (center), my mom (left) and me at another joyous family outing.

Song Messages

Ever get song messages from your angel guides? I get them ALL the time.

I know it's common to get a song in your head after hearing it somewhere recently. This is different. When my guardian angel Allison has a song message for me, whether it's important or something to lighten my day, I hear it clear as a bell, with full instrumentation. Often these songs will play in my head through the night preventing me from sleeping soundly. That's a big message! Sometimes I get every single lyric line and a rousing chorus. Other times, a single line from a song will play over and over.

Love songs for a week in 2003
In the spring of 2003, when I was single and ready to meet the man of my dreams, I went to the Mayan Riviera with dear friends from my Chicago days. Every night on that trip I had a different love song running through my head. Not any of my favorites or anything I had heard recently. Each one played all night long!

©Debbi Smith Rourke - "Mayan Riviera"  24" x24"

I painted this oil painting of the Mayan Riviera from a photo I took on the 2003 trip. 

The song I remember most from that vacation week was from the sixites. It's called "Love Grows" by Edison Lighthouse. (You Tube link for your amusement.) Don't even remember that group's name! Just looked it up. I was very young when it was popular, but I do remember it. 

Oh, but love grows where my Rosemary goes

And nobody knows like me

There's something about her hand holding mine

It's a feeling that's fine and I just gotta say

She's really got a magical spell, and it's working so well

That I can't get away.

I'm a lucky fella and I've just got to tell her

That I love her endlessly.

Because love grows where my Rosemary goes and nobody knows like me. 

Schmaltzy I know! And my name is not Rosemary. So each day on the trip, I'd ask my friends if they remembered each night's song. My roommate was convinced they all meant I was going to meet Mr. Right very soon. That was March and I met my husband Jim in early July of 2003 - four months later. We celebrate our 8th anniversary on Tuesday!! Woohoo. We recently went to the Mayan Riviera for one FABULOUS vacation, just a few miles from where I stayed in 2003. This one was even better!!! Our love continues to grow, just like the song states.

I'll save more Allison song message stories for later. Since this is my anniversary week, thought this would be a special post. Here is a picture of Jim and me on our big day. My Mayan Riviera compadres from 2003 were in attendance of course.

So the next time you get a song in your head, just consider that it might be a message from your angels. It's an easy way for them to communicate with you. Happy angel connecting.

Are you open to receiving?

Some people are natural givers. They see a person in need and they are right there to help. I admire these people greatly. While I might not be the best giver, I have noticed I am quite open to receiving love and abundance in my life. I was not always this way. Over the last 15 years, I have allowed much love and abundance to flow in. It is ALL a divine gift and I am very grateful. Guess it's a good thing that the more grateful you are, the more you attract things in your life for which to be grateful!! Woohoo.

While I am open to receiving, I've noticed that not everyone is.

Are you fully open to receiving?

Often when we pray, deep down we might doubt our request can be fulfilled. We want healing but can't envision it or don't make the effort to think about what the healing would be like - but rather continue to focus on the challenges of the illness. If we desire a full bank account but doubt the economy is robust enough to provide the ideal job and income, or believe our skill sets don't match the market, we prevent our natural answer from flowing to us. This lack of belief, fear or focus on the current state hinders the divine's answer from automatically flowing to us. Maybe not permanently, but it can certainly delay it.

Are you fully open to receiving? Through my guardian angel Allison and the archangels, I've learned many big life lessons. Here's one: whenever you ask for something, stop thinking about what you don't want, stop thinking about the situation the way it is, and focus on the OUTCOME you desire. Envision it. Feel the feeling you would feel once fulfilled. Spend time in this space. Lots of time. Actually KNOW that your request has already been answered, and that the partiuclar components to fulfilling your wish are zipping their way right to you. Hear the words, "And it is done." Wheeeeee. What you'll notice is your prayers are answered usually in a BIGGER way and maybe even faster than you imagined. I'm blessed to say this has been my experience.

When my husband and I were newly married and looking for a home, he wanted to build and I wanted to buy something already built. However, the one thing I did want was a view. After an exhaustive search of lots, my hubby was finally ready to look at existing homes. Yay - I was thrilled. As it turned out, there was one more lot left to look at that came on the market in the neighborhood I had always dreamed would be ideal. And guess what. This lot had one amazing view!! I was hooked. I gave in to building. It wasn't until the house was built that we knew how fabulous the view would be. I love living with the natural world all around me. It's very restorative and uplifting to my soul. I now know our home was only possible by joint commitment, tolerance, love and going with the flow. I see the hand of the divine here each day.

Are you fully open to receiving? I believe that each of our paths is perfect for each of us, whether it appears good or bad. One big lesson I've learned through my angel guidance is to trust the natural flow - to ALLOW good things to flow to us. If the natural flow doesn't appear good, trust that allowing and not resisting is optimum. If we don't stress, don't live in angst or worry but focus on living in the feeling of the answered prayer, the answers come with ease and without much effort. Sometimes the answer is different than we envisioned. But in hindsight we will see that all was necessary to get to where we wanted to go.

Are you fully open to receiving? "And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." Matthew 21.22. Belief and trust are key.

Here's the kicker. When I started conversing with my guardian angel Allison 19 years ago, when I was single and renting, she suggested I drive around town envisioning the nice home I might live in some day. Ha! I totally disregarded her suggestion. Would never happen. I couldn't even fathom it. Now today I am living happily married in the very neighborhood I considered ideal as a single, heartbroken young woman. Who knew? Allison knew!!!