The Freedom to be Ourselves

Creative practice is a survival skill

energyLori-Lyn HurleyMay 16, 2025substack, empathy, essaysComment

collection

Sacred Feminine Collective - Art at the Cathedral

artLori-Lyn HurleyJuly 19, 2022sacred feminine, exhibitionComment

our boy woody

Woody’s was a life well-lived.

lifestyleLori-Lyn HurleyJuly 18, 2022woody, pugs, dogsComment

paintings on the wall

Paintings at Ranada’s Kitchen in the Woodland Triangle.

artLori-Lyn HurleyNovember 19, 2021prayer painitngs, artComment

midnight mass

You could say Midnight Mass is about what happens when evil masquerades as good, but I think it’s more complex than that, and more relevant. At its core, it addresses who we are as humans experiencing life, the role faith and belief play in our existence, and ultimately, the nature of God. While it offers up some of the most horrifying theology I’ve ever witnessed, what is revealed in the final episodes is some of the most beautiful.

spirituality, lifestyleLori-Lyn HurleyOctober 13, 2021religion, film, reviews, spiritualityComment

prayer

Prayer is hoping you are doing well then seeing a hummingbird at my rose of sharon.

Wrapping my dog’s medication in soft bread.

Remembering all of the earlier versions of myself with respect and fondness.

Deep night, the dome of stars, locating Venus in the sky.

spiritualityLori-Lyn HurleyAugust 13, 2021prayerComment

cocktail dresses

Around two and a half years ago, I stopped self-medicating and numbing myself with food.

This brought about a balance and clarity I had never before experienced.

I noticed however, that when I stopped using food as a substitute for pleasure and love, I started doing something else.

Every now and then, I went on a shopping spree.

lifestyleLori-Lyn HurleyMarch 3, 2021fashion, vintage, lifestyle, pandemic, covidComment

this time around

I turned another year older yesterday.

If we weren’t in a pandemic right now, I’d have thrown myself a vintage-style birthday party and encouraged you all to dress in 1940’s style.

As it was, we are in a pandemic and my birthday fell on a Monday and much of the country, including where I live, was under threat of a huge snow and ice storm.

I thought about encouraging you to dress vintage and do the party virtually…but it just didn’t feel right under the circumstances.

lifestyleLori-Lyn HurleyFebruary 16, 2021birthday, vintage, fashionComment

51

So, I turned 51.

No matter how I feel about the number or the speed at which time is passing, I do think of my birthday as my personal new year and a sacred time. I love my Valentine’s Day birthday combo and I strongly encourage everyone to celebrate their birthday with big love.

On my birthday morning, however, I felt sad.

lifestyleLori-Lyn HurleyFebruary 17, 2020birthdayComment

prayer painting in texas

Megan and I have been friends for about nine years online.

We’ve worked together and shared a friendship, even though she’s in Texas and I’m in Kentucky.

Through her and her business, Your Spirit Sparkle, I met Heather, who also became a good friend.

These are women I love.

art, travelLori-Lyn HurleyOctober 29, 2019travel, texas, prayer painting, artComment