Yesterday, I spent time in my Soul Studio looking at my archived paintings. I had archived them because I thought I was 'done' with them. They had served their purpose in terms of giving back to me - insights gained. I thought they were waiting to be catalogued. The moment I started laying them out on the floor, I realised something important. I had made no decision about the placement of these paintings. They were simply stacked on shelves, neatly stacked, but without purpose! In other words, they were gathering dust. Laying each one out, I started to organise them into themes: colours, words, phases, sizes. As I did this I could feel the archive catalogue in my brain clicking things into place. Strong memories were coming back to me. Turns out, I wasn't quite done!

So, here are MORE recommendations for storage in your Soul Studio:

1. Cut pieces of card into strips, and write down one word on each strip - a word that evokes a feeling from each painting. Stick these words into your Journal. Keep a jar full of card strips at the ready!

2. Regularly sort your paintings and drawings into themes: colours, sizes, shapes, places, people. The act of sorting functions on both a physical and emotional level, and helps to categorise your memories associated with these themes. This makes it easier to link between the memories - like creating a huge art journal in your mind!

3. Don't be afraid to throw stuff out! Keep your bin handy. If articles and research are now longer necessary because you've either used it, or moved on, chuck this out.

4. Create a unique filing system for your research. I work on several projects at the same time: writing my adult books, collecting images and ideas for my children's books, and idea for workshops, and keep separate files for each one. They link up in my big vision, but need to be separate while I am in research mode.

5. If you collect postcards like I do, store these in a treasured pot or basket. I keep mine in an African bowl that I bought on a trip to South Africa. Each time I look at this bowl I am reminded of that place. This is one of my sacred anchors.

6. Organising, sorting and storing are three of the most sacred acts in your Soul Studio. Make this a regular habit.

7. Chaos comes before order! Allow yourself time to sit amongst your work - laying mine out on the floor allows me to literally sit with myself and my work. This is a meditative practice, so don't rush it. Expect to feel strong emotions, and recognise that this practice is as vital to your sacred work as the work itself.