Divinely Creative: The Spiritual Path of Music Artist, Monelise | Maria Kheyfets

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep93

What happens when creativity becomes a living myth, a spiritual practice, and a portal into something bigger than you? In this powerful conversation, singer songwriter and multidisciplinary artist Monelise shares how she wrote 100 songs in a year, created her own musical oracle deck, and uses ritual and spirituality to stay connected, grounded, and wildly inspired.

Benefits of listening

• Learn how creativity and spiritual awakening are deeply intertwined in a practical, accessible way
 • Hear the behind the scenes of writing 100 songs in a year, and what actually happens during the messy middle
• Discover how ritual, intention and personal storytelling can strengthen your creative empowerment journey

Key takeaways

• Creativity as a spiritual practice for healing, empowerment and resilience
 • The feminine energy of creativity and why it matters for women
 • How ritual, grounding and intention support artistic expression
 • Understanding the messy middle of creative work and why consistency matters more than inspiration
 • The role of storytelling and archetypes in creative empowerment for women
 • Why witnessing your own art is just as powerful as sharing it
 • Using creativity as a portal for personal transformation
 • How to connect to your soul through creativity and everyday rituals

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep93

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Transcript

 Ep 93: Maria Kheyfets

Ep 93: Maria Kheyfets

Sam Horton: [00:00:00] So today I have Maria Kheyfets with me. Maria,her artist name is Monelise, she is a prolific singer songwriter who wrote an astonishing a hundred songs in just a year. Her music is often described as cinematic and world building, weaving myth archetype, and the divine feminine into.

Beautiful ethereal soundscapes that feel like portals into another realm. Uh, beyond her own artistry. Maria is passionate about the rituals and creative practices that sustain prolific output and how spirituality and storytelling shape the songs we write. So welcome Maria. Thank you so much. So today I really wanna dive into the.

Uh, creativity as a ritual or a spiritual practice for healing, resilience, and empowerment. I feel like we're very aligned on this subject, so obviously we'll do it through the, your lens, which is storytelling and music. [00:01:00] Tell us about mm-hmm. Um, how your own spiritual and creative journey has led you, you know, to this point, um, with me here today.

Maria Kheyfets: Hmm. God, my spiritual and creative journey. Well, yeah, I guess they're so intertwined, aren't they? The, the spiritual and the creative. I know for sure that for me they've been, for so many reasons too. I mean, being an artist is just such a sort of non-linear, unpredictable path. I find that for me, having a spiritual practice and, you know.

Some spirit spirituality in my life has really helped me to kind of stay on track and, you know, trust in the unknown, in the unseen, processes of life. So. Yeah. And of course that's led me to connect with, other creatives that feel, on the same page such as yourself. 

Sam Horton: So have you always been, you know, when, when did you start, uh, writing songs and, you know, getting into music?

When did you start? Has it been there forever or has it a [00:02:00] newer thing? 

Maria Kheyfets: Well, I. Always been creative, I would say. And, you know, I went through many iterations with that many dream career paths. Mm-hmm. I mean, there was a time when I wanted to be an author, um, a dancer, a visual artist. 'cause I also, I also paint and I make, uh, soul paintings too.

Okay. And then I had my first piano lesson, I think at 14 years old. And then something kind of just went off in my system that I was like, okay, there's something special here. I wasn't singing yet. I, I used to want to be like a classical, um, pianist. 

Sam Horton: Okay. 

Maria Kheyfets: So that, that lasted for some time. And then I went to university to study, English literature.

And interestingly, it wasn't the university that was my first choice or that I wanted to go, because initially I thought that I would. Pursue, a more academic path in my life. Even though I had such a, such an artistic inclination, I still thought that I had to go down the academic route. And then somehow, even though everything seemed to be aligning for me to go to that [00:03:00] very academic place, it just didn't happen.

And that door was shut and there was no way to open it. So I ended up going somewhere else. And interestingly, while I was studying at this sort of, you know, second choice university, all these creative doors started opening for me because it was such an, artistic place and suddenly I was getting into theater and plays mm-hmm.

Stage performance. And it was during this time when I somehow ended up going down a path that I never expected to go down that this, calling to also write my own music emerged. So. Yeah. 

Sam Horton: Wow. A very winding road. Certainly not linear, is it? Yeah. No, it's not a straight path. Um, I saw that you described yourself as a singer songwriter that has turned creativity into a living myth.

What do you mean by that? Tell us about that. 

Maria Kheyfets: Mm, yes. into a living myth. So what I mean by that is, well, there's sort of two parts to it. Okay. One is that, [00:04:00] My music, I kind of look at it as a mythology and one of the ways that I've expanded, on that is, well, I have quite a big catalog of music right now, quite a few releases and also all those songs I wrote last year.

And there's some interconnective themes and recurring archetypes that come through in my music and I actually created my own, Musical Oracle deck too, where one can meet the, the archetypes and the characters, in my music. So it's about that sense of interconnectedness and almost like different chapters of my life and evolution being represented through my songs, which is also captured in the Oracle cards.

But, another thing that I mean by living myth is that I feel that being an artist is a lifestyle, so it extends beyond. Mm-hmm. Um. Just who you are when, for example, from you, when I write my songs or make my paintings, it's also the way that I live my life. Like, you know, the cafe that I choose to go in, in the morning or the way that I decorate my house.

It's all part of being, an artist. And that's why I look at [00:05:00] creativity as like a living myth because you can mythologize your whole life really as an artist. 

Sam Horton: Yeah. And let the inspiration guide you. That's really cool. I love that. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. And it's kind of, it also plays into the fact that, we are kind of.

You know, been taught that like we've gotta kind of, you know, climb the ladder, produce, you know, be efficient and this really masculine kind of doing kind of, you know, um, yes, working energy. yes, but creativity is much softer and, you know, we're potentially all told that we couldn't pursue a creative path.

So it is a bit of a myth in terms of the fact that it is possible as well. Right, because Oh, how interesting. Yes. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like it's kind of like the Oh, definitely. Yeah. The path. You know, that no one really believed in, you know, um, as we were growing up and entering adulthood. So I find that really cool.

Maria Kheyfets: Yes. So almost like rewriting the 

Sam Horton: myth, right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And so maybe one day it won't be a myth anymore, right? 

Maria Kheyfets: Exactly. It'll be, yes. It'll be normal. 

Sam Horton: [00:06:00] Yeah. 

Maria Kheyfets: Totally. Yeah. I really like what you said about the kind of the masculine and feminine energies. Yeah. Um, and I find that they can interplay as well in creativity.

Like for example, when I was doing my songwriting challenge last year, I felt like I kind of had to use like the more the yang side to create the framework to show up. But then having that framework. Actually allowed like the yin to to flow, if that makes sense. Yeah. 

Sam Horton: It's all balanced, right? It's, yes, both sides are really needed and not one is more, you know, superior than the other.

But unfortunately we've kind of lost a little bit of that belief in the feminine. So yeah, so powerful. Love that. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. So I also saw that you mentioned that. you treat your songs, and I think I've sort of mentioned it in your bio as well, but you, treat your songs as a portal rather than just a piece of music.

So tell us about what that means for you. 

Maria Kheyfets: Yes. Well, I had kind of a transformative experience in [00:07:00] that regard, when I, so right before the world sort of shut down for life performances in, I think it was 2019 with COVID, I, I luckily had the chance to take my show to the Edinburgh Fringe. 

 and then one of the, reviewers who also became like an amazing fan of my music wrote that when, you know, they saw the show, they felt that they became a part of something bigger. And since then I was like, wow, that's so interesting.

And I hadn't been able to. Put the words to it myself yet, but actually that person helped me to verbalize what my sort of more spiritual intention has always been with my music 

 And, for that show, my co-creative director and I, we, um. Sort of turned my album into something a little bit more immersive. So we had some stage props and it was almost like a piece of theater mm-hmm. That we turned my album into. And there was one very lovely audience member who also wrote a review of the show, and I [00:08:00] remember he said that when.

He saw this show Tology, he felt like he became part of something bigger. And I was like, wow. Like reading that review was so transformative for me because I hadn't had the words to verbalize that feeling yet. But actually that's always what I wanted to accomplish with my music is I wanted to, you know, transport my listeners and indeed make them feel part of something greater and something bigger.

And so. That's one way to look at the concept of the portal for me. Yeah. So powerful. 

Sam Horton: It's beautiful. I love that. Thank you. And I mean, we've got some questions around the spiritual side, as we kind of move through it, so, yeah, I mean, that's great, isn't it? That it's almost like, you know, it's not. Like validation, but it's like almost like, you know, like you said, you couldn't find the words for it.

It's helpful when you get that kind of external feedback. Feedback, yes. That's what it's, right, yes. Um, which helps you kind of make sense and, um, add more meaning and, yeah, like, Expand your [00:09:00] kind of journey with it as well. Because once you understand something like, actually, you know, this is about, you know, something bigger than me and it's about some kind of spiritual connection.

Yes. Um, that's inspiring in itself. Right. I'm sure that's fed your a hundred percent your music. 

Maria Kheyfets: Yeah, a hundred percent, yes. And I don't know if you feel like that with your sort of listenership as well, but for me, I often feel like, my listeners are. Part of the fabric of what I do. So it's always really valuable for me when they contribute, like a comment like that, that really resonates.

In this case, it became, became really huge 

Sam Horton: in my journey. So, yeah. That's so good. And it's almost like, you know, you're attracting the people that need to hear what you have to say as well. Right? Exactly. So it's that same kind of alignment, um, principle too. like we're all part of the same e energy, you know, source.

So, yes. Exactly. You know, it's all connected. Yeah. Beautiful. 

Maria Kheyfets: A hundred 

Sam Horton: percent. Yes, it is beautiful. Yeah. So tell us about your journey writing a hundred songs in a year, then. How did that start? 

Maria Kheyfets: Yeah, [00:10:00] that, that was crazy. Um, I have, um, a friend and a creative partner that we've already worked together for a few years with.

Um, he also produced, a couple of my albums. And he invited me to join him in this challenge. And, um, okay. It was a spontaneous decision to say yes, and there were many challenges within the challenge, but, you know, at the end of the day, I'm so glad that I, uh, made that commitment to myself to go on this kind of pilgrimage.

Mm-hmm. With my own artistry, with my own relationship, with my creativity. I mean, I don't think I've ever showed up so much for my creativity in a year. 

Sam Horton: No. 

Maria Kheyfets: As I did. That year. 

Sam Horton: So was it every day for a hundred days or was it over the A year? So 3, 6, 5. So, so. Oh 

Maria Kheyfets: yes, exactly. So 

Sam Horton: one every couple. Yeah. Okay. 

Maria Kheyfets: Yes.

And you know, I did procrastinate a little bit in the beginning of the year, I would say. Okay. And then I became distracted with my life performances. 'cause I also had two big life shows. Shows and you know, like life got in the way in many ways, as it always does. Yeah. But [00:11:00] so I ended up basically having to do a very big chunk.

Towards the end of the year. Okay. But, but I came through in the answer so much. 

Sam Horton: and I can imagine like in the middle of that, of the year of that commitment, you know, there's like some kind of messy middle, you know, where you just think, what have I signed up to?

Tell us about that. Yeah, 

Maria Kheyfets: yeah. There is a messy middle in so many ways. I mean, one of them being that. Uh, for me, I think it took until I got to number 90 mm-hmm. For the good stuff to start coming out consistently. Like I think my last 10 songs were, were the good ones. Okay. And at that point they were also, they were coming out quickly and effortlessly and it was like, wow.

Like good one, then another good one, then another one then. But I think most of it, you know, wasn't that good. Like, I had the occasion, or at least according to my judgment. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Comparing. But I remember the last. 10 were like, you know, wow. Like, where is this coming from now? 

Sam Horton: Isn't that interesting?

So do you think that, I [00:12:00] mean I guess it's part of what you would've learned from the process of doing it, but what, what do you think was missing in those first 90 songs then, in terms of, you know, was there some like vital ingredient in terms of your process or, yeah, like what, what was feeding the inspiration or.

Maria Kheyfets: Yes. I, I don't even know if necessarily anything was missing. Okay. I think just, I, I was, I think the messy middle is kind of just necessary, you know, like you need to go through those days where the song feels uninspired or where nothing is coming out, or where you make a song just for the sake of making a song.

Because at the end of the day, this process wasn't about inspiration. Yeah. It was about showing up. So if inspiration came, that was like a bonus treat. Mm. And I think. Maybe inspiration is, well, it is important, I would say, as an artist to cultivate inspiration, but it's also a bit of a myth in itself. Yeah.

I think the only way to actually guarantee inspiration to show up at some point is, is to show up on the days when it's not [00:13:00] there. Yes. You know? 

Sam Horton: Yes. I mean, I do also think that, one of the things that helps me to create, you know, when I, when I need to create something Yes. Is, um, is. Like putting some kind of, uh, personal theme behind it.

Do you know what I mean? Mm-hmm. So like giving it a theme. So yes, then exploring that theme, and then once one idea starts to flow, then more ideas flow. But when you're kind of just sitting there looking at the blank canvas or you know, um, the blank page, um, yes. You know, it can be very, yeah, uninspiring in itself because it's completely blank.

Right. So sometimes just feeding a little bit of stimulation Yes, definitely. Yeah. Um, oh, a hundred percent, yes. And so did that become easier for you, do you think? Over a hundred songs, you know, in terms of that starting point. 

Maria Kheyfets: Yes, the starting point is such a good, um, such a good point that you're bringing up.

something that I started doing eventually was I would just let other [00:14:00] artists whose music I love become my teachers. So often I would just pick a song that I really loved or admired and see, you know, what can I borrow from the song? What can I use? From this song to help kickstart my own song. And you know, I did that a lot.

And also the hundred song challenge because the thing is to have that much output, you also need Yes. 10 times as much input. Yes. So I had to become a much wider listener and let many more artists become my teachers and inspirations just by listening to their work. In a different way than I would've listened to it as just a listener.

So now more as like a creator myself, like, what can I really take from this? How can I synthesize this song and that song into my own creation? Yeah. That's 

Sam Horton: beautiful. I really like that. Yeah, and that's where like, you know, it would be the same thing. Obviously you are, you are taking your inspiration from you know, a piece of content that's already been created, but sometimes even if you just have a word.

You know, and then riff off of that, right? Like, oh yes, it can be that simple. 

Maria Kheyfets: Yeah, [00:15:00] definitely. And sometimes the simplicity leads to, you know, more creativity because it's so simple indeed. Like you're saying just the word. Yeah. And then you can go crazy with that word, like the things that you can pull out of it.

Yes. That's it. 

Sam Horton: And it just goes on and on and on. Yeah. So, so it's magic. Absolutely. Yeah. So cool. So tell us then about the role that spirituality, I mean, we've touched on this already. I can, and you started the conversation saying that spirituality and creativity are heavily intertwined, which I completely agree with.

Yes. But tell us, you know, what role spirituality, um, plays in your music and your identity as an artist. 

Maria Kheyfets: Mm. Yeah. I mean, gosh, it's so huge. I don't even know how to, um, start on this one, but I would say inherently I feel that they're almost. Part of the same thing like spirituality and creativity are both a connection to.

A higher source. And remember what I said about this, audience or this reviewer who said that he felt connected to something [00:16:00] bigger. Yes. That is what I feel both creativity and spirituality can do for us. So for me, they're almost inseparable, like showing up for my creativity and becoming a channel for something to flow through mm-hmm.

As an artist for me is a spiritual act. Yeah. Aligning myself spiritually and you know, looking for that stillness in my day so that I can become a channel for my music. For me is, is a creative act. So they're completely yes, intertwined, but also in the times when it gets, you know, discouraging or challenging to be an artist, which is the reality of, of many, I would say days of being an artist, feeling that I'm connected to something bigger really helps.

Yes, to stay on track and not give up and to have the, that sense of purpose. 

Sam Horton: Yeah. Yeah. Beautiful. So I really agree with everything you're saying. I believe that creativity and, um, our spiritual growth, you know, they operate in [00:17:00] duality and they kind of reflect each other and mirror each other. Have you experienced that kind of mirroring where your creative desires or your creative, expression reflects, uh, your growth and what's happening in the rest of your life?

Maria Kheyfets: Definitely a hundred percent. A hundred percent that I so agree with that. I couldn't agree more. I also feel that as I evolve more as a person and you know, as a spiritual being and as I start to look at the events of my life differently, you know, becoming more empowered, for example, then the level of my music also, um.

Like, for example, showing up for the challenge and not giving up, that was kind of a reflection of, you know, taking more responsibility for myself and for my art and for the quality of my work. And of course my work responded to that by becoming, um, you know, more interesting, more beautiful. Et cetera.

Sam Horton: Yeah. So, cool. Love that. So, some of the language we have in our work [00:18:00] is, um, very similar, and it sort of stems around this, uh, reframing of creative time or creative expression as, uh, a process of ritual. So tell us about the rituals that you use and how that's evolved for you. 

Maria Kheyfets: Mm-hmm. So the rituals that I use, I've had, um.

Different rituals throughout my life that I've used. Um, definitely one of the ones that I keep returning to is before I jump into, you know, a work day or even a writing day or a creative day like. My coffee time with myself on my own, like I guess a little artist date is like, that's just one of the things that I've made non-negotiable no matter where it is that I am traveling to.

And this year I spent a lot of time traveling, you know, which can be quite destabilizing. Like I just try to pick one ritual mm-hmm. That I can stick to, to give myself that sense of grounding and [00:19:00] being present for myself. So for me that's just like going for a coffee with my journal or, or whatever, you know, anything.

Just having that time to myself. Mm-hmm. Before I dive into some kind of like, I don't know, collaboration with somebody. Yeah. Or, or my emails or my work, or even my songwriting. Mm-hmm. I just have that time like with myself because there's so much in, I feel in particular in our world at the moment with all of the, you know, digital stuff and the over saturation of information that.

It just pulls us away or has the potential to pull us away from ourselves. Mm-hmm. And our connection to that higher source that we were just discussing. Yeah. So it's so important just to find something that can, no matter what's going on, set you up to hear and feel yourself and whatever it is that's going on.

Um. For you that day. 

 so yeah, that, that's like one of my rituals that I've just had set up for years already. And of course the things like the challenge are also.

Rituals. Yes. But those are already, like, [00:20:00] it's not something I'm gonna repeat every year, but it's Yes. Like a new ritual I might come up with every year to Yeah. To 

Sam Horton: grow, show up. Yeah. And do you think that, I mean, I use the word ritual, I think because I feel a, people struggle a lot with getting too in their head, um, when they sit down to create.

So this process of grounding yourself, um, and setting really clear intentions. And I encourage people to enter sort of into a state of play. Before they lean into the full expression piece. And I feel like that process of like creating a ritual of, you know, soul care, yes. As part of your creative, uh, time, you know mm-hmm.

Is a really beautiful, um, reframe so that yes, you know, you can. Minimize that time where you get stuck in your head and you are, you know, oh yes. Wondering what's going on. Definitely. Uh, can you relate to that kind of flow where you, you know, set yourself up for success rather than jumping straight into the creative expression, expecting [00:21:00] it all to flow magically?

Maria Kheyfets: Of course, of course. Yeah, definitely. I think sometimes the word ritual, con, conjure, quiet, mystical, sort of, yeah. complicated things in people's mind, but it doesn't have to be complicated at all. You know, a ritual can be very simple. Like even an intention setting ritual. Yes. Like just writing down what kind of day do I intend to have today?

How do I intend to treat myself today? Like, how do I intend to speak to myself? Something as simple as that for me can so set the direction. Of my day. Yes. And how it's gonna turn out. and I also love what you said, you know, about, finding ways to get out of the head and more into the play state, more into the body.

I also find, some kind of grounding exercise, like really helpful for that. Yeah. Even if it's just a 20 minute, yoga practice or something to really just feel the body, which has so much disregarded wisdom Actually, yes. Yeah. 

Sam Horton: Yeah. And I also think that, honoring [00:22:00] that process by then, you know, reflecting on what you've created is really important too.

You know, it's kind of this thing where I encourage people to sit there and just stare at their art, um, for a little while because, or, you know, for you, listen, listen to whatever you've created because there's real magic in witnessing it. And honoring it, rather than just moving on to the next thing, right?

Maria Kheyfets: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I, I love that. To be honest, maybe I haven't even been doing that enough myself, so I'm, I'm gonna incorporate that. Yeah. I'm gonna start doing that more. Do you though, do you feel that you risk. Respond to what you've created differently, like for example, right after creating it versus the next day versus five days later.

Yes, definitely. 

Sam Horton: And a year later. Yeah. Um, and the messages and the insights and the meanings and things, sometimes they reveal themselves. Way after you finished it, you know? Mm-hmm. It doesn't have to be immediate at all. Um, and I think there's real beauty in, you know, as part of, uh, [00:23:00] honoring your creativity and your creative practice is to witness it and spend time with it and, um, yeah.

To really soak it in. Um, and I think that in itself actually helps to, for you to strengthen your. Art, you know your work. Yes. Your creativity because you are then really, learning from it, you know, and, and seeing it. yeah. So yes, I think it's really powerful. 

Maria Kheyfets: Yeah. And something else I really like about that idea is that.

You get to witness it yourself without that being affected by, you know, how the world receives it. Yes. Because right now there's such an oversaturation of content and art and, you know, creations being released every single day. Sometimes there's that fear as a creator that it's all just gonna land on, um, you know, deaf ears

And that means that it doesn't matter and I wasted my time. But actually, if you create. Like a witnessing ritual yourself as you suggest. I feel that can be so powerful because that, that [00:24:00] gives the work that inherent value and appreciation, you know, even if nobody else Yeah. Ever sees it or, 

Sam Horton: yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's, it's just a process I think because, you know, and it really helps as well. Like, I like to, you know, infuse. Kind of writing or poems or whatever with the art as well. Because then, you know, so it is almost like, you know, you could, for your music, you could actually paint, you know, a picture, um, that represents your music.

Yes. And I feel like that that in itself as well, you know, is a really beautiful way of kind of just like, almost like what you said before with your hundred songs, you know, where you were taking other artists con, you know, content, and then you were Yes. adding to it almost, you know? Mm-hmm. You were just looking at it through a different lens.

Um, yes. And not, you know, replicating it, but adding to it, you know? Um Exactly. It's so powerful interacting 

Maria Kheyfets: with it. Yes. Yeah. And I do do that. I, I do, or at least in the past, I've, I have created paintings to represent my music and vice versa. Yeah. 

Sam Horton: It just helps you explore it further, don't you [00:25:00] think? Yeah.

Maria Kheyfets: Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. And also to detach a little bit from the main medium, like, I don't know if you find that Yes, I know for me, because for me, music, you know, it's my main medium. Yes. Or at least that's what I've decided for myself. I can get so kind of precious about it. Yes. And sometimes it helps to add some other mediums that I'm, I'm not as precious about in order to reinforce the play state as opposed to that mind state of like, I must create an amazing piece of music.

Yes. 

Sam Horton: Yeah. 

 So tell us about your, uh, creative process and how you stay authentic and inspired. Mm. 

Maria Kheyfets: My creative process, it's never the same. I would say. Okay. I'm one of those people that, you know, new stimuli inspire me, so I'm, Hmm. Although it's interesting, I do like my routines as well, but I guess I have to, for me, mix, uh, structure and routine with.

New stimuli and giving myself, you know, for example, challenges to do or new albums to listen [00:26:00] to or new things to try. So I kind of need both. I don't like to create in a state of total chaos. Mm-hmm. But I also don't like to do the same thing every day. Like, so for me, you know, visiting new locations.

Helps. Okay. To give myself new ideas, like exploring new music, to listen to, trying new challenges, to test myself. the, you know, all of that stimulates my creative process. So there's not really one thing that I go to. It's always for me, a mixture of setting a framework and then giving myself something new to work with.

Does that make sense? Yeah. 

Sam Horton: Yeah. 

Maria Kheyfets: Yeah, 

Sam Horton: yeah, yeah, yeah. And so it's, it's, it's almost like keeping it loose enough and flexible enough, uh, yeah. Yeah. That you, yeah, you can still move, but you kind of know, um, yes. Yeah, the milestones exactly. 

Maria Kheyfets: Exactly. And you know, sometimes people ask me like, do you start with the lyrics or the music or, or a backing check?

All of them, any of it [00:27:00] can work for me. Or sometimes it's by, you know, inviting a co-writer into a session or, or going to like a, a songwriting camp, even though I haven't done that for a while. But the camps that I did go to, you know, a few years ago, I went to a lot of camps and, uh, worked and collaborated with a lot of people.

I did learn a lot from that. From other people. So I would say collaboration is always a big, or has the potential to be a big, um, teacher. Yeah, beautiful. Or if one form of art is, is not flowing, I'll, I'll introduce another to keep myself creating. 

Sam Horton: Yeah. Yeah. So cool. You can do a bit of everything that way, can't you?

Yeah, 

Maria Kheyfets: exactly. Exactly. 

Sam Horton: So what do you wish more people knew about the power of creativity, you know, as a spiritual practice and a tool for empowerment? 

Maria Kheyfets: Hmm. What do I wish that more people knew about it? Well, for me, it's just, hmm, it's such a portal for transcendence. Like, how can I explain it? I guess there's nothing that gives me [00:28:00] that same feeling or can even compare it to that same feeling as creating and channeling a new song.

You know how people. Often describe how a song has, you know, transformed their life or become a soundtrack to this experience they had that. Mm-hmm. You know, they will always think of that song, that one particular song as a soundtrack to that particular experience. I mean, there's a beautiful podcast about this called Soul Music, BBC, soul Music.

Okay. They always take one song at a time and people come on, you know, just regular people describing how that song transformed their life. Wow. And for me, just. Being able to be part of the creation of that process with my music. Like, you know, when, when people give me that feedback that the song soundtrack this important moment in their life, that's just, it's such an amazing privilege, you know, to have the chance to create that for others.

But also there's the feeling as a creator of a song being channeled through you that's [00:29:00] so powerful. Like, you know, nothing else really exists in that moment and. Yeah, I guess people, I wish that more people knew about this amazing transformative power of art on both the creation and, and the receiving end.

Sam Horton: Mm. And so I think that some people would say, well, Maria, you are just one of the lucky ones that can do that. Do you think that that's actually accessible to everybody? And it's only through showing up for it and, you know, Persevering and playing and um, being, being vulnerable enough to express yourself creatively like that?

Yeah. Do you think it's accessible to everybody? 

Maria Kheyfets: Um. Many thanks to a comment on there. I, yes. Sorry. I know it's, I, I do imagine that people might respond like that. Indeed. I have never actually thought of myself as, you know, inherently like talented or able to do this, or even particularly good. Like honestly, I was not [00:30:00] good to begin with at this.

Like I really chose. Mm-hmm. A medium that has always been challenging for me. Like classical piano, like totally kicked my butt. It is not easy. But also with singing, like I got kicked out of the choir as a kid, you know, like important moments of childhood. Childhood. I was not a good singer to begin and I sometimes still don't feel like I'm.

The best singer. Yeah, actually, I, I'm not the best singer, but I am definitely the most hardworking and yes, I show up the most, or, or, you know, I, I show up a lot and I work really hard, and if I want to get good at something, I will. And if I want to master a craft, I will. So from that point of view. I never saw myself as just, you know, having the skill or Yes.

Having the, like, I always created it myself and I find that that makes the journey much more, interesting. Yes. And rewarding too at the end. And yes, indeed there will be many uninspired days when you [00:31:00] don't feel inspired by your own work, but then when you show up enough, the things that come through will just amaze you, so.

Mm-hmm. I guess to bring that back to your question, um, I really do think anybody can access creativity, and it doesn't have to be through creating amazing masterpieces either. There are so many ways to inject creativity into your life that are not, you know. By traditional means, huge or showy? Yes. Or or complicated.

Like I was saying in the beginning, you know, it can be about how you design your space. Even it can be about like, yes, the energy that you put into your meals or how you make your food. You know, it can be the tiniest things. 

Sam Horton: Yes. You can be highly creative, super, super creative and never, um, earn a cent from it.

You know, like it's that as well. It doesn't have to be monetized, it doesn't have to be, you know, for sale. It, it can just be for you and it can be exactly. It's still [00:32:00] a beautiful, you know, creative expression. So yeah, so powerful. I think, think that's really cool the way you answered that. I love that. because I think people, you know, they think it's some myth, but actually it's not, you know, in terms of, you know, if you try hard enough, and if you really want it, if it really in like lights you up.

there's a path for you to follow, so 

Maria Kheyfets: yes, definitely. Do you believe that art needs to be witnessed in order to, you know, be 

Sam Horton: art? No, I don't think so. I feel like we are witnessing it, like we said before with the reflection piece. You know, if we carve out the time to witness our own art, that's enough.

but I do think that there is an ex a level of expansion when you start to share your art with the world because there's a vulnerability to it. yes. And that is a, I think vulnerability like that is a tool for, for growth and expansion. yeah. Would you agree with that? Mm 

Maria Kheyfets: oh, yes, definitely. [00:33:00] I mean, that's something new to, to think about.

I suppose also, I. It can be expansive to share your art because that way you are opening the door for other people to, you know, potentially see themselves in it or Yes. Heal from it or be expanded by it. And I think the more Indeed yes. By being vulnerable enough to share it and as such, to let other people grow and benefit from it.

Yes. You're increasing your own expansion too, if, if that makes sense. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, it does. 'cause you're bringing more value to the world by sharing what you 

Sam Horton: created. Yeah. So I think, yeah, I mean. Yeah, it's both, isn't it? Us witnessing it and the world witnessing it as well is exactly, you know, they both have, um, value in their own way.

So, yeah, it's pretty cool. Okay, so for all the women who are curious about developing their own spiritual creative practice, what powerful message or question would you like to leave them with today? Hmm.[00:34:00]

Maria Kheyfets: I, I think I would invite women to explore themselves and their own story enough to, yeah, to, there's something so powerful I think, in falling in love with your own life and your story, because we all have such a unique. Life, I think such a unique experience with, I think, you know, all of us have in our own ways, our own like turbulences and hardships and things that shaped us and made us into who we are.

And if you can almost learn to see the arc of your life as a piece of art in itself, there's no way to not get inspired by your own story, in your own experience. I think so. Cool. Yeah, so I think I would invite women to, yeah, find a way to fall in love with their own story and to see their life as a work of art.

I love that. That's 

Sam Horton: such a good answer. Thank you. Thanks. So good. So how can, thank you [00:35:00] people get to know you better, Maria, and get a real feel for the work that you're doing. 

Maria Kheyfets: Um, so I have a few links that, uh, people can check out. 

 so on my website, uh, people are welcome to explore my biography as an artist and my music that I create. Um, it's all available on Spotify as well, under Monelise And on my website I also have a section, called experiences currently titled experiences.

And, Through that, uh, people are able to explore how they can work with me as well, whether that's by, uh, getting a soul painting or, uh, getting my help with songwriting or even getting a custom song created just for them. yeah. So if you were to imagine your soul as a song, that's something that I help people channel into music.

Uh, and yeah, so my website has all of those things. So my artist journey and also how you can work with me. 

Sam Horton: Excellent. Thank you so much for coming and chatting with me today, Maria. I loved our conversation. Thank you. 

Maria Kheyfets: Thank you. So did [00:36:00] I. Thank you so much for having me.