My name is Merita Bat Shoshan

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I was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1951. At the age of 21 I moved to Israel and lived on a kibbutz for 33 years .

 

Sixteen years ago I received a "wake up call".

 

It took me four years to understand what was happening to me. My Soul kicked and shook me up in a series of difficult situations (Ha, it never happens with fun, I know).

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I lived in a very comfortable environment. I was a kibbutz member (an Israeli community), married to an interesting man (never a boring moment with him) had two grown up children who were not living at home. I had a beautiful house with an amazing garden, no financial problems ....and I left it all. Yes, "the call" pushed me out of all this comfort zone and, believe me, I had no choice. My Soul was moving me to find out what it was that I came to do in this life time and who I truly was.

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 Remember that I lived in a small community for 33 years with little contact with the outside world and it's realities. Everything was provided for it's memebers (work, housing,health services, education for the children, food and all that was needed to live a sheltered life).

At the age of 52 I left it all, with little money and one suitcase, not knowing where to go. My first step took me back to Portugal, my birth place. I was being guided by my heart, my dreams and messages received through my paintings. During the last couple of years on the kibbutz, while resisting leaving what was dear to me and going through a deep depression, I started to paint.I never studied Art but, as a child, drawing was my passion and my rich inner world. 

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The paintings started to come in great speed. I had no control of what was pouring through me. Colors and shapes flowed onto the canvas and, to my surprise, I was shown a joyfull world full of symbols, messages and great healing energies. I understood that my Soul was communicating with me, guiding me to a new place of immense creativity.  I was inspired and guided by my own Art work. There was so much movement and hope for a new life. I knew my journey had started, but it was still very confusing. One step at the time I walked into the Unknown. Today I can laugh about it, but then it was not an easy thing to do, considering that there was always someone else taking care of my affairs and wellbeing on the kibbutz. I understood that this was a journey to recover my identity and be totally responsible for myself.

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After spending one year in Portugal, I came back to Israel and moved around quite a bit, meeting so many different people, experiencing and learning with them.