Introducing Your Creative-Spiritual Compass : The Heart's Content Questionnaire and our first contributor - Diana Teeters
"It is a cycle where spirituality opens my eyes to beauty and my art reflects and celebrates it, keeping me connected to wonder." - Diana Teeters
Questionnaire? What questionnaire, you say.
At the start of this year, I felt a nudge—a deep curiosity to explore the creative-spiritual journeys of friends and those who have inspired me from afar. I began reaching out, inviting conversations with kindred spirits on a similar path. What started as a personal journey of discovery quickly became something more—an opportunity to forge deeper connections and share wisdom and insights.
I’m fascinated by how creatives intertwine spirituality and their artistic expression, and I know many of you are too. Inspired by Memoir Land’s author questionnaire, I created The Heart’s Content Questionnaire as an invitation to reflect, share, and celebrate our unique creative-spiritual paths. This isn’t just about answering questions; it’s about uncovering the heart of our creative lives and lifting each other up in the process.
Let’s explore what fuels us, how we navigate challenges, and the spiritual practices that shape our days. Together, we can create a space where our shared experiences resonate, inspire, and transform.
Here’s the first installment from my friend, Diana Teeters.
An emerging writer, photographer, and seeker exploring the intersection of creativity and spirituality, she is currently working on Saved by Disease, a memoir about her journey of healing, self-advocacy, and spiritual transformation. Through her daily photo blog, she captures nature’s fleeting beauty as a reminder of presence and grace. Whether through words, images, or artistic expression, she is passionate about sharing beauty, wisdom, and the power of transformation.
Your Creative-Spiritual Compass: The Heart’s Content Questionnaire
1. Do you feel a connection between your creativity and spirituality? If so, how does one influence or support the other in your life? For example, how might your spiritual practice nurture your creativity—or vice versa?
Absolutely. My creativity and spirituality are deeply intertwined. Walking through nature in quiet presence, I see the divine in everything, and that reverence fuels my photography. My spiritual practice teaches me to slow down and truly see, while creating deepens my gratitude and sense of awe. It is a cycle where spirituality opens my eyes to beauty and my art reflects and celebrates it, keeping me connected to wonder.
2. What do your creative or spiritual practices look like? Are there specific routines, rituals, or habits that help you stay grounded, connected, or enter into a creative flow?
My spiritual practice shifts daily with my responsibilities. Still, two things remain constant: I meditate for 20 minutes in silence or a 30-minute guided session and always do my next A Course in Miracles lesson. When time allows, I dive into one of Dr. Joe Dispenza's hour-long Blessing the Energy Centers meditations, which deepen my practice by harmonizing my energy centers and fostering balance, healing, and a connection to the Divine. Through his work, I embody ACIM's teachings, training my mind and body to live in love, wholeness, and miracle-mindedness. Mornings are also for journaling, where I bring struggles to the Holy Spirit and often receive clarity and Truth.
3. What is a meaningful creative or spiritual memory as a child? Has that evolved into a form of expression in your adult life?
As a child, I first felt a deep, visceral connection to nature while standing in a grassy meadow in Duluth, MN, at nine years old. The earthy scent of damp grass, the golden light dancing across the tall meadow, and the gentle summer breeze on my face awakened a profound sense of peace, belonging, and something greater than myself.
That moment has stayed with me, shaping my adult life as I seek to capture nature’s beauty through photography, hoping to share the same awe and wonder I felt in that meadow so others might experience even a glimpse of its magic.
4. Who or what is inspiring you right now?
Since attending Dr. Joe Dispenza's Advanced Weeklong in Dallas last summer, I have been immersed in his teachings and meditations. I have experienced how breathwork, intention, and elevated emotions can rewire the brain, expand awareness, and open the door to healing and transformation. Recently, I fulfilled the requirements to become a healer in a remote Dr. Joe Authorized Coherence Healing Group. Together, we generate a powerful field of energy through elevated emotions like love, gratitude, and wholeness. By achieving heart and brain coherence, we direct this energy with focused intention toward a recipient, creating an environment for profound healing. Stepping into the role of a healer has been deeply fulfilling, being in that elevated state, witnessing shifts in others and myself, and realizing the immense potential of this work.
At the same time, AI has been sparking my curiosity and creativity in unexpected ways. With my computer science background and logical mind, I am naturally drawn to its potential.
Initially, I wrestled with ethical questions surrounding AI, but over time, I came to see it as a tool, one that, like any technology, depends on how it is used. Learning to harness AI for writing, refining ideas, and expanding creative projects has been an exciting process. Crafting prompts in particular has been a fascinating challenge, revealing just how much AI’s effectiveness depends on the clarity of instructions. Whether assisting with my memoir, enhancing creative work, or streamlining my workflow, AI has become a powerful ally, bridging my analytical and intuitive sides in ways I never expected.
5. What book, film, play, dance, poem, or other work of art has had a lasting impact on you? Can you share a bit about why it was meaningful to you?
The music of Casting Crowns had a profound impact on me during a pivotal time in my life. In the midst of illness and uncertainty, their songs became a lifeline, helping me feel God’s presence in a way that was immediate and deeply personal. Their lyrics spoke to the exact struggles I was facing, reminding me that I was not alone and that faith was not about having all the answers but about trusting in something greater than myself. Their music played in my head during art therapy, weaving through the process as I painted and sculpted to externalize my fears and emotions.
One piece, Shipwrecked Faith, was inspired by their song Oh My Soul, which echoed my deepest cries—I’m not strong enough, I can’t take anymore… my shipwrecked faith will never get me to shore. In that season of surrender, both music and art became a refuge, allowing me to release my burdens and find strength beyond myself. Even now, when I hear certain songs, I am transported back to that sacred space where creativity, faith, and healing intertwined, reminding me of the transformation that took place.
6. Are there specific themes, symbols, or ideas that consistently appear or spiral through your work? How might they reflect your creative or spiritual journey?
Nature, especially flowers, is a constant theme in my work, reflecting my spiritual journey of growth, transformation, and presence. Their cycles of blooming, fading, and renewal mirror my own awakening and healing, while their delicate resilience embodies the balance of surrender and strength. Through photography, I capture these fleeting moments of grace, reminding myself and others of the ever-present divine unfolding in nature
7. How do you navigate challenges or moments of doubt in your creative or spiritual journey? Share an example of a tool, strategy, practice, or community of support that help you stay inspired and keep going when you feel disconnected or discouraged.
When doubt or disconnection arises I see it as an invitation rather than a roadblock, an opportunity to shift my perspective.
Meditation has been my anchor. When fear or uncertainty creeps in I return to the present moment, quiet my mind, and reconnect with the divine presence that is always here. Richard Rohr’s wisdom has been a steady guide, helping me move beyond dualistic thinking and into a deeper experience of grace. And I am never alone on this path as my Living School Circle sisters remain a source of deep connection and support, reminding me that the spiritual journey is not about striving but about surrendering into love.
8. Can you describe a moment when your creativity felt like a direct expression of the sacred or something greater than yourself?
I believe I answered this in question 1.
9. How does your creative or spiritual life inspire or guide the actions you take in the world? Can you share an example of how these aspects of your life have shaped your work for peace, love, justice, or unity?
My creative and spiritual life guides me to bring more beauty, presence, and connection into the world. Through my photography, especially A Bloom a Day, I offer a daily moment of stillness and appreciation, reminding people to pause and find grace in nature’s simple yet profound gifts. Flowers, in their fleeting yet radiant existence, embody peace, love, and the natural cycles of life, teaching presence and gratitude without words
. It is not just about capturing beauty but about being in a state of wholeness, love, and unity, which naturally shapes how I engage with others through my art, writing, and healing work.
One example of how my creative and spiritual life extends into the world is through my work as a nature photographer. Capturing the delicate beauty of flowers has been a deeply personal practice, but I have also found a way to share that beauty with others meaningfully. In recent years, I have donated some of my work to adorn the walls of offices and waiting rooms for mental health and medical professionals in the area. Through this project, I hope to brighten these spaces with art, bringing nature indoors to uplift the spirits of those who visit. Just as my photography helps me find peace and presence, I want it to offer others the same sense of calm and renewal, even amid life's challenges.
10. What are some seemingly contradictory interests you hold? How do these different aspects of your personality show up in your life or work?
I hold a deep appreciation for both the organic and the technological, the intuitive and the analytical. In my photography, I use digital tools to make my images look painterly, blending the precision of technology with the expressive quality of traditional art. In writing my memoir, I embrace AI as a collaborator, helping me refine my words while still honoring my deeply personal and spiritual journey. This paradox also shows up in my spiritual life through Dr. Joe Dispenza's work, where science and mysticism merge to create tangible transformation. These seemingly contradictory interests in structure and flow, logic and intuition, modern tools, and timeless wisdom are not contradictions at all. They are the essence of how I create, evolve, and experience the world.
11. What are you working on now? Are there any projects, practices, or ideas you're excited or curious to explore next?
Right now I am fully immersed in writing my memoir Saved by Disease while continuing to photograph nature for my photo blog A Bloom a Day. Creativity has always been a part of my healing journey and I am preparing my non digital studio to paint again. For years I have wanted to explore abstract painting with oil and cold wax and I finally feel I have the mental and physical bandwidth to bring it into my life. Spiritually I am deepening my practice by attending another Dr. Joe Advanced Weeklong in Dallas this April and I am excited to begin writing a blog series called Rewiring the Mind: ACIM Lessons and Dr. Joe’s Teachings to explore the connections between these transformative teachings. All of these projects feel like natural extensions of where I am now bringing together creativity healing and expansion in a way that feels deeply aligned.
12. What is one piece of advice or encouragement you would share with someone seeking to lean into a more creative-spiritual life?
Surrender to the process and stay curious.
13. Baker's Dozen Question. Just for fun: If your creative or spiritual practice were a living being, what kind of personality would it have? Would it be a wise old sage, a curious child, a playful trickster, or something else entirely? Why?
My spiritual and creative practice is a mystical alchemist, blending the wisdom of a sage with the curiosity of an explorer. It guides me to surrender, trust, and embody love while remaining open to transformation. Like an alchemist turning lead into gold, it refines challenges into growth, reflecting my journey of deep spiritual knowing and continuous evolution.
Thanks Mary for asking me to partake in this questionnaire! It’s has inspired me to continue being me!
Gorgeous photography of these plants. I love Dr Joe Dispenza too.