Conversations with Sebila Kratovac

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sebila Kratovac.

Hi Sebila, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always meet people who started with their creative work very early in life. They knew exactly what they wanted to do and focused all their energy on that path. In my case, my journey has been very different. I’ve always felt like a dancer in the dark, not knowing how the dance was supposed to unfold until I made another step into the unknown.

As a kid, I was very creative but didn’t always know how to express my creativity. I remember being very frustrated with life and not knowing how to release the pent-up energy that was brewing inside me. In those early days, I loved writing, drawing, dancing, poetry, and music. At the age of six, I even went on tour with a kids’ dance company for a while. In first or second grade, I joined a poetry club but soon left it because the supervising teacher didn’t think I was good enough. I also took piano lessons for seven years and love playing it to this day. I now use my improvised piano sounds in my work!

With many twists and turns, I only come back to my creative path in my early thirties. I broke the spell by first studying graphic design and then trying my hand at illustration. I loved these ways of creative expression because they were rooted in storytelling, which I very much enjoyed exploring. However, I soon realized that there was something more to my desire to tell stories and listen to the rich stories of others. Because of my struggles with self-expression and trouble connecting with others, I immersed myself in spirituality, psychology, and the healing arts. I saw how stories and the many ways of storytelling have helped people heal and live healthy, purposeful, and passionate life.

Today, my focus is on creating art that can help people heal from all kinds of wounds of life, especially when it comes to matters of the heart – our connections with others, ourselves, and something greater than us. I do this through storytelling, poetry, visual arts, music, ritual, and performance, among others.

My artwork is also focused on the elements of nature, spirituality, and creative feminine energy. I also help people by being there for them as a counselor, guide, listener, and witness to their life’s story. My guidance work includes reading tarot and birth charts for people to help them clarify any pressing questions. Through my art and guidance, I would love to give others hope that they can heal and that their life can be as beautiful, magical, and healthy as they desire them to be.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My path has not been smooth for sure. In fact, I am stumbling every day but these difficult experiences always show me how to move forward. Sometimes we have to develop ourselves in a certain way to be open up to our destiny…to even recognize what it is…and this can take some time.

I’ve struggled a lot on my journey with resistance, distraction, and feeling stuck. It is very difficult for me to focus on only one thing because my tendency is to pull many modalities, techniques, and thoughts together to create something that feels holistic and aligned with my truth. Having trustworthy mentors has always been my wish, but I didn’t have one on my journey until recently. Sometimes, it takes a while to meet the right people to guide us or inspire us. Even if we don’t encounter help on our way, we still have to continue, even if it means our journey will be a more difficult one.

I’ve struggled with relationships and connecting with others because of difficult early life experiences. It has been tough because my work is meant to be shared with others and inspire them to have better relationships. To follow my purpose, I’ve had to become aware of the parts of myself that need acceptance, love, care, and expression. I’ve needed to heal a lot to truly be able to put my work out there and to reach out to others, to connect, to be relatable… to actually enjoy connection and accept the love and healing it can provide.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
My work sits at the intersection of the creative and healing arts. The themes that I explore are rooted in connections – our connection with nature, with other humans, with the divine, and with ourselves. I believe that love is a glue that binds the cosmos together and that, through our connections, we can learn to radiate love and live fulfilling lives. Love can raise our vibration and expand our consciousness, widening what we believe is possible so that we can live to our highest potential.

Oftentimes, we aren’t aware of why love doesn’t flow in our life. My artwork explores the theme of love so that others can gain awareness and become inspired and motivated to transform their life and allow more love into their heart. I do this through performances that could be thought of as little narratives and rituals – ways to make the unseen become seen and felt. In addition, I explore love through the lens of spirituality, mysticism, imagination, and nature. My performances can include poetry, music, video, dance and other kinds of movement, music (my own or made by others), prayer, and visual art.

I am most proud of getting the courage to leave the life that wasn’t fulfilling for me to live a highly-creative and imaginative life. Although I didn’t have much resources or energy, I still was able to find ways through difficult times, grief, uncertainty, exhaustion, and self-doubt. I believe that I did this by expressing myself creatively and witnessing others do the same. I know first-hand the incredible power art has to help us heal and thrive. These days, I would like to connect with fellow artists who are also interested in using their art for healing.

My deepest desire with my artwork is to help others feel hope, inspiration, and motivation to live the life of their dreams. Because of this, I would like to continue creating artwork that has a holistic healing potential. For instance, sound and movement can be very powerful tools for opening up energetic blocks in our body so that we can heal. Witnessing the beauty of art or nature can also be a transformational and healing experience. I wish for all of us to live an authentic life full of love where we are expressing our full potential and helping each other thrive.

Alright, before we go, can you tell us how people can work with, collaborate with, or support you?
People can contact me at skratovac@gmail.com or on Instagram @howltolove.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thepomegranatefairy
• Other: https://www.redbubble.com/people/howl-to-love/shop?asc=u