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Inner Surprises Blog

SoulCollage Inspiration

By Anne Marie Bennett

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Into the Mystery

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scintothemysteryAhh… the birth of a new card!

This past weekend I found the image of the railing/walkway at the retreat my brother John and I were leading.Ā  I was really drawn to it so I cut it out of its background and then held it up against about 100 other backgrounds.Ā  When I held it against this rainbow nebula image, my heart went “YES!”

But I was leading the retreat so I didn’t have time to glue it down.Ā  When I got home on Sunday I took it out of my suitcase and laid it on my art table, noticing that the combination of the two images was still heart-stopping for me.

And guess what? I dreamed about those two images on Sunday night.Ā  In my dream I heard a voice saying to me, “The name of this card is Into the Mystery.”Ā  Aha!Ā  I can’t even describe what it felt like, waking up with this image and info in my mind!

This week I’ve been combing through my other images and finally found this woman in white and voila!Ā  My newest card is born!

So I’ve made it and it’s sitting on my altar where I see it often throughout my day.Ā  It’s completely wondrous to me, this card.Ā  I was sitting here today getting ready to do some journaling with it but the time doesn’t feel right for this Neter to speak so I’m holding off on that for a little while. It still feels really tender to me.

I will post some journaling with this when I feel the time is right.Ā  In the meantime, maybe this Neter has something to say to YOU!

Inner Queen

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Inner Queen
Inner Queen

I made this SoulCollage card to honor an inner committee part of myself.Ā  I’d been doing a lot of reading on the qualities of a queen and I realized that I have an inner queen who offers strong yet kind authority among my inner parts.

 

Who are you?

I am the one who is Queen of my inner castle.Ā  I am the one who is confident, happy.Ā  I am proud to be Queen!Ā  I am the one who wears a royal crown and jewels and the royal sash.Ā  I am the one who is a kind and fair ruler.Ā  I own my power.Ā  I am not afraid of being powerful.Ā  I am the one who is respected by my people, not feared.

What do you give me?

I give you the power to make things be the way you want them to be. I give you grace to let go of what cannot be changed.Ā  I give you self-respect and deep trust in your leadership abilities.

What do you want from me?

I want you to OWN YOUR INNER POWER!Ā  I want you to not put up with any “funny business” from your inner nay-sayers.

When did you first appear in my life?

When you started doing SoulCollage, you started becoming aware of your inner authority.Ā  This is when I was born.Ā  At first I was just a thought, an idea, but the more inner work you do, the more you are embracing my Queen energy.

What makes you angry?

Unfairness and injustice makes me angry. I hate it when people or animals are treated cruelly or inhumanely.Ā  I have had to learn how to express my anger without doing further damage.Ā  The Inner Voices/Inner Ones/Inner Tribe who get in my way also make me angry and I need to remember to treat them kindly too.

What about you? Do you have an inner queen as well?Ā  Maybe it’s time to seek out some images and create a card to honor this powerful, authoritative yet fair and compassionate inner ruler.

Journeying

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scjourneyerI made this card years upon years ago but only recently has its profound meaning unfolded for me.Ā  I am seeing Journey now as an archetypal pattern that has always been present for me.

Who are you?

I am the idea/theme of Journeying.Ā  Everyone is on a journey.Ā  Others may accompany you on your journey, but it’s something that only you can do.

Your life’s journey is yours to take, it is your responsibility and yours alone.

My message for you today is this: there are times to pause and rest, and times to stand up and move forwards. Know which is which.Ā  Be sure that you are giving yourself enough of each.

Sacred Texts

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scsacredtextsWho are you?

I am the one who is reading sacred, ancient texts.Ā  I am the one who is male and female, old and young.Ā  I am the one who is absorbed in the written text, the pages.Ā  I am the one who holds the sacred script in my hands.Ā  I am the one who reads to quench my hunger, my thirst, my need for spiritual knowledge and truths.

I am the one who reads against a backdrop of the nautilus- a powerful symbol of self-growth.Ā 

My message for you today is this- continue to feed upon the wisdom that has been passed down to you in sacred books.Ā  You have been veering away from this practice but do not stay away too long.Ā  Daily reading of this kind will make a huge difference in your life and you will find your joy increasing as well.

 

Bristlecone Pines

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bristlecone 2Have you heard about these amazing bristlecone pine trees* that grow only in isolated groves in the western U.S.?Ā  They are more than 5,000 years old and are thought to be the oldest living organisms known to humankind.Ā  They grow extremely slowly because of cold temperatures, rocky soil, and high winds.

Because of the high winds and rocky ground in their environment, it is impossible for rain to penetrate into their root system to offer nourishment and sustenance for growth.

But here’s the thing.Ā  Insects dig into the earth and feed off of the roots of the bristlecone pines. This breaks off the tough skin of the trees’ roots so that water from the rain can actually get through. Thus these amazing trees are nourished through their wounds.

And here’s another thing. The bristlecone pines’ trunks and branches are scarred by the rough winds. Then dirt comes into the grooves/scars, which makes them look beautifully tattooed. They allow themselves to be written upon.

What I take from this beautiful gift from Nature is that even in a difficult environment, even when chaos is blowing all around me and I am laid low to the cold, cold ground, I am still growing. I am still being nourished. There is always a way to open to nourishment, even if that means allowing my wounds to be the vessels for new growth and sustenance.

*I give thanks to Clarissa Pinkola Estes for telling the story of these trees in The Joyous Body, an online class I took with her in the spring of 2011, which is now available in CD format.

scbristleconepinesI made this card for my deck to honor the lesson of the Bristlecone Pines:

We are the ones who grow amidst rocky soil and difficult conditions.Ā  We are the ones who only receive water because insects chew holes in our roots.Ā  We are the onews who are etched upon by the wind.

Our message for you today is this: our energy is part of your energy.Ā  You have survived and grown strong in spite of bad “weather” and nutrient-poor “soil.”Ā  Stand tall and proud and with grace.Ā  Embrace your own story.