Inner Surprises Blog

SoulCollage Inspiration

By Anne Marie Bennett

Subscribe to updates

Anxiety- Committee Suit

by

ScanxietyDuring a discussion with my therapist about how anxious I was feeling about something, she asked me to close my eyes and notice where that anxiety was in my body.  I did as she said but I didn’t feel anything in my body at all. I felt completely numb.  Then I realized… it was in my head. When I start to feel anxious, it’s like I go straight up into my head with it and forget I have a body at all!

So I started looking for images of people without bodies…and this card was born.

At first I was a bit perplexed about the image in the lower right corner, though… it’s a full-bodied person (not just a head) who has just climbed a ladder up through the clouds and is standing in the clouds, looking at the sunrise.  But as you can see in one of my daily readings (below), it spoke to me and told me why I’d put it on this card, even though it doesn’t seem to fit with the theme.

Who are you? I am the one who is anxious.  I am the one who goes completely into my head when I feel displaced, out of place, alone, sad, lonely, afraid, angry, disappointed.  I go out of my body completely.  I forget that I even have a body.  I am the one who eats to numb the pain of feeling displaced and alone.  I am the one who eats to drug the anxious feelings.

What do you have to give me? I give you a reminder- when you feel anxious, get back into your body. I also give you an excuse to eat when you’re not hungry, to overeat to numb out.

What do you want from me? I want you to recognize and acknowledge me when I show up.  I want you to not feed me sugar when I appear.  I want you to breathe, stretch, go for a walk, dance, get back into your body. I want you to remember that you are never really displaced if you remember that your true home is your soul.

Notes from Daily Readings:

December, 2005: What I have to say to you today is this: Remember to breathe, to stay in your body. Especially after Jeff has gone to sleep and you still have awake time.  Breathe. Stay in your body. Anxiety doesn’t serve you… let it go.

November, 2006: I am the one who gets completely caught up in “head stuff.” I am the one who thinks reality is the stories I tell myself in my mind.  I am the one who is anxious and afraid.  My message for you today is this: Relax. Breathe. Know that there is more to you than what is going on in your mind.  Climb the ladder out of your mind and revel in the freedom of being back at home in your body.

Family of Origin- Community Suit

by

ScpachecosI made this card intentionally to honor the entirety of my family, the family that centers and anchors me.

I haven’t written much about it, but I do love this card and it gives me great peace whenever I look at it.

Who are you? We are the ones who are your family.  We are your family of origin, from whom you were birthed into the world.  We are the ones who love you unconditionally.  Mom and Dad, Joe and John, Mike and Pete, Allison and Stephanie.  Our message for you today is this: We love you.  We support you.  We carry you with us and you carry us with you, wherever you go. We love you.

A Year of SoulCollage® Challenges

by

Ecoverchallenges_2
There are 52 more SoulCollage® Challenges for you in this special e-book: A Year of SoulCollage® Challenges: 52 Challenges to Deepen & Inspire Your SoulCollage® Practice

Many times all we
need to create a card for our deck is some images that we love, a pair
of scissors, some glue and a blank mat board. But at other times we all
can use some little dashes of inspiration to get our creative juicing
flowing. That’s what this e-book is all about.

It’s a perfect resource for your
personal SoulCollage® practice. And if you’re a SoulCollage® Facilitator
or in a SoulCollage® group with friends, this e-book offers ideas and
inspiration galore for your workshop and group work.

It’s only $15, or $7.50 for KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirit Members. Find out more in the KaleidoSoul Shop.

Abundance- Committee Suit

by

Scabundance_2This is a SoulCollage® card I made from just one image. I think I found it in National Geographic.  I didn’t know exactly why I was so drawn to this woman, but as soon as she started speaking, I knew!

Who are you? I am the one who embraces all good things that come to me, with grace and joy.  I am the one who recognizes abundance when it lands in my arms.  I am the one whose physical countenance shines as I gather my abundance so freely given, to me.

I am the one who weaves the flowers of abundance into my hair like a queen radiating her royalty, a well-deserved crown. I am the one who gives the flowers away as freely as they are given to me, because I know and trust that there will always be more.

I am the one whose arms and heart are open, so more abundance can flow in.  I am the one who is full, who has more than enough beauty, color, order, peace, joy, and money. 

I am the one who opens my arms to abundance, who believes that I can have all good things.  I am the one who gives you deep joy whenever you pay attention to your inner voices and your outer riches.

What do you have to give me? I give you the entire world, Dear One.  You are already holding every good thing in your arms.  Notice!  See!  Be aware!  Embrace these gifts every, every day.

What do you want from me? I want you to pay attention to your inner and outer riches.  Abundance is already manifest in your life.  I want you to stop and look around and NOTICE it.

8/1/07- Daily Reading: I am the one who is here to remind you that abundance is not something that you will one day have… it is already yours, now and always.  My message for you today is to enjoy the flowers of abundance that have been given to you as your divine birthright.  Embrace it ALL.  It is yours- freely given. Keep your arms open that you might receive even MORE.

3/1/08- Daily Reading: I am the one who is not perfect but who is joyfully rooted in each and every present moment of abundance.  I am the one who expects the sun to shine on me, who expects to always have arms full of flowers, to always have my arms full of exactly what I need!  My message for you today is this–  open your arms and Divine Spirit will give you everything you need and desire… and MORE.

Dad- Community Suit

by

ScdadHere is my SoulCollage® card for my father. I created it intentionally the first few months of practicing SoulCollage.  He had died several years prior to this, and I felt SO close to him while I was making this card!

As with my “Mom” card, I used photos of my Dad alone, as a young boy as well as older.  And I included two photos of him with me, one when I was a baby and one when I was older.

I love this card!  And even though it hasn’t yet shown up in a Daily Reading or a question-focused reading, I still feel comforted knowing that this card is in my deck.

Who are you? I am the one who is your father.  I am the one who loves you unconditionally since the day you were born, and even NOW that I am gone.  I am the one who was born in New Bedford, who loved the ocean, who loved family dinners when we were all together. I am the one who loved taking photos.  I am the one who was a creative man- I loved to draw and tell funny stories, to rea, and after I retired I was a weaver.  I was a good musician and piano player too.  I I am the one who loved surprise gifts, and especially giving them.  I am the one who loved/loves your mother and who took my family responsibilities very seriously.  I am the one who loved being a father and grandfather and husband.

What do you have to give me? I give you unconditional love.  Remember, EVEN NOW I am still here with you in many ways.  I give you a defining sense of creativity and artistic ability.  I give you your love of creating things.  I give you your sense of humor. I give you a father’s love, and honor, and persistence and a good sense of values.  I give you love.

What do you want from me? I want you to know that you were and are loved, completely and fully and utterly, for who you are.  I want you to know that you are loved.