Inner Surprises Blog

SoulCollage Inspiration

By Anne Marie Bennett

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Doug- Community Suit

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Scdoug_2About 20 years ago, Doug was the rector’s assistant at the Episcopal church I attended in Salem, MA.  He touched my life in SO many ways.  After a few years, his journey took him to another parish. We stayed in touch for a while, and he even sang at our wedding in 1995.  Then our journeys just took us in different directions.

And a few months ago, I learned that he had died last summer, at age 53, of inoperable brain cancer.  I was shocked at the immediate grief that flooded me when I heard the news.   I wept for his family, his students, and for the loss of him to this world.

I created this card to honor Doug, his place in my life so long ago, and his place in my life now, even though he is with us no longer in his body.  It eased the empty space in my heart, it softened the grief I felt when I heard of his suffering, of his family’s loss. 

The stained glass window is there to remind me of the love of God which he brought to me and taught us all so lovingly, and with such vulnerability and grace.  The butterfly of course stands for Resurrection and transformation.  The lotus is there because one of his gifts to me was a rooted belief in the soul’s right to growth even from muddy conditions.  Why the seal and the white lion landed there… I don’t know yet.  I found them in my stack of treasured, saved images and they seemed to be telling me that they wanted to be on Doug’s card, so I listened and heeded their advice.

Who are you? I am the one who is a Priest. I am the one who is a teacher. I am the one who rode a motorcycle and sang in a rock band and also loved people and God with a wild, spectacular love. I am the one who brought joy and laughter to the parish. I am the one who was never afraid to be myself up there in the pulpit or with the people. I am the one who suffered so much when my daughter suffered. I am the one who was never afraid to ask for prayer, for help, for time. I am the one who sang at your wedding. I am the one who always looked at people with eyes of love.  I am the one who is with you even now as you are writing this. I am the one who smiles to see this card you have made for me. I am the one who brings the light of God to you from the other side.

What do you have to give me? What I gave you then and what I give you now is the exact same thing: unconditional love. I give you light in your heart that comes straight from the heart of God. I give you reassurance that Death is not the end. I give you my presence and in that presence, comfort. I give you a light heart, laughter, love, a reminder that joy is yours right now. Reach out and grab it, hold it, embrace it… it is easy, and it is yours. I give you the knowing that life is short. I give you appreciation for the little things in life. I give you a reminder that every tiny piece of life is important, blessed, wonderful.

What do you want from me? I want you to be yourself. I want you to remember me with love and happiness. I want you to not beat yourself up because we didn’t stay in touch.  I want you to know that our paths crossed, and then went in separate directions, for a reason.  I want you to know that your writing touched my soul. I want you to know that your courage in taking on Jeff’s children inspired me. I want you to know that even though you cannot see me, I am still with you. I want you to know that you are special, beloved, wonderful. I want you to know that I am now aware of all those times you prayed for me and for my daughter when she was hurt, broken. I want you to know that your love crosses time and space and blesses me even now.

Anxiety- Committee Suit

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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

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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

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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

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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.