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Inner Surprises Blog

SoulCollage Inspiration

By Anne Marie Bennett

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Artist’s Muse- Council Suit

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I created this card after I found the image of the woman sitting at her messy art table. I just loved how she was looking me in the eye, seemingly to say, “Stop frittering around with excuses, and just sit at your own art table and make something!” I really love the audacious but compassionate look about her. If ever a Muse was going to inspire me, it would be her!

Scartmuse_2 Who are you? I am the one who watches over your artist self.  I am the one who KNOWS for absolute positive certain that you love to mess around with paints and collage ephemera and color. I am the one who says JUST DO IT!

What do you have to give me? I give you permission to play at your art table, permission to create.

What do you want from me? I want you to slow down enough to look me in the eye.  I want you to slow down enough to recognize how deep my calling is to your soul. I want you to ask yourself, “Why are you NOT creating?”

Angel of Patience- Council Suit

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Scangelpatience
I made this card intuitively a few years ago, and realized that she was a Council Suit member of my Deck only after I did the interpretation below: Who are you? I am the one who gives you the gift of Patience, who reminds you that big things like losing weight and making a marriage stronger, takes TIME.  I am the one who believes in Kaizen, tiny steps for big growth.  I am the angel who delights in taking things slowly, who whispers in your ear when you get discouraged.  I am the one who continues to nurture the inner growth in spite of outer disasters such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other bad-things-that-happen-to-good-people. What do you give me? I give you patience with yourself as you go through the long process of bringing your body back to its natural weight.  I give you a steady focus on inner growth while you are losing the weight, no matter what is happening outside of you.  I give you knowledge of the “big picture” as each tedious day goes by. What do you want from me? I want you to see the big picture, to remember the Kaizen way, to slow down and be patient, to give yourself time. NOTES FROM DAILY READINGS: July 2006- Growing a garden, growing even just ONE flower takes time.  Much time.  Come and sit in my garden today… and every day.  Allow your distress to sink into the soil and disappear.  Let my rainbow wings remind you of sunny, brighter days.  Within my patient wings lies the secret of all growth.  Come and grow with me. July 2006- Here I am again, a few weeks later!  I am a blessed reminder that my Presence is quiet but very powerful.  I know you are discouraged, Dear One.  Latch onto my rainbow wings. Allow them to shelter you from your own distress.  All shall be well. October 2006- I am the one who instills Patience in you.  I am the one who is growing your inner life.  My message for you today is this: Come and sit with me in my Garden of Patience, and notice how slowly things grow.  Be patient with yourself as you go through each day. Open your heart and receive my gifts of patience.

Chameleon/People Pleaser- Committee Suit

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ScchameleonI’ve been meaning to make this chameleon/people pleaser card for a long time now, because I’ve been aware of this part of me for quite a while now. A few months ago, I finally found the right images for it, so here it is! Who are you? I am the one who tries hard to blend in with everything around me, no matter what that looks like.  I am the one who thinks everyone will be happier (including me) if I make myself look like everyone and everything else.  I am the one who also makes my insides (feelings, thoughts) imitate everyone else’s. I don’t want to stand out, to be noticed, to be judged for being different.  I want to fit in.  I want to be like everyone else. What do you have to give me? I give you protection. That is my ultimate gift to you.  When you hide your uniqueness, no one can hurt you or judge you or make you feel bad for being who you are.  I am in the business of keeping you safe, inside and out.

What do you want from me? I want you to stop trying to be unique. I want you to be like everyone else.  I want you to be safe from those who judge people who are different. Is there anything else you want to tell me today? Yes!  I know you are worried about the upcoming vacation with Jeff’s family. If you listen to me, I will keep you small and safe. Just do what they’re doing and act like they’re acting, and you will be all right. NOTE: Now that I hear how loud and strong this voice is, I can begin to dialogue with it some more.  I can choose to listen to it or not, as I face certain situations where I might be tempted to “fit in” instead of being true to myself.

Spiritual Warrior- Council Suit

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ScspirwarriorI made this card as I was focusing in on the third chakra, using Anodea Judith’s book The Sevenfold Journey as a guide.  This ties in with the concept of power, around which I am shifting my old beliefs from negative to positive.

Judith describes the Spiritual Warrior as “one who is willing to stand their ground, to protect the sacred within, to accept challenges, and maintain power in a firm and quiet way.”

I have not begun to dialog with this powerful spirit guide but I can already feel her presence in my life.  I am noticing more about the times in my life when I feel powerful, and I am embracing those times more fully.

New Year Reading- Guides for 2008

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A few days ago, Imelda posted her New Year’s SoulCollageĀ® Reading on her wonderful blog, SoulFragments, so I decided to do a similar reading.  I asked the question, Which energies in my deck have lessons to teach me and will be my Guides for the coming year?

Then I sorted my cards into 6 piles.  Four of the piles were the SoulCollageĀ® Suits: Committee, Community, Companions, and Council.  One pile was of a suit I created just for my deck: Keys to Joy.  And the last pile was of the cards in my deck whose meanings are unknown to me.

I lit a candle and put on some soft music, placed my Source card in
the center of the desk, and then thoughtfully and quietly chose one
card from each of the piles, without looking at the fronts of the cards. I removed the remaining cards, and turned
over the cards I had chosen one at a time.  Below you will find the
results of my readings- the images of the SoulCollageĀ® cards I
“randomly” drew, plus what each card had to say to me about how it
could be my guide this year.

Scicandoit
Committee Suit Card: I Can Do It Myself! I
am the one who struggles under the weight of too many projects.  I am
the one who doesn’t like/want to ask for help.  My message for you this
new year is this: I don’t want to keep doing everything myself… this
is taking its toll on my body, mind and spirit.  I’ve been really
strong in your life because I haven’t wanted to trust, to be vulnerable
which is what it takes to ask for help.  My lesson for you this year is
for you to notice when your fears are keeping you from asking for
help… and to let yourself free yourself from my tyrrany.

Scrita

Community Suit Card: My Friend Rita I
am the one who is warm and wise, who loves and supports you just as

you
are.  I am the one who is creative and colorful and not afraid to look
people in the eye.  My message for you this year is this: Believe in
yourself!  I am one of the ones you can ask for help. You know I will
be there for you no matter what. 

Scfather
Council Suit Card: Father Archetype I am the one who is male and strong but also unconditionally loving and nurturing.  I am the one who has drawn you to positive fatherly figures throughout your life: your Dad, Dr. Pond, Randy, Doug, Jeff…  My message for you this year is this: Spend some time in your meditation time with each of the men I mentioned above.  Allow their love and strength to nurture and support you even now.  They can still be your teachers, even though most of them are no longer “with” you… you are still connected to them.

Companions Suit Card: 4th Chakra Little Brown BirdScheart I am the one who builds a nest in your heart of love and forgiveness.  I am the one whose nest-building/heart-work is a work in continuous process.  I am the one who teaches you love, compassion, breath, and forgiveness.  My message for you in 2008 is this: It is safe now to open your heart!  The past is the past.  Now is all you have.  Love freely now, and more will be given to you.

Scbody
Keys to Joy Suit: Taking Care of My Body I am the one who loves to dance, swim, and move my body in healthy, energizing ways.  I am the one who eats healthy, nourishing foods.  I am the one who loves and takes care of my body.  My message for you this year is this: Keep on going to the Y and walking and exercising, and listening to your body for hunger/fullness signals.  It is good for your body, mind and spirit!

Unknown Cards: Treasure GirlSc43357712

I am the one who lies back in a bed of beads and collage embellishments and sparkly fun things.  I am the one with lace and pearls and buttons and glittery treasures all around me.  I am the one who isn’t afraid to roll around in the “good stuff.”  My message for you this year is this: Lean back and savor your life…ALL of it!  It is all yours, enjoy it!  Claim each treasure as your own!

NOTE: I am going to reduce the cards in size and place them into a small (4 x
6) photo album along with the writing I did on each one. I will carry
this album in my purse all year long and take it out to look at, to
remember, when I am stuck in traffic or waiting at the dentist’s
office…etc.