Inner Surprises Blog

SoulCollage Inspiration

By Anne Marie Bennett

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Awakening- Committee Suit

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Sc144487Well, I made this card in the spring, but just drew it today in a Daily Reading, and found it had MUCH to say to me!  I was a little surprised, because it’s not exactly what I thought it was about!

Who are you? I am the one who is waking up from a long winter in my cocoon.  I am the one who is discovering my wings.  I am the one who is learning to fly. I am the one who is green, greening against the black shattering of my past.  I am the one who is becoming.  I am the one who didn’t know I am a beautiful butterfly because I’ve been so busy sleeping in my cocoon, aware of nothing but my own inner breath.  I am the one who is leaving behind what WAS, and is stepping out of in-between-ness into my true, gloriously beautiful self.

What do you have to give me? I give you the energy of “becoming” who you really are.  I give you the gift of waking up.  Each time you meditate, you receive and embrace this gift a little more fully.

What do you want from me? I want you to relax and allow yourself to become who you are.  Stop trying so hard. Look at me.  I am just allowing it to happen. It’s not force that is making my wings unfurl, see?  Be still and it will all just happen on its own.

Cat Whisperer- Committee Suit

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SccatwhispererI made this card intentionally to honor the part of me who really feels a deep connection to cats.

Who are you? I am the one who holds cats dearly to my heart.  I am the one who speaks to Sasha and Scooter and Minnie and Tucker, heart to heart.  I am the one who listens to the cats with my eyes closed, who goes inside to hear what they are saying.  I am the one who loves cats, and delights in the love and comfort that they bring me.  I am the one who knows what my cats need and want.  I am the one who listens to their stories even though they cannot speak.  I am the one they tell their stories to.

What do you have to give me? I give you a mystical, inexplicable connection to your cats. What do you want from me? I want you to know that you don’t need to hire an “animal communicator.”  I want you to know that you can do the same thing, with Spirit’s help.  Follow your own inner wisdom and you will know exactly what your furry darlings are telling you.

Notes from Daily Readings: July 17, 2007- I am the one who loves my cats, who holds them near my heart, who lets free the one who doesn’t want to be held.  I am the one who savors the comfort and deep joy even as I give it to them.  My message for you today is this: They are safe.  When your arms are not available to hold them, the Angels’ arms await.  Do not worry.  They are NEVER alone.

Journeyer- Council Suit

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ScbridgeThis is one of the first SoulCollage® cards I created.  In my stack of images that I gathered at that first workshop, I found many pictures of people who looked like they were on a journey.  Hmmm… .imagine that!  This card came together.  I thought originally it was for the part of me who looks at life as a journey, but it turned out to be more than that!

Who are you? I am the one who is crossing over the bridge, who is at a place of transition, who is alone on the inner journey, who is having second thoughts about going forward. I am the one who is on this journey alone.  The inner journey is undertaken with a deep sense of solitude and inner dialog.  I am the one who accepts the journey, no matter what the weather. I am the one who is safe within my own soul as I travel on.

What do you have to give me? I give you a sense of rightness in your traveling.  I give you a sense of prupose and direction as you travel alone on the inner journey. I give you light.

What do you want from me? I want you to keep moving, to rest when you need to, to pause, to regain your balance when you need to, and then to move forward.  I want you to remember that there is always a path to follow.

Notes from Daily Readings:

March 27, 2006- I am the one who Journeys on no matter what.  I am th eone walking in the light of my own soul, my own truth. I awant you to remember today that it’s all one big long continuous path.  The road goes up, the road goes down, it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that you keep moving forward.  And all will be well.  Get up and keep walking.  Learn the lessons of the day.  Keep going. That is all.

June 16, 2006- I am the one who reminds you that all of Life is a journey, an inward journey, an outer journey.  Steps towards the Inner Diamond.  Steps towards a new home, a new job, a new friend, a new state of mind.  What I say to you today is this: your life is a journey and keep looking forward, no matter what.

10/24/06- I am the one who says that life is a journey.  I am the one who says “It’s safe to take the next step, even if you are alone.”  My message for you today is this: Journey on.  Remember that you are on a journey.  Enjoy each step of it.  Look around you as you go.  Enjoy the scenery as you go.

2/14/07- I am here to remind yu to stand strong and move forward on your journey.  It looks like you are alone but you are not alone, EVER.  There is always always Light to follow, Light that follows you, surrounds you, hovers over you, peeks just around the corner.  The light is a gift… a blessing, a joy.  Take time to notice this light on your own path RIGHT NOW.  Allow it to show you the way.  Allow it to light your soul from within.  Your journey is precious, valuable, beautiful, YOURS.  Embrace it.  Rest whenyou need to, but keep moving forward.  All will be wel.. Divine light is guiding you forward.

Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop- Committee Suit

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Scwaitshoedrop
I’ve been aware of this particularly powerful and needy voice all of my life.  I believe I inherited it from my mother.

However, the more inner work I do, the more I realize that this voice gets in the way of my living a full and joyful life.  I made this card about a year ago and I notice that whenever I work with it, the fears lessen and more joy can flood my soul.

Who are you? I am the one who is afraid to enjoy all the sweetness and lush fullness of life.  I am the one who is certain that something bad is going to happen any minute to destroy my beautiful life.  I am the one who keeps looking out of the corner of my eye for the next disastrous thing to happen.  I am the one who doesn’t trust that life is good.  I am the one who is always worried about the future.  I am the one who can’t/doesn’t/won’t enjoy the abundance that is right in front of me because it all might be taken away from me at any moment.  I am the one who is nervous and anxious all the time, too tense to enjoy life, too focused on what might happen in the future, to enjoy the gorgeousness of this present moment right now.

What do you have to give me? My voice gives you a signal that you are too focused on the future.  My voice, my fear- is a signal to you that you need to breathe yourself back into the present moment. 

What do you want from me? I want you to hold me in your arms and tell me that you will always take care of me, no matter what happens.  I want you to reassure me that you will care for and be here for me, always, no matter what.  I want you to tell me (over and over again) that even though bad things happen, there is still a bright side of the road and that you will help me to get there, no matter what happens to me.  I want you to remind me (over and over and over again) to stay in the present moment, and to focus on what IS, RIGHT NOW, instead of focusing on what MIGHT happen in the future.

Elizabeth Berg- Community Suit

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ScelizabethI made this SoulCollage® card a few years ago to honor my very favorite fiction writer, Elizabeth Berg.  This is a great example of a Community card honoring someone that I don’t personally know.  Here is what Elizabeth says to me:

Who are you? I am the one who writes beautiful fiction that is real and true to womens’ hearts.  I am the famous author.  I am the one who tells/weaves beautiful stories, who gives birth to every story given to me.  I am the one who believes that every story given to me is a gift from the One who gives birth to all. What do you have to give me? I give you a reminder that fiction is a blessing in your life, that Story has lessons and beauty and order and peace and truth to impart, ALWAYS.  I give you a precious reminder of your own inner Writer. What do you want from me? I want you to read fiction often, to lose and find yourself in the art of Story, to remember that you too are a creator of Stories.