Ā 

Inner Surprises Blog

SoulCollage Inspiration

By Anne Marie Bennett

Subscribe to updates

SoulCollage® Challenge- Community Cards

by

This week your challenge is to add at least one card to the Community Suit of your SoulCollageĀ® Deck. 

A good start is to make a short list of some people or animals in your Community that you would like to have SoulCollageĀ® cards for.  Then go through magazines or your own pile of saved images while holding the names of these Community members in your heart.  See which images call to you, and rip them out!  It is best to do this with more than one person/animal in mind, and be open at the same time to other images that you might want to use for future cards for other suits.

Seena Frost says in her book, SoulCollage, that the Community Suit is often overlooked, but also one of the most powerful of the suits.  Take a look through your deck and see if its richness can be deepened by adding some cards that contain the voices of the people and animals who love and support you.

Comfort Queen- Council Suit

by

Sccomfortqueen This card was inspired by Jennifer Louden, the original Comfort Queen!Ā  Reading Jennifer’s books and listening to her audio presentations has taught me a lot about the importance of creating my own comfort (in body, mind and spirit). I created this card intentionally and was originally planning for it to be part of my Committee Suit.

But after I did the following interpretation, it seemed to me to be bigger than an inner voice.Ā  I feel that this image represents a spirit guide of some sort, a strength and wisdom that I can call on when I need to comfort myself in some way.

Who are you? I am the one who is in charge of comforting you when you are feeling sad, lonely, tired, upset, hungry, angry, or otherwise discomboobliobliated.Ā  I am the one who is in charge of letting in the light.Ā  I am the one who knows what comforts you: big fat pillows, the ocean, good books, trees, light, water, cool spaces, open doors, swimming, your altar, your cats, your cards, music, your art and writing, a good night’s sleep, a nap, a walk, a good belly laugh, a hug, a sexy kiss, a cup of tea with a friend, meditation, a good movie.

What do you have to give me? I give you comfort.Ā  Self-comfort is one of the biggest gifts of a lifetime.

Do you have a shadow side? Yes.Ā  When you pay too much attention to me and become too comfortable and not willing to stretch or try new things, expand your boundaries.Ā  And when you start comforting yourself with things that aren’t good for you, like too much ice cream or chocolate.Ā  These are shadow comforts.Ā  I want you to be aware of them.

What do you want from me? I want you not to resist me when I bring you comfort.Ā  There is nothing wrong with being comforted…it makes you strong, not weak.

Daily ReadingĀ  Ā September 2006- I am the one who is all about comfort.Ā  I am the one who whispers in your ear, “Are you comfortable?Ā  Does this person/place/thing bring you true comfort?”Ā  What I’m saying to you today is this: Look at your day/days in terms of comfrot.Ā  Give yourself comforting time and spaces.Ā  Ask for comfort when you need it.Ā  And underlying all of this… Believe that you DESERVE to be comfortable, that you deserve to be comforted.Ā  Believe that you are worthy of asking for, and receiving, comfort from those who love you.

Daily ReadingĀ  Ā December 2006- I am the one who has been telling ou to light the candles and savor them.Ā  Comfort is not just about bubble baths and soft pillows.Ā  It’s also about comfort in your inner world.Ā  What comforts your soul, your mind, your heart?Ā  And another message for you today is this- eating when you are not hungry to comfort yourself is not a good thing, and not what I am about.Ā  Be aware of what you need for true comfort and remember comfort is your birthright!


SoulCollage® Challenge- Inner Cheerleader

by

Take some time this week to listen very carefully inside and see if you can discern the voice of your Inner Cheerleader.Ā  This is the voice that encourages you, and cheers you on, even when you think you cannot do something.Ā  This is the voice that says the opposite of what your Inner Critic says.Ā  Find some images and make a SoulCollageĀ® card to honor this very special part of your inner world.Ā  Turn up the volume on this part, and watch what happens to the voice of your Inner Critic.

Comfortable in My Own Skin- Committee Suit

by

Sc533768 I made this card intuitively… I’d found the woman in the chair in a magazine somewhere.  She was sitting in front of a big building with lots of graffiti on it, and I didn’t like the background, so I cut her out completely and then tried out several different backgrounds until I felt “just right” about this one. Who are you? I am the one who sits under the ancient African tree at the sunset time of my life.  I am the one who dares to sit naked here in my pearls and sandals and doesn’t care who sees my naked body.  I am the one who is comfortable in my own skin.  I am the one who is facing away from the setting sun.  I am the one who is facing another bright Sun.  I am the one who is content with where I’ve been, and with who and where I am. What do you have to give me? I give you grounded contentment.  I give you something to look forward to.  I give you a sense of ancient history that is behind you.  I give you knowledge that there is something beyond the setting sun, something to look forward to as you age.  I give you a sense of grace and style and a remembering of who you really are. What do you want from me? I want you to sit down and relax and enjoy your own body, your own company, your own aging.  I want you to look forward to what is next.  I want you to relax into your own skin.  I want you to be comfortable with who you are with all of who you are- body, mind and spirit.  I want you to retain your own personal authentic sense of style.

Authenticity- Council Suit

by

Scauthenticity I made this card intuitively last summer.  I’d had the image of the woman for several months and was in total awe of her, although I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why. I tried her out on several different backgrounds, but this one “grabbed” me the most, so it became her “home.”  I shared this with a friend shortly after I’d created it and she said it looked quite scary to her (perhaps because the woman’s hands are tightly wrapped and the one on the right looks almost like a pincher/claw).  But I never got that feeling from this card (isn’t that interesting?).  I simply loved this woman and was curious about what she had to say to me.

In September 2006, I drew this card in a reading about an upcoming vacation.  At the beginning of this vacation, I did the following interpretation, and its message has stayed with me ever since. Who are you? I am the one who stands tall and strong and is very certain of what lies ahead.  I am the one who is bathed in golden light.  I am the one who is not distracted, who faces forward with focus and vision.  I am the one who lifts my arms to the Sun, to the Source.  I am the one who is strong in myself.  I am the one who knows who I am, who stands strong in my own authenticity, who doesn’t give one iota if anyone thinks I’m too glitzy or too scary.  I am the one who is sure of who I am.  I am the one who is ready, willing and able to pinch/slice away anything that gets in the way of my golden shining powerful authentic self. What do you have to give me? I give you a solid, bright understanding of who you are, and a knowing that you are the protector, the guardian of your own authenticity.  I give you the unabashed focus to stand in the truth and power of who you really are. What do you want from me? I want you to be who you are, at all times and in all places and with all people.  No matter what!  I want you to know that you have the power and ability to get rid of anything that threatens your glorious authenticity.  I want you to stay focused on your authentic self.