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Inner Surprises Blog

SoulCollage®

By Anne Marie Bennett

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SoulCollage®

Honoring Christmas All Year

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I am the one who loves the holidays, who celebrates the holidays in ways that give me pleasure and joy.

I promise to honor Christmas in my heart
and try to keep it all the year.

~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

This is my very favorite quote from one of my favorite stories of all time, A Christmas Carol.

Every year one of my holiday traditions is to see the North Shore Music Theatre musical production of A Christmas Carol. SometimesĀ  I go alone, sometimes with my husband or a friend, and sometimes I take one or more of our grandchildren.

For me, the story embodies the true meaning of Christmas which is all about lovingĀ  and giving. If I have to skip a year, I feel like something is missing from my holidays.

I made this SoulCollageĀ® card several years ago as a way to give image to how I feel about “the holidays” and what I love about Christmas.Ā  I know I have to skip it this year because we’re in a worldwide pandemic right now and all theatres are closed. So I’m going to keep this card out on my altar throughout the holidays as a reminder.

Do you have a favorite quote about whatever holiday you celebrate this winter?Ā  Try making a card to express it or share it in the comments section below.

Gathering Blessings

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It’s fall now here in eastern Massachusetts, and our thoughts are turning to gathering fallen leaves that are collecting on our lawn and driveway.Ā  When I drew this card today, though, I am led to ponder other things that can be gathered, like. . .for instance. . . blessings!

I love having this card in my deck to remind me to notice and actively collect blessings (that for which I am grateful) all year long, not just at Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Who are you?

I am the one who stands in a field of flowers. I am the one who gladly picks the flowers and gathers them into my big bowl.

I am the one who is grateful for every blessing that comes my way, every single one.

I am the one who notices my blessings, who takes time to savor each one as I gather it in.

Hestia- Goddess of the Hearth

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I madeĀ  this card years ago and always thought of it as my “sacred space” Neter, but then I listened to Kathryn Costa’s Kindred Spirits class on goddess archetypes and learned quite a bit about them.

I took the Goddess Quiz on the site that she recommended, and discovered that my own top three personal goddess archetypes, expressing themselves in my life right now are: Persephone, Artemis, and Hestia.

After reading more about Hestia (Goddess of the Hearth) on the recommended site, I suddenly realized that I already have a SoulCollageĀ® card for her, and this is it!

Who are you?
I am the one who loves to stay home. I am the one who turns away from drama and turns instead to the sanctuary of my inner life. I am the one who creates and operates from my own inner sacred space. I am the one whose inner fire burns brightly and warms my soul.

What do you have to give me?
My gift for you is the intuitive ability to create a homey atmosphere of warmth and sacredness wherever you go.Ā  I give you the knowing that your inner life is paramount.

 

 

The Fool Brings Change

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Fool is an archetypal energy that brings CHANGE with it. Some of this change is minor, like when you get a haircut and it comes out all wrong; and some of this change is huge, like what the coronavirus has brought to us.

Seena Frost, the founder of SoulCollageĀ®, taught that there are two archetypes that touch ALL of our lives, no matter where we are. One is Death; the other is The Fool.

This is my second Fool card. I made this while leading a retreat where we focused on the 3 S’s of SoulCollage:
Sacredness, Surprise, and Synchronicity

It feels appropriate to share it with you now that we are still in the midst of COVID-19 and all the surprising life changes that this virus has brought to us.Ā  And I’ve learned, if I really get comfortable with and welcome The Fool’s changes into my life, I also can (most of the time) recognize the sacredness and synchronicity of these changes.

Who are you?

I am the one who is all about surprises.

I am the one who changes things around and switches things up when you least expect it.

What do you have to say to me today?

My message for you today is this: do not fear all these changes, dear one. I urge you to find a way to look forward to them… to welcome them, and delight in them if you can.Ā  My appearance in your life can bring joy and new perspectives too.Ā 

Notice that even the ugly old fire hydrant has flourishing green leaves growing on it!

 

 

Killjoy

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Killjoy

Who are you?

I am the one who is about to beat the crap out of this woman in the red dress. I am the one who hates that she is so happy and passionate. I am the one who was your inner Teacher, Lucius, in the old days.

I am the one who prefers that you stay under wraps so no one can see you in your happiness.

I am afraid that someone will take advantage of you if you peel off all the layers and let yourself shine, so I am intent on keeping you down.

I am a strong part of your inner world, and I control several of your other shadowed parts.

What is your message for me today?

Remember that as Director of your inner cast of characters, you can take me out of this starring, controlling role at any time.

 

Note from Anne Marie:Ā 

I discovered a unique way of looking at my inner parts through this wonderful book, Soul Play: Turning Your Daily Dramas into Divine Comedies!

It is one of the most helpful, and certainly THE most creative book on our inner parts/inner voices that I have ever had the pleasure to read.

I’ve actually read it several times and shared its premise during many a SoulCollageĀ® workshop on the Inner Committee. I love the imagery of imagining our inner parts as characters in a play, and that I am the director. Many inner shifts occurred for me while reading and working with the ideas and suggestions in this book. Highly recommend!