| Soul Singing with Anne Marie |
Hi!
I'm Anne Marie, the creator of KaleidoSoul.com, and a
SoulCollage® facilitator in Massachusetts. If you're just starting
to sing your song with SoulCollage®, this column is especially for
you.
The
Changing of the Suits
I had been practicing SoulCollage® for less than a year when
something strange happened during a journaling exercise with my
Joyful Transition card. This was one of the first cards I
had created and when I first worked with it, it was definitely a
part of my Committee Suit of
inner voices, also known as personality parts. I knew this for
certain because it was speaking to me as if it were inside
of me, telling me a bit about what Seena calls my “local story,” my
personal history:
 I Am the One Who is leaving something behind. I Am the
One Who is excited about where I am going. I Am the One Who is all
dressed up and celebrating this transition! I Am the One Who is
moving into something new and exciting and different, and I Am the
One Who can't wait to get there!
Yes, this Neter was definitely part of my Committee Suit, my “local
story.” I felt good about this knowing. I knew even then that we
can't always know the suit (or even the meaning) of a card right
away, but this one felt very clear.
Then one day, several months later, I drew my Joyful
Transition card in a daily reading and when I journaled with
it, it was speaking very differently to me. Listen:
I Am the One Who leads you to new places and people and
adventures. I Am the One Who safely guides you through the open
doorways to your future. I Am the One Who wants you to follow me
wherever I lead you, even if sometimes that means leaving colorful
worlds behind for black-and-white territory.
Can you sense the difference in the two voices? For me, it was like
the energy on this card was now a guide of sorts. She was
talking to me about the Larger Story of my life. I heard her
telling me about many different transitions on my life's journey,
not just the one I had been going through when I made the card. As
I heard this, it occurred to me that this was now the voice of a
Council suit
card.
Then, of course, the part of me who likes things to be all wrapped
up in neat little packages got very upset. “No, no, no!” she
hollered. “That's not right. There's something wrong here. This was
a Committee card. How can it suddenly be a Council
card?”
It seems that I was still operating under the assumption that once
I had a card labeled nice and neatly, it would be pigeon-holed
forever as such.
I was so perplexed and distressed by this change of events within
my deck, that I emailed my friend Karen Mann in Australia. She had
been making and working with cards much longer than I had, and I
respected her wisdom about all things to do with SoulCollage®.
What a relief when she emailed me back, saying it was a normal
occurrence for our cards to change suits now and then. She told me
not to worry about it, to just go with the flow of it and to trust
the process, to trust myself. She said that not everything
in SoulCollage® could be clearly categorized. Amen!
It so happened that when I created the Joyful Transition
card, I was right on the edge of a major life transition out of a
customer service job I'd held and loved for 10 years and into a
life of creating my own business. When I first dialogued with this
Neter, it was telling me about that particular transition. But
several months later, I was already “through the door” of that
transition and immersed in the middle of life on the other side of
it. When I dialogued with her at that point, she made the shift
away from my local personal story (Committee Suit) and over
to the larger story of my life (Council Suit).
This event stands out clearly in my mind now as a huge turning
point in my SoulCollage® journey. After the “changing of the suits”
by this one card, I was much better able to enjoy the mystery of
the process and to let my expectations go completely.
Sometimes the cards don't just change suits; they change what they
are “about.” This is because we are continually changing and the
landscapes of our lives are continually shifting. It follows easily
that our Neters are also changing right along with us.
Anne Marie Bennett is a writer, self-taught artist,
website goddess, cancer survivor, and SoulCollage® Facilitator /
Trainer who was mentored directly by Seena Frost. In 2005, she fell
in love with SoulCollage® and was inspired to use her professional
experience along with Internet technology as a means to serve the
world by putting SoulCollage® "out there" in a really big way with
KaleidoSoul. Anne Marie
lives in eastern Massachusetts with her middle-aged husband, an
elderly dog and two adolescent felines who keep them all young. You
can read more about how SoulCollage® assisted her on her cancer
journey on her website SOS Cancer Journeys. Anne
Marie's newest book, Through the Eyes of
SoulCollage® is now available.
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| OUR NEXT VIDEO
CLASS |
Meeting Our Neters Through Our Dreams
60
minute SoulCollage® tele-class
with SoulCollage® Facilitator
LeAnne Nesbitt from Tennessee
Date: Sunday January 20, 2019
Easily Accessible from Anywhere in the
World!
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| Guest
Columnist: Marti Beddoe |
 Happy New Year, dear SoulCollage® Friends! I’m Marti Beddoe
from Naperville, Illinois, a SoulCollage® Facilitator since 2007.
It’s been so much fun exploring the juicy Neter of Doorways in this
column. I hope you find some useful thoughts here as we head into
2019. My commitment in these columns is to share practices that
sustain lives of Meaning, Joy, and Beauty.
In Gratitude to Seena B. Frost
Imagination
by Seena B. Frost
I stand at the door to my Soul
Knocking softly;
Then harder.
She rustles behind the door,
Whispering words of encouragement
Like:
Pick up your pen!
Hold it firm;
Feel its tip move
Ever so lightly
Across your heart.
Look! I've written a poem
To slide under this door.
It invites Her to join us
In our funny Life game
Of Imagining.
The Three Doorways Practice
Seena B. Frost, Founder of SoulCollage®, referred to the “Three
magical I’s of Image, Imagination and Intuition” as Doorways
and as “bright stars in the SoulCollage® galaxy.” She taught
us that an Image opens the Doorway to Imagination which then opens
the Doorway to Intuition.
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I made this card to illustrate the “Three magical I’s.” I ask
students to quickly write down their impressions of the images
surrounding the First (closed) Door and to make guesses about what
is behind it. When I open the door, I ask them to quickly write
down a few words in reaction to the images that are revealed.
Finally, they make a few notes on the Third (invisible) Doorway,
describing the meaning their intuition makes of these images. It’s
fascinating to hear the variety of unique responses to the same
images!
Thanks to Catherine Anderson’s magnificent books on
Doorways, I have had great delight creating a series of
Doorways SoulCollage® cards.
How To Enter The Next Doorway?
I’ve been meditating on the theme of Doorways for several months. I
remember the Life Doorways that were shut in my face, the
thresholds to Doorways that I chose not to enter, and the Life
Doorways that inaugurated mythic journeys of great difficulties and
great joyful surprises.
I consult my tattered texts and new websites about the Hero’s
Journey and the Heroine’s Journey and seek to place my current life
situation in the context of these models:
Heroine
Journeys Project and Heroine’s
Journey
My meditation also surfaces the importance of how one enters
Life’s Doorways. Take a look at these iconic entrances. Which
resonates most for you?
Entering like
Loretta Young.
Mr. Rogers
entering our homes.
Kramer entering Jerry Seinfeld’s door.
Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon knocking three times
Lion, Witch
and the Wardrobe: Lucy Pevensie entering into Narnia.
A Journaling and Card-making Practice: Doorways in Your
Lifetime
1. What images do you associate with the Neter of Doorways?
2. What have been some Doorways of your Lifetime?
a. Which Doorways
were easily opened and entered?
b. Which Doorways were closed? What was your response to the closed
Doorways?
c. Were there closed Doorways you regret not
entering?
3. Think of three important
Life Doorways.
a. How did you
approach and enter them?
b. What was on the other side that made you who are
today?
4. What Doorways are you
approaching in 2019?
a. How will you
approach and enter them?
b. Consider making some SoulCollage® cards for your 2019
Doorways.
Last October, I entered the
Doorway to my seventh decade! Seems like the sands in the hourglass
are falling more rapidly now. I’m taking refuge in winter’s
darkness and slower pace to pause and ponder how to continue my
heroine’s journey as an Elder. How shall I mindfully enter this
decade with a spirit of Joy and Ease, Grace and Gratitude, Friendly
Curiosity and Compassionate Detachment, and Simplicity and Humble
Service? What lessons and constructive thoughts do I take into this
decade? What constrictive thoughts need releasing?
What I know for sure right now is that I want to share the wisdom
from my life's many teachers. What I also know for sure is that I intend to
carry on my motherline’s attitude: Become an elder dog who is open and eager to learn new tricks!
Since 2007, Marti Beddoe has been a SoulCollage®
Facilitator and meditation teacher in the Kriya Yoga lineage. She
is Founder of Designs for
Peace, a service offering practices to support lives of
Meaning, Joy, and Beauty. Her monthly essays, “Contemplating the
Beauty of…” consider the mysterious Beauty of various Neters.
You may Subscribe here at
the bottom of this page. You'll receive a fr*ee Harmony
Self-Assessment. Marti facilitates Walking the Beauty Way
Retreats and would be delighted to bring one to your area.
Find out more
here! She invites you to contact her at marti@martibeddoe.com.
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JOIN KINDRED SPIRITS -
Enter to Win a Blessing Bundle
of SoulCollage® Supplies!
|
Join the affordable and inspiring
Kindred Spirits Membership
anytime in January 2019
and you'll have a chance to win* one of
THREE (3) Blessing Bundles!
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Online Workshop:
16+ Ways to Use Your Cards
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STARTS JANUARY
18
Have you made some (or lots of) SoulCollage® cards
but haven’t had time to DO anything with them?
Is the I Am The One Who... exercise sometimes hard to delve
into?
Would you like to set aside 10 minutes each week dedicated to
writing with your
cards so you can get to know them (and yourself) better?
If so, this SERIES OF
16 TEN-MINUTE videos
might be just what you need
to take your SoulCollage® work
to beautiful new depths.
Don’t just create the cards… discover new ways to USE them.
Kindred Spirits
Save 50.00...
use your special coupon code!
Lots more info
about this inspiring video series here.
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KaleidoSoul Creations |
As promised, we
are featuring SoulCollage® cards from our readers in each
issue.
Each card below is a card from one SoulCollager's Deck that
represents Doorways.
Third Eye Portal
Council Suit
Karen
Ohio
I am the one who sees what your physical eyes
cannot. I am the one who sweeps away illusions and brings dreams,
intuition, imagination, and insights into awareness. I give you the
ability to recognize patterns and symbols so you see the big
picture. Know that through me the wisdom of realms beyond the
physical senses becomes accessible. I need you to keep the doors
open so light can activate your Third Eye. If you close the doors,
I cannot help you. Trust that I am always seeing; you need only
look inward and up.
Doorway to Creativity
Committee Suit
Natalie
Colorado
I am one who is bright, colorful and creative. I am open to a
world of individuality, unique expression, differences, artistry
and new ideas. I open this door to a playful and fun way of living
my life.
Freedom
Suit Unknown
Debbie
Connecticut
I am the one who has had many dark moments, but
found a way to go through many doors to set me free. I am the one
who has found my authentic self and captured my childlike
innocence. I am the one who can start over with a sense of freedom,
and elderly wisdom.
Door of Eternity
Council Suit
Debrah
Australia
I am the Door of Eternity. I remain ever-open
regardless of what assails me. I am ancient; I am enduring even
when abandoned. Nothing destroys me, not even the sands of time. I
give you hope, vision, staying power and endurance. I give you
endless time. I give you an open door to walk through. See beyond
what is in front of you. See beyond today. See beyond this life!
Walk through the Door of Eternity. Be immortal.
Doorways
Council Suit
T
Colorado
I am one who is exploring options, seeking
direction and clarity. I am one who is ready, willing, eager (and a
little bit nervous too!) to open the doors, stand for a while in
the doorways, and decide which one(s) to step
through.
Beginner’s Mind
Suit Unknown
Anne Marie
Massachusetts
We are the ones who are walking through these open
doors. We are the ones who don’t know what is on the other side. We
are the ones who move forward with anticipation and the trust that
whatever is on the other side will be just right for us in this
moment.
The Portal
Committee Suit
Suzy
Montreal, Canada
I am one who bursts through the gyproc wall,
leaving the comfort of home and renovation rubble in my wake,
striding confidently out into the golden light, barefoot and full
of purpose, off on a quest of self-discovery. Little bird, it's
time to spread your wings and fly.
The Doorway of Opportunities
Committee Suit
Kate
Brisbane, Australia
I am one who is opening doors to opportunities and
has the love and compassionate energy behind me. I am one who can
feel the loving energy pushing me through the doors of my dreams. I
want you to push the doors open wide and trust in new opportunities
coming your way. Don't doubt yourself, and take that leap of faith.
You are so ready today...remember when one door closes another one
opens; each time a little wider.
Doorway
Suit Unknown
Ruth
New Jersey
I am the one who lights the way for others into
the wonder of darkness.
Kuan Yin’s Domain
Council Suit
Marti
Illinois
I am One Who enters the Domain of Kuan Yin,
Goddess of Compassion. Here she helps visitors witness the journey
from Maiden to Crone. Skillfully she helps weave that life-story
anew, with wonder, objectivity and lovingkindness. Whenever you see
her colorful peacock totem, remember to show Reverence and
Gratitude for the infinitely beautiful Life you are part
of.
Please feel free to submit one of your cards for a
future issue by sending a reply email to this
newsletter.
Future themes include:
February: Council Suit (Archetypes)
March: Joy/Pleasure
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 KaleidoSoul Notes
Noteworthy resources for
anyone interested in SoulCollage®
 Facilitator
Trainings: Information about content and
dates/locations of upcoming trainings of SoulCollage®
Facilitators.
SoulCollage website
- Seena Frost created the process of SoulCollage®, and this
is her website.
KaleidoSoul -
Spinning the fragments of your world into wholeness and beauty
through SoulCollage®.
Kindred
Spirits Join our fast-growing worldwide
membership of people who put the "soul" in SoulCollage®!
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Online Workshop: Become a Creative
Depth Coach
|
Become a Creative Depth Coach
and develop a deeper connection to art as process
as you activate your work in the world!
Move more deeply into developing or augmenting your personal and
professional practice with the Creative Depth Coaching
Certification Training. This is a ten month program for teachers,
artists, guides, healers and facilitators offering Jungian based
depth psychology training through art as process, narrative
coaching and experiential practice.
The training begins in March 2019, where you will experience
monthly modules in a global classroom, ample flexibility to apply
the learning to your distinctive needs, as well as practice and
projects that are ready to be birthed. The program is offered over
three distinctive trimesters - Self as Client, Coach as Bridge and
Applied Process.
This advanced depth coach training is a powerful program for you as
a SoulCollage® artist, facilitator and professional, inviting you
to advance or shift the direction of your practice, build dynamic
coaching skills, expand the body of your work in the world and take
your personal and professional expression to the next level!
Lots more information here.
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SoulCollage® Facilitator
Training
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COLORADO
SOULCOLLAGE® FACILITATOR TRAINING
Estes Park, Colorado
August 5-9, 2019
Trainer: Marcia Chadly
Assisted by: Laura Lyon
Imagine yourself being held by majestic mountains and listening to
the whispers of cool mountain air as you become a SoulCollage®
Facilitator. If you would enjoy sharing the empowering process of
SoulCollage® with others and deepening your own personal practice,
this Training at the Dao House retreat center nestled in the
beautiful Rocky Mountains could be for you. Already a Facilitator?
Re-spark your excitement by experiencing the empowering new
Training with a special discount! A FUN idea - combine your
Training with a vacation by coming the weekend before and staying
afterwards. Colorado is filled with great things to do!
Visit this page for more
information.
MASSACHUSETTS
SOULCOLLAGE® FACILITATOR TRAINING
Westfield, Massachusetts
November 6-10, 2019
Facilitator: Anne Marie Bennett
Assisted by: Jeanne Marie Merkel
Join us at the peaceful Genesis Spiritual Life Center in western MA
for a unique weekend experience of community, learning, laughter,
and professional training to spread the joy of the SoulCollage®
process in wider circles in your world.
No matter where or how you want to use SoulCollage® in the wider
world, this Training will leave you feeling prepared and ready to
go!
Payment plan available.
Lots more info
here.
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Upcoming SoulCollage®
Retreats
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CALIFORNIA
Spring Rising Goddess Retreat
Sonoma, California
March 6-10, 2019
Facilitator: Cat Caracelo
Explore the archetypes of the higher self, make inspired art, and
deepen your connection to the path of transformation as you
celebrate the rising light of the fully expressed self, energy that
is emerging with Spring Equinox. Step into the story of who you are
becoming! Each day we will gather and travel with archetypal
energies, goddess guides and the wheel of the moon. We will be
creating and identifying touchstones for healing and wholeness. In
many ways we will be making powerful mythic connections as the
creative journey expands our life experience using SoulCollage®,
JourneyCircles™ and mixed media assemblage.
Visit
this page for more information.
THE
NETHERLANDS
International
SoulCollage® Retreat
Gorredijk Friesland
May 17-24, 2019
Facilitator: Lucy Schaapock
Take some time to dive deep into your own soul, your inner magic
and wisdom. Friesland, the unspoilt and ancient Province of the
Netherlands has lots of water, myths and spirituality, and will be
our home for the week. Here we will have a special retreat with
like-minded people from all over the world who love SoulCollage®.
Rest deep within your own ancient wisdom. Reawaken archetypes and
inner personalities that live in and through you. Come and enjoy,
connect with others and your own creative heart. Have you ever
wanted to come to the Netherlands? Now is the perfect time!
Visit this page for more information.
PORTUGAL
Portugal as
Portal to Presence
Cascais, Portugal
May 20-26, 2019
Facilitators: Linda Woolfson, Catherine Anderson
Join SoulCollage® Trainers Catherine Anderson and Linda Woolfson on
a pilgrimage of creative pleasure and discovery in Portugal next
spring! Our inspiring blend of photography, journaling, word-play,
poetry, SoulCollage® and labyrinth activities will encourage you to
access the full vibrancy of your creative soul as we explore the
wild and beautiful coastline, visit Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra, eat
fabulous food and connect with the real Portugal which most
tourists never experience. Book your place now!
USA SoulCollagers:
Visit this page for more information.
SoulCollagers Everyone Else: Visit this page for
more information.
ITALY
La Dolce Vita-
Goddess Retreat in Italy
Tuscany, Italy
September 15-25, 2019
Facilitator: Cat Caracelo
Join Cat for Fall in Tuscany where we will stay in a beautiful
villa with a small circle of amazing visionary, artistic and
wholehearted women! Dance with La Dolce Vita and seek the wisdom of
the Goddess: Diana, Minerva, Melusina, whose ancient Etruscan names
and energies are held in the heart of this land. We will work with
SoulCollage®, mixed media and layered process as we connect with
the expression of the divine feminine. We will visit sacred
springs, mythic gardens, inspired environments and sultry seas,
beautiful places in Tuscany, as well as Florence and Siena - where
we will explore alchemical energy, artistry and vision as reflected
in the dreamscapes of the ancient, renaissance and modern
artists.
Visit
this page for more information.
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CONTACT US
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Soul Songs
Back Issues - Read back issues of Soul Songs on this
KaleidoSoul page.
Just look for whatever SoulCollage® topic you are interested
in,
and read to your heart's content!
SoulCollage® is a trademarked process created by
Seena B. Frost.
For more information about Seena and the origins of SoulCollage®,
please visit her
website
SoulCollage® cards are
made either from one's own art or from images found in materials
which have been bought by or given to the SoulCollage® card maker.
These collaged cards are used only for the cardmaker's own inner
exploration. SoulCollage® cards are not sold, traded, bartered, or
copied (except as a back-up for the cardmakers own use) as is
stated in the "Principles
of SoulCollage®." Where SoulCollage® cards are available to
be seen by others, it is for the purposes either of demonstrating
the SoulCollage® process or of sharing the cardmakers' inner
process in the context of community. SoulCollage® is grateful to
the artists and photographers who make this deep awakening process
possible and in all ways SoulCollage® seeks to be respectful of
their rights.
All articles in SOUL SONGS are
copyrighted 2019,
by Anne Marie Bennett and
Catherine Anderson, Cat Caracelo, or Linda Woolfson.
Articles may be reprinted by permission only.
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Soul Songs
