| 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.
Happy February, everyone! I’m taking this
month off from my column to make room for Karen Regina’s awesome essay below.
Enjoy!
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 TELE-CLASS |
Elemental Alchemy and the
Chakras
60 minute
SoulCollage® VIDEO class
with SoulCollage® Facilitator
Raven Shree from Colorado
The Elements are a core
part of our everyday world. Earth. Water. Fire. Air. Ether. Light. Thought. Elements
are the building blocks of all creation.
Relating with the EcoSystem of the Moment through its Elemental Components
opens amazing portals for self-reflection and expanded appreciation for
life.
Each element vibrates at a different frequency, and has its own unique
expression of Life Force.
As we apprentice to Elemental Teachings from nature we are able to work with
elemental qualities within us on Physical, Mental & Spiritual levels; Coming
into Greater Harmony with the Whole.
As Above. So Below.
In this KaleidoSoul SoulCollage® class, Raven Shree will highlight aspects
of the 7 Elements to inspire and deepen your explorations & appreciations of
the world both around & within you. Together we will journey through
elemental aspects of life and activate inspirations for you to add more
elemental magic & medicine into your SoulCollage® deck.
Items to bring to the call:
- Candle (and something to light it with)
- Journal (and something to write with)
Date: Sunday February 25, 2018
Easily Accessible
from Anywhere in the World!
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| Guest Columnist: Karen
Regina |
Hi, I’m SoulCollager Karen Regina from Cincinnati, Ohio. I’m pleased to
share with you a process I used to add new depth to my SoulCollage® deck.
Making a Soul Collage® Tarot Deck
“... ultimately, you need to make your own tarot card deck with the images to
which you relate the most, the ones that make you react and get your
imagination going. The card images with the most meaning to you. Maybe you
can…search…for pictures you find significant….” ~ Stefan Stenudd, tarot
author
Decades before I discovered SoulCollage®, I possessed several tarot decks.
Deeply into metaphysical pursuits at the time, I expected Tarot to
complement my budding spirituality. But the cards simply didn’t resonate
with me. Their symbolism puzzled me, the sheer amount of interpretive
information overwhelmed me, and Tarot’s “big picture” escaped me. I stored
the decks away and never used them.
In early 2016, two years into my SoulCollage® journey, I decided to revisit
Tarot. Collage had taught me much about image symbolism and card
interpretation, and I felt ready to turn these skills to Tarot. I enrolled
in Stephanie Anderson Ladd’s 22-week e-course exploring tarot’s Major Arcana
through the lens of SoulCollage®. Each week, I learned about a different
Major and made my own SoulCollage® version of that card. This is my Magician
card. Ladd’s exemplary course inspired me to continue making tarot cards
intentionally over the next 18 months until I finally had a complete deck of
78.
 I am one who harnesses universal energies to manifest my desires.
I fortunately had a voluminous collection of images to choose from.
Serendipitously, pictures I wondered why I’d kept for years suddenly became
good fits for certain cards. For example, the crucifix on my Ten of Swords
card shown below. On tarot websites, I found considerable variation in
meanings and illustrations for every card, a signal I could design mine as I
saw fit. I especially wanted to infuse more feminine energy into my deck, as
traditionally most tarot figures are male. The result is a deck that is
personal to me, that I understand and relate to, yet embodies customary
meanings.
As I crafted my deck, I saw how complementary Tarot and SoulCollage® are.
Archetypes, symbolism, and four suits underpin both. Working with each
entails drawing cards, laying out spreads, asking questions, interpreting
meaning, and reflecting. They are equally mysterious, portals to the
unconscious and the imagination, awakening the innate wisdom inside us.
Of course, the major difference between Tarot and SoulCollage® is that in
SoulCollage® we always read our cards for ourselves and never for anyone
else. Tarot practitioners offer readings for others.
Archetypes are the essence of the Major Arcana, as they are the
foundation of the Council Suit. These 22 cards are the heart of Tarot,
symbolizing common aspects of the universal human experience and
illustrating one’s journey through life with all its pitfalls and
accomplishments, what some call the Fool’s Journey that leads to
self-actualization and completion. My Majors manifested easily, as I was
comfortable with the concept of archetypes from making Council cards. I
already had Council cards for some, such as Death, Lovers, and Devil.
Eighteen of my Majors feature strong, powerful, mysterious, wild, wise, and
playful women; only The Emperor depicts a solo male figure.
Keywords and phrases commonly associated with each Major helped me select
images, while key questions aided interpretations. I also use the “I am one
who…” SoulCollage® protocol with my tarot cards. My Temperance card has a
contemporary look yet conveys traditional meaning.
I am one who blends opposites together to find balance in the middle.
I put off making the Minor Arcana numbered cards for quite a while. These
were the cards I least understood no matter what deck I looked at. The art
in traditional decks did not appeal to me, and all the cards looked
basically alike to my inexperienced eye. And what was I to make of, say, a
contemporary card with 10 swords splayed across it with nary a human figure
or building to ponder? They frustrated me, to say the least.
Also, I struggled with a basic compositional challenge. Where would I find
enough images of pentacles, for example, to make 10 cards? I’d need 55
pentacles to make the 10 numbered cards as they’re traditionally
represented. And even if I could find enough pentacles, how would I fit
eight, or nine, or 10 pentacles onto a given card? Then one day, an answer
came intuitively! Rather than actually showing the requisite number
of pentacles, I could create a small icon for each suit and place a graphic
number next to the icon, as seen in my Six of Pentacles card.
I am one who wisely maintains a balance between giving and receiving.
With that problem solved, I dove into collaging the Minors, suit by suit,
card by card. The numbered Minors parallel the Committee Suit. Both
tell personal stories of everyday life, reveal our inner sub-personalities,
and bring “big picture” archetypal themes down to a practical level to show
how they operate in daily events.
There was so much to consider in making the Minors. Regardless of deck, each
card is carefully illustrated to convey meaning through every detail;
nothing appears by accident. They are replete with symbols, many hidden or
recurring, some new to me. Each is also an “individual story” archetype,
such as Success, Competition, Generosity, Despair, Gluttony, or Victimhood.
These abstract concepts were harder to make cards for than the Majors. While
meanings for the Majors are basically agreed upon, there is often no fixed
notion about the Minors’ messages; experts still debate about some. When
confronted with multiple meanings for a card, I chose to illustrate the
concept that had most meaning for me. Intuition was definitely needed.
The four Minor Arcana suits have distinct qualities linked to realms of
being and Greek elements, familiar energies throughout my SoulCollage® deck.
Cups are the suit of emotions and relationship patterns and are associated
with Water. Pentacles relate to material concerns and physicality, connected
to Earth. Swords cover the domain of intellect, reason, and thought,
surrounded by Air. And Wands are about action, creativity, and intention,
inspired by Fire. To reinforce suit qualities, I included visual cues of the
relevant element on each Minor card, typically small and in the background
in the form of earth matter like mountains, clouds, fire, or water, as in my
Three of Cups. All this factored into card-making.
I am one who values camaraderie and celebrating my joy and happiness with
friends.
Each suit has both positive and shadow aspects, adding another layer of
complexity to card-making and at times revealing unflattering aspects of
myself. I recognize in me the practicality of Pentacles and the creative
passion of Wands. I want very much to “be” a Cups person (who
doesn’t?)—warm, sympathetic, embracing loving relationships—but cards with
messages of domestic bliss don’t register with me. Instead I relate to the
shadow side of Cups that is moody, introverted, and touchy. Swords is
actually the suit that most reflects me. On the positive side, I’m logical,
well-informed, and articulate, but conversely I’m prone to disharmony, being
critical, and letting my mind run amuck. Making Swords cards was intense, as
so many conveyed shadowy concepts such as desertion, loss, betrayal,
victimhood, anguish, and defeat. Looking at those dark cards and the images
I purposefully chose for them confronted me with the stark reality of how my
mind plays havoc with my life. Swords are not a feel-good suit, considered
“downer” cards that few want to see pop up in a reading. But their darkness
mirrors internal states of mind rather than outward circumstances, and minds
can change. I looked for the silver lining in their meanings.
A traditional Ten of Swords card shows a dead man stretched out on the
ground with 10 swords jutting from his back against a backdrop of water,
mountains, and dark skies. Grotesque! The overall message however is not
about being killed but rather bottoming out, feeling like a martyr,
sacrificing. So the crucifix image I used was apt. And because the card also
means “darkness before dawn,” release, renewal, and liberation, I added a
butterfly of transformation and a crown chakra lotus, rays of optimism on my
dismal Sword card.
I am one who surrenders old patterns of self-pity and wondering “why me” as I
transition to a new self.
The Court cards, aka Royals, represent personality traits of you or other
people in your life and in that regard resemble the Community suit. The
Royals are subsets of the Minors, four in each suit. While King and Queen
are fairly standard, there is considerable variation in how the other two
figures are identified. I chose to see the Royals as families, with King as
father, Queen as mother, and two children, Prince and Princess, balancing
male and female figures in the Court cards. This Princess of Wands is one of
my favorite Royals.
I am one who creates my own unique style and generates fresh new ideas and
energy.
I felt nervous when I began drawing cards; since my energy was so deeply
embedded in them, I could hardly dismiss what came up in readings! I admit
to slipping brief cheat sheets with keywords and questions for each card
inside its clear crystal sleeve. The radiant Sun was my first daily draw, a
positive start! I laid out my first Celtic Cross spread on a New Moon (in
Libra = balance) and drew this random assortment - two each of Majors, Cups,
Wands, Swords, and Pentacles. Balance!
Making my own tarot deck was challenging, illuminating, powerful, and
satisfying. As I wrote this column, I came across the quote that you saw at
the beginning, pleased that it affirmed this process. I’m still a novice
with much to learn about Tarot and intend to use my cards only for myself.
Overall, I find Tarot to be more “heady” and SoulCollage® more intuitive but
I find value in both. I hope some of you might decide to tackle making your
own SoulCollage® tarot deck.
Karen Regina is retired from a career in education. She found SoulCollage®
in early 2014 and quickly embraced it as the cornerstone of her current
spiritual practices.
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CONTACT US
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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.
Perspective
Suit Unknown
Sandra
Canada
I am one who has realized that everyone has their own perspective in life. My
perspective is a reflection of who I am and my experiences. Reality is
perspective!
Compassion
Suit Unknown
Sandra
Canada
I am one whose heart aches for the world and all of its suffering and
problems. I hope and pray that love will prevail in the end.
The Friendship of Women
Committee Suit
Kat
Arizona
I Am One Who values the friendship of women. We see each other
clearly, and joyously celebrate the seasons together. We are similar but
different, unique and yet a tribe of like-minded souls.
Survivor
Committee Suit
Pat
Massachusetts
I am the one who suffered in silence and rage. I am the one who
always sees the beauty and hope in the world. I am the one who learned
compassion for the suffering of others.
Mother-Daughter
Committee Suit
T.
Colorado
I am one who reflects on both my mother's life and her recent
death. I am one who reflects on our relationship as mother and daughter with
some conflicted feelings. I am one who admired how my mother--through her
acting, singing, paintings, and laughter--focused not on the pain in her
life but on how she could create more beauty in her life.
Untitled
Suit Unknown
Donna
California
I am the one who allows myself to feel ecstatic. In free flow,
carried by freedom n flow...supported by the Goddesses. I'm no longer in the
dark, but illuminated by the light.
On Top of the World
Council Suit
Laura
California
I am the one who stands balanced atop the world. I extend my
arms in openness and acceptance to all living creatures. I am confident and
optimistic. I am capable of anything! Balance is a dynamic process. Each
shift requires another adjustment. With the ability to balance, any action
can be accommodated without sacrificing the balance. The balance is the
temporary stopping place; action is necessary. Balance is not stillness.
Feminine Wisdom Standing in World Chaos
Suit Unknown
Emilie
Texas
I am one who stands firm in the circle of women who have lived
in the shadows and shame for too long, as the winds of change are blown
across the patriarchal society. I am the one who is grounded in ancient
feminine wisdom as we stand together in the chaotic times of change. I am
the one who feels the old ways being flushed away to create the opening for
harmonious living together. I am the one who can withstand this time of
chaos.
Medusa
Suit Unknown
Sharon
Texas
I am one who recognizes anger as a powerful emotion. I am able
to help you focus and find freedom through honest expression of such
feelings.
My Crone Guardian Angel
Community Suit
Julie
Idaho
I am the one who has, as previously arranged, joined Julie at
her time of Cronehood. I am the one who stays near to support her, guide her
and love her as she travels on this blessed path of advanced age and wisdom.
I am the one who she calls on when she becomes anxious or confused about the
wonder and beauty that awaits her. I shoo the rats away!
Artist
Committee Suit
Maxine
Massachusetts
I am one who adores being surrounded by art and color, both
monochromatic color as well as multi-colors. I am One who is delighted by
what is unexpected, what is different & unique. I am one who loves to
experiment and try new things.
Please feel free to submit one of your cards for a future issue
by sending a reply email to this newsletter.
Future themes include:
March: Spring/Growth
April: Our Five Senses
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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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VIRTUAL RETREAT
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Say whaaaaaat? A PARTY for our inner critics? Maybe you’re thinking “Hmmm… Anne
Marie has officially gone off the deep end now!”
But, no… I’m serious! It’s time to really listen to our inner critics’ messages
and figure out how they are trying to help us (and they really, really are
trying to help us). Only in this way can we lessen the sometimes frightfully
negative hold they have on our lives.
For four hours we’ll gather together via an easy-to-click-and-access Zoom video
conference link where we can actually see each other. (You can also call in via
phone).
Anne Marie will lead the first 90 minutes of our time together with teaching and
a guided imagery “Magical Inner Journey” to help us see our Inner Critics in a
different light.
Then we’ll break so everyone can be on their own for one hour to make cards.
Finally, we’ll gather together for the last 90 minutes for some insight-full
journaling, lots of sharing of our cards, and a closing circle to send us back
out of the retreat and into our lives, freed up from the tenacious hold of our
inner critical voices.
Saturday February 10, 2018
12 noon – 4 pm Eastern
If you can’t attend in person, we’ll send you the video recording along with
all handouts.
Full investment for 4 hours: $48.00
Kindred Spirits Save 50%
More information on this page.
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NEW ONLINE SOULCOLLAGE SERIES WITH ANNE MARIE
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 Sacredness, Surprise, and Synchronicity
Have you been longing to bring a deeper aspect of
sacredness to your SoulCollage® work?
Are you eager to discover more about the Transpersonal energies of your deck-
Source, SoulEssence, and Witness?
Would you like to experience the surprising importance of the Fool
archetype in your own life's journey?
Do you ever wish you could be more aware of synchronicity as it plays out
in the SoulCollage® process and in your life?
If so, please join us for
Sacredness, Surprise, and Synchronicity,
an all-new three-part tele-series
with experienced Facilitator and Trainer
Anne Marie Bennett.
Easily accessible from anywhere.
All classes audio recorded so you don’t need to participate in person.
You’ll receive: three 90-minute audio classes, lots of handouts, new card
ideas, a private online community for sharing, and lots more.
Kindred Spirits, save $15.00
Use your special coupon code!
More information here
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SOULCOLLAGE® SELF-STUDY COURSE
SAVE 50% THIS MONTH
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Do you sometimes feel like your inner voices are out of control?
Would you like a way to harmonize this inner cast of committee parts?
Would you like some creative, fun ideas for working with your own inner voices
(aka committee members or personality parts)?
If so, please try this awesome work-at-your-own-pace course that consists
of:
- Three 90-minute audio recordings facilitated by Anne
Marie Bennett
- An optional private Facebook group for questions and
support as needed
- Abundant handouts to go with each lesson
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ONLINE SOULCOLLAGE JOURNEY
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Once Upon A Time: A 12-Week SoulCollage® Journey Into the World of Six
Fairy Tales
This online series will allow you to become the Innocent who enters the
forest and returns transformed. Every two weeks you will receive a lesson on
the fairy tale that explores the themes, archetypes and symbols, including
journal prompts. You will make a SoulCollage® card or cards as you feel
inspired to add to your Council, Committee, and even Companion suit, and
share your images and wisdom gained in a secret Facebook group.
Full investment: 99.000
Kindred Spirits: Save 10.00
Use coupon code
Lots and lots more info here.
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Upcoming SoulCollage® Retreats
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MASSACHUSETTS
Myth, Magic & Storytelling with SoulCollage®
Westfield, Massachusetts
April 13-15, 2018
Facilitator: Anne Boedecker, Gail Byrnes
Are you ready to take your SoulCollage® practice to a new level? Would you like
to explore using your cards to tell your own story? Join Anne Boedecker and Gail
Byrnes for an intensive weekend retreat, expertly designed to guide you deeper
into the magic and mystery of SoulCollage®. This retreat will weave together
journal-writing and SoulCollage® card-making to stimulate your creativity and
strengthen your connection with yourself and others. Using your cards and
journal-writing exercises you will be able to unearth and expose your familial
and cultural myths and rewrite your personal narrative to find new meaning.
Through this process you can reclaim the richness of your heritage and let go of
stories that no longer suit you. Payment plan available.
Visit this page for
more information..
ENGLAND
Goddess Retreat 2018
Glastonbury & Cornwall, UK
April 26 - May 7, 2018
Facilitator: Cat Caracelo
Follow the ancient pathways to a place where myth and memory connect, where the
landscape is a mirror of the soul. Join a small circle of women to journey to
sacred sites, engage with the lands, explore the earth-based energies, honor the
Goddess and reflect experience with expressive and expansive art, SoulCollage®
and more. Twelve-day all-inclusive retreat offers two extraordinary homes, with
grounds, spa, chef-prepared dinners, sacred sites and dedicated creative space.
Payment plan is available.
Visit this page
for more info.
ILLINOIS
Walking the Beauty Way
Darien, Illinois
May 3-6, 2018
Facilitator: Marti Beddoe
Both new and seasoned SoulCollagers are welcome to this serene time of renewal
and contemplation. Supported by a nurturing circle of women, you will explore
the Neter of Beauty through the practices of SoulCollage® and meditation. You
will connect with 11 other shining souls who, like you, are committed to serving
as a positive influence in the midst of our challenging times. You will be
guided to create an art-form that is your personal expression of the healing
power of Beauty. In addition, you will learn some practical and potent practices
to sustain your soul as you continue Walking the Beauty Way after the retreat.
$50 discount extended through
February 28. 8 seats still open!
Visit this page for more information.
MASSACHUSETTS
Inner Gardening with SoulCollage®
Westfield, Massachusetts
May 5-6, 2018
Facilitator: Anne Marie Bennett, John Pacheco
Where do you want to create growth in your own life? Would you like
some ideas for nurturing your inner growth? Do you want to learn
how small seeds can produce a bountiful harvest for your inner garden?
Please join the
brother/sister team of John Pacheco and Anne Marie Bennett
at this restful, soul-full, creative weekend workshop. Using gardening metaphors
along with SoulCollage® card making, journaling, and guided imagery, we will
explore planning, planting, and tending your own inner garden, to harvest the
rewards of your inner work. Green thumbs not necessary... this is inner
gardening!
Visit this page for
more information.
ARIZONA
Spiritual Art From the Heart: Unlock Your
Creativity in Sedona
Sedona, Arizona
May 14-20, 2018
Facilitator: Kat Kirby
If you are looking for some creative zest in your life; if you love beauty and
want to rekindle feeling alive and inspired out in nature; if you would like to
spend time with like-minded women and a bunch of art supplies in a beautiful
location, then come unlock your creativity with Kat in Sedona. There is a space
for you here. We will be creating a hand-made journal, a spirit wand, a mandala
rock, a shrine, and a SoulCollage® card (or two). You'll have time to recharge,
get centered, and create magic in your life through creative expression, with no
judgement (from yourself or others) and lots of relaxation and fun!
Visit this page for more
information.
PORTUGAL
Altered Books in Portugal: Exploring
Words and Images
Tomar, Portugal
September 12-16, 2018
Facilitator: Kat Kirby, Linda Woolfson
Join us for five days of creative heaven, creating altered books at a beautiful
retreat center in central Portugal. Explore this enjoyable type of mixed media
artwork. Transform a book from its original shape into something rich and
expressive, filled with your personal creative choices and styles. Enhance your
SoulCollage® experience by discovering new facets of your creativity, then use
your altered book to work with your deck! Experiment and play with papers,
paints, texture, words, and symbols. Kat and Linda are experienced SoulCollage®
Facilitators who are combining their love of creativity to bring you this unique
experience in their favorite part of the world.
Visit this page for more information.
ITALY
La Dolce Vita- Goddess Retreat in Italy
Tuscany, Italy
May 5-15, 2019
Facilitator: Cat Caracelo
Join Cat for Spring 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 2018,
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
