| 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.
Athlete Archetype
Whispering in My Ear
Even if you don’t relate to
this theme of Athlete, please read on anyway! When I suggested this
topic to our four regular columnists, none of them wanted to touch
it with a ten-foot pole, so if you don’t relate (yet), you are in
good company! Frankly I didn’t relate to this theme either. Or so I
thought.
 Once I knew I’d be writing about
the archetypal energy of Athlete, I did a little research and I
came across this statement by Caroline Myss:
This archetype (Athlete) represents the ultimate expression of
the strength of the human spirit as represented in the power and
magnificence of the human body.
She goes on to strongly suggest that we shouldn’t evaluate our
connection to Athlete energy by whether our physical skill is on
par with that of professionals or whether our body in peak
perfection or not. When I read that, something inside of me sat up
and paid attention.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with the beginnings of
osteoporosis, and that, along with a touch of arthritis in my hips,
spurred both my primary care doctor and my Naturopath to urge me to
start a regular walking routine. I am also a little overweight so
with all of that combined, I definitely related to that bit about
my body not being in "peak perfection."
So . . . I began walking. I started out going around the block and
gradually worked up to one mile about three times a week.
Eventually I started feeling an inner sense of "I can do more than
this," so I walked that mile 5-6 times a week. After a few months
of that, I could hear that inner whispering starting up again: "You
can go a little further; this doesn’t feel like enough." So once a
week or so I pushed myself to do 1.5 miles. Gradually, after a few
more months, 1.5 miles became the norm and now I am able to walk
that every day. Even on rainy or snowy days now, one of my first
thoughts in the morning is "When can I walk today?" Fortunately, we
have a treadmill in our basement so I really have no excuse, but
99% of the time, I don’t even want an excuse! Pretty soon I
will be at the point where two miles will be the norm instead of
1.5. Imagine that.
Caroline Myss also said:
A person dedicated to transcending the limits of a physical
handicap qualifies as much for this archetype as the professional
or artistic athlete, because the development of personal will power
and strength of spirit is a requirement for the body to manifest
its perfection.
Well, that seems to define me to a T! My handicap was my weakening
bones and my arthritic hips, but it was also a sense of limitation
in my mind. When I began this journey I never thought in a million
years that in just 11 months I’d be walking two miles almost every
day and looking forward to it! I truly believe that a bit of
archetypal Athlete energy has been whispering in my ear and I am
grateful that I’ve been open to it.
Several years ago on The Amazing Race, one of the challenges
was to walk across a very high wire strung between two cliffs. Of
course, the contestants were harnessed so they wouldn’t fall to
their deaths, but it was still a terrifying experience. I will
never forget one young woman, equally terrified, who whispered to
herself "I can do this," all the way across the wire. I was
so moved by this that I made a SoulCollage® card to honor that part
of me who is attuned to that inner whispering. My card is
above, and you can read my journaling
from this card here.
During the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, four-time USA skating champion
Jeremy Abbott crashed into the wall in front of millions of viewers
during a competitive routine. It was a hard, potentially disastrous
fall. And yet he didn’t stay down. He got up and continued
skating. Something tells me that archetypal Athlete energy was
working in him that day, whispering in his ear as well, "You can do
this. Get up. Keep going."
What about you? Is there a physical limitation that you are
experiencing? Can you open a bit to the Athlete archetype and see
what it’s whispering in your ear? Go ahead… you can do this
too!
Resources:
Read more about Athlete as archetype
here and here.
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 |
Reclaiming Our
Personal Power with SoulCollage®
60 minute SoulCollage®
tele-class with SoulCollage® Facilitator
Diane Montgomery
in Georgia.
Wednesday
March 16, 2016
4 pm Eastern
Most of us,
at one time or another, have had our power taken from us.
Unfortunately these experiences may continue throughout our lives
unless we take the time to do the work to process and transform
these situations. SoulCollage® is a wonderful tool for effectively
processing and claiming personal power. During this class we will
discuss three important cards to consider making for our
decks.
Easily Accessible from Anywhere in the
World!
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| Guest
Columnist: Ricia Fleming |
 I
am Ricia Fleming, a licensed social worker, mental health
counselor, and SoulCollage® facilitator in Massachusetts. This
column is for anyone who thinks they cannot possibly relate to the
theme of Inner Athlete. I didn’t think it applied to me either but
I was open to exploring more. Read on and see if anything inside of
you shifts!
In
Search of my Inner Athlete
Oh, why have I volunteered to write this column about my Inner
Athlete? Me, who often gives thanks that she was born before Title
IX, the law that gave American women a place in athletics in 1972.
Until then, only 1 in 27 American girls competed in high school
sports. I was not that one.
But I trust the impulse that made me say "I’ll write that column."
So the quest for my Inner Athlete begins.
 She’s not among the cards already
in my SoulCollage® deck. It’s time to make an intentional card for
her.
Head to the used book store. Invest in two books of sports photos.
Behold the images, and imagine becoming those athletes with their
rippling muscles and their strained grimaces, their dejected losses
and their elated wins.
Try to imagine organizing my life around winning. Championship
boxer Muhammed Ali said, "I hated every minute of training." I try
to imagine training; to imagine hating it and doing it every day
because I want to win.
Rummage in my memory banks: take out memories of swimming, bike
riding, caving, skating, dodge ball, somersaults, monkey bars. So
much is forgotten, so much just packed away in boxes marked
"unimportant" or "entertainment" or "playing." Not
"athletics."
Stick with it, make some cards: Roger Bannister breaking the 4
minute mile; teammates in uniforms straining for the ball; a
gymnast accepting an Olympic gold; a competitive woman body
builder, muscles greased and bulging; determined.
As I hang out in that alien world, it becomes a little more
familiar, though never home.
And then, from all the memories and images, something
emerges.
It’s her! My Inner Athlete!
 She is 10 years old, maybe 11,
jumping rope on the blacktop driveway of Spring Garden elementary
school. Her name is "Champeen Jumper" and this is what she says to
me:
I am the One Who is focused and determined to win. I am the One
Who found something I am physically good at, and practiced and
practiced with the Little Girls, and now I’m in the Big Girls
Champeen Jumper competition, and I’m winning! I am the One Who you
have forgotten about but still lives in your memory and your body
cells.
I give you the kinetic memory I carry of leaping over that rope,
flying across the playground, around the tree and the parked car,
and running fast, much faster than the girl behind me, and getting
back to the turning rope just in time to make my jump. I give you
the memory I carry of the rhythmic snap of the rope on the
blacktop, the pause as I work out the exact timing so I can get in,
jump over the rope, and get out without getting a rope burn on my
neck.
My message for you is this: Don’t ever forget me again! I run so
fast and jump so skillfully and plan so strategically. I can help
you in your present life: Call on me when you need drive,
adrenaline, force of will. I’ll help you keep your eye on the
prize.
Tears well up when I read this. I have minimized her by saying to
myself "What’s a jumprope championship compared to the Super Bowl
or the World Cup?" I was wrong. She is precious.
Welcome back into my consciousness, my dear contender for champeen
jumper of New Jersey, Spring Garden School Playground
Division.
My Little Inner Athlete joins others in my Inner and Outer Worlds.
She’s in my deck with the basketball players and Olympic champions.
She joins the spiritual athletes who do yoga. She joins the
artistic athletes who dance, especially those in my beloved "Debbie
Davis and the Senior Moments Tap Dance Troupe." We may not be on
TV’s "Dancing with the Stars," but we are a powerful team showing
physical skill, determination, and grace in our dance
performances.
My Inner Athlete has only been in my life for a month, and together
we’re learning how she got squashed and forgotten, and what will
help her to grow and prosper, as well as how she can help me to
find and follow my bliss. Together we invite you over to
my website blog at Chronic Covert Trauma to read more and to
join in exploring how this plays out for you.
And thank you Anne Marie, for the request that pushed me to this
rich adventure.
Ricia Fleming is a licensed Social Worker, Mental Health
Counselor and SoulCollage® facilitator offering consultations and
groups in the Boston area. She invites people to Rolling Ridge
Retreat Center for a SoulCollage® Massage, a relaxing bodywork
session surrounded by the energies in your cards. Come explore
healing the ordinary non-physical attachment traumas and following
your bliss at her website/blog Chronic Covert
Trauma.
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|
UPCOMING SOULCOLLAGE® ONLINE WORKSHOP
|
April 3 – May 1, 2016
This very special online series will be facilitated by Nancy Norbeck, SoulCollage® Facilitator, Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach, and published novelist from New Jersey.
Intuitive Writing is an exploration of what writing is, what it means to write, and how we can use our SoulCollage® decks to tap into stories and ideas that we might not ordinarily find - in our decks, or in our own imaginations. Perfect for the beginning writer or for a seasoned writer looking for a new approach, Intuitive Writing will give you the chance to get writing (or get writing again!) in a friendly, supportive group environment.
Kindred Spirit Members Save $50
Use your special coupon code!
There's lots more info on this
page.
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Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Archetypes...
But Were Unsure of What to Ask
|
STARTS
MARCH 12 2016
Come
explore the SoulCollage® Council
suit with us!
Discover your guides and allies who've been with you all of your
life.
March 12, March 26, April 9
3 Tele-Classes, Easy to Access
All Classes Recorded -
You Don't Need To Attend Live
Facilitated by Anne Marie Bennett
Kindred Spirits
Save
$15
Full investment - $67
Kindred Spirits discount - $52
Scholarships Available too!
Visit
this page for more info now.
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|
Upcoming SoulCollage® Retreats
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MEXICO
SoulCollage® Sanctuary
Huatulco, Mexico
March 20-25, 2016
Facilitators: Deborah Lindeen LPC/S, ATR-BC and Teresa Maron
Only 4 Spaces
Left!
Enjoy SoulCollage®, mandalas and journaling in a private villa with
a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Experience a Full Moon
Eclipse over the pristine bays of the Mexican Pacific. Join us in
Huatulco, Mexico--off the beaten path, off the grid, and out of
this world! Enjoy the beautiful Pacific views from your balcony in
a 5-star villa with private chef. Deborah will lead you in
SoulCollage® card making, sharing, and exploration, as well as
other creative, healing, and rejuvenating experiences. Limit of 8
women; this retreat is already half full. If you are interested,
please register now, and take the first step into your larger
life!
Visit this
page for more information now.
IRELAND
SoulCollage® Gathering in Ireland
Portarlington,
Ireland
April 1 - 3, 2016
Facilitators: Linda Woolfson, Imelda Maguire
A life-enhancing weekend of SoulCollage® creativity, self-discovery
and community in the lush Irish springtime. Designed for both
experienced SoulCollagers and those new to the process. Join us for
a luxurious stretch of "me-time" in the company of a small group of
kindred spirits. Enrich your SoulCollage® practice! Enjoy the
personal attention of two highly experienced Trainer/Facilitators
who are as passionate about SoulCollage® as you are.
Visit this
page for more information.
MASSACHUSETTS
SoulCollage® Training Weekend
Westfield,
MA
April 14-17, 2016
Facilitators: Kat Kirby
Visit this page for more information.
ENGLAND
Facilitator Training
Hawkwood College,
Gloucestershire, England
April 21-24, 2016
Facilitator: Linda Woolfson, MA, PhD
Visit this
page for more information.
MASSACHUSETTS
Pieces of You: Fitting Your Life Together with
SoulCollage®
Westfield, MA
May 7-8,
2016
Facilitator: Anne Marie Bennett, John Pacheco
We are gathering again for our annual early May retreat at Genesis
Retreat Center. Join brother-sister team Anne Marie and John for a
weekend retreat of relaxation, fun, creativity and inner
surprises.
Working with the various aspects of our lives, we will learn new
ways of using the SoulCollage® process to help us piece together
our journeys. We’ll explore the puzzles of our lives using guided
imagery, journaling, card readings, group discussion and of course…
card making!
Visit this page
for more information now.
CALIFORNIA
SoulCollage® Training Weekend
Lake Elsinore,
CA
June 9-12, 2016
Facilitators: Kat Kirby
Visit this page for more information.
MASSACHUSETTS
Playing with a Full Deck: Deepening Your SoulCollage®
Practice
Westfield, MA
September 2-3,
2016
Facilitator: Michele Manos
Since 2009, SoulCollage® Facilitator Michele Manos has been
creating and sharing meaningful ways to explore your SoulCollage®
deck as a whole - honoring and integrating your ever-evolving
aspects. These "Card Games" offer an understanding of the cards'
intricate relationships. Ideas for new cards come forth, as do new
perspectives on old ones. Through storytelling from her own deck,
Michele will provide group and individual instruction - with ample
time to explore your deck, journal, make cards and share. You'll
learn new ways to utilize your deck as a supportive resource for
embracing life's challenges and as a powerful tool for inner
balance. This retreat is intended for Facilitators as well as for
experienced SoulCollagers who have a lot of cards that are mostly
categorized into suits.
Visit
this page for more information now.
MASSACHUSETTS
Seeing in the Dark: Using SoulCollage®
to Illuminate the Wisdom of the Shadow
Westfield,
MA
October 20-23, 2016
Facilitator: Anne Marie Bennett, Anne Boedecker, Gail
Byrnes
ONLY 4 SPACES
LEFT!
Please join us for a lovely long autumn weekend retreat in western
Massachusetts at Genesis Spiritual Life Center. We will use
SoulCollage®, journaling, guided imagery, small group sharing,
ceremony, and readings with our cards in order to access the wisdom
and light of the shadow as it appears in our lives. There will be
LOTS of time for card making and sharing our SoulCollage® cards, as
well as doing readings with our Decks. For experienced as well as
new SoulCollagers. Come explore with us!
Visit this
page for more information now.
PORTUGAL
Facilitator Training
Hotel Baía,
Cascais
October 20-23, 2016
Facilitator: Linda Woolfson, MA, PhD
Visit this page for
more information now.
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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
2016,
by Anne Marie Bennett and
Catherine Anderson, Cat Caracelo,
Ricia Fleming or Linda Woolfson.
Articles may be reprinted by permission
only.
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Soul Songs
