Soul Songs: Your SoulCollage NewsletterSoulSongs
Your SoulCollage® Newsletter

Enabling us to sing the songs
we were born to sing
through the practice
of SoulCollage®
Issue #50   August, 2009 Theme: First Chakra Animal Companions
Welcome!

Greetings, and welcome to Soul Songs, the official KaleidoSoul Newsletter, and the only monthly newsletter that focuses exclusively on SoulCollage® ideas, resources and artists.

Our intention is to fill each issue (and your life) with inspiration, soul-solace and delight.  Whether you are new to SoulCollage®, or already immersed in the creation of your deck, Soul Songs is for you. 

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Read back issues of Soul Songs on this KaleidoSoul page.

Soul Singing with Anne Marie
Anne Marie, the creator of KaleidoSoul.com
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.


Brown Bear

When Seena Frost created the Companions Suit, she called it the "energetic dimension" of the SoulCollage® Deck. This encompasses two energies: nature's energy, and the body's energy. The way that these two come together is what makes our SoulCollage® work with animal guides unique.

Seena based the foundation of this suit on the work of Stephen Gallegos, author of Personal Totem Pole.  If you are interested in more detail about how these two energies come together, I suggest you read his book and/or listen to Seena Frost's new CD:The Companions Suit.

For now, let's focus on the first chakra, which is the energy center in the human body located at the base of the spine. This chakra, also called The Root Chakra, is focused on our sense of survival, tribe, family, groundedness, and sense of Home. When this chakra is in healthy functioning mode, you experience a sense of security and a wholesome relationship to the earth and to nature, and to the place that you call home.

I discovered my first chakra companion, brown bear, while listening to Seena's guided meditation on herIntroduction to SoulCollage® CD.  You can see my Brown Bear card on my blog, Inner Surprises. 

It's interesting to note that when I created my Brown Bear card, I didn't really understand clearly what the chakras were all about. I was just allowing my imagination and intuition to lead me. Later, when I did some more reading about the chakras, and I realized that it had to do with a sense of security and home, I had to chuckle to myself at the synchronicity of how I happened to put the house with the open door on this card which was made totally intuitively.

I'd also like to point out here that sometimes, when you are doing the guided meditation to invite one of your Companions to come forth, you might discover a different element of nature instead. For example, you might "see" the sky, a tree, a flower, a gemstone, a shaft of sunlight, cluster of stars, ice crystals, the ocean, or any other aspect of nature.

This month why not spend some time focusing on your own First Chakra. How grounded are you feeling? If you feel you need some support in this realm of your body, why not invite your own First Charka Companion to come forward... and watch what happens!

You might also enjoy these resources for your own Companions Suit work:
  1. Wise and Wonderful: A Guided Exploration of the SoulCollage® Companions Suit - 6 week e-course focusing entirely on this suit. Short weekly lessons with homeplay assignments. Work at your own pace. A unique learning experience.
  2. Power Animals Tele-class - led by SoulCollage® Facilitator, Michele Lessirard.

     
Anne Marie Bennett is a freelance writer, self-taught artist, SoulCollage® Facilitator and Facilitator Trainer who trained with Seena Frost. Her background is elementary education, computer software training, writing, and mixed media art. She lives, laughs, writes, and sings (and makes her own SoulCollage® cards!) in Beverly, MA. More of Anne Marie's cards/interpretations are available on her blog, Inner Surprises.
 

 
Soul Symphonies with Karen

My name is Karen Mann and I'm a SoulCollage® facilitator from Melbourne, Australia. This column is for those of you who have already made some cards & are ready to discover the symphony of voices inside of you and around you. 



Why Beaver is the Perfect 1st Chakra Companion For Me


The animal that is my companion for my first chakra is the beaver. I discovered this while experiencing Seena Frost's guided meditation (see above links). While I don't know a whole lot about beavers (we don't have beavers in Australia) I have supplemented the little I do know with some research and have discovered some valuable qualities that Beaver has to share with me.

SAFETY

I learnt that if danger is approaching, a beaver will slap its large flat tail on the surface of the water to make a vibrating alarm call that sends all beavers diving under water to hide from any approaching danger. It is interesting to note that the tail slap of a younger beaver (recognisable as a different sounding slap from a smaller tail) is often ignored by older beavers as the younger of the species are still learning when a slap is really required and may slap when there is no real threat.

What this behaviour has taught me-

In the past week I have been put in an awkward situation at work when someone told me that something was a risk to a project (and I acted in their advice) only to realise later that perhaps the risk wasn't as large as they led me to believe. My tail slapping beaver has reminded me that sometime I need to seek the corroboration of a more experienced "beaver" before taking action. My companion says I am the one who checks the facts before running scared. I seek the advice of more experienced staff when I am unsure how real a risk something is.

PEACE AND QUIET

I also read about an experiment in which researchers left speakers with the sound of rushing water playing loudly overnight nearby a beaver dam. In the morning when they returned they found that the speakers were buried under sticks and mud and gravel, with the sound from the speakers no longer audible. It seems that the trigger for the beavers to build a dam was to build it until the sound of the water rushing was stopped - not an actual desire to stem the flow of water for other reasons (although there are other pay-offs for the beavers once the water has stoped flowing - like it is easier to catch fish).

What this behaviour has taught me-

I am someone who loves peace and quiet and is easily irritated by loud or repetitive noises. My beaver companion reminds me that there is probably a deeper reason why I'm attracted to the peace and quiet, and gives me permission to seek peace and quiet when I need it, without apology. My companion says: I am the one who craves peace and quiet. I give myself permission to care for myself by creating an environment that helps me feel calm and serene.

INDUSTRIAL & PERSISTENT

Beavers are also industrious, resourceful and persistent. A beaver can fell a small tree using its teeth. The biggest recorded tree felled by beavers was 46 inches in diameter. Beavers also build dams that can halt a stream or change its course.

What this behaviour has taught me-

Can you imagine being able to fell a tree with your teeth? This definitely reminds me that I can achieve anything I put my mind to (and nothing is impossible!). If I take action and work diligently, I can make things happen. I'm also reminded that I have the power to change the course of my own life. I am the one who is persistent and consistent. I don't give up when the going gets tough. I keep "beavering" away and trusting that eventually my efforts will be rewarded.

These are but a few of the lessons I have learnt through researching my 1st charka companion, Beaver. I encourage you to spend some time connecting with your companion animals, and listening to the lessons they can share with you. This may be through stories, myths, legends, nature documentaries or other research. You may like to view your animal in the wild or a zoo. Just spend some time getting to know the habits of your animals and see how they relate to you, your chakras and your life.


Karen Mann is an artist, art teacher, Lifestyle Coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and SoulCollage® facilitator. Karen has been working with SoulCollage® cards for more than four years and facilitates a variety of SoulCollage® Groups. Karen also runs SoulCollage® Facilitator Training weekends. Karen offers regular workshops in Melbourne and Geelong, Australia, and is also available to travel to other regions in Australia. For more information, or to contact Karen, please visit her website, Flying Colours Creativity.
 
 

KaleidoSoul Creations

As promised, we are featuring SoulCollage® cards from our readers in each issue.

Each card below is one SoulCollager's expression of First Chakra Animal Companions.
  

 

First chakra: Moose
Alison
Australia


I am the one who is the Monarch of the forest, whose antlers spread out and up like a crown. I am the one who supports and protects you. I am the one who is pulsing with a fiery energy, with the life force. I am the one who connects you to holy ground.




First Chakra: Bee
Dot
Pennsylvania

I am the one who works like a busy bee trying to learn as much as I can so I can pass it along to others so they can learn it, too-- like a bee passes the pollen on to others in the hive to make the sweet honey. I am the one who sometimes gets so carried away with my learning and knowing that I can use my knowledge to sting others when I do not intend to do that. I am the one who wants to lead others to the hive with my dance so they can get the sweet honey for themselves.




1st Chakra : Tree
Marti
Illinois

I am the One Who is deeply rooted In ancient wisdom and intelligence, Holding firmly to the mystery of my origin. I am the One Who provides The structure for growth and The home for the universe to show its blossoms.




Divine Spark
Julia
United Kingdom

I am the One who will carry my divine spark through life and I will be protected from the ground up!





Please feel free to submit one of your cards for a future issue by sending a reply email to this newsletter.

Future themes include:

Feeling Sexy
Second Chakra Animals
Prayer
 
 

KaleidoSoul Notes
KaleidoSoul Notes

Noteworthy resources for anyone interested in SoulCollage®

Facilitator TrainingsFacilitator Trainings: Information about content and dates/locations of upcoming trainings of SoulCollage® Facilitators.


SoulCollage websiteSoulCollage 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®.


Tele-Classes - These are fun, interactive tele-classes that are easily accessed from anywhere in the world. 
 
This month's tele-class is:
Power Animals
Presented by Michele Lessirard Shamanic teacher/practitioner and SoulCollage® Facilitator in Florida. There are more details on this KaleidoSoul page.


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Monday August 10, 2009

 
Soul Songs Back Issues - Read back issues of Soul Songs on this KaleidoSoul page. An excellent resource. 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 2009,
by Anne Marie Bennett and Karen Mann.
Articles may be reprinted by permission only.