Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have intoenough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures intosuccess, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes intoimportant events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace fortoday
and creates a vision for tomorrow.
--- Melody Beattie
Inner Journeys with Anne Marie Bennett
Integrating the Practice of SoulCollage Into Our Daily Lives
Gratitude and Blessings
It's Thanksgiving here in the United States this week and I've found myself not looking forward to it much this year. Keep in mind that this is coming from someone who has always loved Thanksgiving way more than Christmas. There is something about Thanksgiving that burrows down deep in my soul and reminds me of my precious place in the whole scheme of things. Well, that... and the turkey too!
But this year I've been noticing myself grumbling a little bit as we've been making plans for a family dinner here at our house, and then dessert at my sister-in-law's. I've already got a lot on my plate (no pun intended). There are so many things that I need to be doing... do I really need to stop for a day and sit with my family and friends and eat? Do I really have time to do this?
So I'm grateful that I am writing this column because it's giving me pause. As I ask myself these questions, I am thinking of several things: the smell of the turkey in the oven (and my husbands yummy stuffing), the warmth of my kindred spirit niece's hug (I don't see her very often), the laughter at the dinner table, my mother-in-law's stories, my sister-in-law's cranberry chutney, the eagerness of the children at the dessert table (ok, and the adults' eagerness too!)... and a whole array of tender memories of Thanksgivings past with my now deceased mom and dad.
A deep breath. Another pause. I'm asking myself these questions again. Do I really need to stop for an entire day and sit with my family and friends and eat? Do I really have time to do this? I ask myself this and of course the answer is a resounding YES!
Yes, I do need to take a day off for Thanksgiving... for the Giving of Thanks. This is one of the reasons why I love this holiday...a day that is all about gratitude! And I'm not going to wait until Thursday. I'm going to start giving thanks right here, right now.
Thank you to each and every one of you, dear Kindred Spirits, who create this magnificent shimmering network of beautiful, creative spirits who are drawn together through the art and practice of SoulCollage. I offer prayers of gratitude for you all, wherever your home is on this blessed earth of ours. And whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I hope that you will find it in your heart to also pause this week to focus on gratitude in your own life.
Reflection Activity:Don't wait until Thursday! Make a list every day this week of 10 things that bring gratitude to the forefront of your mind and soul. Big or small... it doesn't matter. From a new baby in the family to the restful purr of a cat asleep on your lap... if it causes gratitude to rise in your heart, make a note of it, and promise yourself to sit with this gratitude every day this week. Do you have a SoulCollage card for your Grateful Self? Be on the lookout for images. This is a great Thanksgiving weekend project to get going!
Soul Friends
The Voice of a Different Kindred Spirit Each Week
Glenda Rice
Houston, Texas
I've been working withcollage, in some form, for as long as I can remember. I've always cut things out of magazines, keptcards with pictures on the front, and collected images that have specialmeaning for me. My instinct was tocreate pictures with the images when I felt there was something I needed toexpress, but wasn't sure what it was. Iwould let the images guide me and was continually amazed at what came throughme. When I found Seena's book (or maybeit found me) in 2003, my whole experience of collage-making expanded. Through the process of making SoulCollageŽ, I began to find my voice,and it became a mission to share this experience with others.
In my work as apsychotherapist, I work with women and trauma, so I began to use the principlesof SoulCollageŽas a way for women to express feelings that were too hard to express inwords. The process was so gentle and somoving, and women were dealing with issues more honestly, recognizing deepfeelings, and listening to parts of themselves they had not heard before. Again, I was compelled to take the processfurther, so I took the SoulCollageŽ Facilitator training in September, 2007, and haveintegrated SoulCollageŽ card-making into not only my life, but as a part of individual andgroup therapies.
As I have developedgroups, my own creative process has under gone some interesting changes. Where before, I would start with an imagethat I was drawn to and work on one card until it was "finished", I now have 4-6 cards going at one time, and just allow each one to evolve, in its own time,into it's own amazing story of a part of my self. After each is finished, I place it on thealter I have in my study, and allow it to "speak" to me and share itswisdom.
SoulCollageŽ has opened my mind and my heart and given me acreative platform for engaging and expressing the many mysterious parts ofmyself. And, in turn, I invite mycommunity to give this process a try and see what it brings...my way of paying itforward.
Glenda is a Licensed Professional Counselor in privatepractice in Bellaire (Houston), Texas.
I am the one whoreminds you to bring balance back into your life.
I am the one whocalls to you when you forget and give too much of yourself to others.I remind you to return to self.
I am the one whogives you permission to relax and play without feeling guilty.
Brother of my Spirit
Suit- Community
I made this card for my brother, Doyle (and for me) beforehe died in August.Very healing for bothof us.
I am the one whotaught you how to catch fireflies and then taught you how to let them go.
I am the one whoreminds you that our connection will always be there...after all, we're "Bettys".
I am the one whoremained true to my self, even though it was at a cost.
SoulCollage Expressions Ideas and Challenges to Spice Up Your SoulCollage Practice
Idea of the Week
Repositionable Glue Stick
A participant at the recent Facilitator Training in Maryland told us that she couldn't live without her Elmer's Repositionable Glue Stick when making her SoulCollage cards. I just bought one at Office Depot and look forward to using it myself. It allows you to place and replace the elements of your collage without becoming permanent until you are ready for it to be permanent.
Kindred Spirits Member News Making the Most of Your KaleidoSoul Membership
It's really easy to get to your Members' Home Page:
1. Go to KaleidoSoul.com and click on the "Members Log In Here" Logo on the left, under the lavender menu buttons.
2. Type in your Member's Password and press the Enter Key.
3. If you've forgotten your Members' Password, please send a reply to this email and request that we re-send it to you.
4. Voila! You're on your Kindred Spirits Home Page! From here, you can access the Discount Shop, The Audio Library, all back issues of Soul Treasures and everything else.
Welcome to Our New KaleidoSoul Staff Member I'd like to welcome KaleidoSoul's new Virtual Assistant, Mary Hicks, from Worcester, MA. Mary is now responsible for Membership processing and renewals, as well as processing and shipping all orders. You can read Mary's story on this KaleidoSoul page.
And Then There Were Three: Welcome, Kimee Doherty
I am thrilled to announce that Kimee Doherty, from Malden MA has joined our KaleidoSoul Team as our official Newsletter Production Assistant. Kimee will be taking over the production/compilation of Soul Songs and Soul Treasures, although I will still be writing them. Kimee is a professional graphic designer for an autoresponder company similar to the one I use for our newsletters, so she brings a fine expertise to this new role, as well as a passion for SoulCollage.
2009 KaleidoSoul Desk Calendars Are Here
Nicethings DO come in small packages! Check out KaleidoSoul's very own2009 Desk Calendars. They are bright, colorful, inspiring, and createdwith joy and love by Anne Marie Bennett. Each month features afull-color reproduction of one of her original mixed media collages,along with a specially chosen quotation that will keep your soul singing all year long.
I love collage and I love quotes. How wonderful to be able to see both when doing something as mundane as checking the date. --- Lisa, Virginia
I have enjoyed both of my calendars. They were made with love and light, and that is reflected on each page. --- Ann, Georgia
This year the Soul Colors Calendars are $12 each, or $20 for 2. Plus, there are bigger discounts if you buy 5 or more.
Remember, we have a limited quantity and will only be selling them for a limited time. Get yours soon!
Our Next Tele-Class
A New Earth and SoulCollage
with Fran Cherlow, SoulCollage Facilitator in California
Stay tuned... details and description coming in next week's issue!
Date: Tuesday December 16
Time: 8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 pm Central, 6:00 pm Mountain, 5:00 pm Pacific, 3 p.m. Hawaiian, Wednesday 1 a.m. in London, Wednesday 2 a.m. in Rome, Wednesday 12 noon. in Melbourne Australia and Wednesday 2 p.m. in New Zealand
Save thedatenow.
Allof our tele-classes are FR*EE for members, always! And remember, don't worry if you can't attend... we'll be recording it and you can listen to it anytime in your Member's Only Audio Library. We will give you the phone number and access code to call in that week's issue of Soul Treasures.
Upcoming Tele-Classes and Presenters:
January 4, 2009 (Sunday, 4 pm Eastern time) SoulCollage Rituals for the New Year, with Jeanne Marie Merkel, SoulCollage Facilitator in New York. Cultures all around the world have wonderful rituals to welcome the New Year... let's do the same with our precious practice of SoulCollage.
February 2009- How To Lead a SoulCollage Group if You're Not a Facilitator, with Imelda Maguire, SoulCollage Facilitator in Ireland. Looking for ideas on how to lead a SoulCollage group, whether or not you're a trained Facilitator? Imelda will share her years of experience leading SoulCollage. Please join us and share your own ideas too, or just hang out and listen.
March 2009- The Voices of Our Addictions: Transformation Through SoulCollage, with Kat Kirby, SoulCollage Facilitator and Art Therapist in San Diego. Shopping, food, Internet use, other people, drugs, alcohol... These are all things that serve us for atime, take away our pain, but no longer work for us. We'll use this hour together to talk about ways we can use SoulCollage to remind us of our authentic self, thereby freeing ourselves of our addictions and finding our way backto health.
Kindred Spirits SoulCollage Retreat
Come As You Are: Nurturing Self-Acceptance with SoulCollage, A Weekend Retreat
June 25-28, 2009
Rolling Ridge Retreat Center
Andover, Massachusetts
There are only 5 spaces left.... is one of them for you?
Note: As a special Thanksgiving Gift to all of you, we're leaving the Early Bird prices in place for just a little while longer.
Sign up now and save $100... also pay in several smaller monthly payments, so it's affordable for one and all!
April17-19, 2009 inLitchfield,Connecticut. Ifyou've been longing to take your SoulCollage practice out into the world bybecoming an "official" Facilitator, then please join us for abeautiful spring weekend at Wisdom House. There's more information onthis KaleidoSoul page .
Soul Nourishment Websites, Music and More..
Anna Witte-Delightful art from artist Anna Witte. Click on "Portfolio" to see more.
Sacred Mesa- Restful site full of journaling (and other) ideas for deepening spirituality and your own inner work.
NovusMagnificat: Through the Stargate, by Constance Demby. I was first introduced to this music 20 years agoby an Episcopal Priest who taught his parishioners yoga. It is sublime,mysterious, and ethereal.
KaleidoSoul Community Yahoo Group- This is a safe space where you can connect with other SoulCollagers,post your cards (only if you want to) and ask your questions.
Soul Nourishment- Books
Singing at the Top of Our Lungs: Women,Love, and Creativity, by Claudia Bepko and Jo-Ann Krestan. If there is one book that started me on myown intentional creative journey many years ago, this is it. Often our desire to "sing at the top of ourlungs" is quelled, but there are specific paths that women can follow toembrace or self-expression and source of joy in work, relationships andcreative pursuits. Based on originalresearch with more than 300 women, the authors identify four dominant lifepatterns that women can create in order to lead lives that are passionate,creative, exuberant, and loving. I remember reading this book and feeling likeI'd fallen into step with many kindred creative spirits, as well as fallinginto step with my own creative self for the first time.
Creating Mandalas for Insight, Healing,and Self-Expression, by Susanne Fincher. This book is a classic for anyone fascinatedby the ancient (yet current) art of mandalas. Susanne introduces the history and ritual use of mandalas in culturesall over the world; discusses techniques for creating your own mandalas, offersguidance in choosing art materials, and explains the symbolism of colors,numbers, shapes and motifs. There arealso several illustrated case histories of people who have successfully usedher techniques.
Being in Balance, by Dr. WayneDyer. 9 Principles for Creating Habitsto Match Your Desires. This book looksand feels like a special gift book, and it's one that you can give yourself aswell as someone you love. It's aboutre-aligning our thoughts to match up with what we truly want. Beautifully illustrated, and simple toread. A life-changing book.
Inspirations: Meditations from theArtist's Way, by Julia Cameron. A very small-in-size book that is bursting with wisdom. Each page has a short bit of wisdom fromJulia's fabulous book, The Artist'sWay. I keep this on my art tablewithin easy reach for encouragement and support, and a reminder of who I am ascreator and artist.
Soul Treasuresis brought to you by KaleidoSoul.com, Spinning thefragments of your world intowholeness and beauty through SoulCollage.
SoulCollageŽ cards aremade either from one's own art or from images found in materials which havebeen bought by or given to the SoulCollage card maker. These collaged cards areused only for the cardmaker's own inner exploration.
SoulCollage cards are not sold, traded, bartered, or copied (except as aback-up for the card maker's own use) as is stated in the Principles of SoulCollage.
Where SoulCollage cards are availableto be seen by others, it is for the purposes either of demonstrating theSoulCollage process or of sharing the card maker's inner process in the contextof community.
SoulCollage is grateful to the artists and photographers who make this deepawakening process possible and in all ways SoulCollage seeks to be respectfulof their rights.
Soul Treasures is published by KaleidoSoul.com and Anne Marie Bennett. Please do not reproduce orforward this newsletter in any way. Inner Journeys,copyright 2008, by Anne Marie Bennett. All rights reserved.
To give us feedback, we inviteyou to send a reply email to this message.
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