Zines for planning

When preparing to teach a class, i generally make notes of what I plan to include in my journal, and I have a sets of prompt cards for the flow of an intentional creativity class. Last summer, I happened on a call with the lovely Denise Daffara on working in little "zines" ... but had missed the instructions, lol! 
So after the call, looked up how to make one, and was enchanted! 

Calendar and Zines in process

Who doesn't like tiny booklets? And with the central slit, they fold into a cover and several pages - perfect for a little collage session, or a planning booklet! 

Double Calendar spread, paint and collage

We made zines at our next Red Thread Circle, a double spread from this calendar made a fun booklet that is a bit larger. I liked some of the black and white illustrations of candles and beeswax, so worked around including them. The small blue Zine was made from one calendar page. 

Acrylic paint and collage

The double calendarspread, or even piece of notebook paper is a great size for a small "class notes" booklet, which can be written in directly or painted and collaged. Hers a little "kid friendly zine" tutorial.
It could also be:

• A poetry booklet
• A mini art journal
• A process page - write what you want to compost on the 'inside,' paint over' then flip and fold to "grow some lilies"
• A booklet of symbols you use in your paintings
• Writing about your painting

In our community we create Vision Plan books on watercolor paper as part of the Color of Woman quest. These are a lovely visual way of collating ideas for our work with IC, but in a larger format. 

Vision Plan Book

I am enjoying the compact booklets for collection my class ideas, as another option. 
What's your favorite style of booklet? 
Happy Paint Party Friday!

Painting with Intention

Intentional Creativity® offers an approach to painting (and other creative projects) where we set our intention at the beginning, and follow our curiosity, using inquiries and letting the brush lead. It is a way to activate Breakthrough, without Breakdown, to attune to  inner guidance and own images. It can also be a powerful mindfulness process. As we paint dots, dashes and other repetitive patterns, we move into a flow state. 
Changes occur in the electromagnetic field around us, when receive from the unmanifest, and bring that information through the portal, into our painting. 

We begin with a theme, often choosing an archetype to provide a framework and images for our painting.

• How do we connect with our Muse of Creativity, or lead a more Legendary Life? 
• What are our Super powers? 
• What gifts sand talents are in our medicine baskets?

While the themes, and archetypes are limitless, we are encouraged to choose one that lights us up, or has us "shaking in our boots!"

Siren Song 

Whether working on our own, or teaching a class, I use a step-by step method designed to foster insights and inner access. Founder Shiloh Sophia writes, "There's something sacred about the container, about the formula holding you, that allows for freedom to emerge. You are going to create an intuitive painting, from the heart of your own self. You'll learn to use your visionary lens for Active Imagination to connect with the light and spaciousness of your own sovereignty."

We usually begin with a visioning, a guided Meditation focused around the archetype it theme of the painting. Everyone has their own paths of access, so while some may receive visual images, another will "hear" something, and yet another may have a more tactile experience, including the hint of a scent. 
There's no "right or wrong" way! Even if you feel you didn't "get" anything, as we spend time with our Journal and canvas, images and symbols emerge. The painting become our visionary Portal.

Juju Journal · One of the keys to the intuitive painting process is moving back and forth between the canvas and our Journal. Using image and inquiry, we follow the thread of the story we are weaving, and access information we didn't know we knew. This practice of asking for information and allowing images to emerge helps is transform old stories, and gives us more bandwidth for good juju.

As we move through the steps, we build upon previous layers. Something you loved may later get lost, to, perhaps, re-emerge later, like a dear friend, well-met after years apart! So we remind ourselves, don't get attached! (And take photos!) 
With our inquiries, we note where something similar happens in daily life, hmm... and may ask, 'how does our guide receive information?' 'What symbols does she have?' 'What are some of the trials and dangers faced?' 'How does she overcome them?' 'What weakness is she ready to transform?'

Student painting - in progress

Partway through, we send our lady into the mist with a risky glaze, spraying the canvas with water, and using a big brush and diluted transparent color to unify the painting, and send her into the Fog! I wrote about glaze options in my last post, and additional glazes adds depth and luminosity. This is a great time for journaling, exploring what is going behind the glaze and getting lost, what is coming through? How does she want to re-emerge?

Step by step, we journey to the heart and soul of our lady, to our own heart and soul! Sometimes we get discouraged - have I lost her?? ... Ah, no, there she is! Lose her, find her, lose her! ... This dance may occur several times, as we move towards completion. Confused about what's next?
Ask her.
Listen. Record ...
Bring in more light, illuminate - we're *cooling sacks of stardust* - the light beams from within! 

At some point - during the Workshop or later, as we feel compete,  we sit back at least 6' and hand her the pen. This is a time of inviting information, her statement, perhaps a poem. There may be a message about the next mission, insight into an old story, a recurring roadblock, codes, secret language, a lexicon of symbols...

And even after we'd done this "final step," ... We may get called back to the canvas (often years later!!) Because she wants something else! ... 
And if we're listening, we come!  

When in doubt, take it to the journal ...

In our Intentional Creativity Classes and personal practice, we spend significant time with our journals, unpacking information and insights. 

A wonderful practice is to begin the day with a cup of your favorite beverage and your journal. I recently moved a wicker chair about 6' from my easel, (which my kitty thinks is especially for him, lol) I have my colored pencils, a book of poetry, and several journals nearby, for this important part of my process. 

Symbols for Wonder Woman

During a class or after, there often comes a point where the student becomes frustrated, and just wants to slap a coat of gesso over the canvas, and start over! 

Ah ....

This is such a potent point, which can be an opportunity for recognizing old patterns / unconscious reactions, and shed light on the issue, on ways we've been stuck. It's one of the ways we call access a breakthrough, rather than a breakdown! 
How can we use it? 
What if we tried something different this time?

In the classroom, two of my favourite phrases for this stuck/I wanna start over point are: "When in doubt, Glaze!" and, "take it to the Journal!"

** If you just got home, I suggest waiting at least overnight before making any changes! Give your canvas (and yourself) time for reentry. This is a great time to journal about your experience and anything that came up.

Collage - vessels over watercolor pencil

• Take it to the Journal: Move back about 6' and sit with your journal. This is a good time to write fast and furious about whatever is coming up, and is fun to use watercolor pencils. If something seems important, you may want to note it elsewhere, or just process - get it out! (I hear Shrek, "Better out than in!") Is this something that's come up before? Is there a voice attached to it? (Can you identify a person who told you that?) You may want to dialogue a bit with your Muse. You can let the words and colors cross and build.This is your compost layer ... 
• Next, One option is to sketch a flower, lotus or rose, or perhaps a simple daisy, in the center, and activate the colored pencil around it with water - no mud, no lotus! You can use paint over the flower petals, to highlight the shift. You can also use collage (like my image above) 
• Here are 150+ prompts if you want to completely step back and puddle around with something different for awhile! That's a good option! 
• How do you feel now? Look at your painting again, how do you feel about it? Did you get insights on how to proceed? Ask your Muse what she wants you to do! At this point, you can write about the shift, before you return to the canvas. Let it sit! Go do something else for awhile! 
• It can also help to return to the initial visioning and inquiry - return to that page in your journal. Ask yourself if/ how what's coming relates to those? What attracted you to this class or project in the first place? What's shifted who've you first wrote? What insight is arising?

Applying a partial Glaze in a recent class

• When in doubt, Glaze: Glazing can be scary, and is so potent!! It is a great way to integrate what has gone before, and is another key component of our process with Intentional Creativity. In class, glaze partway through with a transparent color - Golden's Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold is a favorite! Each layer adds depth. You want to gesso? Look for a transparent color, water it down a bit, use a big brush and cover the canvas with a layer of glaze. (Golden Fluids work best for this) you can lay it flat to dry, or use a piece of T-shirt, to rub and "burnish" the canvas. ... 
• Then, you guessed it! 
• Sit back with your journal, and write about what's being integrated! 
• Glaze options: a) partial glaze, use one color on half the canvas, and another on the other half. Smudge the line between the two, burnish if you wish. b) 4 directions: choose 4 transparent colors. Spritz the canvas with water, then use the first color along the top, spritz again and let it drip ...rotate the canvas, spritz and use the next color ... Spray, paint, play with the drips. Turn the canvas again ... c) White!! If you REALLY want to gesso the whole thing, try spritzing the canvas, choose a direction, paint white along the "top", spray again and let it drip! Or use white on the area you "don't like" and spray it, let it drip ... d) Gold! Our inner Critics are easily distracted by shiny objects! Spray the canvas, and use splashes of gold or another metallic in a few areas! e) White and gold, in different areas.
• And - however you glazed, grab your journal, and write about what's coming up, what's being integrated. Do you still feel like starting over? What happens if you turn the canvas and get a differing perspective? 

In our process with Intentional Creativity, each layer builds on the last, and we are invited to return to our Journal, and our notes in messages from the original visionary journey, and our intention for the piece. 
What if there was nothing we could get wrong? 
What if we let the canvas rest while we do, sleep on it, and revisit it in the morning? 

Magic brushes and altar

Paint brushes are magic wands - will we let them work their magic?
Happy Paint Party Friday!

CODEX - Crystal HeArt Song

Crystal HeArt Song

Whispers from harp strings
Cross the bridge of veils
Between the worlds, written, unwritten
Named, unnamed
Language shimmers and shifts 
On pages in the Akashic library
Sun crystals hold the records
In our very hearts. 

We sip nectar from
The chalice of remembering,
Remember, remember!
Flowers bless the air with their subtle perfume
And the liquid with the memory of summer
Bringing healing and wholing 
To the people
To the SiStars and mothers
To the children
To the fathers and brothers

Access through creativity is coded in our very DNA
Our hands read the Braille
Of our memories and old knowing
As we sift through the treasure trove
For hidden gold.
Practices which bring joy
Hold the key

Will you hear and be heard
As we strstrike the ringing strings
Feel the shift in your bones
Come, come
It is time
Let the heart Crystal ignite
And reverberate its song to the stars

Crystal HeArt Song© Nadya 2019

As we compete this 13 moon journey, and prepare for the next adventure (Anthropas) I dedicate this painting to several beloved teachers and friends.

• Marion Coe, my piano teacher - who would love that I play the harp! Wise and kind,I thank you.
• Lynn Marchant, with whom I began studying ballet as an adult, who infused Grace into my life, thank you.
• My friend Given Bliss, who passed last year on my birthday - too soon gone dancing on her Cosmic body!

Tea Camellia

A few days ago, my tea Camellia flowers caught my eye, and I decided to make a flower essence (here's how I create an essence) - and one landed in the painting yesterday!

Molly Sheehan of Green Hope Farm essences offers a lovely definition for Tea Camellia, "I AM the Ancient One, rooted in timeless beginnings. I bring Stillness, connection to one's True Self, and provide a mirror for self reflection.

Camellia flower essence

Wishing the Color of Woman class of 2019 many blessings on their graduation this weekend and next week - well done!! 
And happy Paint Party Friday to my blog rolling friends, and 100 Days of Creative Bliss bodies!

Cross pollination

As I spend time in my little Atelier, I'm embodying how each painting informs others in I'm working on! The reverse stencil technique and landscape background from Treesister came into play as I was brewing remedies in the apothecary yesterday. 

Apothecary -Good Medicine

As I looked at my journal notes from last year's Apothecary, In the Still Room, I realized several symbols had showed up in my CODEX painting as it evolves, the Hamsa hand, the 7 Pointed fairy star, and of course the harps in Apothecary and CODEX! 

Vision Plan Book

Part of our CODEX journey, and intentional Creativity, is to attend to these common elements and symbols, as we engage our intuition and inner knowing. 

CODEX - in process

What common elements do you find in your work? 
Happy Paint Party Friday!

Harvest Queen and Treesisters

Because of a scheduling *error,* I needed to choose another day for my monthly circle, and decided to offer a little "paint party with a Red Thread Twist." It was my first local class in awhile, ten gals came, and we had so much fun! More classes are in the works, and we're talking about offering little Sip and Paint parties in my friend Holli's MECA gallery.

Harvest Queen in Process

 Two gals who have painted with Shiloh in person and online came from a town about 3 hours away! For many of the others, it was their first face on canvas, and they did so well.

Harvest Queens 

I am on the online support team for the Treewoman class Australian artist Jassy Watson offered a coupe of weeks ago in Sonoma. It's been awesome to see the variety and the wonderful connections with nature women around the globe are making. We began by sketching patterns and shapes from the natural world and human made, and making marks on our canvasses. (I used a square wood panel) Scraps of collage came next, often from pour own writing.

Treewoman - marks collage and sketch

We were invited to begin noticing shapes and forms of trees in our surroundings, plus the season and colors, and even what "season" is prevalent in our lives. I like the process of inquiry and observation in our painting practice!

Tree woman in a Newberg park

Leaves are turning colors here in the Pacific NW, and the rains beginning to come, but it's alternatly sunny, October's Bright Blue Weather! Last weekend's full moon danced into Her branches.

Pearly full moon in Aries

I'm tending in the classroom over the weekend, as some near completion, and others join the journey. I'm thinking of using a tall canvas and having another go ...

Dance of the Treewomen© 2019

What's on your easel or in your journal??
Happy Paint Party Friday!

Treesisters

How can it be Fall?!! Time is zipping by so fast!

Last weekend Maestra Shiloh invited our Red Thread community to pull out a WIP out two, and Git-er done! I made good progress with CODEX (a 13 moon journey - I am about half-way through! ... We began last year - fortunately there's no "behind" - right? ... But I need to Git-er done if I want the certificate!) 

CODEX - WIP (Work in Process)

This weekend, Jassy Watson and Gisela are up from Australia, and will be offering Treewoman and Soulscape at the Musea studio in Sonoma. When I began my Intentional Creativity journey in 14, I painted mama Gaia in an online offering with Jassy, and love her easy supportive style! 

Mama Gaia - 2014

I painted similar dancing tree women when I was living in the words in the early 90s, and am looking forward to this offering. I'll be offering online support with my IC Guild SiStars Mary Ann, Rosie Mac and Jo Laurie. it is always a joy to witness and support our sisters in their proceeds of self discovery through painting and journaling. We'll continue work support over the next couple of weeks. You'll find information on and registration for the class here.

I'll be preparing a birch panel - seems appropriate for #Treesister!! 


Happy PPF! 

Codes and Codecies

 I've been in the Atelier this week, which also marked my birthday! This time last week, I was in the mountains with my daughter's family and our friend Monika with her younger kids - a wonderful end of summer camping trip before the kids headed back to school. Then we made a visit to the ocean for sun on the beach, and several yummy BD meals ...

The Apothecary journey was again powerful, and it was an honor to hold space in the virtual classroom with several SiStars, as we watched the work unfold. My vessels are bubbling away... More to come! My friend Sherry and I intend to offer an in person event within the next few months.

Apothecary Medicine Painting

Last fall our intentional creativity community began a 13 Moon painting journey called CODEX, which began with journal prompts and a big canvas. After "awhile" away, I brought mine back to the easel yesterday, brought in more symbols and energy codes. Do you get distracted, and wonder where the time went? Guilty! But "there's no behind," ... Just different process! 
I've been shepherding a group of SiStars on the Color of Woman journey In years past, who are in "Muse Time" as they compete their quests, and am so pleased that several have competed their initiate books, and graduated from the training! 

CODEX - in process

I've shared to do more coaching, and a few weeks ago I had an individual session with a nearby SiStar. We were both pleased with our inspiring time together. I love this process of each doing our own work, and bring forth our own symbols and images! Our session was only 4 hours, and I've spent more time with mine since.

My Demo 

Muse of Creativity

My friend Margot and I are planning our fall workshop in her studio, set for the second weekend in November. I'd love and SiStars in Oregon to join us! 

What's in your cup, and on your easel? 
Happy Paint Party Friday!

Apothecary 2019

Our painting community is embarking on another journey into the alchemical plan of the Apothecarian, with around 100 from around the globe using the process of inquiry, journaling and paint to transform tragedies into remedies. 

This will be the 5th time Shiloh and Jonathan teach Apothecary, and is the second online version. (You can read about last year's journey here)  Our art journal prompts come from the wonderful Jenafer Joy, and are awesome as usual. The process itself has been put in the crucible, and is being distilled for IC teachers to offer our own versions of Apothecary to local students.

I am one of the gals witnessing and offering support in our online classroom, and am working

Altar holding space for the Atelier

this morning to get my space ready. For more than a year, I've been "in process" with moving my studio from my dinning nook to part of my living room, about time I finished that project, don't you think??!! (Where does the time go?)

Yesterday we opened the Apothecary class with a Zoom session - this is such a great way to connect with community! 
Shiloh invited us to do a couple of "pen and paper" exercises, identifying one old story that was coming up - draw a representation of it, then find and draw an antidote. These processes are so accessible, and are one of the tools I use in my coaching practice. Mine was around valuing I need to do it all myself - the antidote is the triple spiral of connection/interdependence! 

Journal prompt

Time to get back to the clearing and shifting of the Atelier! 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Rose Beads and Red Thread

June roses are so magical and I love those with old fashioned fragrance! 

Since my teen years, I've been making rose beads, you can read about my adventures here, and here. 

For yesterday's Red Thread Circle I led a group of 6 SiStars through the process, and everyone went home with at least a dozen beads in an egg carton! 

One SiStar shared a necklace she made when her son was young, strung with beads she'd made wrapping the petals around a toothpick, saying a prayer/wish for him as she wrapped each one. 

I have 5 fragrant roses: an old Moss from a pioneer cemetery, my family dark pink rose, a

Fragrant fresh rose petals

variegated   Rosa Mundi, with pink stripes on white, and two David Austin roses (Gertrude Jekell and Jude the Obscure) 

With the abundance of fresh petals, I gather petals daily, simply pulling loose petals off the centers, leaving the hips to develop. 

I filled my crockpot nearly to the brim, and added a splash of rose tea. I kept the spices simple, Garam Masala and some extra cinnamon, and began simmering three days before our gathering.

Rose tea : rose petals, rose geranium leaves, lemon verbena, yarrow and lavender, steeped in my little French press.

I'd turn the crock pot on, stir a bit, and leave it at the lowest setting for an hour. I did that a couple of times the first two days, adding a splash of liquid as needed. Late the second day, I ran then through my food processor, and returned the mash to the crockpot, heating and cooling again. Since many of the petals were pale, and the crock pot ceramic, the mash stayed pale. Using darker petals and exposure to iron makes darker mask and beads.

Rose petal mash after grinding

We had a delightful circle, with 4 of the 6 gals traveling 20 - 45 minutes to join us! One wore a necklace she'd made with beads filled with prayers and wishes for her son (now a teen!) She'd simple rolled petals around a toothpick! We each passed our necklace around the circle before beginning to craft the beads.

I brought fresh raspberries and strawberries (both in the rose family!) And two sun teas - one raspberry leaf with yarrow and lemon verbena from my yard, the other a ginger mango white tea. The chocolate was a delicious Honey Mamma bar, with rose petals and lavender! 

I brought shallow cups for our handful of mash (squeezing the juice back into the crockpot). We filled our cups, chatted while rolling our beads, and had plates for the finished beads. They will shrink as they dry, so make them about twice as big as you'd like them. (More details on the process here)

When we finished, we each had 1-2 dozen beads, and took then home in an egg carton or

A carton of Rose Beads

two!  Give the egg carton a shake to keep the beads from sticking, and pierce holes the next day. After our circle,  several of us went to a favorite restaurant, and then on to a drumming circle! What a lovely way to compete the day! 

When I got home, there was about 1/2 C of liquid with bits of mash in my crockpot, so I gathered a last round of fresh petals, and added them to the pot. Then got out a couple of jars of dried roses and petals, and separated petals from the stems and other pieces. 

Grinding dry petals: I fill the hopper of my seed mill, add a sprinkle of powdered Garam Masala and cinnamon, and whizz several times, then dump the powder into the top, and refill the hopper with whole petals, tip in the powder and grind again. I do that a couple of times, which makes for a finer grind! (I'm always learning!) 

- This was added to the pot, plus some more liquid, and heated (I may have left the crockpot on the warm setting all night, oops!! Could smell them in the morning - mmm!) So sometime today/this weekend I'll  grind them, then roll more beads!! I can think of worse things to do! 

Lastly, here's a sweet video Jodi shared with us - I love the way this Harper/ fairy women sings while rolling the beads! I'm a Harper as well, and the pale yellowish rose at the beginning looks like my Jude the Obscure (one of the Austin roses) 
If you are inspired to try it now - here is a tutorial on making 4-5 beads using a couple of dried roses! (Neither of these gals simmer their petals!) 

Jude the Obscure

Do you have a favorite memory/ use of summer roses?

Happy paint party Friday!! 

Wonder Woman's Allies

It's sometimes challenging to wait for the Muse to announce the theme for our monthly Red Thread circle ... "Maybe? ...no, ...ok, how about? .... Mmmm,  ...." 

We've been working with several prompts and inquiries as we journey with #wonderwoman, we ask ourselves, "who are her allies? What superpowers is she developing?" So that became the theme for Thursday's circle! As we often do for these circles, we worked on Watercolor paper and, used Inktense pencils and shimmer watercolor for "bling!"'
Items on the altar included wool cards that my great grandmother brought over on the wagon train, and rose beads I made (inspired by grandma Mary's)

Red Thread Alta

I was excited to have a newly minted Intentional Creativity teacher, Jan Jorgensen from Olympia, join us! 

Jan and Nadya

In addition tho teaching intentional Creativity, Jan is also a singer and sound healer, so we have quite a bit in common! We shared the Purple thread of leadership (and got the memo on what color to wear, hee hee!) She's also made Rose Beads! 

Jan's Ally

There are nearly a dozen of teachers in the Pacific NW, it was special to meet another. Jan moved to Olympia fairly recently, and is still in process of connecting with her tribe. My cousin Leah came again, and we had a sweet afternoon connecting with allies and a common message of relaxing into sharing our Light. 

Leah's twirling Ally

• In what ways does your ally support you?
• What would you like her to tell you?
• What don't you want her to do, ever?! 
• How does your Wonder Woman shine?

Oracles and Allies

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Into the Fog

One of the scariest of our painting process with Intentional Creativity is the "risky glaze,"  where we take our painting into the fog ...

During my first class, our teacher Elizabeth handed us a  spray bottle, a big brush and transparent color (Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold), a soft cloth (piece of T-shirt) She had us lay our canvases on the floor, then demonstrated spraying the canvas, brushing on the color, and then burnishing it in, using the cloth! ... And then we went off to lunch! 

Yikes and Wow!! 

Used this way, a glaze integrates the colours we've used, and helps unify the picture. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on what is going "into the fog," what concepts are being integrated. We usually spend some time with our journals, exploring these inquiries, noticing insights, and sketching new symbols. We generally sit 5-6 get back from the canvas while writing/sketching, to gain perspective.

The first time I glazed a painting, I was indeed shaking in my boots - what was I going to loose? This painting process becomes a crazy process of "loose her, find her!" ...distinctions disappear, lights darken, colors merge ... Now it's become a favorite part of my IC explorations, and one I look forward to!

Blessing Star

After the glaze, it's time to begin to bring her back, a new round of lights, darks and mediums, a round of highlighting, of deciding whether to reemphasise symbols from the earlier layer, or bring in new ones. Here's the story of my hummingbird that is with my Taliswoman, and has become a spirit helper for my IC classes. My WW has a Blessing Star as her ally.

It's also a time to change shapes a bit of if I need to- reposition all eye, lengthen or shorten the nose ...
Acrylics are easy to rework - you can't get this wrong!!

We generally use the Golden Fluid acrylics, delicious colors and richly pigmented, but very sheer. Like my first muse, Gabriella, Wonder Woman has a harp, and I'll use gel to bring in more dimension.

Second glaze

Wonder Woman has gone into the fog a couple of times now, (she was in a hurry, and called for a glaze before Jessica invited one!) 

We used different colors on the right and left sides of the canvas - Quin Nickel Azo Gold, and Quin Magenta, ... I added a bit of iridescent gold over parts of the hair, and burnished with my cloth. Then, I let her wanted a bit, while I explored in my journal. 

One of our inquiries is on allies and arch enemies - which super heroines balance between. What are some of those inner demons?'

We've done another round of lights and darks, bringing clarity and dimension as she reemerges from the fog. We're sitting with any new symbols, the background, and any new colors....

Wonder Woman - Stepping out of the fog

Gabriella's Harp

I love this process of exploration with intention. Here are some thoughts and images on the inquiry, "what would you tell a friend who is considering Color of Woman training," from last year's class, Color of Woman 2018.

Definition and more color

Happy Paint Party Friday