Visual Planning

Last spring, Shiloh and her biz coach Amy Ahlers offered Dancing Entrepreneur for both Color of Woman students and the general community. We created the folded Vision Plan books (one of the CoW assignments) plus a set of 16 cards to support moving forward with our plans. 

We connected with others in the class (a weekend workshop or 5 week class) and used the momentum of the class to bring ideas into action or products. I developed my virtual Red Thread Circles, and collaborations with other students and IC teachers.

Some of the posts that caught my eye were of Karen Dawn's Visual Planning system, and I joined her Beta Test group on crafting similar systems of our own! I love Karen's creative approach to planning! (Her blog includes some of these teachings!) 

Vision Plan Board

Mine is on a foam board from a vision board class I offered, and has two of the Dancing Entrepreneur action cards, a little vision board we created with Karen, and - pockets. My clothesline is a ribbon, and I just taped the ends to the back of the board using painter's tape! You can use nails to tack the lines directly on a wall - so many options!

Karen uses this 'clothesline' system for organizing ideas visually. She found that when her notes were tucked away in journals and files, they weren't as accessible, and often dropped off her radar. (So me!) You can clip cards directly to the line, or Viola! - make pockets to hold sets of cards with those ideas! (Who doesn't want to make pockets, lol!) 

Larger file folder size pockets can be tacked up, with in depth writings/images. You can clip labels to the front of the pockets, to keep organize. I also like making little vision plans in Zines - these could easily tuck into small pockets! 

Planning pockets

As I dream into new offerings, and projects on my plate, I'm using this system to keep organize my ideas and action steps.

Grist for the mill

Today our Intentional Creativity® community had a call with Shiloh, EXPLORE, she shared the  graphic wheel, and at the end, gave us a DARE to rearrange something in our homes to create more room for creativity/ art making! 

The graphic is a good reminder for how we interact, share, and tend ourselves and our community. 

Process - both graphic and personal, isn't always neat and tidy! We often say, "When tears (or snot) flow, add them to the canvas!"

A story Shiloh often tells: when her mom was suffering from medication that made her feel crazy, Sue reminded Caron that she worked hard for the experiences, and it was all grist for her creativity! Not to discard any of it, but to let it inform her creativity (often poetry). 

This is a good reminder for all of us - when things come up for you, and they will! - acknowledge them! 

• Invite witness - and witness yourself! 
• Self care isn't selfish!
• Take it to the canvas or journal, use image and writing to distill an antidote for the poison - the creative process is a wonderful alchemical tool! 
• We often mark an unavoidable tragedy line on the canvas to acknowledge something that happened, that we didn't have control over, or say in - and it becomes part of the layers. 
• And pay attention when insights come - record them in your journal, create a Compass Card
• Sit with it, go on a walk, change scenes and come back later

Some of us are embarking on the Soulbird (painting) journey, or Motherboard Coach training, others are finishing Color of Woman or the Read Thread Guide ... Many are just beginning to paint and create with the community, others are frequent fliers! 

There's now a universal calendar of classes and calls on the Musea website, which will make offerings easier to track! I appreciate the calendar page in my MeetUp groups, especially now with our bimonthly virtual offerings. (Our next session is a virtual Soul Spa, next Thursday, September 10!) 

It's easy to see the shiny objects of a new class or training - deep breath - you don't have to do it all!! 

You are enough! 

There's a place for each of us in the circle, and we daddy hold our piece of the thread! 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Muse and Oracle

I've always loved cards - once my daughter asked how many decks I needed ...(angels, fairies, several Earth based tarot decks) ... well .. (ok, I have a bunch!!)

Early my Color of Woman training, we made our first set of 'story cards,' identifying the 'poison' of old stories, and discovering the antidote! My IC friend and Vision Keeper Isha recently challenged me to photograph 20 of my ladies, and create an Oracle deck (and sent me a link for having one set printed for about $20!) 

With spring break this week, my middle granddaughter and I have making affirmation and other cards, and doing art other projects. Always fun

IC Cue Cards .

Last weekend, two dozen of the 2018 class met in Sonoma to paint their Muses, while the the rest of the students, and many of the Guild members, painted along with the Livestream. My cohort Sepha and I were asked to film a little video for our colleagues on creating a teaching deck with prompts for each step. Fun finding flow with that!

For my lady, I pulled out the Muse I began two years ago, when Sepha was in Color of Woman. I offered online support for that event, and just never finished my painting! Last year, I brought her our for another online class, so her first layers were in place. (I'm painting her in the lower photo on this post)

In Her Own Time, WIP

I'm offering support to students on Muse Time, those taking longer than 9 months to complete their CoW teacher training, and she seems the PERFECT Muse to aide me in supporting them! I'm excited to see who's ready to take the next steps, and move toward commencement. 
Over the last few years, I've informally supported a couple as they neared the finish line, and know how helpful a little encouragement can be. I tend to push live-lines myself, and got my own Initiate book off just before midnight that last day!! 

This weekend, Shiloh and her husband Jonathan roll out their latest class, Apothecary; on discovering your own medicine through creativity. Like the Story Cards, identifying the old wounds and poisons helps us discover antidotes. Jonathan was a military EMT, and fittings healing from PTSD through writing poetry and cooking! He'll emerge from behind the curtain (camera) to share some of his story. 

In April, my classmate Grace from Denmark is rolling out her new class online, Stella Polaris, Muse of the North! I am so excited to paint with her - one of my early online journeys was with our AU SiStar, Jassy Watson. I cherish the Good Medicine of these oportunities! 

My own next offering is a invitation to women in the Pacific NW paint a portal to connect with Gaia, as your portal to connecting with Mama Earth. This is a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day weekend! (this one's In person, stay tuned for online offerings!) 

Cosmos and Codes

Blessings on this Full Moon and Holi season, and HåPpÝ Paint Party Friday!

Daily Practices

For over thirty years I've worked closely with clients as an energy worker and healer. Over that time, I've seen thousand of individuals, and as many shifts of mood, energy, emotions and physical aches and pains. I've also had the opportunity to study with some awesome healers and learned a number of methods to help keep my own energy clear and available. 

Some individuals are very sensitive to energy, and find being in a crowd extremely difficult, while others seem to float through energetic «muck» with little disturbance! If you are in the former group, learning and issuance some of these practices may help! This is ment as a reference and jump off for building your own favorite set.

AM: 

• Ground yourself. Stand with a tree, and practice sending your "roots" through the soles of your feet down into the center of the earth.
• Aura (the biofield around your body) imagine this as an egg shape, stretch your arms out, and turn in a slow circle, to define the boundaries of your bubble. You can imagine the outside of your bubble as gold, your true essence color (or silver) I like to imagine a rainbow of iridescent, like a soap bubble!.
• Have tea or cafe with your Musé and your journal
• Invite any angels or guides to be with you as you move through your day.
• Choose a story card affirmation for the day, and put it on your altar or carry with you.

Throughout the day: 

• pay attention to how you feel, what thoughts flit through your mind, etc. Notice where old stories arise, and feel into how it tells address to your affirmation
• Activity: qigong, Tai chi, a walk, yoga, put on music and dance... even if you take just a few minutes for conscious movement, it will build your energy. 
• Remember to breathe! And take breaks throughout the day.
• Drink water, batteries need water to hold a charge, so do we!
• Treat yourself to fresh flowers, bodywork, creative practices, lunch with a friend, find ways to bring more joy into your daily life.

In Public:

• Make sure you're grounded (stand by a tree for a few minutes if you can) and refresh your Aura bubble. 
• You can experiment with the color violet around your Aura, which transmutes energy, both yours and that of others.
• Sit facing the door if you're in a group (place of power) if you can, especially in your own office!
• Invite anyone else's energy to be processed in your field, not your body, and released. You can imagine "vacuuming" your energy field with a giant rose.
• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for herbs, with cool water for an energy clearing.
• Imagine bracelets of light around your wrists and ankles, if you feel like your energy is being drained. 

Food: 

• whole food, including lots of vegetables in season are most nourishing. Different bodies have different needs, so observing yours can be a great ally.
• Bless your food before eating, and invite your body to use it well. 
• My African teacher Erik Vormanns suggested beaming "rainbows" into our drinking water.
• If you drink tea, sofa, cafe, or wine, remember to drink water as well..

PM:

• Receive and embrace what the day has brought, and receive the gifts into your heart
• Journal a bit, and notice anything that came up for clearing, insights, something you'd like more insight on.
• Reflect on your word/affirmation, any insights about it today?
• Take several deep breaths, imagining your cells and DNA expanding into the new vibration.
• Express gratitude for the blessings of the day

Before sleep: 

• Thank your angels and guides for their support and blessings
• If you wish, invite insights while you dream, or to attend "dream school"in the Green Jade temple or other favorite place
• Imagine a beautiful gold or blue bubble around your bed (or whole home)

These are the bones of daily practices; I'd love to hear which you find useful, and ones you use! 

Red Thread Story Cards

Do you have some Old Stories and Beliefs running your life? Stories that make you "play safe" rather than dream big? Do you engage in negative self-talk? 

Most of us do! With Intentional Creativity,® we have many processes for unlocking the negative beliefs, bringing them conscious, and then writing new stories in living color! The creative process alchemises true shift, and freedom from outdated beliefs.

One of my favorite ways of shifting the stories is Soulful Story Cards, affirmation cards which offer an antidote to the old stories! In the past, I've written affirmations, then processed "what comes up;" ... here we identify the old beliefs first, then seek an antidote, which becomes our affirmation. The next step is the fun part, paint! Markers! Glitter!!

Story Cards and cover

There are many other possibilities with these personal card decks: choosing favorite quotes, or guidelines like the Reiki or Breema principles, cards for ideas and dreams, prompt cards. One of my students in this year's teacher training told me she's created «Well over 100 card decks, ... mainly for insight and process." Wow! 

Red Thread Circles are ways to connect with our community, in respect and in support for transformation. We often include an activity that is simple, and bypasses the "I can't do that!" "I'm not creative, ____ is the creative One!" "I'm too (old, out of shape, uncoordinated)"  one that is non-threatening, colorful and fun (& maybe messy!) 

At our last circle, a friend who teaches kids art said she realized SHE doesn't engage in creativity as much as she'd like! In our May Red Thread Circle, we'll create a cover and several cards, and offer suggestions use. I'm curious to see what beliefs tag along, and the variety of cards that will be created! 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Soulful Story Card Session

In our Intentional Creativity Teacher Trainings, an early assignment was creating a deck of 'Soulful Story Cards'. These area deck of colourful and personal affirmations, tied with a Red Thread.

Over the years, I've worked with Affirmations in a number of ways - in a Loving Yourself class, taught by my friend Joyce Marvel & based in part on the work of Louise Hay, we made Affirmation cards, sprinkled them with glitter, & posted them on our mirrors, carried one in our wallet, & wrote them in our Journals.
 
A year or so later author Douglas Bloch, author of 'Words that Heal' gave a talk to a women's group, & gave us a practice for bringing the negative voices out, and listening for the negatives, then rewriting the affirmation, back & forth, over & over, till the affirmation became the dominant voice! 

Soulful Story Cards

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron writes: "An affirmation is a positive statement of (positive) belief, and if we can become one-tenth as good at positive self-talk as we are at negative self-talk, we will notice an enormous change." Like Bloch, Julia suggests writing out the affirmation, then the 'blurts' which counter it, & suggests identifying their origin - who told you that?

The Soulful Story Card practice comes at the affirmation by first writing out the  'stories' that hold you back, critic chatter, or negative beliefs on one side of a slip of paper: "I never have enough time!"  "I'm too old" (or too young, or too busy) "I'd love to do my art, but I don't want to end up a starving artist" ... and then writing an antidote on the other. These are done on index cards or slips of paper, then the Antidote is transferred to your Watercolour paper & decorated. 

When a client or friend 'affirms' a negative belief, I often ask if they wish to reframe that, & affirm something positive instead! I'm offering Soulful Stories as a Red Thread Session this weekend, and will guide a group of Soul SiStars through the process of bringing old beliefs to light, and creating their own Storycard Deck.

Biz-Muse

I also finished my Biz-Muse, with her Visionary glimpse into my values, offerings, & whom I'll be working with, my Beloveds! 

October is a month of appreciation for this year's harvest. I am grateful for the wonderful teachings & supportive community of Shiloh Sophia and the Red Thread Sisterhood. As I move toward Graduation (in November) & completion of the assignments, this cycle of visioning and claiming who we are & how we wish to show up!





Happy Paint Party Friday!!

Biz Muse - creative business planing

We are in the Biz Muse section of our Color of Woman Teacher Training, & one of the assignments is to paint Biz Muse on watercolor paper. I've had *awhile* to work on this (OK, since this summer!!)
For those interested in the training - follow the link above for access to Shiloh's FREE introduction, online next Friday, October 2! 

My friend Sepha signed up for the intro, & met me for coffee this week, to chat about my experiences! She's been teaching 'Paint Night' classes, but has felt a lack of connection to Spirit in these ...
 
Here's one of the prompts for our Biz-Muse: Create a business plan using your winged eye – you have to know how to look with a visionary lens to craft a business that reflects who YOU are.

Strips for Collage

I answer the call to create,
without feeling, I am taking anything away
from something or someone.
- Shiloh Sophia McCloud

Like several of our projects, we write intentions on strips of paper for collage - 
- I Am a Visionary Guide, HeArt filled and Joyful creatrix - 

- I Am Called to Create expansive and Joyfilled Expereinces, Images & writing that inspire others to a deeper expression of their Soul Purpose -

There are 6 more strips, which will be collaged on the Heart of this Visionary Biz-Muse

Biz Muse - WIP

I also scheduled my first Meet-Up class for next Saturday - making a set of Affirmation Cards (you can see my post about my first set here)

MeetUp - Soulful Story Affirmation Cards

So we begin to step out 

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Weaving Webs of communication

TalisWoman 1st Key

In my Color of Woman painting/teaching Quest, we are working on our second painting, Talisman/TalisWoman ... 


This is my first painting on wood - cradled Birch Plywood, which my son-in law helped (woodworking) & I gessoed, sanded, gessoed some more ...

We are working with 'keys' to the realm of our inner Artist! "Artist is one of the most sacred of names. It is a name which puts in context all the pieces that before seemed fragmented. It is a space and place of no apology - an archetype which assumes personal authority and whom is willing to look at all her stuff  - her jewels and her BS. Artist"
~ Shiloh Sophia 

We have this weekend set aside for delving deeper, as we'll move into our Business module next weekend ... 

TalisWoman, 4th Key, Revelation

My muse has been very WORDY this week - telling me O need to update my website, to begin to claim that title, ARTIST 
and so I added an art page, but couldn't 'publish' the updates ... on the help screen, there was a little teaser about a streamlined option for constructing a website, so I 'clicked' ... oo la la! You must check out what 'we' came up with! 
Introducing Nadya's Art  

The whole focus has changed - from the bodywork & harp front & center (well, all spread out, I had LOTS of pages!! & still have access to all that content, no worries!) to ARTIST! 

And last month my friend Lora
invited to co-facilitate a workshop 'Mystical Mermaid' ... so much fun! We had two students, & had a lovely time. Lora started a co-op MeetUp group to announce our Women's Intentional Creativity circles & classes to a broader area; and last night I began my own local group! 
I'm still in process with what to offer first - perhaps simply a meet & greet circle, then likely affirmation cards or Medicine Basket (last post!)

So if you're an artist or crafter in Oregon or visiting the Pacific Northwest who'd enjoy playing with us - please join us!
NO PAINTING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!! The classes form a container to explore creativity, & work with your own images!


Happy Paint Party Friday
 So tickled to see that this week's featured artist, Consie's post is on creating an Inspiration card deck!! I'm going to peruse it for ideas!

Soulful Story Cards

Assignment: Watch the Livestream videos and create your own affirmation cards. Post two photos of your completed cards along with a couple sentences about your experience ...You will need watercolor paper, acrylic paint and sharpies. Glitter optional. (Color of Woman Teacher Training)

Ooo, this WAS fun! This is one of the suggested 'Red Thread Circle' classes offered over a few hours.
I found some shimmery watercolors ("Pearlescent") at Merri Artist, so used those on the affirmation side for each card, after painting the first side with 3 colors of Golden Paint. The first part of the process was writing out a limiting belief on paper or index cards, then coming up with an 'antidote' to the belief on the other side.

I can see offering this to Beloveds, in several ways!
I was asked to do a flower essence 'bouquet' for someone visiting a friend on Monday, & had just painted the first side & torn the cards. The Instruction Sheet that accompanies the Essence has a space for 'Possible Affirmations,' & I generally list a few, suggesting the client 'tweek' the one that seems closest - or OF COURSE craft their own. When I met my friends with the essence & instructions, I brought along one of the painted & torn cards, & suggested that when she finalized her affirmation, she write it on the card to work with - she was delighted! (& had worked with affirmations before, as I suspected from my friend's comments).
Another idea I've had for utilizing a few (I would probably paint the first side) is to write the 5 Reiki Principles, or one's own adaptation of them, during a Reiki Class. And perhaps add a personal affirmation on an additional card.


My 'Artist Date' to the Chehalem Cultural Center on Saturday inspired including the "Potlach" card - West Coast Native Americans counted wealth not in what one had, but in what one gave away over the years! Our term 'potluck' has its roots there ... and the things given were not the dregs/left overs, but often very special & a result of much effort. No wonder there was a clash with the ideals of the dominant culture!
I loved playing with the glitter, & designing the second side - it was a sweet process!

Posting to Paint Party Friday