Creating with Intention

 We are often asked, "What is intentional creativity?"

The simple answer is, any creativity that begins with a purpose! Time out of mind, people have combined setting an intention with creative process. Knitting a sweater for someone? We think of how we want them to be cozy and warm! Cooking a meal? We intend that those eating our food will be nourished.

Flowers in paint water

Our friend and fellow Intentional Creativity® teacher, the Bejeweled Baroness Elizabeth Gibbons writes, "By creating with intention, we create a cosmic portal, a quantum field where we can explore our potential and possibilities. We shine the divine light of our higher self into the darkness of our shadow self. We are able to heal and integrate all aspects of our psyche and to access a miracle field, the space between the thoughts where our divine spark lives."

When asked if they are creative, 95% of young children say 'YES!' ... by middle school, that's dropped to about half, and by late teens, only about 5% see themselves as creative! What changes? 

Often, that thought begins with a thoughtless comment, criticism, or a comparison with someone more 'talented.' Unfortunately, that comment is often made by an "expert," a teacher or a "more talented" friend. In reality, Creativity is the birthright of all humans! 

With Intentional Creativity, the process is more valued than the 'product,' though chances are you - yes YOU - can create something that brings you and those around you pleasure and joy, and looks good to boot! And like any other 'muscle,' the more we create, the more skillful we become.  

Intentional Creativity *Metacognative exercise: 

1) Take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself a question, perhaps 'What am I passionate about?' - 'What upsets me?' - What brings me joy?'  Take a marker or pen, use a piece of paper, a simple composition book, or fancier art journal; place the tip of your marker on the paper and doode for a minute or so, just letting the line flow. (You can use your non-dominant hand if you wish.) 

Doodle, non-dominant hand

2) Then begin writing, inviting insights from your quick doodle. Write what comes to mind. Did new awareness arise? Write for about minute or two. 

3) Now, move to another page, choose a pleasing color, and sketch a symbol and wrote some of the words around it. Draw a line (a kind of ripple around your symbol and words) more words, and another ripple. 

Symbol and word ripples

In this case, the layers were

• What becomes possible when I bring more scared space into my life?
• What form does it take?
• What needs to be released/added in my physical space?

Musea Atelier - step 4 sketch

4) Do a simple sketch, bringing form to your insight - here, we sketched our muse holding the visionary screen depicting our sacred space (my Atelier studio) 

We can jot down a couple of action steps that will help us bring our vision into reality, and choose one or two we can do in a day or two. I often put these on little cards in my Vision Planning pockets.

Visual Planning Board

*Metacognative drawings can be done for most inquiries, this way of "thinking about thinking" brings our thoughts conscious, so we can acknowledge, fine tune, and release ones which no longer fit! We often use Metacognative drawing in our Red Thread circles and IC classes are a way to quickly shift state and tap our intuition. 

In our Red Thread Creatives group, we explore bringing intention and awareness to different creative practices in our circles and classes. 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

How do you bring intention to your creative process?

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!

Class - Embracing Mama Gaia

One of my favorite themes for a workshop, especially in April when we celebrate Earth Day, is an encounter with Mama Gaia. So when my friend Margot and I began heart storming for our next class in her beautiful rural space, we quickly agreed on Embracing Mama Gaia! 

We began putting out invitations, and I was especially pleased that two Oregon

Linda Allen

students enrolled in this year's Color of Woman teacher training came! Both Angie and Linda have painted with me a couple of times, and decided that though they are so busy with CoW and life, that this would be a good "reset!" They also felt it was a good way to observe another teacher, as they discover their own flow. (And they loved seeing my prompt cards!) 

Margot and the other three students had painted with me before as well, so the class was easy for me! And I love seeing the paintings develop! 

The Critic and Comparison Queen peeked in, but we sent them outside to smooth out the gravel in the driveway! (One of my favorite distraction tactics!) One beloved with an active critic later shared that she'd sat with her journal and what was coming up, and was able to see more of the issue, and shift it - yes!! She's struggled with this in other workshops, so it was a powerful breakthrough! 

I appreciate Intentional Creativity classes the focus on drawing on one's own images and symbols, and on inner light, and these blessings of insights. Unlike the popular *paint and sip* parties, with most participants creating cookie cutter paintings, each of our IC images is richly unique, from colors chosen to angles, shapes and symbols. 
Each student is invited to delve a little deeper, and see what messages their process and painting carry for them. Each is fascinated by the diversity of images arising from the same (open ended) instructions! 

Embracing Mama Gaia

During our morning circle, I invited each participant to share a favorite mineral, a place in nature, and a metal. I shared about lithium and boron, Breitenbush Hot Springs, and that while I usually wear silver, gold often appears on my canvas. I was intrigued how often salt was mentioned, and the metal copper! The ocean and Mt Shasta were brought in, and the wonderful lichens hanging from Margot's trees.

When we chose our underpainting colors, I also had them then choose metallic paint - I think we all got some copper! I brought along stencils and Dylusion paint, and we used those on an early layer - ferns, leaves, raindrops, sacred geometry ... I continued with my stencil on the sides of the painting, and liked the addition of pattend.

It was a wonderful, rich and powerful weekend. 

my Gaia- in process

Several students continued with their paintings after they were home, and the results are stunning. Mine is in process as well, with stars and symbols beginning to appear. I like the sheen of Micaceous Iron Oxide (Hemetite!) in her hair, and the salmon beginning to emerge. 
Others were content after they finished Saturday, and already knew where their lady would reside. 

What's on your canvas or appearing in your notebook?

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Changing stories, changing lives

Do you feel the call to explore who you are, and share your unique gifts? Imagine gathering with a tribe of women who seek access to their own internal guidance system through creativity. Intentional Creativity is a process incorporating journaling, visualization and painting to develop deeper self awareness. In communities around the world, women gather with others to share these teachings and insights, joy, laughter, tears, and self discovery.

Hearts and Dragons

What stories run your life? What story is burning to be told? As we connect with our Musé, our creativity lights up, and the stories begin to align with our true essence. The voice of the Critic recedes into the background, and some of the things we always thought were true are seen as whispers and myths. 

When asked if they are creative, 95% of young children say 'YES!' ... by middle school, that's dropped to about half, and by late teens, only about 5% see themselves as creative! What changes? 

Sometimes it's a thoughtless comment or criticism, or a comparison with someone more 'talented.' In reality, Creativity is a birthright of all humans! In Intentional Creativity, the process is more valued than the 'product,' though chances are you - yes YOU - can create something that brings you and those around you pleasure and joy, and looks good to boot! And like any other 'muscle,' the more we create, the more skillful we become. 

And ... then there's the intention!!

Our friend and fellow teacher, Bejeweled Baroness Elizabeth Gibbons writes, "By creating with intention, we create a cosmic portal, a quantum field where we can explore our potential and possibilities. We shine the divine light of our higher self into the darkness of our shadow self. We are able to heal and integrate all aspects of our psyche and to access a miracle field, the space between the thoughts where our divine spark lives."

Intentional Creativity exercise: Take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself 'what am I passionate about?' What upsets me - what brings me joy? Take out a pen and begin writing ... you can use a simple composition book, or fancier art journal - or .... write. Write what comes to mind. Write fast & all over the page - cross your word with others, change colors .... 
Take several minutes with this process, then write a simple prompt or prayer - asking for information on the exploration, 'show me... help me ... guide me ... give me insights' 

The next step is to smear gesso or paint over the page. I like to mix in a couple of colors - perhaps just putting dabs on the page, and spread with a junk 'credit card' (save those from your junk mail!) If the paper's thin, you may want to glue a couple of pages together. 
Let the gesso or paint dry, then begin to doodle with oil pastels or paint on the paper ... play with the texture of the paper. You may want to trace your hand, or draw circles and sprials. Just play with the paper, & let the feelings transform. 

FireKeeper, Owl Woman

Welcome to the Creative Heart! The collective will embrace, applaud, and celebrate you and the unique gifts you bring to share. We delve deep and shapeshift with laughter, connection, and joy (blessed with glitter, and a bit of dark chocolate!)

Gypsy Rose Muse - She Listens Sweet & Deep

A message in a bottle, from Gypsy Rose, Muse of Mystery & delight; She Listens Sweet & Deep

Sweet Nadya!
We bring wisdom voices from the stars & ancient pathways
You are So Loved, so appreciated, so honored! We invite you to attune to your senses & enliven your Spirit! Sparkle & Shine, share the joy you know deep inside!
It is indeed in listening that you are brought forth/ healed/ come to life! Your listening brings forth information/ awareness for yourself & for others.
In attending to your own joy & in doing the little things, a-tend-ing, that you will bring them (your Beloveds) home to themselves!

Ah, dear one! Enjoy the flavors & rainbow life has to offer! The beautiful painting, the hot chocolate! The fresh scone (gluten free, of course!) The symphony of bird song or orchestra, rumble of ocean or flute on the wind, the breath of fingers on the harpstrings, drumbeat by candlelight ... bagpipes at dawn.
The scent of the desert, refreshed with rain, sweet tea, the breath of a rose ...

And awaken even more to the inner senses, knowing who is calling, on a device, or through the ethers ... the tribal sense of what is needed, which herb heals, which flower will aide transformation! The network is operating/ open ... it's a river - dive in! Dive deep! Wade across ... find a bridge, sail away ....

Cross my palm with Silver! I do love the jewels & jangles, beads & bangles! The flow of a-bun-dance as we get our own buns a dancing!!
Dance, dance, wherever you may be!! I am the heart of the dance, said she!

We say, "you have it all! All you need to share, to inspire, both yourself and others! New tools will come in their own time, of COURSE they will!! The all is beyond space/ time/ current awareness! Timely-time to share the blessings of this Soul Play with your beloveds!

Go forth in grace, in beauty! Shining your light of kindness & inner knowing! Your path beckons, the way is clear for your dancing feet!

O Sada
It is Good

signed in sparkles & glitter

 * Rose *

She Listens Sweet & Deep - Gypsy Rose Muse

                 
Some of the first words from Gypsy Rose, in early May:
(who are you?) "Gypsy Rose - let me read your tea leaves! Spin you a story, play the tambourine, dance, dream vision listen to the whispers of the Universe, I am here - waiting!"

Gypsy Rose is my Muse of accessing creative inspiration, & is the first painting on my Color of Woman/ Intentional Creativity Teacher training/quest. "
"Inside of every single one of us is this mechanism that many have worked with over the centuries, most commonly called the ego, the voice, the inner guidance system, conscience or of late – the inner critic.
.... Inside of us, connected to our senses, the Muse is the navigator, the view finder – what we use to ‘get around’ this interior world. What we use to look at and through. There are many ways to look within to see what is there within us." Shiloh Sophia

If we get in touch with our creativity, with what we may have been suppressing, we can begin to transform the voice of the critic (less than, I can't, don't get hurt!) into the voice of the muse .... & when all else fails, send the critic out for a pedicure and give her some chocolate!!
 
Shiloh writes: "We are walking a sacred path that is a quest. Your quest in which you are seeking your own content and information. A quest with women beside you: seeking, longing, looking, being challenged. Awakening. Working with the archetypal energies of the Legendary Self. And now moving forward to the Muse."  

My quest is to explore this painting with intention in more depth, to explore my own beliefs & rewrite the stories as I move into sharing intentional creativity with my beloveds. I wish to be a pure channel for sharing, for holding space, for holding my piece of the Red Thread. 

And I pass the thread to ____ my beloveds!