Full Moon Musings

Tomorrow my friend Sepha and I will journey a couple of hours South, to offer a workshop for new beloveds in the Eugene area! This class coincides with Muse Day offerings around the world, where we gather to share tea, Poetry and creativity! 
I've offered several Muse Days, beginning with one for my middle grandkids in February, and one last month on grief and guardians. My friend Patricia did a wonderful spirit portrait of her beloved dog Kai, who recently crossed the rainbow bridge! 

Kia, by Patricia R.

Our weekend offering is "Musé of Creative Fires," and Musés light Fuses! Today's full moon is in Sagittarius, inviting us to remember the arrows we cast in their beauty and softness,  watching them flower into wisdom. We'll share the process of creating with attention and mindfulness, and see what wisdom's fire offers our beloveds! 

Order of the Phoenix

I'll take along my Phoenix woman, and Sepha is bringing a couple, including her fiesty demo for this playshop, Rubi! 
We met for tea and an art store jaunt this morning, and are gathering our supplies. Here we go!  One of the last instructions during our events is to hand the Musé the pen, and receive a poem or missive.

I love the message from my lady, Gypsy Rose Muse in 2016, "Sweet Nadya, we bring wisdom from the stars and ancient pathways. You are so loved, so appreciated, so honored! We invite you to attune to all your senses, and enliven your spirit.
Sparkle and shine, share the joy you know deep inside. In attending to your own joy, and in doing the little things, a-tending, you will bring your beloveds hone to themselves!"
You're invited to contemplate some of our inquiries: 

• What lights your creative fire, this Sagittarius moon
• What beautiful arrows are flowering?
• What does your Musé invite you to cause and create?

When I Met My Muse 

~ Oregon poet laureate William Stafford ~

I glanced at her and took my glass off -- they were still singing.

They buzzed like a locust on the coffee table and then ceased.

Her voice belted forth and the sunlight bent.

I felt the ceiling arch, and knew the nails up there took a new grip on whatever they touched.

"I am your own way of looking at things," she said.

"When you allow me to live with you, every glance at the world around you will be a sort of salvation."

And I took her hand.

Sacred Path ladies ~ Red Madonna  (in process)

.... You're invited to meet your Muse!  
Happy PPF!!

Winged One Playshop

In the studio

My friend Margot invited me to offer a painting Playshop at her Corvallis studio over the weekend, and we gathered to paint our Winged One, and give our dreams wings.  Four of her friends joined us for a lovely time of journey, sharing, red thread and painting.
Though I'm teaching, visiting her country  home always feels like a retreat to me as well. This is the second class I've offered there, and both have been well received. I played harp for our journey, we drew cards from the Mother Mary Oracle, and read poems from"Tea With the Midnight Musé."

Margot and Sherrie with their Winged ladies

As with all workshops, I love it as students get into their own painting grove, and each is drawing from her inner images and inspiration. Their creative Musé takes the lead, and their own style begins to emerge. 

As Shiloh says, "We us a step by step method, and my request is that you DO stick with the method. Magic will come - even if you are already brilliant at painting! And especially if you're Not!
"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."

Through Intentional Creativity, you may:

Lillian and Sherrie

• Discover and integrate your own gifts and treasures
• Create poetry and prayers inspired by the process
• Receive clarity on what you are here to cause and create
• Access your own imagery and symbols which may only have meaning for you, or may affect the collective
• Embrace painting as a sacred practice

It's pure magic!

Sharon and Nadya

Tea With the Musé

I'm excited to host a series of Musé Day offerings in conjunction with other Intentional Creativity Foundation Guild members around the globe, beginning this Sunday afternoon, Feb 19, with our Musé Day Tea Party! Other gatherings are happening in S Africa, Australia, Denmark, France, Sweden, El Salvador, and around the USA. Shiloh will offer several Musé Day classes and livestreams from Muséa Sophia, in Sonoma California. Musé Day events coincide with the recent release of Shiloh's book of poetry and inquiry, Tea With The Midnight Musé.

Did you know that paint brushes are Magïc Wands, and with them Musés light fuses? 

Magic wand paintbrush

Musé nspired creativity gets energy moving. Poetry and tea help it keep flowing. The Red Thread remind us we're community, and Chocolate soothes the tattered heart! 

Setting Intention is key to the process, and gives Access to your creative fire. What if we could acknowledge, then learn to override the voice of the critic; the inner vice that replays old criticisms: "not good enough," "not talented," "too (old, out of shape, boring...)? 
Shall we activate the voice of our Inner Wisdom, which adores us and is constantly encouraging, giving cour, heart, to all that we are, all that we do? That's the voice of the Musé (here are some of my early Musings on the Musé)

Star Song

In a recent Power Creatives TV episode, Shiloh Sophia and her guest SARK explored our how we access or block inspiration, tagging our Inner Wisdom, and how activating creativity in turn leads to living juicy.

SARK offered these inquiries:

• Who or what inspires you?
• What/who blocks inspiration?
• What/who supports your inspiration?
• In what ways am I inspiring to myself?

I invite you to spending some time journaling on each of these, and heartstorming on increasing opportunities for inspiration. (Inspire: take a breath!) SARK suggested one way to deepen our relationship with our own Inner Wisdom comes by writing daily love notes from Her.  

Over the years, I've received many of these "love notes," and uplifting guidance in the form of a dialogue. When I embarked on my Color of Woman Quest, I received, "dear one! You are blessed beyond measure! It is up to you too SHARE those blessings - the time you spend in circle Jones/prepares you and those with whom you journey for the Next Steps.... open your eyes, ears, and heart, dance through the doorway, you are invited!"

I extend the invitation to you! If you're in the Willamette Valley, join us this Sunday! 

Other ways to connect with the community: 

• Check the Musé Days page for info on MD events around the globe and/or access to the livestream. 
• Red Thread Cafe Classroom on FB where thousands of women from around the globe post Intentional artwork (I find my artist groups very inspiring)
• Visit the Power Creatives TV page, where you can register for access to the 13 episodes in season one, FIERCE. (Shiloh's interview with SARK is the most recent).
• SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) and on FB 
• Join our PNW MeetUp group for updates on circles and playshops. 
• I also post events on my FB artist page and on my website.

I honor all your creative goodness! 

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Legendary Essence

In January, I began a 6 month online course 'A Fall in Love Legend' with a group of other women embarking on a journey of self discovery. Some of us will be going on to the Color of Woman Teacher training with Shiloh Sophia, others have already completed the training, and others were simply drawn to this course.
 
I pulled out some of my Flower Essence books & journals, & began the process of crafting a flower essence 'bouquet' to support my process with painting my own Legend. 

I began making my own flower essences in the early 90s: the chosen flowers are placed in water, in the sunshine for several hours - then bottled & the energetic 'fingerprint' of the flower preserved for later use! 

For my 'Legendary' essence, I chose some flowers to support work with the symbols from our 'compass' meditation, plus several for embarking on this journey!

THE JOURNEY:

Blueberry: past life info, stretching
Lady's slipper orchid: new opening, water balance, step forward with grace
Iayah Ixchel Orchid: Divine feminine in all aspects
Clary sage: Clear eyed vision of sage, balance
Rhytidiadelphus: Clear deep blocks, restore core essence
Illwara Flame Tree: Left out/ gain confidence

SYMBOLS:
Star of Bethlahem: I AM the Light of New Possibility, stepping into my Legendary Life
Mallow: Warm open heart, Past Life Memory
Snapdragon: Express feelings, speak truth
Madrone: Spirit tonic, Crown chakra
Queen Ann's Lace: Inner vision, calm, Highest choice, crown chakra

Legend - Shande'nea Star Gate

I add a few drops to my water or tea, to the water for the acrylic paint, & to a spray bottle. 

We have begun to paint, putting words on the canvas, strokes of colour (just 3 at first). Courses with Shiloh Sophia include a period of visioning, journaling, poetry writing, more journaling, sketching, painting. 

With 'Legend,' we are examining the stories that have been running us, & visioning into our new stories, and living our own legendary lives! 

"We all have our own life to pursue
Our own dream to be weaving
And we all have the power to make wishes come true
As long as we keep believing."
 - Louisa May Alcott

# 86: Structure your day so you have time for painting, reading, exercising and resting.
Irwin Greenberg's Painter's Primer 

Happy Paint Party Friday