In the Quantum Field

In a recent post 'You are Enough,' my friend & fellow Color of Woman teacher Heidi Sequoia Moondancer wrote, "Here’s the thing about not-enoughness. It’s BS. Have you every stopped and questioned it? Where/who did this message come from? Are they a credible source? What would make you enough? Enough what exactly? Who is holding your imaginary measure stick….and whacking you over the head with it every chance they get (hint, look in the mirror)?"

This is a great time of year to ponder this concept, as it's a time that we often resolve or intend to do 'better' at something than we have in the past. What if we embrace the 'who' we are as enough, and shift our perspective a bit - what do we wish to spend our life force on? What do we value about ourselves, just as we are?

What will best serve us, as we journey through this year? If you work with a journal, this is something you may wish to explore a bit more. 

•  What challenges have I overcome to get here?  
•  What are some of my accomplishments over the last year?
•  I'm happiest when _____________
•  If I could do a couple of BIG things this year __________________
•  My values include _______________ (often related to health, spending time with loved one, how you interact with your community ...)
•  If I could be remembered for one thing, it would be ____________ 

As I assimilate the teachings of the last year, & sit with who I'm becoming as a Color of Woman Teacher & Coach, I am working with some of these questions as well. And basking a bit in the glow of completing the training, & actualizing several of the items on my January list. 
I've taught a class, updated my website, had a couple of artist 'play dates,' journaled, (I'm thinking of following some of the prompts from Journal 52, as it's a free offering, that dovetails with the work I'm already engaged in.) I've spent time with my kids and grandkids, & even played a bit in the garden, in this Warm January weather.

Through Quantum physics, we realize that simply the act of observation changes what is being observed. What if we change our self perception?  What are some of the ways you are 'enough?' 
Happy PPF!

Sharing Community

The Way of the Red Thread

Our lovely new pastor, Erica Marksbury invited several of us to share stories related to the texts or that week during church this month. Earlier in the month, my daughter spoke about adopting her 'two beautiful daughters' (not a dry eye in the house!) & I was invited to speak on being 'called' by my community.

This dovetails beautifully with our Red Thread community's philosophy that we are 'called' to share these teachings by our beloveds, who seek what we have to offer. I brought several of my Ladies, (Mary of Magdala, Sisterhood of the Red Thread, & my 'thesis' painting: Priestess of the Cosmic Portal)& told of the Russian Orthadox tradition of Mary spinning a red thread for the Veil of the temple, and the Chinese legend that we are connected to those we're destined to meet bay a Red Thread. I read Shiloh's Poem 'Remember Me' at the end of my talk. 

Red Thread Ladies & Nadya

Saturday I'd attended the Art & Wine walk opening, visiting with other artists and guests at Current's Gallery, where my 'ladies' are hanging. I'll be offering my first class in the 'Back Room Studio' at the Gallery mid-February! We'll be painting the 'Queen of Her Own Heart!' 

Atelier - clean up and paint cart

Yesterday I woke up with the idea of moving this wheeled kitchen cart into my 'dining nook' atelier for storage - yea!! And doing a general (much needed!) mucking out - after the months of focus on painting & Color of Woman & #intentionalcreativity !

What's on your easel today?

Happy Paint Party Friday! 

Commencement

Our final project for my Color of Woman Teacher Training was to group all the blog posts from our Online Classroom into our Initiate books! I had done a good job of keeping up with the posts, and had saved most of them as files. My son, bless him, has a good document assembling program, so we played tag team to assemble it. I'd convert to pdf format, & email them, generally in order; and got together a couple of times (while he & his kids were in town for Nutcracker rehearsals), to format it. And finally, to add page numbers to the table of contents. Whew!

Priestess of the Cosmic Portal

One of our final assignments was to offer a two day workshop, then continue to work on our demo painting for several more days, completing it 'on our own' (rather than following Shiloh's lead & videos) for our 'Visionary' painting. 

My workshop (in November) was Medicine Woman, & the lady who emerged is: Priestess of the Cosmic Portal. The Compass on the bottom left includes totems from each of the paintings in our Color of Woman Compass - the Dragon dancing in the center from Legend, Rose in the N: Muse; Hummingbird in the East: Talisman; Owl in the South: Soul Fire; & Raven in the West: Visionary. There are words collaged around her heart which came during the journey I led; one is 'Raven's Gold' - the Sun is in the upper Raven's beak!

We needed to identify and document our 'Soul Work,' the work we're called to cause & create in the world; & develope our 'action plans' for 2016. Like many of our projects, this was done both Rt brain 'doodle,' beginning with December & working back, & linear from January on.


Here's my entry for January:

• Jan. 2 Visioning 2016 Red Thread event

• update website – new format? Host? Work on print materials – business cards, menus, format for flyers, photos of paintings for cards & prints, work on email list, put known dates on MeetUp, update FB artist page
• Meet with youth and childrens' coordiators at FBC (First Baptist Church)
• formalize plans for February workshop & advertize (MeetUp, Facebook event, flyers, e-mail list) coordinate with area alumni
• attend Work Week Winedown at Walnut City Wineworks Jan 29, take cards\
  
  

  

  Siren Song

  I also have several personal ongoing goals - to blog more regularly (!!), a paint day (minimum) each week, and to do some of the things I've neglected while engaged in Color of Woman (including a good general de-thug of the house)!
  
  
  We're halfway through the month, & I've facilitated the Jan 2 Visioning event, & helped with 'Faith & Watercolor' at Church last Sunday; took down my show at Walnut City WW November & December, and entered a couple of pieces in Currents Gallery's January Show - "Myths & Legends," Elen Star-Path & Siren Song; which were accepted & hung! 
  Not bad! 
  I've also been asked to speak this Sunday on the support of the Art Community during this past year, and signed up to be part of the newly begun Intentional Creativity Leadership Circle. Our first Circle call was Thursday, & today there is a group painting experience, Weave, another exploration of dreams for 2016. 
  So though I feel I'm still integrating the training, I also realize I've not been as 'lazy' as I've felt! 
  My friend Sepha, who has helped with several of the workshops & the Vision board session, is enrolled in this year's teacher training!! Woo hoo! She is already an artist and teacher, and has a lot to offer, & we love sharing studio time. Weaving dreams, community, creativity!
  
  
  Happy Paint Party Friday
  
  
   
  
  
  
  

Graduation and Workshop

It's hard to believe that we graduated from the Color of Woman Teacher Training a month ago!! Wow! Wonderful, wonderful time with two dozen students, plus Shiloh & Mary, the other teachers & several alumni.(Close to 45  students from around the world completed the training, so many of our sisters watched the Livestreams of the classes and Graduation.

Altar for Graduation

We wrote our own Graduation Ceremony, and were well supported as we took this next step on our journey to be Color of Women teachers & coaches. 

We still have several assignments to compete to receive our certification, including assembling our Initiate book (all our writing assignments, in pdf format), planning next year's calendar, completing the 'demo' painting from our two day workshop .... 

Stella Mac & Maestra Shiloh Sophia

 I offered my first two day workshop a couple of weeks ago, & had two students. One I'd just met at the Work Week Wine-Down at Walnut City Wineworks, where I have all the paintings from my Color of Woman journey; the other I've known for several years. 

Our theme was 'Medicine Woman,' & I sent out writing prompts the week before the workshop. Two beloveds came, & did an awesome job listening to their ladies' medicine, painting & journaling. My friend Sepha, who is very engaged in the work with Intentional Creativity, helped me set up the space at our Heritage center classroom. It was a great day. 

Linda & Stacy with their ladies

I am at work on finishing my Medicine Woman painting, & the other assignments due soon. I also have another show of my ladies hanging at Walnut City WineWorks, & participated in their events Friday & Saturday following Thanksgiving. The wild-salmon bake (Saturday) is an awesome event, and was well attended.  

I am a Color of Woman Teacher!

Happy Paint Party Friday!

On the Russian River

Early morning, as Maestra Shiloh wrote Monday: "My muse woke me up at 4am again. Sheesh. I go outside in the mornings and see the stars ... as the flow of night to day night to day reminds us how things work. It is happening all the time. And it is a miracle how it works.
~ ~ ~
"It is all moving all the time
whether we notice or participate or not."

And that's the choice, whether to participate, or not. Whether to observe, or not. And how we will carry our piece of the thread of connection.

~~ the lodge where 8 of us Mystical,  MáGïCâL CôSMïc cowgirls (with more to come!) are staying is on the Russian River, & the view of the river, and of Mama Moon & Stärs, is AwéSöMé.
When I'm staying somewhere away from «home», it's hard to sleep past daybreak, so I try to rise quietly, and , like Shiloh, go outside to orient myself.
Ahh, there's the Big Dipper, North is across the river! Ahh, there's the moon, peeking through the trees. The night is still, with the ripple of the water for background.
When it's Lïght, I'll go back out for Tai Chi/qigong on the shore.
Ooo, there's a sauna! Perhaps tonight after our gathering, I'll go....
bliss!

Graduation day with Carmen Baraka

The train ride down to Martinez was fun! A couple of the gals offered to pick me up at the station, so I skipped the bus ride, we went for cappuccino and dropped our bags off before coming back into town, and meeting a beautiful bevy of CôSMïc cowgirls doing what we do best! Visiting, meeting each other for the first (or umpteenth) time, hugging, sipping wine chattering, and settling in for a Red thread circle.
The thread is passed, we share our stories, we listen, we connect the faces and voices to SiStars with whom we've journied this last year. We'll be together «in person» through Sunday next, to disperse to the four directions, taking with us seeds to scatter to the winds.

Seeds  of beauty, seeds of harmony, seeds of respect for women and the seeds of our own interconnected & unique offerings for our own communities, for our beloveds. Gathering teachings, friendships, affirmation of the good work this is, the good work we share. 
It is all moving, all the time, whether we participate or not ... will you participate?

Coloring between the Lines

Six Months ago, I embarked on a Quest, the Color of Woman & Intentional Creativity training to be a teacher & coach. While we still have a month & 1/2 to complete our assignments, next week is Graduation!

In one of our first communiques, our Road Woman, Maestra Shiloh Sophia wrote: "Wherever you are on your journey to teach or lead – this CALL has been in you all along and your YES to joining us is a catalytic action that will start a series of other actions in the continued fulfillment of your own unique life work. Each of us has been called together for an adventure in what is possible...

Tea with our Muses

"You have been called To TEACH. To DARE. And to call others into circle. I have called you and now you will call others! Indeed this is a great adventure and it is such a blessing to be in service to others – one of my deepest joys.
"You came here for a reason. You were called to the journey. And I am most grateful. Welcome."

In February, I said 'yes' to the call - 'yes' to the teacher training, 'yes' to this adventure. Today one of my friends said 'yes!' to NEXT year's training, & we met for tea & a 'heartstorming' session, planing workshop dates & thinking of venues.

I am finishing up the current segment of the Assignments, & this time next week, I'll be at the Mothership, in Northern Cali, with SiStars from around the world who will gather for our Graduation!! Am I excited? Am I nervous? Yes & Yes!! Shakin' in my boots! Yep!
Deep breath, whew!! 

Red Thread Connection

I'm taking the train - a first; & travelling on my own, which I haven't done for awhile. My 'lodging mates' come from around the US, from France & New Zealand! 
I'll meet a couple of classmates who live about an hour away, and our teachers & guides, who have been holding space & holding the Red Thread for us.  

Will you hold space for this part of the journey?
Thank you!! & blessings on your own journey, whatever it may be!

I'm linking to Paint Party Friday

 

Elen Star-Path & class

I finished my 'Beloveds' Painting - & what a lovely turn she took! Elen of the Pathways is a horned goddess, whose tales stretch back through time. 

Elen Star-Path

Researcher Caroline Wise writes: "She is the Guardian of the ancient track ways, the Leys, the kundalini currents in nature, and as the Horned Goddess, she leads us to the first trackways, the migratory tracks of the reindeer and later, she leads us to the path of the red deer through the forests. From here she leads us to the lost Shamanism of the isles of Britain, and we can follow her across Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia, Siberia, India and beyond."  

It was a fun challenge to paint on a smaller canvas (16 x 20") & develope this painting in a quicker time frame. ...and then
On Sunday, I held my first 13-step painting Playshop' - "Dancing with the Muse!" I had three students, and we had a lovely time! This was my first Intentional Creativity class on canvas & I was a bit nervous, but it went really well.

One, my friend Sepha, has been teaching for years, & is a 'Paint Night' instructor; she offered to share some of her tips & helped me set up! What a blessing. 

At the Canvas

• A bucket and pitchers for water - we were in a room without a water source, & this was great! You bring water in the bucket (s), fill the water cups, spritz bottle & pitchers, students can dump dirty water in the bucket periodically, & refill their paint jars. At the end of class, you simply dump the bucket(s).
• Microfibre cloths for cleaning up spills - squeeze into the bucket.
• My friend Elisabeth suggested using old T-shirt pieces for paint rags, & for 'burnishing' the canvas after 'glazing.' (I had paper towels at each station as well) With the 'glaze' step, we cover the whole canvas (or part!) with a mix of water and a transparent color, to Integrate the colors & elements of the painting. You can let this dry, or burnish it in.
• Inexpensive plastic tablecloths (Dollar Store) on the tables, & be sure to wipe dry after use, so they don't get musty in storage
• Tabletop easels (we could have painted flat) 
• A clock 'just in case' the room doesn't have one (this one didn't)
• I brought several 4' x 5' tarps to have under the tables/chairs (Duck taped to the rug at the corners, to avoid tripping) 
• TV table for my paint supplies
• Master's Brush Cleaner for the brushes when we were cleaning up - helps extend the useful life of the brushes
• Square trays (dollar store) for each paint station - I'd purchased these before my 'Soulful Story Card' class, & they are a boon for keeping supplies corralled! 
• Totes & a good Dolly for transport (I am still acquiring my tools for this!) 
• I got a 12 x 12" three drawer container for the paint & other small supplies 

It was a fun class, our ladies are still 'in process ... a couple of the students already paid a visit to the art store, for paint, a new brush, ... while I got a jar of the brush cleaner, & D hooks for the back of my wood panel paintings, which will be in my next show at Walnut City Wine Works.

And this morning, my Muse was whispering in my ear instructions for crafting our next class, 'Medicine Woman' .... stay tuned! 

Harvest Muse - WIP

Posting to Paint Party Friday - & to Express your Creativity  - come join the party!