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 The creative process alchemises true shift, and freedom from outdated beliefs.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!

Sacred space for creation

Toward the completion of our Color of Woman Quest last fall my teacher Shiloh issued an invitation:  "I would love for you to finish your painting if you haven’t, and then to clean your studio. Reset your altars. Make new room for the sprouts to come up through the ashes. You need space and time to see what’s coming up and what wants to be shared and prepared for...."

Whatever your creative project, giving time and attention to this reset will often inspire you and give access to new ideas and insights. While cleaning, follow the basics of «keep, redistribute, pass on or throw away.» Wipe surfaces, empty trash, rethink uses of objects. Marie Kondo's inquiry "does it spark joy?" can help you determine what stays, is placed in another area or tossed. I like to set a timer for 15-20 minutes, which is often enough time for a small area. Open a window, sweep, clear the air (a few drops of an essential oil in water in a spray bottle is one option)

When you are ready for your reset, Pinterest is good for inspiration, my Atelier board has

Atelier

studio ideas.

Here are a couple of Videos - Maria Munar on setting up a studio (starting from scratch!)

Ann Manat: Setting up your studio & supplies (for acrylic painting) 
(Ann also has a series of videos on setting up face book pages & other helpful tips!)

Ah! Sit back with a cup tea, and your journal, what's coming? What is being shared and prepared for?

Join the Blog challenge!

Visions & Dreams

This year, sixty women from around the world have embarked on their Red Thread Quests, the Color of Woman teacher training. Over the next six months, they will discover more about themselves and their creativity, and how to encourage others to use creativity for both self expression and healing. As a Reader and trek guide, I am privileged to their stories, discoveries, and beautiful creative projects as they come in. And I love it!

I joined my friend Sepha, who's on this year's Quest, to paint Musés with the Livestream the first weekend in April. It was a fabulous spring day, so we were able to paint outside! With the completed paintings due at the end of this month, the finished ladies are beginning to appear in the online classroom. The second p
art of the assignment is to hand the Musé the pen, and receive a message. 
Last year, my Musé Gypsy Rose said, "Sweet Nadya, We bring wisdom voices from the stars and ancient pathways. You are so loved, so appreciated, so honored! We invite you to atune to 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-tend-ing, that you will bring them (your beloveds) home to themselves."

Sepha with her Musé

There are several forums for connecting with the Color of Woman offerings, both online and in person. Some are group sites, others, my SiStar's personal blogs and websites. This week I decided it was time to update my blog links to reflect current interests (and active blogs!) Check them out in the sidebar! 

You'll find links to sites and classes when you click on "contact ___" as you view a teacher's profile on our Intentional Creativity website. Click on the map to find teachers closest to you. Here's the link to my profile! 

Painting Musé with the online group

The Red Thread Nation site has a calendar with class offerings from many of us, click on the links to discover more information and register! Shiloh's blog has juicy food for thought, and links to her offerings.
Facebook presences include Shiloh Sophia's Artist page, the Red Thread Cafe Classroom, Sepha's and my artist pages. Many of my SiStars have artist pages as well.

Our beloveds can find some of our offerings through out MeetUp groups. Here are links to Heidi's, our NW group page, Cynthia in Australia, and mine. 

Amber, Denise and Jassy offer online teachings thought the year, and often, introductory glimpses into one. Several of my classmates will launch online courses this fall, so stay tuned! 

Today would be our Art matriarch Sue Hoya Sellars' 80th BïRtHDäÝ! She departed her Earth body in 2014, to dance among the stars. She is loved, she is missed! These teachings were part of her dream... Blessings, beloved!

"Whether I am doing studies of deer in my meadow or painting an angel moving between dimensions,there is always a glimmer of the cosmos showing through their bodies and parts of the landscape. My work has one primary concept: exploring the formation of our bodies from the cooling of gaseous material originating from the beginning of the universe."

~ Sue Hoya Sellars ~

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Reader and Aide

I am so excited to have been chosen to offer online support to this year's Color of Womanclass! This weekend, they'll be painting their Muse, either at Cosmic Cowgirl U or in their home studio, and I'm an aide for the FB forum. Last year, I was babysitting at my daughter's during the Muse weekend, which worked well, as my home Wi-Fi doesn't stream as well as theirs! 

My friend Sepha is in this year's class, and I'm excited to see her muse emerge.

Muse workshop with Elisabeth (2013, Gabriella on left)

My second role is as a class "Reader," assigned to seven of the students, reading their posts and following the progress with their paintings & other assignments. This is a new role in the CoW training, and I feel it will really help each student feel seen and witnessed.
Next Thursday and on the weekend, Sepha and I will host a Red Thread Circle and then a PlayShop, Dancing Through the Rainbow, & Rainbow Women. You'll find info on current classes on my website.

Happy Paint Party Friday

Love Calling Your Name

One of my dad's favorite Easter song was 'In the Garden.'

Composer C. Austin Miles wrote, "I seemed to be standing at the entrance to a garden, looking down a gently winding path shaded by olive branches. A woman in white walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came to the tomb, she bent over to look in, & leaning her head upon her arm, she wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing beside her: so did I. I knew it was he."

Awakening from his vision that March day in 1912, Miles wrote 'as quickly as the words could be formed the poem' which has come down to us as the song, The Garden.

My dad & I often sang 'The Garden" at Easter, & I've always loved it. Two years ago on Easter, my teacher artist Shiloh Sophia McCloud offered her video painting series on Mary Magdalene for 40 days, at no charge (!) & I signed up! This was the first of many on-line painting sessions I've done with Shiloh, culminating in my graduation as a Color of Woman Teacher!

This year, Shiloh is offering a Magdalene class she recorded in 2014, Love Called my Name! Shiloh writes, "it is Easter morning for most of the world, while my tradition celebrates it on May 1 this year. I woke up feeling the energy of beauty, of change, of transformation that comes with this time of resurrection and a powerful part of the Magdalene story.  And so .... I wanted to wish you a blessed day and give you access to a class I recorded a few years ago for Red Madonna - it is free for 5 weeks. A little present from us. Many blessings. Shiloh Sophia Magdalena (My baptism name is Magdalena)"

Karen King's Gospel of Mary Magdalene offers access to the fragments of that Gospel that

Mary of Magdala

have come down to us (from 3 different source scrolls, found with some of the other scrolls in Egypt.) 
Mary's gospel appears to have been "well distributed in early Christian times and existed in both an original Greek and a Coptic language translation." The first & second World Wars in the last century interfered with publication in modern English until 1955.

The message  Mary of Magdala passed on is simple: 
* "Peace be with you. Receive my peace unto yourselves.
* Beware that no one lead you astray saying Lo here or lo there! For the Son of Man is within you.
* Follow after Him!  Those who seek Him will find Him.
* Go then and preach the gospel of the Kingdom.
* Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it."

One Magdalene scollar writes, ""Mary TRAVELLED! She didn't just sit around in one place, there are stories throughout outhern France, Languodoc & Provance, of her journies, her presence, the sacred objects she carried & her teachings. In the mid 90s while living at the coast, I wrote a story about Mary learning the hands on healing when she was a disciple, & I believe she did."

Through our art and stories, Mary is still on her healing journey? Is she calling you? 

I posted about my first painting here. she was one of the pieces I brought when I spoke at my church on Intentional Creativity. (click the link to see my presentation on Intentional Creativity & the Red Thread) 

Blessings! 

Color of Dreams

Certificates and cards with Queen

I am a Color of Woman Teacher and Intentional Creativity Coach!! My certificates and the Mother Mary Oracle card that Shiloh pulled for each one of us came last week, & I'm still a bit in Awe.  I. Did. this!  WE did this - our wonderful tribe of Color of Women students and the teachers who supported us on the journey! A dream made manifest.

Today Shiloh and her beloved husband Jonathan are on their way to New York, & the UN Commission on the Status of Women, CSW60 conference. The theme this year  is Women’s Empowerment and its link to sustainable development. With the Establisment of the NGO Intentional Creativity Foundation, Shiloh and other artists and dreamers are designing and taking part in two panel discussions. The second will feature footage from the Color of Woman teachers around the world, engaged in creativity & empowering women in their communities!


The website also includes profiles of Intentional Creativity teachers around the world! You can click on the map, or type in your area to connect with someone in your area. Several also offer online classes. Here's my listing! If you've found my art or words inspiring, I invite you to write a brief review on my page.

Denise & Sepha's Story Cards

At the beginning of March my friend Sepha, who is enrolled in CoW 2016 & I hosted the first of our Monthly Red Thread Circles, in the Back Door Studio of the Co-op Art Gallery. We had a simple card making project, fun, laughter, tea & chocolate!  Our next Circle will be Thursday April 7.

This weekend we will be painting our Winged One, to help give our dreams Wings! 

Winged Ones take flight
Butterfly, birds, soaring dragon
giving wings to Dreams


Here are a few inquiries to take to your Journal - & see what Wings come!

* are your wings clipped?

* do you find it hard to focus, with too many dreams & ideas?

* do you find yourself helping others fulfil their dreams, and neglecting your own?

* Does your timing seem 'off'?

* Do you spend more time on things that distract you from your TRUE dreams and values?
In Winged one, we will identify a few dreams for focus

Journey, journal and paint to find symbols & movement
 

Happy Fifth Birthday, Paint Party Friday !!

Hop on over & enter your blog post for the opportunity to win one of the PPF necklaces!!

Red Thread Circling 'round

Story Cards

Yesterday marked the first of our monthly Red Thread Circles, & the second offering in Currents Gallery 'Back Door Studio.' My co-hort Sepha & I held held space for 4 beloveds, saying prayers for women around the world in honor of International Women's day next week. Each of us made 2-4 story cards, using tempera, colored & inktense pencils, pens & markers. 

Two of the women had been with us mid February to paint our Queens, & we are thoroughly enjoying utilizing this dedicated Art space! 

Queen class - D & Sepha

 We are planning a couple of offerings each month, and Sepha is enrolled in Color of Woman, 2016. 

Next up: Winged One, March 11 & 12
Have you dreams you wish to manifest? What wings can you give them?
In Winged One, explore giving your dreams wings to fly. We'll use active imagination and Intentional Creativity to find tools to identify old patterns holding you back, and new ways to bring your dreams alive.

Icaricia Butterfly on Camas

What wings does your dreamer have? Multicolored butterfly wings? Shimmery dragonfly wings? Or the soft down of feathers? Iridescent? Whisper soft? A slip of mist?

I invite you to consider this question - what dreams do YOU wish to manifest? What will give your dream wings?

Happy Paint Party Friday!!