Collage Diva

Secret 7: Consulting with Guides

This week's chapter in "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin is titled, "Consulting with Guides." Just before I read this chapter I was thinking about this very topic and how I'm at a place in my journey where I think I will benefit from some guidance. I love it when this happens. I can't help but wonder am I being led on this journey or am I in synch? I like to think the latter.

I jumped out of my seat when I read the following:
"You know, most people are trying to figure out how to build a launch pad. You're in outer space. You just need to figure out how to use the controls."

Wow! I am in outer space. I know the skills that I love to use. I'm working on developing more. I just need a little help to know how to use those darn controls. Now that I'm in orbit what do I do?

This chapter has some great examples of guides. It was so helpful to read through this organized list and I love the challenge about designing my guidance options. I plan on spending the next week really working on my list.

I call my rock above, "Circles of Care." Each circle represents different groups where I find support. Let's take a closer look at those circles.

In the center is my inner guide. This is my intuition, my inner wise voice. I access this guide through meditation, journaling, quiet walks, solitude, and my morning retreats. As you look around you'll see some of my other circles of care. This exercise has been so helpful to see that I already have so many guides in my life. I think I will be looking for more experts and in the weeks to come I will be defining just what I need in an expert. This clarity of vision is really the key in making my dreams come true.

The chapter ends by encouraging each of us to see ourselves as guides for others. I've been told by many that I am a natural teacher. I've discovered that my blog and Soul Journal project have both been fantastic avenues to inspire and encourage others.

Recently I collected affirmations for a blog giveaway and made an affirmation poster for all of the participants to enjoy. As I put this poster out there I was dumbfounded by the response - so many women from around the world wrote to me to let me know just how powerful and helpful this poster is for them. One blog friend just sent me a photo of the poster hanging up in her home in Belgium. I call this transaction an inspiration spiral - one inspires another and the inspiration keeps going and going.

Look here for more inspiration:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
Blissfully Art Journaling Yahoo Group
Creative Everyday
Soul Journal Project
The Soul Journal Yahoo Board
Affirmation Poster - a free gift from me!

GPP #28 - Damask Remix

In January, Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team challenge was to pick a shape and play with it. I played with the damask shape and you can see my results HERE. I loved the shape and the new colors that I played with but I was not happy with the composition of my journal page. I tried to brush it off and say, "Oh I'm just playing." But each time  flipped through my journal I stopped on these pages and felt big sighs.

Michelle's February challenge was the perfect solution. She suggests we look at "portion control" with our new shape diet (she is so clever). Showing some of the shape is far more intriguing and interesting than the whole thing. I tore out my journal page and started cutting it up into hearts and birds. Wow! I now love my page.

Check out these before and after shots - Damask Before and Damask Remixed!

Cool, eh? Now if you have a journal page that you look at and go, "eh." My advice is to pull out some scissors and start cutting!

Related Links:
GPP Street Team Challenge #28
Creative Everyday

Secret 6: Conquering Saboteurs

"Conquering Saboteurs" now that is a powerful topic. This week on our exploration of "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" we take a look at those inner and outer saboteurs. You know the inner critics and nay-sayers. The journal pages on this post are some of my strategies for conquering my saboteurs.

1. Birds of a Feather - I surround myself with kindred spirits. This helps me to feel understood and connected. Blogland offers so many opportunities to meet others who will get you. I made friendship paper to make these birds. To read more about the friendship paper visit my Birds of a Feather Valentine party.

2. Look for Signs and Believe in Them - I think "Serendipity" is my middle name. I notice signs and connections ~ they tell me that I'm on the right path.

3. Affirmations - I write affirmations and collect them as one might collect stamps or coins. I'll take quotes and re-write them as positive, active, "I" statements. Reading them daily, writing them over and over again in my morning pages, saying them while looking in a mirror, are all ways of using the affirmations. Leaving affirmative statements for others is a way of sharing the love.

4. Laughter - My sense of humor will take the wind out of the sails of any saboteur ~ internal and external. Who doesn't want to have fun? When my inner critic speaks up I cut through it with laughter and I tell him not to take things so seriously.

5. Self Care - Not only do I need to get lots of sleep, eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, but how I talk to myself is  part of the care plan. When my inner critic speaks I try talking gently to him. I acknowledge his fears and reassure him with words of kindness. It is taking some practice to talk to myself this way. I'm learning how to be my own best friend, my own caretaker, my own trusted guide.

6. Compassion - The people who make it on my saboteur list are either family members who are afraid for me and hope for the best or  people who are creatively blocked. The lesson here is to understand that we don't have to take on other people's fears. Listening to their concerns with acknowledgment and kindness is the best approach.

7. Play Often - Finding time to play will fill the soul with happiness leaving little room for the critics.

8. Face It - Naming the fears and taking a real honest look at them is the first step. Taking gentle kind steps towards making change will lift the black fear clouds off.

9. Express Yourself - Journal or blog to get your ideas and feelings out. Try morning pages.

10. Quiet Time - I believe every person needs some solitude to reconnect with their inner self and wisdom voice. Solitude makes way for peace. Find those retreat moments in each day.

Related Links:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
Blissfully Art Journaling Yahoo Group
Creative Everyday

Happy Valentine's Day!

Be sure to swing by my Soul Journal blog today.
I'm hosting a lovely
Valentine Blog Party!

Over 50 wonderfully creative chicks have flown in.
visit: www.collagediva.com/souljournal
for a little luv.

Mixed Media Painting: Guitar

I think you'll see my influences from Picasso's guitar and Paul Klee's use of color in this painting. Scroll down to get a closer look.

 

Self Portrait - February 2009

101 Things in 1001 Days - "#11 - Make a self portrait once a month during these 1001 days."

Oprah was very brave in January when she kicked off her "Live Your Best Life" series by sharing her struggles with her weight. She mentioned how in the last year only head shots were used on the cover of her magazine. I could really relate to her as I too hide in photos what I don't like to see. Rarely will you see me break my grin to show my teeth and when I can my photos are of head shots. I'm taking steps to change this. As much as I feel more comfortable on the other side of the camera, I'm going to stretch myself by documenting my self image in a series of self portraits created monthly during these 1001 days.

Sacred Life Sunday - Good Morning!

Each morning I've been getting up before dawn to write my morning pages, an exercise from The Artist's Way. It is a great way to begin my day - I empty out my creative vessel to make room for new ideas. On this one morning, I was writing about "retreat moments" (see previous post) where I find moments throughout the day where I am very present and at peace. I'm also looking for magical moments in my every day life. While I was feeling satisfied by the effects of my morning pages, my son came in from walking our dog and at that moment, I was struck with awe by the beautiful sunrise. I immediately grabbed my camera and headed out in pjs, wet head, and no makeup to capture the view from my tree house. I was filled with that magical awe that mother nature provides.

Can you find the squirrel making his way to the bird's nest in this photo?

Here's to a good morning!

Related Links:
Sacred Life Sunday
Creative Everyday
101 Things in 1001 Days
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron

Secret 5: Commiting to Self Focus

My theme this week is about "me time." This week I read Secret #5 in The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin and chapter 1 in The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - both have some similar themes. Gail writes,

"Self-focus is a critical skill for women who want to create. Without it, you cannot indulge in your inspirations and devote the time necessary for innovation."

Putting myself on top of my priority list and creating solitude is now on my daily list. The assignment in The Artist's Way (TAW) is to spend some time each morning writing three pages full of anything that comes to mind. I'm fortunate to be a morning person. I love mornings and this exercise seems so indulgent. I was a bit skeptical at first because I don't like to write - I find it tedious and boring. When I started my morning pages about two weeks ago, I went at it with an open mind. What I found was that I love this quiet time. I allow myself to write the good and bad - it is uncensored and ugly. I love not worrying about grammar or neat penmanship.

Part of my new morning routine is lighting a candle, putting on some light classical music, brewing a strong cup of coffee, and writing my morning pages. I found the process to be very cleansing. My writing isn't always venting or negative - quite often I find myself exploring ideas. If it starts in a negative tone by the end of the third page it turns positive. I think the three pages is really key. Any shorter and that shift won't happen. In the 12 Secrets book, I love the reference to being "creative vessels." The morning page exercise gives me the opportunity to clean out my creative vessel before the day begins and I've found I'm calm and relax and my creativity is super charged.

I think finding solitude daily is the key to happiness and essential for nurturing the creative spirit. One way to find solitude in the everyday is to be present. I found this week that at the end of the work day when I'm feeling tired and worn that I can capture the feelings of solitude by doing the dishes. I relax and focus on the process of washing the dishes and any tension is lifted. I call these moments of being very present as "retreat moments." I first thought of this term last fall when I was having a prolonged retreat moment while sitting in a park and journaling. My goal is to find retreat moments throughout the day. Today I found it at work. I cracked open my window to let in some cool air. I noticed the bright sunshine light up my little office. I turned on some fun music. It made the tedious task at hand seem lighter. I could focus on the task and in my solitude transcend any distractions or tensions.

Who is My Caregiver? Me!
I think as women we fall into the caregiver role and it is easy to get swept up in this role and forget to be caregivers to ourselves. As a single mom I'm now finding time for me every day. I'm getting creative in finding the little pockets of time like when my son is in his Kung Fu class - I go to a coffee shop with my book in hand. I still need to work at taking better care of me though. I'm taking the first steps and recognizing that I am my own caregiver.

Dream Big
Before I started TAW, I wanted to pick up a new "special" mug for my morning journaling. On a whim I dropped into a Hallmark store. On the door was a sign that read, "Christmas sale 70% off." I thought perhaps I might find a mug in the sale section but I didn't want something with a Christmas design. As I walked over to the picked over shelves I saw this bright blue mug with bold letters that read, "Dream Big." I picked it up for only $3! The funny thing is it was the only one there and it looked like it was ready to jump off the shelves and into my arms. "Pick me" it screamed from the shelf, "Pick me!"

I love starting my day with a morning retreat and finding other retreat moments throughout the day.

Related Links:
"12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women" by Gail McMeekin
The Next Chapter Blog Book Group with Jamie Ridler
"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron
Blissfully Art Journaling Yahoo Group

Birds of a Feather - Soul Journal Valentine Party!

With Valentine's Day coming up I was thinking, "What is the best way to spread some love and feel the love?" I know a blog party!

• Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 14, 2009.
• I think Mr. Darcy may be available for some moon dancing and there will be lots of Royal Beauty Waltzes to enjoy!
• I'm designing a new Soul Journal prompt that you will love!
• There will be party favors for everyone!

Visit my Soul Journal blog for all of the details! www.collagediva.com/souljournal

I hope to see you my lovelies!
{soul hugs}
kathryn

Wishing Jar and Affirmations

One of my wishes for 2009 is to have more magical moments in my everyday life. As I worked up my list of 101 Things in 1001 Days I looked to add opportunities for magical moments. #58 Create a Wish Jar: I love the idea of acknowledging what I wish for and tucking them in a magical vessel. To charge my new wish jar I tucked in the wishes and affirmations from people all over the world who entered my first blog giveaway (#12 on my list). As I read through my list of 101 Things I noticed how I charged my wishing jar was a good example of #64 - Be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes.

How have you been a maker of magic and tender of wishes? I'm looking for ideas. I put on my to do list to blog about 6 examples! Fortunately I have many, many days left to find new ways to add more magic to my life. I would love to hear your ideas.

I love affirmations and it was so much fun to collect them and make a poster. CLICK HERE TO Download SJ-AffirmationPoster2009 (8-1/2" x 14" pdf) Another fun connection is how the theme for February on the Creative Every Day Blog is "Words." This is a great theme. I'm not only into affirmations but I also love quotes and power words.

Here's to sharing our words and celebrating with a little magic.