Collage Diva

Release Your Desire and Make Your Dreams Come True

DESIRE and DREAMS - there is a distinction. Desire is fueled by wants and emotions. Dreams on the other hand may be born out of a desire, but it transcends the emotion and is something much bigger. For example, I have some publishing dreams that grew out of my love for creating and writing. While the desire may help to move me to action, the volatile state of emotions is not to be relied upon. In fact, it has no staying power. Desire leads us to feel wanton and grasping at that which we don't have. Disappointment is lurking in the shadows when we are fueled strictly by desire.

We put HOPE into our DREAMS. This is grounded and will sustain us. WISHES, the dreamy, wistful declaration of our desires is flighty. Making wishes is helpful - helpful in releasing the hold of desire. Wishes can help define our dreams. But we must not mistaken the wish for the dream.

Are you feeling gripped by desire? Here is a visualization that I found helpful to release a recent unfulfilled desire:

Close your eyes and picture yourself holding a dandelion like the one pictured above.

Feel that desire running through your body.

Feel how it seems trapped inside with no place to go.

Now take a slow deep breath in through your nose.

Slowly and gently breath out through your mouth and picture the desire and your wishes blowing the dandelion. Watch in your mind's eye how the dandelion breaks apart.

In the same breath accelerate it and finish the breath strongly. 

Listen to the ssssshhhhhh sound as you release the desire into the world.

Continue to breath slowly only this time breath in and out of your nose. 

Follow the wave of breath, gently rolling in and out.

Imagine your breath soothing your insides bringing a sense of calm and deep relaxation.

When you are ready open your eyes and feel the weight of your desire lifted from your body.

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

A Swan Connection

As I sat down to write in my journal this morning I looked over at a collection of 6" x 6" tiles hanging on my wall. I took a closer look and rediscovered the collage by friend and artist Don Desmarais with the beautiful swans. Did you see my Journey of the Heart Journal post this week about INTUITION and GRACE? I write about the story of SWAN.

It was last spring when Don invited me to pick out one of his Dreamscape collages as a thank you present. There were so many to choose from. The photos on his website don't reveal all of the details. What was really cool was how I trusted my intuition and selected the one pictured above. Now many months later, I see that I my intuition picked the perfect piece for not only do the swans symbolize so much in my time of transition but the words in the upper corner, Lien to connect, unite, offer great guide words as I consider the direction I will head in 2012.

I invite you to visit Don's Dreamscape website and use your intuition to guide you as you select a gift for yourself. You'll find layers of meaning in the collage and a beautiful piece to inspire you in 2012.

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Why not?

"Why not wear a jelly fish chapeau?" asked the mermaid goddess.

I haven't created a digital collage in ages. It sure does feel great to play!

Enjoy!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

It's time to clear the clutter!

The Weight of Objects
Clearing a Space for Change

We hold onto material objects because we think they make us feel secure, when in reality they are cluttering our lives.

In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us. 

It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage. 

When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.

(This was published by DailyOM.)

I think it is time I go and clean out my "creative cave of chaos" AKA my studio.

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Do this in memory of me.

I love it when Collage Diva can make an appearance at the day job. Each year for three years now, I've had the priviledge of designing the Religious Education Month poster that is circulated to Catholic parishes and schools in 12 diocese throughout New England. Each November parishes and schools are invited to hang the posters and plan activities that celebrate religious education. I collaborate with our Director for Catechetical Formation (now isn't that a mouth full) on designing lesson plans that tie in with the theme of the poster. The lessons are not just parishes and schools. Families are also encouraged to do the activities at home.

Design notes: The colorful papers on the left are photocopies of scripture and music that relates to the theme. The photocopies were then covered with doodles and paint, before tearing and scanning. Pieces of wheat were scanned and then altered using Adobe Photoshop. For a closer look at the design click on the image. Click a second time and you can enlarge the image to see even more detail.

The theme for the poster ties in with the theme for Catechectical Sunday which is celebrated in September throughout the United States.

Today's post is a sneak peek at the poster design. I just sent the file to the printers. I can't wait to see the final printed piece which measures 16" x 24". I'm so delighted that my artwork will be circulating around all of New England come November.

Enjoy the preview!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Sailing Lessons

I received some disturbing news last night. It is the kind of news that challenges everything one has known. I can't share any details, it is just too personal, but what I can share is that it is about a trust that was broken and a boundary that was violated. My heart swelled last night so big and torrents of tears rocked my body. I managed to get some sleep thanks in large part from a phone call from a dear friend who has known me for a long time.

This morning I woke up and thought about how life has a way of throwing curve balls. I'm seeing this as an opportunity to test out all that I've learned in life. I've untangled the rigging and replaced a tattered sail from last nights emotional storm and today I'm ready to set sail. I know there will be more storms ahead but just as I've been writing in recent blogs, the emotions that form the waves on the surface are fleeting. I have deep within me a calm center and I know how to get there.

Today I'm embracing what is lovely about life and choosing to take my time as I navigate these new waters.

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Sand and Sea Sundays: Spanish Mermaid

I have a spare room that once was the space where Collage Diva created her magic. Times have changed. You see I've had a problem holding onto stuff that comes into the tree house. Everything has the potential for a collage or assemblage and well, the creative room is now dubbed the creative cave of chaos. While in the room of doom rummaging for something, I came across some of my earlier collage work and unearthed this mermaid. Isn't she lovely? She is so happy to make her debut here. Her body is from a silverware pattern. I love the background and the suggestion of a mammalian protuberance (Zappa fans will recognize the reference.)

Spanish Mermaid, circa 1992.

Be sure to swing by Gypsea Nurse's blog to see other Sand and Sea Sunday posts.

Into the Deep

Yesterday I started reading a new book titled, The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo. It is a daily reader with reflections and mindful practices for each day. Today's topic is about our consciousness and deep waters as a metaphor. Mark compares the activity of the surface with the deep water. He writes, "Each of us is like a great, untamed sea, obedient to deeper currents that are seldom visible." We can think of the surface as what we see. When still we can see into the deep. As the surface is disturbed (I'm thinking of my monthly hormonal storms) those deep waters, the root of who we are, remains rather unaffected. It is comforting to think that no matter the turbulence at the surface, I have deep within me a calm center. Today's SoulCollage® card is the perfect companion for today's reading. I'm one to not stay on the surface but rather go deep and go deep often. Being mindful and present will help me to resonate with what lies deep below the surface.

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Must See: Visit Mark Nepo's website.

Something is definitely happening at the tree house!

There are rumors spreading that something new is on the horizon at True North Arts. Be sure to swing by during the Mad Hatter Tea Blog Party to get a preview!

For more details about the blog party, CLICK HERE.

We All Scream for Ice Cream

Summer is here - I hear the sounds of the ice cream truck making its rounds.

Are you screaming for ice cream?

Enjoy!

Kathryn, Collage Diva