Collage Diva

Three Horses

Look deep within the cavern and you'll find three horses. One will take you further into the cavern where you will experience an intimacy that you've never known. Ride the second horse and it will take you out of the cavern to explore many new landscapes. Look to the third horse for a gentle and steady ride, he will be your constant companion and offers you the most beautiful ride of your life.

Which one will you ride?

It is another day on this wonderful journey called life.

Embrace it!

Kathryn, 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

Ahhhhh...Release

I am the one who feels free.

I have surrendered

and discovered

how wonderful

it feels to let go of my burdens.

The latest True North Arts Journey of the Heart Journal prompt is about letting go, trusting, and surrender. Read more and download the journal pages, HERE.

 

It's up to you to ILLUMINATE the world.

This is my favorite SoulCollage card. Here is a confident woman who has emerged from her cocoon, transformed, strong, and ready to take flight. The lightening in the upper left corner represents enlightenment or at least a greater awareness of a situation. The lightening is the physical representation of an a-ha moment. I love how the woman's scarf looks like the monarch butterflies and her glasses even look bug-like. This card represents my full realized self ready to light up the world with my unique gifts.

We are not quite 1/2 way into the month of July - and Yowza! what month. Even with all the challenges that have been thrown my way, I've managed to stay grounded. Getting plenty of sleep, going for walks, and eating well really do help me navigate and not spin out. In the last couple of days, I've pushed through some difficult emotions to get to the a-ha's. At this very moment, I'm so happy that I have. As difficult as change is, it is also very exciting. I feel hopeful!

The quote in the collage, "It's up to you to ILLUMINATE the world," ties in perfectly with the Journey of the Heart Journal theme that I published this week on True North Arts. The theme encourages you to shine your own light and to bring your gifts to the world. CLICK HERE to read more about the journal and to download the weekly journal page.

Here's to shining your light!

{Namaste}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Navigating the Fog

It is a quiet morning in the tree house today. I pause and savor the silence. I can hear the birds talking and singing outside my window. I look inside and I feel a silence, a calm quiet space. Soon I will need to peel away and enter the busyness of the day. It is easy to get swept up in the daily doings. At this moment, I'm here.

Thoughts of a dear friend come to mind who stopped by my office yesterday with news of a scary diagnosis. We talked about the next visible steps as she explores her options. I could see her standing in front of a fog, that not knowing place of what her future holds. I shared stories of remarkable people like Mark Nepo and Kris Carr two people whose own lives show how one can outlive a scary diagnosis. I looked over at this friend and I saw a beautiful woman whose life is going to change and what I saw was a new life where she will be healthier, with more zest, and where each moment is more precious. I shared this vision and I could see that she could see it too. I knew she was ready for this diagnosis and ready to make a change in her life. It will be hard and it will be scary, but she is one of the strongest women I know. As she left my office and I could see hope in her step.

Are you feeling like you are in a fog? Maybe you don't have a scary diagnosis that you are facing, but rather a lack of direction in your life? I started a new project this month that I call the Journey of the Heart Journal. In this week's journal post I talk about navigating in the fog. I invite you to check it out. I offer a free journal page to download. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Have a lovely day and I hope that my project can help bring clarity to your life.

{Namaste}

Kathryn

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.

Goddess Within SoulCollage Cards and Resources

Tonight I am be presenting "The Goddess Within," a tele-class for the KaleidoSoul community at 7 p.m. 

Stories and myths offer familiar themes and scenarios that we can recognize in our own lives. Each Greek goddess has strengths and weaknesses that offer insights to serve as helpful tools for guiding us in how we respond to the challenging events and various personalities we encounter in our daily lives.

I will share my personal story of discovery and my own A-HA moments after learning about the Greek goddess archetypes.  I've made some profound discoveries that have helped me to strengthen my relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. I'll explain how I use SoulCollage® to further explore and deepen our understanding of the goddess within.

The tele-class is FREE to KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirit Members. CLICK HERE to learn more.

The following SoulCollage cards illustrate the Greek goddess archetypes. Scroll down for a list of resources to learn more and to take a quiz to see which goddesses are active in your life.

Artemis ~ Goddess of the Hunt and Moon, 
Competitor and Sister

I am the one who has an independent feminine spirit.

I am the one who can take care of myself.

I pursue interests and work that matters to me without needing the approval of a man.

I have the ability to concentrate intensely on whatever is important to me.

Athena ~ Goddess of Wisdom and Crafts,
Strategist and Father's Daughter 

I am the one who is known for my winning strategies and practical solutions.

I am a great negotiator. I am driven and motivated by my own priorities.

I have to be careful not to over-schedule myself.

Hestia ~ Goddess of the Hearth and Temple
Wise Woman and Maiden Aunt

I am the one who is happy puttering around my home.

I enjoy cooking, flower arranging, photography, meditation, and yoga.

Tending my home is a centering activity and not a chore. 

Hera ~ Goddess of Marriage
Commitment Maker and Wife

 I am the one who yearns to be married.

Marriage is a chief accomplishment and I seek the prestige, respect, and honor that marriage connotes.

I prefer spending time with my husband over friendships.

Demeter ~ Goddess of Grain,
Nurturer and Mother

I am the one who longs to be a mother.

I am motivated to nurture others.

I am seen as an Earth Mother.

I generously feed others be it food and support, offering emotional and psychological support, or spiritual nourishment. 

 

Persephone ~  The Maiden,
Mother's Daughter

I am the one who does not know "who she is" and as yet unaware of my desires and strengths.

I am indecisive about who or what I want to be "when I grow up."

I am the one waiting for someone or something to transform me.

I represent youthfulness, vitality, and the potential for new growth.

I am receptive to change and young in spirit all of my life.

Persephone ~ Queen of the Underworld,
Receptive Woman

 I am the one who has experience going in between the ego-based "real" world and the unconscious.
I can integrate the two realms.

I guide others in exploring their feelings, memories, and dreams.

"Aphrodite in Hiding"

I am the one who is shy about my blossoming sensuality.

Aphrodite ~ Goddess of Love and Beauty,
Creative Woman and Lover

I am the one who is a good catch. 

I am the one who loves beauty and recognizes beauty in everyone.

I am the one who loves to help others to see their unique gifts and to bring out their own beauty.

Aphrodite

I am the one who savors the juiciness of life.

 

Self-Realized Woman

I am the one who has transformed.

I have integrated the lessons from all of the goddesses.

I activate each goddess as needed to move through the world as a confident woman.

 

Resources to Learn More!

Goddess Power Website:
This site gives a great detailed overview of each goddess.
http://goddess-power.com/

Questionaire:
Discover which goddesses are active in your life. Take this comprehensive quiz.
http://goddess-power.com/questions.htm

Books:

Goddesses in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women's Lives

Goddess Within: A Guide to the Eternal Myths that Shape Women's Lives

E-mail:
If you have questions from the presentation or would like to share you own goddess stories, please feel free to write to: KathrynAntyr@mac.com

 

The Goddess Within

On Tuesday, April 5th I will be presenting "The Goddess Within," a tele-class for the KaleidoSoul community. 

Stories and myths offer familiar themes and scenarios that we can recognize in our own lives. Each Greek goddess has strengths and weaknesses that offer insights to serve as helpful tools for guiding us in how we respond to the challenging events and various personalities we encounter in our daily lives.

I will share my personal story of discovery and my own A-HA moments after learning about the Greek goddess archetypes.  I've made some profound discoveries that have helped me to strengthen my relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. I'll explain how I use SoulCollage® to further explore and deepen our understanding of the goddess within.

The tele-class will include an introduction to the goddesses, a link for further study and to an online quiz where you can identify those goddesses that are active in your life. The tele-class is FREE to KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirit Members. CLICK HERE to learn more.

SoulCollage® Daddy's Girl

The phone rang late last night with news that my dad is in the hospital. I visit him each Sunday and have noticed how extremely tired he has been. Water is surrounding his lungs and his liver isn't functioning properly. It has been a really difficult 1-1/2 years watching my dad's health decline.

He has had some problems with short-term memory recall, a reaction we believe to the general anesthesia he received for not one but two emergency surgeries that he needed within two days.

I felt like an orphan when his mind started to go. I was no longer the child but now the adult in my relationship with my dad. His personality has changed. He went from being my rock - so solid, so capable, and at times intense with his perfectionism. Now he is sweet and child-like, very soft. He struggles each day to know what day it is and I can see how nervous and agitated it makes him. I call him each day to hear how his day is. The conversation moves slowly. Long gone are the days when I would be drilled with questions. Now I patiently listen. I'm always positive, no matter what, and I find ways to make him laugh. I never forget to tell him how much I love him.

The images in this post come from my SoulCollage® deck. I have found SoulCollage® to be a helpful process to work through my feelings visually. If you are curious about SoulCollage® check out my True North Arts blog post, HERE.

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

The Wolf Full Moon

Today is the wolf full moon. Each month Jamie Ridler hosts a blog circle where each participant creates a dreamboard on the full moon and shares it. Jamie writes about the wolf full moon, "What are you dreaming of under this Full Wolf Moon? The wolf reminds us to connect to our hunger, to notice what desires are calling for our attention."

My word for 2011 is "Love." To assist me in exploring, understanding, and embracing love, I call upon Aphrodite. {Know that you can click on the collage above to get a closer look.}

In this collage, the opening of the white lotus represents the opening up to the radiance from within. As I endeavor to get to know myself better, I seek to find the golden center. Aphrodite is one of many archetypes from the Greek goddess paradigm who is assisting me in this journey. Today I am grateful to have learned about the goddesses in a workshop that I took last spring. I continue to learn so much about myself months after my introduction.

When I learned that today was the wolf moon, this SoulCollage® card came to mind. The wolf is a teacher and seeks to speak the truth. Here the reclined woman is connected to wolf energy. She is both a lone wolf and one who runs with the pack. She is comfortable moving between both places. The full moon casts a glow on her throat chakra, the communication center. As she rests she finds her inner wisdom which she will return to the pack to share.

What do you hunger for? What desires are getting your attention?

Visit Jamie Ridler's blog to participate and view the other dreamboards.

Namaste, 

Kathryn, Collage Diva