Last Sunday six of the dream circle sisters spent the night at Charlotte's Place a B&B in Bolton, MA. After an amazing breakfast, we pulled out magazines and set out to design a vision board. A vision board has images and words of things we wish to manifest in our lives. For some it provides a roadmap and offers clarity. Another style is gratitude board, like the one Anne made that day. When creating a vision board, I like to work intuitively and find that my boards reflect what I may be feeling but haven't quite put into words. What is most fascinating for me is how events can happen that had previously shown up in a vision board. This has happened to me many times. Two years ago I made a board about getting back to the dentist after many years being away. I ended up needing to go the periodontist and later discovered that he looked much like the man in my vision board. Crazy! What was great was how I found myself at the dentist within two weeks of making the board.
As a group we decided to select images for each of the participants. We looked for images that reminded us of the person and their dreams. It was like giving and receiving gifts. Pictured here are four of us receiving and showing their images. I found it to be a very powerful and affirming experience to receive my images and to hear from my dream circle sisters how they saw me. I loved selecting images and giving them and then seeing their reaction. We all loved this activity.
In my journal I made three simple collages. This first one really speaks to the concept of a vision board. On the left it reads, "imagine it. create it. any way you wish." This truly is the fun part of a vision board and you can't go wrong - it is what you like. The words at the bottom speak of our dream quest and how vision boards help to make "the new directions very clear."
I love the vibrant orange-teal color combination. I'm currently on a quest to balance my body and soul. I loved the whimsical Buddha with glasses. In my walks in the last week, I have been thinking more and more about a career change where I am not on a computer all day long. As I look at this vision board, I like the idea of putting on some funky glasses and to look at this career exploration in a new and fun way.
I loved the laugh and confetti in this shot. Celebration, play, and fun making are so important to me these days. Life is just getting better and each day I build a new adventure. This collage is an affirmation of how I wish to feel every day. You know, I already do! I'm looking forward to continuing my journey with lots of laughter and celebration. Notice too that I'm having fun making money.
I came across this wonderful little trifold promoting Heron Dance. The artwork and words inside were so beautiful. I hated covering them up with collage elements but decided to do so knowing that I would likely see more of this on the Heron Dance website. Much to my delight, there is more inspiration found at www.herondance.org. I was particularly excited by the name of the company. The blue heron is one of my totems that came into my life in 2009. The blue heron brings the message of self-determination and self-reliance. They represent an ability to progress and evolve. Blue herons have the innate wisdom of being able to maneuver through life and co-create their own circumstances. Individuals with the blue heron totem have a need to follow their own unique wisdom and path of self-determination. They know what is best for themselves and need to follow their hearts rather than the promptings of others. The great blue heron may sit while others loose patience. And, when they follow the promptings of the heart, they are one of the most magnificent when they choose to soar.
In the image above I simply added the words, "Share the Love" which echoes my theme for 2011, "love."
Several images were layered on the inside. I kept the beautiful watercolor image at the bottom of the card.
In the first panel we see a jolly buddha welcoming us. A heron flying over a pear with a message of peace and, a beautiful blue mandala reminding me to look within to light the way. (Note I have a pear shaped body and I am making peace with it!)
The center panel features a superhero, a woman meditating with lotus flowers decorating her suit. Notice the words below her read, "hero of life." We are all heroes on our journey. I thought is only fitting to add the affirmation, "I can do it." How cool that a flower was in the message. Another neat connection is that the word hero is in the word heron. Here angels are looking over the hero, how comforting.
The third panel has three ladies dancing. It wasn't until after I finished the collage that I thought about the title of the card, Hero Dance. I guess my subconscious was a few steps ahead of me on this one. I am sharing my hero's dance with others. Perhaps this is another clue to the dream job that I'm manifesting?
The back side has a woman drinking from a fountain. She is cooling off and savoring the experience of life. The hands offer beauty and represents the gifts I give and receive.
My final board is larger than the other vision boards. The overall message declares my love for life and the importance of having fun while creating a positive lifestyle.
At the center are two wolves. I have often thought of myself as a lone wolf who goes out on adventures and returns back to the pack to share what I have learned. The way the one wolf has it's head leaning on the other reminds me of my dear dog who passed earlier in the month. I'm still the lone wolf, only now I look forward to meeting another wolf to share the journey. The border of the photo came from the image exchange. It reads, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing so gentle as real strength." I'm touched that Meri would give me this lovely message. I will think of how I can be strong yet gentle as I continue my journey.
I have plans to travel to Italy in September 2012 and have my eyes set on the Cinque de Terre as a stop. Anne gave me the mermaid knowing how I identify and love them so. For those of you who don't know, I am a landlocked mermaid.
On the other side is a fabulous Artist Trading Card (ATC) of a group of lovely mermaids from Meri. Behind the mermaids is a bird and the word Florence, another destination on my Italy trip.
At the top of the board is a white orchid (my ikebana practice) a spider that represents weaving our dreams, and a Quan Yin statue that reminds me of compassion and love. The brilliant white represents the purity of my intentions as I weave my beautiful dreams.
As I picked up the magazines, scissors, and glue stick, time seemed to slip away. I find making vision boards to be a very relaxing activity. I enjoy looking at the images and reflecting on my journey.
Inspired? Pick up some old magazines and see what you'll find.
Namaste,
Kathryn, Collage Diva
