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Word of the Year

 A practice I've engaged in several times is choosing a word for guidance over the year ahead.  My friend Kathleen has offered this in early January at our church for 7 or so years (virtually during lock down), and i joined the group again last weekend.  We start with sharing our last word, the a review of the previous year, listing highs and lows - and look for themes. Feel into what you wish for this year ahead, and for a word to support you.  Kathleen invites us to use a dictionary or thesaurus as we come time this word. Last year I chose Weave, as I wanted to save new friendships and experiences. One of my church friends began a singles group, and a Native Voices bookgroup, and also joined our Edible Landscaping group,  so deepened with current friends and wove in new ones!  Weave - 2023 Our singles group meet Saturday for a great,  and each drew a card from a Hawaiian healing deck - my card 'Kaulike' invites balance - and we bespoke finding balance between work and pla
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Gratitude circle

 Many of us reflect on gratitude during November, and that was our focus for this month's Red Thread Circle.  We each shared something we are grateful for as we passed the Red Thread; some were connection, pleasure in small moments, Community, clarity, presence and our time together.  I used a compass in my journal, inspired by Cindy and Linda to create a couple of mandalas. I so appreciate collaborating with these amazing co-facilitators! Neuroart Gratuitude mandala Neurographica is a form researched and developed by a Russian psychologist, Pavel Piskerev, and taught by practioners on several countries.  It dovetails beautifully with Intentional Creativity, as you begin my focusing on an intention, or something you wish to shift. Pavel observed that while angles make us somewhat uncomfortable, round shapes are soothing and calm our nervous system.  Linda and I took the basic class last year, and often use neurgraphica as inspiration for our own neuroart adaptations. Here's a r

Painting panel prep

  I love painting on wood!  When I was in my Color of Woman teacher training in 2015, we painted 5 large pieces, two on wood panels! I found our "Art Doc's"   tutorial on buying and mounting a hardwood panel super helpful. (But dang - those pieces are heavy!)  Intentional Creativity is a process of self reflection and discovery,  preparing the container is a wonderful way to begin! During Color of Woman, I painted both Taliswoman, " Songs of Light ," and Alchemist, "Firekeeper," on wood panels which my son-in love helped me prepare. I bought the plywood panels and 1x1" supports at Lowe's, then took them to Matt, who has the tools, workspace, and is handy. (And loves my art!) Hummingbird - Songs of Light He suggested using a little sanding block with fine sandpaper - and I watched a  tutorial  which recommended applying a couple of coats of GAC-100 (polymer, the binder for acrylic paint) before the gesso.  The suggested drying time for the poly

Glimmers

 For this week's Red Thread Circle, we were inspired by a quote our SiStar Sepha recently posted on social media -  🌟 Glimmers  ðŸŒŸ  Ooo, yes! With Intentional Creativity, we discover we notice Glimmers more and more frequently!  " After dealing with past traumas and designing remedies, after recognizing what your triggers are and finding your strengths, after digging deep and deeper to find your authentic self, now what? ...." Seeking micro- moments of happiness - seeking Glimmers is a perfect antidote! So we gathered supplies (paper, journals, colors and our/ clippings) and sparkles (Shimmer watercolor, glitter) and brought some of our Glimmers to the page!  Journal page I picked a couple of flowers from my hardy  fuschias - Harlequin and White Knight's Pearl - and apricots I picked on the weekend. Along with a journal, I pulled out Neocolor II crayons, Inktense pencils, brushes and Pearl Tec Shimmer watercolors.  Playful Glimmers of Hope and Joy I loved Linda's

February Reset

 I'm looking forward to the February Festival -  Resetting the space of your Living Altar,  which Katy  from our  Intentional Creativity  community hosts! I'm also a bit nervous, as I've been invited on board to help facilitate the group this year! You can join the group here Red Thread A decade ago, our IC teacher  Shiloh  issued this 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 space and projects, giving time and attention to a reset often inspires us, and gives access to new ideas and insights.  The Resetting group description reads,  "think of this, what if your whole home was a sacred space? Throughout February, (we) will lead a month of consciously clearing spaces in your home, and you're invited!&qu

Wise Women Walk the Walk

 Around this time last year, Linda Allen and I began talking about teaching an Apothecary class, a process pioneered by Jonathan and Shiloh for ' turning tragedies into remedies,' using life experiences as fodder for creative process. In addition to teaching Intentional Creativity, we are both licensed to teach our own classes based on Apothecary.   Linda thought of offering our class based on the idea of being 'healed enough' to observe those old traumas - not not needing to dig to deeply, rather, building on them as compost in which to plant our seeds of the future.  " After dealing with past traumas and designing remedies, after recognizing what your triggers are and finding your strengths, after digging deep and deeper to find your authentic self, now what? There are only so many times you can go over these things. When you find yourself healed enough to go out and enter the world, what do you need in your medicine basket? How do you navigate and continue to m

Colors Of Healing

 We had a great RT circle call today, where we worked with a fusion of the Color of Healing process I learned in a massage workshop in 1983, and apractice from a recent PRISMA practioner session with Dr Mary McChrystal I and added neurolines at the end! Several of the participants had recent surgeries, some had chronic pain or other Health issues, and one had a massage earlier in the day, which always leaves her sore! We Began with a body centered meditation and breath, noticing our bodies and areas of discomfort. Focus of the opening reading was Joy, and our RT inquiry was to share name and land acknowledgment, then something that brought joy/ they were grateful for. Then I introduced the practice: Color of Healing 🌟 with eyes closed, choose the first color ⭐ Draw simple 'gingerbread style body outline first, then areas in pain/ needing attention 🌟 With that first or another intuitive color, drew a reverb/ energy field around the body.   🌟 African energy Healer Eric Vor