Red Thread Circles

 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 share new friendships and experiences. One of my church friends began a singles group, and a Native Voices bookgroup, and I 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 wee feast,  and each drew a card from a Hawaiian healing deck. My card 'Kaulike' invites balance - and we bespoke finding balanc...

 For this week's Red Thread Circle, we were inspired by a quote our SiStar Sepha recently posted on social media -  🌟 Glimmers  🌟  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 Jo...

 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...

 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 Heale...

 One of my favorite Intentional Creativity®practices is creating cards!   Creating a set of Soulful Story Cards was the first Red Thread event I offered, and we often create several cards in a circle. I've written about several ways to use our cards, and there are so many ways to create them!  Materials:  Watercolor or mixed media paper, thin cardboard (I use watercolor and mixed media paper from pads)  Watercolours or acrylic paint, acrylic ink, shimmer watercolors, Neocolor 2 crayons, Inktense pencils, calligraphy or micon pens, brushes Scissors, edge trimmers Items for collage, gold paint, glue or medium Set your intention for your cards Paint your background - playful, happy colors! If using watercolor paper, spray and drip color into it for a wash. If recycling thin cardboard (chocolate sleeves or tea boxes)  use white paint or gesso to prepare your surface, then paint with acrylics. While your paint dries, write out the 'old stories' that hold yo...

 The invitation to our circle read, "Does this happen at your house? You have a great idea, jot copious notes...then, months later, discover them tucked away in one of your many files or journals! If they're not visible, they often just drop off the radar! "Viola - make pockets to hold sets of cards with those ideas, and string them up on a line!" This was a great springboard for our Circle! SiStars attended from the UK, Australia, and even India (4:30 AM!) as well as USA! And what fun to see ideas cross pollinate as we inspired each other! You'll find my first board and earlier post about these boards  here . I pulled out the demo canvas from a Medicine Basket Paint With Pals party (16×20") to use for my backing. I used garden twine for my lines, and taped the knotted ends to the stretcherbars. Several pockets are repurposed envelopes (Christmas cards!) and others from cardstock and a scrap of fingerpaint. Paint with Pals - Medicine Basket Old supplies fro...

Often times when we are creating, and blithely engaged in our dialogue with the Muse, the critic sneaks up on us!  Ack ! The critic is likely to appear, wearing her current favorite hat!  "I'm not artistic" - the Tyranny of Talent!  Comparison Queen -  your painting looks better! "I just  don't like  my painting!"  And on ... She's too pale, now she's too dark, ... Circle Altar When the critic appears in a class, I often thank the student, and mention that they are likely speaking for others in the group as well. It's long been her job to keep us safe for a long time, and may get uncomfortable when we try something new/different.  I give some options, she can count rocks in the parking lot, or shall we set her up with a drink by the pool? She can hold the map and help navigate, but we won't let her drive!  As we listen to her, we may identify her voice - who along the way is she parroting?  What if there was nothing we could get wr...

  Our theme for our December Red Thread Circle was Shine Your Lïght.  In the Northern Hemisphere, night comes earlier, and light and warmth feel extra precious. Since humans began using fire, tending and keeping it has been a sacred task. In Denmark, the word Hygge is used to denote a cozy, comfortable atmosphere, which often includes firefight, candles, soft and fuzzy fabrics.  This last summer, with hot winds from the east and dry forests,  Oregon and the NW had many wildfires - there is a fine line between safety and danger! Some inquiries to ponder: what encourages you and brings you light and hope? Where do you struggle? What encourages you, and gives you hope? What beings feelings of safety? Shine Your Lïght Take a moment to center, pour a cup of tea, light a candle, tug your Red Thread Work on paper, canvas, your Smashbook or art journal Write several Light words - qualities you hold for yourself and for your community Choose images for these qualities: stars,...

Toward the end of October, I was introduced to Neurographica by my creative sistar  Karen Dawn , whom I met in the Dancing Entrepreneur online course last spring. So Fun!  And rather additive!  I am enjoying adding it to my medicine basket of daily  practices.  Creativity  is an awesome way to access information from our whole being, and integrate it more deeply.  studies show translating  ideas  into  action  is more likely to occur when combined with creative practices. Since that introduction, I've been creating  Neurographic  doodles, and engaged in a November Gratitude practice. Researched and developed by a Russian psychologist, Pavel Piskerev. I am reminded of our Intentional Creativity community's Metacognative drawings, and interested to see how the two will interface.  Gratuitie Neuro-noodles Gratitude practice, Day 1 The week of Vivid  community gatherings and Legend painting journey Spending time with...