Awareness

Today I was thinking about awareness and thought I would share my ideas on awareness. There are so many levels on which we are able to be aware if we take the time to listen to our bodies and our inner knowing.

Photo source http://hopenrecovery.wordpress.com

There are very obvious symptoms our bodies give us to be aware of, such as changes in sleep patterns, changes of emotions, changes in eating patterns, skin irritations, power surges, physical illness, vivid dreams, changes in weight, food allergies, falls, dizziness, heart palpations, heightened senses such as taste, sight, smell, hearing and touch. Things that change so obviously are easy to recognise and our bodies are urging us to listen and therefore if we choose we have the ability to look into what is behind these actions and do something different if we wish to.  

Activity in the crown chakra, a need to find yourself, emotional or mental confusion, loss of interest in things, creative ideas, a sense that time is passing too quickly, a yearning for something, impatience, something speaking to you from a profound deep level, intuition, a sense of wonder and memories coming back to you are less obvious signs that your inner knowing wishes you to take time to become aware of what is happening in your life and perhaps change or increase certain activities.

Photo Source http://www.abundancehighway.com

The key is to get in touch and become aware of the messages that are being sent to you in order to live your life in a more harmonious way. No matter what spiritual path you have chosen to walk you need to set time aside to be still and push aside all the unnecessary chatter to find the truth that your inner essence is trying to show you. We all know what is best for us, we just get caught listening to all the should's and could's that create barriers to living our true purpose. When we are separated from our true knowing we become confused and start asking questions like Who Am I? Is this all there is to life? Is there something missing from my life?

It is when we sit and listen to our own inner voice and act on the wisdom that is shares with us that we can become whole and reunite our spirit with our physical activities and day to day life. We always have the answers to all the questions we have deep inside. It is in taking the time that is needed and not rushing through our day that these still voices can be heard.

Be still, Be Calm
Allow the love to flow
And as the love flows
The pure diamond
That is within
Reveals it’s light
It begins to shine
And reflect to you
All the love it holds
Sit still for now
And feel
The power of
Your own being

-Suzie Cheel

Your way of connecting to your inner spirit will be different for each of us, it should not be a struggle, it is
in your willingness to take the time and intention to be still that the knowledge will flow. When we are still we are free to look within and see things from a different perspective and the more the awareness grows the more we look. You will know the truth when you allow your spirit to just be.

Taking time to mediate is an easy was to empower your spirit and the more you practise the more comfortable it will became and your spirit will start to recognise that this is the time for it to step up and show you all the ideas, plans and actions it has waiting for you. When you spirit is empowered in this way it like you will flourish and before you know it you will sit ready to start mediating and all the answers will flow almost immediately when this has become a regular practise. It is only your mind that is holding you back in fulfilling your truth and becoming all you want to be.

Photo Source http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-4-Week-Energy-Diet

Owen Waters talks on the Seven Facets of Spiritual Awareness

Life can be a treadmill of mundane details or it can be an inspiring adventure of uplifting experiences. Through the regular, daily practice of meditation, you can start each day by raising your frequency of consciousness above the mundane, work-a-day level into the spiritual realms of consciousness.

Here are seven facets of spiritual awareness which unfold as a result of daily meditation. Any technique will work.

Spiritual Awareness Facet Number One – Flow

A sense of flow attracts synchronicity into your life’s events. This almost magical sense enables you to always be in the appropriate place at the appropriate time in order to gain the most out of the experiences that the complete you, your inner self, planned for this life.

Spiritual Awareness Facet Number Two - Unconditional Love

You develop a sense of unconditional love for the inner, spiritual essence of all the people that you connect with in your life. Even the difficult people, as they are often holding up a mirror for you to understand an aspect of past habits which, deep down, you would like to examine at this time.

Your sense of unconditional love naturally includes full acceptance of yourself, just as you are, with the personality that you adopted for this lifetime of experience. You can catch those old thought patterns of self-criticism and remember that you live in a universe which is naturally full of love and unconditional acceptance.

Photo Source http://swoonstudio.blogspot.com.au

Spiritual Awareness Facet Number Three – Abundance

Accept abundance as the natural flow of the universe. Forget those opinions about there being something wrong with money. It’s a form of energy and the universe is filled with energy. Life gets a lot more convenient when you are abundant. It gets really inconvenient when you are not.

When you follow your innermost joy, you find yourself doing work that you love and find absorbing. When you find your work absorbing, you become very good at it, without feeling that it took a lot of effort to become that highly skilled. When you are good at your work, employers and customers alike hear about you by word-of-mouth recommendation and they seek you out. The more in-demand your services become, the more they are worth. Following your inner joy is the secret to finding and developing an occupation which brings natural abundance.

Spiritual Awareness Facet Number Four - Intuitive Insight

Both men and women find that, with regular spiritual practices, their sense of intuition develops smoothly and naturally. Soon, your insights grow to become very valuable in dealing with the challenges of life.

Spiritual Awareness Facet Number Five - Creativity

A growing sense of creativity becomes apparent when spiritual practices become your daily routine. You discover new ways to achieve results because you see situations from a broader perspective.

Spiritual Awareness Facet Number Six - Wisdom

Advances in spiritual wisdom and understanding come with deep meditation. In meditation, it is important to let distracting, surface thoughts dissipate so that deeper realizations may surface at the time that they are needed.

Photo Source http://tommyswindow.com

Spiritual Awareness Facet Number Seven - Raising World Consciousness

When you detach from worldly concerns and express a higher frequency of consciousness, the conflicts of the lower frequencies of consciousness become automatically healed. When you let go of any form of conflict within yourself, you are able to rise to a higher frequency of consciousness in a state of harmony and balance.

Higher frequencies of consciousness hold a higher power. Not just a slightly higher power. The power ratio of spiritual consciousness to conflict-oriented consciousness is many thousands to one. If you allow balance to enter your life through a spiritual state of consciousness, it will manifest immediately and very powerfully in your daily life. You will also be helping to raise the global consciousness in a very powerful and constructive manner.

“Live to learn to love.
Learn to love to live.
Love to live to learn
so that you may live the life that you yearn.”
― Rico Dasheem

Sight

After a dear friend and mentor and my wonderful husband both had cataract surgery this week, I thought I would talk on the wonder of sight and how very fortunate we are to have been blessed with the ability to see.

From the moment you wake up in the morning to the time you go to sleep at night, your eyes are capturing all that happens about you during the day and recording those events. It is the sense of sight that is considered the most complex of the five senses.

Photo Source http://www.scientificpsychic.com

As you focus your sight on an object beams of light bounce off it and into your eyes through the cornea, which is located on the surface of your eye - a protective coating so to speak. The light rays then pass the pupil the dark centre of your eye into the lens. As you keep looking at objects the iris of your eye the coloured ring around the pupil shrinks or expands depending on the amount of light available. The lens focuses the image through a jelly like substance called the vitreous humor onto the back surface of the eyeball called the retina.

This retina has 150 million light sensitive cells called rods and cones within only a surface of about your thumbnail. The rods identify the shapes while the cones identify the colour, once this information is collated it is sent to the brain upside down. The brain then turns the image the correct way up and tells you what you are observing in the visual cortex area of the brain. A new born baby sees the world upside down until it develops and learns to turn the picture the right way up.

Due to the sensitivity of the eye it has the eyelid, eyelashes and eyebrows all assisting to keep it free of dust, dirt and sweat particles. Then we have tears which will form to wash away any particles that do make it into the eye cavity keeping it clean and moist. We blink every 2 - 10 seconds for 1/3 second which means your eyes are closed at least 30 minutes a day just whilst blinking, all this happens to ensure the eye is clean.

Photo Source http://worthwhiletreasure.wordpress.com

So much is happening in such a small amount of time each and every time you view something. Now think of all the work that is happening instantaneously as you scan a room, look over a landscape or look at the very fine detail or an insect etc.

Cataract surgery is the removal of the natural lens of the eye called  the crystalline lens that has developed a cataract. Metabolic changes of the crystalline lens fibres over time lead to the development of the cataract and loss of transparency, causing impairment or loss of vision. Many patients' first symptoms are strong glare from lights and small light sources at night, along with reduced acuity at low light levels. During cataract surgery, a patient's cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with a synthetic lens to restore the lens's transparency.

Following surgical removal of the natural lens, an artificial intraocular lens implant is inserted. Cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist in a surgical centre or hospital, using local anesthesia, usually causing little or no discomfort to the patient.

Photo Source http://en.wikipedia.org Magnified view of a cataract
in a human eye seen on examination with a slit lamp.

The Ancient Greeks believed that eyes emitted a small beam of light that allowed them to see. This makes sense as Theia, goddess of sight, mothered the god of the Sun, Helios. Theia is said to be the female counterpart of Aether. This makes sense as she was a daughter of Heaven and mother of the Sun, Moon and Dawn.

Theia (pronounced THEE-ah) is the Greek Goddess of sight and the lights of the sky. She is one of the Titans, daughter of Gaia and Ouranos (earth and sky), and sister-wife to another Titan, Hyperion, God of observation. The Titans were the powerful beings who preceded, and gave birth to, the Greek Olympians. Their three children, Eos(Goddess of dawn), Selene (Goddess of the moon), and Helios (God of the sun), were the personifications of the lights of the sky. Theia also had dominion over precious metals and gems, which seemed to shine with their own light, and was associated with an oracle at Phthiotis in Thessaly, under the title Ikhnaie (the tracing goddess) which could shine light on the future. People came to see the light concealed within the darkness of their problems. Theia’s name, which means “sight,” is also seen as Thea, and she was alternately known as Aithre (clear sky), Euryphaessa (wide-shining), and Ikhnaie (tracing).

She represents the faculty of sight and the ability to assess situations clearly, the removal of the blindfold of self deception.

Photo Source http://en.wikipedia.org In the frieze of the Great Altar of Pergmon in Berlin
the goddess who fights at Helio's back is conjected to be Theia.

May you both heal speedily and go on to see the world more clearly as a result of the wonderful surgeons who used their skills to remove your cataracts. Enjoy the unimpaired quality of vision again noticing that the colours are brighter, images are sharper, and objects that were hard to see before surgery are back in focus again. With your improved vision overall life satisfaction and enjoyment of all will be immeasurable.  

Comfort when we are Hurting

I want to talk today about the days when we are feeling hurt, less than ourselves, lonely, grieving, and we have been knocked off our usual stance of balance.

This can happen for so many reasons, the list would be endless. Because of my past I feel this pain intensely and find it hard to keep going about my day. Whenever this lesson comes up for me I know it is another opportunity to grow and peel another layer from the onion covering the initial pain that these events reinforce. Once when I was young each event would just confirm to me that my thinking of being unlovable, not enough, not worthy of receiving and another layer would tightly be placed around my onion of initial pain. Over the years this keeps growing and the layers keep increasing, they were a protection from the pain when I was young, however now as an adult they are holding me back and no longer serve me as protection. The pain if we do not remove the layers of onion just intensifies and we are hurt deeply with a feeling of fatality.

Humans self esteems are fragile and we are able to wound each other with words and actions, we are capable of bullying each other, verbally abusing each other and assaulting those around us. Our actions can harm others at varying levels depending on the life experiences those people have had and any or no healing that they have done. We can also hurt ourselves by neglecting our health, abusing food and drugs, behaving recklessly.

We can suffer in these instances however it is never really about the problem at hand it is usually about learned beliefs and ideals we have been taught as a child. This can be from teachers, priests, parents, siblings anyone we held in regard. These people were passing onto us what they believed from their life experiences however these may not be right for us. We could have an argument with a spouse over something small like a mess around the house, but if we really look at the problem honestly it is more likely from their point of view about perhaps something their mother taught them about their self worth and pride in having a clean and tidy room, not really about what ever is laying around at the moment. Or course some of these beliefs will still be correct today however many are not. 

Photo Source http://awakeningpublications.blogspot.com.au

So we can see from this that both the person being the aggressor and the person receiving the action are both coming from a place that has been created many years previously. The more time, energy and emotion you have put in, the greater the pain. The more you believed in that person’s integrity, honesty or commitment, the more you are likely to feel that you will never trust or open yourself up again.

For me I just freeze and am unable to function calmly and with the actions that I would wish to use when I am placed in an upsetting or confrontational position. This is because for me the few words spoken say in this case could be about an untidy house take me straight back to the fear and perceived harm of harsh words being spoken to me as a child from a domestically violent father. So my reaction has nothing to do with the words about a messy house and will seem over the top to the other person.

This reaction is the only thing we are able to work on, we can never change the other person that would have to come from a place within themselves to wish to change, however we can change ourselves. Over the years this is something I have worked on at great length and will continue to do so removing those layers of the onion as I go. This work can be done at any time and there is no need to have to wait for a time of pain to look at this, however the opportunity is definitely there at this time.

There is not a human on this earth who has not hurt, who is not damaged, or is not in pain. We don’t hurt in the same way, of course. And some people have suffered traumas that are hard to fathom.

At times, the pain of life can seem too much to bear, a husband leaves, a child dies, rape, assault, incest, drug abuse, disasters…all of these things hurt us to our core. And at times, all we can do is sit, cry, and try to survive. 

Photo Source http://www.healinghurt.ca/

Once some time passes and we feel we can look at the situation more calmly we can choose to take some actions. It is through them that growth happens, that light comes in. Pain will always be a part of life. But what we do with it, and how we reach out to each other, is what makes the difference. Are we focusing on the cracks, or can we see the light that allows us to grow?

Reaching out to people we know will support and nurture us begins the healing process. Others help us make sense of our suffering, support us, and remind us that, broken as we are, we are still loved. Let your walls crack open, and the light come in. Allow yourself to be heard, understood, comforted.

For me, contentment has little to do with what I have, it’s rather who I have around me that makes it meaningful. But I had to learn that before I could love others and enjoy their part in my life, I had to learn to love myself. I spent too much time trying to replace the love I should have had from my mother and father. Yet the painful void left by years of abandonment and abuse were never going to be eased by anyone or anything. The search for wholeness was never going to be successful because I was missing that which could only be found within me.

I overcame those things that had caused me to fall apart, and with it came the restoration of my inner-self. As I pursued with eagerness and intent, I learnt to refute those negative beliefs I had internalised since childhood. It started out with feel the fear and do it anyway. Everyone has their own uniqueness and therefore their own idea of what makes them whole.

Photo SOurce http://loveandheal.blogspot.com.au

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.”  Mark Twain.

Anyone who has experienced an abusive relationship will know what it is like to be living in fear. Whether it’s physically, verbally or mental abuse, you learn to anticipate and react in a certain way. And when your worst fears are realised, you are made to believe it was your fault and you become uneasy of ‘the next time’. I grew into adulthood believing everyone had the potential to harm me in some way or another. Whether real or imagined, fear controlled my life.

I worked hard to develop the courage to accept, trust and love myself. As I did I was able to find the strength to confront and challenge fear. I would remind myself “To feel the fear and do it anyway.”
It doesn't mean that I don’t get scared. In fact I'm still a cautious person who finds it hard to take risks. And everyday situations like meeting new people still make me nervous. But I am no longer captive to fear and its negative consequences. Today I don’t fight the fear. I welcome it in the form of excitement and anticipation. I rise above it and use it as motivation. I go through it and come out the other side stronger.

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. ~ Nelson Mandela

Now that I live a life without fear and am living in gratitude for all that I have been given and the life I now lead. I am needing still to work on my reaction to negative situations. These throw me back to where I was prior to doing all my work and there I am standing in the headlights unable to move once again. So I thought I would share here some of my findings and work I am looking at to help change this situation.

Photo Source http://www.facebook.com/peacelovejoysparkles

The damage of a life changing event or situation can create a victim mentality that unless challenged will keep you trapped in the past. The longer you remain attached to the pain the harder it is to break free. Your emotional state, whatever it is – anger, bitterness, jealousy, grief becomes your normality. Eventually it can become your refuge, because familiarity is safe.

The transition to survivor and living your life as the person you were meant to be is possible. Courage to take responsibility for your life again. Courage to take the risk of letting go. Courage to explore your inner-self.

Most of all you need courage to face the fear. The fear that if you mess with the wound that somehow it will be made worse and it will never heal. Or that your worst fears about yourself will be confirmed and you will never be whole again. You may believe that you haven’t the strength or the bravery to overcome a situation that has overwhelmed you for so long. You do.

It is only through experiencing your vulnerability that you can be emotionally restored. As long as I have a heart I can heal. And as long as I can heal I have a heart. Forgiveness is the key to freedom. It will release you to live the life as the person you were meant to be. Not the person held captive by the actions and words of someone else. It is a journey taken over many years requiring patience, determination and courage. Forgiving isn't a transient emotion, it’s a decision that continues over time. When another person’s actions have already stolen enough from you and you refuse to let them take any more. Even if there is no recognition of wrong-doing or apology, by forgiving you take control of a situation over which you had none.

Photo Source http://www.facebook.com/TheHurtHealer

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King.

Remember that forgiveness is not to be confused with being a doormat or allowing the offender to ‘get away with it’. Neither does it mean you should not express your grief and upset. It means that you are willing to move beyond your rawness and vulnerability. And you are willing to let go of the negativity and animosity that hold you emotionally hostage.

However, an everyday challenge can pose itself and suddenly any sense of tranquillity is a million miles away. It’s easy to become stressed, but with the right approach your inner calm can return. The recognition that it is a choice. Serenity isn't passivity. It’s not inertia. Rather, it’s a series of decisions and actions that deal positively with a negative situation. You chose to look at things differently. Accepting the fact that you can do nothing to change the situation. The other person isn't going to take responsibility so you have a choice to make. Feel bitter and hurt, or make a decision to overcome your disappointment and offence. You can accept the things you can not change and find the courage to change the things you can change. It requires a combination of determination, perseverance and prayer but it is worth it. It frees you of resentment and allowed you to move on.

It is necessary to clear up some of the misconceptions about forgiveness. Things forgiveness does not mean:
It does not mean approving of what someone else did.
It does not mean pretending that bad never took place.
It does not mean making excuses for other people’s bad behaviour.
It does not mean overlooking abuse.
It does not mean denying that others tried to hurt you.
It does not mean letting others walk all over you.
It does not mean forgetting the wrong that was done.
It does not mean pretending that you were never hurt.
It does not mean there must be a total reconciliation as if nothing ever happened.
It does not mean that you must tell the person that you have forgiven them.

“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo source http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Quotes

Identifying Emotional Wounds

The first thing we need to do is identify the problem, and realize the need for inner healing. Below is a common list of common symptoms to look for in somebody who has an emotional wound:

Inner rawness: there's often a sense of inner rawness and hurt that doesn't seem to go away.

Irritability: it's easy to become irritable with others, even if they aren't doing anything wrong!

Little or no tolerance: there is a low tolerance issue with others, where you expect and demand from them.

Feelings always rising up: feelings of anger, hate, resentment, etc. seem to "rise up" within you at the slightest offense from others.

Overly sensitive about an event in your past: If there are events in your past which cause you to become very sensitive or angry, or even cause you to lash out, then it is likely revealing a deep emotional wound tied in with that event or memory.

Hard to forgive: it becomes very difficult, if not impossible to love and therefore forgive others. It can also be hard to forgive and love yourself.

Hard to feel loved: it is hard to clearly see and realize the love of others in your life. You may be surrounded by people who love you, but it can be difficult to fully feel and receive that love. There seems to be a wall up that blocks the flow of love into your life.

Lashing out: when there's an inner wound that has festered, it becomes easy to lash out or have sudden outbursts of anger, hate, resentment, etc. You may find it easy to lash out at people who love you, and have done you no harm.

Self-hate: many times when a person is hurt from past abuse, they will begin to think that perhaps what happened to them, was deserved because of something they did or the way that they were. This is not true. Abuse is never acceptable, even if a child was being out of order. Parental love disciplines and corrects, but never abuses.

Easily frustrated: because an inner turmoil that an inner wound causes, it is easy to become easily frustrated with everyday chores and responsibilities.

Escapism: as a result of inner turmoil, it is easy to desire to escape or suppress reality. This can be in the form of overeating, drinking, smoking, spending binges, etc.

Cutting: a person who is a cutter usually has an alter inside the person who is holding much pain, and needs to release the pain or it honestly feels that it deserves the pain.

Retaliation urges: because of built-up hate and anger as a result of unforgiveness, somebody who has a festering inner wound will find it easy to retaliate or snap back at those who offend them or step on their toes.

Irresponsible behavior: inner pain has a way of consuming a person's mind, and eventually this can take on a careless approach to life. It is hard to feel good about yourself if you have an inner wound, and if you don't feel good about yourself, it will begin to show in your lifestyle.

Irrational expectations of others: somebody who has been wounded may set high expectations for those around them. They feel that others ought to hold up to unrealistic standards, and are very intolerable to any mistakes made.

Perfectionism: a person who has an emotional wound may also be performance driven. Perhaps they felt like no matter what they did, they could never please a parent or authority figure, and later on in life, that rejection wound causes the person to be a performer to the point where they are never satisfied and burned out by their efforts.

Feelings of hopelessness: this is also a common result of unresolved inner wounds you become an easy target for feelings of hopelessness.

Drivenness: when you suffer from an emotional wound, it can create a sense of void in your life's meaning, thus driving you to find meaning and purpose and happiness. This could be in the form of college degrees, careers, financial success, etc. You find yourself chasing what you think will bring true happiness and purpose to your life.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD: it is my belief that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often involves emotional wounds that were never fully healed. This is especially true with people who have bondages to self-hate, self-resentment, self-unforgiveness, etc.

Photo Source http://www.facebook.com/TheHurtHealer

Keys to inner healing

If you're going to receive healing for an emotional wound, you need to first be honest with yourself and what has happened. Let's get started by answering some basic questions:

Who is it that you hate or blame? Be honest with yourself; there's somebody in your past that you, or an alter within you, is holding something against. Be specific, and go back as far as you can. If you can figure out when this wound began, and who is responsible, it is the first step to receiving healing for the wound.

What did they do to you? Make a list of everything that was done to you, which you still hold against them in your heart. What might be a list of things which you still hold onto in your heart? What things can't you seem to easily forget? I'm not referring to a list of people whom you haven't forgiven, but rather a list of people/events where you just cannot seem to release it from your heart.

Don't try to cover up their mistake and say that it was alright. If they did you wrong, then there's no getting around that. Being honest about what was done to you is very important. What things have you done, that you deeply regret? Make a list of things that you still, to this day, regret doing. If you have any feelings of self-hate, self-unforgiveness, etc., then you need to be honest and figure out why you hate yourself.

Is there anything in your past that you feel excessively embarrassed or ashamed of? This is a common cause for self-hate. If there are things which you still haven't forgiven yourself of, then now is a good time to make a list of those things, so that you can effectively forgive and release the hate held secretly within your heart against yourself.

It is vital that we get right down to the roots, and lay out the specific reasons why there are wounds that have not yet healed. Spiritual infections, like natural infections, will fester and grow worse when in the dark; it is important to bring the issues to the light, so they can no longer fester. If you cannot be honest with yourself, and bring these things out into the light, then you're only hindering the healing of those wounds and bringing about healing in your mind and emotions.

Photo Source http://www.facebook.com/TheHurtHealer

The first thing that you want to settle, is any feelings of guilt and shame. When dealing with a physical wound, what is the first thing you do? Cleanse it from germs so that it can properly heal. When dealing with spiritual or emotional wounds, carrying around baggage (guilt, shame, fear, etc.) makes the healing process much more difficult. Carrying around a burden of shame is a sure way to hinder the inner healing process because it mentally separates us from the healing. If we want to freely receive healing for our damaged emotions, then we need to settle it in our minds that we can not be forgiven.

One of the biggest keys to receive healing for damaged emotions, is that our freewill allows us to be healed and restored to wholeness even more than you do! What you want is to open up those wounds so that they can be healed. As long as you hold them in darkness, they will never fully heal. If you had a physical wound, and it turned into an infection, and you merely put a band aid over the wound, would that solve the problem? Of course not! You need to take that mask off, expose it to the light, and apply the healing and germ-killing light into that wound so that it can heal.

Developing a thankful attitude is another big key to receiving healing for our emotional wounds. Thankfulness leads to trust - if you are thankful for what is given you, then you will find it easy to trust those areas of your life. Thankfulness is also a big key to overcoming rejection issues. An unthankful heart is prone to unforgiving, unloving, resentful, and all sorts of hateful feelings against others. It is a poison to our emotional health and ability to receive the healing to our wounds and hurts. 

Begin to be thankful for the little things which were created for you to enjoy. Little things such as the birds singing in the trees or your pet cat or dog - they were made for us to enjoy! It is hard, if not impossible to be thankful and unforgiving at the same time. When we are thankful then we will naturally forgive those who wrong us - that love is contagious and will flow through us. We cannot honestly look at what has been done for us, and not overflow with thankfulness in our heart! Becoming thankful is a huge key to breakthrough if you struggle with unforgiveness. Unforgiveness and unthankfulness are closely related.

Photo Source http://www.facebook.com/TheHurtHealer

When we trust a tremendous amount of peace and healing can then take place. Fear will keep a person holding onto what must be released. This is another reason why we must come to know the true good and loving nature of a pure heart. Another key to receive inner healing, especially from a background or root of rejection, is coming to a place where you know that the universe/creator loves you dearly and has your best interest in mind.

Another key to inner healing is not to meditate or continue to think about what was done to you. Once you forgive, don't continue to think about how badly you were wronged. You will cause emotional wounds to fester when you choose to continue thinking about what was done to you. Don't get me wrong, we are to face what was done to us, head on, honestly, and don't deny what was done to us, but once we give all the pain and hurt away, then we need to leave it there. If you have two dogs, and you feed one but leave the other to starve, then which one will be around? The one that you feed of course! We need to make a solid choice not to dwell/feed upon what was done to us, as it will re-enforce the reason as to why we are hurt or angry. This is a very important key to receiving healing from emotional wounds.

As absurd as this sounds, you need to revisit the pain! By going back to the place where the pain was formed, and revisiting that wound in your soul, it will allow you to truly and fully forgive, thus pulling the pain up at it's root. The job can be half-done if you simply say, "I forgive them" without thinking of what you are really forgiving them of. When you can revisit that pain, and forgive out of the love in your heart, then your healing will come naturally! You shouldn't have to keep forgiving the same person for the same offence that took place 10 years ago; we need to reach the point of pain, and forgive at the scene of the accident. I'm not saying that we must revisit the same physical place, but rather the memories and place in your mind where the abuse or pain took place.

Remember, it is not what was done to us that keeps us in bondage, it is our reaction to what was done to us which causes all the spiritual bondage and torment!

How to Stimulate your Creativity

Photo Source http://www.actioncoach.com

I believe we are all creative, our talents are all varied and different and that is what makes this world so diverse and interesting. No matter what your talent of creativity is or how you work with it, it is there, and needs stimulation to continue to flourish. Even if you think that you do not have a creative talent you will be surprised to find that if you work on stimulating ideas and intuition you will find that you too have a talent to share. Nurture and encourage this side of you to come forth, you will feel better for it, those around you will be inspired and the world as a whole will be effected by your input as we are all connected as one. Go forth and let your light shine.

Awaken your creative imagination, learn to recognize and honour your particular brand of imagination and creativity. Find ways to visually and physically play with it. Imagination empowers your creative imagery and feelings, practice being in that place where you can perceive, visualize, and formulate without being limited by words and sentences and definitions. It is like giving birth, it is a gift that you accept, then develop and share.

Photo Source http://www.mindmapart.com

Ways to keep this creative inspiration flowing is to do new things, visit new places, surround yourself with people whether in a park, shopping centre etc and just sit and watch you will find all sorts of ideas start popping into your head. Along with reading where all sorts of ideas are given to you through situations and characters that are experiencing things outside of your normal day to day life. With all these ideas in your mind allow yourself to daydream and inspiration will come to you no matter how strange or off beat the idea seem stick with it, you will be surprised where ideas come from. Write the ideas down so they are not forgotten, have a notebook handy everywhere you go in your bag, in the car, beside the bed you get the idea so nothing is missed. You will be filled with gratitude at just how wonderful your mind can be and how many new ideas it can bring forth for your consideration. Write down any idea that pop into your mind at any time and jot down the time they do occur. Don’t hold back anything goes, you will never have to show anyone else this journal, so there should be no holding back — it is safe from judgement. Over time you may note that you are more creative at a certain time of day, if so then you can work with this and plan your day around this. I recommend a paper journal so you can doodle, write freely and they go anywhere you are.

Over time look back through your notes and see the themes that emerge, compare the ideas with each other. Then take these ideas and ask questions of others if the area is unfamiliar to you, talk with friends and family and ask for there input.

Photo Source http://101birdtales.blogspot.com.au

Relax and think on all the information you have gathered and follow your intuition, listen to your inner knowing, it always knows what is best for you. Then follow the inner voice and be spontaneous and take the steps necessary to create your idea, don't worry what other people may think, or sometimes more importantly what we may think ourselves, just do it. You will not be letting anyone down if it doesn't work out at first, you will be having fun as when we are creating from this space and heart centre we are fulfilling our souls purpose, and things happen with ease and grace and we lose ourselves in our project.

Put yourself in a beautiful surrounding depending on what you are birthing in your creation you may be able to go outside in nature or if you are inside put on some favourite music, soft candles if appropriate, just make your place of work as relaxing and nurturing as possible. If you are inside remember to take breaks and go outside to breath in the fresh air and loosen the body with some movement all of which will help your creativity flow.

Photo Source http://mycreativenature.wordpress.com/

If you feel that you have come to a stop and have hit the wall so to speak, just put down your project and go about your day. There is nothing to be gained by sitting and trying to force a solution to come this causes frustration and takes you away from your heart centre. When we walk away and go about our day doing the ordinary another approach to the problem will come to us usually when we least expect it, our subconscious mind still has the problem at hand and will be working on solving it, we just have to relax and trust in the process. By doing this our creations just flow and the experience is one of joy and fulfilment when the project is complete. If you are stuck for some time or over several days go back to your creative idea journal and flick back over the pages an idea you had for something else may even help solve this current challenge you have. Alternatively bring in toys or puzzles that require manual manipulation, these unlock reasoning and assist in activating parts of the brain required for creativity.

Everyone has a dominant way of expressing ideas- sketching, writing, talking. If you swap the way you are working on a thought a different idea is easier to find, and your understanding of a particular problem will change. This is both a way to find new ideas and to explore an idea you’re focused on. Or, try explaining your problem to someone else who has no understanding of this type of work and in your need to simplify the idea to get this person to understand it will force you to describe and think about the problem differently.

Some people are most creative when they work with others. Whether you gather with like minded creators, a group of artists for example or whether you gather with other creative people who are working on solo projects, this keeps energy levels high and you are able to be inspired through their achievements and creations. They will bring a new perspective to each others ideas.

Photo Source http://www.open-knowledge-society.org

We all know that when we do something we truly love we are happy as a person and our labours of love are ones of true beauty and bring so much pleasure to others. This is the secrete to creativity doing what makes our souls come alive, it brings us fun and joy, nurturing our bodies in doing what we were meant to do. The more you allow this process to take place the more natural it will feel and our creativity is no longer a project but simply part of our life. We are doing what we love most and everyone benefits, not only the recipients of our labours but also our family and friends for we are truly living our life's purpose and therefore we are the best we can be and have more to offer to our loved ones.

So no matter what your passion of creativity is writing, artwork, sewing, gardening, caring for animals, childcare minding, facilitating workshops, singing, craft work, hang gliding, cooking the list goes on and on when it is your life purpose it becomes like breathing so a part of you that you just have to do it. It is taking those first steps to find what you are passionate about that is the most important. So if you try a type of creativity and find you did not enjoy it as much as you first thought you would just keep trying think of something new and have another go. You will be surprised if you do not put up any type of boundaries around where your mind can wander just what you may end up finding you enjoy doing. Go out and explore as a child with every new idea full of wonder and possibility.

Your ideas, feelings, intuition, vision and ideas are unlimited. They express your pure creative truth and the sacredness of creative thought is one to honour and will make you humble when you allow it to guide you.

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” Mary Lou Cook

Photo Source http://darmano.typepad.com

Soul Collage Cards

As a craft person I was so excited to find the Soul Collage cards and the creation of cards using craft processes everyone can do, to find more spiritual meaning in one's life.

The founder/originator of this process is Seena B Frost. You can go to her website to find more detail not covered in this blog at http://www.soulcollage.com.au

The beginnings of this powerful process began in the late 1980s when Frost was a participant in a program led by Jean Houston, one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement. At the time Frost, a practising psychotherapist, was exploring world myths and archetypal psychology, alongside a variety of spiritual paths. The card-making process evolved over time with the aid of many women in Frosts therapy groups. As they made their powerful, personal cards, shared them with each other and consulted them, the transforming possibilities of these images became apparent. Seena Frost wrote the book, SoulCollage: An Intuitive Collage Process for Individuals and Groups, to share the process with you.

Seena B. Frost, M. Div., M.A. studied theology at Yale Divinity School, married, raised four children, and then received a Master's degree in psychology from Santa Clara University. She is a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Special trainings with Jean Houston and Robin Van Doren inspired the combining of three of her life passions: spirituality, psychotherapy, and creativity. The SoulCollage process and book have issued from this magical mix.

Photo Source www.soulcollage.com.au

"SoulCollage is a system for creating a deck of cards which is a visual journal, your own living journal to which you can add over years. Your deck of SoulCollage cards will help you identify and image your diverse inner parts, the beautiful ones and shadowy ones, the easy-to-like ones, and the harder-to-like ones. You will also reflect on the external guides and allies in your life, visible and invisible, human and archetypal, and make cards for them.

A SoulCollage deck is the Story of You. It is a tangible way to know yourself in your diversity and depth, and also to show yourself to others. Showing your deck of SoulCollage cards to another person is a holy experience.

In like-spirited groups, you can share cards and work with them in many sacred ways. You can consult them intuitively and discover wisdom within yourself which will amaze you. Besides all this, creating them is just plain fun! You will love your deck -- a multi-card Mirror of your Self and your Soul -- whether it consists of three cards or a hundred... "

SoulCollage cards are the key to unlocking your inner wisdom. Using your imagination, personal symbols and your intuition you will create a unique deck of collaged cards that will help you resolve issues and move forwards.

SoulCollage is a simple and fun way to tap into your intuition. No artistic talent is needed as you collect, tear out and glue images that you're attracted to. These creative images will allow you to discover insights about yourself and can help you to make positive changes in your everyday life. SoulCollage helps you to connect with your intuition and start to live a life you love.

People have found SoulCollage a help, when they wanted to: lose weight, land a dream job, heal a broken heart, develop stronger relationships with family & friends, recover from grief, build confidence and find balance after illness.

SoulCollage helps you bypass logical reasoning and your defence mechanisms and discover what's holding you back. As you reconnect with your inner wisdom it will guide you towards making positive changes in your life. SoulCollage can also help when you have a big decision to make and don't know which path to choose.

Photo Source www.soulcollage.com.au

There are 3 parts to the SoulCollage process:
Making your own beautiful, intuitive SoulCollage cards, getting to know yourself by connecting with your thoughts, dreams, fears and aspirations and using your SoulCollage cards to access your inner wisdom and help make decisions and changes in your life.

To making your own SoulCollage cards & connecting with them you will need to gather together your card-making materials. You actually need very little the basics include: Blank cards (usually 5 x 8) available for purchase from SoulCollage Store @  www.soulcollage.com.au or mat board which is a heavy form of cardboard, it is used when you buy a framed picture and there is a mat around the photo - it can be purchased in art stores, scissors, glue, gel medium can be purchased in an art store which works well as an adhesive as well as a glaze on top (whatever you use be sure if says Acid Free on the label to ensure the long life of your cards without discolouration etc), an abundant supply of magazines, books, greeting cards, calendars, photographs, scrapbooking paper designs, rubber stamps, catalogues,   brochures, travel brochures and junk mail, a frame- helpful when using large images you can lay the frame over the picture in different areas to see exactly what will fit on the card (take a regular piece of paper or cardstock and draw a 5 x8" rectangle in the centre and cut it out now you have a frame), scalpel (craft knife), cutting mat and metal ruler (optional- but useful).

To learn about how to make SoulCollage cards and the corresponding journaling exercises you can:

Purchase the SoulCollage book by Seena B Frost. Download the FREE e-book on How to Make SoulCollage Cards-And use them to tap into your inner wisdom or attend a workshop with a trained SoulCollage Facilitator again all information can be found at  www.soulcollage.com.au.

Accessing your inner wisdom and decision making, after you have completed a number of cards you can do a SoulCollage reading which can help you to tap into your intuition and make decisions that are right for you. There is a button on the website  www.soulcollage.com.au that will give you a four card reading, I was really surprised just how my reading was so accurate for me at this time.

Another website also giving detail on the Soul Collage Cards is http://www.kaleidosoul.com again following the principles developed by Seena Frost.

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
I am one who loves to create art.

They talk about what does creating SoulCollage® cards have to do with spiritual crafts? There are many spiritual crafts available in the world right now. You can make prayer flags, meditation candles, and many more things of a spiritual nature. Most of these other crafts have a one time use…. you make the object and then you are done. But SoulCollage® cards are different. You will be making and using your cards for as long as you’re alive! And once you make a card, you can add to it later if you choose to. These cards are always in process.

Two ways to make SoulCollage® Cards is intentionally - When you make a card intentionally, you are making it with a plan in mind. You are mostly using your left brain which is logical and rational and goes about things in an orderly, organized, step-by-step fashion.

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
A Community card for a good friend.

You intentionally go about collecting photos of her and create a card already knowing what it is and what it is about.

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
A companion card for your Heart Chakra animal - Dolphin. 

You have seen a dolphin in your latest meditation and want to make a card to honour it. You search magazines until you find the right images to match your imagination, then construct the card using some backgrounds that you found a few months ago.

This is not to say that every Community and Companion card you make will be made intentionally. These are just examples.

The second way is intuitively. When you make a card intuitively, you go through magazines and collect images that appeal to you first, with no plan in mind. You are mostly using your right brain which is intuitive and creative and often times operates in a meandering, spiral-like manner.

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
Committee Card
I am the one who has a choice.

You have found an image that you like of a little girl in a white gown being pulled forward by a woman wearing black. You’re not sure why you like it or what she means, but you are curious. You hold it up against several backgrounds until you hit the “right one.”

You’re still not sure what the card is all about, but you know that there is something that this little girl is trying to tell you.

Later you write the I am the one who I am the one who ..... exercise in your journal and discover that this is the part of you that currently is feeling pulled in one direction but is being called in a different direction.

You are in a card-making mood, so you gather all of your images around you and go through them in a meditative fashion. You choose four that somehow just seem to go together, and you lay them on a background of the celestial heavens that jumped out at you from a catalogue last week.

Ahhhh….. this is it. You have no idea what this card means, or why you have made it. You only know that you like it.

A few weeks later, you do the I am the one who ...... exercise with this card and discover that this is your Explorer Archetype who is always ready for new spiritual journeys and adventures.

This is not to say that every Committee and Council card you make will be made intuitively. These are just examples. It’s important to keep in mind that there is no “right way” to make SoulCollage®cards. What you are reading on this page are only suggestions.

You can make your cards any way that you like. Remember that you are making them for you and you alone, and you will be just fine!

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
I am the one who creates sacred space. 

Lighting a candle before you begin can help to create sacred space. It doesn’t have to be a big or elaborate candle, even a tealight will do. Choose some music that is relaxing and speaks to your soul. This will also help to create sacred space for your SoulCollage® card making time.

The most important thing to remember while you are making SoulCollage® cards is to honour your own process. In other words, go with the flow of whatever is happening for you in the moment.

So… please keep in mind while you are reading the steps below that they are only guidelines. Feel free to deviate from them at any time and in any way!

And don’t forget to… HAVE FUN!!! Ready… Set… Create!

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
I am the one who leans back and trusts what is. 

Clear a workspace for yourself. Be sure you have enough room for all of your materials as well as space to spread out your images. Create sacred space for your SoulCollage® work by lighting a small candle and/or putting on some soft music that delights your soul. Or you can create sacred space by spending a few quiet moments of conscious breathing, or saying aloud a short quotation or prayer that inspires you. Anything you can do that will set the intention for conscious creating and delicious time with yourself is just fine.

Gather your materials and put them on the table in front of you. You should have the following: a piece of 5” x 8” mat board, a pair of scissors, some kind of adhesive, your frame, and several magazines or images that are already torn out.

Spend a generous amount of time (at least one hour) going through the magazines. Tear out any images that you like, that seem to appeal to you for any reason. Don’t question why you might be drawn to certain images. Simply rip them out of the magazines! It will be helpful to have large images that completely fill the frame, and smaller ones as well. You can use the larger ones for backgrounds.
Once you have 50-100 images torn out, take a few deep breaths and pause a moment. Give yourself a little space. Drink some water or make a cup of tea if you like.

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
Sense of Humour

Spread the images out around you as much as you can. Gather them into smaller piles, sorting them by colours, energies, themes, or patterns. For instance, you might notice that you have lots of images of stairways, or windows, or birds, or people who are frowning. You might have several images that show a great deal of movement/action, or stillness. You might see several images that just seem to go together for some reason. You don’t need to verbalize a reason for grouping some images together. Remember: trust the process. There is no right way to do this!!!

When you have a few different piles sorted by theme, choose one of them. Choose the theme that intrigues you the most. Or choose the pile of images that you already know the meaning of. It doesn't matter which pictures you work with first. Just choose some so you can begin to make your first SoulCollage® card.

Push the rest of the images aside or put them in a manilla folder or other storage device. Move them off of your workspace so they don’t distract you.

Start playing around with the images that you have chosen. Lay them on top of one another, or beside each other. Arrange and rearrange them until you come to a layout that you like. Trust your intuition. You will know when it looks “right” and when you need to add another image. Use the Frame if you like so that you can see how it will look on the card.

When the images are arranged “just right,” you can glue them onto the mat board. If you are using the Frame, you might want to mark the corners of the images in the upper right and left, and lower right and left corners of the frame, to make placement easier for you. You can use a brayer or rolling pin if you like to roll out any air bubbles you may have on the card. You may like to take a metallic gold (or other colour) marker and make a border around the edge of your card. Laminate your cards or cover with acrylic varnish to preserve them and to prevent edges from curling up. Try not to do this too soon, however, as you might want to add something to a card later on. If you use the acrylic varnish, be sure to use a very light coat and allow a LOT of time (at least 5 days) for each piece to dry.

Use stickers to identify the suits on the backs of your cards instead of covering each fully.

There! You have made your first SoulCollage® card!

Now you might want to go ahead and make another one. Or two or three or…?

Photo Source www.kaleidosoul.com
A council card
I am the one who is on the edge of an adventure.

Once you start making SoulCollage® cards, it doesn't take long before you realize you’re going to need some form of organization! This could be as simple as stuffing all of your torn-out images into a plain manila folder, or as complex as sorting them all into a rolling cart, or purchasing a scrapbook carrying case to hold everything. Give yourself some time before you decide on your SoulCollage®organization system. Some organization tools are more expensive than others and you don’t want to invest money in something that you will outgrow or not use.

A suggestion is to sort your images by: large backgrounds/objects, small backgrounds/objects, images of people and children, images of animals, images that I cut out but want to share with others, miscellaneous images, cards I’m currently working on etc.

You could also use an accordian-style folder that has dividers in it to separate your images. But if you’re not really into organizing, then just pile everything into one big box. You need to do whatever feels right to you!

Another site for those who love SoulCollage® and for those who want to learn more is http://home.earthlink.net/~soulcollage/id3.html - a place of support, inspiration, and renewal -- as you venture into your personal SoulCollage® work. 

Whether done in solitude or in community with others, card making offers time to allow your intuition and creative nature to come forth in your unique and special ways.

In her book, SoulCollage®, Seena Frost recommends making cards that fall into various "suits" that will eventually make up your SoulCollage® deck. For a deeper understanding of these suits, you may enjoy reading her book. Attending a workshop or retreat will give you more information on this aspect of the SoulCollage® process as well. It is not necessary to know which suit your card will fall into as you are creating it...that can come later. If you do know, that's OK too. 

A brief overview of the "Suits" of the SoulCollage® deck.

"COMMITTEE" Suit: I think of the Committee suit as all those various "parts" that reside within me, sub-personalities, almost like a group sitting around a conference room table. Whenever I am in a situation, certain members of my committee may speak up more loudly and others may hold back. Certainly, each of these parts wants to be acknowledged by me. Some examples of my Committee cards include "Playful Child", "Receptive Self", "The Judge", "Nurturing Mother", and "The Adventurer". The possibilities are nearly endless for creating Committee cards, it seems. 

Photo Source http://home.earthlink.net/~soulcollage/id3.html
The Source by SoulCollager: Mili

"COMMUNITY" Suit: This type of SoulCollage® card creates opportunities to make cards that visually capture the essence of special people or pets in each of our lives. Each card focuses on one being or one group and is a tangible way to acknowledge and honour the impact that person or pet has had in our lives. These beings can be currently living or not and can be people we've actually known or perhaps those we have admired from afar. Some examples of my Community cards include "Buddy" (my son), "Johnny (my fiancée , and "Grandmama & Aunt Mary" (two dear women who greatly influenced my life).

"COMPANION" Suit: Companion cards recognize that many of us feel we have animal guides who offer us wisdom and insight at various times in our lives. Seena's book outlines a process to access these animal guides in a very personal way and to relate them to the various parts of the Chakra or energy system in the body. Examples of some of my Companion cards include "2nd Chakra Tiger", "6th Chakra Owl", and "1st Chakra Turtle".

"COUNCIL" Suit: Council cards represent various archetypes that we each recogise or feel operating in our lives. Council cards are often about various "bigger than life" concepts or ideals that are important to us as individuals but that also carry meaning for others. Archetypes reside in the collective unconscious. For a more thorough explanation of archetypes and Council cards, you may enjoy reading Seena Frost's book, SoulCollage® . Some examples of my Council cards include "The Hermit", "The Divine Feminine", "Death/Rebirth", and "The Fool".

"SOURCE" Card: One final type of card that can be really beautiful to create is the "Source" card. This card is deeply personal (and aren't they all!) in that it is each of our unique representations of what "Source", "God", "Great Spirit", "The Universe", or whatever term each of us may use to describe that highest aspect. My "Source" card did not come right away, but when I saw the images that eventually made up the card, I "just knew" they were the ones I wanted to use. 

Select a speciality or hand-decorated paper pattern for each of your SoulCollage® “suits”. Really let your creativity shine through here! Adding/drawing-in a gold border on the backs of cards is a nice touch and makes fitting the “suit” paper easier while providing a more finished look.

The next process is to do the I am the one who… exercise with one of your cards to deepen your experience with it, and to begin to integrate its meaning into your life. Designate a special journal to use to capture your “I Am One Who…” ponderings about your SoulCollage® cards or to capture your feelings and thoughts after SoulCollage® card-making or group workshops/gatherings.

The following website http://www.dancingwiththeshadow.blogspot.com.au/ explains this process more fully. Cheryl Finlay talks about her findings from her personal SoulCollage® cards.

Photo Source www.dancingwiththeshadow
Creator Me

These are examples of how the I am the one who .... process is done. Using the image above.

Who are you?
I am the part of you who loves to create things with my hands…I am the one who becomes enthralled with your creative, “tactile passions.” I am the one who has my life in the palm of my hand. I am the one who knows she is co-creator, be it art or manifesting a new way of life. I am the one who creates your colourful life. I am the one who spins straw into gold. I am the part of you who can see diamonds in the rough; and I am also the one who feels, sees and knows that you are living in a wellspring of an enormous Diamond Mine! It’s all in your hands. I am the one who knows more than I know (don’t know what that means, but that’s what came up). I am one who is in partnership with God, G.O.D., Divine Mind, and the Universe, and any other names also known as the Almighty. I am the one who knows life is precious…like a pearl. I am one who sees and admires the beauty of my work and craftsmanship. I am the one who identifies with the stars w-a-a-a-a-a-y “out there”.

What do you have to give me?
I give you the knowledge that you can create what you desire….using your single-minded intention, and focused action… combined with your BELIEF and FEELING…and patience.

What do you want me to know?
I want you to know that you are empowered from within…and you can do anything you really want to do. I want you to know that you affect the lives of others, especially when you are living purely from “the stream of your authentic self”. I want you to know you can stop, breathe, decide what you want to create…be it with beads, or rings for chainmaille, or with yarn, fabric or paper…or anything other “straw” you are drawn to create with. This includes your words. All you have to do, Cheryl, is “intend” to focus on one project at specific time, and when you sit down…KNOW that you will create something brilliantly beautiful that anyone, including you, will love. Just an easy, breezy thought in your head...this intention…nothing serious…just think it and allow “it” to pour through you. Let your creative power soar…no judgements  Just know that as a vessel of and conduit for dynamic creative power…all you have to do is be aware and willing to let It flow through you, and “go with It”…ride with It. Let your inner-genius have a ball! I want you to know that this is the way I created my one single luminescent comet-blue pearl.

I want you to know that you don’t have to fret with the dozens of projects going on in your head. Just set the intention to create something that makes your soul sing. It doesn't matter if it’s for someone else or for yourself, a gift, or to sell. I want you to let go of all ideas of if “they” will like your creation or not. Of course they will love it!

What do you want me to do?
I want you to let go of the hair-splitting details that can stifle you if you’re not paying attention, and are confident to make a decision and move on. I want you to acknowledge that your inner-creator (me)…knows how to accurately and efficiently handle the detail, and trust that….otherwise, the “part” that prevents your from creating with abandon and joy will not allow you to feel…and “live in”…your innate creative bliss. “She” has had more than their share of time on the stage of your life… no more encores for her! Poof! Be-gone!

Make a list of projects and prioritize them. Allocate the most important to a month, or to two weeks within the month, such as: Jan. wks 1-2: Chainmaile; Jan. weeks 3-4: Jewels of the Heart Earrings Project. Feb. wks 1-2: Creating Red jewellery (or do this in January so you can wear it in February in honour of Valentine’s Day!); Feb. wks 3-4: Pick a theme i.e. Bracelet & Earrings Sets; March wks 1-2: Pick Spring colours & Plan your Spring wardrobe….Show. You get the picture. You can plan your website this way too…or just about project for that matter. Schedule your time to create, and do it! And… remember to name your projects…it makes it more fun! – Thanks to Muse Jill for that tip.

What is your job?
My job is to make sure you allow yourself be the fount of creativity, creative joy, ingenuity, inspiration that you were born to be. My job is to coach you to do that for yourself so that you will be your most powerful when you teach and facilitate the creative-life-journey of others.

How will I remember what you've told me?
Visit this reading regularly, at least once a week. Read it aloud. Heed my directions. See yourself becoming a greater, larger creative power in your own life on all levels. When will remember when you sit down to create anything, or whether you’re puttering around at home. Mainly, set the intention to let me run free within you, heed my words and you will be on your way and living your creative bliss every day.

Is there anything else you want tell me?
Yes. Have fun; and…acknowledge & celebrate the “me” in you!
Now, go create!

Photo Source www.dancingwiththeshadow
Inner Critic

I am the one who nags at you...that you coulda, woulda, shoulda.
I am the one who rides your back and "killing you softly", whispering..."You are not enough''.
I was born from your self-criticism, which gives me more power.
I am the one who's had this job too long and wants to retire. I want you to stand up & let me slide off your back into retirement.
I want you to know it's easier to get me off your back than you think. I want you to know that "You are enough. Be yourself."... I am a queen in the making...I can be transformed from critic to cheerleader, helpful protector... and compassionate challenger. I am transformed when you love yourself without fail..no matter what. I am transformed into mentor through your authentic self-compassion, self-love and self-forgiveness. I am transformed each time you give yourself what you need most... in the moment.

Photo Source www.dancingwiththeshadow
The Traveller - My Soul's Historian

I am one who travels my continuing journey leaving these bones behind. I am one who is wise and has secrets to tell you. I know your history, the history of our ancestors, and our ancestors' ancestors.
I am your soul's historian. I am the riches of the history of many lifetimes. Look around...see the death of the ancients. You are on sacred ground now.
I am one who lives beyond flesh and bone. My essence is forever...far beyond these dry bones and adornments of gold. I am the Traveller...lifetime upon lifetime in the great continuum.
I want you to take time with me. I want you to remember to really live. Life is precious. I want you to take the golden treasure in your heart and and spread it far and wide - throughout the world! Share your treasure with others. Show them their treasure and remind them that they too...have a crown to wear.
I am the Traveller. I give you proof that life is everlasting. I give you proof that what makes us, us is far greater than our body and mind...far greater than what you can imagine...and it lives on forever and ever.
I want you to keep loving...yourself, others...and continue to learn of me. Continue allowing your essence to flow through unobstructed for you are a living vessel.
You will remember each time you feel love deep in your heart, or think about those who have gone through the curtain to the other side. You will remember each time you see or think of me or see the colour of gold. . You will remember that you have an inner-treasure just waiting to fly even more .
Upon reflection, I realize that part of my soul's inspiration for this card came from over 10 years ago in the poem The Traveller by James Dillet Freeman, for which I am very thankful. That poem has blessed me and countless others I've shared it with over the years. I hope you enjoy it, at the above link.

Photo Source www.dancingwiththeshadow
Wisdom

I am the wise one... I am wisdom, personified.
I stand here knowing that you have the key.
I am the one who knows you must walk through the doorway...through new doorways.
I am one who knows you are strong, and vibrant and a being of influence.
I am one who challenges you to stand and walk through new doorways ...
to move forward; in doing so you teach others.
I am one who knows your power, your power is love
and charge you with using it.
...you must use it; our world needs it...YOU need it.
Your power... is love.

Suit: Council

Photo Source www.dancingwiththeshadow
Inner - Sanctuary

I am one who waits for you to join me.
I am your highway to sanctuary and serenity.
I am always present, and patient and loyal.
I am devoted to being here for you.
I show you the beauty of the peace you have within.
I take you from the highway of the hustle and bustle of your daily life,
to the land of your soul. ~

Photo Source www.dancingwiththeshadow
God's Fingerprint

God's fingerprint is all over me! I am one who is illuminated by the Light and DNA of the Creator; from the tip of my head to the bottom of my feet, and far, far beyond where my eyes can see: above, below, left and right...all around and through me...far beyond what I can ever imagine. I am one who is surrounded by the Presence, and swaddled in the omnipresent love of the Divine. I want you to know that there is no where you can go that I am not.... already there; preparing a place for you...blessing you. Rest. Trust. Know. Let go. My fingerprint is all over you.

Draw a card daily or weekly to do “mini-readings” for yourself. Create or participate in a group that gathers periodically to make cards, share new cards, and do readings together.

Cheryl interviewed Senna Frost on 13th Nov 2010

Photo Source http://www.dancingwiththeshadow.blogspot.com.au/

Seena: SoulCollage has been changing and evolving ever since its inception in 1989 when I first made a set of 130 cards as a project for a class with Jean Houston. Those cards were all of people, what would be now be the Community suit, and they weren't even collages. From there it evolved into a collage process that I modified and shared with my clients as well as a practice I did for my own growth. Then it was called the Neter Card process and for many years I used it in my clinical office and taught in my living room.

One Saturday in 1998, Kylea Taylor and Jim Schofield came to my place to check out the Neter Card process and began the next evolutionary ‘shift’--a big one! That day they suggested I write a book that they would publish! I took a few years to write it, getting all the images of cards from people. At Jim’s suggestion, we renamed the process SoulCollage®. Hanford Mead Publishers, Inc., Jim and Kylea’s company, published this first book in 2001. It had pictures and images contributed by about 40 local people who loved the process and were eager to share their cards.

This SoulCollage® book and the listserv/website that developed along side it, and then the Facilitator trainings that began a few years later, were part of an evolution that was powered largely by the vision of Kylea and Jim. They urged me to do the trainings, and Kylea and I developed and did them together. We still do.

With the book and the trainings, the SoulCollage® community began to grow…and grow…and grow. As I taught and received input from others, and watched people quickly take to the process and transform through it, I was stimulated to add new ideas. The listserv/website became bigger as people sent in cards for the gallery. The Neter Letter developed for Facilitators. Then in 2007 the first Trainers were carefully chosen. These are Trainers who may train people as Facilitators in different states and in other countries. Alia Moore worked diligently to develop a new and much richer website which allows people to read articles, get news of trainings and workshops, and see a big assortment of cards.

SoulCollage® (now with this symbol to show that it is trademarked) is gaining in complexity on many levels, and a second book was a natural and inevitable next step in its evolution. We wanted to show more images from all these wide-spread Facilitators. Close to a thousand now. We wanted to say more about how the process is being used and with whom. I wanted to add words about the Soul Essence and Witness cards, the second and third Transpersonal cards. Exciting stories abound.

Photo Source http://www.dancingwiththeshadow.blogspot.com.au/

Cheryl: How does this book differ from your first book, SoulCollage®: An Intuitive Collage Process for Individuals and Groups?
.
Seena: There are several things although the basic information about the suits and the process is still there, sometimes in an expanded form. What is new are most of the card images. We replaced many in the first book with cards that would not have any copyright issues. Also new are explanations of two of the three Transpersonal cards, Soul Essence and Witness. These, along with the Source card, are described in depth. However, probably the biggest additions are the stories and experiences of many Facilitators and Trainers of Facilitators telling about the work they do with various populations. This book also has many more photos of people doing the process, and a more in-depth explanation of how we read the images on our cards and access our own wisdom when we do this.

Cheryl: Have the recommended methods of interpreting the cards essences changed from your first book?

Seena: I think the essential way we read our images is the same in both books. However, there are some interesting and helpful stories that Facilitators have provided in the new book, and I elaborate a bit more about the “I Am One Who” exercise, and also about readings.

Cheryl: From your experience, what is it about SoulCollage® that touches people, and allows them to do such deep, healing and revealing inner-work?

Seena: I believe the word “surprises” is better than “touches” when I consider how SoulCollage® opens a door to healing and change. Images are transformative because they surprise us and awaken us, often in ways that words coming from outside, (from books or lectures or sermons or therapists) cannot.. Our defence systems, those ego defenders of the status quo, are onto words coming from outside, and they generally take them in and throw them quietly into the trash can, rather than allow them to change anything.

Images can be different. Images will grab us when we glance at them, and they can slip down into our less conscious parts of Soul and sneak around those defenders of the way things are. When your image begins to speak with your own words it speaks from a deep layer of the Soul that usually doesn't have a voice. It is these words bubbling up that surprise us. Not always, of course, but sometimes the message surprises us into changing, into healing, into awakeness. So I’d answer this question with the words surprise, and the discovery of one’s own inner wisdom.

Cheryl: What is your wish...your prayer for the role of SoulCollage® in the world?

I think it has potential to do quite a bit if it continues to grow. The more people heal their own inner wars, the better they will be at healing the wars in families and communities and nations. However that is only the beginning of what I think is possible. If enough people gather, using their images to find consciousness, they can become one more of the imaginal cells forming and joining up in our chaotic world to envision the butterfly that we could become. SoulCollagers can gather and show that cooperation is better than competition, that partnership is better than hierarchy or patriarchy, that knowing the one and the many is far, far better than insisting on one way or the other. Perhaps there can be a creative inclusiveness in SoulCollage® that will be catching.

Cheryl: Can you share a little about your personal practice?

Seena: Every morning I draw two cards from my deck of over 100 cards. I have the cards backed by suits and I always draw one Community card and one from another suit. These become my Neters of the day and I put them up on my altar next to the 3 Transpersonal cards which are always there. The rest of my cards are in a pile in the centre. I record which cards I have drawn in my daily journal, and sometimes I will email or phone a person who is my Neter and just let them know--if they are alive and I know them personally. I don’t read from these two cards. I just have them up as special Neters to remember. Other practices, not daily, are sitting and tearing out images for my trainings, and also meeting with a peer group to do readings. We try to do this at least once a month or more if possible. (I have other practices like daily meditation and yoga and walking which are not so directly oriented to SoulCollage®.)

Cheryl: How has your personal practice changed you over the years?

Seena: This of course varies greatly with everyone who does some sort of a daily practice, and it is hard for me to separate out the results of my daily practice from my current life work which is so involved with SoulCollage®. This process surely has changed my life because I'm thinking about it probably thirty percent of my time. Unlike most people! But just in terms of my own evolving Soul, I believe that the images on many of my cards have taken on a vivid life of their own, and continually remind me of energies I have available to me. I think I use more of myself because of this, use more of my potential, and I balance my energies better because of this consciousness. I also have a real sense of the marvellous aliveness of the world around me, of the archetypes that inhabit our invisible world, and who are calling on me and all of us constantly. They guide us and nudge us. The synchronicities of the cards help me know this. I do not feel alone or separate in the universe and have no fear of shedding this body and going on without it into other realms.

Cheryl: How do you recommend using SoulCollage to mark a Rite of Passage in our lives? 

Seena: I can think of a number of ways one could mark such a moment of change. Most obvious would be to do a reading from your cards either with a group that you regularly attend or just by yourself. Ask a question about this passage and what you might need to remember, want to honour about the past, etc. Word it however feels right to you.

A second way would be to create a special SoulCollage card that honours this passage in some way, perhaps with a Council card honouring the archetype who feels most involved in promoting this change. A Community card might be created with a photo of yourself and others if it is a very special gathering. Certainly there might be a Committee card or two created representing inner Neters who are excited, anxious, angry, grateful or whatever, for the change.

There also have been some SoulCollage experiences around passages that involved several people gathering with their cards and all doing a reading around this person’s passage and speaking to it. People can even lay out certain of their cards in a montage on the floor around cards of the honouree and photograph it.

It may be that only the person involved has SoulCollage cards and the others are present as witnesses. They also are thereby introduced to the process by seeing how meaningful the cards can be.

A session was held for one person’s birthday where, instead of the regular readings, the birthday person laid out all of her cards on the floor in patterns that showed her life story and then spoke of her story from her cards. On page 115 of the new book is a picture that was also in the first book of just such an honouring of one person. It is on page 80 of the first book.

What SoulCollage® is—The SoulCollage® process is a flexible, creative, and inclusive tool. SoulCollage® can be introduced to a variety of populations by facilitators with varied backgrounds and trainings and adapted to use in many contexts. The term “SoulCollage” is trademarked in order to differentiate it from other collage/art therapy processes, and to provide the training and support important for solid and ethical work done under the “SoulCollage®” name. SoulCollage® is a creative tool, but it is not in itself a therapy. The SoulCollage® Facilitator Training recommends that SoulCollage® Facilitators develop a referral list of licensed therapists who are familiar with the SoulCollage® process and to whom referrals can be made as appropriate. Some Facilitators will use SoulCollage® as an adjunct to various types of therapies for which they are already licensed; some will offer groups specifically to create and “read” SoulCollage® cards; some will invite an existing group to engage in the fun and deepening power of this process.

Using SoulCollage® as developed by Seena B. Frost, a person creates a deck of collaged cards from found images. The cards are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are collaged from images found in purchased or donated magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc. and from stock photos and/or personal materials (e.g., photos, one’s own art).