Soul
Singing with Anne Marie |
Hi! I'm
Anne Marie, the creator of KaleidoSoul.com,
and a
SoulCollage® facilitator in Massachusetts. If you're just starting
to sing your song with SoulCollage®, this column is especially for
you.
Hi everyone!
As this goes to “press,” I am on vacation celebrating our 21st
anniversary with my husband. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and
cards with you in June.
Meanwhile, please enjoy our guest columnist’s wisdom this month
(below). There is quite a lot there to feast on!
Peace, joy, creative hearts,
Anne Marie
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OUR NEXT
TELE-CLASS |
Connecting
with a Pet Who Has Transitioned
60 minute SoulCollage®
tele-class with SoulCollage® Facilitator
Barbara Techel in Wisconsin.
Monday
May 9, 2016
7 pm Eastern
Connecting with a pet/animal friend who has passed over can
have a healing and profound effect on your life. This could be a
beloved pet who died years ago, recently, or anywhere in between. In
this class Barbara will guide us in saying good-bye in a way that can
help you communicate things to your animal you wished you had said.
You’ll also move from guilt to gratitude, and begin to find closure.
Easily Accessible from Anywhere
in the
World!
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Guest
Columnist: Karen Regina |
Hello, I’m SoulCollager Karen Regina from Cincinnati, Ohio. This is my
first column for Soul Songs, and I’m honored to follow in the footsteps
of the thoughtful Facilitators and gifted writers whose wisdom
typically fills this space. May my words help open your ears to new
voices and inspire new cards.
Hearing
Voices
When invited to write this column, I wasn’t sure what to write about,
but signs quickly pointed to a direction. First, relatives complained I
didn’t listen to them. Second, messages about hearing and listening
repeatedly turned up in daily meditative readings and on oracle cards I
drew. Third, a new SoulCollage® card’s energy beckoned (third card
below). Combing through my deck, I identified multiple cards related to
hearing and listening. Images abounded of people whispering, human and
animal ears, graphics of sound waves and vibrations, and technology
like headphones, telephones, and tuning forks. I’d even put images of
giant NASA deep space antenna dishes on two cards; who was I hoping to
hear from? These synchronicities had to mean something, right?
I found dictionary definitions for “hearing” and “listening” hard to
distinguish between. I consider hearing as “the how”—the physical
mechanisms and processes associated with ears that enable hearing. For
me, listening is about “who” and “what”—what is being said; whose words
I let in; what reactions I have to them.
I’ve long been sensitive to sounds, especially ones I consider awful
noises, like leaf-blowers, airplanes flying overhead at night, and
raucous outdoor parties next door! I reluctantly resort to earplugs or
a white noise machine to block out such unwanted auditory intrusions.
At home, I can modulate what sounds I subject myself to. I never keep a
radio or television on as background noise; I’m quite comfortable
luxuriating in silence.
It’s widely understood that the throat chakra is about communication
and vocal expression. But the throat chakra involves the ears too.
Turns out, this is where our hearing and listening abilities emerge.
The ears are about openness to hearing new information and
consideration of others' opinions and ideas. Maybe my relatives were
right; this was something I needed to work on!
I have several throat chakra cards. This one includes
the giraffe figure with her long neck. Only later did I notice the
exaggerated ears and how I had placed the blue etheric dots to swirl
right around those ears. My subconscious was a step ahead of me!
This card reminds
me that the throat chakra includes the ears.
But the most amazing thing I learned is that the throat chakra is
associated with another type of hearing, clairaudience. “Clairaudience”
comes from two French words meaning “clear hearing.” Also known as
psychic hearing or inner hearing, it means hearing things outside the
normal scope of awareness. Someone is clairaudient if they mainly
receive psychic information with their inner or outer hearing. Yes, I’m
talking about hearing voices! Oh, the negative connotations that
evokes! Crazy people! Who wants to claim that?
Until recently, I doubt I’d ever spoken or written the word
clairaudience. I certainly never would have associated such a gift with
me. But my experiences with SoulCollage® led me to consider otherwise.
A while ago, based on a book recommended in one of Anne Marie’s
newsletters, I read Illuminations,
about the extraordinary 12th-century mystic Hildegard von Bingen, who
from childhood was clairaudient. Another famous clairaudient in history
was Joan of Arc. Powerful examples that weren’t crazy!
In the past, I didn’t see myself as intuitive; too left-brained, I
thought. But after making hundreds of SoulCollage® cards, relying on my
intuition to choose images and hear their messages, that’s changed.
Sometimes the images chatter so loudly and insistently in my head while
making certain cards, I have to write notes down before I even finish
gluing. The more cards I make and dialogue with, the stronger I hear
their voices in my head and the more intuitive I become. Still, I
simply thought as them as my inner selves talking. Who else could it
be?
Then I made this
card, the one that really got
my attention. Initially I thought it was the two pairs of haunting eyes
that made me put the panther and child together. But as I investigated
Panther, I learned it has exceptional hearing and keen listening
ability. Panther medicine is that of silence and hints at the
development of clairaudience. Panther’s ears appeared on my card.
Finally I noticed the peculiar strand of crystal beads swishing across
the child’s throat and ear. I literally started. The card wasn’t about
seeing, it was about hearing. I’d made a card about clairaudience! This
Neter says: I am One who hears
subtle voices.
I sought information. Clairaudients say that hypersensitivity to
noises, ability to identify people’s voices, and receiving ideas in
your head are signs of a natural talent waiting to be cultivated. Aha,
I related to those signs. Develop clairaudience, they said, by being
more conscious of sounds around you—wind in the trees, raindrops on the
roof, the refrigerator humming. Eventually, you become aware of subtler
sounds you’d missed before. Do I jettison the earplugs and white noise
machine? Use affirmations, such as “It’s safe to hear my inner voice.”
Sure, I’d worked with affirmations before. Pay attention to ideas that
come in the form of whisperings inside you.
I continued my crash course. Clairaudient messages are usually heard
internally, with your inner ear, inside your head. The messages can be
subtle and hard to distinguish from your own thoughts. Messages come
from your soul, spirit guides, angels, and deceased loved ones. It’s
claimed we all have spirit guides, and everyone has the capacity to
communicate with them. That was encouraging.
I circle back to silence. Notice “silent” has the same letters as
“listen.” Silence is ever more necessary for me, at a time when it is
ever harder to find. By being silent and alone with my inner thoughts
and voices, I strengthen the bridge to my soul, guides, and Spirit. I’m
not yet always sure whose voices I’m hearing or listening to. But I’m
keeping my ears open! Whose voices are you hearing?
Let
us be silent—
so that we may hear
the whisper
of the Gods.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Karen
Regina, M.Ed., is retired from a career in secondary education, history
museums, and at the University of Cincinnati, where she instructed and
supervised pre-service teachers. She began her spiritual journey in the
early 1980s, under the guidance of such pioneering teachers as Sondra
Ray, Barbara DeAngelis, and John Gray. Karen delved into SoulCollage®
in early 2014 and quickly embraced it as the cornerstone of her current
spiritual practices.
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BOOKS by ANNE MARIE BENNETT
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ONLINE SOULCOLLAGE® WORKSHOP
with Anne Marie Bennett
Animal Companions Suit
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If
you've been longing to learn more about this fascinating suit of Animal
Companions,
here's your chance! We'll learn about the Animal energies,
and our body's chakra energies, and how the two are related within the
SoulCollage® Animal Companions Suit. We'll use SoulCollage®, guided
imagery, group discussion and journaling to dive deeper into the wisdom
that the Animals have to give us.
May 15 – June 12, 2016
3 Tele-Classes, Easy to Access
All classes recorded so you don't have to attend "live."
Visit
this page for more info now.
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ONLINE SOULCOLLAGE® WORKSHOP
with Cat Caracelo
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KaleidoSoul Creations |
As promised, we are
featuring
SoulCollage® cards from our readers in each issue.
Each card below is a card from one SoulCollager's Deck.
The Blues
Committee Suit
Natalie
Colorado
I am one who sings the blues -- songs of
love, hate, jealousy, sex, longing, misery, envy, desire, joy, pain,
faithfulness, faithlessness. I am one who sings and plays music that
uplifts and brings down. I sing songs of the soul and for the soul.
Singing in the Rain
Committee Suit
Theresa
Colorado
I am the one who opens the pretty
well-maintained white garden gate and occasionally ventures away from
the cultivated and manicured garden to go make some discoveries out
there in the wilder and untamed woods. I am the one who likes to go out
puddle jumping and bushwhacking every now and then. I am the one who
loves a good walk and a good sing in the rain. I am the one who skips
off into the unknown with a sense of adventure and a song in my heart
-- and also well prepared for the elements!
Persephone
Council Suit
Laurie
Pennsylvania
A. Fall
I am one who is falling into sudden unexpected darkness leaving behind
my safe expected life.
B. Spring
I am one who is rising from darkness. In my absence the earth has still
bloomed. I am one who is rejoining the dance.
Standing Tall
Committee Suit
Julie
California
I am the one who stands tall without fear for lies
ahead. I fly with courage and grace. I am the one who stands firmly
planted deep into Mother Earth. I honor the ways of old and welcome the
new.
I Walk Alone
Committee Suit
Melisa
Canada
I am the one who must walk this path
alone. Like a rite of passage or a personal challenge, this is
something I must do by myself. I may meet people - guides or
fellow walkers - along the way, but ultimately this is something I must
do alone, until I reach the light. I am the one who is lonely and
longs for a companion on this journey, a kindred spirit who understands
this process, but I know I must find my own way.
Bird Goddess
Council Suit
Julie
Idaho
IATOW holds and directs Bird Energy.
IATOW honors each one and the scope of their abilities, qualities and
willingness to aid humankind. They come to you with songs of wisdom and
insight. They embody so many gifts and share them freely when
humanity opens their hearts to them.
IATOW is represented by birds. They carry messages from me and my
"Angels-in-Disguise. The more you pay attention to them, the more I can
share with you. I call on you to stay open to them. Open your hearts to
what they try to communicate.
IATOW loves, cherishes and celebrates birds in all of their diversity.
Visible in the World
Community Suit
Patricia
California
I am the one who is as strong and steady and
wise as the Tree of Life. I encourage you by example to bear
witness to your perfect being and become visible in the world.
Allow yourself to be vulnerable and know you are Loved and accepted and
supported in this Life. Be the growth within your Spirit and Soul -
from the beautiful small seed of your Soul Essence. Be not afraid
to be alive, vibrant and depended upon by others. Be the 'light
bearer' you have been supporting in others all your life.
Max The Dachshund
Community Suit
Terry
Virginia
I am the one who is determined to face my
trials with a brave heart. I have fun. Life is for
living. In the face of trials. I have a party. You care for
me, and it is worth it.
To see more SoulCollage® cards
submitted to this issue,
please visit this
page now.
Please feel free to submit one of your
cards for a future issue by sending a reply email to this newsletter.
Future themes include:
June: Self-Care
July: Joy
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KaleidoSoul Notes
Noteworthy
resources for anyone interested in SoulCollage®
Facilitator
Trainings: Information about content and
dates/locations of upcoming trainings of SoulCollage®
Facilitators.
SoulCollage
website - Seena Frost created the process of
SoulCollage®, and this is her website.
KaleidoSoul
-
Spinning the fragments of your world into wholeness and beauty
through SoulCollage®.
Kindred
Spirits Join our fast-growing worldwide
membership of people who put the "soul" in SoulCollage®!
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CONTACT US
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Upcoming SoulCollage® Retreats
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CALIFORNIA
SoulCollage® Training Weekend
Lake Elsinore,
CA
June 9-12, 2016
Facilitators: Kat Kirby
Visit
this page for more information.
MASSACHUSETTS
Playing with a Full Deck: Deepening Your SoulCollage®
Practice
Westfield, MA
September 2-3,
2016
Facilitator: Michele Manos
Since 2009, SoulCollage® Facilitator Michele Manos has been
creating and sharing meaningful ways to explore your SoulCollage®
deck as a whole - honoring and integrating your ever-evolving
aspects. These "Card Games" offer an understanding of the cards'
intricate relationships. Ideas for new cards come forth, as do new
perspectives on old ones. Through storytelling from her own deck,
Michele will provide group and individual instruction - with ample
time to explore your deck, journal, make cards and share. You'll
learn new ways to utilize your deck as a supportive resource for
embracing life's challenges and as a powerful tool for inner
balance. This retreat is intended for Facilitators as well as for
experienced SoulCollagers who have a lot of cards that are mostly
categorized into suits.
Visit
this page for more information now.
PENNSYLVANIA
Beginnings, Endings and that Place In-Between:
A Women's SoulCollage® Weekend Retreat
Bangor, PA
September 30 – October 2, 2016
Facilitator: Laurie Smith, M.Div. and Sally Freed, M.A.
At this weekend retreat at Kirkridge Retreat center, we'll explore the
blessings and challenges we often experience in times of change and
transition. Through conversation, reflection and ritual, we'll embark
upon a creative journey which honors and celebrates where we've been,
where we may be going, and the gifts of the present moment.
SoulCollage® will allow deepening of our understanding of our own
transition times, and how we can support the gestation, uncertainty or
renewal that is stirring in our lives. No artistic experience
necessary! Come, nourish yourself at Kirkridge, a place of openness,
spirit, hospitality and creativity.
Visit
this page for more information.
PORTUGAL
Facilitator Training
Hotel Baía,
Cascais
October 20-23, 2016
Facilitator: Linda Woolfson, MA, PhD
Please email
Linda for more info.
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CONTACT US
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Soul Songs
Back Issues - Read back issues of Soul Songs on this
KaleidoSoul page.
Just look for whatever SoulCollage® topic you are interested
in,
and read to your heart's content!
SoulCollage® is a trademarked process created by
Seena B.
Frost.
For more information about Seena and the origins of SoulCollage®,
please visit her
website
SoulCollage®
cards are made either from one's own art or
from images found in materials which have been bought by or given
to the SoulCollage® card maker. These collaged cards are used only
for the cardmaker's own inner exploration. SoulCollage® cards are
not sold, traded, bartered, or copied (except as a back-up for the
cardmakers own use) as is stated in the "Principles
of SoulCollage®." Where SoulCollage® cards are available to
be seen by others, it is for the purposes either of demonstrating
the SoulCollage® process or of sharing the cardmakers' inner
process in the context of community. SoulCollage® is grateful to
the artists and photographers who make this deep awakening process
possible and in all ways SoulCollage® seeks to be respectful of
their rights.
All articles in SOUL SONGS are
copyrighted
2016,
by Anne Marie Bennett and
Catherine Anderson, Cat Caracelo,
Karen Regina or Linda Woolfson.
Articles may be reprinted by permission
only.
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