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.
A Tale of Two Brothers
I grew up blessed with the love of two big brothers. John is 6 years older than me, and Joe is a whole decade older. Because they were so much older than me, they never picked on me or teased me; they were true personifications of what "big brother" is supposed to be. This card (left) is the one I made to honor Joe.
When I was younger, I was closer to John. He actually played games with me, read to me, and stayed up late talking with me. He is the one who explained "the facts of life" to me in ways that our mother could not. When I was in college, he is the one I called whenever I felt overwhelmed and discouraged. When I got into a challenging (what a euphemism!) relationship with an alcoholic in my late 20's, John is the one I called who spent a lot of time with me, listening and letting me cry. By that time he was a well-loved and respected therapist living three hours away from me. He let go of the big brother persona for an afternoon and worked with me as a therapist. I have always said that he saved my life that day, because I felt safe with him, breaking out of my isolation. And he pointed me towards Al-Anon, which gave me back my life in a much bigger way.
Several years later, I settled down with my husband Jeff and began helping him raise his kids from his first marriage. This took so much of my time and energy. John was busy with his own wife and boys and business. We stayed in touch but our paths seemed farther apart. Of course, I was so busy with my own job and stepfamily that I wasn't really paying attention to my relationships with my siblings.
When I went through treatments for breast cancer in 2002, it was Joe who made many trips up here to be by my side, to visit, to cheer me up, to bring me out of many a funk. Even though he is ten years older, as adults we do have a lot in common, and he lives closer to me than John does.
When I discovered SoulCollage® in 2005, I set about making cards for each of my family members. Mom's and Dad's cards flowed easily, as did the card for my brother Joe (see above). But John? I was truly stumped about what exactly to put on that Community card beside photos of him. I fretted for a long time, many months, until it dawned on me that
the reason why I couldn't make this card for John was because we had grown so far apart that I didn't even feel connected to him anymore, at least not like I used to.
This was a major revelation to me. I'd been so busy with my own life and my own challenges for so many years, I'd lost track of my connection to John! I decided to change that by calling him more often, connecting via email (and later, texts) every now and then. And when our families were together for Christmas or a summer holiday, I made time to focus on him, to ask him about his work, his staff, my nephews. After a few years, I was able to make this community card to honor John (see left).
And I'm happy to report that in the last few years, our connection has gotten even stronger. This May John and I actually led a weekend retreat together! I presented the SoulCollage® piece, and he presented the therapeutic piece. There were 13 of us and I carry that whole experience with me as a precious treasure. Also, as part of that weekend, I was able to facilitate and witness John's first experience with SoulCollage®, which so far is one of my happiest (!) experiences as a facilitator.
I am so grateful to SoulCollage® for giving me this huge awareness of a
special relationship gone awry, via the process of making cards for the
Community Suit. I invite you to take a look at any loved ones in your own
community whom you have yet to honor with a card for your deck. Is it because
you haven't had time to make the card, or is it really because you don't know
the person as well as you'd like to, as well as you used to? If it's the latter,
set the intention to re-enter relationship with that person. Right now!
Anne Marie Bennett is a writer, self-taught artist, website
goddess, cancer survivor, and d SoulCollage® Facilitator / Trainer who was
mentored directly by Seena Frost. In 2005, she fell in love with SoulCollage®
and was inspired to use her professional experience along with Internet
technology as a means to serve the world by putting SoulCollage® "out there"
in a really big way with KaleidoSoul. Anne Marie lives in eastern
Massachusetts with her middle-aged husband, two elderly cats and one
youthful dog who keeps them all young. You can read more about her on her
website SOS Cancer Journeys.
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OUR NEXT TELE-CLASS |
60 minute SoulCollage®
tele-class
with SoulCollage® Facilitator
Karen Mann in Australia
Using FasterEFT
and SoulCollage®
to Create
Your
Best Life
Monday July
22
7 p.m. Eastern
Easily Accessible from Anywhere in the World!
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Guest Columnist: Imelda Maguire
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Hello! I'm Imelda Maguire, SoulCollage® facilitator from Donegal, Ireland. Also a counselor and poet, my joy is in working with others in healing and creativity. This column is for those of you who have already made some cards & are ready to discover the symphony of voices inside of you and around you.
Siblings
They are the people with the same frame of reference as you, the people who come from the same place as you; share memories and experiences that no-one else does. They share your blood. Brothers and sisters, siblings. As a kid, I didn't know the word "sibling." I remember encountering it and being surprised that there was a word that described brother OR sister in that way, and coming to like the sound of it, the friendliness of the word. Sibling. Someone who's there in your world.
I am acutely aware that there are those who don't have siblings. There are those who have lost siblings, or whose relationships with them are fractious or fractured. All my life, I've been blessed and felt myself to be blessed with my two sisters and two brothers, but never more so than in the past couple of months, during a time of illness, when they've each stepped up in a new way for me, been there, (or here), when I need them, openly, fully present to me in a very special way.
When I encounter someone in my life who gets me in a special way, someone to whose heart I feel connected, in a way that goes deeper than friendship, the word that comes to me is always
Sister, (for the truth is, in my case, that type of connection is far more easily formed with a woman than a man).
I am doubly blessed in my life to have that heart-connection with my actual siblings. Perhaps because of our closeness in age, and the fact that we shared so many life-experiences, it is most obvious with Aileen, with me in my "Traveling Companion" card (above).
"I am one who walks with you, exploring new paths, sharing our discoveries. I am one who knows your tastes and joys. I delight in the fact that so much of what delights me also delights you. I am your sister."
When I ponder the importance of siblings, it comes to me also that all our other family relationships are formed through that relationship in many ways. The aunts and uncles who look out for us are our parent's siblings. Their children become the cousins who form our tribe, that other group of people with whom we share our frame of reference. My cousins know who Nana was -
really know it. This web, this network is different in all families, and lucky the family in which it sustains and nourishes.
There's a brother missing, and a cousin present in this card, but still it is the Spirit of Siblings for me:
We are those who have shared our childhood, learnt from and taught one another; we are family, looking out for one another.
Both of these cards have pictures of my actual siblings, but it is not necessary to have photos in order to create a SoulCollage® card honoring your sibling(s), or expressing some aspect of the relationship with them. If there are difficulties or estrangement, you may find it healing to reclaim the relationship that was valued in earlier days by creating a card embodying that element.
Light and shadow, one and many are so often exemplified in these complex relationships. Exploring our sibling relationships can be such a rich area for our SoulCollage® practice (see Anne Marie's column above for an example of that!).
With thanks to my siblings – Mary, Aileen, Joe, Mike. Blessings on ye and love
to ye.
Imelda Maguire is a SoulCollage® facilitator from Donegal, Ireland. A counsellor, poet, Bach Flower Remedy practitioner, and creative-writing facilitator, her joy is in working with others, in witnessing a-ha moments and experiences of healing. She has been sharing SoulCollage® with groups since 2003, when she first discovered the process, and delights in others' excitement on meeting their Neters for the first time.
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BLESSING BUNDLE WINNERS! |
Congratulations to Our Winners!
Karen Sheridan
from Seattle, WA
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from Richmond, RI
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from San Mateo, CA
each won a Blessing
Bundle of s for
joining
Kindred Spirits in June.
Congratulations, and enjoy your membership!!
Winners were chosen using the Random Number
Generator at random.org.
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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 that represents Siblings from one SoulCollager's Deck.
Sister and Me
Community Suit
Claudette
California
I am the one who has been estranged from my sister. Through SoulCollage® I have come to let go of resentments and past issues. I am the one who is reconnecting with my little sister. Slowly, but nevertheless, reconnecting.
Sisters
Community Suit
Sylvia
Switzerland
We are the ones who wear similar dresses which Mom made for us. We are the ones who play together and argue together, who share the same parents. Sometimes we love each other, sometimes not, yet we walk the same path that forms us, each in her own way.
The Scapegoat
Community Suit
Anonymous
I am one of three little mischievous girls... the youngest.... I am the one who couldn't stand the drama of being caught and then lined up as if in a firing squad and yelled at... the one who would slowly raise her hand and say, "I did it," (even if I didn't)...the one who took the whipping to get it all to come to an end. I am the scapegoat.
My Sister Sally
Community Suit
Dot
Pennsylvania
I am the one who is/was your "little" sister. I loved Psalm 121; it reminded me of many of the times we went camping as a family and spent time in the "hills" of Pennsylvania. I am the one who became dependent on you and others for my care, especially towards the end of my life-- and you responded with love and compassion. I am the one who remembers all of the times you defended me as my "big" sister and am grateful. I am the one who loved you and hopes that you'll take care of yourself so that you'll enjoy a much longer life than I had.
Kenny
Community Suit
Kat
Arizona
I am one who is with you always, although my life on earth was cut short. I am your big brother, your protector, and guide. I showed you unconditional love at an early age, and the meaning of strength of character, leadership, kindness and hard work. Family is so important to all of us, and I will always be a part of our family.
Sisters
Community Suit
Linda
New York
I am the perfect one. I am the one who made your life difficult growing up. I am the one who was forced into a treasurer role. I am the one who helped you keep your finances in check. I am the one who has faith in you even when you don't. I am the one who misses my sister when she can't come to family functions.
Please feel free to submit one of your cards for a future issue
by sending a reply email to this newsletter.
Future themes include:
Queen Archetype Worry/Anxiety
Open Call (Any Cards)
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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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NEW ONLINE WORKSHOP
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SoulCollage®
Summer Camp:
Journaling with
Your Cards
Facilitated by
Anne Marie Bennett
Starts This Sunday
July 14 *** three 90-minute tele-classes
*** audio recordings of all the classes
*** many actual writing experiences
*** new ways to go deeper with your cards
*** multiple handouts
*** support from Anne Marie
*** connection to SoulCollage® community
*** private online site to post your insights
*** scholarships available
Only $67
NOTE: Kindred Spirit Members - $15 Discount
Use your special Coupon Code
on the checkout screen.
For more information about this course,
please visit this KaleidoSoul page.
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Upcoming SoulCollage® Retreats
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NEW YORK
Awakening the Creative Self with SoulCollage®
Warwick, NY
July 19-22, 2013
Facilitators: Ruth Anne Wolfe, Liz Wolfe
Take your practice of abundance back to nature with Abundance & Prosperity coach Liz Wolfe and SoulCollage® Facilitator Ruth Anne Wolfe, for a powerful and inspiring weekend retreat. Warwick Center is a country oasis only 50 miles outside NYC, where you'll enjoy deeply stimulating conversation and exercises, an introduction to SoulCollage®, writing, art, nature walks, movies, relaxation and reflection. All activities are intended to awaken your creative core and will empower you to create what you desire. You will experience freedom and purpose, and have a clear intention about expressing and manifesting your vision authentically in our physical world.
Visit this
page for registration information.
WISCONSIN
Finding Your Inner Compass with SoulCollage®
Willard, WI
August 2-4, 2013
Facilitator: Audrey Chowdhury
Join us in the beautiful, tranquil woods of northern Wisconsin, just 2 hours east of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. This retreat is designed to help you reconnect with your heart's desire. You will have the opportunity to:
- journey through the realm of the soul through Integrative Breathwork, or musical soul journeying
- create SoulCollage® cards & consult with Audrey individually
- create mandalas (circle drawings using pastels)
- share with kindred spirits & walk in the beautiful wooded grounds
- eat delicious, organic, nutritious meals & meditate in the exquisite chapel
From this retreat I am taking renewal, challenge, gratitude, excitement, strength, courage, commitment, ....it was a great balance of activity and quiet time; fabulous leader, wonderful space. Who needs more? --- Jan J., past participant
Visit this
page for registration information.
CALIFORNIA
Face of the Soul: SoulCollage® and Sacred Maskmaking
Petaluma, CA August 9-11, 2013
Facilitators: Cat Caracelo MA and Michelle Minero MFT
CEUs available.
Visit this page
for registration information.
MASSACHUSETTS
All Hallowed Be: An Autumn SoulCollage®
Retreat Westfield MA October 31- November 3, 2013
Facilitators: Anne Marie Bennett, Anne Boedecker, Jeanne Marie
Merkel
Join us for an unforgettable weekend experience combining the magic
of SoulCollage® with the mystery of mask making. The card making
tables and the Mask Making tables will be set up round the clock
all three days, so you can make SoulCollage® cards AND/OR work on
your mask(s) while breakout sessions are going on, in the middle of
the night, and in your jammies by the light of the moon if you
want! The focus of this retreat will be on reclaiming our power as
women, the power of community in our lives, and the lessons of the
archetypal season of Autumn: letting go and
transformation.
Visit this page
for more information.
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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 2013,
by Anne Marie Bennett and
Cat Caracelo, Imelda Maguire,
Kat Kirby, or Catherine Anderson.
Articles may be reprinted by permission only.
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