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.
The Angry One
Being grateful, positive and healthy doesn't mean I never feel angry. Being grateful, positive and healthy means I feel angry when I need to. ---Melody Beattie
Sometimes I visualize all of my "inner voices" as residing in a big castle. Each one has its own room and sometimes I visualize (in meditation or in writing) myself there, exploring the rooms and the part of me that inhabits each one.
One day a while back, while exploring this inner castle, I found myself in the dungeon, so to speak. Guess what? There were some parts of me that I had locked up down there because other parts were stronger, or because I just didn't know how to interact with them.
The Angry One was one of those parts.
Soon after realizing that I had locked her away, I imagined myself taking her hand in the dungeon and inviting her to go with me "upstairs" into my world and into my life. I can't even begin to tell you what a difference it made! And it just so happened that that very same day, my husband did something that really annoyed and angered me on a very deep level (not just surface stuff being activated, but many years of stepfamily issues rising to the surface). As I was feeling my blood boil, I eventually remembered The Angry One and that she was beside me. It was as if I'd been set free. I was able to speak my anger to my husband without being consumed by it, and believe me.... this was a brand new experience for me!
I think a lot of it has to do with social conditioning around the subject of anger. It's not "nice" to be angry is a message that seems to be prevalent. Growing up, I saw my mother lash out with her anger.... and I saw my father repress his completely. I chose
his way because her way was hurtful. But now I am seeing that there is a different way.
I find that, nowadays, it is a good and healthy thing to just be more aware of the times when I'm angry. If I can offer compassion and curiosity to this part of me instead of shutting her away in the dungeon, I can make real strides towards balance and wholeness.
At first I was actually afraid of The Angry One, but now I see that she isn't here to hurt me or anyone else in my life. She is here to shine light on injustice and to help me forge the way to my own best self.
Being grateful, positive and healthy doesn't mean I never feel angry. Being grateful, positive and healthy means I feel angry when I need to. ---Melody Beattie
Anne Marie Bennett is a freelance writer, self-taught artist, SoulCollage® Facilitator and
Facilitator Trainer who trained with Seena Frost. Her background is
elementary education, computer software training, writing, and
mixed media art. She lives, laughs, writes, and sings (and makes
her own SoulCollage® cards!) in Beverly, MA. More of Anne Marie's
cards/interpretations are available on her blog, Inner
Surprises.
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Our Next Tele-Class |
Have a question you'd like Seena to answer during this class?
Please use the form on this KaleidoSoul page.
Date: Sunday, September 19, 2010
Time:
6:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Central,
4 pm Mountain, 3 pm Pacific,
12 noon. Hawaiian, 11 pm in London,
Monday 8 a.m. in Melbourne Australia
and Monday 10 a.m. in New Zealand
Please visit this page now for more information. |
Soul Symphonies with Karen |
My
name is Karen Mann and I'm a SoulCollage® facilitator
from Melbourne, Australia. 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.
Anger: Suppress it or Express it?
Anger is a dirty word... In our culture there is quite an aversion to expressing anger. Many of us were taught to be polite and be a "good boy" or "good girl" and did not have permission to get angry. We have not learned what to do with our anger. Few of us were taught how to express anger in an appropriate way. So where does it go?
If you are happy, you laugh. If you are cold, you shiver. If you are excited, you may squeal. If you are surprised, you may gasp. If you are sad, you may cry. Many of our reactions to these emotions are almost involuntary- they just happen as an automatic reaction. So what is your automatic reaction if you feel angry?
For many of us there is no automatic reaction any more. We are so conditioned to be polite, to be careful not to offend someone by getting angry, that we don't do anything. Or we may be so worried that we will lose control if we did get angry that we really spend a lot of energy suppressing our anger.
The majority of people who know me describe me as being calm and peaceful. They tell me that I have a calming influence on them. This card
"The One Who is Calming to Be Around" was made when I was learning to own this part of me- because interestingly enough I did not feel very calm on the inside and I was surprised that this was how people saw me.
"I am the one who portrays a calm exterior and helps other people to feel calm too."
In contrast please enjoy viewing my "Bad Temper" card. See the exploding volcano and the ugly monster. My partner and son tell me that the ugly monster actually isn't ugly enough to truly show my temper when it flares.
"I am the one who holds it all in, the annoying things, frustrating stuff and the anger. I am the one who really tries to keep a lid on it, but sometimes I just can't help it ... I explode. I am the one who is ugly when I'm angry and feels embarrassed afterwards." I often hold in my anger until I feel "safe" to let it out- which means it usually is my loved ones who see my anger in all its glory. Aren't they lucky?!?!?
One aspect in my life I would like to improve is having a healthy, balanced approach to expressing my anger. I am practicing speaking up more when something upsets me,
before I am at the "explosion" point. I am starting to express my anger rather than suppress it. I am learning to tell someone how I feel at the time I feel it. Have you heard the saying"better out than in"? This is my new motto... Or as Emily Dickinson put it more eloquently: "Anger as soon as fed is dead -'Tis starving makes it fat."
PS. One common method people use to suppress anger is eating to "stuff" it down and to stop the anger from getting expressed. If you are interested in exploring how your unexpressed emotions may be playing a role in any emotional eating or weight issues you might have, please visit this page to find out about the
What are you Weight-ing For? 12 week online SoulCollage®
workshop that I am leading this fall.
Karen Mann is an artist, art teacher,
Lifestyle Coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and SoulCollage®
facilitator. Karen has been working with SoulCollage® cards for
more than four years and facilitates a variety of SoulCollage®
Groups. Karen also runs SoulCollage® Facilitator Training weekends.
Karen offers regular workshops in Melbourne and Geelong, Australia,
and is also available to travel to other regions in Australia. For
more information, or to contact Karen, please visit her
website,Flying Colours
Creativity.
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Upcoming
SoulCollage® Retreats
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MINNESOTA
The Beauty of Autumn & Your Connection with
Nature
Sandstone, Minnesota
October 1 - 3, 2010
Facilitator: Glenda
Huston
Whatever it is that enchants you in the fall, this retreat is the
perfect time to express the energy in your SoulCollage® cards. Come
and explore your special connection with nature. Through guided
visualization, meditation, group sharing, journaling exercises, and
intuitive SoulCollage® readings, you will tap into the music of
your soul, your own SoulMusique. There will also be plenty
of time to walk in the woods and enjoy the peak colors of the
autumn and to relax in the sauna. The weekend will close with a
Medicine Wheel ceremony. This retreat is perfect for beginners and
experienced SoulCollagers.
Interested? Contact Glenda at 612-803-8376 or glenda@soulmusique.com
OHIO
Retreat, Reflect, Renew: A SoulCollage® Retreat for Women
Hope Springs Institute, Peebles, OH November 5 - 7, 2010
Facilitator: Julie Henderson
Connect more deeply to the Essence of You during this weekend retreat in southern Ohio. Grounded in the process SoulCollage® and guided imagery, this retreat features abundant time for card-making and for deepening your understanding of the process and how to use it, as well as ample time to wander the wooded trails, walk the labyrinth, relax in the hot tub, or simply "be". At the end of your weekend you will have a fresh perspective and new internal resources, returning to your life and loved ones with a renewed sense of Self and Spirit.
Interested? Contact Julie at Julie Henderson
or visit this page.
MASSACHUSETTS
Pure Bliss: Self Care Using the Expressive Arts
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
Lenox, Massachusetts
February 16-18, 2011
Facilitator: Anne Marie Bennett, Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli & Susan Stratton
Do you want to bring into awareness aspects of yourself that you sense are there but can't clearly see? Now is your chance to engage and awaken those aspects through creative exercises designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery. Dive into your inner world in a reflective two-night retreat focused on relaxation, self-expression, and pure enjoyment. We'll dive into SoulCollage®, paint, draw and build sculptures in a sand tray, and enjoy creative exploration in a healthy, fun, safe community setting.
Interested? Call Kripalu at 1-866-200-5203 or visit this page of the Kripalu
website.
CONNECTICUT
The Three Faces of Silence: The Transpersonal Cards
Willimantic, Connecticut
July 22-24, 2011
Facilitator: Seena Frost and Mariabruna Sirabella
This is a weekend of reflection, contemplation, and silence in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. This silent retreat will be a time of honoring the Transpersonal Dimension as we take inspiration from the three silent cards of Source, SoulEssence, and Witness. It will be a sacred time of connecting with Spirit through poetry, music, reflections, and an extended period of silence. Come and let your soul expand as you rekindle your connection to the Source! Early bird discount: Register before December 15, 2010 and save $90. A retreat led by Seena on the East coast will fill up quickly. Sign up now and reserve your spot! Only 20 spaces available. Registration Deadline: January 1.
Interested? Contact Barbara,
bmmarston@yahoo.com, or visit this page of the SoulCollage® website.
Special Offers
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12 Week SoulCollage® Online Workshop
with Karen Mann
Deadline for Registration: September 13, 2010
6 Week E-Course
This self-paced e-course offers you a detailed and comprehensive, fun look at your own Inner Committee.
You'll receive:
* One lesson per week on a different aspect of the SoulCollage Committee Suit (your inner voices)
* A short, creative, fun assignment that goes with each lesson each week. Each assignment is designed to increase your knowledge of and comfort level with working with all of your inner parts
* An abundance of resources to assist you on your journey
* Access to two Magical Inner Journeys (Guided Visualizations) written specifically for this e-course
Continue your SoulCollage® journey with depth and wisdom!
Visit the KaleidoSoul Shop to find this and many other exciting SoulCollage
e-courses today.
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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 2010,
by Anne Marie Bennett and Karen
Mann.
Articles may be reprinted by permission
only.
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