Soul Treasures
Discovering the depths of our precious inner beauty through SoulCollage®
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KaleidoSoul's Members-Only Weekly Newsletter
Issue #43 January 22, 2007
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Quotation of the Week
When babies look beyond you and giggle, maybe they're seeing angels. ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994
Inner Journeys
with Anne Marie Bennett
Integrating the Practice of SoulCollage® into Your Daily Life
New Beginnings
 In keeping with our January theme of New Beginnings (see January issue of Soul Songs, Your SoulCollage Monthly Newsletter), I am writing this week about the best new beginning of all time: a baby.
My youngest stepdaughter Merri gave birth to our newest grandchild the week before Christmas. Her name is Victoria Grace and she's our first granddaughter (Jeff's son has two little boys). We went to visit the new little family in the hospital the day after the birth. Merri's boyfriend Michael was lying down with Victoria on his chest, but as soon as we walked in, he stood up and asked if I wanted to hold her for a while. Did I want to hold her? Do stars shine in the sky at night? Heck, yes!
And so I held her throughout our visit. Conversation was drifting around me: stories of Victoria's birth...etc. I could hear the voices of Merri and Michael and my husband Jeff, but they might as well have been speaking Greek. Because after a few minutes of silent sleep, Victoria opened her deep blue eyes and looked into mine.
That's all really. She just looked into my eyes. I didn't have any earth-shattering revelations. I didn't hear angels singing (well, almost!) or receive messages from beyond. None of that was necessary because I was holding the revelation in my arms.
My youngest nephew is now 24 years old, and Jeff's children were school age when I met them, so it's been a long time since I held a baby! I'd completely forgotten the feeling of holding (without trying to sound too sappy here) a miracle in my arms. It seemed, as I held her and we looked into each others' eyes while everything else faded away, that other things faded away as well: outdated grudges I've held against Jeff's other children and ex-wife, my sorrow surrounding my own childlessness, and a multitude of past mistakes that I'd been clutching onto out of habit.
Is it any wonder that when I woke up the next morning, I was humming the words to the song When A Child is Born?
Reflection activities of the week: If there's a baby in your family or circle of friends, make some time this week to hold it for at least a few minutes. While you are holding the baby, meditate on the theme of new beginnings. If there's no baby nearby for you to hold, look at some of your old baby pictures for a while and do the same thing. Is there some way to incorporate one of these baby pictures of you into a SoulCollage card for your deck? What can a baby teach you about new beginnings for your own life?
SoulCollage Expressions
Idea of the Week
What often helps me when I don't know what a card is about... rather than to first ask "Who are you?" ... I'll ask "What do you want to tell me?" ...or gently say "So, tell me about yourself". And usually something (often a lot) comes from them...like they were just waitng to be asked! ( If not...I leave the card up and continue to gently ask it...and after a while it does respond in just the right season for me/us). Often after hearing their story... they'll tell me "who" they are...and much much more. (from Cheryl in IL)
Go to Pass It On and share a SoulCollage idea with us!
Question of the Week
I find that I have lots and lots of images, but I'm stuck and don't know where to begin.
The best way to start when you have so many images is to sort most of them into piles, according to theme, or color, or what kind of energy they invoke when you look at them. Just follow your inner guidance while doing this.... no one else can tell you how to sort them! And feel free to place images together simply because you feel they belong together, no other explanation needed. Then take a look at all your piles/groups of images and choose one to start with. Use your intuition, or simply close your eyes and point.
There might be a part of you that is saying "you're not going to do this right," and so remember, it's just a part of you. It's not all of you. It's probably your Inner Critic, and eventually you will want to make a card to honor him/her. But remember, this is just one of many parts of you that have something to say. I'm wondering if you could find another part of you, (the Inner Artist maybe?), who might give you the energy and confidence to actually get started IN SPITE OF what your inner critic is saying to you.
And don't forget to have fun!
Go to Pass It On and share a SoulCollage idea with us!
Soul Friends
The voice of a different Kindred Spirit each week!
Lis Gordon
Beverly, Massachusetts
I first started SoulCollage when Anne Marie emailed me in early 2005
 and asked if I wanted to come over to her house and learn a wonderful new inner discovery practice. She gave me Seena's web site and I went and looked around. At first, I wasn't sure this was something I would like, but I am someone who loves to be adventurous and try new things, so I said "Sure, I'll come!" And that's how I became one of her original soul sisters! We five soul sisters meet once a month to share our lives, make cards together and serve as Anne Marie's built-in guinea pigs! (I personally LOVE that part).
I am totally hooked and now have a deck of about 65 cards from all four suits. I have not done the "I am the one who" exercise on all of them, and I have made it one of my New Year's resolutions to do that, working with at least one every day. SoulCollage has been a wonderful healing process for me. I have had a significant weight problem, and, like many other people, had always used food when I felt any kind powerful emotion - positive or negative - and would always make a beeline to the refrigerator to soothe myself. One of the things my therapist encouraged me to do was to find something else to take the place of that trip to the refrigerator - and SoulCollage has been a big piece of that solution. Not only do I do collage instead of going to the refrigerator, but I also have made several cards that deal directly with the issue that have given me powerful and helpful insights.
I have made cards both intuitively and intentionally and both work for me, depending on my mood in the moment. The very first card I made was just putting together images that appealed to me - and it turned out to be the impetus to make me serious about dealing with my weight. Later on, other cards dealing with my weight and weight issues were made more intentionally - my "food addict" card, my "escape from the prison of food" card, and my "searching for my new body" card, - for example.
I have particularly loved discovering my Companion suit - my sexy black panther who represents my 2nd chakra is my favorite. I have also made a travel deck of my cards, which allows me to keep up my practice when I travel and am away for long periods of time. Anne Marie gave me that tip - make color copies reduced by half and get them laminated.
I keep a running folder of images, just throwing them in there when I encounter them. Then, when I'm in the mood to make a card, I open the folder and let the images flow together as they will. My only advice to anyone starting SoulCollage is to trust the process. I look forward to doing more readings with my cards - another resolution in the New Year!
Here are 2 of my favorite SoulCollage® cards:
Searching for New Body
Suit: Committee
I am the one who is searching for a new body as the layers of fat fall away. I am the one who exercises and tones my body so that it is strong and fit. I am the one who loves my real body underneath even if it is not "perfect." I am the one who is excited and happy about having to find new clothes that beautifully drape this new shape of mine.
I was so happy to find that image of the clothesline with the thinner shape behind as it was exactly how I was feeling as I started to lose significant amounts of weight. And I love the nude woman because of her voluptuousness and her obvious comfort and peace with her body which doesn't necessarily fit the culture "norm" for what a "perfect" body looks like. This card gives me a lot of encouragement to stay focused on my lifestyle changes that are necessary to make that new body a reality.
Authentic
Suit- Committee
I am the one who is authentic, who lives life with gusto and truth. I am the one who does not worry about what other people think so long as I am true to myself. I am the one who charges into life with joy and enthusiasm and explores new paths and takes on new adventures that come my way. I am the one who is free from "shoulds" and who makes her own choices that fulfill needs in a healthy and life-giving way.
This card made me laugh out loud when I made it. I found all these wonderful images of women who were doing what they wanted and not only didn't care what other people thought but were having a joyous time of it. This card is always helpful when I find myself getting drawn into trying to please people against my better judgment.
Go to Pass It On and share your SoulCollage story with us!
Kindred Spirits
Member News
Making the most of your KaleidoSoul Membership
Keep track of all of your member benefits on the Kindred Spirits Home Page.
If you ever forget your Member's Password, just email annemarie@kaleidosoul.com.
Other Things You Need to Know:
ALL-NEW SOULCOLLAGE E-COURSE---
Journey to the Center of YOUR Universe: A Guided Exploration of the SoulCollage Committee Suit, with Anne Marie Bennett. Hop on over to your Members Only Shop and get started on this exciting 6 week e-course. One lesson and assignment per week, guaranteed to get you in gentle touch with your own inner voices. You'll work at your own pace...with the support of Anne Marie and the KaleidoSoul Community Group. It's the perfect learning experience! Full price: $45, Your Member discount: $22.50... One week special price: $17.50. Prices go up next Monday January 29. More details.
Soul Treasures needs your input NOW! Introducing Pass It On... an easy way for you to pass on your SoulCollage ideas & questions, as well as book/movie/music/website recommendations to the Kindred Spirits Membership. Simply fill out the short form, click PASS IT ON, and voila! We'll pass it on to everyone else. See how simple it is here. (If you don't have time now, remember that from now on it will always be accessible to you from your Members Only Home Page.)
Save 50% on all remaining KaleidoSoul 2007 Desk Calendars- New Year's Sale, January 1-31 only, and just for you! Instead of $10.00, they are now $5.60 each, only for members! Not only do these nifty little calendars remind you of the date, they keep your soul focused on what's important. Grab one while they last. Limited quantities available.
Celebrating Seena's 75th Birthday!- Seena Frost turns 75 on February 15. Please create a SoulCollage to honor her, along with some I AM THE ONE WHO... statements. Send to kaleidosoul@gmail.com. We are creating a special blog for her from KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirit Members. I need all cards/interpretations no later than February 12. That means you have 4 weeks... so start gathering images that remind you of who she is and/or the gift she has given the world in creating SoulCollage for us. There are some nice images of Seena here if you'd like to use a photo of her on your card.
NOTE: Please do NOT discuss this (or post your cards for her) on the Yahoo Board as Seena is a part of that list and it's a SURPRISE!!! I will send y'all the link to her blog after I send it to Seena, on Feb. 15th! If you have any questions at all about this, please email me directly at the address above.
Last week's Tele-Playshop, Creating A "Future Me" SoulCollage Card, with guest facilitator Karen Mann, is now available for experiencing your Members Only Audio Library.
Upcoming Tele-Playshops
February:
Extra! Extra! Write All About It
with SoulCollage Facilitator, Anne Marie Bennett
Join us as we talk about (and experience!) using creative writing as a tool to go deeper into your SoulCollage cards/deck. I'll have lots of ideas to share, and we'll actually try doing a few of them during this tele-playshop. Even if you don't consider yourself a "writer," this session will get you excited about writing with your cards for the purpose of your own self-discovery.
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Time: 7 pm EST
March:
Creating a Personal History Suit
for Your SoulCollage Deck
with special guest Anne Boedecker
Join us for a special hour with Anne Boedecker of Bow, New Hampshire, who has created a Personal History Suit for her SoulCollage Deck. She will talk about how she came to do this, and give suggestions for how you can do the same. She'll also lead you gently through a short process that will help you discern what your own Personal History Suit might look like. There will also be time for questions and idea sharing.
Anne Boedecker is a psychotherapist and collage artist who uses expressive art for spiritual growth and healing. Her passion is the creative care of the soul thorough art, music, writing, meditation and movement.
Date: Monday, March 19, 2007
Time: 7 pm EST
Save the dates now. The tele-playshops are FR*EE for all members, always! We'll send you the phone number to call in upcoming issues of Soul Treasures. And remember, don't worry if you can't attend... we'll be recording them and you can listen to them anytime in your Member's Only Audio Library.
2007 SoulCollage Retreat-
Creating Inner Sanctuary with SoulCollage
May 4-6, 2007 in beautiful Essex, MA
This retreat is now closed, but you can put your name on the Waiting List by sending a reply to this email.
Details about other upcoming SoulCollage retreats.
 Soul Nourishment
Books, movies, music, & websites to support your inner work as you dive deeper into your soul....
Books:
Gift From The Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindberg. I received this book as a high school graduation gift, and it has held a special place on my nightstand ever since. The book holds short meditations on subjects such as love, marriage, independence, peace, and solitude. It is written and themed around various sea shells that the author found on the beach during a brief solitary vacation when her children were young. This book speaks to me of the necessity of taking time alone for ourselves, no matter how busy we are.
A String and A Prayer, by Eleanor Wiley and Maggie Oman Shannon. I picked up this delightful little book at a time in my life when I was longing to make prayer a special part of my everyday practice. Following the creative ideas and simple guidelines suggested here, I made my own string of prayer beads which I use to this day. The book covers the history and symbolism of prayer beads, and teaches simple techniques for stringing beads along with found object. There also is a good selection of prayers and rituals for using the prayer beads in an everyday practice. I was brought up Catholic, and loved the idea of the Rosary. This book shows you how to create one that is your very own, matching your soul completely.
Music:
A New Day Has Come, by Celine Dion. The title song on this CD is a wonderful one to play when starting a new venture. Listen to it and see if your soul doesn't open up a bit wider to make room for the new.
Greatest Stories Live, by Harry Chapin. This is my favorite Harry Chapin CD because every single song here tells a story (Mr. Tanner, 30,000 Pounds of Bananas, I Want to Learn a Love Song). You can't listen to this man's music (he wrote all the songs here) and not be touched. I first heard of Harry Chapin when some of my college roommates went to one of his concerts. They invited me but I didn't go, and I'll always regret this because he died shortly after this. My favorite soul song here is Circle. Remember it? All my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown... the moon rolls into evening 'til the daybreak comes around.... Lots of imagery and ideas to enhance your life journey, and your SoulCollage journey too.
 Don't forget to check out CDBaby.com, a great new place to buy cd's. Their New Age section is a must for all serious SoulCollagers! Their customer service is unsurpassed and they stock cd's from over 158,000 artists. Great selections, great prices, friendly people, and a good deal on shipping. What more could you want?
Movies:
Groundhog Day, with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Romantic comedy/fantasy about a bored and grumpy weatherman who relives the same strange day over and over until he gets it right. Lots of laughs, and a few lessons for the soul as well. Think back as you watch.... is there a day in your life that you would want to live over a few times until you "got it right?"
Websites:
The New Story- a website dedicated to creative resources and spiritual tools to help you create your own new beginnings and live your dreams. By A String and A Prayer (see above) author, Maggie Oman Shannon.
Sirarte- Brand new SoulCollage website by facilitator Varuna Sirabella, featured in the November 13, 2006 issue of Soul Treasures (but her site wasn't ready when we published her story).
Soul of an Artist- SoulCollage Photo Show by Anne Boedecker, who will be leading our March Tele-Playshop (see above).
Spinning the fragments of your world
into wholeness and beauty
through SoulCollage®
Published by KaleidoSoul.com
and Anne Marie Bennett.
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Inner Journeys, copyright 2006,
Anne Marie Bennett
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