Soul Treasures
Discovering the depths of our precious inner beauty through SoulCollage®
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KaleidoSoul's Members-Only Weekly Newsletter
Issue #5- May 1, 2006
Quotation of the Week
We save the world
by being alive ourselves.
---Joseph Campbell
Soul Wisdom
from Anne Marie Bennett
A few weeks ago, my friend David invited me to see the Stars on Ice show in New Hampshire. He had won an eBay auction for front row seats, and I was the lucky one to go with him!
But here's the best part- the auction also included a skating lesson and backstage tour with United States Pairs Skating Champions John Zimmerman and Kyoko Ina! David has followed this pair for years, so he was in heaven.
We spent some time chatting with John and Kyoko before David began his lesson. One thing that struck me so beautifully was Kyoko's face and body when I asked her how she liked skating in pairs as opposed to skating single (which she had done for a while when she first started out).
She had been wearing her "polite face" previously- the smile was genuine but clearly the one used for reporters and adoring fans. When she began answering my question, however, her entire being lit up from the inside. I don't remember exactly what she said, but she used words like love, momentum, fast, thrilling, trust. Her face became open and animated, her body moved in rhythm with her words. Her joy was palpable and it bubbled over onto us. Here was a woman who was truly passionate about what she was doing, and her passion could be seen and felt by anyone in her presence.
On the homefront, a few nights ago my husband and I went to dinner at a new Indian restaurant in our town. (We love Indian food, and Beverly has never had an Indian restaurant, so we were thrilled to pieces about this!) I know you're probably wondering what on earth ice skating has to do with an Indian restaurant, but trust me... you'll see!
During our meal, the owner came by our table to see if we were enjoying ourselves. We told him how we'd been eagerly waiting for them to open for several months, and how wonderful the food was.
The owner proceeded to talk for several minutes about the process of opening the restaurant. His foreign accent was very thick, so I only understood a few words of what he was saying. Nevertheless, I knew he was someone who loved his restaurant, passionately and without reservation. I knew this because of the light that came into his face when he was talking about it, and because of the animation and excitement expressed through his body as he spoke.
As I thought of my time with Kyoko, and our conversation with the Indian restaurant owner, I was reminded once again of how important it is to feel passion in our work, and to allow that passion to be expressed into the world.
Reflection questions/activity for the week ahead: What is your body saying when you talk about your work, your place, in the world? When you tell someone what you do for a living, is your joy visible? If not, why? Are you holding the joy in, or is there no joy to express? Explore the voices on your Committee who have something to say about your work,your joy, and your passion. Make a SoulCollage® card to honor at least one of them.
SoulCollage® Expressions
Idea of the Week
Try using your nondominant hand to write your SoulCollage card interpretations. I find that this makes it easier to access the parts of me that defy rational thinking. It's also fun to sometimes use a crayon, or an unlined sheet of paper when writing my interpretations with my nondominant hand.
--- from Cheryl in Illinois
We'd love to hear from you!
Question of the Week
How do I know when a SoulCollage card is finished?
Ahhh... now there's an interesting question! You know it's finished when you look at it and feel a sense of completeness. That's the only way to tell. It's all about trusting your own intuition. And remember, a card that might be "finished" today.... just might "ask" to have another image added to it next week, or next month, or five years from now. Keep an open mind. You are a work in progress, and so is each one of your SoulCollage cards!
We'll try to answer each one (and if we don't know the answer,
we promise to find someone who does!).
Soul Friends
The voice of a different
Kindred Spirit each week!
Ellen November-
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Hello everyone! I studied Illustration in college and received a BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. I spent 15 years as a graphic artist and then discovered the Macintosh computer. I quickly made the transition to creating art on the Mac and the world of desktop publishing.
This led to my second career in Information Systems. Fifteen years later my employer was bought out by another company, and I was let go. This gave me time to get reacquainted with my creative self on a deeper level. I made an art chair for a silent charity auction, curated a museum, created 3-D montages and dove into SoulCollage after listening to a webcast show on which Seena Frost was the featured artist. That led me to her website, and my first workshop with Sara Post.... and the rest is history!
I was gripped from the first card I made and shared with the group. The dynamics of having other women listen to and be touched by my cards and insights is as much a part of the process as making the cards. The community aspect of SoulCollage is so powerful, as demonstrated by what Anne Marie is doing with her website, newsletter, Yahoo Group, and Kindred Spirits.
I love SoulCollage because of the insights I find for myself and the insights of those who share their cards with me. I also love that there is no right or wrong way to the process. I use SoulCollage as a tool for problem-solving and insights. It's a creative outlet that taps into a part of me that no other outlet can reach.
Currently I'm pursuing a project called Palos Verdes Village. This is a business I hope to create. The purpose is to create a virtual village that enables people over the age of 60 to stay in their homes and have a concierge-like service in the neighborhood that gets them the help they may need. http://pvvillage.blogspot.com.
Here are 2 of my favorite SoulCollage® cards:
Looking Forward
Suit: Community
This card represents my 19 year old son.
I am the one who is just embarking on my life. I am looking to the future and I do not know what it is, but I am hopeful. My road is filled with twists and turns, yet to be explored, but I remain looking forward. It is my road and no one else's.
Shame of Society
Suit: Unknown
I created this card shortly after Hurricane Katrina, which still overwhelms me when I think about it. I am ashamed that our society as a whole has failed the victims of Katrina on so many levels.
I am society, people of the earth, who have plentitude and yet cannot feed its own. I am the abundant society whose people cannot feed themselves, heal themselves, and care for themselves or others. I am filled with shame because I am so imperfect and so incapable, incompetent, unable. I am a shame-filled society who does not know how to care for itself and others.
Would you like to share your SoulCollage story and cards with other KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirits?
Send them to members@kaleidosoul.com.
We'd love to hear from YOU!
Kindred Spirits- Member News
Making the most of your KaleidoSoul Membership
There's a new recording in the Members-Only FREE Audio Library. What's Intuition Got To Do With It? is all about how playing with the process of SoulCollage® can help to strengthen our intuition. Learn simple, valuable ways to deepen your own intuition, with a little help from the movie, Field of Dreams! This is a dynamic, creative presentation that is guaranteed to enrich your own practice of SoulCollage®, whether you're just beginning or have been making cards for years.
The next Members-Only tele-class is on Thursday May 18 @ 7:30 pm (EST)- please join us for a one hour teleclass on Creating Community Cards for Your SoulCollage Deck. Put the date on your calendars now. In the May 15 issue of Soul Treasures, we'll give you the phone number to call.
 Soul Nourishment
Books, music, movies & websites to support your inner work as you dive deeper into your soul....
Books:
A Map for Joy- by Teri Johnson. I have read and reread this little gem of a book many times. The pages are full of my underlining, notes, highlighting, and turned-down corners. The author outlines 16 lessons that lead to living a joyful, passionate life. I even created a suit called Keys To Joy for my SoulCollage deck based on this book. Practical, simple advice for living your life from joy.
I Will Not Die An Unlived Life- by Dawna Markova. Subtitled, Reclaiming Purpose and Passion, I read this book when I was recovering from treatment for breast cancer four years ago. It is a moving, vital, passionate book that no soul-seeker's bookshelf should be without.
Coaching the Artist Within- by Eric Maisel. Practical advice for creative people from a popular creativity coach. I highly recommend all of this author's books. This one is full of simple exercises you can do to bring your life into full-blossom creativity. Some of these exercises include: Chatting With Yourself, Deciding to Matter, Noticing Anxious Self-Talk, and Creating in the Middle of Things (there are 24 exercises in all).
Music to SoulCollage with:
Click on the links here and you'll be guided to a page where you can hear several samples of the music!
Shrek Movie Soundtrack- Fun! fun! fun! I loved the movie, and the soundtrack is just as awesome. There are upbeat and funny songs, as well as Rufus Wainwright's haunting Hallelujah.
Josh Groban- This man's music is perfect, flowing, and rich.... it creates a stillness in my soul that is unmatched by other vocalists. His other CD is beautiful too but I love this one best because it contains Let Me Fall, and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (listen and you'll hear what I mean!).
Movies:
My Cousin Vinny- I watch this movie whenever I need a few hours of belly laughs (and believe me, I've watched it a LOT). But aside from the obvious comedy, watch Vinny (played impeccably by Joe Pesci) who is a great example of a man passionate about his work. And Marisa Tomei is hysterical as his girlfriend who is equally passionate about helping him succeed.
Jerry Maguire- Another passionate movie about a passionate sports agent (played by Tom Cruise) who is fired from his job because of his passion for integrity in his work. Watch as this passion fuels him to continue his work on his own. Also pay attention to Renee Zellweger who plays an equally passionate mother and employee.
Websites:
The Passion Catalyst- This blog is from Curt Rosengren, who calls himself the "passion catalyst," because he helps you create success with whatever your passion may be.
8 Ways To Be An Artist of Life- This is a one page essay, very short (lots of pictures!) and easy to read... this one will motivate you and give you something to think/dream about all week!
Bone Sigh Arts- Oooohhh, you're going to fall in love with these beautiful pieces of art...gorgeous mixtures of color, words and collage. They've inspired my art journaling tremendously.
Self-Healing Expressions- Excellent site, full of ecourses and info to enrich your mind, body and spirit!
Would you like to share your favorite books, music,
movies and websites
with other KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirits?
Send them to members@kaleidosoul.com.
We'd love to hear from YOU!
Spinning the fragments of your world
into wholeness and beauty
through SoulCollage®
Published by KaleidoSoul.com and Anne Marie Bennett.
Please do not reproduce or forward this newsletter in any way.
Soul Wisdom from Anne Marie Bennett - copyright 2006.
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