Soul Treasures
Discovering the depths of our precious inner beauty through SoulCollage®
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KaleidoSoul's Members-Only Weekly Newsletter
Issue #17- July 24, 2006
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Quotation of the Week
If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time.
---Edith Wharton
Inner Journeys
with Anne Marie Bennett
Integrating the Practice of SoulCollage® into Your Daily Life
Why Are Frogs So Happy?
 The other day I was driving by the same town common I go by every week. I love this particular little patch of green because in the center of it there's a billboard announcing community events, plus there's a new quotation every time I go by. Usually the words of wisdom are inspirational and educational, from famous people like Helen Keller, The Dalai Lama, and Abraham Lincoln.
Last week, in addition to an announcement about an upcoming summer concert, I saw the words Why Are Frogs So Happy?
Driving on, I laughingly dismissed it as simply fluff. Maybe they just couldn't think of anything else. But...... guess what? I haven't been able to get that question out of my head!
Why are frogs so happy? And who even thinks about whether frogs are happy or not?
So far my favorite answer that's popped into my head is this: frogs are happy because they simply are content being frogs. Which leads me to wonder.... would I be happier if I was simply content being me?
Reflection activity of the week: Think about the question Why are frogs so happy? this week as you go about your daily chores and tasks. Do you have a SoulCollage card that addresses happiness or contentment in any way? Do you need to add one (or perhaps a frog animal totem) to your deck?
SoulCollage Expressions
Idea of the Week
I have an 8 x 10 wirebound sketchbook that I just love. I have already created several collages in it. I like creating BIG SoulCollages sometimes, and then shrinking them down onto the 5x8 mat board later. ---from Cheryl F, Illinois
We'd love to hear from you!
Question of the Week
I've tried using Guided Imagery several times to meet one of my Companion Animals, but I never ever "see" one. Should I give up? Maybe I don't have any animal guides after all.
Trust me, everyone has animal guides, including YOU. It's just a matter of turning up the dial on your everyday awareness so you can discover who they are. Guided imagery doesen't work for everyone. If it doesn't work for you, that's perfectly okay. Trust the process, and simply ask Spirit (God, Source, the Universe...) to introduce you to one of your animal totems in a different way. You might start finding images of a particular animal, or an animal might cross your path several times in the course of a month. The key is being more aware of animal energies and their presence in your life. Don't give up! Practice patience and awareness, and I guarantee that your animals will come to you.
Have a question about SoulCollage®
that you'd like answered?
Send your questions to members@KaleidoSoul.com.
We'll try to use your question
(along with an answer, of course!)
in an upcoming issue of Soul Treasures.
Soul Friends
The voice of a different Kindred Spirit each week!
Deb Anders-Bond
Ames, Iowa
I've been making SoulCollage cards for three years. In June of 2004 I attended the Facilitator'sWorkshop at Skyote Retreat. Since then I've taught SoulCollage in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota; on college campuses, in church basements, private homes and art museums. I love showing others the process and find it to be a perfect fit for my skills and talents.
As a photogapher, I've been drawn to images nearly all my life. I learned in art school to observe light, study composition and form, plus always "watch the edges." After 25-plus years doing portraits and candid work, I re-discovered a love for collage, a hobby I'd pursued briefly in the 60's when it was popular.
In the process of creating large, free-form collages, I began to wonder about certain areas within that seemed to have symbolic meaning. So it was no "accident" when I happened upon Seena's SoulCollage book at an art store. It had to be meant for me, since the cover mentioned creating a deck of personal cards similar to the Tarot. I'd long been interested in my ragged, well-worn Tarot deck!
So I brought the book home, studied it well and traveled to Oregon where I took my first class from Consu Toloso. She encouraged me to take the facilitators' workshop which was truly a wonderful experience. I now recommend it to all my students!
SoulCollage satisfies a need I have to make art and work with my hands. Such quick results from the intuitive, uninhibited process make the work so accessible to me and others who may not enjoy drawing or painting. And then the wonderful process of speaking the I am one who... statements! I love those moments when we find meaning in a card and am even more amazed when those moments of discovery come weeks or months after making a card.
SoulCollage reminds me that "I am one who is connected" and has furthered my exploration into Jungian archetypes, Goddess mythology and Buddhism. I have met wonderful people through SoulCollage, formed strong new friendships, and enhanced older friendships.
To those who are practicing SoulCollage on their own, I encourage you to find one friend to join in making cards and exploring the "I am one who's" together. While cards can easily be made in private, sharing truths about ourselves and encouraging each other is a benefit of SoulCollage that needs to be experienced to gain the full benefit of the process.
Here are 2 of my favorite SoulCollage® cards:
 Source Card
Grief
Suit- Council
I am one who weeps for my loss of life.
I am one who is the last of my kind.
I am one who remains behind to find new life.
I am one who catches your tears.
I am one who is nourished by your tears
I am one who loves you.
I am one who remembers you.
I am one who is able to fly.
I am one who watches and waits as you die.
I am one who is sad to see you leave.
I am one who marks you for death.
I am one who thinks your death is necessary.
I am one who returns as beautiful as before.
I am one who wears a red red scarf at my throat.
I am one who was left behind.
I am one who leaves a gift for you.
Want 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
Keep track of all of your member benefits on the Kindred Spirits Home Page.
If you're having trouble viewing the Home Page in the above link, try this Text-Only Kindred Spirits Home Page.
And remember, as a Kindred Spirit... everything in the Kindred Spirits Shop is 50% off!
UPCOMING TELE-PLAYSHOPS.......
No charge for members (that's YOU!). Save the dates and times now! (And don't forget, you can access recordings of past Tele-Playshops in your Members-Only Audio Library.)
Please note that this is a different date and time:
Thursday August 10- Doing Readings With SoulCollage Cards, with special guest Karen Mann, SoulCollage Facilitator in Melbourne, Australia 5 pm Eastern, 4:00 pm Central, 2:00 pm Pacific, 11:00 a.m. Hawaiian,
10 p.m. in Europe, and Thursdsay 7 a.m. in Australia.
Tuesday September 12- The Council Suit (subtopic to be announced)
8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 pm Central, 5:00 pm Pacific, 2:00 pm Hawaiian,
Wdnesday 1 a.m. in Europe, and Wednesdsay 10 a.m. in Australia.
Wednesday October 18- The Shadow/Darker Sides of Our Cards with special guest Seena Frost!!!!!
5 pm Eastern, 4:00 pm Central, 2:00 pm Pacific, 11:00 a.m. Hawaiian,
10 p.m. in Europe, and Thursdsay 7 a.m. in Australia.
 Soul Nourishment
Books, movies, music, & websites to support your inner work as you dive deeper into your soul....
Books:
The Goddess of Happiness: A Down-To-Earth Guide for Heavenly Balance and Bliss, by Debbie Gisonni. Most people consider happiness the most important pursuit in life, yet few seem to find it. Women, in particular, face a constant internal battle between finding their own happiness and ensuring the happiness of others. Debbie Gisonni, aka The Goddess of Happiness, shows that happiness is a choice that anyone can make, anytime and anywhere. In 44 dynamic entries the author shares her stories, insights, humor, and simple suggestions to bring out the radiant Goddess in every woman. Each entry includes affirmations and journaling ideas to help readers transform the pursuit of happiness into a tangible, everyday practice. Gisonni teaches that all women are goddesses -- they just need to tap their innate power and reacquaint themselves with their own magic; and that life is meant to be enjoyable -- not to be taken so seriously or made too complicated. Each of these chapters ends with five simple ways to have an easier and happier life.
Movies:
Failure to Launch- with Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew McConaughey, Kathy Bates. A light film that will have you laughing in no time. Plain good summer fun. Also some veyr funny scenes with the main character and various animals.... see if you can figure out the message they bring to him throughout the movie.
Singing in the Rain- with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor. I recently saw the live stage version of this fun, happy-go-lucky musical and it honestly raised my Happiness Quotient considerably, for days afterwards. A great summer fun movie rental that will leave you smiling!
Websites:
Virtual Chocolate- If chocolate makes you happy, then this is chocoholics heaven! Send virtual chocolate treats, grab some wallpapers, or find real chocolate worldwide.
Happiness Headquarters- If you want more happiness in your life, then visit this site (Deep Trance Now) ASAP! A month ago I bought 3 of the subliminal recordings in the Weight Reduction series and I can truly feel the difference as my thought patterns are actually shifting. I can see changes in my eating habits as well as my desire to exercise, and can also see my heaviness slowly slowly becoming lighter. You'll find hundreds of self-hypnosis cd's and now you can save on shipping and listen to them immediately when you purchase them as mp3 files for your computer.
Stretch Your Imagination
with an
Artella E-workshop!
You'll find an awesome variety here... something for everyone, including YOU! Here are a few that I have tried and loved:
The Gratitude Garland,
Accounting Your Blessings,
Creative Manifestival,
Red Chair Recordings, and
World of Pretend. See which one is right for you, and go play!
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.
Inner Journeys, copyright 2006,
Anne Marie Bennett
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