Soul Songs: Your SoulCollage NewsletterSoul Songs
Your SoulCollage® Newsletter

Enabling us to sing the songs
we were born to sing
through the practice
of SoulCollage®
Issue #113   November 2014 Theme:  Committee Suit
Welcome!

Greetings, and welcome to Soul Songs, the official KaleidoSoul Newsletter, and the only monthly newsletter that focuses exclusively on SoulCollage® ideas, resources and artists.

Our intention is to fill each issue (and your life) with inspiration, soul-solace and delight. Whether you are new to SoulCollage®, or already immersed in the creation of your deck, Soul Songs is for you.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any friends, colleagues, or family members who will enjoy it.

View this newsletter as a web page with complete color and graphics.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, please subscribe here.

Read back issues of Soul Songs on this KaleidoSoul page.

Soul Singing with Anne Marie
Anne Marie, the creator of KaleidoSoul.com
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.


Terms of Endearment

I saw a woman in the aisle of a grocery store pushing a cart, which held a screaming toddler. In a very calm, quiet voice she was saying, "Don't scream, Jessica. Don't yell, Jessica. Be calm. It's all right." I had to admire the way she handled the stress of that moment. I went over to her and told her how wonderfully I thought she dealt with her baby. She replied, "I am Jessica." --- Rabbi Bernard Cohen

When I was first beginning SoulCollage®, I suddenly became vividly aware of all the thoughts that were going on in my mind at any given point of my day. My Inner Committee constantly had things to say to me. This self-talk was ongoing, even in my dreams: Wait! Don't go there, go here instead. Are you really going to wear THAT? You're tired now... better stop. I can't believe you said that! Stop lollygagging and listen to what she's saying, it's important. Buy the melon instead of the candy bars- you're too fat already. That color looks awful on you.

As you may have also experienced, sometimes other Neters actually answer back, bringing out inner conversations of the finest (or sometimes headachy) kind.

During the time that all these inner conversations were flooding into my awareness, I heard someone suggest using a "pet name" when we talk to ourselves, the kind of endearment we use when we're talking to a loved one: sweetie, honey, huggy-bear, sweet pea, darlin'...etc.

At the time, the theatre where I worked was mounting a brilliant production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which I was privileged to see numerous times. One song from this show has stayed in my mind and heart all these years. It's called Dear One, and the four lead characters sing it to each other from the four corners of the stage: a mother, her son, and two young lovers.

So I began using Dear One as my own personal pet name when my inner committee voices get a little out of hand. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes to be hearing the above self-talk comments with a dash of "dear one" thrown in: Dear One, let's go do this today instead of that. You're tired now, Dear One, let's rest for a bit. Dear One, I think we'd better listen to what this teacher is saying. Let's buy some fruit today instead of candy bars, dear one.

If you stop and think about it, you probably use terms of endearment like this all the time with your cat, your dog, your children, grandchildren, partner, friends and other loved ones. Why not use a loving pet name with your own beautiful self! It can make all the difference.

Spend a week becoming aware of the pet names that you call your loved ones. Did a parent or grandparent call you something special when you were little? Pay attention to pet names that are used on TV shows that you enjoy, or books that you're reading. Make a list.

Choose your own personal "term of endearment" and use it often with yourself. Print it out on a large sheet of paper and hang it where you'll see it often. It may take a while to discover just the "right" one, so be patient.

More information about the Committee Suit can be found here.


Anne Marie Bennett is a writer, self-taught artist, website goddess, cancer survivor, and 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, an elderly cat and one youthful dog who keeps them all young. You can read more about how SoulCollage® assisted her on her cancer journey on her website SOS Cancer Journeys.
 
OUR NEXT TELE-CLASS



Expressing Gratitude in Our SoulCollage® Decks

60 minute SoulCollage® tele-class
with SoulCollage® Facilitator
Barbara Agosin from New York

Sunday, November 16, 2014
8 pm Eastern

Thanksgiving is the time of year that we think about everything we're grateful for. This class will help us discover ways we can use our SoulCollage® cards throughout the year to remember and express gratitude.

Please bring: all of your SoulCollage® cards, journal/pen, and a favorite quote about gratitude if you have one. If you don't have cards yet, bring a little pile of images that you love instead!
 
Easily Accessible from Anywhere in the World!

Visit this page for more info now.
 
Guest Columnist: Imelda Maguire


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.


Inner Harmony

I was quite amused the first time I heard Seena Frost use the word "Committee" to describe the SoulCollage® suit that contains all the many aspects of the personality. That term fits so perfectly with my inner world!

Have you ever worked/served/done time on some kind of a committee? I have served on quite a few in my time. Here are some of the things I've noticed:

  • Often, a committee has at least one member who is sure they know exactly what direction the endeavor should take; they believe the other members are a nuisance if they hold another opinion.
     
  • Committees often contain one or more "silent" members, and it is usually a struggle to elicit their opinions or get them to speak, though they might be holding gems of wisdom.
     
  • Some committee members are defensive and fear change, which manifests in ridicule of contrary opinions or suggestions of new ways of doing things.
Happily, I have also been privileged to encounter committees where an atmosphere of trust and respect is created, allowing everyone to contribute their varying ideas and opinions. The contrast between the two ways of operating is striking. The experience of sharing with mutual respect often opens up so much, whereas the experience of the first type of group usually causes us to close down.

What has this got to do with SoulCollage®? To my mind – everything!

It's an interesting way of looking at how we experience the interaction of the various Neters that make up our own inner Committee. Of course, if we have begun a SoulCollage® practice, we are already honoring the many voices within, but we may still be struggling with one Neter that has trouble letting go of being in control. An overarching Good Girl Neter may be very invested in maintaining an image of doing the right thing, not rocking the boat, not breaking the rules. A strong Rebel Neter will resist the voice of quieter, more passive aspect of the self. Do any of these sound familiar?

How the Committee suit works to bring about inner harmony is a method that might be well-used in real-life committees around the world: every member is to be valued, respected, and offered a chance to express their truth without having to justify or explain.

Are there times when one Committee Neter dominates your life, silencing all the others? I know I've experienced times when my Lazy Girl or my Cynic is so present it's hard to stop them from taking over. I find it useful to notice how this inner work actually relates to how a real-life committee works. In my life, usually, my Committee has a responsible, caring adult directing things, but when she gets tired, takes a break, or gets distracted, watch out! These other, out-of-control Neters much more easily rear their heads.



I call this card Rebellious Kid and Bossy Adult. For me, it represents the conflict between these two energies that still breaks out in the Committee Room of my life from time to time. However, now that I allow plenty of opportunities for my inner child to play and be silly, there's less rebelliousness, and I'm able to get on with what I want (and need) to do!


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.
 
Upcoming SoulCollage® Retreats
MASSACHUSETTS

Mirrors & Windows: Using SoulCollage® to Explore Relationships

Westfield, MA
May 2-3, 2015
Facilitators: Brother/Sister Team:
Anne Marie Bennett & John Pacheco, LICSW

This retreat will be helpful for you if:
  • you want to give yourself some calming time and space to get away
  • you are longing to connect with others of like mind and spirit
  • you want to learn how to strengthen relationships with yourself, others, and Spirit
Early Bird Pricing & Easy Pay Plan Available

Visit this page for more information. 



CALIFORNIA

SummerQuest Mythos Journey Retreat

Sonoma, CA
July 7-10, 2015
Facilitator: Cat Caracelo

This all inclusive creative retreat is offered in a lush Sonoma Retreat space nestled in the oaks, surrounded by gardens, water, trees and sacred space where you can travel into the dance of life as you explore the many faces of your creative wild. Seek archetypal energies of your muse and find the language of your soul's path through SoulCollage®, mixed media and assemblage. Find enchantment and delight as you gather your gypsy stories and connect to your mythic self in the Valley of the Moon. Pay in four smaller payments if you like.

Visit this page for more information. 
 
NEW* ONLINE SOULCOLLAGE® WORKSHOP with Anne Marie


Write Now!
Journaling with Your SoulCollage® Cards

Going Beyond
I Am One Who...

Facilitated by Anne Marie Bennett, who has been journaling with her cards for 9 years.


November 9-23, 2014
STARTS THIS SUNDAY!

Visit this page for more info now.
 
Discounted Magazines




This is an amazing place to get magazine subscriptions!
You can create your own packages too to save more.
I recently got 4 full yearly subscriptions for $35
Click image above to see their fabulous wide selection

 
KaleidoSoul Creations
As promised, we are featuring SoulCollage® cards from our readers in each issue.

Each card below is a card that represents the Committee Suit from one SoulCollager's Deck.




Humility
Committee Suit
Judy
Massachusetts

I am the part of you who is humble, quietly walking step by step to your highest connection to Source. What I give to you is grace, so that you know your path is already divinely paved. What I want from you is trust, and to know that if you falter, you will never lose your way.




Magic Carpet Ride
Committee Suit
Karen
Ohio

I am the one who leads you on a magic carpet ride toward self-understanding and truth-seeking. I am the one looking over my shoulder and saying "follow me." I am the one who strides the carpet with enthusiasm and confidence. I want you to know that the carpet rolls out into infinity. Take your time, there is no hurry. My gifts to you are butterflies of transformation and a key to unlock the understandings within you. I arrive at this time to remind you that you are still on the path even though you've detoured along the way. What I want from you is to remember the story of the tortoise and the hare; slow and steady is a wise course. I will also say that there are yet more mysteries awaiting you to answer their call.




Playful Facilitator
Committee Suit
Sharana
Illinois

I am the one who enjoys being playful and foolish. I don't care what others may think. I am the one who maintains my balance. I am the one who enjoys helping others find their way.




The Gravedigger
Committee Suit
Piper
Washington

I am the one who measures the grave, who measures my own grave. I am the one who buries the dead and lays the marker. I am the one who lets death come and claim that which needs to die. I am the one who makes the space and gives a place for the dragonflies to dance.




Rebellious Child
Committee Suit
Anne Marie
Massachusetts

I am the one who says "Nah nah you can't make me." I am the one who is stubborn and rebellious. I am the one who doesn't want to do what you tell me. I am the one who gets angry when being told what to do.




Such a Mask
Committee
Kas Sobey
Pennsylvania

I am the One who laughs and wonders at all the masks you have. I am the One who remembers that masks are fun and sometimes a wise choice. I am the One who realized that I am an authentic person, even under the mask I may choose to wear.




Self-Nourishment
Committee Suit
Anne Marie
Massachusetts

I am the one who knows how to nourish myself. I am the one who knows what I need to eat and drink and I always find a way to give that to myself. I am the one who joyfully nourishes my body, and also my mind and my spirit. I am the one who fills my bowl with all good things.




Perfectionist
Committee Suit
Anne Marie
Massachusetts

I am the one who has to do everything perfectly right, all the time. I am the one who lies awake at night worrying and wondering how I can be sure to do everything perfectly the next day. I am the one who spins my mind around and around until I’m dizzy with the desire to get everything just right. I am the one who loves to get the gold star each time. When I am in balance, my gift to you is the impetus to do your best work. In balance, I motivate you to do well.
 


Please feel free to submit one of your cards for a future issue by sending a reply email to this newsletter.

Future themes include:

December: Hermit Archetype
January: The One & The Many

 

KaleidoSoul Notes
KaleidoSoul Notes

Noteworthy resources for anyone interested in SoulCollage®

Facilitator TrainingsFacilitator Trainings: Information about content and dates/locations of upcoming trainings of SoulCollage® Facilitators.


SoulCollage websiteSoulCollage 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®!

JOIN THE ONLINE COMMUNITY



Save $5 on Kindred Spirits Membership

Join the Circle of loving, creative Kindred Spirits this month and you'll save $5 for a whole year of juicy benefits including:
  • Weekly SoulCollage®- focused newsletter
  • Monthly tele-classes
  • 24/7 access to over 90 SoulCollage®audios
  • Monthly Give-Aways
  • 50% discount on SoulCollage®
  • e-books & e-courses
  • ... and lots more!

Use Coupon Code SAVENOW

Please visit this page for more info.

The Calendars Are Here! The Calendars Are Here!
KaleidoSoul Desk Calendars

What's bright and colorful and wise all over?
Our 2015 Soul Colors Desk Calendars!


With all new inspiring images, and all new quotations to inspire you all year long.

These little beauties (created by Anne Marie Bennett) make perfect inexpensive holiday gifts that offer inspiration and insight all year long.

Kindred Spirits save 30% November only.

Visit this page for more info now.


CONTACT US

Follow us on Twitter!

 
Friend us on Facebook!


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 2014,
by Anne Marie Bennett and
Cat Caracelo, Imelda Maguire,
Kat Kirby, or Catherine Anderson.
Articles may be reprinted by permission only.