Quotation of the Week
If you ask me what I came to do in this world,
I, anartist, will answer you:
I am here to live out loud.
---Emile Zola
 Inner Journeys
with Anne Marie Bennett
Integrating the Practice of SoulCollage Into Our Daily Lives
Are You Buck?
My husband and I have been entranced with a reality showcalled So You Think You Can Dance. Not only are we entertained each weekwith the amazing choreography and dancing, we're learning new vocabulary alongthe way. I mean, we already had a fairlygood grasp on jazz, contemporary, and Broadway dance routines before we startedwatching, but now we actually recognize a Rumba, a Pas de Deux, and a PasoDoble when we see one. And we canactually see the difference between a Hip Hop routine and Crumping.
But a few weeks ago, two of my favorite performers did aCrump routine to a piece of music called "2 Buck 4 TV." The choreographer was this great dancer namedLil C, and the routine had spirit, drive, and lots of energy. Afterwards, whenthe judges were critiquing them, I kept hearing the word "buck" used as anadjective. "That was so buck." "I feel so buck." And so on. I was a bit confused but went along with it.
The following week, Lil C was one of the judges and he referred back to thatcrumping routine, also referring to it as "buck." And then, God/Goddess bless him, he actuallylooked into the camera and gave a definition! He said, "Buck is wheninternal artistry meets physical expression." I remember this explanation word for word because I grabbed a pen andwrote it down on the back of a napkin, I was so excited! Because... isn't that what we're doing in our SoulCollage workand play? Aren't we drawing on our ownpersonal soul-full artistry and bringing that out into the world in thephysical expression with a SoulCollage card? And hey- I can't Crump like my favorite dancers did, orbring an audience to tears with a breathtaking Viennese Waltz (earlier in theseason), but I can take that same passion that's inside of me, and I can bringit out into the world in other ways, including but not limited to SoulCollage. Reflection Activity-What makes you feel "buck?" Focus on your own internal passion this week.Imagine it as the fuel that fires your own personal dance in the world. Bring your own "buckness" out into the worldand watch what happens!   
 Soul Friends
The Voice of a Different Kindred Spirit Each Week
Sandra Nelson
Sugar Land, Texas
As long as I can remember, I have always dabbled in theusual creative projects such as painting walls, sewing the kid's cloths, andgardening. Even though I was good at such things, they were just activities,nothing more. A little over four yearsago, the rise in popularity of mixed media, altered books, and found objectscaught my attention and sent me to the computer to learn more. I am often moved by art created with unconventionalmethods or objects. Looking into mixedmedia, my research focused on collage where I found the SoulCollage website,and the book, "SoulCollage" by Seena B. Frost.
My creative juices have always been very eclectic. As an amateurphotographer, I knew I wanted a way to integrate a variety of interests throughcaptured moments that awaken the senses, liberate emotions, and feed my soul. Thatis exactly what SoulCollage has done for me by introducing me to the languageof images, colors, metaphors and archetypes.
SoulCollage is not a craft project, but rather anexperience, personal to each individual. When asked to explain SoulCollage, Istart with a question: "Have you ever wondered why you are drawn to certaincolors and shapes and images?" Ascreative beings, we are drawn to those things that speak to us, fill a need,give us joy...feed our souls. That is the language of images, colors, metaphorsand archetypes. That is SoulCollage.
The search for meaning, and answers to questions in lifetakes us down many paths: religion, politics, health, and education to name afew. Sooner or later, this search moves inward and becomes very personal. Thething I like best about SoulCollage is its revealing nature. By this I meanthat I create the cards from images I am drawn to. Then I consult the cards, and listen as theyreveal the answers hidden somewhere deep within my being. Through this process,of self-exploration, my life is being transformed as my questions are answeredand insights revealed.
I have heard it said that art imitates life. In many ways, SoulCollage is life. My deck isa visual journal of people, places, events, and feelings. I make cards to honorpeople, to mark personal transitions, heal wounds, and receive guidance. I alsomake cards that seem to have no known purpose at the time, other than to bringcertain images together. For cards like this the intention behind the card iseventually revealed.
Like life itself, my deck is in a constant state of change.New cards are created or new images are added to older cards. Some cards aresimple. Using rubber cement, I apply a background and ad additional images as Igo. Other cards are more complex with images overlapping one another, or tuckedinto slits cut into the background. I haven't separated my deck into suits. Ifeel it more accurately fits my personality as one unit with many parts; theone and the many.
I often tell people that once they try SoulCollage, theywill be hooked, and they will never look at another magazine, flyer, or catalogas they did before. Images are everywhereand unless you have a strong willpower, you may find your car no longer fits inthe garage with a growing magazine collection. To be honest, my car shares half of the garage with hundreds ofmagazines. It's not that I have strong willpower. I have learned to thumb through magazines,pull the images that catch my eye, and toss the rest in recycling as fast as Ican. Most images are separated into categories and boxed. Others are placed ina three ring binder for cards I am currently working on. This binder holdsseveral plastic page covers, each labeled with the name or theme of acard. Keeping this binder has saved mefrom the old frustrating pattern of searching for an image that I justsaw...somewhere.
Here are 3 of Sandra's current favorite cards:
Perspectives
I am one who finds truth and understanding by looking atthings from different perspectives.
Gratitude
I am one who knows the power of a grateful heart.
Tree Wisdom
I am one who connects the loving wisdom and
healing power of heaven with earth.
Sandra Nelson offers public and private SoulCollage Retreatsin the Houston Texas area. She can be reached through her website, The Paper Crucible.
 SoulCollage Expressions
Ideas and Challenges to Spice Up Your SoulCollage Practice
Idea of the Week
To be sure that the images on my cards really stick to themat board, I press each card under a stack of books for several hours when I amfinished creating it. After gluing and beforepressing, be sure to sandwich the card between layers of wax paper, freezerpaper or some other slick paper --- from KindredSpirit Angela inNevada
 Kindred Spirits Member News
Making the Most of Your KaleidoSoul Membership
Your Members' Home Page is on this page.
If you've forgotten your Members' Password, please send a reply to this email and request that we re-send it to you.
Special Savings for Members Only:
Today is the last day to save $5.00 on our popular e-course: Invisible Hands: A Guided Exploration of the SoulCollage Council Suit. Only $17.50... register before sunrise tomorrow to save an additional $5.00.
Our Next Tele-Class
Illustrating Healing:SoulCollage & the Grief Journey
with Roberta Rook,
SoulCollage Facilitator in Maryland
Note: Please visit this KaleidoSoul pageif you are considering attending this class. You will need to either beable to access it during the class, or print it out so you can have itin front of you during the class.
This class is this Wednesday.
Phone number to call: 1-218-936-1600
Access code: 963244
Words alone are often not adequate, nor easily available,to describe the impact of loss in our lives. The imagery that we chooseand that chooses us in the SoulCollage process has enormous power toheal. The focus of this tele-class will include ways to useSoulCollage ine xploring: ·Our feelings around loss ·New roles and identities as we heal through loss ·The spiritual images, archetypes, and guides we use inorder to derive meaning from loss and change ·How to continue bonds with lost loved ones through visualcommemoration. Whether you are facing the challenge of grief in your ownlife, or are journeying with others as they walk the path of grief, you areinvited to join us in this important conversation. Roberta Rook is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselorwho has been working with the bereaved for the past 8 years, having come tothis work through her own "dark night." She is aSoulCollage Facilitator who has used this process in grief work for the pastthree years.
Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Time:
8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 pm Central, 6:00 pm Mountain,
5:00 pm Pacific, 2:00 pm Hawaiian,
Thursday 1 a.m.. inLondon,
Thursday 2 a.m. inRome, Thursday 10 a.m. inMelbourneAustralia
and Thursday 12 noon inNewZealand Save the datenow. Allof our tele-classes are FR*EE for members, always!
And remember, don't worry if you can't attend...
we'll be recording it and you can listen to it anytime in your
Member's Only Audio Library.
We will give you the phone number and access code
to call in that week's issue of Soul Treasures.
Upcoming Tele-Classes and Presenters:
August 24, 2008 (Sunday, 8 pm)- Timeless Time, with Alia Calendar September, 2008- special guest Imelda Maguire fromIreland October, 2008- Creative Source, with Sharry Teague November 19, 2008 (Wednesday, 9 pm EST)- Witness and Soul Essence Transpersonal Cards, with MariabrunaSirabella
December 16, 2008 (Tuesday, 8 pm EST) Eckhart Tolle's A NewEarth and SoulCollage, with FranCherlow.
Kindred Spirits SoulCollage Retreat
Save the dates June 25-28, 2009 for our next three-night KaleidoSoul SoulCollage Retreat. It will be held at Rolling Ridge Retreat House in Andover, Massachusetts. Details and registration will be announced in September. As a Kindred Spirits Member, you'll have the opportunity to pay in several smaller payments because we're committed to making this one-of-a-kind experience affordable for everyone.
New England SoulCollage Facilitator Training
April17-19, 2009 inLitchfield,Connecticut. Ifyou've been longing to take your SoulCollage practice out into the world bybecoming an "official" Facilitator, then please join us for abeautiful spring weekend at Wisdom House. There's more information onthis KaleidoSoul page .
Register before July 30 and save $50with the Early Bird Discount.
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