Awww, Mommy! Daddy’s Gonna Spank You!!!

Last week I was doing some searching toward deepening my spiritual journey through art.  I came across a website and knew it was what I wanted to dive into.  Laura Hollick’s Soul Art came out of nowhere and I was hooked into her visually exciting videos that used colors, paints, feathers and nature to inspire creativity. 

One video that inspired most was Class #3 Switching the Leadership lesson in Laura’s 8 Soul Art Secrets course.  It was all about using the negativity you get in your life as a tool to get clear and gather fuel to take you on your spiritual journey.  The assignment was to identify a body part that holds resistance and pain as well as a body part that you feel is beautiful and radiates your brilliance.  For me, those two parts would be my right hip and my hands.

"I Am Large. I Contain Multitudes."

-Walt Whitman

Last Thursday evening I left work, was picked up by my childhood friend and we went, once again to Smith Farm for a SoulCollage workshop.  SoulCollage is a way to explore the many sides of you and connect with them.  I'm not talking about having a dissociative identity disorder.  We all have facets, or layers that we choose to show at various times during our lives.  I am a very quiet person, sometimes very dark in fact, but when I leave my house, I've been told I smile all the day and I know I talk to every passerby.  SoulCollaging is a creative way to getting touch with, understanding and strengthening your relationship with those sides of yourself; your soul.

Home at the Center of My Art

Ahhh.... yes.  Snow days.  The kids are home, the family is gathered together, laughing and sipping hot cocoa over playing a game of SORRY while the whispy snowflakes come fluttering down outside the windows.  Well enough of that myth.

Tomorrow I'll be returning to work, returning to the grind.  I haven't gone any where except the store in the last week and some change.  So you would think there's nothing to report on.  But wait!  Even though I had that giant, babbling two year old  running in perpetual motion throughout the house, the sloth-like, gangly teenager sprawled out across the couch and the slightly humour-less puma-like manbeast stalking between his den and the kitchen EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!!!!!! I still found a healing place to share about...

my home.

Altering State of Bind

Four weekends ago I went to an Altered Book workshop at Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts.  I walked from Dupont Circle, a crisp walk, to U Street where Smith Farm sits, rang the bell and skipped up the narrow stairs to an open, brightly lit, airy space. I was late so I tried to slide in unannounced but the group was too small for that. Instead, I was immediately greeted by Dari, Smith Farm's Program Director, then by Rebecca Wilkinson, MA, ATR-BC, next by Gioia Chilton, MA, ATR-BC, both presenters and all extremely lovely ladies....

Two Thursdays ago, I again attended yet another SmithFarm event.  This was an intriguing lecture, Art and the Intersubjective Experience by Art Therapist, Savneet Talwar.  It wasn't at all what I expected it to be....

So, this is where I get stuck.