SOULCOLLAGE®: INTUITION THROUGH IMAGERY
This workshop provides an enjoyable, hands-on collage experience that may lead to profound understandings of one's creative process and broader life journey. SoulCollage® is a simple, satisfying method of working with visual images (cutting and pasting from printed photographs--no particular skill, artistic ability or experience needed) and making a personal deck of 5x8” cards that represent different aspects of ourselves or issues we are dealing with. We then allow the cards to “speak”—to tell us what they have to offer (the voice is actually our own spirit of guidance, coming through our personal visual symbols This is a profound but fun way of accessing and inner wisdom from a deep, intuitive part of ourselves. My approach to SoulCollage® is particularly based on growing closer to the intuitive voice; it is informed by my mystic vison. The interpretation process can also be applied to other kinds of art work.
. Half, full day, or weekend workshops.
WRITING FROM THE INSIDE OUT: CONNECTING WITH YOUR SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE
We use the process of writing to deepen our awareness and appreciation for all that is, and to bring us closer to our inner guidance and intuition. We create a safe, playful and sensually engaged space where the words and images can come out. The intention is to use writing as an act of discovery, a spiritual practice that takes us beyond journaling to open the channel to the wisdom that comes through. A variety of experiences and techniques are introduced, including freewriting from various prompts, and learning to query our inner guides.
The workshop is suitable for anyone (“writer” or “non-writer”) who is open to exploring what arises. The writing is personal and individual, but the group becomes an amplifying container.
NEW VIEW FINDING: WORKING WITH THE POWER OF IMAGES
We explore the power of images in this workshop and how we can harness that power to be better communicators, happier, and more connected to our own wisdom. We learn to recognize our own visual symbols. We explore in a variety of ways: by looking at some of the latest research; by encountering a range of evocative images; by doing a variety of fun exercises that involve quick sketching; by playing with the viewfinder of a simple phone or digital camera; and by doing image collage—playing with a range of printed images, putting them together in ways that feel good, and then letting them “speak.”
NATURE COLLAGE
Learn to deepen your relationship with the natural world and to access your deep inner wisdom through a process of collecting pieces of the natural world (leaves, sticks, shells, etc.); building an image or assemblage with them, and allowing to “speak” to you. Half or full day workshops.
CULTIVATING WONDER (AND AWE AND AMAZEMENT)
We may know the adage, “what we pay attention to, thrives.” What if we paid attention to the sense of wonder and amazement, to everyday magic, to the awesomeness that is always present? This workshop is designed to help you energize and cultivate your experience of wonder and amazement--to experience a rebirth of wonder. You will come away smiling, able to look through new eyes at everything you encounter. We use simple exercises (e.g., taking a wonder walk, writing an awe story, using a digital [eg phone] camera to frame new ways of seeing), playing with oil pastels and colorful scarves to free the hand and spirit). No special skills required.
STEPPING INTO THE WISDOM OF TREES: A WORKSHOP FOR INNER EXPLORATION
As a way of accessing our inner wisdom, connecting with the spacious places within, and deepening our relationship with nature, we work with the wisdom of trees. They literally sustain us, and give us a wealth of metaphor to draw from, including roots, branches, leaves, seasons and cycles, and habitats. We begin by exploring the gifts that trees bring us, and then use simple writing, drawing and photography exercises to discover the guidance they have for each of us. We also learn more about practices like “forest bathing” and ways we can connect with specific trees. Participants will come away with words, images, ideas, and deep appreciation.
CLOTH AND MEMORY; MEMORY CLOTHS
A “memory cloth” is a piece of handwork that, through the meditative processes of stitching and applique, allows us to feel good as well as capture memories or ideas. It may help us preserve and/or release the past, get closer to our own stories (and thus learn about ourselves), keep close to loved ones, and embed new ideas in our consciousness. In this workshop, we explore the concept of memory cloths by looking at expressions from around the world—e.g., Chilean arpilleras, South African embroideries, American album and memorial quilts, and contemporary fiber art. We use easy exploratory writing exercises to bring out our ideas and work on our own cloths in ways that feel comfortable and fun. No special skills or background are needed—this is a workshop to explore, experiment and discover. You can stitch, embellish, knit, or otherwise work with fiber and fabric, uncovering images and words that help you express your own voice and experience. One or two day workshop.
NATURE SPIRIT DOLLS
In this workshop we will explore ways to create and engage with “spirit dolls” made from fabric and found materials, especially those from nature. The figures are delightful to make, as they bring out playfulness and joy, but even more, they can help elicit or manifest our own inner guidance, wisdom, and healing. The workshop is for those who want to experiment –with guided visualizations, with allowing their own inner wisdom to come forth, with different fabrics and materials, and with different kinds of construction. We will hunt and gather some of the elements for the dolls—sticks, pods, shells, and other natural elements—and in the process, will become more closely attuned to the environment and the energies around us. We will play with varied bases such as sand-filled bottles, crossed sticks, wire, stuffed cloth, and even pre-existing dolls (maybe we will transform Barbie…) and embellishments (found objects, the natural detritus, beads, ribbons etc). The figures may or may not look like familiar “dolls”—they may emerge as more symbolic than literal “people.” Once the figures are complete, we will learn to “listen” to their messages and guidance. If we let them, they may become living companions and friends for years to come. One day workshop.
THINKING/EXPLORING OUTSIDE THE BOX
This workshop is primarily aimed at fiber artists but can be easily adapted to other audiences. It is designed to free up creative thinking and help us approach our art explorations with fresh perspectives, ideas and attitudes. We will do a variety of exercises to stimulate new ways of seeing and thinking—we will write, draw (you don't have to know how), collage, move our bodies, play with color, use a camera to “refocus” (a cell phone or even a disposable camera is fine; this has nothing to do with technique)—and otherwise explore arenas that take us outside our regular “boxes” and routines. (Moving back and forth between different types of exercises and modalities is playful and liberating, as we feel free to make “mistakes.”) We will experiment work with a range of unusual materials (examples: Tyvek beads, rolled paper or cloth bundles, kelp, gut, porcupine quills, cheesecloth, bark, inner tube pieces, chopsticks, zip ties, coffee filters, cocoons, stretched warp yarns). Participants will leave with a notebook of ideas, word or visual prompts, and small sample projects worked on paper and/or cloth, in two or three dimensions. Ideally, a two or three day workshop.
This workshop provides an enjoyable, hands-on collage experience that may lead to profound understandings of one's creative process and broader life journey. SoulCollage® is a simple, satisfying method of working with visual images (cutting and pasting from printed photographs--no particular skill, artistic ability or experience needed) and making a personal deck of 5x8” cards that represent different aspects of ourselves or issues we are dealing with. We then allow the cards to “speak”—to tell us what they have to offer (the voice is actually our own spirit of guidance, coming through our personal visual symbols This is a profound but fun way of accessing and inner wisdom from a deep, intuitive part of ourselves. My approach to SoulCollage® is particularly based on growing closer to the intuitive voice; it is informed by my mystic vison. The interpretation process can also be applied to other kinds of art work.
. Half, full day, or weekend workshops.
- Link to SoulCollage external website
WRITING FROM THE INSIDE OUT: CONNECTING WITH YOUR SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE
We use the process of writing to deepen our awareness and appreciation for all that is, and to bring us closer to our inner guidance and intuition. We create a safe, playful and sensually engaged space where the words and images can come out. The intention is to use writing as an act of discovery, a spiritual practice that takes us beyond journaling to open the channel to the wisdom that comes through. A variety of experiences and techniques are introduced, including freewriting from various prompts, and learning to query our inner guides.
The workshop is suitable for anyone (“writer” or “non-writer”) who is open to exploring what arises. The writing is personal and individual, but the group becomes an amplifying container.
NEW VIEW FINDING: WORKING WITH THE POWER OF IMAGES
We explore the power of images in this workshop and how we can harness that power to be better communicators, happier, and more connected to our own wisdom. We learn to recognize our own visual symbols. We explore in a variety of ways: by looking at some of the latest research; by encountering a range of evocative images; by doing a variety of fun exercises that involve quick sketching; by playing with the viewfinder of a simple phone or digital camera; and by doing image collage—playing with a range of printed images, putting them together in ways that feel good, and then letting them “speak.”
NATURE COLLAGE
Learn to deepen your relationship with the natural world and to access your deep inner wisdom through a process of collecting pieces of the natural world (leaves, sticks, shells, etc.); building an image or assemblage with them, and allowing to “speak” to you. Half or full day workshops.
CULTIVATING WONDER (AND AWE AND AMAZEMENT)
We may know the adage, “what we pay attention to, thrives.” What if we paid attention to the sense of wonder and amazement, to everyday magic, to the awesomeness that is always present? This workshop is designed to help you energize and cultivate your experience of wonder and amazement--to experience a rebirth of wonder. You will come away smiling, able to look through new eyes at everything you encounter. We use simple exercises (e.g., taking a wonder walk, writing an awe story, using a digital [eg phone] camera to frame new ways of seeing), playing with oil pastels and colorful scarves to free the hand and spirit). No special skills required.
STEPPING INTO THE WISDOM OF TREES: A WORKSHOP FOR INNER EXPLORATION
As a way of accessing our inner wisdom, connecting with the spacious places within, and deepening our relationship with nature, we work with the wisdom of trees. They literally sustain us, and give us a wealth of metaphor to draw from, including roots, branches, leaves, seasons and cycles, and habitats. We begin by exploring the gifts that trees bring us, and then use simple writing, drawing and photography exercises to discover the guidance they have for each of us. We also learn more about practices like “forest bathing” and ways we can connect with specific trees. Participants will come away with words, images, ideas, and deep appreciation.
CLOTH AND MEMORY; MEMORY CLOTHS
A “memory cloth” is a piece of handwork that, through the meditative processes of stitching and applique, allows us to feel good as well as capture memories or ideas. It may help us preserve and/or release the past, get closer to our own stories (and thus learn about ourselves), keep close to loved ones, and embed new ideas in our consciousness. In this workshop, we explore the concept of memory cloths by looking at expressions from around the world—e.g., Chilean arpilleras, South African embroideries, American album and memorial quilts, and contemporary fiber art. We use easy exploratory writing exercises to bring out our ideas and work on our own cloths in ways that feel comfortable and fun. No special skills or background are needed—this is a workshop to explore, experiment and discover. You can stitch, embellish, knit, or otherwise work with fiber and fabric, uncovering images and words that help you express your own voice and experience. One or two day workshop.
NATURE SPIRIT DOLLS
In this workshop we will explore ways to create and engage with “spirit dolls” made from fabric and found materials, especially those from nature. The figures are delightful to make, as they bring out playfulness and joy, but even more, they can help elicit or manifest our own inner guidance, wisdom, and healing. The workshop is for those who want to experiment –with guided visualizations, with allowing their own inner wisdom to come forth, with different fabrics and materials, and with different kinds of construction. We will hunt and gather some of the elements for the dolls—sticks, pods, shells, and other natural elements—and in the process, will become more closely attuned to the environment and the energies around us. We will play with varied bases such as sand-filled bottles, crossed sticks, wire, stuffed cloth, and even pre-existing dolls (maybe we will transform Barbie…) and embellishments (found objects, the natural detritus, beads, ribbons etc). The figures may or may not look like familiar “dolls”—they may emerge as more symbolic than literal “people.” Once the figures are complete, we will learn to “listen” to their messages and guidance. If we let them, they may become living companions and friends for years to come. One day workshop.
THINKING/EXPLORING OUTSIDE THE BOX
This workshop is primarily aimed at fiber artists but can be easily adapted to other audiences. It is designed to free up creative thinking and help us approach our art explorations with fresh perspectives, ideas and attitudes. We will do a variety of exercises to stimulate new ways of seeing and thinking—we will write, draw (you don't have to know how), collage, move our bodies, play with color, use a camera to “refocus” (a cell phone or even a disposable camera is fine; this has nothing to do with technique)—and otherwise explore arenas that take us outside our regular “boxes” and routines. (Moving back and forth between different types of exercises and modalities is playful and liberating, as we feel free to make “mistakes.”) We will experiment work with a range of unusual materials (examples: Tyvek beads, rolled paper or cloth bundles, kelp, gut, porcupine quills, cheesecloth, bark, inner tube pieces, chopsticks, zip ties, coffee filters, cocoons, stretched warp yarns). Participants will leave with a notebook of ideas, word or visual prompts, and small sample projects worked on paper and/or cloth, in two or three dimensions. Ideally, a two or three day workshop.