Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking perfect pause…summer and winter.
Carol Bishop Hipps
In October the season takes a stand for change—no going back now. Mornings are cool and most days are sunny. Nightfall comes earlier. The new moon will set soon after sunset in first week of October and in the early darkness the Milky Way will be especially bright.
Have you noticed the sunsets? October’s setting sun often goes down in a rage of color. The full moon of October has several Native American names, among them the blood moon and the drying grass moon. In this time before the rains, dust rises in tiny reflecting particles to make the end of day spectacular. The full
Over the past several years, there has been increasing interest in Mexico’s celebration of death, Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead. Perhaps it is our longing to acknowledge death in a culture that makes a practice of denying it. Home altars are constructed to bring the dead back in living memory, and the family goes to the cemetery to light candles for their beloved dead. Sorrow mixes with joy—the celebration is bittersweet.
SoulStudio
on October 8 will focus on the archetype of Death—the "big interrupter" as Seena calls this netter. We will also honor our knowledge that death represents the turning point of the cycle and clears the way for rebirth and the continuity of life. Many cultures consider the awareness of death in the midst of life to be a profoundly beautiful experience of wholeness. Without the shadow light does not exist. For more information about SoulStudio see Schedule:SoulCircle is happening!
There is space for one or possibly two more people. Our first meeting will be Sunday, October 30, 2-5pm. We'll meet at my home studio once a month to do readings in response to personal inquiry, share writing, discuss writing prompts, symbols, metaphor, etc. You can use your own cards for readings or read from cards made by others in the group, either way works well. While we won’t be making cards during the time we meet, the work that we do with existing cards may well inspire card making between meetings. Meeting times will be determined by the group so that everyone's schedules can be accommodated. Our cards have a lot to tell us and most of us have only begun to scratch the surface. My hope for this group is to create an environment for personal exploration, to enjoy creative expression and to freely use our voices to tell our own stories.
SoulCollage™ and Creativity Coaching: Using Your Art To Guide Your Universe:
If you’re currently standing at a crossroads, have become confused with too many or too few options or just feel that your creative juices need priming, the combination of SoulCollage™ and Creativity Coaching can be a powerful force for change in your life. With your own cards leading the way, coaching sessions help you learn how to identify and deal with your critics, to formulate the right questions and to give yourself the time,Each SoulCollage/Coaching package is tailored to your needs and your budget. Contact Sara for more details and to find out how to put this all together.
The following email, which the writer has agreed to let me share, is from a recent SoulCollage™/Coaching "graduate". She beautifully describes the process and benefits. (Note: Bobolo is the name this person has given to her critic/gremlin—a great idea since naming gives you power and makes the nebulous concrete.)
Good morning, Sara,
Your generous and loving spirit is inspirational! This "thank you" is long overdue, but I needed to sit back and watch my evolution unfold for awhile.
Our last session left me with "sabbatical" firmly on my heart and mind. I admit this concept was difficult to embrace at first as I have never been without a plan of action, time to regroup and re-establish priorities essential to those of us who are experiencing these changes –when established patterns no longer feel comfortable. By the time we engaged in the sessions, my barriers and resistances were well developed. I felt "stuck" -- backed into a corner with no sense of humor and the creeping emergence of an unfamiliar fear.
With your guidance, encouragement and the process (which, by the way, is great fun!), each day has opened up with at least one "aha" moment --heartsinging moments which are greatly treasured. WHAT A GIFT!!!I am once again looking forward to fulfilling an exciting dream. I now understand the significance of paying tribute to the soul's desire. Each day a new piece of the puzzle slips into place and IT FEELS SO RIGHT.
I am indebted to you for providing the springboard for this fresh path. The pattern continues to evolve as I meet and deal with Bobolo's shenanigans. There is new energy and inspiration on every level. My profound gratitude to you and this gift!
Pam Ryan and Deborah Luthi, SoulStudio participants, completed SoulCollage™ facilitator training in September. Facilitator training is led by Seena Frost, SoulCollage founder and Kylea Taylor, SoulCollage publisher, therapist and body work practitioner. The training takes place from Friday to Sunday several times a year in the Santa Cruz area. For more information, check out the SoulCollage website: www.soulcollage.com/process/nexttraining.php
Jo Hatcher, Davis therapist and SoulCollage™ facilitator has a few spaces left in her Soul Collage/Yoga Women’s Weekend Retreat Oct 21-23 at Shambala Ranch near Mendocino, CA. Jo promises a wonderful relaxing weekend with SoulCollage™, yoga, hiking, hot tubbing, journal writing, dancing and delicious food. For more information, see Jo’s website, www.johatcher.com or contact her at (530)759-0477.
In September we visited the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C. It’s an impressive and interesting Frank Lloyd Wright building. When we approached the entrance side of the building we saw that it was draped with a gigantic canvas. On it were written messages in many languages. This is Jim Hodge’s "global chorus" project. At the artist’s request over ninety delegates to the United Nations wrote in his/her native language the words "Don’t be afraid." The artist
