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Board Book Revisited

  On Friday, my Creative SiStar Cindy offered the first of her annual series of monthly circles , which focus on deepening with our Word of the Year. (I've now made a THIRD 'Word of the Year' card for 2026 - oy! They need to chat!!) Each month's project with Cindy will include crafting a SoulCollage®️ card, plus another activity. During our first session we began making 12 mixed media cards, each of which will have our Word and a second that  supports us in our intention for 2026, and helps keep our word fresh.  2025 card and new batch  I decided to use the board book I picked up earlier in the month, and will add several little pockets, to hold the support cards. I love making  round card s, like those I used to track my prerequisites.  In this  free tutorial  Drew Steinbrecker offers idea for collaging kid's books! I watched it a couple of times now, and also got a gel plate, to experiment with, once my facilitator training is complete!...
Recent posts

Completion

  Woot - congratulations on completing the first   BlogBoost  challenge of 2026 -  we did it!    Paul's next challenge starts in April, so save the link!  Whether we posted daily, or just  'regularly,'  we all gain from each challenge. Thank you Paul for inspiration and hosting! Cosmic Teacher & SoulCollage®️ Evolving My biggest accomplishment this January has been participating in the SoulCollage®️ facilitator training!  We've competed 6 of our 8 sessions, and will finish our course Wednesday, February 4th. Each session includes homework - for integration of what's been learned, and to note what we intend to study more / deepen with.  I love the encouragement to form peer groups, and to take classes offered by each other, and through the main SC groups. With over 6000 facilitators around the world, there are a multitude of opportunities! My trainer, Mariabruna Sirabella I feel so fortunate to be able to study with therapist an...

Marble Jar

  In November, my grandkids and I walked across the street from our church to First Presbyterian. We went just after the Children's Story, with other youth and our FBC Youth leader.  Sean's co-leader of our wonderful 4 church Youth Collective was offering the sermon, shortly before she left our community to serve a congregation in Arizona.   Oh, Kate will be missed!!  In her message, Kate shared a wonderful story from Brené Brown, on how the idea for using a Marble Jar came to her. Kate dropped marbles in a canning jar, as she spoke,  and after the service, we each chose a marble from baskets held by the Ushers.  Kate's message,  A Good Laugh , starts at 40 minutes (and It was so fun to hear their bell choir! I play with ours, and it's a challenge! But rewarding!) Marble jars ○ crocheted and felted marbles For our Moms group gift exchange in December, I used tissue paper on small jars to make little holders for my 6 friends. I included a small ba...

Breitenbush

  Eight years into my Massage therapy career, I moved to a worker owned rustic hot springs retreat center , on 160 acres in Oregon's Cascade mountains.  The suggestions I gave my city clients for self care - eating mindfully, finding a movement practice, slowing DOWN, and drinking a bit more water were suddenly much easier to follow - for me as well! Their biggest choice after their Qigong class, or 60-90 minute massage session was - whether to head to the Lodge for a meal (the bell would tell them when), walk to the tubs or sauna, to the library or their cabin for a nap, or maybe take a short hike on a trail through the old growth forest.....  If I saw guests in the dining hall for their last lunch (organic vegetarian fare, lovingly prepared) they would often sigh, saying, "well, back to the real world now..." And I'd remind them - "No, THIS is the real world! This is how humans have lived, time out of mind! Take some of this with you - and come home, soon. ...

Wordless Wednesday

 Blessings on this cold January morning! (So far, just cold, here in Western Oregon) Prayer circles Little altar and Reiki Box ᎪᎯᎢᎦ  ᏙᎯ  ᎨᏎᏍᏗ  Go-hi-i-ga do-hi ge-ses-di With the monks who are walking for peace, I affirm, 'Today / peace / let it be!' (Cherokee) Percy - keeping the 'People' images warm Side table vignette It's our Sixth  facilitator training  class this morning - then we just have two more sessions!  ᏑᏓᎵᏁ ᏗᏕᎶᏆᏍᏗ   (su-da-li-ne  di-de-lo-quas-di sixth class/ school)  ✨️ 

Daily practice

  My SoulCollage ®️ trainer Mariabruna has said that making soul collage cards and not using them is like cooking a delicious feast, but not eating a bite!  I recently saw a comment from someone who has made a number of SoulCollage ®️  cards. She said she's been  so busy caring for others' needs, she had put her cards away - then needed to dig them out again, to be able to use them!  I wonder if she found a way to make room for them again? I wanted to ask her, " Is there a shelf where you could place a bin or basket to hold your cards, so they're out of the way, but also easy to access?" In SoulSollage ®️  Evolving,  Seena Frost invites us to 'Have your cards close at hand, not closed up in a box and tucked away. ... Draw one or two cards from your SoulCollage ®️ deck each morning and see them as your Neters (guides) for the day. (p 130)  Each person reads their cards for themselves, and we receive answers from within our own souls. Messages a...

Strengths and Allies

  Living in the US, and in a sanctuary state, events last week are deeply disturbing.  Many of us are choosing to be upstanders, rather than passive bystanders.  Our former pastor Kent, who is back in his home state of Massachusetts, is one of an ecumenical group of faith leaders activity standing in support of the people of Minnesota. Indigenous communities are singing honor songs.  Friends in my community gather in candlelight vigils. .... Last year, my friend  Cindy Jacobs , offered a series of classes exploring  Creative Resilience, and qualities that could help us find it, in these increasingly troubled times.  One of the qualities is Courage, and I used an image from a blogfriend's calendar, to craft this  SoulCollage®️  card (and sent Leah a thank you note.) Phoenix Rising  (central image - Leah P Kolidas) My Courage Ally invites me to: Stand strong Stay grounded and do my daily practices Speak the truth Maintain vigilance  ...