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Optimal Hydration

  Last year, a friend who's also a Breitenbush community alumni invited me to zoom calls with the Balneology group he's part of. Folks interested in the healing properties of springs and water gather monthly, with a different speaker each time.  While all the calls I've attended are interesting, our recent speaker, Gina Bria, spoke my language of health and hydration!   An anthropologist trained at Columbia University, Gina has been studying better ways to hydrate for years! She spoke of looking beyond the common injunction to  "drink more water" for hydration. She suggest spending time outside to receive natural light. She some of the role movement plays, of how plants structure water and make it more available, of external water (mud baths!) .... and I thought of how my time at Breitenbush Hot Springs had included all of these sources daily! Quench - a better way to hydrate And she spoke of the book she co-authored with Dr Dana Cohen, an integrative physici...
Recent posts

Readings and Peers

 It's been nearly a month since graduating from SoulCollage®  facilitator training, and I'm deepening with my own practice and community connections.   The connections included meeting my classmate Linda Minor, and attending a free 'Sneak Peak' session with Sheila Spain at a nearby library.  That week, I led my first card making session in my Red Thread Creatives circle, and finished an article about my journey for the KaleidoSoul newsletter. Drugma Dragon Eye Last week, I gathered virtually with 3 others from our class for a card Reading session.  A hallmark of SoulCollage® is that we each read our cards for ourselves , as the cards represent our own unique constellation of characters and traits.  During the training, we spent part of each session in 3 or 4 person break out rooms, and did readings, each drawing on our own inner wisdom.   During a reading, we rotate roles: Reader Scribe Witness & hold space for each other. The Scribe draw...

Pockets and Plans

  Does this happen at your house? You have a project, some great ideas, and jot copious notes ... Then ... several months later, rediscover them, buried in a journals or file! If they aren't accessible, they may simply drop off the radar! This SO happens to me! Viola - I often make little cards and  pockets to hold ideas I wish to be present with!  Pockets offer an easy way to see what's on your plate, move them around, plan and let them inspire action! Several years ago, I participated in an Intentional Creativity biz class, Dancing Entrepreneur. We used creative practices to identify our  What, Where, When, Who and How for offering coaching sessions, classes and workshops.  One student, Karen Dawn, posted pictures of her visual planning system in the group, and I loved it! She invited anyone interested to join her Beta Test group, and learn to craft our own! You can bet I signed up!  I love Karen's visual planning approach!  Vision Plan Boar...

Commencement

  Yesterday we graduated from our SoulCollage® facilitator training! WOOT!  We were warmly welcomed into the 'net' of over 6000 facilitators in 64 countries!  The month of our training has gone by both quickly and slowly - what a enriching experience! I've met some lovely friends along the way, and am excited about the many ways to deepen and connect, built into the World of  SoulCollage®  Community.  Card Spiral and Sweetgrass   A few years after beginning to create cards in 2008, I joined the KaleidoSoul community (on Yahoo!). I joined again last summer, and added a couple of Anne Marie Bennett's SoulCollage®, books to my collection in the fall. I'm writing an article, to be included in the March issue of Soul Songs, and have marked several of her meditations as seeds for future classes. Notebook and SoulCollage books Recently, I found out out local facilitator Leo Sheerin has moved to Vermont!  I visited his gallery and studio on our local Ar...

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!...

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...