"The craft of questions, the craft of stories, the craft of the hands—all these are the making of something, and that something is soul. Anytime we feed soul, it guarantees increase." ~ Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Having been forced to dance to the tune of someone else's drumbeat (actually someones else's drumbeats in two different locations), I am now in a time of reclaiming myself, my time, my freedom to sleep all night, to concentrate, to meditate, to feel safe and comfortable within the walls of my own home.

No more noisy fruit loops, dear Universe. Thank you.

This morning I pulled out the SoulCollage box of tricks and decided to make a card. I quickly found an image with lots of red shoes that I've been saving and thought about making a card about the story of The red Shoes, and it's meaning to me. As is the way with SoulCollage - and creativity - it didn't turn out the way I expected it to. It doesn't even carry the original image of red shoes I started with.

It doesn't matter because flicking through images and sorting and cutting and playing and sensing fed my soul. It raised ideas and thoughts about dancing to my own tune (something I know all the theory about but never quite seem to get down pat).

It made me want to write a blog and step out of the box I managed to put myself in (which incidentally resulted in the drying up of any blogging at all) after I was given the blog award in the Nature/Green category. I am not sure why I found myself internalising someone else's categorisation of this blog, but it doesn't matter because, as the card suggests, I've taken of those red shoes too and I'm walking barefoot in my blog - as well as in my house.

And, as the quote says, "anytime we feed the soul, it guarantees increase"... Amongst the images I found a random image of a random object that sparked a random idea that is quietly simmering.

The  creativity flows...

SoulCollage® is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating a deck of collaged cards from found images—cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.

More »

Red Shoes Barefoot originally appeared on Taexalia on July 20, 2010.

I temporarily suspended my sock knitting adventure to concentrate on finishing the baby papoose. Although I'm a fairly new knitter, I see myself as having a Work In Progress basket always filled with a number of projects... but the baby papoose doesn't have the luxury of lounging amongst half knitted socks and the fantasy of other things I imagine creating with needles - babies grow fast and there are no guarantees this garment could be shuffled to accommodate the "next baby".

The reason I wanted to knit socks was because they are small garments with a relatively quick return rate. The papoose is thus far a long stretch of repetitive wivven fabric that's saviour is the delicious soft feel of the alpaca wool and the (possibly inappropriate) colours (I had no idea what colours to pick and don't subscribe to the pink-for-a-girl-blue-for-a-boy-yellow-for-a-maybe way of things - so I picked my favourites).

It is the first time I have bought a knitting pattern and so I'm quite pleased with myself to see that I'm about two thirds through with the end in sight.... somewhere...

So some creative tasks are long-term commitments, whereas others are short sharp shocks...

Having been abused for several hours by sound effects I can only liken to a big bass drum erratically played by someone trying to keep time to a Wrestlemania 3 final, I decided to use the pent up energy that I really wanted to exert on my ceiling in a more constructive manner.

I gave myself 10 minutes to create one SoulCollage card using only images from a single folder (I now have about 30 folders of images). This is way different from my favourite way of making cards where I sift through several folders pulling images and then make a card, and I found that I really like the swift process and the lack of *thinking*...

(The scanner isn't hooked up so I'll get a better copy later)

Not surprisingly the card contains a huge and luxurious home with snowdrops which symbolise the hope of Spring to me... The pregnant belly and the clock tower suggests to me that time is manifesting a new beginning...

More »

The Long and the short of it originally appeared on Taexalia on June 17, 2008.

Just before Yule I decided to make some new cards and I spent three evenings going through images and collecting little piles but whenever I tried arranging them onto a card I found myself blocked, or unhappy with the results. I was becoming quite frustrated so I decided to leave the cards and images alone for a day or two and when I came back to the cards I came up with these three.

I really like the first card and I think it's a wonderful representation of creative thinking, and the way breaking through can be a challenge. The second card is about contradictions, about things being in places that are unexpected, and it's about the juxtaposition of colours and opposites.

The third card was inspired by a card I saw on the Kaleidosoul Community a few months back which moved me. I had a large store of images of women cut from those horrible fashion magazines that subscribe to skinny, surgically altered, software modified beauty (mini rant!). Cutting out the eyes and making a Watcher card was quite a powerful experience!

SoulCollage® is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating a deck of collaged cards from found images—cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.

More »

New Cards December originally appeared on Taexalia on December 30, 2007.

Navigating Sharks SoulCollage Card

I am the one who visits the depths of my soul
I am the one who leaps without fear
I am the one who meets predators with confidence
I am the one who takes risks
I am the one with the colourful mind
I am the one with the bubbly smile
I am the one who is dark and light
I am the one who finds optimism in driech places

SoulCollage® is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating a deck of collaged cards from found images—cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.

More »

Swimming With Sharks originally appeared on Taexalia on August 18, 2007.

Reader SoulCollage Card

This card fell out of the box first which is amusing to me because Lost In Books is very relevant to me just now since I discovered LibraryThing and started cataloging my books. Take a peek at the site and you might see what I mean. It's so much fun dragging a pile of books off the shelves and rediscovering them one at a time, choosing personal tags for them ~ and then sneaking a peek to see who matches up with me.

I am the one who loves books
I am the one who is surrounded by books
I am the one who can lose a day in a library
I am the one who cherishes knowledge
I am the one who doesn't know everything but is quite good at finding things out
I am the dreamer who visits other realms
I am the one who seeks
I am the one who collects

SoulCollage® is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating a deck of collaged cards from found images—cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.

More »

Lost In Books originally appeared on Taexalia on July 12, 2007.

What to say after an attempted terrorist attack in Scotland? I mean do I blog about the foxes? (who have been hiding from the numerous thunder storms today) Do I witter about my new project? Do I carry anger over some of the bigotry I've read flowing from people's fear?

Well thank whichever higher power you speak to, let's thank them for ineptitude.

I wandered over to Create a Connection and found yesterday's challenge and it's feels like a good, positive way to begin July... Try Goal Checking

Becoming SoulCollage Card

I started the year with a new SoulCollage card (now there's something that's fallen by the wayside in all the house renovations) ~ Becoming. Then my first blog of the year dismissed New Year's Resolutions in favour of a single mantra "Be prepared ahead of time."

Well, on reflection, I think the mantra is working. I wouldn't say I'm now 100% organised or prepared, but I do carry that focus in my life far more than I did last year. It's a great feeling to know that I am actually capable of being ahead of time, rather than my lifelong habit of being at the last minute ~ or more accurately being way beyond the last minute.

It's a very simple concept to embrace, but it's amazing the difference it has made to my life!

Oh and an interesting thing to note about that SoulCollage card... When I made it, the figure held a large £ sign and was meant to represent prosperity. Well then we faced a few financial challenges ~ so much for that! Then I looked at the card and twigged that the £ sign is RED!!! So I took a Sharpie and carefully coloured it green, all the time focusing on prosperity. Not long afterwards, my financial arena switched to a much more favourable track!

Looking at the card, there are things which I feel I am doing - managing time, creating prosperity, smiling and dreaming. There are also things which aren't on the card at all that are brilliant manifestations in my life - singing, storytelling, foxes, my art exhibition...

And there are things which I have yet to fully focus on - health, a monthly massage, fitness and writing more.

But I think I'm just about where I want to be at this point in the year, and I refuse to berate myself for the things still to be done.

Here's to a wonderful July!

More »

Moving Forward originally appeared on Taexalia on July 1, 2007.

I have not been making new cards recently. It seems to come in cycles. I have three sets of images that are soon-to-be-born cards, but the arrangements haven't formed yet. They are ideas. But I am done with the mundane business book-keeping adventure that I have been on of late and I want to kick-start my creative life again...

Description:

This card was made months ago - it was the tenth card that I made. It was made intuitively and I remember enjoying the darker imagery that came through - some real "do I really want to go there?" feelings. Hehe. I really like the arm flung over the side of the bath which came from an image about relaxation - but here it looks like it is more to do with skeletons in the closet... I have never really worked with this card, other than calling it "Desolate Corners" - a name that doesn't fit today so I have changed it.

Desolate Corners SoulCollage Card

Who are you?

I am the secret corners of the journey
I am the hidden desolation that can be rebuilt
I am the one who shines light on destruction
I am the one who opens the can of worms
I am the one who opens the door and looks inside
I am the one who finds hope in the darkness

What do you have to give me?

I give you the window into the shadow places and I give you confirmation that it is good to explore them. I give you the can of worms and the can opener.

What do you want from me?

I want you to know that the dark and desolate places are rich with growth. I want you to embrace your calling as an activator. I want you to shine light on the dark in yourself and in the world. I want you to look at the three faces of judgement and smile.

SoulCollage® is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating a deck of collaged cards from found images—cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.

More »

Can of Worms originally appeared on Taexalia on February 11, 2007.

Description:

I made this card a couple of nights ago. I intended to describe procrastination - something I am wrestling with just now. I found it easy to do the "I am the one who.." exercise but I found it challenging to consider what procrastination could give me, or what it wants from me. Doing those exercises has made me look at my procrastinating self from a different angle - perhaps there is a purpose for procrastination...

Procrastinating Self SoulCollage Card

I am the one who is caught in my own trap.
I am the one who is stuck
I am the one whose hands are tied
I am the one who is blocked
I am the one who is motionless
I am the one who is glum

What do you have to give me?

I give you the pause before action. I give you frustration which burns. I give you time to let the ideas compost. I give you time to plan. I give you a low so that you can appreciate the highs.

What do you want from me?

I want you to feel stasis. I want you to sit. I want you to think.

SoulCollage® is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating a deck of collaged cards from found images—cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.

More »

Trapped by Procrastination originally appeared on Taexalia on January 13, 2007.

I made this card in response to Anne-Marie's SoulCollage Challenge - Future Self.

Future Self SoulCollage Card

I am the one who has a beautiful smile
I am the one who exercises
I am the one who rejoices in my body
I am the one who relaxes
I am the one who writes
I am the one who meets targets
I am the one who manages my money well
I am the one who manages my time
I am the one who initiates healing in myself and others
I am the one who dreams
I am the one who expresses myself with flair and colour
I am the one who is beautiful inside and out
I am the one who travels
I am the one who has fun

More »

SoulCollage Challenge – Future Self originally appeared on Taexalia on January 5, 2007.

Description:

This is the second card that I made during the annual women's gathering I attend. This card came together with a little intent. The main image had several words and I decided to flout the SoulCollage teachings a little and leave a single word in there - mainly because it amuses me to see how positive my outlook on life is becoming!

The dark balloons are one of my favourite elements of the card because they represent "rendering the predator" (a concept from Clarissa Pinkola Estes' book Women Who Run With The Wolves") so well - the balloons slowly changing from darkness to light...

Rendering Predator SoulCollage Card

Who are you?

I am the one who hears the voices of the predator and shines light upon them.
I am the one who transforms the darkness into something light.
I am the one who can see humour in the predator's games.
I am the one who can hold the predatory voice up for closer inspection and own it as a part of myself.
I am the one who is upbeat about growth from spending time with my shadows.

What do you have to give me?

I give you the power to pull your own strings. I give you the humour to transform your demons into something positive.

What do you want from me?

I want you to remember that balance means every cloud has a silver lining, and vice-versa.

SoulCollage® is the process, developed by Seena B. Frost, of creating a deck of collaged cards from found images—cards that are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. SoulCollage® cards are made from original purchased art (e.g., art published in magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc.) and personal materials (e.g., photos). SoulCollage cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered and are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card.

More »

Rendering The Predator originally appeared on Taexalia on December 29, 2006.