Yesterday I went to a SoulCollage workshop with Suzie Wolfer. It was WONDERFUL! It was through the Portland Community College. I've seen it listed in the catalog as well as a few other places around town for a few years now and decided to finally check out the hub-bub.
SoulCollage is basically collaging random images from magazines onto a 5x8 inch card. The size is based on the golden mean ratio or "phi." Phi is the ratio that produces a harmonic effect called eurythmy which blends three principles: harmony, proportion and movement. Phi is intentionally used in poetry, art, etc. and it also occurs in nature such as in the human body and the chambered nautilus. I LOVE this kind of crap...but I digress...back to SoulCollage...
So once you've created a collage, you "read" it and open up to what it has to tell you. Yeah, it's a little touchy feely but but oddly, I got a lot out of this. Suzie Wolfer is a phenomenal facilitator and did NOT present this as some kind of sacred psychic voodoo mumbo jumbo. It is just empowerment.
At first I just felt as though I was piecing together images and making something pretty. However, once it was complete, I found some comfort in it. You then speak to yourself as if the card had a voice. Kind of weird but I began telling myself things objectively and talking to myself the way I usually only talk to others. Nurturing. I began telling myself things I know deep in my heart but dismiss on a conscious level. It was like the card gave me permission to speak lovingly and encouraging to myself. And I trusted myself.
I had a title for my card immediately. Suzie said sometimes it can take up to a year before you know the title of a card.
Happily Ever After
"I am the One who is in search of my happiness. I am the One who can appreciate who I am and what I've gone through; the one who realizes that I will find growth through my experiences; who realizes that the growth I am making comes from my heart. I am the One who is organic and comes from nature; the One who seeks to connect the dots and appreciates extremes in contrast. I am the One who seeks to look under the veil to see who I really am and find my potential.
"Michelle, keep looking to the future, outside the box. Your voice, your style, your commitment and your beauty are out there. You started from beauty and all of who you are grows from beauty."
Okay, kind of vulnerable for me to put this out there but I met a woman named Melanie in the class and she shared her card and reading on her blog so that gave me the courage to do the same. You can visit her here. I have to say, the group of women (there were 15 of us) that attended this workshop were incredible. Very open, clearly each coming with a specific agenda of what they were looking for. Either they happily got it or joyfully got something unexpected! I truly enjoyed witnessing this process. I hope to make some artsy connections with these women in the future!!!
In other news, I took Glen to the airport this morning for another two week trip to Kalispell. Such a mother truckin' drag. Oh well, I've got my list of projects to keep me occupied. Lots of glorious artsy projects, plus laundry, AND we are planning a garage sale in two weeks so that should keep me busy!!
Love you and hope you have a lovely day!