Amazing Vision Artwise that took a different turn

The focal point of this piece was much different than I imagined it (I imagined hubby looking up at the eagle or it being on his chest but what it became..is much better) It reminds me that God will always sends help when we need it.

It appears hubby shared my vision with some of his friend and I loved the way he described (i drew it but something about the written word makes it so powerful). Here it is:

I'm pretty sure I haven't told you, but Steph has been in the midst of this incredible new artistic awakening. It's the first time she's embraced her art in over a decade. Well it's really very organic, and deeply spiritual this time around, tapping into some pretty rich, vital areas of her spirit. She gets these visions for her work now, and they are often accompanied with scripture, usually scripture verse she's never even heard or read. So she tells me yesterday that she has this vision for a new piece and can't wait to get home to do it. She works on it for awhile, and then shows it to me. The charcoal piece isn't very detailed, which is interesting because typically details have been very important in her work.The piece is of a faceless me, standing in what appears to be a clearing in the forest. I look a bit lost, and am turning to this scroll in my hand for guidance. On the scroll is written Isaiah 58: 8;11. Behind me is this large eagle, which is the only figure in the picture that actually has detail. The eagle's wings are spread full and wide, and it's so close to me that we nearly touch. I am looking a the scroll, but the eagel is looking directly at me. It appears to be whispering something in my ear. On the left wing of the eagel is written Isaiah 41:10. This is what the scripture said: - On the wings of the eagel whispering in my ear, Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - On the scroll I am turning to for guidance, Isaiah 58:8;11 8. Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 11. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. It's pretty powerful. I feel the Lord with me so strongly. This was right on time and so inline with how I've been feeling spiritually.

Artist's Block

For days now an image has been in my head with a side profile of myself and the things that give me freedom and a part of me sprawled out on a page in a way where it's like they are pouring out of me. So after falling asleep to "Rear Window" (which I'm enjoying I was just exhausted)..I said now is the time to put this on paper and in comes that zone feeling so immediately grab my lamp from the living room, my pastels, my ipod, several side profile pictures, and my sketchbook and went to our bedroom (which appears to be my art space) and start drawing but then i stopped cause im stuck..clearly theres more to be done but i cant see what ..so i called myself taking a break....but it ended up being for the night.The one intresting thing is its by no mistake a butterfly was one of the items since I've compared my evolution to a butterfly. Looks like this may be a work in progress....

Sacred Friday Excerpt: Simplicity

You know when i was in my twenty's. I thought simplicity was about giving up things and truly live a simple life which could very much could be true for most people and possibly I'm combining two different terms simple life an simplicity back then. Where i am today I think simplicity is about slowing down (giving up those to-do lists for a moment) relax and decide what matters most to me. in one of cheryl Richardson exercises this year she listed ten messages and you were supposed to pick the one that spoke to you and clear as day mine was:-

"Don't let over-analyzing, future planning, or what-ifs, get in the way of taking action." I put that in my office along with:
-the Ephesians 3:20 message from Joel
-how God said to me I have heard a report from the Lord (not believing what we see in the natural but what God is saying)
-Behold I am doing a new thing scripture (from the beginning if the year)
-Sudden breakthroughs(God wants to release his power in sucg a way that it overwhelms you and drives out your enemies)-another message from Joel
-Sovereign surprises (heard this in a message from a guest speaker about what 2010 will bring..you may remember).

All of theses things resonate to me that God is ready to do some new things. To burst favor and new gates open all over my life. But it doesnt come from a to do list but comes from the simple thing of being connected to him, fellowship with him, put away my thoughts and put on his thoughts. It's about creating what matters most in my life..to be entirely whole. what a concept! To be authentic.

I read somewhere, "Facing who we are, no matter how inadequate we have come to believe ourselves to be, is the beginning of living an authentic, real, honest and beautiful life."

I think simplicity can totally be summed up in a quote i found,
"simplicity is living in a physically and emotionally clutter-free environment that allows your mind and heart to be creative, uplifting and inspiring – not being weighed down with so much unnecessary stuff and baggage – so that you can enjoy the passions and pleasures of your life.

Feelings about pursuing a project....

I read one of my expressive arts newsletter weeks back that mentioned she was participating in the "sketchbook project"..it seemed so interesting that I immediately log on to see what it's about. Basically you purchase a sketchbook, select one of their pre-selected themes, they mail it to you and you have to return it back by Jan.15th. From there your sketchbook tours different cities and you get notified when someone looks through it. How awesome is that! Initially when I read it on the newsletter the person neglected to mention the $25 cost and the pre-selected theme ..just that your sketchbook was touring around the city. so at first i was taken aback by the cost but then said thats a small fee really and how awesome the idea of my sketchbook touring. Then yesterday feelings crept up that I didnt like the idea that its a pre-selected theme..maybe this project isn't for me (now I know that was fear). I talked to hubby and he said the following impactful words: "this project is exactly for you...this project requires boundary. Because you need to learn to work within limits.You have a tendency to run away from the things that you truly need. You were so afraid of working within structure that you gave up art for over a decade. Then he went on to talk about the direction i want my art to go:You have to ask yourself the question: Do you want to keep art a hobby, something to yourself for yourself or do you truly want to undergo training, which aims to hone you, shape you, mold you, and grow you by putting pressure on your talent and producing skill.That will ALWAYS involve the use of boundaries.Limitations.Because the point is to shape.That's what a sculptor does."

Strong point heh! He's so good on pointing out what people need to do...I wish we could bottle him up and sell him. To answer the question I want to be honed and that's what DM teaching is doing. I can already see that.So I'm going to do it..I just have to pick a theme..I'm between:
Adhere to me
The greatest story ever told
Down your street

So we'll see which one it ends up being....

Artistic Therapeutic Expression Session #2

This is an excerpt from what I wrote my best friend (no need to write a whole new blog entry).
On August 15th i woke up and felt meh...I couldnt place why but knew thats how i felt..an hour later i could describe this meh as sadness (usually i feel this when someone close to me is feelings and and i find out later I just tapped into their emotions but this time it felt different and i couldnt find out why). I know this sounds crazy but i was laying on our mattress and the pattern resembled a bee laughing at me. a bee laughing ..strange. so hubby came in and was like whats wrong. he said lay with me let's find the root of why i was feeling the way I do. i told him about the sadness and the bee and that i could see myself in the air in the balloon looking down at my life and it feeling like it wasnt mine and he asked me to continue but i couldnt i had no more to add so i got up because it was time to leave for my session. It was an awful awful downpour..by the time i got to the station i was soaked from shoulders to toe..i thought great, this is a great time for a session. so it died down to a drizzle by the time i got to the city but my umbrella had flipped up which better now than earlier) so I saw DM and she greeting me with such a warm loving hug and asked how i was. i said my week was good but today i felt meh..i mentioned everything except for the bee..i didnt want to sound crazy. oh and i forgot i got up saturday and that day at 4:40 on the dot (and i never get up that early and couldnt go back to sleep on saturday but sunday hours later i did). so dm said maybe the 4:40 is Scripture base so she went to Isiah (i dont remember what scripture) and said does anything resonate with me ..i read and said no but then i got to isiah 40:31 "Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." And i said omg! I just drew that after my session and i showed her my drawing. I told her lately i have had a thing with eagles and i was talking to my best friend and the vision that eagles had. She talked about eagles being prophetic. i asked why she went to Isiah and she said these are Isiah times...if you notice most churches are reading out of that book. I hadnt really notice and i was still meh so i was like i take your word for it. She said didnt you tell me God wanted you to enlarge your vision in the beginning of the year and i said yes and then you are thinking of eagles and this Scripture about mounting up..God is strengthening for his intended purpose. he's reminding you that you will gain new strength. And we prayed and she asked me describe this meh feeling ..even draw it and it was a sun that was covered up by black and browns (buried even). she said this to me shows your light is being covered. by what is the question? You talked about witnessing your life in a balloon..are you unhappy and i said no. she said do you think threes anything that is keeping you from being all God has called you to be. I immediately said my inadequacy i never feel like im good enough and thats theres always someone better and my hubby said thats crap and i need to start seeing that it doesnt matter if theres someone else better. there's only one you and you are the best brand there is. DM said good hubby who seems to be in tuned to you and i said yeah very much. next thing i knew we talked about where the inadequacy stemmed from and i was like my dad and i was in tears and i had to draw it out,...the ugliness i felt and who i was now. pray for my dad cause i know he didnt know what he was doing and even though i felt healed of all that he did i was still carrying that inadequacy to some degree and until i let that go i wouldnt be able to have that true freedom i want. DM prayed and i felt better like that..like 70%. Then she said something that left me like what...she said "I feel it to be a true honor to teach you Stephanie you and your husband will do great things in the creative world and im glad that i am the one chosen to help you uncover your true self. She said i have been thinking of you all week and i was going to send you something but didnt but it seems to talk to the exact place you are.it had me in tears. She also said i want to offer you something and i wast you to pray on it. i think it would be beneficial for you to come more than once every two weeks..i see that God is talking to you through your art and i think it should be explored more often. she said im willing to offer you a reduced price of 2 hours per week of $60 less than what the studio charges at my home. i had a look of thats great but i cant afford it. she said no matter of fact i want you to pay me that you can. if you can some weeks great if you cant thats fine too. its not about money its about cultivating all those things that God is doing and showing you in the woman he created you to be pray on and let me know (i was in tears). Because that morning i said i wish i could do more sessions but i cant afford it except every pay day but i should be cutting back cause this time was to allow me to pay a bill down. But look what the Lord has done. sovereign surprises i think. so i went back and forth on her offer cause i was like thats not right for her. why would she do this. but days later God gave me peace and just said sovereign surprises..its a blessing take it so I did and told her we could start after her conference which i think is the 2nd or 3rd week in September.

Pastel Drawings after the Second Session

I just decided to copy what I told my best friend ...it describes how I felt when creating these items:
Ive had my second art session and can I just say I'm just stepping into the fullness I am in God. I feel this absolute freedom and my teacher DM is AMAZING!I'm in such a peace filled freedom space and it feels amazing. I had this powerful thing happen to me on Tuesday.I was on the subway and had the urge to draw when I got home (which never happens on my commute). Let alone specific things..1. was me in a doorway and the second drawing was my brother. I put on my ipod and i was such in an intense zone. J said later when i talked to him i looked possessed. lol! But this zone increased more when it came time for my brother. I'm using my pastel and the next thing I knew I started writing w my pastels (which isn't odd) but what i started writing was..it was so powerful and so the spirit of the Lord. The writing said " faith is mighty in the Lord. He will do great things to reach my people. Right now he's being built up in me. He's a seer for a reason." isn't that amazing. I totally had to share that with my brother and he was blown away because he's like "u just prophesized and your art was part of the conduit. Glory to God what he did through you". I agreed. It's like through my art I hear scriptures and everything its rather amazing.

Pastel Drawings after the 1st session

I had an urge to draw so i put on my ipod got out my pastels and started drawing..i was in this zone that i remembered as a youth .oh what did i draw? i found a pic of myself at one of the happiest periods of life as well as a road and combined them(something about roads has always fascinated me). I have drawn myself only a few times in life so it was amazing that this what i decided to draw and i wasn't being critical..(like that line isnt right..do over).I was just in the moment. When i finished it. I loved it! I normally don't like sharing my art. It's so personal but so is how im feeling so im going to post here. I also tried to draw hubby unknowingly but he kept moving and never got back to that stop so its a bit unfinished but i have included that piece as well. Again another zone moment. Since the beginning of the year when i draw scriptures come up but nothing with hubby but when i touched him 2 Kings 2: 13-16 came up (not sure why)

13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”

Artistic Therapeutic Expression Session #1

I decided to go with this class because when i read both descriptions aloud..INSTANTLY my heart sung with this one along with "THIS IS IT" moment so I couldnt ignore the clear voice any longer and signed up for an August 8th session. Can I just say from the moment i knocked on the door I felt such peace (normally I would be nervous)? But i came with such confidence and not one preconceived idea of how things would go (again another rarity). I knocked on the door and instantly saw one of my fav quotes which happens to be hanging in my bathroom, "Life Isn't About Finding Yourself. Life Is About Creating Yourself." Love it! so I met my teacher DM and we went right into exercises where she would say a series of words and I would either draw or write a word on my sketchpad. She got to the fourth word,"Creativity." and i wrote "Me!". She said wow thats usually doesnt happen so fast. So we talked about why i was here and she said I was a seer and made comments on what I said. Then she brought me this African statue that was quite curvy (there was no distinct facial features but more geometric shapes) and she told me to pick an area and get off the page with it (literally) and i was like umm..im used to being right in the middle and drawing my picture but later i realized isnt that something some of us do in life.We say im fine being in the middle in my comfortable position. God says he wants more for us he wants us to expand. So for some reason the child struck me so that s what i drew (the pic above). The whole conversation with DM was so natural and freeing and i could already tell i would be booking another session with her. Oh and the medium we used were pastels which ive never worked with but can i say they are so freeing and messy but easily blendable that i loved it . Those of my friends that know me well know i dont do messy at all. But this was great.I was becoming one with my art and how amazing is that! Isnt that what i was talking about a couple of posts back ..about wanting freedom in my art.Then we did an exercise where she wanted me to draw the habitat this woman and her child lived in and i was like my imagination isnt that good. I can only draw something i can visually see. she said theres is no wrong answer so before I knew it I drew fruit bearing trees, hut, a road, sun. DM said pretty good for someone who doesnt have an imagination. lol. so then we were talking more and i had mentioned my mother in law recently dying and how our faith has been .She said oh what faith is this and i said a christian. she immediately had a huge smile and hugged me and said im a christian too. Thank God you are not another new age student (i love all of my students) but I have been praying for a christian and some of things you said about being ruled by peace in the beginning... i immediately said oh great...another one). lol! This cracked me up. She said Can we pray? I said of course and she said the most powerful prayer about God showing himself strong through my art. it was amazing. She said knowng you are a christian changes what i want you to do in future sessionsif you decide to book them. So then i started telling her about God showing me in the beginning of the year "Enlarge my Vision". It was such a great session that we went over. She invited me for something to drink afterwards so we found a cute little restaurant that had this adorable patio and we nosh and talked and she shared things with me about her life. I loved the sharing and realized what a great woman of God she is. It was amazing! She treated and kept saying what a blessing i was. We hugged and i left. When i got home I had this energy..even zest for life that i didn't have before. It was incredible that i was starting to see more clearly than i have in months this woman God shaped to be. I came for an art session and i got alot more.

Ponder..Ponder

Lately Ive been thinking more about expressive arts...actually putting a timeline of when i want to do the certification (2012) as well as what steps I can do today to nurture that creative part in me. I was sharing with Carey & Robin how excited i was looking at the upcoming year classes....

Fall semester 2010September 25 / 26: Introduction to Principles and Practice of Expressive Arts, Finding ease with poetical writingOctober 23 / 24: Building community through storytelling and theaterNovember 13 / 14: Using music to open the portal into what we knowDecember 18 / 19: On the way to authentic voice Spring semester 2011January 22 / 23: Body-centered practice of moving the paint, Discovering what moves inside of us when we move the paintMarch 26 / 27: Exploring deep play through performance artApril 23 / 24: Sculpting and collaging our way through the range of visual artsMay 21 / 22: Individual presentation of personal art based work created during the training year, Community art closing for the year(Snow date June 11 / 12)

I wonder if the courses change from year to year or if its the same. Soon they will be posting details soon so I'm sure i will find out. just so excited but let me get back to what i was saying.

right now i want to be creative but not sure how... i feel blocked. at this moment it doesn't feel as natural to pick up a pencil and draw. i want to be free in my drawing.... i don't want to draw/paint a still life or a landscape but just what my body to create. i cant remember a time that ive ever done that. i remember escaping in my painting and being so intuned to music and strokes not really paying attention to the detail of how a landscape will come out but a true abandonment no ive never had that.painting from my spirit. whats that.now saying all of this aloud i realize why my mind has been on expressive arts..my heart is singing and wants to be heard and im just not sure how. well i think ive found the solution through the Art Studio of Ny. There were about four classes that really spoke to me but now I'm narrowing it down to two classes..I'm just not sure which one yet (both sound like exactly what i need:

ARTISTIC THERAPEUTIC EXPRESSIONThe creative process of art making is healing, life enhancing, self-empowering, and joyful. The creative process has been used for healing and self-awareness throughout history. Artistic expression provides new and creative tools for you to connect with your authentic self, providing access to overflowing joy, wellness, balance, and personal power.Work with renowned artists at The Art Studio NY as you receive unique, tailor-made creative guidance based on your individual life experience. Allow the magical creative experience to nurture, guide, and encourage your greatest potential.Through this creative experience, learn how to:Building self-confidence and self-esteem through your creative expressionAccess a deeper sense of authenticityLearn to relax through artRelease of stressMeditation through artAccessing self-loveEmotional expressionFee: $85 per hour

or

Are you longing to develop your unique voice through your own creative personal art form? Are you hoping to reconnect to your empowered creativity in a nurturing, inspiring art studio setting? Is there a specific type of art that you are intending to delve into or focus on? Join The Art Studio NY and work with our world-renowned artistic staff while you are nurtured, inspired, and encouraged to explore your authentic creativity and empowered self-expression. Receive one-on-one attention as you discover the power of personal exploration and creative content. Receive tailor-made instruction that will empower and inspire your artistic gifts to pour outward with joy. Learn specific techniques created for your unique needs, and allow your personal self-expression to burst forth. Whether you are looking to ignite your personal potential, find joy in creativity, build a winning portfolio for school or work, or heal and open your heart through the power of art, private art classes will nurture your mind, body and soul in profound ways. Private instruction is available in all art forms both in our studio in outdoor settings such as Central Park and Manhattan art museums. Small group instruction (2 - 5 students) available for additional fee. The perfect gift for a loved one, friend, or yourself! Mornings/Afternoons/Evenings based on availability.
A materials list will be provided prior to your first lesson, or you may pay a nominal materials fee ($10/session for acrylic paints, $15/session for oil paints/ canvases not included to The Art Studio NY for the use of our art supplies).
$90/hour PACKAGE OF 4: $345

Art

I read several articles from Creativity Portal that really spoke to me and I think I ‘m going to make a weekly routine of reading. There are several newsletters that consist of several articles and three in particular spoke out to me. I will place an excerpt of words/pargraphs that spoke to me.

The first article said: Art is a wonderful playground! Play is never a waste of time. It happens when we let ourselves go beyond the rules and expectations of everyday life. Art is a wonderful playground. If we can let go of needing to make our artwork overly important, creativity can be a simple gesture of freedom. A splash of orange here, a touch of green there. We can wear our heart on our sleeve.Creative play is one of the best ways to experiment and learn about our feelings. It involves risk and this gives us the opportunity to perfect ourselves. It is a form of thrill seeking. Within spontaneity are our hearts, our feelings and our souls. Play is never boring because it follows it’s own interests. If creative play becomes boring, we are planning and efforting too much.Play is in truth our natural state of being and we can choose to live our lives more and more from this open, effortless state of awareness. Creativity opens and conditions this wider awareness. By allowing our thoughts to flow organically and effortlessly during play, ideas arise spontaneously and we can access an intelligence and inspiration far greater that our familiar minds. Play can inform our lives in surprising ways.

I absolutely love that sentiment!

Second article:“The truth is when we let ourselves be vulnerable the inner stored pain does intensify. It peaks almost like a volcano erupting, but it is the only way to release it and get to the other side to insight and inspiration.”
Often we can fill our lives with so much busyness we lose touch with our deeper selves. When I teach expressive art I am speaking to the part of ourselves that is heroically out front in our lives, feeling overwhelmed and too busy for self-reflection and self-discovery. I know when I do too much in my outer world, my inner well starts to feel barren and empty and I can feel increasingly depressed and uncreative. Often we do not realize how bottled up we are inside. When we do not attend to our inner life we can feel overwhelmed and exhausted.What sustains me through my busy life are my expressive art and collage journals because it gives me pause to express the feelings below my everyday thinking. There is such wisdom in spontaneous art making. It reveals things that are true that we might not realize about ourselves. It is amazing what a simple doodle or a quick collage can express. Sometimes my drawings haunt me with mystery and I do not know how to read them. Sooner or later however I fully experience the feeling they convey I go back into my journal with gratitude to my unconscious mind for expressing my inner overwhelm so clearly.

Then the writer continues to talk about her drawing and her thoughts about her drawings spoke to my spirit of that’s soo me. She mentions a desire to "heighten", to continuously elevate my thoughts and actions to a spiritual peak. The figure is flying. She is not grounded in any way in everyday life. She is focused on an ideal self-created future. She is trying so hard to be superwoman!

Another aspect in her drawing she sees is that it “tells me there is much more to me than how much I can efficiently accomplish in a day”. We all have a vulnerable creative self that lives very close to our souls. Our sensitive, vulnerable parts of self are right there below the surface concerns and survival activities of life and often they will express themselves through spontaneous imagery. Our competent survival masks miss out on true connection to our souls because they are designed to protect us from our fears, insecurities and discomforting feelings but when we move through these feelings we can access profound intuition, sensitivity and creative insight into life.Allowing each dimension of ourselves full expression reveals that there is far more to us that meets the eye. We are not empty inside or uncreative at all. We have a vast inner words to discover. Expressive creativity invites us into profound self-acceptance that allows every part of ourselves a voice. When we express all of ourselves we free up inner blockages and can more easily access our natural vitality and intuition. Overwhelm ceases when feelings are expressed and released. Once we get clear inside we can get back to creating a life of meaning and unique purpose. Third article that spoke to me:Creativity offers this ability to find the “more” in you. It is a wonderful loosening of old habits and beliefs. I have discovered that I have choice. I can change my perspective. I can paint new colors into my experience. The daily practice of creativity is an invitation into something new. When I engage my creativity, new probabilities reveal themselves. I see who I am and glimpse what I could be in a visual way. It seems that as I discover and integrate more parts of myself then I can accept and embrace more parts of others. It is a vibrant feeling to include more and more into my experience of living. Connecting with myself makes my relationship with life and other people grow in depth and meaning. This fills me with fire and passion. I wonder; can I hold the whole world inside of me with love?Seeing in PicturesStart to see your whole life in pictures. This is the intuitive way. The soul sees in pictures. Imagery I am drawn to shows me something about what I am within.
BeginningsIn many ways, I have struggled to open up to my most playful and spontaneous creativity.Reclaiming Wholeness
It is part of the human journey to forget who we really are. I have yet to meet anyone who was deeply mirrored as a child for who they are in their entirety. We are all born as unique beings but as children we cut off the parts of ourselves that do not match our parents or our culture. This is because they cannot recognize or accept them in us. And so these parts go into our shadow. At some point in our adult life we need to find a form of accurate mirroring and reclaim all of ourselves to be whole.I always knew that I would reclaim my wholeness though art.

I did not feel safe to express my own uniqueness. I feared that if I did, I would not be loved in some private, primal, childhood place. But as time passed I realized that we all follow this path of early family conditioning, and at some point in our maturity we are called to differentiate. We can spend our entire lives living in the dreams our families and culture holds for us, or we can find a way to wake up to the true essence of ourselves. Life, with its inner urges and outer surprises has its way of moving us along to this end.I was eager to recreate myself completely. I was optimistic that this would happen quickly but life and creation is wisely slow. It has been a long and patient uncovering of the limiting beliefs and stubborn habits born in childhood, and in my own learned humanness, that block my intuition on this path to a radiant, truthful life. This is a journey that I share with you in the spirit of deep and abiding connection.In teaching and writing and reaching out to more and more people with this offering I realize that we are all longing to uncover the truth of our authentic selves. If we are residing in the familiar comfort of old habits and beliefs there is always a stirring of “divine dissatisfaction”. We may choose to accept it’s prodding toward uncovering what wants to be born or instead to meet it with addictions, and distractions of every kind. It is our purpose to love and see every part of ourselves. All of life wants to be accepted and included. This is our creative path and our destiny.

Creative Arts Exercise

I signed up for an expressive arts coach newsletter weeks ago (http://www.theexpressiveartscoach.com/) when I was researching art therapy and came across expressive arts (still has me excited). I just got the first newsletter (well not just (I got it a week ago and I finally have time to view it) so here goes. The newsletter starts out by taking us through two exercises: 1. guided imagery and 2. making a collage from our soul (my collage is seen to the left..I tried to move it but couldn't figure out how).

According to the expressive arts coach since i decided to take the adventure of creative exercises I am:

1. creative

2. need creativity in your life

3. enjoy exercising your creative muscles

She hopes I'm honoring this part of your Self on a weekly basis! If not, things may seem a bit unbalanced for me. She said I need to consistently engage in some sort of creative endeavor.

I wouldn't say I'm unbalanced right now but I do need some creativity so this is what I needed. I ignored my creative self for a long time so its time to rekindle my relationship with the artistic self. Carey sent me this wonderful website http://www.theartistsway.com/the-basic-tools that I have to finish reading but it talked about Artist's Date and i need to start committing myself to taking myself out once a week. It is defined as a "once-weekly, festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you. The Artist Date need not be overtly "artistic"-- think mischief more than mastery" Someone else said Artist Date consists of the following:

• A commitment of time spent on yourself once a week. • Time spent solely on you -- no companions allowed. • A date with your inner-artist, or your inner-child. Same thing I just like the bullets:) I think i can consider what I am doing now an artist's date since 1. I'm by myself and 2. I am engaging in some creativity exercises. I think this most definitely qualifies. Sure I should be sleeping but already I feel energized.

What' s funny about all this is a couple of months i was talking to J about the need to do something creative. Then i got a couple of resources from Carey and a month or two later I got into an enlightening convo with J about my purpose. Everything indeed has a season and activity under heaven.

CREATIVITY EXERCISE #1Visualization or Guided Imagery
The coach talked for about 6 minutes and told us to close our eyes and breathe and imagine a room (we should ask our self what it looked like colors and furniture) and that a guest is coming to the door who has a present (who is the guest and what did they bring us). when it was over she asked us to journal about this experience. I really have no interest in writing in my journal about this but I did find it quite relaxing.

CREATIVITY EXERCISE #2Make a Collage from Your Soul
I finished my collage with Indie Arie in the background (pic you see at the top). By the time i finished "I Choose" was playing which is very appropriate. I feel the this collage is truly a collage to my soul. It shows how i envision a world that I follow God's will and heart to the ends of the earth by empowering women. Not sure everything in the pic with my camera phone is clear but it says from top to bottom:

Naturally Steph

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom .

Experience A Life Free With God's Word

Rediscover Life

Authentic Living

Peace

Partnership

Love Your Life

In the middle a woman is floating in air (representing true freedom)

At the bottom the words say:

To be His Hands and His Heart

One by one, these women are being transformed by God's power

Extending a Hand of Hope