a capellaSoul: SoulCollage® Reflections

Through SoulCollage®, an intuitive collage process created by therapist & free spirit Seena Frost, a personal deck of self-discovery cards is created. Each card reflects a different aspect of your "self" and your life. Engaging the card-energy, verbal&written, the soul speaks. Integration ensues. Messages come through plain & simple in a beautiful flow...like singing “a capella”, yielding bountiful awakenings, curiosity, clarity ...and rumbling insights of shadow and light.

The cards shown here demonstrate a basic part of the SoulCollage® process: Engaging and working with the energy of the cards, also known as the "I Am One Who..." process. To learn more, the award-winning book, SoulCollage® Evolving by Seena Frost, is a beautiful account of the process and an excellent place to start! Seena writes about: the history, how to make cards and work with them; using the process in celebration and blessing, rites of passage, personal retreat and much more; as well as how SoulCollage® has changed the lives of thousands of people, worldwide.

June 9, 2008

Sweet Ike

My daughter, Kamaria and I adopted Ike into our family in the summer of 1999. Before the three of us discovered each other, Kamaria and I were browsing the animal shelter to see who we would gravitate to.
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We stopped in the kitten room, I stooped to pet one, and I must've looked like a jungle gym to them! They were all over me! Before I knew it one was climbing up the back of my skirt (from the inside!)...one lept onto my back and was racing to my head (ouch! those sharp claws) then another one sprang onto me from out of nowhere! OMG!! I realized that was too much energy, we needed a mellow cat.
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As we walked out of the kitten room, Ike was sitting right there...eye level on his litte carpeted kitty-kat patio -I saw him, he saw me...and he said "meow!"... "Oooo, you talk" I said...and the rest is history! Kamaria and I both fell in love with Ike...and he's still talking!! Boy does he talk...in different tones i.e. a questioning meow, or a whining, nagging meow...and he's quite conversational, at length!...and he purs up a storm, you can hear him from across the room! I love it! and we love our Ike!
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Through this SoulCollage card, Ike says to me...
I am your furry companion. I am one who knows it's perfectly fine to be me...no apologies required! I am the one you give love and attention to, but not enough for me. I always want more of you...on my terms, and I know my terms are just fine. I know how to tell you what I want. I am one who speaks my voice, consistently. I know how to get my way. I am the one who's persistent and patient, sometimes. I am the persistent one...you can learn a lot from me. I am the one who loves you so much I want all of your attention. I am the one who turns on a dime from purring to biting...and you love me anyway.
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I want you to give me more of your undivided attention. I want you to realize that that time is tender and sacred and relaxing. I want you to want to give me more affection. I want you to soak up my love and do nothing else but cater to my desires.
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Through me you see that it feels good to be at peace with (and in) your body...jiggles and all. I give you overflowing love and affection. I give you love and companionship you can count on. I give you an example of authenticity. I give you permission to take as many naps as you need. I want you to know I love you and love being with you. I miss you when you're not here. I'm glad when you come home and sometimes get mad when you leave out again so quickly. I am one who likes being around you.

6 comments:

GreenishLady said...: What a strong personality Ike has, and how clearly he speaks to you through the card. Enjoy him!; June 10, 2008 9:08 AM
Anonymous said...: I loved this story of how you met. I love cats myself. My own has quite a personality too. His name is Egypt. (Or Egee Peege.) You can see him on a card here: http://sunnydreamer.net/july_sept/cat_spirit.shtml ...if you like. I'm a new member to the group and have just browsed a bit till I am ready to jump in. Hope the day goes well for you.; June 10, 2008 11:18 AM
Caroline said...: What great words came with this card. (Ike himself also looks wonderful.); June 10, 2008 12:52 PM
Helen Burton said...: Hi Cheryl:

Thank you for telling us all about Ike. He sounds loving and a great companion. Helen; June 10, 2008 1:57 PM
sharryb said...: What a precious being is your Ike. Just like you. I love to hear your "I am the one's" from his perspective--those dear cats can be great teachers. I love my Luna and, of course, have a card for her.; July 15, 2008 9:44 PM
Dianne said...: Oh, Cheryl, I love it that you made a SoulCollage (R) card for your cat, Ike. Do you mind if I copy your idea? I would like to honor my cats by making cards for my cats past and those that are currently in my life. They have given me so much. I have no family and virtually no friends in town anymore so Kiku and Saki are my family. We celebrate every holiday together and they never complain about their Christmas presents! I have kept track of your SoulCollage cards and your mandalas and find you to be warm and sensitive person -- just right for cats!; March 03, 2009 6:58 PM

a bit about me -- my story...

I am a free spirit & creative soul exploring my inner and outer worlds through creative, contemplative activities and practices. As a result, I discover more about myself and live from a deeper, richer, insightful and more treasured realm. SoulCollage® has been a part of my life since 2005. The benefits are bountiful.

I am a mom, daughter, sister, friend, writer, artist, jewelry-maker, passionate resource for others, lover of life... and mindful knitter for the Mother Bear Project...(MBP) - and share the teddy bears I knit for children of the MBP at my blog: Yarn Jones.

I am a nature and animal lover, an avid reader and I am fascinated with learning and exploring what interests me!

Although words simply describe and are not "the thing itself", may the descriptions above and below offer a deeper glimpse of what has called me into deeper study and practice. Perhaps one will be a catalyst for you as well. So on that note, here goes: I am a trained and registered SoulCollage® Facilitator, taught personally by Seena Frost and the loving SoulCollage® mentors at SoulCollage®, Inc.; and also certified in Soul Coaching®, trained and personally mentored by its creator, the luminous, immensely generous and beautiful spirit, Denise Linn.

My inner-explorations have revealed that I love creating free-form mandalas - or "Mandala Medicine" as I call it! Over a period of 3+ years I created over 200. That practice helped to save me at a critical time in my life. My interaction with other creative spirits online was a source of connection and inspiration. I was inspired to share the mandalas on my Mandala Oasis blog...as well as to create the Yahoo Community which has brought together mandala enthusiasts from all over the world, each of us creating mandalas in our own unique way, and connected to one another by the over-arching Creative Spirit.

In 2008, I had the honor and pleasure of moderating an 8-week series of Mandala Webinars with Mandala Process pioneer and luminary, the late Dr. Judith Cornell. I loved every bit of getting to know Judith as we worked together... and was deeply saddened to learn of her passing. May her eternal soul rest... yet soar in love and peace.

Also, I am a Certified Empowerment Coach (via IPEC). I also trained in-person with Jill Badonsky to lead a variety of powerful creativity and expressive-art workshops known as "Muse Groups", and completed Jill's Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching training. I continue to reap the benefits of Jill's comprehensive, insightful and playful-yet-powerful work...to this day! Even though I opted-out of pursuing certification, I practice the principles and methods personally and in my work with others.

Through my luminous soul sister Lisa Sorce Schmitz, founder of Whispers from the Moon, and her Soulful Creative Offerings, I've also had the honor and delight of studying, working with and getting to know artist, teacher, art therapist and author Pat B. Allen. Her Studio (Pardes) Process of conscious intention-and image-making, and witness writing have not only deepened my my creative process, but has also enhanced my personal awareness, and life overall.

In October 2012 I was introduced to Process Painting. This painting process is opening my heart and awareness and opened me from the inside out, allowing release of old "stuff". It's akin to my spontaneous, free-form Mandalas, each one it's own one-of-a-kind jewel in my unfolding journey.

Each act of intuitive & spontaneous creativity is a precious gem-of-an-experience for which I am immensely thankful.

May your creative play open your heart wider, and bring you even more insight, joy and deep awareness. Ahh... "awareness" - that lovely place where choices are born.

Cheers to our vivid, creative, ever-blooming life! May the Creative Force be with you... :)

Important about SoulCollage®:

Using SoulCollage®, as developed by Seena B. Frost, a person creates a deck of collaged cards from found images. The cards are arranged in suits for the primary purpose of self-exploration and self-acceptance. (It is understood that in some group populations one or more of the suits may be emphasize while others may be omitted as not appropriate.) SoulCollage® cards are collaged from images found in purchased or donated magazines, calendars, books, cards, etc. and from stock photos and/or personal materials (e.g. photos, one's own art). SoulCollage® cards are not sold, traded, bartered, or copied as stated in the “Principles of SoulCollage®”.

Where SoulCollage® cards are available to be seen by others, it is for the purposes either of demonstrating the SoulCollage® process or sharing the card-maker’s inner process in the context of community. SoulCollage® is grateful to the artists and photographers who make this deep awakening process possible, and in all ways SoulCollage® seeks to be respectful of their rights.