Living Our Dreams

Creative Awakenings: Online 30-Day Guided Expedition

Wooo hooo! Are you ready to ride your dreams into the sunrise? So many of you have written and asked for the Creative Awakenings on-line coaching workshop, so I put on my purple boots and designed this program just for you, so you can begin to live a more creative and intentional life! Let's saddle up and get 2010 moving in the direction of your True North! 

Perhaps you are reading Creative Awakenings and wondering how to integrate the practices and principles into you life. Perhaps you have already embarked on the journey, and lost your way, and feel that a group of fellow travelers would be just perfect to keep you on track. No matter where you are in the Creative Awakenings journey, or on your life path, this adventure is for you. 

"What is calling YOU?"

Expedition: The Level One Guided Adventure: We will be filling out our Visa's for the 30-day Level One-Guided Expedition. This workshop is not for the feint of heart, as we will be exploring unchartered territory that can sometimes cause us to feel a little tentative. Don't be afraid, as your FEISTY and FEARLESS guide, I've walked many miles in your shoes. I feel confident that I can lead you through the deep woods, clearing the path to find True North, so you're ready to step fully into the possibilities for your life. 

 

Amazon Reader Book Reviews: 

"I highly recommend this book to those Feisty Females out there who are ready to kick up their heels, shout "Wooo Hoooo," and stomp all over the Venomous Toad Committee that always has pins poised to prick their dream bubbles. Gaynor is right on the trail with us, spurring us on. You can't miss the shine glancing off her vibrant cowboy boots, or the invitation she is holding out, for a life filled with passion and purpose." Carol Weibe, Artist, Silver Springs Studio, Ontario, Canada
 

Sheri Gaynor's book Creative Awakenings is wonderfully accessible. She clearly lays out a fun way to access your dreams and create your best life through art and intention. Lovely images and inspiring creations abound. The book offers many techniques and prompts - but it's so much more than a "how to" book. Sheri invited a dozen artists to engage in her process and share their resulting art and narratives. It's a book to read and use and read some more. Creative Awakenings has nudged me to be more playful in my art and more intentional in my life. On top of all of that, Sheri is creating a community of artists who are using this book as a common ground. If you have any interest in expanding your creativity, envisioning a better life, or connecting with like minded folks, then I highly recommend Creative Awakenings! Calax Harris, North Carolina

The Expedition Itinerary:

On Monday each week, you will receive an email in your box with a randomly chosen card from the Deck of Transformation included in the book. This is where you will begin. The card invites you to work with the Guiding Principles of the EnVision Process. 

The weekly email will have instructions that guide you to the trail head for the adventures and activities for the week, so you can work on your own at your own pace.

The workshop includes a private blog address, video tutorials, personal interaction with me, and other travelers on the journey. There will be activities between sessions to support you in deepening you understanding of the book and process, to encourage you to incorporate this practice into your daily life. 

The workshop includes: 

• Personal interaction through a private NING site with author Sheri Gaynor through video introductions to the weeks adventure.
• A Dream Ally to partner for the adventure, to help you stay accountable
• A video showing you how to use the EnVision Process to create the Art of Intention in your Book of Dreams Journal  
• The EnVision Guided Imagery Download
• A free Goodie for your journal each week

Week One: Beginnings 

 
Week Two: Tilling the Soil

 
Week Three: Dancing with Synchronicity

 
Week Four: Personal Spirit Statement

 

Travelers Advisory: Space in this first guided tour is limited. Your commitment and engagement in this process will allow us to have a successful workshop. I encourage you to look in your heart and make sure you can fully commit to the adventure at this time. Remember, there is perfect timing for everything. To support you and your fellow travelers in this way, I am requesting that you Download Participant Questionaire stating your interest in joining the adventure at this time. Please return it to me before registration opens on February 8, 2010. 

Please contact me with any questions you might have, that's what guides are for!

Once you've been accepted for this particular adventure, you will receive your Passport which includes: Flight plans, packing list and payment instructions. 

Your Ticket to Adventure...PRICELESS! 

 

Full 30-Day Adventure Package Price 
$ 125.00

Discounted price if paid in full on February 8, 2010
 $105.00

or 

Travel Budget Plan:
 $31.25 per week with credit card pre-authorization form

So...what IS calling YOU? Let's find out together!
Download Participant Questionaire return it to me by February 8, 2010 to save your seat and get started on the adventure of a lifetime!

 

Paint Brush to Calculator...

As we move through this business decision during the 2nd Great Depression-yep, let's get real about the terminology-I find myself trading in my paint brushes for a calculator most days. This doesn't bother me too much as I know this is part of my 2010 intention, that of truly stepping into and embracing financial consciousness. 

I know we talk a lot about dreaming, here on my blog, and most of you know that I am also of the mind that it's important to take calculated steps toward your dreams, so you feel a sense of both liberation and foundation as you leap. This is where I've been the last week. Crunching numbers, trying the spaces on, and doing a lot of writing of business ideas and plans. YEP! I said it, I have written up my first business plan. The only piece left is the numbers and I will be working on plugging those in with my accountant. Now that is really FEISTY for a dyslexic artist-social worker don't you think?

A few months ago, we created a Council of advisors. This is not your ordinary board of directors by any means. We are doing things in a different way and our meeting begin with crayons and plenty of tissues on the table. We begin from the emotional and creative realm, as a way of tapping into what is underneath the surface, and clearing the path for truth, minus projection. Don't get me wrong, these women are STRONG business women, they can put the muscle to the corporate world if need be. I feel grateful to have them by my side and they have spent many hours with me as we move toward paths that have no current tangible outcome. The cool thing is that I've even got my accountant in on this idea and Toni and I gifted her with her own traveling set of crayons! But she's no ordinary accountant, she can live in both worlds and that's why she's by our side! 

I began this Sunday's meeting by asking the question, "Where are you today in our decision?" This is what showed up. 

 

We each took turns speaking about our images and how we felt in the moment. The images helped us to by-pass the left brain to some degree and tune into the emotional world. 

The image below, shows where I was that day-and to some degree, still am-I am split between my head and my heart space. Sound familiar to anyone? The spiral symbolizes the way my mind feels most days as we make the decision. Not a pretty picture is it? 

The heart space shows the truth of what I feel when I visualize the space and the vibrant community we are building. The black around the image shows the void...the Mystery...the UnKNOWN, and that is the place where fear burrows it's way in the door, if we let it.

 

As I look at the image as it is cropped in this photo, I see SHE is also surrounded with the blossoms of growth. The flowers created by one of the members of my Sacred Council. It's as if the flowers are reaching out to my uncertainty and inviting me to bloom with them.

Our Valley is about a year behind the rest of the country in terms of the economic crisis. With the current state of economic uncertainty, and with so many of our friends in our community losing their jobs now and having no work, this decision is a REAL one. Yet we don't have to make it from a fearful place, we get to make it from an educated place, and that is all I have to do today. We have to stay with our hearts and to some degree as Ed Mills of the Abundant Mystic series-which I highly recommend-said the other day, "It's not your job to know HOW, it's your job to take action!" This is exactly what I believe about creating intention...when we take action, we can feel better about moving toward our dreams...

How have you worked through a split between your heart and mind lately? Feel free to share...we'd love to hear from you. Your story might just support someone else!
 

In Honor of Martin Luther King

Expressive Art Therapist, Silky Hart, created a fantastic blog post today in honor of Martin Luther King, sharing how artist's and others can find ways to support the relief efforts in Haiti. 

She shares this video of "a song written by students of the High School for Recording Arts about coming together for Haiti."  as well and many other ways to get involved.

I highly recommend a visit to Silky's Expressive Hart blog  

I Am Ready...again!

Photo from Creative Awakenings: June 1,  2007-Me on top of Red Hill overlooking Mt. Sopris

In the first blog post entry, on Page 34 in my book. I share a moment on June 1 2007, when I climbed Red Hill, which overlooks our sacred Mt. Sopris, here in Carbondale. I was waiting to hear back from the publishers and had spent the last 72 hours working like a wild woman, to give them the last pieces of the puzzle so they could make a final decision. It had been a roller coaster ride up until that point-seems like most of these BIG LIFE things go that way for me-and I needed to do something to release move the energy I was feeling inside.

I hiked up to the top and as I walked, reviewed the weekend I had just spent putting together a different perspective for the publisher. I felt confident and somewhat exhausted. What I knew in my heart was that I had done everything humanly possible in the physical sense to make the book a go, the rest was up to...well...you know... 

As I hiked, a plan began to simmer. It was time to let the WORLD know I was ready. It was also time to let the BIG U know too. When I reached the top, I walked out to the rock cropping. As I sat down on the rock, I looked back at the trail to see if anyone was behind me. I closed my eyes, said a prayer, took a deep breath and shouted from the top of my lungs to the Valley floor below, "I AM READY!!!" My biggest fear in that moment, was that someone would think I was getting ready to jump! Once my heart stopped racing, I was able to feel how incredible it felt to shout my intention for all to hear, a bold, announcement of my readiness to put myself out there in this way...as an author. WOW, I have to tell you, as I write this, I still find it hard to believe it was that long ago, as it feels like yesterday!

Fast forward to today...January 16, 2010. It has been an incredible couple of weeks stepping into this new decade. So much has transpired over the last 3 months, we are in our new space, I am learning to work in partnership, I am teaching again and LOVING IT and we have started to attract vibrant teachers to our space. A lot more was going on behind the scenes, that I have not shared. All of it good...but quite the wild ride! 

I am standing at a cross roads in my life with a BIG decision before me. It's been weeks of number crunching and putting my on my Big, Feisty, Business Woman Panties! It has been challenging to stay positive among the daily economic forecasts, a bombing attempt at Christmas while I traveled home, and now the heart breaking devastation in Haiti. Yet, I kept walking forward, working with my Venomous Toads, keeping them happy by gathering information, all the while knowing a decision was looming. 

And suddenly, the most amazing miracle that occurred. The dream space for the permanent for our studio opened up!!! AND...R U READY...wildest thing is that I DREW IT INTO MY JANUARY ART of INTENTION as it wasn't in the picture!!!!

The issue remains a fiscal one and as we are all aware right now, that is no small issue. What is so strange dear readers is that I have seen myself inside that space looking out the window all along, and I can't get it out of my minds eye!!! It won't let go, for weeks now. I see the bustling energy, I see others in the space, I hear laughter, music, drumming and so much love and healing. I FEEL the vision in the depths of my SOUL! 

What I came to today, is that in this decision it boils down to two things....staying the same... or GROWING! My tendency is to play it safe. As those of you know who have worked with me, I am an advocate of small baby steps toward your dreams. Build the foundation, then leap. And here I stand on top of the mountain and what I am realizing is that I am at a crossroads. One path that lies before me is the comfortable, and well worn path of safety. The other path is different. It's going to involve bush wacking through some very new territory and require courage to step into the unknown with faith, sweat equity a butt load of TRUST! It's going to require that lean into FEAR and uncertainty and give myself permission to expand from the contracted, warm, cocoon, and embrace the possibilities I SEE already in my minds eye. 

And so today I knew it was time to revisit the Mountain. This time I was not alone, Blue was at my side. Together we climbed Red Hill and with each step I took, I looked inside and asked myself to SEE through the illusion of fear, and to step into truth, integrity and WISDOM which feels much different. We got to the top, and once again I walked out to the outcropping. Interestingly, this time I felt much calmer inside-except for moments when my little black, billy goat was looking over the edge! 

This time there was a prayer of gratitude, recognition for what has manifested since my last visit. I then whispered a new prayer, asking for guidance, strength and releasing my ego. And then I shot this photograph. 

I don't know what decision I will make in the end, nor will I have any judgement about it, as I will trust that I've made it with all the information I need. My only desire is to make the decision from an empowered position and not from fear...

Stay tuned...I'll let you know soon, which path I am traveling....

 

This is 50!

Drumming, labyrinth, soul sisters wisdom
Diamond Stud, sassy dress, dinner and hugs 
shakin' it with my guy, to the Heathens
in a House of God
in Community

Cooking with Akal Jeet
to Bombay Beats,
the sweet scent of Indian spices
wafting through the house

Remembrance, grief, celebration,
saying...Goodbye
moments are precious
live them...FULLY! 

Facing truth, 
self-care, testing
and good news..

Milestones on life's highways,

I am choosing this 
next half of life,
To LIVE
Fearlessly, fabulously, FEISTY
and Fifty! 

What a journey it's been...I can't wait to see how the rest unfolds...

Thank you for all your birthday wishes, songs, messages and love, you are all a big part of the reason it feels fantastic to be FEISTY FIFTY! xxoo

Scenes from the weekend...

 
Birthday Sunrise on Mt. Sopris

 
My new drum. Buffalo...Prayer and Abundance. A gift from Toni (middle below)

Soul Sisters...Partnership in the true sense of the word. 

"This is 50" Self-portrait at the labyrinth

Birthday Altar 2010

Cookin' with Jeet and "ta da"..a new life simmers...

Healing and saying goodbye... 
 

 

DreamTime Monday! A New Year Begins

January 2010, Art of Intention: Reach 4 Your Dreams...

A New Year begins 

A clean slate

a blank page

an empty canvas waiting to be filled...

Reach 4 Your Dreams...

What is calling you? Join us....

 

Sowing the Seeds of 2010

Happy New Year!!

It's a that time of year...we look back, we look forward...we dream of what's to come. Reflections are part of life's journey and this year it feels especially important for me to look back at the path I've walked and reflect on the adventure ahead. Why? In 6 days, I will be turning 50. 

You my dear readers are first in my thoughts, as I would not be here without you. You have shared your hearts, souls and dreams with me, and I've been so blessed to be witness to the transformations that have occurred; marriages, pregnancies, career changes, and life transformations. 

For those of you who have supported Creative Awakenings, sent LUV letters and joined the Salon....THANK YOU! When you're writing a book, you are in a vacuum, it's you and your mind everyday. At different points in the process, most writers confront the eternal question, "will anybody want to read this?" And each time the question surfaces, you have to tell yourself, "It doesn't matter, write the book because you HAVE to...write the book for YOU!" And then you came, one by one, from all over the world and shared your hearts and dreams with me. To this day it feels like a miracle! Each time someone joins and says hello, I'm like a kid in the candy store, it's like the first day the book was released. I am so deeply touched!

I took some time today to review my Book of Dreams. As I turned the well worn pages, I saw a year of my life in review, created on the pages of my Art of Intention. And what I saw was truly validating, as many of the intentions have manifested, including re-opening a studio and finding partners to share in the experience. It truly was my Guidebook, showing me the trail ahead leading to this moment. And that's why I invite you to create your own Book of Dreams for 2010, so January 1, 2011, you too can look back at the pages of your life and see just how far you've really come. 

Join us in the Salon, we are going to step into 2010 together. An announcement is forthcoming...

In the meantime, here's something you might enjoy creating to Sow Your Seeds of Intention: 
Gather seeds from your garden or from a store package
Dry a tea bag and gently slit open one side
Insert dried seeds, beads, baubles and your 2010 intention(s)
Sew up the open side with ribbon or string
Place on your altar until planting season and plant your seeds of intention and bury your intention
As you watch your seeds bloom and flourish, they will be a reminder of your hearts desire...

May the New Year bring all your dreams to fruition....

Hugs and purple boots,

SheriI