Play, pack and go

It's been a long three years since I have been to a workshop/retreat. Tomorrow I fly out to Wisconsin for an exciting shamanic workshop with Betsy in Curse Unraveling and Space Clearing. A ritual of mine over the last decade is to make a journal for each event, the process gets me "in the mood" and later reminds me of a time well spent with friends and colleagues. All of these 'retreat' journal covers found their way into my SoulCollage deck *smile*.

For the last three days I transformed a composition book (picture before and after below). The inside cover reads...

"Each one of us is Light meeting Light.
         Expressing divinity within our hearts and minds,
Visioning a new dream for Humanity
         Joyfully dancing our way back Home."

As a reminder for my inner critic when someone sitting in the circle is tweaking my stuff [hey it always happens].

I learned what does/doesn't work in my new studio space; the need for better lighting, the need to sort rubber stamps so I can find them and how nice it is to have our dog sleeping under the table.

Again I am inspired by the Kelly Rae Roberts' book Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings.

Pressed for time I copied her figure from the book except my gal shares "journey for the answers." <<all good shaman's know this!>> She's painted on Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Back Canvas, with layers of patterned fern tissue and torn scrapbook paper.

It's my first journal made like this, and well I probably spent way too long on the thing but I like the way it feels when I pick it up. The creative process broke through some inner resistance I was dealing with lately. It feels good to play again and. . .

At some point one has to stop, clean up, do laundry and pack. *sigh*

I feel grateful. My dear husband says go, have fun. Yet just before I leave on one of my great adventures I am aware of an inner voice and resistance that says stay home, stay the same. Can you relate?

More when I return and we greet the New Moon in Aries on March 26th. Don't forget to release your vision on the 20th. Happy Spring!