Welcome to my SoulCollage space

This is a place to share my on-going work as I explore the process of SoulCollage (R). SoulCollage is a process developed by Seena Frost for exploring various aspects of ourselves. You can read more about it here: www.soulcollage.com, and here is theYahoo group : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KaleidoSoul/ where we share and discuss our work. Here's what the KaleidoSoul group blurb has to say about SoulCollage:

"SoulCollage® is a process that allows us to get to know ourselves better, to deepen our relationship with ourselves, with the people who support us, and with the wider realms of the spirit. "

I welcome comments - but sharing in this way is very new to me, so please be gentle. So far, all my rewards in life have come from being "smart" or "creative"; now, free of the need to go to a job every day, raise my children, and rush around in the constant whirl of practical stuff that can so consume us, I'm enjoying the very great luxury of exploring on a deeper, calmer level.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

The Children of Africa


The Children of Africa, originally uploaded by cathyb53.

Suit: Community

Description: This card comes from a song/chant:

"We are the children of Africa, and we will stand up united.
A heavy load, a heavy load, it's gonna take some real strength."

Strong earth-women, and beautiful children look out to us, to me. This card makes me think of my Sisters in Rwanda (www.womenforwomen.org), who are never far from my thoughts.

Who are you and what do you bring me?
We are Ones who look to you with our beautiful children's eyes. We are holding pencils, and a goat, and our need for you and our trust that you will help us is shining out to you. We need so much, but we will gladly work for it; we know that we are no different than your own beloved children. And we may need much, but look at all the strength around us - our beautiful country, our strong colors, and our strong and powerful women. We are the root of the world.

We give you our need and our trust, and the strength and beauty and power of Mother Africa. One of our gifts to you is that we allow you the chance to open your heart to us, to become more closely tied to all of us by sharing some of your bounty. Truly, that sharing is what makes us fully human.

What do you want from me?
We want you not to ever forget us. Do not ever forget our need or our incredible strength. We remind you that we are all as loved and as worthy of love as your own children born from your body. We want you to help us get started - we don't ask that you do it for us, just that you help us be able to claim our own strength so that we can be fed and educated, so that we can do the same for those that come after us.

How will I remember?
Whenever I look at happy, growing children anywhere, I will remember. When I see strong, beautiful, earthy colors, I will remember. And I will remember your powerful Mothers as well.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

The Traveler, The Fool


The Traveler, The Fool, originally uploaded by cathyb53.
Suit: Council

Who Are You?
I am the Fool of the Tarot, stepping off the cliff to journey into the unknown. The journey I am facing is both exhilarating and frightrning. I carry nothing with me, trusting to the universe to provide. I am accompanied by the dove, who caried peace and the holy Spirit - she will always be with me. The divine light presides over all of creation. The landscape below is both beautiful and threatening - to fall could bring destruction, even death - or could lead me to the Lover or the Buddha.

What do you bring me?
I bring innocence, even naivetee.I remind you of the constant ever-changing journey. I remind you to always seek the unknown, to be brave and to step off the cliff. The things that threaten you are real, but they cannot harm or destroy you, because the Spirit is always with you.

What do you want from me?
Bravery. Courage. Trust in the Universe. To take the step, not knowing where it will lead. I want you to keep moving and trusting in the process.

How will I remember?
The divine light and the peace-bearing dove are always with you - just look for them.

The Source

This is my Source card: that from which all things flow, and to which all things return.
I know that love is the strongest force there is in the universe. There's nothing else that is strong enough to get us through. The Kwan Yin manifestation of the Buddha, representing Compassion, reminds us of that; she brings us light along with the love. Water, light, lovingkindness, and remembering to remain open to all that the universe brings our way; these are the things that I honor with this card. This card helps me to be mindful of those simple elements.
The Source, originally uploaded by cathyb53.