Noticing Nature

This Jack-in-the-Pulpit shows up every year in our garden.  I wonder if it comes up from the woods that use to be here, or if the previous owners transplanted it at some time in the past.  Either way, I love when it arrives!  It is a fascinating plant.

With the green of the flower and the purple stripes, it reminds me of something ancient…or a strange circus tent…or stockings of a can-can dancer.  Weird what images come up in my mind when I look at this intriguing plant.  I do not usually see green as a flower color, so this intrigues me.  Sort of a leaf…that decided to shine brighter and build itself into a flower.

What do you see?
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Noticing Nature

This Jack-in-the-Pulpit shows up every year in our garden.  I wonder if it comes up from the woods that use to be here, or if the previous owners transplanted it at some time in the past.  Either way, I love when it arrives!  It is a fascinating plant.

With the green of the flower and the purple stripes, it reminds me of something ancient…or a strange circus tent…or stockings of a can-can dancer.  Weird what images come up in my mind when I look at this intriguing plant.  I do not usually see green as a flower color, so this intrigues me.  Sort of a leaf…that decided to shine brighter and build itself into a flower.

What do you see?
(read more)

A bit of love…..

Found this heart on the sidewalk while walking from a meeting.

Just sending you some love today!

Spinning through the scary bits…

Putting on shoes…dancing…taking time to create. I like to let my mind wander while I create new things that give me insights into my life. From this “dancing” or spinning I call it…I have created artwork that adds color and wonder to my life as I grow and change. There is a tiny voice that still wants to say “you are not an artist”…and a societal pull that wants to support that…and this is where the edge always enters the game for me.

So…in order to change the story of the negative voices (that doe not serve me and my purpose) I dance and create anyway…dancing away the voices and allowing in the momentum that shows up in color on the page.

This has allowed me to write and write and write on my experiences…bringing together many years of thoughts and ideas. I have moved through these fears and voices by taking physical action. And have put the words into an order that will become my focus for the next year.

The voices are still there…that lizard brain talking itself through the scary bits. But if I keep on dancing, creating and side-stepping…I am finding my new story beginning to emerge…

Getting on the Mat

OK…getting on the mat to practice yoga each morning.  This centers me.  Sometimes, I am cranky and just refuse to do it.  But…I know how good I feel each time I practice.  Even 15-20 minutes…short and sweet.  Keeping a “movement” routine in my day.

How do you create your morning ritual?

What am I an expert in?

Homework…What am I an expert in?

OK…so I wrote all of the suggestions for word replacements that might “soften” the word expert for me: gifts, specialty, passions, roots, owning knowledge, energy (thank you all!)

Then I wrote my specialties: teaching, arts integration, blogging, journaling, planning projects, singing

And I pulled out the colors of paint that spoke to me…while thinking of the word meanings…and here is my image 🙂

Spirals

I was presenting in a different city and stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast there.  I took this photo of the staircase and love the way the spirals flow in the image.  I love seeing spirals in nature and in architecture.   It reminds me of “going within” (like the way this staircase moves inward) and also “spiraling out” (like the stars and galaxies of the universe). 
 
Taking time to spiral inside my own thoughts and ideas to see what might be at the very core of me.  What treasures are held within?  What deep thoughts and ideas have been placed at the inner most tip of the spiral?

Spirals show up in so many ways in my life.  How about you?  What images show up a lot and are nudging you to notice them?
 
Are you interested in exploring these questions further?  Looking for ways to notice what images reveal themselves to you?  To reflect later on images that have come to you inituitively?  Click here to learn more about Life’s Layers, a day long mini-retreat I am holding on January 5, 2013!  I would love to see you there!

Inner~Creative~Voice

Just before the Vision Board Workshop on Hibernation.

Lovely indoor light….

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Vision Board Workshops 2011-12

Vision Board Workshops
with Susan Loughrin
3rd Wednesday of each month*, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

By surrounding yourself with images that depict your dreams, hopes, wishes, and desires, you are taking the first step toward making these your reality.  Join Susan Loughrin for a monthly face-to-face opportunity to explore your  dreams and create a visual map towards your future!

Fee:  $20.00 per session.
Checks made out to Susan Loughrin
Limit 10 participants
Registration required: www.innercreativevoice.com contact page

MONTHLY VISION BOARD TOPICS:

September 21, 2011- Routine
October 19, 2011 – Harvest
November 16, 2011 – Bounty
December 14, 2011 – Reflection
January 18, 2012 – Renewal
February 15, 2012 – Hibernation
March 21, 2012 – Spring Cleaning
April 18, 2012 – New Growth
May 16, 2012 – Green Blossoms

no workshop in June, July or August
*Some classes vary – check schedule on our homepage calendar

Location:

575 Robbins Road
Suite E

Grand Haven, MI 49417-2695

map

 

Information contact Susan at susan@innercreativevoice.com
www.innercreativevoice.com

May 18 Vision Board Workshop

You all bring such a warm and wonderful energy into each vision board session!  I am always awed and inspired!

Thank you for taking the time to nurture your own creative and inner journey.  I am grateful for your willingness to share.

Remember…we will take a break over the summer months of June and July and start back to our regular 3rd Wednesday schedule in August!

If you wish to share your vision board through a photo, click here.  Share any thoughts you have in the comments below.

The InnerCreativeVoice Newsletter will be out in a bit…

Susan
www.innercreativevoice.com