Magpies Singing in the Spring…

It is Spring and my front garden was blooming Magpies today…. a family of 10 or so are out there singing and scratching for Cootamundra Wattle Seeds.

This gorgeous little guy was one of the main singers in the group and he allowed me to get quite close to him…and that was when I noticed he did not have a tail!

Have a listen to his song…and how he lets us know that just cause a part is missing, doesn’t mean you can no longer sing or fly…

Growing the Future…Spring is in the Earth and Air…

Spring is in the air and I spent the weekend in a small island community running a workshop called “Growing The Future”…

The theme of the workshop was moving forward by developing the Imagination, dreaming bigger dreams and letting go of the anchors of the past.

Each participant has her own terra cotta pot along with the Mandala and Affirmation colouring in sheets. On the first day we painted the undercoat and background of the pots and the following day everyone created a design that symoblised her personal Vision for the things that will begin to grow in her life as a result of forming a clear vision and reclaiming her capacity to Create…

We then sprinkled seeds of many different flowers into the soil and at the end of the workshop everyone took home her Growing the Future potplant which will begin to seed and sprout and push forth new growth……… so long as it is watered and given sunlight, warmth, care and attention of course…

Here are some of the images from the two days and many thanks to the Women of the Island community who gave me permission to share their creations with others…

The Healing Power of Nature and Releasing Old Patterns

I have just completed a series of Art based empowerment workshops for three community groups involving women across the health, homeless and domestic violence sectors.
Some the participants are members of the Stolen Generationm and many continue to be affected by the high numbers of deaths, suicides and grief in the Community.

Here are two of the pieces created from one of my new series of black and white templates…I coloured two as samplers and the other is by the Goddess M from an Aboriginal Women’s group. A survivor of the removal form her family and community, M gave freely of her art and permission to share it here before her untimely passing.

Not everyone learns best by reading books – many people fell between the gap in western based education and do not read or write with ease…so it is important that their learning and their healing needs be approached in a Creative manner.

Creativity, colouring in the Mandala~Affirmation sheets engages on a visual and kinesthetic level- many Women tell me they actually hear more of the personal devleopment information when they are able to colour in , than if they have to sit still and look to the front of the room. I hear this time and time again and have seen many a young social worker student have an ‘ah ha’ moment when she sees how powerful the process is and realises how little information and training is given around the powerful of Creativity in the social work training curriculum.

Art based development is far more culutually relevant to Aboriginal people, an oral tradition culture where art and symbology are the rich language of education and connection.

I see dozens of my black and white template Art pieces coloured and painted and have never seen two that look the same… such is the unique individuality of each of the Women engaging with the tools of the Art of Change.

“I embrace the Healing Power of Nature to replenish my Body, Mind and Spirit”…

 

“I release the Patterns that no longer serve me”…this particular Affirmation requires a “Warning…this statement is not to be taken lightly” because women find that when they engage with the statement, things do indeed begin to change…and that can create uncertainty and shift old structures….

“I am at Home with Peace and Prosperity”

50 years of Marriage ~ Congratulations to my Parents

Our family celebrated the marriage of my parents 50 years ago.

I created a Mandala-table of our shared histories:

They listened attentively whilst we read them a light hearted 50 Years of Marriage Decree…

….and we presented Mum with her tiara, her wishing cloak and magic wand….

Dad received his viking hat and golden sword…

…they waltzed to Their Song- the 1957 hit… “Give me your Word”…and their embrace took us all back in time…
When Dad sang the words in his beautiful voice that everyone agrees is equal to Tom Jones…we blinked tears of gorgeousness and sentiment and clapped when Mum swept her velvet cloak over his head and kissed him …

When they blew out the candles on the chocolate Heart and Circle cakes that Sal made, our family cheered…because we know how Blessed we all are to be a part of such love….

The Power of Gratitude…

I ran a session today for a group of Women who have had many obstacles and challenges in life. Violence, abuse, racism…the list is extensive.
Our discussion was about the power of Gratitude and how activating appreciation for simply being alive can begin to move one up the emotional scale from depression and despair to love and connection…
“I’m here…i woke up this morning…and for a long time I didn’t want to be” was the reflection of one of the Women.

There is a never ending list of injustices in the world and it is those who are able to find a peaceful place within who can make a huge difference with their small circle and thus the wider one of the global community…

The rise in mental health issues reveals that many people are stuck in the never ending cycle of anguish and depression so spending time in the company of wounded goddesses who are making a difference in their life , brought to mind the “Gratitude Dance”….

It’s Show Time!

Once a year the Show comes to town and a few acres of land on the edge of the city is transformed into the carnival atmosphere that we all remember from our childhood.

I took my camera along yesterday to capture some of the “people Mandalas”…the show rides that people clamber aboard for the sole purpose of being thrilled and adrenalined to a whole new state!

This is the Chaos experience….looked like a bit of a metaphoride as the couple in the second shot immerse in the vuluptuous cacophony of chaos all around them……

This is the ride where people are rotated individually within a big gyration…lots of fun and laughter…and interesting how taking the shot from a completely different angle shows another side to the ride….
It’s all about perception!

This is one of the best People Mandalas at the show…I just love the artwork and creativity that has evolved on the show rides over the years…

Fathers Day 2007

All Dad really wanted was to play….so he went to his wig and fluffy slippers collection and here’s how the Fathers Day lunch turned out.

Even Sam and Mulda, the much loved, Samoyed and Retriever cousin dogs wagged their little tails off wearing wigs and big feet.
They jostled for the wig and we had to restrain them with biscuits as they lunged into the wig collection with gusto.

I am ever gratetful that laughter and silly play was one of the core ingredients of our childhood and as Mum and Dad prepare to celebrate 50 years of marriage later this month, I am so appreciative that they are still here, still together and above all , have their health and sense of humour in abundance….

Ken and Maureen…my Ma and Pa…

Grandad and Ben and Louise- our much loved twins and only grandchildren…

Their Mum and Dad, my Sister Jacqui and her husband Wayne…I think….

Sams feet are bigger than his belly!

Mulda has hair like Grandad now….

Sam has a new wig to go with his big new feet…

Then he spotted an enemy in the camp:

And he decided to go in for the kill…unaware that it was his Mum under there…

We had to leave by 4 pm because as soon as the sun goes down Dad turns into a Were-Gorillawolf…

Does Sal think my Family is a bit strange…