About Me
I am an Artist, Writer and Certified Life Coach living in Adelaide, South Australia with my partner, David Salomon (Sal).
We own and operate Simply Splendid Productions, a multi-media training, education and documentary production company.
Simply Splendid Productions recognises that we are living and creating on traditional Aborignal Land and we acknowledge our respect to the Kaurna people, the Elders and the Ancestors as the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains.
I am commited to making a contribution to our world becoming a more peaceful and just place during these challenging times of change and opportunity.
You are welcome to join us at the EarthSong Aboriginal Healing Pathways Foundation on Facebook- Click here…
I have worked in the area of homelessness and human capacities training for 25 years and am a member of Dr Jean Houstons global network of Social Artists.
Click here for more info
As human beings we all share a common need for security and connection, belonging and purpose. It is by recognising and focussing on our commonalities that we are able to contribute to the Global Community, rather than experience the separation and disconneciton that we are seeing so much of today.
As children we all loved to play, laugh, share, create and expand…regardless of our culture, race or religion. Therefore returning to the place of the unencumbered child, with the wisdom, creativity and vision of the adult offers an infinite number of new approaches to old problems that war and violence do not offer.
You might like to check out “The Magical Child in Exile” – (click here) that I wrote to honour the journey of reclaiming our authentic, creative Self:
The answers are within each and every one of us…..there in lays the wisdom of:
“Begin Within”
My Art of C.H.A.N.G.E., Harm to Harmony and Begin Within Art Based Life Coaching programs encourage connection and meaning through the mediums of creativity, story, fun and relaxation based on the Mandorla principle.
The Mandorla is the name of the almond shape that is created when two circles meet.
Within the Mandorla we recognise our commonalities that we all share as Human Beings…and the space in the circles outside of the Mandorla is where we celebrate our differences and learn from one anothers stories, culture and beliefs.
World Peace does not require building bridges between differences…it is a far simpler process of recognising, strengthening and developing our existing connections from within the Mandorla where we are “ALL ONE”……..
The Mandala- A Sanskrit word meaning “Circle” , similar in name and meaning to the Mandorla is another powerful tool for expressing and developing Creativity and Connection…
I drew my Vision statement:
Djubba said
The “Community” art/image is well done. You may consider setting-up an online gallery, without the need to know the (tech) stuff, may I recommend, http://www.deviantArt.com — one of the largest on the net, with over 30mill+ postings, and a few million members… many professionals, and multiple ways to communicate and exchange…
Austin of Sundrip Journals said
I guess what I don’t understand is if the change you speak of is based on mystic practices. Isn’t there a book called Book of Chances or Book of Change, something like that? So I guess I’m confused about if the change you speak of should or could be done through mystic things or through sharing ideas and compromising but not denying basic principals.
Austin
carolom said
The Change I speak of Austin is really just about Love. Art. Creativity. Connection. Respect. Creativity. Play….
Definitely to share Ideas but as you say not to compromise basic Values and Principals.
We get to create our Life here on Earth and many people are so bound by dogma and judgement and learnt limitations and rules that they never really get to become who they were meant to be…….Love manifest as every day life, relationships, creativity and connection.
You might like to have a read of the Magical Child in Exiles entry……
Carol
Genice said
Carol,
I saw you on Powerful Intentions and felt compelled to go to your site. This is quite amazing for me, as I am reading about you and looking at your picture, I feel so much love and joy welling up inside me. I would be blessed to be your friend, and I am trusting my inner-love that I am contacting you for a reason, and I feel overcome by your love and beautiful self.
The only way I can put it, is that you feel like “home” to me. Like a mother.
Love, Genice
Anne said
Do you have aboriginal roots yourself?
I am just curious. Most Australians I have met have parents, grand parents or grand- grand- … and so on, from abroad.
carolom said
Thankyou Genice….I really appreciate your warm words and acknowledgement.
Ann I don’t have ancestral, genetic connections to Aboriginal culture that I am aware of. My ties are personal through my extended family and friends and Spiritual with origins that I know not where they came from but run very deep.
Carol
marc said
Hi
Like your website……….
I love australia and ……….John Willamson s music …….
I LL bet you like his music / lyrics too
greetings
marc
Marianne Hamilton said
Hi Carol,
I remember fondly our time at Jean’s workshop on the Mornington Peninsula and your gorgeous shining aura!
I’m still learning – up and down – and searching….that seems to be my fractal, that and the communicator – the Hermetic fractal that Jean talked about.
When I look back on the time that has passed I’m shocked at what I haven’t achieved…but take comfort in the fact that it’s a process, ongoing, never-ending….bless you for all the wonderful work you are doing, I just adore those river gums and would love to paint them!
Love, Marianne
Lynne Kennedy said
Dear Carol,
I’ve been getting your emails etc through the social artistry network and am finding your work inspiring.I live in the Alice and at the moment I am observing as so far I do not know many Aboriginal people. Somehow I feel like an event waiting to happen as I have been working with Aboriginal Spirit for many years. I too have a passion for reconciliation both personal and cultural and aspire to a new dreaming where we connect through our land to each other in the depths of our soul. Lynne
Winny Harris Lugten said
I found this site( by accident) so inspiring plus I have always been curious about Australia.,I just looked on Google to find out about the Baha’i community in Australia, and stumbled onto your website.
Forgot all about what I was looking for and forwarded this to my e-mail friends about the animals. Beloved Pets column. I kept on reading and it made me feel very good.Thank you.It is so full of love and compassion.Also similar Baha’i spirit.
I live in the Netherlands now I was born in Jacarta Indonesia and lived 30 years in California.I love art.
thanks so much for being able to visit with you this way.
Sincerely
Winny from Breda Holland.
Winny Harris Lugten said
Dear Carol,
I have this page listed on Google if they click on my name. on my Hyves.nl page.
For now only friends and relatives can see it.
Amazing how you seem to cross my internet path.It was listed automatically, I was surprised to see my name on Google.referring to your weblog by clicking on my name.
and now you are listed on my Hyves,page again!
I think you are doing great work with all the people involved also, working with you.
God Bless you!
I love to listen to Jean Houston as you mentioned her in one of your articles.A different world is opening up for me.
Thanks to you and Jean.
Much love
Winny
Nungala Somerfield said
Dear Sister Carol
You have a special gift that realy helps to unlock the personal creativity in us all, If it were possible I would have you run your Art OF Change program to the world leaders of the nations of this beautiful planet that we live upon,to enlighten, to look within, to re evaluate, to be in a space of peace to reconnect to the self .We need a peacefull world, we need love between one another. We need to cultivate together ,like a beautiful garden all the woderfull plants for life
to continue. We need to change.
Thank you Sister you are truly a most wonderfull human being, we all are,it”s just some of us are still finding ourselves.
Much love ,resect Deanna
Yanni said
Hi Carol,
You know who this is i been on the most amazing journey since i met you 6 years ago we havent spoken heaps but i am writing to let you know that you helped me to start to become a better person i am grateful for the way you have helped me in my life just one example that i want to tell you about is
when i was asked by you to write a poem about my aboriginal identity i looked in the thesaurus and found $100 i had stashed and forgotten about!
Next i was at a conference and someone asked a question which prompted me to recite the poem which i had in my head. This made a huge impression on my now executive director (big boss). I believe this experience had something to do with me obtaining my now current position. The third good thing which came from the poem was that it was published in the footprints in time longitudinal study, this is my first copyright which i am proud to have achieved all of this would have not been possible if i did not attend your courses and write the poem i thank you for being an important person in my life. You are someone who many people look up to including me. here is the link to the website with my poem on!! hopefully i will see you around the place soon!take care love Yanni
Yanni said
OOPS I FORGOT THE LINK HERE IT IS
http://www.facsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/vIA/lsic/$File/newsletter11.pdf
GWEN said
Thank you. I found your blog through DailyOM.
The world is so intricately inter-connected.
Blessings of joy and love
Sue O'Kieffe said
i have sub’d to your blog since i found it a while back through a google alert for mandala art.
most recently i have begun trying to understand sacred geometry just a little bit better. i know the mandorla as the vesica piscis. it is one of my favorite symbols and one that i feel whenever i come together with another and feel the power of spirit between us.
your intro, work and vision inspire me with possibilities. now let’s make it happen one more step at a time.
many blessings,
sue o’kieffe
Shuhei Hamasaki said
To whom in charge of this site.
I am asking your permission to link this site to my site notified above.
Please reply to me.
Regards,
Shuhei Hamasaki
**I am very happy for you to do that Shuhei and thank you for doing so.
Carol
Joyce Schwarz said
Hi, I just saw your Prosperi-tree and I’d like to include it along with maybe a couple of your Vision Boards in my upcoming book THE VISIO BOARD by Harper Collins Publishing, Collins Design, fall, 2008. ALAS the deadline is in 5 days– for most of the pix So I need a 320 DPI picture of the Tree and the file should be at least 8 x 10 inches. I can send you a permission form. I’m glad to promote your other products/services and organization and to link to your site. There is a short video on my tep site http://www.ihaveavision.org. My other business is at http://www.joycecom.com. I am in Marina Del Rey, CA — the book will have 75-100 pix. And after we get the pix we can do a podcast with you via phone! Joyce Schwarz, author
M Ingrid Poore said
Dear Carol:
I read “The Magical Child in Exile” and it has helped me to understand the child I had 45 years ago.
This could have been so helpful to him, me, his father, and the rest of our family. He was considered hyperactive and his family, teachers, and friends struggled to make sense of his behavior. Back then his middle name was, Don’t.
How sad. The information I sought then boiled down to just give him love. Carol, you really need, or we need, you to write that book.
tibchar12 said
I loved reading your stuff and as you said “As you become older you appreciate the land we grew up on” I know I certainly do now at 55yrs old with two married daughters. I will certainly look for your work as it certainly helped me finish my work the way I wanted too. With feeling.
Thankyou (BARb)tibchar12
Visualising our identities in a pluralist world « Floating Life said
[...] our identities in a pluralist world I love this which came my way via The Art of Change whose author left a comment just now over at [...]
Jane Turner-Roberts said
Dear Carol, You can see I have been reading on your website. Saw the depression one – you couldnt be more right. I spoke out against us going and was against the Vietnam war too. We just dont have any business telling other countries how to run their governments. Part of the fix it mentality. I am in the process of setting up my website now. My first one will be for Crystal Healing Jewelry and can I trade links with you even though you arent selling anything? I would so love it. Mystic Jane
Ceridwyn said
Hi Carol
Great to find a website like this sourced in Adelaide when I was searching the world wide web(!) for info on art and memorialising women and childrens pain brought about by domestic violence and abuse. My passion is sculpture..mostly clay. I get frustrated that unless y ou work in the area or have been personally affected these women and children remain hidden until we hear of some terrible murder in the media. I work with UCW ..mainly with kids and women who have experienced abuse. I would love to chat with you about your ideas and experience
Charli said
Greetings Carol,
I love the Vision Statement painting. Says it all. And thank you for the work (from the bubbling enthusiasm that is obvious in your words, I’m not certain the term “work” would apply), the empowerment, you and your team are effecting in the lives of so many. Bless you.
Susanne Stennett said
Hi Carol
This is a personal contact.I am a blast from your past!
I used to be Susanne Gray and was priveleged along with you to spend two years with the best teacher in the world-Rod Kemp.
I am committed to Reconciliation and work for The Salvation Army in The Riverland as a Program Facilitator and Support,working with Families who are homeless.I currently run a program called ‘Lets Live’which is a Reconcilaition project working with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women together who have issues of Homelessness.We are using weaving as a medium to teach other life skills and provide an access point for Service Providers; mainly Health, to improve the lives of people who are marginalised.
Interstingly it appears we have a lot in common in regard to our love of Our First Peoples.
I have fond memories of you Carol and it was a lovely surprise to be sent an email in regard to you.35 years later here we are!
kindest regards
Sue
Matthew Fowler said
Hi Carol thank you for this opportunity to look at your website and glance over all the works you have been able to do.
I note too, “Simply Splendid Productions recognises that we are living and creating on traditional Aborig[i]nal Land and we acknowledge our respect to the Kaurna people, the Elders and the Ancestors as the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains.”
Nine marne
Having now had a bit to do with Kaurna since standing for our 2007 Australian Parliament Campaigning Kingston, I note that our “Democracy is based on legal instruments
Governments, through parliaments and courts, make, shape and enforce laws. They also need legal instruments to do this – letters, orders, instructions from a higher authority, or constitutions setting out the basis of their own authority to make laws.
Australian democracy works because of its legal instruments. Australia is a documentary democracy – we can tell the story of our country through tracing the documents which give our governments the right to govern. The documents show that the source of authority in our constitutional monarchy is the Crown.” http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/significance.asp and that all these “Sovereignty” issues have come to heavily impact on this island continent’s Original Peoples’ Sovereignty.
I sincerely hope then that we will be able to work together and help Kaurna be the Sovereign peoples they really are in addition to all those 1st Nations around “Adelaide”.
Kind regards, Matthew
EDDIE said
hey Carolom,
I found you by browsing the oprah website and really like your view on the ego. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions regarding your view perhaps on facebook or through email. Eddiemunsterdiaz@yahoo.com
thank you I would really appreacite it. you seem to be such a wonderful person I would love to gain some wisdom from you. I do acknowledge that you are probably really busy. but it would be cool to chat.
eddie