A friend of mine, Ayrlie MacEachern, is facilitating an expressive arts workshop in a couple of weeks that I thought you might like to know about. Here's the info:
*NURTURE YOUR NATURE*
~ a playshop for women ~
Are the cold, dark winter days bringing you down?
Feeling the need to take time for your self?
Come spend an afternoon exploring creative ways to deeply nurture your self. Through expressive arts ~ movement, painting, creative writing, music & more, we will play, have fun and discover new possibilities to nurture ourselves, others, & our communities.
When: Sunday, February 1st, 2009 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm
Where: Bavia Arts – Ossington & St. Clair
Fee: sliding scale $40 - $60 – art supplies included
Facilitator ~
Ayrlie MacEachern is an expressive arts facilitator & therapist who loves to dance! Creating her company hugsforlife.com, training at isis-canada.org, working at L’Arche Daybreak, and growing up on a farm has helped shape Ayrlie’s love and respect for the healing power of the arts, nature and community. Building intentional community, creating sacred space and celebrating our unique relationships is where her passion lives!
Please register by January 27th by contacting:
Ayrlie ~ 416-422-2134 ex. 7 or 705-444-0550
Ann ~ flyann@hotmail.com
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Monday, late
I've just been reading about the Portfolio Project dreamed up by Jen Lemen and Jen Lee to circumvent their procrastination, perfectionism, and negative inner voices, to just get some work done. The idea is to just do it.. to go for quantity instead of quality.
I think I might need some of that. In the spirit of that, I am going to blog every day (did i just say that?).. omg. I might write a load of crap (and hopefully a few gems), but I'm going to do it. Starting today. So here I am.
I also am in the process of refining what I want this blog to be. And I think I want it to be a record of my family's life. I want to focus on that. Yes, I do. That's scary, but that's what I want. I want it so that I will look at what I have right in front of me, and because I love them so damn much. I want to get it all down. I haven't done that as much as I'd like. Thankfully, Ted has taken so many photos and videos, he has filled some of the gap. I'd like to add the written commentary. From my perspective anyhow.
I'm not sure how to start. I'm kindof lazy, or afraid of being fully alive, one or both. That's hard to admit. Some things that happened today: Maeve cried hard this morning about wanting me to be at school with her all day. What is she afraid of? Her school is lovely. She is lovely. I want to give her lots of chances to cry when she needs to. I just listened, and she kept telling me about it. I'm glad. I let her stay home this morning, not sure if it was the right thing to do. But we played, she watched a movie, she and I and Farah all danced together as "princess ballerinas". Maeve is very graceful.
Noam had a playdate at a friend's, then came home at dinnertime. He isn't as charming at nine, I have to admit. Critical of his sister, just starting to not want hugs all of the time. But he kissed me a number of times before bed passionately on the cheek. He's a funny one. We wrestled vigorously on my bed together for about 15 minutes. He laughed so hard. It's probably our most fun thing to do together right now. I'm so glad I can wrestle him.
I think I might need some of that. In the spirit of that, I am going to blog every day (did i just say that?).. omg. I might write a load of crap (and hopefully a few gems), but I'm going to do it. Starting today. So here I am.
I also am in the process of refining what I want this blog to be. And I think I want it to be a record of my family's life. I want to focus on that. Yes, I do. That's scary, but that's what I want. I want it so that I will look at what I have right in front of me, and because I love them so damn much. I want to get it all down. I haven't done that as much as I'd like. Thankfully, Ted has taken so many photos and videos, he has filled some of the gap. I'd like to add the written commentary. From my perspective anyhow.
I'm not sure how to start. I'm kindof lazy, or afraid of being fully alive, one or both. That's hard to admit. Some things that happened today: Maeve cried hard this morning about wanting me to be at school with her all day. What is she afraid of? Her school is lovely. She is lovely. I want to give her lots of chances to cry when she needs to. I just listened, and she kept telling me about it. I'm glad. I let her stay home this morning, not sure if it was the right thing to do. But we played, she watched a movie, she and I and Farah all danced together as "princess ballerinas". Maeve is very graceful.
Noam had a playdate at a friend's, then came home at dinnertime. He isn't as charming at nine, I have to admit. Critical of his sister, just starting to not want hugs all of the time. But he kissed me a number of times before bed passionately on the cheek. He's a funny one. We wrestled vigorously on my bed together for about 15 minutes. He laughed so hard. It's probably our most fun thing to do together right now. I'm so glad I can wrestle him.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Creative Women - Week 1
Thank heaven I have a new book to blog for, or I might never get back here! I have blogger's block bad... but I'm hoping this book might help a bit (I just had to get all those b's in there.. I love alliteration).
So far I like the book. I read Chapter 1, Week 1, today. I appreciate Gail McMeekin's voice in the first chapter, which rings with honesty. I also can relate to much of what she writes about, as a woman in this culture, and as someone who has struggled with chronic illness. And with the excitement she feels for art-making.
The thing that struck me most today though was the first line I read when I opened the book at random. It was a question - to remember the last time I felt so passionate about something, I would do anything to get it, do it, be with it. What I remembered was coming across a description of a year-long course called 'Somatic Spirit' at the Strozzi Institute. The course, which included a river trip in the middle, was an exploration of living in the body, all of our bodies. The description ran something like: the more we seek to live from the body, directly experiencing life, the more we experience ourselves as many bodies, or no body. The more we live in the body, the more we contact spirit, and the more we can be helpful. This was my kind of thing I would do anything to have/go to/learn. Something about holding the space for the physical, biological body, at the same time as spirit, excites me to no end. I want that! I want both. This is obviously an important learning for me, and it made me think about my attraction to art, or the place of art for me.
I haven't particularly identified as an "artistic type" up until now, so I've been wondering what I might do with this new interest. What does it mean - why am I interested? Why are other people interested? I thought today that what I am primarily interested in is not paint, words, or anything else, though I love them, but wanting to know more about, be more directly in the experience of, the deepest self. Wanting to know more about the nature of life. And why? So I can love. So that I know that those I love, and all others, will be loved; that we are held in this universe with care, and ultimate meaning. And sometimes art brings me to this bigger sense of self, and connection. The sensuality, expression, joyfulness, and community of art-making are also important reasons for me, especially joy. A part of me is finding it difficult to expand my identity to include "artist", but a part of me is just skipping off to join this fun.
And that's what I've done so far with the book.
So far I like the book. I read Chapter 1, Week 1, today. I appreciate Gail McMeekin's voice in the first chapter, which rings with honesty. I also can relate to much of what she writes about, as a woman in this culture, and as someone who has struggled with chronic illness. And with the excitement she feels for art-making.
The thing that struck me most today though was the first line I read when I opened the book at random. It was a question - to remember the last time I felt so passionate about something, I would do anything to get it, do it, be with it. What I remembered was coming across a description of a year-long course called 'Somatic Spirit' at the Strozzi Institute. The course, which included a river trip in the middle, was an exploration of living in the body, all of our bodies. The description ran something like: the more we seek to live from the body, directly experiencing life, the more we experience ourselves as many bodies, or no body. The more we live in the body, the more we contact spirit, and the more we can be helpful. This was my kind of thing I would do anything to have/go to/learn. Something about holding the space for the physical, biological body, at the same time as spirit, excites me to no end. I want that! I want both. This is obviously an important learning for me, and it made me think about my attraction to art, or the place of art for me.
I haven't particularly identified as an "artistic type" up until now, so I've been wondering what I might do with this new interest. What does it mean - why am I interested? Why are other people interested? I thought today that what I am primarily interested in is not paint, words, or anything else, though I love them, but wanting to know more about, be more directly in the experience of, the deepest self. Wanting to know more about the nature of life. And why? So I can love. So that I know that those I love, and all others, will be loved; that we are held in this universe with care, and ultimate meaning. And sometimes art brings me to this bigger sense of self, and connection. The sensuality, expression, joyfulness, and community of art-making are also important reasons for me, especially joy. A part of me is finding it difficult to expand my identity to include "artist", but a part of me is just skipping off to join this fun.
And that's what I've done so far with the book.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Maeve lost her first tooth
Maeve has lost her first tooth! Her first naturally lost one, below the one on top knocked out by a jump out of the stroller at age two. I am excited for her as she goes into her next phase of childhood. I remember how proud she was when she took her first step. She realized she had accomplished something big. This isn't as dramatic as that, but more poignant in some ways because it marks the end of her "babyness". I've been aware that this is the last year she will still be in it. Becoming six is a big turning point, and she will not be the same again. I will miss her so. I would do it all over again. She has been such a delightful baby.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Last day
I'm glad I've been here doing Soul Coaching. It started because I was interested in getting a new blog going, and I thought it would encourage me to write often. It has. I also wanted to check out the idea of tuning into my soul more. Seeing more about what forces there are in the world (can you really manifest what you want? huh?). I am seeing a coach lately who uses these methods (asking the universe for what you want, etc.) and I was ripe to learn more. I have learned a little more through Soul Coaching. For example, I tried Denise's suggestion to look for signs from the universe and it made me giggle what I found. Unfortunately I forgot the first one that made me giggle the most! Here's another that happened right after though. I was driving, thinking about some of Denise's suggestions and my experience doing this book blog, and I was wondering about what I would say about love. I looked up and there was an IKEA sign with a collage of the word LOVE. A few things like that happened in a row. It was quite delightful. It made me see the world (again, I already did) as having a gentle, humorous side. I'd like to experiment more with this.
I think the most important thing I've gotten out of Soul Coaching though is another opportunity to experiment with opening up. Sharing my experiences/truth and hearing others'. I think I did a pretty good job of this sometimes here. And other times kindof not. Partly because of time constraints - kids, dog, job, house, all got in the way of blogging EVERY day. But it's also hard to be open (at least for me) consistently. Every day. Sometimes I can't. Sometimes I don't trust that someone will be there to listen or accept. And that's really all we want. If what comes after this (including the second book blog, which I'm doing!) includes that, that's really all that's necessary (that, and some nifty art, and some sweet inspiration). Thanks to everyone for sharing this experience. I am touched again at the generosity of human hearts.
I think the most important thing I've gotten out of Soul Coaching though is another opportunity to experiment with opening up. Sharing my experiences/truth and hearing others'. I think I did a pretty good job of this sometimes here. And other times kindof not. Partly because of time constraints - kids, dog, job, house, all got in the way of blogging EVERY day. But it's also hard to be open (at least for me) consistently. Every day. Sometimes I can't. Sometimes I don't trust that someone will be there to listen or accept. And that's really all we want. If what comes after this (including the second book blog, which I'm doing!) includes that, that's really all that's necessary (that, and some nifty art, and some sweet inspiration). Thanks to everyone for sharing this experience. I am touched again at the generosity of human hearts.
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