Intention for the Self First

In our Reiki tradition, the lineage keeper Mrs Takata encouraged her students to practice "Reiki for the self first!" before treating others. She taught a simple self treatment pattern, and encouraged them to receive Reiki regularly as well.

With Intentional Creativity®, we begin each painting and project with an intention, an issue we are working on, a theme, a tool for identifying our gifts ... How do we connect with this intention and presence whilst competing our CoW quest? 

Lotus Wisdom - with Tina Greene

While tidying my space (a never-ending adventure!!) this morning, I listened to a favorite podcast with Home Purification coach Michael Spencer. One of the episodes I caught was this interview with mindfulness teacher Martha Rouleau from last summer.

Mindfulness and Intentional Creativity® share some beautiful interfaces and enriching practices.

• Self Compassion - as in our painting process, what if we couldn't get it wrong? We need to follow our inner Muse, not get caught in the tyranny of perfecting or comparison.
• There is an invitation to connect with our senses - touch, taste, smell, hearing, what an I present to? What do I feel? See? What will enrich me?
• Engage curiosity - what am i curious about? What calls for exploration? 
• Take time and space to just be - we can get so caught up doing, we forget to pause! Take a breath- you've got this!

Martha shared a couple of quick and simple movements, and exercises for becoming present. The first she calls Sunshine Breath (and talks through on the recording). A similar movement I've been doing for years comes from Qigong - I love my friend Alessandro's version, which he demonstrates here.

On longer IC calls, we often put on some music and take a dance break in the middle! 

Martha's second suggestion was a wonderful exercise for gaining perspective:

• Stand near a window, or go outside
• Look at something small and close, notice several things about it
• Now look as far away as you can see what's the colour? The form?
• Now choose something in the middle; micro, macro and in between! 

This can be very helpful when we start feeling overwhelmed - it brings our place and our focus in the Big Picture into better perspective.

She also shared the image of the wheel - the center hub, what Stella Mac would call our core values, is the constant. We might get distracted by something going on with one of the spokes - but come back to center for reference. Another image common to mindfulness practices is the lotus, which springs from the mud. No mud, no lotus! 

How can you be more mindful, and care for yourself today? 

Jump back on the train

 In early April, when I checked in with several of those still in process, one SiStar responded saying, "I need to jump back on the train."  

What a great image! Like our lovely Lighthouse circle last spring, jumping back on the train offers inspiration. It invites motion after a needed holiday, or necessary trip to take care of other business! 

Whilst several are in the last stages of assembling their competed assignments for the Initiate Book, (woot!!) others are still somewhere in the middle, with offerings, writing and or their paintings left to compete.

Before our Get R Done call in Dec 2020, Rosie Mac and I suggested sorting the remaining assignments into Ta-das and ToDos, then fine tune the ToDos into: 

• Easy peasy
• A bit more challenging, but I've got it!
• YIKES! 

Remember to check the pared down list of assignments, it doesn't have to be a Magnum Opus! The post with tips from that call is HERE.  

A couple of other posts on getting re-motivated are Reset and Welcome

Legend - Mythic Awakening - in process

The heart of Intentional Creativity is setting our intention for our paintings and projects, and this is a GREAT time to sit with your journal and calendar, and set intention for your next steps. Even if you plan for the longer extension, set yourself goals for your different projects! How do you best schedule and plan? Tap your strengths! The Visual Planning system is one of my favorites for SEEING what I want to focus on!

Check in with your Story Cards and see if you can identify any old stories that could hold you back - what  antidotes did you identify? I find I often have the tools to support me, but just forget to use them! Pull out your Vision Plan Book, and review your vision - what lights you up about IC? Perhaps you want to make a card or two that reflect this - a Chalice card for the abundance flowing - both your offerings nourishing others, and the energy exchange that will flow in .... A card for your Beloveds - Who is seeking you? ...

Heron Walking - Mythic Awakening

Writing a pros and cons list is a tool I sometimes use for making decisions - it can be helpful here, especially if you got off the CoW Train awhile ago - you still have the Ticket, what are some of the pros of jumping back on? 

What's are the Carrots on your Pros list, inviting you to finish your quest and compile your Initiate book?

• The relief of completion, and going on to plan your own offerings and collaborations!
• Graduates, including Muse Timers, are chosen for staff positions and support teams, (which includes payment or a scholarship for the class!) 
• Membership in the Guild at the Active level offers many opportunities for connection, continuing ed, and access to the wonderful library of classes we can take, and ones we can teach (some at no extra charge, others we need to be licensed for)
• I was the Art Doctor for the first Legend class to be offered by Guild Members, which will count as the prerequisite for CoW, and am licensed to teach Legend myself.

What may be holding you back - Cons 

•  Sometimes it's health or family issues - as much as you love IC and want to share it, you just don't have the band width! Your own health or responsibilities currently require too much time and energy. (A number of sisters have surmounted many of these obstacles, managed to complete 'After all!')
• What worked so far, and what was more challenging? (Can you approach that a different way? What are some other options?)
• One SiStar mentioned realizing she's so sensitive to energy, she's concerned about teaching groups. This is something Shiloh often addresses, reminding us not to allow other's energy into our fields, pushing it out with our hands and intention. Movement breaks during a class can help with this as well.  In her own in-person offerings, Shiloh clearly states she is not available during breaks, which she needs for recharge. Taking time for yourself both before and after classes is vital to staying energetically healthy!
• I'm happy to chat with anyone who wants to teach, but has a similar concern! My Reiki blog has some ideas for with and recharging your energy.
• And some gals realize the IC quest was more for personal growth, and feel complete the accomplishment, without certifying! If that's the case, you're invited to check in, and to fill out the Exit Survey.

You might want to take tea with your Muse and journal, or even a painting, to work with your personal pros and cons. Are their ways you can address/conquer your cons? 

If the pros prevail, pack your bag and jump on the train!!