Muse Time Beginnings

 I'm sometimes asked how Muse Timers began - pour a cuppa, and sit back!

The invitation read, “I am so excited to be offering my first 'Color of Woman Method' painting workshop, "Meeting Your Creative Muse", on February 15, 2014, at my new art space in my home. This process uses intentional creativity, visionary imagination, and intuitive painting, to encounter the Muse, thus accessing our own inner world and feminine wisdom,..." and I had to sign up!! 

Heron Walking - Legend 2021

A couple of us joined our friend for the class, and spent a lovely day painting with her and reigniting our creative sparks! After 'painting up a storm' over the following months, I signed up for the 2015 training later in the year, and completed in the fall of 2015 (turning in my own book at the 'last minute!!')

During my own year, I was aware some SiStars weren't able to complete. The following year, I was one of several 'readers' assigned to support small groups of students throughout their training - and was so happy when all of 'mine' graduated! Several gals who took one of my IC classes, or attended my monthly Red Thread Circles entered Color of Woman training, and all of those were able to complete as well. 

Occasionally I would run into the friend who offered that original Muse class, and if talk turned to CoW, she would lament that she still hadn't finished, and might add she still hoped to. After a particularly poignant conversation with her, and several with other students who 'hoped to' complete their Color of Woman journey, I began wondering what support those continuing students received, and asked Sarah! They were encouraged to complete, and had continued access to the materials and process, but there was no specific support system.

Sarah checked with Shiloh and Jena, and we decided I could start a support circle for those students who had taken extensions, so I began Muse Timers! Sarah sent me the email addresses of extension students from 2015 - 2017, and I started a FB group for those interested in March 2018 (that has been archived, and we now have a group on iMUSEA) 

From the beginning, Muse Timers have expressed that they felt alone on the journey after their classmates graduated, and gratitude for the continuing support of a circle of witness! Other graduates, many who took extensions themselves, followed the thread to help support the circle. I began writing a Muse Time blog, with tips on taking stock of where they were with the journey, using their IC tools and doing a reset. A continuing motto has been 'keep it simple!' Every time one posts her TaDa pic of her initiate group, I feel the same delight I did with my own completion! Another Star is shining bright!

Circle with Zander and Keira

When I was in CoW, my youngest grands were 4, and attending an art centered Playschool. I wrote about my Soul Work from that perspective of being a Grandmother, nurturing creativity in the children. Another thread of that Soul work is my offerings as a Reiki Master where I incorporate creative projects into the training. And the third thread is that of nurturing IC students in Color of Woman, as they weave their way to completion in their own and their Muse's Timing! 

Tools of Transformation

 During the Color of Woman quest, we have been given treasure trove of tools for accessing our own intuition, insights and vision, for calming the Critic and engaging the Muse! 

This Tool Kit is full of powerful offerings for our beloveds - and ... we often forget how helpful they can be for our own process! 

What can we do when the critic raises her head? Pull out the tool kit, and choose one or more to revisit!

My first Story Card deck and cover

• The Soulful Story Card process is one of the first assignments on the CoW journey - for good reason! 

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron wrote: "An affirmation is a positive statement of (positive) belief, and if we can become one-tenth as good at positive self-talk as we are at negative self-talk, we will notice an enormous change." 

If we only had the Story Cards as support for the rest of our journey, we'd have such a potent aide!! Often the very stumbling blocks addressed by the cards are encountered over and over - and in the cards, we have a wonderful way to turn them into stepping stones!  I share several ways to use them here.

I usually offer a Story Card session in my Red Thread Creatives Circle a couple of times each year, and use this as an opportunity to create a few new cards, to address other old Stories I've become aware of!  I like working on less expensive water color pads of paper for creating the cards. 

You may find this a good time to assemble your Story Card kit, for offering this as a virtual or in person class. So save your process papers with old stories and their antidotes to include in your kit. If it's been awhile since you created your deck, check in and see if there's are any old stories surfacing to be countered with new cards!

Story and Ally cards, plus 13 Step prompt deck

• The Medicine Basket - ooo, what a lovely image!! 

I love Shiloh's description of her physical basket, and items included!! You may wish to assemble a physical Medicine basket or bag to include some of your special tools! I've got a little basket for Red Thread and a couple of Shiloh's books, a little red silk bag for special scissors, and little balls of red yarn, and found a small purse made from Red Ties for bigger balls and tools! 

If you're feeling 'stuck' around your Piece of the Red Thread - pull out your Medicine Basket, and revisit your tools!

Red Thread Basket

Some of the Medicine Basket inquiries are:

• What will you be known for? 
• What Healing tools & remedies do you offer? 
• What can people count on you for?
• Who are your Beloveds?
• What is in your medicine basket?

Our Medicine Basket process helps us identify our special gifts, and points us toward our Soul Work! When I painted & collaged 'gifts' onto my first Medicine basket, I immediately saw this as a lovely process to include in my upcoming Reiki 2 class (and included that as my first RT event assignment). I invited my students to bring scrapbook materials, Quotes they might want to include, and then dream-stormed on how to integrate the teachings of Reiki, & the Medicine basket process. We created covers for the Reiki Journals I encouraged them to begin, over a background that included the Symbols they learned!

I've continued to include creating Story Cards and Medicine Baskets in subsequent Reiki 1 and 2 Classes, and love how they dovetail with the Reiki teachings on intention. I've also shared it in Red Thread style paint parties, like this one for my school chum Nancy (center with the basket on pink) and her friends and family.

Paint with Pals - Medicine Basket

• Many of us have felt we didn't quite 'fit' in this current world, family, community - the House of the Heart allows us to claim belonging. 

Shiloh comments - "We either experience everything as a miracle or nothing as a miracle. We experience the Universe as a friendly or unfriendly place. People's world view stems from their belief about whether they belong here." 

In the fall of 2019, I joined CoW graduate and EFT practitioner Sherry Reuger-Banaka in offering a workshop on Grief to Gratitude, using the house of the Heart as the class template. This was her Soulwork - combining IC and EFT! I've enjoyed doing this one on canvas several times, and they are such cheery houses! 

The prompts from a CoW student offering (via Zoom) led to recalling the cute 50s home my dad painted pink, with dark red trim and a white roof (to reflect the Central Oregon sun) ... And the Blue Door of my piano teacher's little back room Bible Bookstore. 

 

House of the Heart 2020 - on canvas

• Need a Treasure Map for finding your way? Pull out your Vision Plan Book! 

This is a process Shiloh Revisits each time she's planning a new offering - and is a great one for us to revisit as we seek insight and momentum. I love the whole brain, Muse led approach - our biz-coach, Stella Mac invites us to, "Create a business plan using your winged eye – you have to know how to look with a visionary lens to craft a business that reflects who YOU are." 

Vision Plan Book

In spring of 2020, Shiloh and Amy Ahlers offered a course called Dancing Entrepreneur, where we created a new Vision plan Book, plus a deck of 16 action cards to augment the booklet, and support moving forward with our plans! This is where I encountered the idea from another student of creating a board and planning pockets for a Visual planning system!"

Journal Calendar Biz-Plan

• Another tool is one we've all kept in various forms over the journey - the Journals!!  

This is where we've processed, and made notes around different assignments. 

I tend to keep both art journals for the longer painting processes, and the Smashbook style composition books for writing. I've amassed a lot of journals, and reviewing these can be helpful - reach for the one that 'falls off the shelf!' 

One of the biz tools I used following graduation was creating a monthly Smashbook spread with my goals  for that month splashed about, "popcorn" style. 

Some were specific to that month, while others are ongoing (hosting monthly Red Thread Circles, painting, blogging) I could see at a glance what I accomplished, and what I still wanted to work on!

I hope you're inspired to pull out some of your favorite tools from the training, and revisit the messages! This is a good time to complete or fine tune writing about the projects, and finding which best serve you.

Stardust Guild SiStars

 In 2018, Shiloh Sophia revived the medieval practice of gathering those who have developed proficiency in an art or trade into a Guild of Journeywomen for the graduates of the Color of Woman teacher training. We'd had a Graduate group for several years - this was the 'next step.' 

With the addition of the Motherboard Coaching program, and Red Thread Guides, the Guild now includes graduates of those programs as well. (The Certifications page has links to the prospectus for each program.)

Active Guild benefits include a group on iMUSEA, a monthly call, which may include a teaching, and access to a graduate Video library for Continuing Ed appropriate to each training. For CoW, this includes additional classes of varying length at no charge, and sign ups for several we can receive a license to teach after completing the painting and any additional requirements. (These include Apothecary, Legend, Diva X... ) 

There's a link to add yourself to the Guild directory, and volunteer or employment opportunities are offered to active guild members first. 

Sepha, Nadya and Shiloh, 2016

There is also a Regional component. Nearly 20 Guild Gals currently live in Oregon and Washington, and several of us met for the first time in classes, at graduation, during travels, or an in-person gathering. (You can find local graduates and Guild members in the directory.) 

In November 2019, I invited the local gals to a Gathering at the studio in MECA gallery (since closed). We set our circle for the afternoon, and Jan from Southern Washington, 3 hours away, choose to stay overnight! 

Sharing Purple thread with Sepha and Janet

While we do Red Thread circles when gathering with students and beloveds in our broader community, when meeting with other Guild members, we often use a Purple Thread of Leadership. I've shared purple thread with several SiStars as they traveled through Oregon, weaning strands of connection. It's always a delight when we gather, and this was no exception! 

Olivia, Sepha, Uma, Nadya, Jan  - Nov 19

During that fall gathering, we shared chocolate and tea, warmth and SiStarhood. Our Muses must have consulted - our colors were delightfully coordinated! We passed the thread, and shared highlights from our year, and dreams for the future. 
We planned to share a Metacognative drawing practice, but after our check-in round we just kept talking!  And talking - laughing, commiserating, and finally said our fond goodbyes, with a stronger connection and sisterhood.

In 2021, Musea added regional 'Constellations' of Guild Members, with Guides for each group, and ours began having monthly calls in the spring. Our PNW 'Stardust SiStars' begin with a circle, sometimes followed by a short teaching or activity. We have begun scheduling separate "Nuts and Bolts" sessions sharing info on making prints, and other practical tips. 

We may be drawn to Collaborate with others from afar, or in our area. I've co-facilitated in person classes with several, beginning with Lora Pirtle during my own Color of Woman training, then Sepha, when she entered the following year. 

Olivia and Uma collaborated many times while they both lived in Portland, and after Uma moved out of the area, offered the first 'guild led' Legend class virtually in the spring, and I was their Art Doc! 

Another local grad and Guild member Linda Allen and I co-facilitate bimonthly Virtual Red Thread Circles as a pivot during lock down. These are so fun, drawing women from around the globe!! (as far as NZ and India!) Graduates or students in our area are also invited to post their offerings in our PNW MeetUp.

Purple Thread cuffP

I used the purple yarn from several circles with my Guild SiStars to crochet this little cuff bracelet. It's both decorative and a wonderful reminder I can just give a tug, and the support and love from my Guild sisters is on the other end! 

I extend the thread to you, and invite you to explore guild membership!

Calling Council

At times, writing about our paintings can be a struggle, and how do we translate their messages for the initiate book? One of my periodic practices is calling council! 

Like getting information from an individual lady, I set paintings around me, pour a cuppa, and invite their wisdom. I allow myself time, and am creative in my inquiries! Are there ladies in addition to the 5 from your quest you wish to include in your Council? Perhaps one painted with Shloh or another IC teacher, before you began Color of Woman? While you may not include their stories in your book, they are part of your story and journey!

Note: per Jena - if English is your second language, you can write in your Mother tongue, and just share some highlights in English!! 

I called my first Council on Summer Solstice 2014, after finishing the second painting in Flora Aube's Art of Allowing online course, Sekhmet. Flora was one of Shiloh's first students to branch out, and begin her own school! 

I held a 'council' meeting with 11 of the 12 of paintings I'd done between Feb and June (!!), & my "star lady" wall hanging in the background, which I stitched for my bodywork room over a decade before.

Spirit Council

Gabriella, Mary, Daffy-Down-Dilly

Gabriella - is my Muse of Creativity, from the first IC class I'd taken in February,  a 'Muse Encounter' workshop with my friend artist Elisabeth Friese-Mick! I refined her face, & added ribbons to her dress ... and added interference paint 'sparkle' to her hair!

Mary of Magdala - was the first I painted with inspiration from Shiloh Sophia from an online offering!
 & little Daffy-Down-Dilly (March) was for a local daffodil festival.

Dancers, Wind Horse

I began "Dancers" in March, on International Women's day, & gifted to my ballet teacher Emma Seth - it still hangs in the Marchant Dance studio. 

Beginning ballet classes as an adult with Emma's mother Lynn brought a whole shift in consciousness and body awareness, and intentional movement. Lynn is an important part of my creative lineage.

Drawing and painting horses was an early love, and Wind Horse, with her Red Thread Rider, began in an open studio at Elisabeth's home. The Blue lady, Presence, is my little mama Lois - inspired by her HS photo (around 1933) and her beloved hills and trees.

When calling council, you might pull out several of the inquiries from each assignment, and hunt up notes from your painting process: intention for each lady, notes on symbols, where you got stuck and how she helped you find resolution.

You might wait to review your notes till AFTER you've gleaned a round of messages; then do another council session after that revisit! 

Your story cards hold insights for this process as well - pull a card before or after chatting with each lady, which rewrite are you present to? Does one of the symbols in the painting match this shift? Is there an ally? Are there insights and messages from other IC processes like your Medicine Basket that dovetail?

After the council, you can pull out and refine the stories and information about your individual quest paintings for your initiate book.  I got a small journal to record these messages from my quest paintings and other ladies, for a dose of inspiration when I need it! 

Virtual classes

Many of this year's Color of Woman students needed to offer their 13 step class virtually, due to 2020 closures. The last two weekends, I've taken two of these with former students, Harvest Queen with Carol Fairbanks, and Princess Silver Hands, or the Handless Maiden, with Christy Cozby. Carol offered two sessions, a well apart, and Christy did hers in one. Both were lovely! 

Harvest Queen - first session

In addition to the general tips for preparing to teach your class, here are some considerations if you're offering it virtually:

E-mail or otherwise communicate with your beloveds before class with supply list and set up suggestions, plus an initial inquiry or, "be thinking about..." 

Sit with your 13, step prompt cards, and decide if you'll be combining/skipping some steps. What do you want to be sure and cover? How will you address journaling?

Your format is the same as in person: housekeeping, Red Thread circle early with your inquiry, then often pull out 3 words for Canvas. You can include the visioning with the inquiry, or have them paint colors for each of the words, and offer the story of visioning while the paint dries. 

While working virtually it's extra important to give clear instructions on what they are to do next. Demo clearly and concisely, field questions, then step back and let them paint!  When it seems time for the next step, "brushes in the water!" and have them watch. Try to allow time for journaling, and give your beloveds a prompt/inquiry for the time between sessions. 

Offer some tools for working with the critic/comparison diva, and remember to make and correct a mistake or two! Invite them to explore symbols, and make notes. If they get stuck with contrast, suggest they edit a photo to Grey scale! This is so helpful with in person classes - and more so remotely! 

If you can, it may help to have a second camera (phone works) suspended above your surface for demoing a step - but that's an extra! You can also play music through your computer speakers. It also helps to have a cohost for logistics - CoW graduate Linda Allen in my Red Thread Creatives FB group and is great at this!  She has a pro account, so I have her schedule my circles.

Harvest Queen - end of day 2

You may want to prepare some samples: I have eye examples painted on a canvas board, with different shapes and angles, and a few "what not to do." It's great to have simple faces that are less polished as examples! I have some demos from previous classes that are great examples of how theirs might look at the end of the session. 

You might also do a sample face with the first layer of lights and darks, and one that's been glazed. You could show these as screen share, or just hold up to the camera. If you have a compost canvas close by, you can demo something you don't want on your main canvas!

Shading example in my journal

Generally, you will want to glaze before the end of the first session / about 1/2 way through your class, and give them an inquiry to work with while she's behind the veil. Remind them to set her up 6' away, and chat with her.

For the second session, offer a brief check in, perhaps another reading, invite questions, then go on with your demos and flow. This is a good time to introduce symbols, and encourage them to journal periodically. Be sure to include a half hour for sharing, at the end! 

Princess Silver Hands - one session

Remember to share your contact information, and email then after the class for feedback, photos, etc. And remember your own self care after the class!! You worked hard!

Creative Business Plan

Thoughout Color of Woman and the other Intentional Creativity® trainings, we are offered tips and tools to help fine tune our vision, and keep us on track. One of the recent offerings for both students and course graduates was Dancing Entrepreneur , which was offed as either a weekend course, or a deeper 5 week dive. This year's Color of Woman class could use the plan book created during the workshop, or the one following the older videos.

Vision cards

I participated I the longer journey, and enjoyed the depth of offerings, calls, and focus groups that emerged. Several of our teacher Shiloh's colleagues and advisors shared insights, and it was very rich.  In addition to creating a folded Vision Plan Book, we created a deck of 16 card Dancing Entrepreneur deck, as action prompts for our next 'Dance Move.' We wrote short prompts or Dares on the back, and Shiloh suggested drawing one daily.

Vision Cards

I loved seeing the other students' work, and was especially drawn to a visual organization system Karen Dawn created, and to how she incorporated the cards. Karen has developed a visual planning wall that helps her stay organized and focused, and I'm excited to participate in her 6 week course. 

Our next assignment is to create a Vision Board for our own planning wall. I've done several over the years, it feels timely to do one focused on current energies. 

I'm thinking of creating some calendar pages for my wall, like I've done in journals. One of Karen's inspirations for her wall was realizing how many great ideas were tucked away in her journals, and "out of sight, out of mind!" (Does that happen to you, too?)

Calendar spread

One of the Creative Business planning projects we did in CoW was to paint our Biz-Muse - she's a whimsical muse, with a winged eye, for seeing behind the ordinary, and intentions collaged on strips of paper.

Biz-Muse

Next up - collage time!!  

I used an 11×15" sheet of watercolorpaper for the backing, and images and words from several magazines for the board. The mountains are The Three Sisters, which I grew up with in Central Oregon. 

A piece of foam board could hold some of my planning wall - I'm excited to watch the next video!

Happy PPF!

Collaboration

Since my own journey through Color of Woman, I've had the pleasure of collaborating with several SiStars in our community! 

The very first collaboration was at the beginning of my CoW journey, June, 2015! Graduate Lora Pirtle invited me to join the PNW MeetUp group, and post my offerings there. When I asked about auditing her upcoming 'Mystical Mermaids' class, she replied, "no, teach it with me!"
Here are the class photos from our afternoon class - I played harp during the visioning, and she'd prompt me to show them what's next throughout the afternoon. (Yikes!!) I was glad we only had two students, for this 'soft introduction' to teaching Intentional Creativity!

Serena of the 7 Seas

The next collaboration was as I was gearing up to teach my 13 step class, Dancing with the Muse. My friend Sepha Nisbet had been teaching Paint Nite for several years, and gave me tips for teaching in a carpeted room without running water (the chapel at my church!) and attended! She asked great "beginner" questions that helped keep me on track, and helped with set up!! (The link has some of her excellent set-up tips!) 

Sepha enrolled in CoW '16, and we co-facilitated many monthly circles and periodic classes over the next several years. We created and used our 13 step prompt card decks early on, and at Shiloh's request, created the video and handout for the CoW class of '18. 

4 of the prompt cards

With this Spring's turn toward virtual classes, I looked for SiStars to co-facilitate my monthly Red Thread circles, and decided to add a second circle to our offerings. It's exciting to team with gals who live over an hour away, and can't easily attend our in-person circles, and to benefit from their different passions and soul work.

Yesterday Linda Allen, who is a graduate of both Red Thread Guide and Color of Woman courses, and is finishing Catt Geller's Cosmic Smashbook course, offered "What's in your Basket?" (during this time). Linda has a strong background in crafts, and we've both woven baskets, so she she suggested a 3-D approach! 

Basket and Vision plan cards

In April and early May, I teamed with EFT (tapping) practitioner and CoW graduate Sherry Rueger Banaka, with a Metacognative process on resilience and short tapping routine. Gals from her tapping community joined us from England and British Columbia! 

Morning's basket, leather, twine...

One of the benefits of collaboration is that wider reach, connecting with beloveds from afar and different circles. Yesterday, our attendees included 2 other IC graduates, and two students - one in CoW 2020, one in RT Guide! Each is interested in co-facilitating a circle, and brings unique gifts. 

Whatever your own passion and soul work, collaboration is a good time for thinking outside the box. 

• Who has wisdom and skills that complement yours?
• Might beathwork, Tai chi or yoga be a good addition? 
• Does a friend know a craft you would like to learn? 
• For in-person classes, can someone help with set up in exchange for attendance? This is great for scholarship students.
• Who is responsible for what? (Spreading the word, registration, teachings...)

My circles are currently complimentary, but when you're charging for events, it is important to communicate, and be clear about logistics, including responsibility and how expenses and income will be spilt. 

If you still need to offer some of your circles or you 13 step class, consider teaming up with a SiStar student or graduate, and doing it together! 

One of the Silver Linings during this time of dsocial distancing is the opportunity for unexpected collaborations!! 

Visionary Business Plan

Many of us who identify as *creatives* are challenged when it comes to the business end of things. 

Throughout the Color of Woman training, several of the Red Thread projects help us define our own offerings, our Body of work, and ways to share those with our beloveds.

The story cards help us identify and shift illuminating beliefs, we gather gifts in the Medicine Basket, and as discover allies as we paint. Our visual Vision Plan Book offers a container and Guide for our personal businesses (instructions are in the Visionary videos, the older set from 2012) 

Dancing Entrepreneur Action Cards

In addition to the smorgasbord of teachings available during our Color of Woman quest, support for both broadening our creative horizons and as businesswomen is available to us as graduates and Guild members. 

This year, Shiloh and Stella Mac teamed up to offer Dancing Entrepreneur to Color of Woman students, Motherboard graduates and Guild members as a weekend class...or a longer course (also open to a broader community)

What's your next dance move? 

16 essential frameworks 

For Entrepreneurs who dance between the worlds 

In addition to creating a folded vision plan book, we created 16 Card Dancing Entrepreneur decks, for taking action on various facets of our businesses. We could focus on our larger business, or on a specific project within that framework. 
Shiloh creates these booklets for each of her protects, to zero in on who she's working with, what the offering will be, how it will be delivered, who she'll collaborate weigh, ...

Vision Pam Categories

Originally planned as a live offering, to coincide with Shiloh's trip to the Council on Women at the UN, a pivot was needed, and the vision shifted to this online offering. 

Particularly timely, the longer course includes weekly group calls, and the option of bringing our ideas and action steps to our virtual classroom for witness and fine tuning. This iteration of the plan book included creating a 16 card action deck to component the plan book, and help us take our own next steps.

Shiloh's coach and friend Amy Ahlers joined us on today's call for a juicy segment on bringing offerings to our beloveds. We owe a debt of gratitude to Amy for encouraging Shiloh to begin offering the Color of Woman teacher training after the crash of 2008! 

I invite you to revisit your own Vision Plan book, and plan your own next Dance Moves! 

Time to Shine

I just had a virtual chat with a couple of friends on this year's CoW Quest, and they're getting nervous as they near the finish line:

• The writing! 
• Teaching that 13-step class. 
• Feeling The Time Crunch
• The WRITING!!
• And Oh My Gosh! What happens after I finish?? 
• What do I say for my Artist Statement and Bio and ...??
• How do I write about my paintings?

As we chatted, I thought of each of you and your journey - wherever you are on the quest! And of your personal challenges and triumphs! And - you've got this!! You've come so far already - that's hard to realize sometimes! But you have! 

Soul Spark Muse 

So take a deep breath, and congratulate yourself on what you have accomplished!! 

Pull out your journal /print out of Assignments, what's left?

• Do you and your Muse have a time frame? 
• Utilise snatches of time!
• Do you have a word program and file set up to receive what you've written?

Categorize

• Which assignments have you shaking in your boots? 
• Which are easy peasy and almost compete? (Alternate some of these with the harder ones, and check them off!) 
• Color code these by difficulty, or make a card for each, with steps in the back
• Or: write on slips of paper and put them in a jar - pull one or two a day. 
• Write about/take an action step 
• Set a card or slip aside till later if you need, but pull another! 
• Are any confusing? Ask! 

Here are some strategies that could help

• Keep it simple! 
• Go through your journals with tabs or sticky notes, and mark pages that hold writing to distill for your Initiate Book. 
• If English is your second language, write in your mothertongue - then translate/ have someone proofread 
• Notice where you feel stuck - are there parallels with places you get frustrated or stuck in your life? 
• How do you typically react? Ask the Muse if she has feedback/ tips - this is a great place for a Metacognative process - draw, then write your insights

Inspiration

• Choose a few artist websites and blogs to check out - read their "about" info, and jot down phrases that whet your interest. 
• Have a place to record class names and ideas from your SiStars which appeal
• Connect with your passion and values for soul work and future visioning
• Find the notes from your calls with Stella Mac - there are often juicy tidbits!
• Call council with your IC paintings and ask for assistance/gems of wisdom

Allies 

• Schedule a chat with a classmate or one of the graduates in our FB group
• Team up and read each other's work, or ask a graduate to proofread 
• Schedule some self care, a massage, a walk in nature, a chat with a friend 
• Check in with Sarah if you haven't in awhile

What's your piece of the thread?

You are doing a great job, and have so much to offer the community! 

Thank you for saying "Yes!" to the quest! You've got this!

13 Step Prompt Cards

When I began teaching IC classes, I had a notebook with the 13 steps, and my ideas  for that particular class. It was kind of cumbersome, and I sometimes got lost ... So I made a flow chart, moving from step to step - then hit on making prompt cards! 
Viola! Much easier! 

13 Step Prompt Cards

You can make a set of prompt cards for Red Thread circles, as well, and can adapt the process for prompts for any class you're offering, it's very adaptable for your needs. Here is the little video tutorial Sepha and I created for the class of 2018.

Materials

• 140# watercolor paper (can be from a pad)
• 13 step overview (or other class process you'd like cards for)
• Watercolors or acrylics, Neocolor 2 crayons, Inktense
• Calligraphy pen, markers, sharpie
• Brushes and water container, aqua brush
• Binder ring and hole punch (optional)

Preparation

• Spend some time with each step and sketch out ideas
• Symbols and images for the concepts
• Name of step
• description for back of card

Creating the cards

• Set your intention for making the cards
• Paint the background and let it dry - not too dark
• Fold and tear cards - from around 2x2" - 3x4" 
• Write the name of the step in the painted side in calligraphy pen or Sharpie
• Draw symbols and images for that step with marker, Inktense or watercolor pencils and activate with water
• Write the instructions for the step on the reverse
• Create a Card for each of the steps
• Make a folder for the cards, or punch a hole in the corner, stack in order and connect with a binder ring.  

Optional teaching cards

• Card with the 13 steps in order (the names and order occasionally change)
• Symbol Override - what additional information is coming through?
• Red Thread Circle and closure cards
• Favorite short quotes to read during class
• Inquiries for journaling
• Antidotes for "I hate my painting!" : a movement break; tea and chocolate; black and white photo for value/contrast; sit back and "take it to the journal," "when in doubt/angst - glaze!"
• Several inquiries for Red Thread circles
• When you're offering a new class, sit with your deck and fine tune the flow for this class. Do you need to rearrange the order? Are there any special techniques or instructions that you need a card for?
• Create card/s for your theme, i.e. "Queen of your own heart:" crown, heart, orb, sovereign symbol and a few words about the meaning of each (you could do this on larger paper, and keep them in a notebook, or create a handout with symbol ideas)

Personal Support

• Go through your Story Cards and pull out several related to teaching, confidence, having something to share, connecting with beloveds, etc
• Totem cards, inspired by totems/symbols which appeared on your paintings: Milne include Humming Bird, for keeping place work and encouraging my beloveds, Time Angels for staying "timely," and Beloveds. These often go on the altar.
• You may wish to make a couple of new story cards after class, as you gain new insights, or additional prompt cards. 
• Did new symbols come through? You might make additional symbol/totem cards for your teaching deck.
• Journal after the class about what came up for you or your students, and ideas for follow up. You may wish to dedicate a journal to classes, including both process and ideas for future offerings.

Having this set of prompt cards has simplified my class preparation and flow. I've made a couple of additional sets, as insights have come, and review them before teaching. When working on a class demo, I pull out my deck and make adjustments as needed. 
I hope you find them helpful for your classes! 

Muse Time Welcome

Welcome to this gathering place for Color of Woman competing their quests on Muse Time, and those who have gathered in to offer support! These tips and insights are designed to supplement the teachings you received during the Color of Woman classroom, and provide encouragement for the rest of your quest.

Shande'nea Star Path - Legend 2015

Muses each have their own energy and timing, their own interests and inspiration. Shiloh Sophia has provided a wonderful vessel in which our Muses flourish, and encourage us to shine in our own special ways!

As always, Sarah Mardell is our communication priestess, and the person you will be checking in with for official business your initiate book. If you have questions about fees, Sarah can help! For clarification on assignments, requirements, and submitting your book, email Jena.  

Wherever you are on your quest, I invite you to take stock. This is a excellent time to pull out notes from your interview with Shiloh, and your original intention on entering Color of Woman. Has that shifted? In what ways? Do you have a calendar where you schedule painting and writing time? I like little 'check book' size calendars, and used one for my CoW Quest.

Paintings
You might wish to bring out your Legendary Lady, and Muse, plus your notes on them, and the intention you wrote on the canvases, and call Council.
Pour a cup of cafe or tea and sit with your journal, Red Thread and your ladies. 

Put on some music, perhaps what you've painted to, or something you currently love.

• What messages and insights do your ladies carry for you?
• Do they have suggestions for how to proceed now?
• Which of your other ladies carry messages for you and your quest?
• What is your next step?
• What's your piece of the thread?

If you are still in process painting any of your ladies, include them, as you consider where to dive in. Ask her! Sometimes I do a light glaze, then sit back and journal while it drips. If you've already taught your 13-Step class, and/or one of Shiloh's recent classes, check in with those paintings - what insights do they carry?

Reset - This is a good time to clean up your painting supplies, and reset your altar. Get out a new candle, your ball of Red Thread and maybe some flowers to welcome your muse! Include your Story Cards, and perhaps pull one weekly. Sweep the floor, open the curtains, it's time!

Though it was optional, creating a new Cosmic Smashbook is a great way to connect with where you are now and to process your Muse Time journey. The prompts "show me, teach me, inform me" invite the Muse's presence, perspective and assistance. You can write your frustrations, and then 'compost' them by painting or collaging over them! I also like making little monthly 'calendars' with colored circles for different projects on my agenda / wish list for the month!

Smaskbooks - planning and Grounding Spreads

Writing and Red Thread projects:

Gather your information! 

• Do you have written assignments in your word program, ready for your initiate book? (This is a vital step!)
• Did you record some things in your Smashbook or other journals?
• Or perhaps in external blog posts?
• Which assignments almost compete, and how are you tracking them?
• Have you written about each of your ladies?

You may want to choose one or two writing assignments to focus on and compete. In many cases, we've done much of the work, and just need to document it! What is "the low hanging fruit," something that would be easy to compete? That's a great place to start!

If you're almost compete, what will it take to finish? If you'd like someone to look over any of your writing, post a request in our Muse Timer group on iMUSEA. If you were in the 2021 class, someone from your Regional Cohort may be happy to help! 

Circles and 13 step class:

• Have you offered your Red Thread circle and events?
• Do you have ideas for other offerings? 
• Have you offered your two day class, or have your theme?
• Have you written about it, gotten feedback, and have photos? 
• Do you have a place to teach and ways to advertise?
• These can be offered online! Zoom is an easy format to use for these.

- Remember, your initiate book is really for you, and most of what you have is likely already *good enough* ... We often fall prey to the tyranny of perfection, which gets in the way of completion! 

As you go through your assignment list, note which are already good enough! If English is not your Mothertongue, you can write in your own language, and add little highlights in English.

I look forward to what you have to share!