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addresses of extension students from 2015 - 2017, and I started a FB group for those interested in March 2018 (that has been archived, and we now have a group on iMUSEA) 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.

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! 

Metacognative Drawing

During our Muse Time call yesterday, We mentioned Metacognative drawing as a way to quickly tap into insights. Metacognation = awareness of our thoughts,  thinking about thinking! 

Shiloh has tapped into this over the last several years, and integrated it into the Motherboard coaching training. 

 Metacognative exercise: 

1) Take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself a question, perhaps 'What am I passionate about?' 'What's my next step?' 'Who are my beloveds?' ...

• Take a marker or pen, use a piece of paper, your Smash book, or fancier art journal. 
• Place the tip of your marker on the paper and doode for a minute or so, just letting the line flow. 
• Use your non-dominant hand if you wish 

Doodle, non-dominant hand

2) Then begin writing, inviting insights from your quick doodle. Write what comes to mind. Did new awareness arise? Write for another minute or two. 

3) Now, move to another page, choose a pleasing color, and sketch a symbol and wrote some of the words around it. Draw a line (a kind of ripple around your symbol and words) more words, and another ripple. 

Symbol and word ripples

In this case, the layers were:

• What becomes possible when I bring more scared space into my life?
• What form does it take?
• What needs to be released/added in my physical space?

Musea Atelier - step 4 sketch

4) Do a simple sketch, bringing form to your insight - here, we sketched our muse holding the visionary screen depicting our sacred space (my Atelier studio) 

This sketch can take any form - I like combining this practice with Neurographic noodling, and jotting a few words of insight on the reverse.

Wishing on a Star

We can jot down a couple of action steps that will help us bring our vision into reality, and choose one or two we can do in a day or two. I often put these on little cards on my board or in my Visual Planning pockets. 

Visual Plan Board

You can check the Educator directory to see who is in your part of the world, it look up sometime you've found inspiring. 

Instagram

 Yay, I now have 1000 followers on Instagram! 

I began posting on Instagram two years ago, after Maestra Shiloh Sophia suggested we do so, and use the #intentionalcreativity, to boost the numbers of posts tagging our brand to over a thousand - We are now at 13.4 K! 

In those early days, I wrote, "It's been fun playing with my pictures for posts, making little montages (which don't always behave!) And meeting new virtual friends! I love the journal pages @quantummemoir does, and ... I'm @nadyakingartist ❤"

• When you start typing a tag, suggestions will come up - bypass ones that have over a million, and look for ones in the 50 - 500k range ... 
• Look at tags other friends and colleagues in your community use - make a note of those which fit! 
• Choose a few that are unique to you, or your small group. Recently I added red thread Creatives, as that's the name of my Facebook group. 
• It's a good idea to check out the tag, and see how the posts match your intention - I usually click "recent" as well 💖
• I took part in a pod early on, where 6-8 of us tried to post daily, follow each other, and like and comment on each other's posts - Quantum Memoir was one of the pod, and we're still in touch.

Here's a recent post with other suggestions on using hashtags.

Instagram is a great way to connect with folks who are interested in our art, and to promote classes. A couple of years ago I saw a sweet hand drawn poster for a workshop at my favorite retreat center, communicated with the teacher, and decided to register. I often make designs on Canva, including flyers for my circles and class, and post them on Instagram.

Are you on Instagram? You're invited to post the link to your account, and share an tips you've discovered. 

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! 

That first Class

Here you are, at the threshold of teaching your first 13 step class - you've painted your Legendary lady, and began having morning tea with your Muse. You've met your inner Artist and taped your Soul Fire. You've gathered tools for your Medicine Basket, and rewritten some old stories ... 

And now...

It's time to offer that first 13 step painting class!! Yikes!! 
First - Breathe! You've got this! 

You have likely been gathering ideas for your theme, and jotting down notes from your CoW SiStars classes. It's great to have a folder of journal to collect these! 

Sit with your Muse and journal to refine your ideas and choose the name. Muse or Queen of .... is often a good start. Shiloh often suggests to choose a theme that is juicy for us, and perhaps has us shaking in our boots.

Gabriella - my first Muse

This usually isn't the time for offering your ideal destination retreat! Jot down your ideas for that Shiny Object (in a special journal?) so you'll have them later! Then - back to ideas for this can-do workshop! You need two students, and two days. 

• Pull out (or make) your set of 13 step prompt cards
• Do a Metacognative drawing or two, exporting your theme: Muse of Creativity, Queen of your Heart ... draw then ask her what she lives by?  What do her symbols represent? What is her Motto, how does she counter the critic?
• Do a demo painting, using the same size canvas as your beloveds will work on (16×20" is a good size for your first offering) Follow the flow of your cards, and do the journaling. Do you need to add another card or reminder?

As you're preparing, paint with your students in mind, keep it simple! The 13 steps are a great guideline, they're a teaching outline for our own use.  - we generally don't share them with the students, as they are proprietary to IC. 

• You may wish to watch one of the shorter videos - Queen of your Own Heart or Tea With the Muse and paint along (adapting for your theme)
• Experiment with glazing one side of the face and the opposite side of the neck different colors - this adds quick interest!
• Get a rough idea of how far you want to get by the first break, and the end of the first day.
• If you're offering a shorter class, combine a couple of steps, and invite the students to journal about the inquiry before class.
• Choose a reading for your RT circle, and write out your visioning/journey.

After you've gotten ready to teach, found your theme and set the date, you can promote your class, with info on how to register (that can be as simple as "send me a message!"

I use Instagram with #intentionalcreativity #oregonartclass #intuitivepaintingclass, etc and have my website link in my bio. I also have an artist page on FB and post Events there, then "share" those to my main page and in groups like the RT Cafe Classroom.

Sepha and Nadya in Tina Gain's class ('16)

For your first class, invite friends who've expressed interest, others in your community, family members - if you offer a special discount, make sure they know that this is a Special! I give a discount for friends who register together, and returning students. 

You can also teach teach other - I have taken several classes from IC SiStars, and it's always a joy, and I learn something new each time! 

Find more tips on teaching that first class here and from some of our colleagues here.

Breathe - you've got this!   

Teaching Tips from the Council

Getting ready to offer your first class - yikes?!?!

We've all been there - will they like me? What if I forget something?? I don't know what I'm doing!! 

I asked our Muse Time Council of support to share tips - what they wish they'd known before that First Class, ideas on self care, etc - here's what some of them said: 

Council of Muses

Rosie: Breathe! Deeply! This is a time the Inner Critic may arise - I wish I'd known that nervous and excited are very similar emotions...they evoke the same physiological response. 
You can choose to feel excited, and ask the inner critic to take the day off, as you have work to do. Then get centered and focused, and most of all, have fun, because you can! 

On getting students:  Rosie: I put out a "one time only offer," that covered material costs, and a small fee, and asked people to attend to help me compete my study and certification. I made a big deal of it being available for 4 places and got got rapid results.
Nadya: this first class generaily won't be that dream workshop at a destination!! For your first class, keep it simple and accessible for yourself and your students! Two for a lower price plus a materials fee is another option. 
Maria wrote that she had invited her best friends, at no charge, and later, they were excited to see her initiate book with pictures of their class and their Testimonials.

Janet: Prepare your materials to where you feel comfortable. Set your space up ahead of time, so you don't feel rushed or pressured. Let go of expectations, and trust that it will work out for the best. 
Don't feel you have to have it memorized, it's ok to have note cards and written notes to help you out. Breathe! Don't worry if you leave something out, or do a step in the "wrong" order - it's all good! 
Once you start teaching, your beloveds will be on their own path, and will get it done in their own way! Release and surrender - trust yourself (and your Muse!!) 

On Design - Rosie - For a 1 day class, I use a template. You can make up your own design, but I tend to use this one, and it's petty much lines by numbers for the face. Extend the lines to the bottom of the canvas. I started with a class designed to "Meet Your Inner Guide," and it's always around the theme of listening to your own heart. 

Rosie's Template

This is way less intimidating to those with no experience. Invite participants to choose the colors, marks and symbols they saw during the visionary journey, and the message received from their Muse. They all paint from the same design - and all come out different! 

Rosie's painting Part way through the demo

A 2 day class is a deeper exploration - the same template can be used for the face design only - I invite them to choose to orient the way they want. I found this structure very helpful when I began teaching.

Journalong and Reclaiming

As you travel through your CoW Quest, if you're like me, you likely have been filling journals with your process and progress! I use spiral bound art journals for sketches and Metacognative drawings, and covered and repurposed a bunch of composition books following Catt Geller's lead. 
I have a page on my blog with some tips on journaling, and recently wrote about continuing process journaling on their own for my students. I intend to print this and offer it as a handout, or email it as a PDF after the class.

Star codes

When I'm teaching, one of the things I find hardest to do is my own journaling during class! I give the prompt for my students, and may jot a few notes, but rarely do as much as I might on my own. I may also have done a trial painting on my theme before the class, to work out the kinks. It's helpful to leave some of these unfinished, and include them in the "Ladies" I bring as examples to the class. It is especially helpful for new painters and for those in shorter classes to see simpler work.

Soo... 

I try to take time after class to connect with my painting and journal. I also make notes on what came up for students, insights, sketch symbols, flesh out ideas for the next class, and ways to improve the teaching, set up, etc. When I co-facilitate classes, we try to meet for tea and debrief a few days later! 

Muse -2016 with Livestream

You may wish to dedicate a new journal for your class notes and insights, and include a section for messages from your demo paintings. This is a great place to record new class ideas, the journey and poem you plan to include, etc. Revisit it after the class, to add notes, sketches and do some journaling with your new muse.

A delightful suggestion from Shiloh on reclaiming that demo painting after class is to spray the canvas, run a swath of white paint along the top, spray again, then sit back with your journal as you watch the drips! What's going into the Fog? What came up during class you're ready to process/release? What new insights are emerging?

Same canvas, flipped for Muse 2018

This is a canvas I began supporting the Livestream for muse in 2016, when my friend Sepha was in CoW. I didn't really connect with it, and it sat for a couple of years ... 
I rarely gesso over a canvas, so I likely did a glaze or two, and I think used the white glaze tip, then flipped it and used it for the 2018 Muse. 

Soul Spark

Like Shiloh, I often have several canvases in process at one time, and use left over paint on different ones ... Soul Spark now has Star codes and I've been adding to her recently.

Do you have any favorite tips on journaling or your process work your demo painting? 
Share in the comments! 

Classes and Support

When we begin sharing intentional Creativity with others, we we may encounter unexpected challenges as we support our students' process. While some classes flow almost seamlessly, others have a "problem student" or unexpected issue.

Breathe! You've got this!  In my classes and sessions, I've developed strategies to address some that may be helpful. 

Carol's paint station - Gaia

Class set up: know your materials, and plan your set up. 

• I often use a less expensive paint for the first layers (Amsterdam tube paint) and have that out first. I demonstrate how much to put on their palette (paper plate) and have them come to a central table for refills. (If it's a higher price class, you'll likely want to with with Golden from the beginning) 
• When we switch to Golden at the glaze, I stress we only need a dime size of several colors, and dispense their first colors. I mention we may use any extra on the sides, the "lingerie." 
• I bring 1 oz bottles of my Golden paint to class, especially shorter ones, plus 4 oz bottles of white, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold, brown, and primaries red, blue and yellow. (The small bottles help get across that we don't need much paint!)
• A selection of several brushes, T-shirt rag, water and spray bottles are at each person's station, along with their canvas and a table easel. For a palette, lids from yogurt containers are a handy size for classes, and can be reused.
• I have square trays ($ store!) for each student's table setting - which helps corral and identify their supplies. 
• Remind them to put their "Brushes in the water" when ready to share the next step. 
• Pitchers for water in the paint table, and a bucket to dump paint water in are handy.

I go over the general flow of the class with the students at the beginning, and use my 13 step prompt cards to stay on track. If it's a shorter class, I spend a bit of time thinking about steps to combine. I often paint a demo before the class, sorting out inquiries, planning the visioning, etc. 
When I teach, it's a combo of planning, and intuitive process - tuning in to the group. I mark quotes to read throughout the class, and which paintings I'll bring for inspiration. I often bring small journals for students who haven't brought one, and encourage its use throughout the class.

What comes up? Ooo, it's different each time! 

The critic is likely to appear, wearing a variety of hats! 

• "I'm not artistic" - the Tyranny of Talent! 
• Comparison Queen - your painting looks better!
• I just don't like my painting! And on ... She's too pale, now she's too dark, ...

When the critic first appears, I often thank the student, and mention that they may be speaking for others in the group as well. I'll comment that it's long been her job to keep us safe, and it's sometimes uncomfortable when we try something new/different. 

I give some options, she can count rocks in the parking lot, or shall we set her up with a drink by the pool? She can hold the map and help navigate, but we won't let her drive, and may ask if the student can identify her voice - who along the way is she parroting?

"What if there was nothing we could get wrong?"
"It's only paint!"

I suggest this is a great time to journal, maybe "hand her the pen!" And then give the pen to the muse. Does she have a name? This is a great time for a movement and journal break, have everyone move back from their canvas (if you can - they don't always want to stop painting!) 

Different materials - gals who identify as artists may bring their own materials - if it doesn't upset the flow of the class, and they are in the flow, I let them be, and may ask about materials they are using. I'm often inspired, and want to try them myself, lol! (This is the nearly compete painting, which my artist student Carol continued to work on after our one day Gaia Encounter class)

Carol used acrylic ink and stencils

I generally encourage them to "try it this way, this one time," and some do, some won't! 

I invite them to use the Golden fluids for most of their work. If they brought less expensive paint, they will likely be disappointed, and it's hard to guide them - I may say, "I'm sorry, but if you use different materials, I may not be able to help a much... This is a good time to try something different! You can always use what you're familiar with next time!" 

Wanting to paint over or even gesso - this may happen toward the end - three of my favorite tools for times like this, or when they're feeling stuck are:

• Take it to the journal! Move back from the painting, and perhaps dialogue with the muse/critic around what's coming up. Is this something they encounter at times in their day to day life? How do they usually handle it? Would they like to try something else? You might have some journal prompts on slips of paper, and have them choose a couple. I aim for at least one journaling session during a one day class, and often suggest an extra journal break if they are getting frustrated. In a longer class, you could lead a second visioning at this point. 

• Grey scale - this is a great time to have them take a photo and edit it to show contrast in grey! I show them how, or do it on my device - it's an excellent way to see where contrast is missing, and that may help redirect them. It's also a good way to see if the features feel balanced, and invite them to make subtle shifts.

Grey scale and enlarged

• When in doubt glaze! Glazing is scary - and so potent! It's a great tool for engaging the Muse! While we'll generally just do one glaze in a class, each repeat adds depth. 
• They want to gesso? Bring out a couple of color possibilities for glazing, show them the transparent scale on the back, and mention that a glaze preserves these luscious undershirts they've built, but allows the old stuff to "compost." 
• ** Have them eat some chocolate and journal while the glaze dries. 

• Glaze Options: in addition to glazing the whole canvas, there are several other options. 
• Partial glazes with a couple of colors - lay the painting flat, have them glaze, then show them how to burnish with a rag.
• Glaze half the face a different colour
• 4 direction glazes - choose 4 colors, spray and paint one color at the top, spray and play with drips... Then rotate the canvas and use the next color ... 
• White! If they really want to gesso, suggest they try a white glaze at the top (Zink white is more translucent than titanium) - spray and let drip ... Maybe spray, then paint white in the area they're uncomfortable with - and spray again ... They can also use White in the 4 directions, turning the canvas. 
• Gold or another metallic is another choice for a student wanting to gesso - shiny objects distract the critic!

• Shiloh suggests a white glaze for reclaiming our own demo canvas after a class. Journal about the class, insights, challenges, your own process, perhaps take yourself through the journey again. Smudge, then bless and spray the canvas, with a large brush, paint white at the top, then let it drip ... Sit back with a cuppa, and journal. 
• I sometimes use a combo of white and gold for this! I've also flipped the canvas and begun over on the face, without gessoing! 

• Codes and symbols - this may be a good time to ask if any symbols came through, and how they want to depict them. Jane they noted them in their journal?

• Biophotons, Stars and Prayer Dots- I mix white with glazing medium when I'm painting stars or sometimes when adding prayer dots - if they want to cover with gesso, a layer of light may be what's indicated! 

These are a few of the issues that arise - I've had students create very different paintings from my basic instructions - including landscapes with wonderful creatures rather than a lady! If it doesn't interrupt the flow of the rest of the class, and they are happy in their zone - I let them be! 

I bring out metallic and interference paint toward the end for "adornment"'- not as messy as glitter, and so satisfying! Then invite the students to hand Her the pen, and receive Her name and message.

What are some of your teaching challenges, and how did you handle them?  

Reset

Muses light fuses! 
What has your muse been whispering? Mine seems to have been on a bit of a sabbatical this year - I wish we could say we've been somewhere fun!! I've led my monthly circles, but only taught a few classes, and painting has been sporadic as well. As I feel into my piece of the thread, I pull out the new 18 month daybook/calendar I got this fall, and jot down notes.

What's your process for organization? When I began my CoW quest, I found a little red

Vision flower

checkbook style calendar at the dollar store, and entered each month's assignments in the notes at the bottom of the page, in addition to marking quest time each week. It was fulfilling to check them off, or Tune into what I needed to do to finish. I'm someone who can tend to procrastinate, and push deadlines, so it was often tight! i also like to play with Color and make plans in a less linear way, like this vision flower.

As you enter the next leg of your quest, I invite you to consider a reset.
 As we often did between paintings, this is a good time to clear and reset your altar, hang a different piece of art on the wall, set out a new candle. Choose a story card and place it on the altar. Spend some time in your studio, making it easier to work in. Sweep the floor, organize supplies, make a list of ones you need. Do you have enough light? A cozy chair for cafe and journaling? A place to sit "at least 5 feet back" from your painting/s? 

One of my periodic practices is calling council with my paintings! Like getting information from an individual lady, I set paintings around me, and invite their wisdom. 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! 

For this next phase of your quest, you'll be setting your own time line, so this is a great time to take stock. Do you need a new calendar and/or art journal?  What Insights about your journey have come in?

What do you still need to compete? Are some almost done? Are any of those "good enough" already? 
Are they in the Color of Woman file on your computer? Have you offered your RT circles and 13 step class? You may want to rank your "to do" list by ease of competing, and alternate easier with more challenging tasks. 

Here are some ideas for a reset:

• Reset your studio and altar
• Refresh your Supply list (watch for sales, add add items to your wish list)
• Get a new calendar and schedule time each week/month for CoW
• Spend some time with your journal, process and inspiration

• Set goals and time frame for completion
• Prioritize assignments to write up and check off 
• Call Council with your ladies
• Revisit your Future Teacher visioning, has something changed?

• Choose a story card for your altar each week
• Revisit your vision plan book for ideas, contacts, 
• Connect with an Accountability buddy 

Tugging on the Red Thread, you've got this! 

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!