Insta Magic

 Wow - I have 1300 (now nearly 1400!) followers on Instagram! 

Canva Thank you Graphic

I began posting on Instagram three years ago, after Maestra Shiloh Sophia suggested Guild members use the #intentionalcreativity, and see if we could boost the numbers of posts over a thousand or so tagging our brand! We are now at 19.7K!

I love the visual focus of Instagram, which is ideal for our artist selves. Our own Stella Mac posted tips on using Hashtags, which proved invaluable! (you can use up to 33, about 12-15 are most effective - and be selective!)

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 ❤"

Do you already have a page on Instagram? I invite you to begin posting your art and share inspiration! 

• 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 or lower
• Check out the tags your colleagues use - make a note of those which fit! (a tag may sound great - but when you visit it, the posts don't match your vision/intention!)
• It's a good idea to check out the tag, and see how the posts match your intention - I usually click "recent" as well 💖
• 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. 

Building your following and adding content

• When you have a bit of extra time, visit some of the folks who 'liked' your recent posts, and choose several which appeal to interact with, follow and comment on.  
• When someone comments on your post, take time to reply - even if it's just 'thank you!'
• Post favorite quotes and tips from time to time - how can you uplift your beloveds?
• Click 'view insights' to see how your posts are performing, and who has viewed the post. You can see what time of day posts are most viewed, etc. 
• While we can use up to 30 tags in a post, the magic number is 11 - I generally use a few more.
• The Magic formula is to choose 5-8 'popular' tags that have been used 50-500k times
• 5-8 moderate 5-50k
• Several specific to your group or offerings
• And a few niche - personal to you!

Promoting your work and offerings

• When you collaborate on a class or other offering, choose a tag together, and use it with your posts. I was recently the Art Doc for a class two of my colleagues offered, and they chose #AwakeningMythicLegend for our class posts. 
• Encourage your students with accounts to use the tag, and to tag you on their posts!
• Be sure to tag your partner in your post with @____
• If you have your work in a show or at a gallery, tag the venue, and like/comment on posts they make, especially if you're mentioned/ tagged!
• Instagram allows one "active link" in your profile, so many folks create a link list (like Linktree) with link to classes, free offers, their main website, blogs. Check out the 'link in bio' on different accounts, and see which appeal to you. 

Whilst researching link options, I came across a YouTube tutorial from Canva on creating active web pages and decided to that for my profile link! I often use Canva for graphics, so that was an easy choice! 

• Post a link to your website or blog in your bio, and update your site regularly. 
• A blog is an easy 'website option,' if you haven't built a website yet. I have several, and post events on a couple of those. 
• If you're promoting an event, make the registration easy to find! (I often check these in colleagues' posts, and have to poke around for their current offer!)
• If you have several distinct business, you may want to add other accounts
• Post your bio link at the end of your text "click the link in my bio to register -@nadyakingartist 

Here's a recent post with in depth suggestions on using hashtags! 

Are you on Instagram? Go look - you may already have a page with 20 or more followers that you just need to claim! 

Challenge: post your most recent painting and a little blurb on your Insta page!

You're invited to post the link to your account in the comments, and share any tips you've discovered! 

 

KISS - Keep it Simple Sweet one!

As we approach teaching online or in person, one key is to keep it simple! 

• Set up so they can see your demo - do a trial run with a buddy if this is new
• Give an overview of the the class and format 
• Talk a bit, then let them do that step! 
• Honor questions - they benefit everyone! (And set boundaries!)
• Allow time at the beginning for your circle, and time at the end for everyone to share their guidance, insights and painting

Ginger and Jean - 4 hour Harvest Queen

Handouts - email:

• Materials list
• Give journaling prompts as pre and post class homework
• You might have a common symbol handout, winged and flaming heart, spiral, bird, ... plus a few words on possible meaning
• Consider including a simple face map (full face is easiest) 
• 
  Linda Allen - Simplicity

Personal prep

• Choose your poem/ readings to match your theme
• Do a practice painting on your theme, in the time you've scheduled for your class
• Keep your sample simple, and leave it unfinished as an example 
• Jot down journaling prompts as you paint, to support your inquiry
• Do your own journaling! 
• I have a painting panel with options for features - eyes, lips
• Practice the visioning
• Have some tools for coping with the critic! 

Linda Allen - Simplicity

Flow

• Create your 13 step prompt cards and perhaps a few extras around your theme
• Combine some if its a shorted class
• The 13 steps are proprietary for intentional creativity, and for our own use. We usually don't talk about them much, saying, "now we're going to do a Risky Glaze to integrate the colors" (rather than "now we're doing the integration step") ...
• Keep the class moving along, give a bit of warning before moving on
• Allow for tea and movement breaks
• Have show and tell time at the end (~20 minutes) 

Two or more sessions

• Generally, glaze by the halfway point, or end of the first session
• If you offer the class over two + sessions, don't work on your class painting between!!
• You could work more on your practice painting - and at the end, share a screen shot of where you left off, and what it looks like after more attention! 
• Share additional journal prompts, including tips for coping with the critic
• Second session - do a mini circle and perhaps short visioning to bring them back 

Charging

• Check what others in your area charge for classes similar in length
• If your class is virtual, you may choose to charge less, as they'll supply the materials, you can still charge for your time!
• Consider the option donations to a favorite charity, provide the link
• Offer partial scholarships, or discount for a second person, as you choose

After completion, invite them to share feedback and photos, and do a follow up email. You may want to schedule a call if someone voices big challenges or insights. 

Thanks to Color of Woman graduate Linda Allen for sharing her Simplicity story card - you can find more of Linda's writing and work here.

Be sure to give yourself time for self care, and integration you worked hard!!    

Using our Tools

During the Color of Woman quest, we are given treasure trove of tools for accessing our own intuition, insights and vision, and for calming the critic. Many of these make great offerings for our beloveds - and ... we may forget how helpful they can be for our own process! 

What can we do when the critic raises her head? 

In the 80s, Douglas Bloch suggested writing an affirmation, then processing "what comes up."  (Douglas Bloch, author of 'Words that Heal') We often decorated our "finished" affirmation with sequins and sparkles, ...put them up on mirrors, carried them in our wallets...

Story Card deck and cover

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron writes: "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." Like Bloch, Julia suggests writing out the affirmation, then the 'blurts' which counter it, & suggests identifying their origin - "who told you that?" "Do you believe it's true?" 

With Intentional Creativity®, we approach the affirmation by first writing out the 'old stories' which hold you back, the critic chatter and negative beliefs on one side of a slip of paper: "I never have enough time!"  "I'm too old" (or too young, or too busy) "I'd love to do my art, but I don't want to end up a starving artist" ... "I can't afford__"

Then, we write an antidote on the other side of our process paper, and craft a short affirmation; the Antidote is transferred to our card & decorated. And then, ... we often tuck the deck away, and head off to the next assignment!! 

Oops! 

When talking to Creatives in our community, I notice some continue to "reaffirm" stories they countered during their CoW quest!  When I hear one surface, I often ask if they wish to reframe that story, & affirm something positive instead! (And try to remember to do this as well!!)

So my inquiry today is, "How do you utilize the lessons and reframe offered by your Story Cards?"

I invite you to light a candle, pour a cup of tea, pull out your journal and cards. Shuffle through your story card deck.

A direct approach: Journal about some old story phrases you notice your Inner Critic has been pulling out, and which block your progress. Perhaps do a Metacognative drawing. Then:

• go through your story card deck, and pull 2-3 cards which relate to that issue, and work with their messages. 
• Journal about the messages, and actions you can take. 
• Put them up on your altar or vision board till your next reading. 

Intuitive Reading

• Shut your eyes, breathe into your heart and belly
• Pull a card at random, and before looking at it, hold it between your hands
• Notice your impressions - a color, a word or two, a plant or animal ally
• Open your eyes and look at the card and affirmation
• Journal about both your impressions, and about that card and message
• How does it relate to the old story you've been battling?
• Place the card somewhere you can see it, and continue to receive messages

Oracle reading

• If you work with other Oracle decks, pull a card or two from your own deck as well
• Write about the Oracle in your journal, including impressions from your cards
• Add new insights to the back of the card 

Additional cards

One of my favorite Red Thread Circle offerings is creating 3-5 story cards in a 90 minute class. I'm always curious to see what beliefs tag along, and the variety of cards that will be created! Often several beloveds share similar old stories, and work on antidotes together.

This is great to do for yourself when you notice none of your cards read fully address a current issue! A piece of watercolor paper from a pad is a good size, and you'll likely want to make additional cards the same size as your current deck. I usually paint a sheet (often 9×12") then tear apart for cards, but only make a few. 

This can be a good time to assemble a little Story Card kit, for offering this as a virtual or in person class. Save so your process papers with old stories and their antidotes to include in your kit.

Additional Story Cards

Symbols, Totems, Elements and Angels

• Create additional cards inspired by messages and symbols from your paintings
• Write a short description on the back 
• Totems: Hummingbird came during my Artist painting, and it reminded each flower (student) of their unique beauty, and can match pave by slowing, or speeding ahead.
• Notice if symbols on your cards find their way into the canvas
• Time Angels is another favorite card, I invite them to help keep on time
• Grace Elohim invites us to "Grace it and Move On!"
• Other cards you've made might include soul collage or journey cards, and their systems
• My friend, Color of Woman graduate Linda Allen included cards for the elements and reminders to Breathe and Dance in her deck - watch her slideshow here

What are some of your favorite cards, and ways you work with them? 

Share in the comments!  

    

 

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.

Story Card Teaching Pack

I love the Soulful Story Card process, and offer an abbreviated version a couple of times a year for my Red Thread Circle. I quickly realized that if I saved some of the process papers, I wouldn't need to "reinvent the wheel" each time I offer it, and would have several sample old stories/ issues and antidotes to share!

Story Card case and process papers

My deck is housed in a plastic 3×5" card file that I found at the Dollar store. It has several compartments where I keep:

• Some of my Story Cards
• Painted blank cards with sample backgrounds
• Process papers with an "old story" on one side, and the antidote on the other (scribbles, cross-outs and all!)
• Blank Index cards and colored paper for doing the process cards

The kit makes it simple to offer a story card class. While it was the first Red Thread Event I offered during my CoW Quest, that's one of the few times I've had beloveds craft a full deck! 

Our monthly Circle is 2-3 hours, so a simple project works best, and we usually make 3-6 cards. I encourage them to "own the process," and create more on their own as they recognize old stories.

Cards from the teaching kit

I usually use watercolor paper from a pad, and have them create the background, then we move on to the old stories and antidotes while that's drying. They take home both their own competed cards and blanks. 

* The first SC class I taught, two of my 3 beloveds got so engaged in painting the background, they didn't want to move on!! My Time Angels Card helps us keep moving these days! 

I make a few new cards with them, sometimes working with a old story, at others, cards for my classes like "When in doubt, GLAZE!" I use extra  background cards for business cards (torn in half again) and like using calligraphy pens and Inktense pencils for the words and designs. Shimmer watercolor paint adds sparkle without the mess of glitter! (I also just have them use watercolor rather than acrylic paint)

In one of our circles, we played with Mark making and symbols rather than words. I've often thought in a longer workshop, it would be fun/ helpful to make a few cards for old stories that arise, and to write about the symbols! Sometimes a "group issue" will come up, and several participants will make cards on that.

Here's the announcement for one of my story card classes:

"Do you find yourself frequency revisiting the same old stories? Your creative Muse is ready to keep you rewrite a few, and give you a new Oracle for guidance! 

"Come celebrate yourself, and tap her magical nature and whimsical wisdom. We will identify several 'old stories,' and using our collective vision and wisdom, create colorful Soul Vision cards to remind us of our new declaration."

This is a great process to revisit as old stories come up, and I recommend making a few new cards periodically! I've often thought it would be good to create a few insight cards during a longer painting class.

Have you offered this as one of your RT classes? 
You're invited to share any tips, or personal favorite cards! 

Red Thread Circles

Tonight's my monthly Red Thread Circle, and we're doing Medicine Baskets.

This is a

Medicine Baskets

short, two hour group, where we'll share a RT circle, brief journey, and creative time. I've invited participants to being bring Art Journal and any favorite supplies. 
It's by donation, and a good introduction to IC. I pay $25 for the room, so always hope several come (some months, I just pay half of what I received!) I've been holding a monthly circle for over 2 1/2 years, and attendance varies, but it's always appreciated!

I held my first Red Thread Circle early in my CoW journey, as part of a Reiki I class. One of my 2 students was Lora Pirtle, a recent CoW graduate, so it was a gentle beginning! That was in the spring of 2015, and this evening, it's time to circle up again. 

I chose those Story Cards and Medicine Basket as my RT Event during my quest, and learned a lot! I had "artists" in each class, who wanted to do their own thing, and needed to learn how to field that! Shiloh gave me the helpful tip of inviting them to, "try it this way this time," ... And saying, "If you do it another way, or choose different materials I may not be able to help you, it would really help the other students if you try it this way this time." And they may need to go their own way, as long as it's not disruptive, we may need to just let it go!

What could go wrong with those simple projects? 
With story cards, the "artist" wanted to bring her own materials, and not pay for instruction, as she already knew how to do it (! ... It was the one event she attended) She did chip in for the room, and mostly went her merry way ... she didn't really address old stories, but enjoyed the cards she made. I needed to reign her in when she challenged an "old story" another beloved was processing, as not being a bad trait ... I explained again that our process was supporting the other student in discovering an antidote!

Reiki 2 Journal Cover

For my second Event, I offered Red Thread Reiki 2, and we created Reiki journals, with Medicine Baskets on the cover! 
In Reiki 2, we learn three symbols, and I've had my students grind the ink and paint the symbols using Sumi-e. 

For the journal covers, we tore the rice paper practice sheets into strips, and glued them to our background papers, then painted medicine baskets on the covers, and did more collage with our medicine gifts. 

Challenge: 

• If you've made a Medicine Basket, what gifts do you claim? Are there still appropriate? Share a photo and a little about your gifts in our Facebook group.
• Haven't done it yet? The instructions are in the CoW kajabi site, you're invited to tap the group energy and pull out your paints! 
• Have you written about your Medicine Basket (or House of the Heart, if you choose that) for your initiate book? This is a good time to document it.
• Did you offer Medicine Basket as one of your Red Thread Events? It's a great one to do, and well received! I love the variety it affords, grad Lorraine Tilburg works with horses, and offers it as "saddle bags!" With kids, you can do backpacks. 
• It can also be done on canvas, in a short "Paint Party style event. I did that art a friend's home around Easter.
• Is it time to look into getting a class on the schedule? 

So, what happened at that second Event? 
One of the "artist" students (not our CoW SiStar!) wanted to use the oil pastels on her cover, rather than paint (I brought the pastels for our grounding page!) ... 
Then, she was disappointed I didn't have a hair dryer along to set them! ... In both classes, the other students kept on with their own projects, and didn't seem distracted, which helped. After that student got home, she was able to use her familiar materials,  deconstructed the cover, and was  ultimately happy with the journal. 

I began holding regular 2 hour Red Thread Circles in the back door studio later that year, and have offed Medicine Basket in that format several times. I often use a pad of watercolor paper, and watercolor paints (rather than acrylics) for these circles. When my friend Sepha was going through the training, I did a larger one on half a sheet of watercolor paper. I enjoy it each time I lead it, with new insights about my gifts.

What have been some of your circle experiences? 
I'd love to hear about them, here or in the FB group.