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!  

    

 

Visual Planning

Last spring, Shiloh and her biz coach Amy Ahlers offered Dancing Entrepreneur for both Color of Woman students and the general community. We created the folded Vision Plan books (one of the CoW assignments) plus a set of 16 cards to support moving forward with our plans. 

We connected with others in the class (a weekend workshop or 5 week class) and used the momentum of the class to bring ideas into action or products. I developed my virtual Red Thread Circles, and collaborations with other students and IC teachers.

Some of the posts that caught my eye were of Karen Dawn's Visual Planning system, and I joined her Beta Test group on crafting similar systems of our own! I love Karen's creative approach to planning! (Her blog includes some of these teachings!) 

Vision Plan Board

Mine is on a foam board I had from a vision board class I offered, and has two of the Dancing Entrepreneur action cards, a little vision board we created with Karen, and - pockets. The clothesline is a ribbon, and I just taped the ends to the back of the board using painter's tape! You can use nails to tack the lines directly on a wall - so many options!

Karen uses this 'clothesline' system for organizing ideas visually. She found that when her notes were tucked away in journals and files, they weren't as accessible, and often dropped off her radar. (So me!) 

Viola - make pockets to hold sets of cards with those ideas. Larger file folder size pockets can be tacked up, with in depth writings/images.

It becomes an easy way to see what's on your plate, and easily access, move them around, and to inspire action! You can include a calendar page with dates dedicated to working on your project, classes, calls; The larger visual could be your medicine basket or another graphic...

I also like making little vision plans in Zines - these could easily tuck into small pockets! 

Planning pockets

Some variant on a Visual Planning wall or board Board is an excellent way to picture and address your remaining assignments and projects for Color of Woman. Small pockets could hold a few of your story cards, assignment overviews and action step cards (these can be on index cards or something else simple). Large pockets could hold more in depth notes on projects. 

If this system works well for you, it can easily be adapted for planning a class or other project, and balancing various aspects of your life! 

We'd love to see your planning system! 

 

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. 

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!