Dear Friends,

The beautiful full moon greeted me tonight as I walked out of the church where I had just attended a Labyrinth workshop.  I was pensive and discouraged, reminded of why I very rarely go out in the evenings.  It was the first labyrinth I had walked in more than 7 years, and I realized just how much my body has changed in these intervening years.  Tonight as I walked, my hips, lower back, pelvis, and knees ached in such pain that I wasn’t sure I would make it all the way into and out of the labyrinth.  Today had been full, and dear body couldn’t hold up for an after dinner outing, even one so deeply desired.  It’s not often that we’re confronted with the realization of just how much daily life has changed from what it used to be.

I’ve known that the chronic pain I live with has been increasing.  Most nights I’m up 4, 5, 6 times from being awoken with the pain.  I have excellent health care, both traditional and alternative, and have been helped much by many modalities.  However, this is something that just doesn’t seem to go away, no matter the healer, therapist, medication, intervention, or prayer.

What is it about things that don’t go away in our lives?  Those things that we work on, work with, in a variety of ways?  Most of us have some challenge like this in our lives.  How do you discern when to pour all your energy, time, (and money) into searching for anything that will alleviate the difficulty of the challenge, and when to accept this unasked-for “gift” as something that will accompany you through your days — and long, very long, nights?

The answers to this are different for different people, challenges, times of life, and even the day’s energy levels.  There’s a lot of grace in just realizing we’re all doing the best we can with what’s handed to us.

But tonight, looking into the face of what has accompanied me for many years and seems likely to accompany me into whatever future I have, I also look into the face of the full moon.  Every month, this light of the night shines forth in glory, waning and then waxing again —- much like pain does in its waxing and waning.

What might it be like to accept all of life’s waxings and wanings, to know what might be possible when the light is full glorious, and the different things that are possible when the light is gone — or at least not visible?

When I feel energetic and mostly pain-free I move through my world like a gentle tornado, and often get lots done; when I’m not, I remember that the world is also full of people who suffer from broken bodies and broken hearts, and my heart can fill with more compassion, more love.  In either waxing or waning we can serve, and love, with hearts full open, full glorious — a heart moon that I hope can stay open and full, and bring a smile to my spirit as the full moon did tonight.  Light of the night, so right, so bright!

With love,

Cat

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

One of my new intentions for 2016 is to follow the energy of the new and full moons, as much as is realistic in the press of day t0 day life.  The new moon is the dark of the moon, associated with a quiet, inner, contemplative type of energy.  The full moon is associated with an “out there”, full type of energy, where one is active in the world and with each other.

For the last few days I’ve mostly stayed quiet, at home, and in my magic study, giving my new intention a try as the new moon approaches (tomorrow, Monday).  I’ve been discerning what events I should or can be offering in the next few months that would be in that sweet spot of where my passion meets the needs of the world within my reach.

And so here is the listing of my offerings for the next few months.  Please download it,  at CatOfferingsforWinterSpring2016, print it out, and/or share it with whomever you think would be interested.  Remember that the events are held in my home study where I can only accomodate 7 participants.  If you’re interested in any of the offerings, please reserve your spot early.

Thank you so much for your interest and support.  I am so inspired by your comments and feedback, and I promise to share whatever I can to help you navigate the depth dimensions of your life.

With love,

Cat

OFFERINGS FOR WINTER/SPRING 2016

Intentional Creativity and SoulWork

For questions or registration, contact me at catcharissage@gmail.com

NO PREVIOUS ART EXPERIENCE NEEDED

LAST SATURDAYS in February, March, April, and May:

OPEN STUDIO,  1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.   No charge, but RSVP

February 27:  Creating a Smashbook out of a composition notebook

March 26: Creating a Landing Page for your journal or scrapbook

April 30:   Slapping down some Pictures (collage for the rest of us)

May 28:    (to be announced)

All supplies provided  (donations gratefully accepted)

Youth welcome with accompanying adult

 

Saturday, February 20, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Tree of Life, Spheres of Light: an introduction to an ancient mysticism

A Red Thread Session including Words and Image

$60 (or by donation) for 3 hours of Intentional Creativity based on Kabbalistic lore on the Divine pouring Godself into this world, held in the mystery of a Tree of Life.  Create your Tree painting on watercolor paper.

 

 

 

Saturday, March 12, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Story Cards:  The Life I Long to Lead

A Red Thread Session including Words and Image

$60 (or by donation) for 3 hours of Intentional Creativity based on creating a personalized deck of Mirroring Cards.

 

Saturday, March 29, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Creating with the Tree of Life

A Red Thread Session including Words and Image

$60 (or by donation) for 3 hours of Intentional Creativity based on Tree of Life teachings on the Four Worlds of Creation, a way of understanding and planning a project from conception to completion.  Create your personal diagram/painting on watercolor paper.

 

Saturday, April 9, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m

How Did It Get So Confusing? Navigating a Faith Crisis

An afternoon of inquiry and exploration for those whose relationship with their faith is causing pain or confusion.

I have a strong theological background and my own experiences of crisis and inquiry to help guide others to their own deepest questions and next steps.  We will explore adult doubts, pain, anger, and sorrow with a view towards (eventually) finding a faith of our own to live into.  We will write or art in response to prompts with opportunities for brief sharing, if desired.

 

Saturday, April 23, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Home of the Heart

A Red Thread Session including Words and Image

$60 (or by donation) for 3 hours of Intentional Creativity based on writing prompts and arting around the idea of home, belonging, and where we find rest, nourishment, and nurturing.  Where is your ideal home?  Are you living here now?  What can you do to feel more at home right now, in this life, in these circumstances, in this community, with these persons?

 

 

Saturday, May 21, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

13 Step Painting Process:  GATHERING THE SHARDS, Restoring the Light into the Shattered Spaces

$100 (or by donation) for 6 hours of Intentional Creativity:

Pondering, Writing, Painting

     Create a painting on canvas based on the story of the Divine Light being shattered into shards that permeate our world, with our task to gather these shards to make the Holy                                                                                     visible. Where has your life been broken into                                                                             pieces?  Illness, loss, despair — how can we                                                                           gather whatever light there is, and remake a                                                                             Holy wholeness?  A day of pondering, writing,                                                                         and painting.

 

Thursdays, May 4, 12, 19, and 26, 7 – 9:30 p.m.

Walking in the Dark:  Finding, Questioning, Claiming, and Following Our Intuition, based on the Vasalisa Story

A 4 session Study Group including Words and Image

$100 (or by donation) for 10 hours of Intentional Creativity

We will explore Vasalisa and Baba Yaga as told by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes in her book Women Who Run with the Wolves, creating a painting on watercolor paper out of our discussions.

 

For questions or registration, contact me at catcharissage@gmail.com