What are you ready to let go of?

I want to say that the hurricane mishigas blew me off course but I know in my bones I'm right where I need to be. Feeling I could lose everything with a CAT 5 on the way sent me into a flurry of putting up shutters, backing up essentials for each member of the family and then some, preparing for a life of "camping in the sub-tropics" and finding a place to ride out the storm. We were lucky that the hurricane lost its initial power when it hit and we were so happy to have been with friends who welcomed us into their home, and although the neighborhood was a bit flooded and impassable we only lost a tree and landscaping. We were prepared to be without power for a while but not prepared to see so much destruction and neighbors who were far worse off.

When all's said and done we realized that we are willing to let go of more than we thought...family and friends are the most important and with them we can can meet our basic needs together. Pitching in and helping comes naturally and so I hope that our community will soon be whole once again, maybe better than before.

As someone who values her intentional creativity I am encouraged to listen to the advice of Dr. Clarrissa Pinkola Estes, "I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you and that you will work with these stories from your life - your life- not someone else's life- water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom. That is the work. The only work."

As I put my pen and brush to paper I wonder what my hurricane stories will reveal? this month I am offering two painting journeys that might help with that. One is the Un-ruined Heart, a journey into the heart that has been broken but not ruined! I first worked with this 4 years ago with Shiloh Sophia and return to it once a year. I learn something new about myself every time! The following week I am offering a painting journey with The Muse of Sight. Working with the Muse is always an EXTRA ORDINARY experience! Once you make that connection you will always be able to find yourself!

Hope to see you soon!

With the birds returning,

Rosemary Claire