Center of All

I am one who is vibrant. I am one who is in full bloom. I am one who is seemingly the center from which all radiates.
This is appropriate this week. I feel like I am being pulled many ways. And each of those ways seem to be the most important one. I need to figure out what is important to me and let myself be pulled there.

Lighting the Way

I am one who is lighting my way to peace. I am one who is looking for a path to peace. I am one who is spending time meditating.

I have been very remiss in my daily soul work. It is really showing in my daily life. Tomorrow I will have more medical tests and find out the results of some from last week. I am unsure if I have the strength to deal with what the Dr has to say. Perhaps I am worrying for nothing and all will be well but unsolved issues remain if the tests show no cause for the symptoms.

I will really have to be better about taking time to center myself each day and get back to that place of peace.

Searching

I am one who is looking for comfort. I am one who is lost and afraid. I am one who is searching for the mystic part of my soul. I am the one who it looking for the white horse to carry me away.

I have been really busy and not taking the time to work on my soul work. Could be why I am so tired! It will be wonderful to go on vacation next week. I have miniaturized and laminated my SoulCollage cards to travel with. It will be interesting to see how working with laminated copies of my cards will work.

Pressure

I am one who feels pressure. I am one who is hoping to be reborn. I am one who is learning to relax.

I am looking forward to spending the weekend with my son and his wife. All of us are so busy we are no longer able to get together at least once a month like we used to. I miss them! My son is in law school and working full time, so his free time to chat with me is very limited. I am always afraid to call him, I worry I will interrupt him.

Growing Together

I am one whose life intertwines with my husband. I am one who has weathered many storms with him. I am one who see new things blossoming in our life. I am one opening to learning about the religions of the world.

There are times where our thoughts and opinions are the same, so much so that it seems like we are melding together. But we are both still distinct, even after almost 30 years of marriage.

We are both exploring new ways to experience our spirituality. Mine is taking a more artistic path and his an analytical. But we are still on the same page, so it works well.

The flower to me represents the fact that our relationship is in full bloom. We may have lost a few petals along the way, but the amazing thing about this flower is new petals grow in.

Camaraderie

I am one who enjoys being silly at times. I am one who has fun hanging out with friends. I am one who know that you can erase silly mistakes and brush away those mistakes.

I hope this doesn't mean I will be making silly mistakes all week! I love these girls! They are joyful and have a camaraderie that is apparent. They are willing to make mistakes and know that it will not be the end of the world if they do.

Cared for

I am one who is cracked, not completely whole. I am one who feels caged. I am one who is a bright spot in the bleakness.

Not sure how to read this card. I just found out my dad is taking a taxi to the ER because no one in town answered the phone. So things feel a little bleak to me at the moment. I do feel caged by the pain and the exhaustion. But I am a glass have full kind of girl, so I always look to the positive side of things. I have a great family (in-laws included) and my husband is very supportive of my physical problems. I am unable to do a lot of the things I would like to, but I am hopeful that I can change that by researching and trying new things. The biggest lifesaver for me has been the Paleo Diet. Without that I would be having more trouble with my Fibromyalgia. Perhaps I should look at this not as a cage, but an opportunity to be cared for by someone else!

Bursting Forth

I am one who is ancient. I am one who has been buried for centuries. I am one who is bursting forth. I am one who is using ancient knowledge to make my way down the mountain.

I am continuing to learn from others and am trying to use that knowledge to help me.

Yesterday I saw a man who works with the pain management doctor. He will test my tension levels and show me how to relax. That will be good. I got great feed back from him on my attitude toward the pain and he was glad to hear I had a great support system and am working on my spiritual self.

Stretching

I am one who is learning to take better care of myself. I am one learning to relax. I am one stretching to learn new things.

I really need to put exercise into my routine. I talk the talk but as yet haven't walked the walk. Which is amusing, since my job supports local walks for hunger relief! It is a vicious cycle, no energy to walk, but walking would give me energy! Of course the weather is a problem. 101 degrees is not good to walk in. I really need to just set my alarm and get out there and walk!

Reflections

I am one who is watching. I am one whose vision is reflected out to the world.

The library had a book by Jean Shinoda Bolen I hadn't read, Crossing to Avalon : a woman's midlife pilgrimage. I have just started it but the subject intrigues me. In my watching/reading. I hope to find my bliss and a new direction for my life path. Let's hope my bliss will be reflected to the world.

Uncut Jewel

I am one who is uncut, looking for ways to remove those parts of me that block the brilliance that is my being. I am one who is living in a barren place of pain.

I am tired and in pain. I as still looking for ways to improve my health through other means than pharmaceuticals. I am hoping that my search is not hindered by seriously bad health. I am trying to stay positive and keep positive people around me. I am looking to keep more joy in my life.

Tied to Pain

I am one who is tied to this tired, painful body. I am one who is looking for ways to release me from the pain and exhaustion. I am one who is looking forward to the time of freedom from the stuff that keeps me tied to resting and inactivity.

My energy levels have been extremely low and the fibromyalgia has been rearing its ugly head. It is all I can do when I get home from work to watch TV or read. I will soon be done with the training of the new person at the church. That will free up my mornings for more rest or if the energy is there to clear out the stuff in my studio.

Am I a Wildflower or Weed?

I am one who is spiritually growing like a weed. I am one who is able to nurture others, even those different from me. I am one who is cheerful but can also make some people cringe.

Dandelions can be either joy or scourge. But still a colorful part of nature. I think dandelions suit me well. I am colorful and cheerful and send out ideas to land where they can sprout and grow. Some people love my ideas, others not so much!

I am in the middle of long-distance support of an ailing father and step-mom. I can be positive and helpful from here but will need to get to Tucson soon.

Putting things in order

I am one who loves color. I am one who craves order. I am one who loves a sharp pencil.

This card comes up frequently lately. I am sure that means I still haven't gotten the message it is trying to send me. I am trying to get my studio in order, so I can clear out the stuff that I know longer need. My problem is the energy to do that. I seem to be getting back into the chronic fatigue stage, which means I have to be extra careful with my diet and hope that the fibromyalgia doesn't act up as well. Perhaps it will keep coming up until I do actually get things in order.

Going Around in Circles

I am one who is open to the world. I am one who feels like I am going around in circles. I am one who is finding ways to clear the clutter from my chambers. I am one who will follow the spiral to the center of what is the true me.

I feel like this card is telling me to start paying attention to my where my path is going. Not just go where life leads me. I need to be more intentional, find the center and go that way. Still on the letting go and clearing out the clutter. Maybe someday I will actually hear that and work harder at it.

Treasure of Life

I am one who is looking for the treasure of life. I am one who can see the value in everyday things. I am one who glows with an inner light. I am one who knows that you must work hard to achieve success. I am one who knows that all that glitters is not gold.

This is still about the process of letting go. Working hard to find the treasure, which is my spiritual self. Searching for what is true and right for me. I do need to keep my inner light glowing and not be distracted by the shiny stuff, the stuff that looks good but has no meaning.

Loved

I am one who feels loved. I am one who feels a connection to family. I am one who embraces the difference in people.

I am feeling very close to my family today. My oldest son took time out of his busy schedule to try to arrange a quick visit on Father's Day. They will be up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and will hopefully make a quick stop in Austin on the way home to Houston.

Repaint My Life

I am one who is changing my look. I am one who is repainting the walls of my life and giving them more vibrancy. I am one who is having fun anticipating the new me!

I started this process in October and have stalled due to some health issues. The process continues but at a slower pace that I had anticipated. I have begun the arduous task of sorting my studio. As I move from one focus to another I find I have too many things related to the old focus and am working hard to sort and toss things so I can sell or give them away. That is very hard as they have become a symbol of who I am/was and it is an very emotional process of letting go.

Our pastor intern, Aaron White, gave his last sermon on June 1. It was titled Hello, I Love You, I'm Sorry, Goodbye. (When the sermon is posted it will be at: http://liveoakuu.org/sermons.html) He really made me think hard about what is important to me and my family. And a lot of art supplies I will never use are not important, they just feel that way. It is all about letting go of the things that don't feed and nurture your life/soul.

So I will be clearing out my horded supplies. That is good news for my friends who are still in the genre of art I was in when I collected the bits and bobs mixed media collage artists and rubber stampers need. I may get back into it at some point, but then I will have the joy of collecting it all again if I need to later!

Light a candle for peace

I am one who lights a candle for peace in my life. I am one who is hopeful that my small light will make a difference. I am one who is trying to see the big picture.

This card makes me hopeful about the changes going on in my life and in the world. I know that peace is something that we all strive for, whether it is at home or work, out community or the world. I am hoping that the political process will move our country back into sync with the rest of the world. We seem to have gotten off track the last few years and have been a maverick nation. And not in a good way. I hope that our next president will implement some effective foreign policies and move forward to rescue the environment. Not to mention the need for national health care reform. I am looking forward to some positive news!

Give Praise!

I am one who is willing to stand up for what I believe in. I am one who is not afraid of being obvious in my beliefs. I am one who is joyful about my beliefs.

I am so lucky to be in a community where your beliefs are yours and unquestioned as to validity. My church will let me explore the world's vast spirituality practices and find what works for me. I am feeling a great spiritual growth working with the women of my church. Stand up and give praise!

Greener Grass

I am one who is looking over to see if the grass is greener. I am one who feels boxed in. I am one who is anticipating what is coming up.

This cow always makes me smile and "dream of England". I love the lush green countryside and the rural settings where you feel like you are the only one around, but you know that there is always someone close by. Texas is so not like that. When you feel like there is no one around, there probably isn't anyone around. And unless you happen to hit a rainy time of year, or are on the coast, there isn't mush lush and green to be had.

Don't get me wrong, I love Texas! But there is something to be said for lush and green and how it can feed your soul!

Dance Thru Life!

I am one who loves color. I am one who is dancing with abandon. I am one flows through life.

I love this card! It makes be think about where we would be without color in our life. And how easy it is to not see the beauty in life when we forget that life is a dance! And it is not about the mechanics of life, but about the joy!

Sunday night I went to a celebration of Oya, a West African Orisha (goddess), who is known as Goddess of immortality and women's changes. I decided that this card represents Oya to me.

Being watched

I am one who is watching. I am one who is unaware of being watched. I am one who is living my life happily without worrying if someone is watching.

Ok, so I am working on this. I am trying hard to let go of all of society's rules about how you should look. I am finding my own style. My sewing machine and serger are out and I am clearing space to cut out some cloth to make some clothes for the summer. I am almost done with the training of the new administrator and that will free up 20 hours a week!

Looking for Time

I am one who is looking for time. I am one who feels overbooked. I am one who is very aware of the time I have left in this body. I am one looking for ways to extend that time.
This is a card I made Sunday at my group. Everyone who saw it said it make their blood pressure rise! I have just finished updating my calendar with doctor visits and physical therapy sessions. It hardly leaves time for the fun stuff!

Pig Out!

I am one who craves chocolate. I am one who can be a real pig about it. I am one who is looking after my heart by avoiding oily foods.

Today I had more shots in my neck. An epidural in my neck and about 6 trigger points in my shoulder. I am looking for comfort food! This card reminds me that I will only regret stepping off the path of healthy eating. I did make some flax seed focaccia last night, so I was able to have an almond butter sandwich. Not the peanut butter and potato chip of my childhood, but close enough to make me feel better. The lack of chocolate is still an issue. I will have to research that a bit more.

Energy

I am one who is looking for energy. I am one who is grounded. I am one who feels struck by lightning.

I struggle daily with finding the energy to accomplish normal tasks. There just isn't enough energy for the fun stuff lately. I am encouraged by the fact that I will soon have more time to rest and follow my art. The energy is out there, I just need to find it!

Craving Order

I am one who loves to use a sharp pencil. I am one who loves color. I am one who likes variety. I am one who likes to have some order in my life, but the flexibility to be creative.

As I struggle with finding the time and energy for my art, I crave order. My studio is such a mess I can't even work in it. I would go to Helios and work, but I don't have the time. My life is filled right now with medical stuff and my 2 jobs. On June 2nd I start to train our new administrator, Diane. So by mid June I will have more time. Yeah!

Off the beaten path

I am one who is being reborn. I am one who goes with the flow. I am one who is veering off the ordinary path.

Today this card makes me feel like I should just go with the flow, but for some reason am veering off the path. I guess I am feeling a bit stressed. I know I am tired! I need to find some time for me to be creative!

Protection

I am one who is grateful for those who have gone before me. I am one who embraces the wisdom they have imparted. I am one who feels protected by the universe.

This card always makes me feel safe and secure in the knowledge that I am held by the universe. As I was born on All Saints' Day, it is my birth day card.

Today I know I will need the wisdom of the universe. We begin our selection process for the church administrator job I am currently holding as interim.

Grounded

I am one who is grounded. I am on who is blooming. I am one who is vibrant. I am one who isopeing toward the sun.

After two days of rain, I am so ready for some color in my life. Today is the day I have to accomplish everything for my trip to Oregon. Perhaps the weather here is getting me in an Oregon state of mind!

Anticipation

I am one looking for a way past the hedgerow. I am one who is anticipating what is on the other side. I am one who is hoping the grass is greener over there.

Today I continue on the path to "greener pastures." I am so busy this week that I can only look ahead to what is coming up. Even though most of what I have to do is in preparation for the trip. I really need to focus on what I need to accomplish for this week and not for the weeks to come. The suitcase won't pack itself!

Life Path

I am one who is emerging from her chrysalis. I am one who is choosing which path to follow. I am one who is flying off the path set for her at birth.

This is a recurring theme with me. I really need to find a path and stick to it for a while. I keep thinking the path I need will feel right. Are they different paths, or just a meandering main path? Questions I keep asking myself, but I have no answers.

Ancient needs

I am one who acknowledges the ancient. I am one who is her best at dawn. I am one who enjoys having solitary time in nature. I am one who has a close connection to the earth.

As I get ready to go hunting and gathering today, I am reminded how much I love spending my Saturday mornings with Rod looking for things at garage sales. The early morning hunt, it fulfills an ancient yearning. I feel a basic need to hunt & gather. Since I am not interested in hunting animals and birds, it is a great substitute for the need that is in my genetic make up.

Stoic Wisdom

I am one who grounded in the Universe. I am one who is inspired by the rosy sunrise. I am the one who greets each day with stoic wisdom.

Today I am embarking on a much visited path. I was at LOUU for the interim administrator job. The stoic wisdom will really be useful on this path for as long as it lasts.

Protect me!

I am one who is looking for ways to survive. I am one who is needy and sees the need in others.

Today this card feels like a reminder to protect myself. I am back in an old job that can be very invasive to my private life. The job is only temporary as they search for someone to fill the position. I need to remember to take care of myself and not let the job stress me.

Watching

I am one who is watching. I am one who sees the injustice in the world and feels powerless to help. I am one who is afraid for the children of the world.

Anticipation

I am one who is looking at a new me. I am one who is enjoying life. I am one who is filled with anticipation for what is coming.

Great things ahead

I am one who is moving towards something big. I am one who is awed by all the world has to offer. I am one who loves exploring with my friends.

Creative Rebirth

I am one who is learning to let my creativity flow. I am one who is reborn to a rainbow of color. I am one who is veering off the traveled path.

Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...

I am one who works to make the path to liberty easier.

I am one who sees the perils of life as necessary to reach the ultimate goal. I am the one who uses those perils to learn and grow in ways I wouldn’t without them.

(My work with Church World Service is very fulfilling. I am able to help raise money to help those in need around the world!)

Buried

I am one who is feeling buried with worries. I am one who is hoping there is a an end to the suffering.

Rinse Away the Old

I am one who is rejuvenating my life. I am one who is rinsing off the need to conform to others thoughts of how I should present myself. I am one who is washing my mind free of negative thoughts.

Time

I am one who feels pressured by time. I am one who feels like time is running out.

Fragile but Strong

I am one who is fragile but strong. I am a vessel that holds an unlimited amount of compassion and caring for the universe. I am one who carries that compassion into my work and life.

World in my hands

I am one who holds nature in her hand. I am one who is concerned about the universe. I am one who wants to find the natural way to heal.

Dance!

I am one who moves with the universe. I am one who dances to the rhythms of life. I am one who shares joy with her sisters.

For Life

I am one who has mated for life. I am one whose love for my husband shows when we are together. (What an appropriate card to pull! My husband and I just had our 29^th anniversary. I was away helping my dad and my husband didn’t mind. What a great husband!)

Stand Up!

I am one who worships in her own way. I am one who is joyful in her praise. I am one who looks at the Divine in a different way than most. I am one who stands up and shines!

Key to life

I am one who is loved. I am one who is loving. The key to life is love.

Wash away your troubles

I am the one who takes time to enjoy life. I am one who seems unaware of the trouble coming. I am one who is learning to manage the chaos around me.