Return Home from Women's Journaling Retreat

How can I describe how it feels when your dream out pours right in front of your eyes? What words can I select to paint how watching the spirit of the Universe work, as it exceeds my wildest visions? That's what I'm going to try to do here for you.

I've gotten nestled back into my sweet home and reunited with my precious "boys" (you know, the furry and the un-furry one). Most of the bags are unpacked and most of the laundry done. But I can't help it . . . I keep traveling back to this scene mostly . . . the huge quiet only broken by chipmunks chattering, the heart swelling beauty of nature, and the gentle women spirits surrounding me, here on the rocks for our morning yoga.

Don't get me wrong, I dance around these visuals too. This scene, where we'd already created our group "Talking Stick" (see it in the window there) and were chattering over our catered "Welcome Dinner", makes me smile. Or the warm sun, autumn breeze and friendly mallard ducks at this beach site where Jean demo-ed, takes me right to my heart. Then too, there is gazing from our cabin porch to see the full moon hanging over the lake, that fills me with wonder.

So, there. It's just a nibbling of what happened, what we did and what we saw during this time . . . now feeling so sacred to me.

Am I a dreamer, or isn't it true that we ALL are dreamers, capable of stretching our envelopes and watching our boldest imaginings become reality? What are your dreams . . . believe me . . . they CAN become a reality!!!

Just ask me.

My Dream Comin' True!

Ok, you all know how passionate I am about my sketchbook/journaling, right? Well, the biggest reason I teach is to sprinkle around the joy, value and personal rewards available when one chooses to express this way. So when I get this kind of email from a peer artist, with this comment, it makes me jump for joy!

"You've inspired me to start my own journal. I checked out a book from the library on how to keep a sketchbook journal and read a lot of it today. I bought a new small sketchbook 5.5 x 8.5 and experimented with drawing flowers in watercolor pencils ... very fun! It's my first time using watercolor pencils and just a plain ol' pencil is my favorite medium.

Thanks for being an inspiration to me."

The even greater degree of compliment for me, is that Wendy is an accomplished artist and freelance illustrator-graphic artist in her own right. Born and raised on a ranch in Lake County California and acquiring her BA Degree from the Academy of Art University. Her inspiration comes from the psychedelic era of the sixties and art nouveau. She's shown with Lee Conklin, Wes Wilson and Stanley Mouse and has clients like the San Francisco Public Library, AARP Bulletin and several Festival Organizations.

To move an artist like this along to a new endeavor, I'm quite thrilled. Well, it's actually beyond thrilled . . . it's watching my dream come true of stewarding individuals to become more acutely aware of their world, to appreciate who they are and the stories of their lives and just to be more conscious and creative. So, in a more deep way Wendy, I have to say, "My hats off to you for taking on an endeavor that will really uplift humanity by you becoming an even more aware human being!!!"

Ending of a Month ~ Beginning of an Adventure

Ok, here's another awkward post ... but, we're aiming at honesty here, so here we go ...

It's been peculating probably for a year, this episode in my life. At first I was startled by it, resistant, then, realizing that it truly was a dream of my husband's, I've now begun chewing on accepting it. This episode (are you ready?) is, the possibility of moving to Mexico. Yep, waaaaaaaaaaay down south, out-of-the-country Mexico. He's been sampling homes, cities, villages, health insurance etc. for over a year. Together we've begun talking about our needs/wants and now have taken steps to go spend some length of time down where we'd both consider possible.

The first step was getting a vehicle that got better mileage (yeah, I was ALL behind that, good for the planet). So over a period of weeks, we stumblingly (is that a word?) acquired a new red (I'd gone for a more earthy color, but buying used ...) PT Cruiser. It's mileage is around 28mpg as compared with the 11mpg of Roland's truck and it functions better for me to carry paintings/art necessities than the sedan we'd first considered. Now, I'm finding this zippy lil' PT kinda fun ... and ... she will be a vehicle we can tow. Yes, tow (are you ready again?) behind our newly acquired [gulp] 28 foot RV.

There, I've said "it". I've never been one for the ostentatious, nor a "giant" carbon footprint, nor what feels like extreme extravagance but, here she is. After considering value for re-sale and storage and quality, this was the best option. I still waver between embarrassment and acceptance when I walk out in our yard and see her. But my husband has always been so very attentive to our "nest" and requiring quality in our home, I'm settling into this. Just the other night we enjoyed our first dinner and movie in "Tiffy" (yes, we've named her). And it was a pleasure ... warm, cozy, even romantic.

We plan to test her out on a couple local camping expeditions this Spring/Summer, followed by a Winter trek to Mexico. There we'll sample the reality of this dream for both of us. I've spoken to many artists/friends and am finding there is a huge ex-pat number who do and have done just this. One of my students worked in a Mexican bank, another artist's friend found much more success after moving to Mexico and other's have told me of the numerous possibilities of teaching classes. So I'm chewing, I'm chewing.

Love to hear any and all of your input ... I have learned, my opinion/perspective may not be the only or best one in existence. So "The Travels & Learnings in the Life of an Artist & Spiritual Seeker" continue ... appreciate your traveling along by my side :)

The Trip Created During a Lifetime

This adventure has been a year in the planning. Birthed from a dream I've gestated for nearly 10 years, I am NOW making my dreams come true (hint,hint: you can do it too!). I'd mentioned to a friend, who I'd watched grow thru the pain in her life to graduating with a professional degree in counseling, that I'd like to do a tandem workshop. Finally, all these years later, with both of us having much more experience in our fields, we undertook fulfilling that dream I'd seen in my heart's eye 10 years previous.


April 10, I left to instruct my first international "Women's Mexico Retreat" in Manzanillo, Mexico. The aforementioned friend, Damaris, and I converged the next day and detailed the presentation, placement and logistics of our co-instructed class. I'd focus in the journaling, watercolor technique and design aspects, Damaris would present Mandala exercises and introspective perspective generated from the mandalas and Buddhist meditation. It was going to be a delicious intermingling of creativity & self-exploration.

The week plus retreat began with a "Welcome Dinner" on Sunday evening and continued thru the week, ending on Friday. We included painting techniques, creating stamps, adding WC pages to your journal, abstract emotion painting, and a sampling of mandala creations. Three of our days were spent away from the classroom at: a local Mexican beach, local bus ride to downtown "Centro" and a chauffeured trek north to a smaller town for market day and beach sketching. Our evening shared a variety of dining experiences and coffee/dessert back at the condo was when we took our "talking stick" time to share our own individual stories. All these activities wove a beautiful connection among all of us women. In fact, on my "Retreat Critique" sheet, one participant commented what she liked best about the retreat was that she "connected with everyone and didn't want it to end".

My aim was exactly that, to weave an intimacy, coupled with experiencing "real Mexican" life and dedicated creative/learning self-expression. Although I felt a ripple of resistance to walking a--l--l the way down the beach to a day among Mexican families celebrating Easter Weekend on the beach or taking a bus ride (when a taxi could have been so much more comfortable) to "Centro", I did hear one participant say she was pleased to have "gotten" the feeling of the different culture to which she'd been exposed.

Don't get me wrong, I got my share of lessons too. One was around a situation I could have never predicted and - just had to let go of any expectations (you know those things we get into trouble with if we haven't made everything we'd like people to understand, understood beforehand). Next class/retreat I know to make agreements and confront any mixed messages ahead of time. The other big lesson is around setting boundaries and sticking to them when they are healthy. And that one is hard for this "people pleaser" but, I am learning and growing. AND - I never what to stop doing that. I also had some problems with art materials that I couldn't have predicted and was reminded to allow more time for mingling and conversation that always seems to occur (thank goodness) with women.

All in all, my adventure of watching, visualizing and affirming has paid off. Not to mention a year of planning advertising, contracts, art material and class preparation, of course. But I can't tell you the rewards ... I'm still discovering them. I feel more powerful, have a direction I'm loving and have some measure of the work and dedication with which I must muster up.

I can only encourage you, to take chances, follow YOUR dream and leap into a new world that's been waiting for you all along. AND - if you'd like a day-by-by walk thru the actual "Women's Mexico Retreat" go to: http://womensmexicoretreat2009.blogspot.com/