Today the Blogging While Brown Conference planning team announced its 2010 speakers. I am proud to say I am one of them. On June19, I will be teaching “Yoga and Stress Relief for Social Media Users” at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. (Mt Vernon/ Convention Center Metro on Yellow Line). Watch the video below to learn more about the amazing speakers. You can also read their bios on the Blogging While Brown web site.
Have you registered for Blogging While Brown yet? If not, don’t wait. Click here. It is a dynamic conference you don’t want to miss. FYI – I attended the 2008 conference in Atlanta and 2009 conference in Chicago. Loved them!!!
Last week I scheduled a creative adventure with myself and attended the “SoulCollage Studio” workshop with Barbara Black at Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts. Before I arrived at the workshop, my inner critic archetype Broomhilda tried to disturb my creative flow by ranting and raving about me being 45 minutes late. Instead of dismissing Broomhilda’s rant, I allowed her to speak her mind. Why you might ask? Because she represents one of my chosen 8 archetypes who serve as windows of self-discovery.
Ananda's Inner Critic Archetype - Broomhilda
Do you know what archetypes are? The word archetype is a term coined by SwisspsychiatristCarl Jung. It refers to the various personalities that live inside of individuals. In my opinion, archetypes invite me to explore, embrace, and accept myself. They bring me closer to myself in ways that allow all of my personalities to serve my highest and greatest good. That’s why I have to take the time to identify, nurture, and welcome them into my life. Make them feel comfortable. Treat them as team players who use their strengths and share their gifts with one goal in mind: healthy living. I promise them I will listen to what they have to say. I reassure them I won’t pick favorites or judge their commentary, creativity, communication style, criticism, and concerns. I try to honor their presence with gratitude daily. I do my best to accept and bless who they are because without my chosen eight I would be lost.
Okay so back to my visit from Broomhilda … my inner critic archetype. As I walked down U Street to Smith Farm’s offices, I asked Broomhilda why she was upset. She confessed she was worried I was wasting the $12.50 I paid for the workshop. She was also worried I would not get what I needed to receive from the workshop. When I listened to Broomhilda’s concerns, I noted that she was trying to make sure I my workshop needs were met in her own unique way (minus her rants).
Once I arrived at Smith Farm’s offices, I promised Broomhilda that I would be fully present in the workshop so my needs would be met. She seemed happy and drifted into the background of the evening. Here’s the lesson I learned about my inner critic Broomhilda: when I listen to her without judgment or resistance, I demonstrate that I am present and aware of her concerns. I don’t have to agree with her or take action. I just have to be present and aware. My gift of presence affirms that she is being heard. It also creates space in my spirit, mind, body, and heart to embrace my full self — all eight parts of me.
Barbara Black’s “SoulCollage Studio” workshop was exactly what I needed last week. SoulCollage is an intuitive collage process created by Seena Frost, a psychotherapist and spiritual counselor. During the collage-making process, you create your own cards that mirror a unique and different aspect of your soul and self. It is the perfect creative adventure for an artist like myself … I love collages and archetypes!
Before I started making my SoulCollages, Barbara guided me through a series of exercises based on ‘The Guest House,” one of my favorite poems by Sufi poet Rumi. See below.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
(From The Essential Rumi, versions by Coleman Barks)
I also read the quotes below.
“I am large. I contain multitudes.” Walt Whitman
“One must separate out the parts of something before these parts can come back together in a new and truly whole and precious way.” C.G. Jung
“When the soul wants to experience something, she throws an image of the experience before her and enters into her own image.” Meister Eckhar
I also journaled about my personal qualities, traits, patterns, behaviors, fears, and favorite activities, past times, passions, and pursuits. My journaling opened me up to writing about my inner voices (another phrase for my chosen eight archetypes). When I completed my journaling, Barbara instructed me to put my writings away and sit in silence for a few moments. After those moments passed, Barbara invited me to join the workshop class in creating SoulCollage cards in silence.
Being able to sit in silence with my fellow workshop participants was a special treat. The silence allowed me to tap into my soul’s intuition. Check out what I created below. After the collages were made, Barbara facilitated a guided meditation that asked us to discover who the card was in our lives. We were given an opportunity to share one-on-one. That was a very powerful experience to have someone listen and write down what I thought. As a result, I developed six-word memoirs to describe each collage. They are included below.
SoulCollage#1
Six-Word Memoir for SoulCollage#1 – Joy. Travel. India. Books. Heels. Dresses.
SoulCollage #2
Six-Word Memoir for SoulCollage #2: Sparkle. Magic. Goodness of My Life.
Guess what? I was inspired to join Social Media Club Education Connection, a really cool social networking site that Jong Lee mentioned during his talk. Click here to view my new page on the site.
My Creative Vado flip camera also had a fun time videotaping my update, segments of the speakers’ talks, and interviews with two social media mavens. See below.
Click on the Cinchcast audio blog below to hear me read abolitionist and poet Frances E. W. Harper’s poem “Slave Auction.” I also read my poem “Ask the Troubadours Who Have Come from Those Who Loved” published in my debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One.
Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Mine is: poetry.jazz.earth. beauty creates peace.
Today I returned to writing my DC Social Media Examiner Column. Click on the link to read my article about National Poetry Month and social media: http://tinyurl.com/y796bun. Let me know what you think.
Enjoy your weekend!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for poetry and social media,
It’s day 9 0f my 30 Days! So today I started my morning with yoga, meditation, and poetry by Sufi poet Rumi. Click on the Cinchcast audio blog to hear me read one of Rumi’s poetry about love and art. I also read my poem “Loving You” from my new book That Which Awakens Me.
Do you have a six-word memoir for today? Here’s mine: Poetry. Jazz. Earth. Listen. Dance. Heal.
Enjoy your weekend!
Peace, Creativity, Compassion, and Gratitude for Rumi’s love of poetry,
A few weeks ago, Felisha Fowlkes, the founder of Pearls Book Club, contacted me via email to request an interview about yoga for her club’s web site and blog. When I visited the sites, I was amazed to learn about their mission and commitment to “motivate, inspire, and encourage one another” as they travel through their lives together. These women are dynamic divas. I also had the pleasure of chatting with Felisha via phone too. She is a woman with a true vision and commitment to service.
Yesterday, Felisha posted my yoga-inspired poem and interview on the Pearls Book Club blog. What an honor! Click on the links below to read the poem and interview.
Ananda Leeke 