This month is pretty special to me because it mark’s the 100th anniversary of Black History Month (which is celebrated every day of every year).
That’s right Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an African American history scholar, established Black History Month as a celebration of African American life, History, and culture in February 1926. Scroll down to learn how I am using Februllage, an annual collage challenge to celebrate my ancestors during Black History Month.
How is your February going?
My February is best described by three words: SLOW, STILL, and LISTEN.
I am going SLOW as I start my days by intentionally checking in with myself. I use mindfulness (a birthright we all share) to get grounded with my self-care practices of meditation, prayer, affirmations, reiki, yoga, and/or journaling.
Going SLOW helps me lay the foundation for getting STILL a few moments during my morning, afternoon, and evening to reset and stay aware of what is happening inside and outside of me.
Taking time to go SLOW and be STILL opens my entire being to LISTEN to the wisdom that Creator and my loving + well + wise ancestors have planted in my spirit, heart, mind, body, and life.
Going SLOW, being STILL, and taking time to LISTEN to the wisdom inside has helped me honor, appreciate, and deepen my connection to and daily conversation with Creator and my ancestors, including my mom Theresa.
The time I spend with them helps me tap into their legacy of resilience. I claim and call it my ancestral legacy of resilience. Ancestral legacy of resilience is the strength of the people in our family, community, and culture who overcame adversity, faced challenges, and navigated change. They are our sheroes, heroes, and theyroes.
My ancestral connections and legacy of resilience are helping me take better care of myself and navigate the changes that are happening in America. They increase my confidence and trust in myself because I know that I know that I know I am guided, protected, and provided for by Creator and a cadre of ancestors.
Their presence reminds me to give myself more grace, release the judgments from my inner critic, face some areas of my life I have felt stuck in or shamed about, ask for help, and improve the way I manage my home and financial well-being with support from my financial advisor.
One of the most surprising parts of this experience is how inspired and energized I have been to write and create without censorship. My creativity is beautifully and joyfully SLOW. It is born when I am STILL and LISTEN to my inner wisdom. It is showing up as a new collection of digital collages called Ancestral Medicine. They represent the visual manifestation of my spoken word songs, “Ancestral Medicine” and “Theresa’s Daughter” that are featured on my debut album, Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter. Click the buttons below to listen to both songs as you check out my digital collages below.
I started creating these digital collages in January and decided to participate in Februllage, a collaboration between Edinburgh Collage Collective and the Scandinavian Collage Museum that invites collage artists to make a ‘collage a day’ throughout February using the OFFICAL WORD PROMPT CALENDAR. Read more here (based on Instagram).
I am using Februllage to create collages that honor my ancestors of African descent and the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.
Special thanks to my soul sistalove and godmother Toni for encouraging me to participate in the challenge.
I am posting my collages on Substack, LinkedIn, and Bluesky (since I stopped using Instagram last year). In a few days, I’ll start posting them on my blog.
Collage #1: Mothers and Daughters of My Rickman, Goins, Bolden, Johnson, and Gartin Womanline
This collage honors five generations of my womanline on my mother Theresa’s side. They include photos of my great-great grandmother Ida Mae Goins Bolden, great grandmother Iona Hazel Bolden Johnson King, grandmother Dorothy Mae Johnson Gartin, mother Theresa B. Gartin Leeke, and me.
It includes the Ghanaian Adinkra Fafanto symbol (resembles a butterfly) that represents gentleness, tenderness, vulnerability, fragility, and the delicate nature of life. It reminds people to take great care of themselves, especially when they experience change. I am using it to honor the importance and the fragile nature of the mother-daughter relationship. I also want to remind women of African descent to mother themselves with love and great care, especially when they feel vulnerable.
Collage #2: Polly Mary Rickman Goins’ Daughter – Ida Mae Goins Bolden
This collage honors my great-great grandmother Ida Mae Goins Bolden as Polly Mary Rickman Goins’ daughter. It includes two Ghanaian Adinkra symbols: 1) Obaatan Awaamu represents a mother’s love, care, protection, and selfless devotion and 2) Fafanto (resembles a butterfly) represents gentleness, tenderness, vulnerability, fragility, and the delicate nature of life. It reminds people to take great care of themselves, especially when they experience change. I am using these symbols to honor the importance and fragile nature of the mother-daughter relationship. I also want to remind women of African descent to mother themselves with love and great care, especially when they feel vulnerable.
Collage #3: Ida Mae Goins Bolden’s Daughter – Iona Hazel Bolden Johnson King
This collage celebrates my great grandmother Iona Hazel Bolden Johnson King as the daughter of Ida Mae Goins Bolden. It includes two Ghanaian Adinkra symbols: 1) Obaatan Awaamu represents a mother’s love, care, protection, and selfless devotion and 2) Fafanto (resembles a butterfly) represents gentleness, tenderness, vulnerability, fragility, and the delicate nature of life. It reminds people to take great care of themselves, especially when they experience change. I am using these symbols to honor the importance and fragile nature of the mother-daughter relationship. I also want to remind women of African descent to mother themselves with love and great care, especially when they feel vulnerable.
Collage #4: Iona Hazel Bolden Johnson King’s Daughter – Dorothy Mae Johnson Gartin
This collage celebrates my grandmother Dorothy Mae Johnson Gartin as Iona Hazel Bolden Johnson King’s daughter. It includes two Ghanaian Adinkra symbols: 1) Obaatan Awaamu represents a mother’s love, care, protection, and selfless devotion and 2) Fafanto (resembles a butterfly) represents gentleness, tenderness, vulnerability, fragility, and the delicate nature of life. It reminds people to take great care of themselves, especially when they experience change. I am using these symbols to honor the importance and fragile nature of the mother-daughter relationship. I also want to remind women of African descent to mother themselves with love and great care, especially when they feel vulnerable.
Collage #5: Dorothy Mae Johnson Gartin’s Daughter – Theresa B. Gartin Leeke
This collage celebrates my mother Theresa B. Gartin Leeke as Dorothy Mae Johnson Gartin’s daughter. It includes two Ghanaian Adinkra symbols: 1) Obaatan Awaamu represents a mother’s love, care, protection, and selfless devotion and 2) Fafanto (resembles a butterfly) represents gentleness, tenderness, vulnerability, fragility, and the delicate nature of life. It reminds people to take great care of themselves, especially when they experience change. I am using these symbols to honor the importance and fragile nature of the mother-daughter relationship. I also want to remind women of African descent to mother themselves with love and great care, especially when they feel vulnerable.
This collage celebrates the relationship I have with my mother and ancestor, Theresa B. Gartin Leeke. It includes two Ghanaian Adinkra symbols: 1) Obaatan Awaamu represents a mother’s love, care, protection, and selfless devotion and 2) Fafanto (resembles a butterfly) represents gentleness, tenderness, vulnerability, fragility, and the delicate nature of life. It reminds people to take great care of themselves, especially when they experience change. I am using these symbols to honor the importance and fragile nature of the mother-daughter relationship. I also want to remind women of African descent to mother themselves with love and great care, especially when they feel vulnerable.
FEBRULLAGE COLLAGES
Day #1 Prompt: BOOM
My collage celebrates what the ancestral boom sounds and looks like in my life. It features Ghanaian Adinkra symbols, black and white family photos of ancestors on my mom Theresa’s side, and photos of two dancers from Balé Folclórico da Bahia’s performance honoring Yemanya, the goddess of the ocean and motherhood, and Oshun, the goddess of sweet waters, love, and beauty. It also features a photo of the Iemanja sculpture in Rio Vermelho, my favorite neighborhood in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Here’s a fun fact: the woman playing the piano is my mom Theresa when she was a young girl.
Day #2 Prompt: TOAST
My collage is a toast to the love, friendship, and ancestral connection I share with my mom Theresa B. Gartin Leeke. It includes my drawing of Yemanya, the goddess of the ocean and motherhood and photos from my graduation ball at Howard University School of Law and 2025 trip to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil.
Day #3 Prompt: BALLET
My collage celebrates my connection to Yemanya/Iemanja and Oshun/Oxum, the West African Yoruba Orishas/Orixas that embody aspects of water and feminine power. Oshun is the goddess of sweet waters, love, beauty, and fertility. She is often associated with the colors gold and yellow. Yemanya is the goddess of the ocean, motherhood, and family. She is often represented by the colors blue and white. They guided my womanline ancestors and introduced themselves to me in my creativity (poetry, creative writing, and wire sculptures) in 1992.
In 2023 and 2025, I traveled to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil to celebrate Festa de Iemanjá (Yemanya’s Festival on February 2) with Ronnell Perry’s AfroBuenaventura Transformative Travel experience called Ancestral Spirits. During both trips, I went to see Balé Folclórico da Bahia‘s performances which celebrates the Orishas/Orixas. The Portuguese word Balé means ballet.
I took several photos of the dancers that portrayed Iemanjá/Yemanja and Oxum/Oshun. I added their photos to the collage below. I also included a photo of an Afro Brazilian woman who was standing near me on the beach during Festa de Iemanjá in Salvador last year.
Day #4 Prompt: BROCCOLI
My collage celebrates my Great Grandmother Ida Mae Farmer Gartin’s commitment to eating healthy which was rooted in her spiritual life as a 7th Day Adventist in Indianapolis, Indiana. Great Grandmother Ida Mae is one of my wellness sheroes. She reminds me to live a healthy life by taking care of my body with healthy food and regular exercise.
YOUR INVITATION
I invite you to join me in going SLOW, being STILL, and taking time to LISTEN to your inner wisdom.
Need help? Click the button below for my mindfulness and self-care resources
Personal and Ancestral Resilience Reflection Questions
1. A personal legacy of resilience includes past experiences of overcoming adversity, facing challenges, and coping with change. Think back to one moment in your life when you overcame adversity, faced a challenge or navigated change. How did it make you stronger?
2. An ancestral legacy of resilience is the strength of the people in our family, community, and culture who overcame adversity, faced challenges, and navigated change. They are our sheroes, heroes, and theyroes. Pick one person you admire in your family, community or culture for overcoming adversity, facing a challenge or navigating change. What did they teach you?
One Last Thing!
Let’s work together in 2026 and beyond.
If you and/or your business, organization or community need a coach, speaker, or trainer, coach to provide support in navigating change no matter what’s happening in your life, relationships, and career, let’s explore how I can support you. Click the button to contact me.
Laura Hollick, an artist and shaman, is the brainchild behind them (see photo above). She is also founder of Soul Art Studio, a business that guides people to connect with their spirit and create a life and business that expresses it. Hollick says, “Soul Art awakens your inner artist so you can create your reality.”
Photo Credit: SoulArtDay.com
International Soul Art Day is annual celebration held on May 14 that brings together Soul Artist from around the world to connect virtually and create art together for the day. Yesterday, I joined the Soul Art Day celebration by listening to recordings of two Google Hangout session and creating my own body mapping art project.
My Soul Art Day mixed media collage
The body mapping art project allowed me to trace my hands and feet, journal, and create a mixed media collage (see photo above). The collage has become a visual affirmation and celebration of what’s living in my creative heart.
Have you ever participated in an online creativity challenge, event, or project that encouraged you to explore and honor your creative process?
Mine is collage. I can make them all day long. They help me express what’s waiting to burst forth from my creative heart. They also help me visualize my creative making process. I use them when I am writing my books and working on other projects. I also use them in my visualization boards.
Ananda’s books and paintings
What creative dreams are you longing to give birth to?
I long to give birth to more books and paintings. I have a few e-books and a novel inside of me. I also have some big paintings that long to live on the canvas.
May we all use the Spring season to give birth to our creativity!
From now until March 31, I am offering a special discount package on my creativity coaching services. See details below.
My Creativity Coaching Practice: Click here to read more about my approach and background as a creativity coach.
Discount Period: The creativity coaching packages must be purchased via PayPal by March 31, 2014. They must be used by July 31, 2014.
Contact Information: If you are interested in one or more of the packages, please send me an email at kiamshaleeke@yahoo.com to schedule a free 20-minute consultation call (available via telephone, Skype, and Google Hangout).
Have you gotten into the holiday spirit yet? What was the driving force? Was it a song, commercial, memory, office party, tree with decorations, or a Starbucks hot beverage?
My holiday spirit arrived while working as an artist-in-residence for Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and creating an interactive wall collage for staff at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon (see photo above). As I cut out images from magazines and asked staff about their holiday season traditions, my heart opened up to the beauty of the season. The beauty for me is captured best in a six-word memoir: joyful gratitude for family and friends.
Guess what I am doing next week? I’m taking artist Tina Lassiter’s “An Evening in the Garden of Goddess Delight” workshop on July 11 at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Tina describes the workshop as a collage-making “joyshop” that will evoke change, stimulate thinking, and transform the lives of those who accept an invitation for exploration. It’s just what I need to jumpstart my own collage-making painting process.
Tina Lassiter at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery
In June, I had a chance to chat with Tina at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery opening of the “From the Outside” exhibition. Some of her work is featured in the exhibit. I love her goddess collages!
More About Tina: She is also a writer, photographer, and Director of Creative & Therapeutic Arts Services at Children’s National Medical Center. Last year, She became a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist in addition to receiving certifications in Reiki and Acupressure. She is currently working to help Children’s National Medical Center establish an integrative medicine program.
What are you doing to celebrate creativity in July?
My digital diet for the week of April 9 helped me be more mindful about my time. I was able to write, rest, practice yoga/Reiki/meditation, go to the gym, take care of home and personal finance responsibilities, attend an art exhibition opening at the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, participate in the monthly artists-in-residence meeting held at the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, create collages with patients and staff at the Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, and read chapters from Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection during my morning commute with greater ease. I noticed my creative juices were flowing much better. The best part of the week was not carrying my smartphone with me most days.
My biggest challenge was going online in the evenings to check my email and other social media accounts. On some days, I spent more time than I originally budgeted. So I am working this week on sticking to my plan.
My greatest lesson learned was that when I write my Digital Sisterhood book chapter drafts on paper instead of my lap top I am less likely to go online in the evening.
Collage and photo by Ananda Leeke
Last month I started making a weekly collage to nurture my creativity journey. These collages help me stay on track with my commitment to expressing my visual voice. Many of them serve as visual affirmations that I use to support my fierce living commitment to self-care, fitness, unplugging, and completing my Digital Sisterhood book. I included two collages above from my April collection. What do you think?
How are you nurturing your creativity?
Are you making collages or artwork? If yes, share links in the comment section.
Ananda writing at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
I am in the middle of writing my second memoir, Digital Sisterhood: Fierce Living Online for 25 Years. It’s my third book in five years!
My creative process is magical, messy, and SLOW right now. I am struggling with the fear of writing a new book and wondering how it will be received. I have turned to my artwork for comfort.
My creative soul has found sanctuary in Collagetry. Collage + Poetry = Collagetry. It is a technique I developed while working as an artist-in-residence for Smith Center for Healing and the Arts at Howard University Hospital.
Ananda's art supplies
Ananda's art supplies
Ananda's art supplies
A few weeks ago I created several Collagetrys (my made up word) for patients I was working with at The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I took photos of the collages because they spoke to my writing fears and life as an artist. See below.
Collagetry
This Memoir Collagetry reminded me to own my story and voice in my writing process. It also reminded me of the collages I made during my first memoir writing process and the energy and inspiration I received after creating them. So I made a mental note to make more time in my writing process for collage.
Healing Artist Collagetry
The message of this Healing Artist Collagetry really touched me: Self-expression. This is you. This is now. Healing artist. Your heart. Watercolor landscape. It offered me permission to use my healing artwork as a path back to my memoir writing.
Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts - photo credit: Amazon.com
After reading the book’s description on Amazon.com, I ordered a copy. I started reading the book and have enjoyed the journaling exercises which are forcing me to confront my writing fears. One of my fears is running out of inspiration. So I have turned to Pinterest. I created two inspiration boards for my art and writing. I use them on a regular basis to stay energized. Check out the links below.
I returned to reading Poets & Writers on a regular basis. The February issue focused on inspiration. I have been rereading Frank Bures’ article about creating inner space for inspiration. It reminds me to UNPLUG from technology, my to do list, my writing deadlines, etc. Unplugging creates more time to relax and recharge. When I do it, I am able to surrender. SURRENDER is the key that unlocks the door to my creative process. So wish me luck as I practice the art of surrender from now until the fall season, make Collegetrys to overcome my writing struggles, and complete my fabulous Digital Sisterhood book!
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.
Yesterday I posted a collage with a poem made from magazine clippings. Some folks have asked for a typed version of the poem. See below. Please share it with others. Consider making one of your own. If you do, feel free to post it in the comments section below.
Thanks for stopping by.
Peace and Creativity,
Ananda
Just for Women Manifesto by Ananda Leeke (based on collage)
Ananda Leeke 