SoulCollage: I Am the One Who Manifests the Unexpected

I Am The One Who Manifests the Unexpected

First, as always, from here on out, I would like to give thanks to the artists and photographers who work makes

the SoulCollage process possible.  SoulCollage typically utilizes the images, created by others, from magazines, to

engage in sacred collage for self exploration and healing.  SoulCollage cards are not created for sale or 

monetary profit but as part of a personal, self healing process.

This card started with the young man posing as an amateur magician.  I think I had thought of making a card

for my son and my Community suit but this turned into a Committee card instead.  In Jungian terms this is

my immature inner masculine.  I am not surprised that my inner masculine is so young because it represents

the part of myself that masters the outer world and career, and I feel so young in this area.  

I have managed to complete multiple college degrees and have had a personally successful private practice

as an Art Therapist, a satisfying and ongoing career as a teacher, and my ever present avocation as an artist.

My life goals, in terms of financial success, have been elusive for me, however.  I guess I'm thinking about this today

because it is Saturday, and yesterday was payday, and I am already down to barely enough money to keep

gas in my car this week.  Did buy groceries and my son does have a nice new fall jacket.  

Why is it so hard for me to create a fat bank account?  I've gone to astrologers and psychics about this issue.

I know, some of you are saying--hey, better a a financial planner.  Sigh.  The intuitive counselors tell me both

that I was very wealthy and powerful in a former life and lost the taste for riches, and power over others, and 

also that I've spent many lifetimes as a monk, renouncing worldly goods.  Also, can't underestimate the power of

childhood fairy tales where the prince was supposed to take care of all those worldly concerns, lol.

Nonetheless,  I am still working on manifesting abundance.  From infinite resources, represented by the

ocean in the background, my young self is able to produce a chipmunk.  In the original picture there was a 

bunny at the young magician's feet, which I cut out and promptly lost.  During a search of my clippings I 

found instead this engaging chipmunk.  Unexpected but seemed quite fitting.  I had also cut out a glass

fishing net float that someone had pictured washed up on a Northeastern beach.  I had also misplaced that

clip as well but found the flower instead.  After gluing the flower down I found the float image.  I think this is

so fitting.  My paintings of flowers and flower-like mandalas truly keep me emotionally afloat.

And the chipmunk.  I looked up the associations and found that the humble chipmunk has interesting 

energy in terms of symbolism.  The chipmunk represents "wishes granted".  And also relates to the "gifts

of artistic endeavours and creativity".  It also relates to the unexpected, close observation, and playfulness. 

Further it creates secret and hidden ways of getting to its goals.  I love this playful and unexpected magic.

I relate to focusing on the part of myself that manifests through playfulness and delights in the 

unexpected.  I may not be rich but I delight in the creative surprises that appear in my life.

I Am the One Who Creates the Unexpected

I Am the One Who is Childlike in My Creating

I Am the One who Stays Afloat through Reflecting the Beauty of Nature

I Am the One Who Remains Playful

I Am the One Who Observes Closely

I Am the One Who Finds and Follows Secret Pathways

I Am the One Who is Blessed

SoulCollage: I Am the One Who Is Guided

I Am the One Who Is Guided

I've created a number of card this month that have been multi-layered both in terms of layers of images, and layers of meaning.  Many have also been decorated and embellished.  In contrast, this card, having only two images is simple

and straightforward.  It was at first just the picture of the lighthouse, a symbol of being guided to safe harbor.  I got the idea of adding a dolphin leaping and found this nice blue one.  Looking up the symbology of the dolphin I found

that it was an early Christian symbol.  A secret reference to Christ and Christians from the time of Constantine

and before.  

To me the dolphin more relates to growing up watching "Flipper" and also "Lassie"; being well schooled in the idea

of other species helping to guide and protect humans.  There are also contemporary stories of dolphins rescuing

children and even dogs, befriending cats, saving divers from sharks and leading lost boaters to safety.  The dolphin

is also agile, happy, intelligent, sleek and beautiful.  

To me the lighthouse and the dolphin represent help and support from not just the spirit's guiding light but also from unexpected sentient sources.  The ocean, to me, represents the great ground of being, the source of all life and the collective unconscious. This simple card gives me hope.

I Am the One Who Has Hope

I Am the One Who is Guided

I Am the One Who Finds Light in the Darkness

I Am the One Who Has Help

I Am the One Who Sails Into the Safe Harbour

I Am the One Who is Blessed and Grateful

I Am the One Who Has a Lucky Life

SoulCollage: I Am The One Who Is Neptune in Libra

I Am The One Who Is Neptune in Libra

This card started out as one that was hard to interpret. I had found a picture that looked like Neptune, in grease paint, with a flowing beard and a staff. This image was in an article about the Mummer's Parade, which occurs the 1st day of every New Year in Philadelphia. It is the oldest folk festival in the country and began with the practice of visiting one's neighbors on that first day and performing in exchange for food and drink. This led to the parades. I put this card together with this Neptune, coral, crystal floats, parrot fish and turtles.

I kept on staring at the man I had thought of as Neptune and wondering why the images included a man in Mummer drag and an artist's art globes.  I even talked to Betsy, the facilitator of the Soul Reflection Net group and the Rodeo Market face to face SoulCollage group.  She said that a card that does not respond to journaling might not be a standard Committee, Community or Counsel card and might not even be a SoulCollage card. Confusing. Unusual, enigmatic to me.

I began to do research on Neptune/Poseidon and found that he was the ruler of wells, rivers, lakes and the ocean.  The ruler of horses as well.  In a video that I show to my Humanities class, about the Ancient Grecian civilization, an historian states "Poseidon is a powerful god.  He is the patron of sailors, he protects them; he also sends them to their death".  So I was mystified by this Neptune that I chose, made up like a Mummer Wench.  

But then I found one key:  Neptune is related to mists, haze and fog.  As in "caught in a fog".  Also the dissolving of old boundaries; related to transformation and major change, as well as confusion and inspiration.  Also faith and vision for a more creative and spiritual life. I began to wonder where the planet Neptune was in my natal chart.  Found my chart: Neptune in Libra.  Did a search and found that everyone born between 1942 and 1957 has Neptune in Libra. A light bulb moment.  This lost in a fog feeling is part of Neptune and Neptune in Libra itself.

This card is another (along with my flower child card) that references the idealism and idiosyncrasies of the hippie generation.   My idealism, my creativity, my desire for peace and ideal love.  My confusion, my connection to the collective unconscious.  Neptune itself is related to not being able to quite see through the distortions of water. Illusion, and the need to press through illusion to uncover the truth behind mystery. Also in this card: the powerful trident that is a lego toy.  The beautiful glass balls with encased images of nature created by artists Paul Stankard and his daughter Katherine. Turtles that represent steadfastness and tranquility.  I should have asked this card "What is the message you have for me"?

I think the answer is to not accept easy answers and to continue to be playful, expressive and original. To remember to go deep, to explore my spiritual self, and pursue my idealistic goals as an artist, teacher and healer.  To not dismiss my youth as time wasted but to re-embrace truths I found there.

SoulCollage: I Am the One Who Climbs Out of the Wreckage

I Am the One Who Climbs Out of the Wreckage

I made this card at the end of August before the flooding that has impacted some of my favorite 

Colorado towns, specifically Boulder, Lyons, Estes Park.  Many others also impacted.  It is not over

yet as it is still raining hard today.  I am not near a river, lake, creek or dam so I have been spared

except for a leaky roof and closed highways.

This card is not just about the Colorado flood of 2013.  It is about the strength it takes to climb, at

least psychologically and spiritually, out of life's pressing challenges.  What does it take to climb

out of the wreckage?  The right knowledge, equipment, supplies, and tools.  Good fortune created

through mindfulness, meditation, and right practice.  Grace.  In life it is likely that one will lose one's 

physical home and all that is familiar through events that cause suffering: a natural disaster, illness,

loss of a job, loved ones, personal injury, or warfare; and still attain the peace that endures.

In this card the woman, who coincidentally has the same face as the Quan Yin figure, is able to

make it to safety through her climb towards this shrine at the cliff top.  Beautiful, blue mandala-like

flowers bloom despite the shake-up below. Having strength, through  spiritual practice and the

determination to make gradual progress, allows me to reach the goal.  Strangely the goal is also

the path and the practice.  I am so grateful, I am so blessed.

Just saw this quote from post by  Domo Geshe Rinpoche and it feels connected to this card:

Among the Vows of the Medicine Buddha upon attaining Enlightenment, 
according to the Medicine Buddha Sutra are:
To illuminate countless realms with his radiance, enabling anyone to become a Buddha just like him.
To awaken the minds of sentient beings through his light of lapis lazuli.
To help beings follow the Moral Precepts, even if they failed before.
To heal beings born with deformities, illness or other physical sufferings.
To help relieve the destitute and the sick.
To help heal mental afflictions and delusions.
To help the oppressed be free from suffering.