Each year this beautiful tree magically appears on the corner of 3rd and Main St in my town. It is a reminder to me, of the true spirit-often forgotten-of the Holiday Season.
This week, I watched a little girl pluck a baggie of marshmallows and graham crackers off one of the branches. Instantly her face lit up with a smile, as did her family's as they watched her open the bag filled with her gift.
We all know it feels better to give than to receive and this year, I wanted to get back to that feeling in my heart. I made a comiment not to purchase needless gifts, just because there is consumer driven pressure to do so. This year, it was an astrology reading from a dear friend for my husband, handmade New Years cards, handmade tin ornaments, home baked cookies and small loving gifts from the heart.
After all...what else do we really need?
Happy Holidays to you and yours...I look forward to creating art of intention with you in the New Year.
Last night we held the Introductory Evening for Living with Cancer: Visions of Healing and Hope. It was a truly an honor to sit in a sacred circle listening to stories of courage, determination, hope.
Tears were shared as fears and concerns were released, yet there was also laughter, as the women found humor in the midst of their dark nights of the soul. It was the laughter that touched my heart the most.
Although I have had many friends who have struggled with this seemingly rampant disease, I have not personally been impacted by cancer. As one of 3 women in the circle, who has not had a diagnosis of cancer, there was a part of the road I could not walk with them to some degree.
My co-facilitator Diane Kenney who is recently out of treatment, was able to hold that space and was interestingly the one who opened the circle to laughter. I sat in awe as I watched this beautiful woman, short sassy hair, living her dream...a dream of giving back to others, in recognition of love, support and tender care she received during her time in treatment. All without any prior experience in facilitating a group! Diane spoke from her heart and her personal experience and she held the sacred space for the women to share openly and honestly, leading by example. I was in awe.
In the photo above, you see the branch of hope and intention we created as a group last night. Each leaf holds a word of hope and an affirmation for the next 6-months. It hangs in the studio, a reminder of our evening and our hopes and intentions for Spring...
Ladies...Diane...you are my HER-oines....thank you....
Sheri on left dressed to the 9's, in an AWESOME outfit from Corky Woods. You girls made me look good!
The Super Model is coming down to earth and re-entering her Mountain Gal persona. WOW fellow Feisty Females, I have to tell you, this might have been the best thing I have ever done for my self-esteem. There I was on stage, with some REALLY high fashion priestesses and I felt absolutely FANTASTIC and VERY SASSY!
I had a pretty rough week last week, with a lot of late nights-not my forte these days-2 floods on different days of the week and between clients in my studio from the restaurant above me and a crisis of faith when it became clear, we jumped the gun a bit and Living with Cancer Program likely won't be funded for the first 6-weeks of programming. Suffice it say that 4 hours before runway walk, I was in tears with my co-facilitator and wondering WTH I was taking on this enormous new studio.
Yes gals, it happens to me too some days. I am not immune to the eventual break down of faith that comes with stretching out of the old skin, when making life transformations. My co-facilitator Diane, talked me down from the ledge-and reminded me of what is REALLY important-she is a breast cancer survivor newly out of treatment, which sure puts things in perspective. She told me that she believes in the dream, the work and in me. We all need people like Diane in our lives, so when those ledges show up, there is someone with a bull horn waiting at the bottom.
Being authentic takes courage. I was surrounded in this event with about 6 current and former clients and many more in the audience. This took being my bona fide and genuine a WHOLE new level, including changing backstage in mass.
As I walked on stage in my first line (see photo above) to the cheers and screaming of my community (and my cute hubby in the background) I was jolted awake, this IS what HAPPENS when community comes together. This is what HAPPENS when we BELIEVE.
After the show, as we mingled, a client came up to me and said, "I shouted out, that's my THERAPIST!" Her friends said, "Wow, she really walks her talk! How cool!" If I am gonna preach it, I better be ready to LIVE IT! Something new is awake within my heart this morning-and I don't think it's just the coffee...Let's take a moment today and IMAGINE POSSIBILITIES WE NEVER DREAMED EXISTED!!!
Remember it begins with, YES I CAN! and sometimes involves fakin' it till we make it!
To the cast and crew of this extraordinary event. My heart to everyone for their efforts. To my dear SWIRL sister Lynn Aliya, thank you for making me a star and supporting my dreams all these years. To Amy Kimberly, Ro Mead and the rest of the wild tribe over at CCAH, I am in awe!
Copyright: 2010 Sheri Gaynor, The Rite of Spring Fashion Show Sneak Preview: Hoops How better than to step into Feisty Fifty than with fifty bold steps for 2010. I've crossed off learning hand drumming and tonight I cross off a long held fantasy, that of actually being a Broadway singer/dancer. Yep, I am saying it publicly for all the world to hear. Growing up in the BIg Apple, and attending Broadway musicals conjured up some pretty BIG childhood fantasies of becoming a singer and dancer. Watching Tommy Tune tap and strut made my heart beat faster.
I always wanted to be in the high school musicals, but because of my spacial dyslexia, I was always going one way while everyone else was going the other, not to mention that I was so SHY, I could hardly speak. So, needless to say, I was never invited into the club. I gave up after a few attempts and decided to head down other paths. Meeting my friend Lynn Aliya, awakened this idea, but I never thought I would dare to take the leap.
I think this dream has lived buried under a few layers for quite some time now. Last year when I attended the first Green is the New Black Fashion Show, and had my mind completely blown, I set an intention to model in 2010. I actually made the it through this years audition-which thanks to my good friend Lynn Aliya, was a runway walk and nothing more-so tonight I am strutting my stuff on the runway in in The RItes of Spring Fashion Show and modeling four lines. In one of these lines, I am actually doing something really bold...but I can't reveal that quite yet, you'll just have to come and see for yourself.
Yep, tonight is one of those, H--Y S--T moments, where I am stepping into some REALLY scary terrain and risking it all for the sake of redemption, ala bright lights, performance and music, just so I can say "I'm FEISTY FIFTY, YES I CAN!"
48 bold steps to go....
Here's a video from last years Green is the New Black!
The Girls: SWIRL writers-eaters Sunday brunch at Dava's Farmhouse in Paonia
Sunday I took a Gypsy Spirit Day with my SWIRL sisters for a Sunday brunch at Dava's Farmhouse Inn in Paonia. I am the "baby," of the group and was blessed to be invited in after these women had been together for 12 years. Knowing the women prior to being asked to join, I had always had a deep sense of envy witnessing their connection and the bond they shared with one another through the years. I have been a member now for a few years and it has been one of life's greatest gifts.
One of my desires in writing Creative Awakenings was to support women in creating a community where they can share their dreams, hold one another's intentions and if need be have a place that is sacred to share their deepest secrets.
Why is this important? Because we need people in our life who will accept us UNCONDITIONALLY! Who will love us through all of life's roller coasters. Women who will tell us like it is, who can hold us when we fall and comfort us in the darkness. On page 132 in Creative Awakenings , I describe how to form your own dream circle. It's time...what are you waiting for?
There's nothing more wonderful than coming home after 2 weeks on the gypsy spirit trail. The IEATA conference was just incredible! I am re-energized and blown away by the powerful explosion of my field. I met some amazing people doing all kinds of work in arts and healing, from researchers who are quantifying data, expressive arts therapists and consultants, therapists looking to bring the creative process into their work and artists who are using their gifts to bring the power of creativity into other people's lives and MEN!!! FINALLY!!!. WOW!
This is from a day spent with RAW a non-profit that supports "youth in the struggle," by giving them the power of creativity to change their lives. We engaged in several experiential exercises and were ablt to meet some of the RAW chiefs, kids who have worked their way up in the program and are now mentoring and teaching other kids.
To my right is my new friend Fena who is now a member of the Salon. She is one amazing woman and I am so grateful I met her at the conference. In the background is one of the RAW staff. She was very insistent in sharing that she is "not a therapist, I am an artist who heals." I loved her ability to stand in the power of that truth.
Weaving the silk together.
Laura and I took off one evening to visit and old friend of mine, Susan Rodgerson, director of
Aritsts for Humanities. Susan and I have not seen one another since 1994 when she had just started the program and I went to work with her and some of the kids. We've kept in touch over the years, so I knew that this was high on my list of Boston priorities. HOLY COW am I glad I went! I can't believe what Susan has created with this program. She is a dynamic, go-getter who does not have the word "no," anywhere in her vocabulary. I also got to reconnect with the students who were in the program way back then and who are now full grown adults and teachers for Artists for Humanities. I am determined to find those photos of them from 1994. Can you say AWESOME! They were getting ready to go to their first NY gift show with products the kids have created and we were able to see the display and the line of furniture.
Here's Susan and Laura looking at a painting one of the kids sold for....$3000.00! YES I said $3000....
I posted the full IEATA album on my FB profile and will be posting it also on Flicker for those of you who aren't FB members.
I tried to post before I left, but it was a bit hectic getting ready to present. We will have two Salon members in my class today! WOOO HOOO, I finally get to meet a couple of you face to face...or sandal to sandal...as the case may be.
The image above is from a trip to North, Boston to an amazing program called RAW which i had the pleasure to visit yesterday. INSPIRATION PLUS! This was the floor in the art room...need I say more? Perhaps we should tattoo this on our forearms and become the NO MISTAKE tribe! Okay, well at least you can hang it in your studio, on your fridge or your bathroom mirror, so you can be reminded everyday to play, play and make an unholy mess!
I will write more later this week, as I am off to present and have to gather my head...just wanted you all to know what was happening.
And...to all our WONDERFUL new Salon members...WELCOME and thank you for joining us!
Stay tuned,
Sheri
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