Kathleen Botsford

SoulCollage® Blog Party!

 

 

Today is a SoulCollage® blog party given by Kathryn Antyr at True North Arts.  How much fun is that?  The object is to post some of our SoulCollage® cards and then visit each other's blogs to share our journey and our insights.  And it just so happened that I had scheduled a SoulCollage® workshop today that was canceled.  So here I am, with the cards I drew today, sharing with all of you.

The first card is my Death card.  And very funny indeed it was the first card up this morning.  My children are flying the coop faster than I can manage.  This is the beginning of the second week of my two week "retreat" from motherhood and wifedom.   Death is a necessary part of life, literally and symbolically.  I am "dying" to my role as mother and a new me will be re-birthed.  The relationship I have with my husband will also need pruning as we begin to re-form our lives together.  That is at once, exciting to me and very scary.  Maybe we will have nothing in common when the children are gone.  It is indeed a possibility......

My two youngest, 17 and 21 are with their father in LA for a traditional business trip.  Each summer Steve would take each child on a business trip by themselves.  The kids loved going to meetings with their dad and the rest of the time was filled with lots of memory making adventures.  This is the first time I have been alone when these "bizness trips" as the kids used to call the when they were little, occur.  As much as I looked forward to this time alone with no responsibilities and nothing to do but what I wanted to do, the first few days were a bit rocky.  I felt at odds with myself and wandered aimlessly around my home, feeling out of sorts with no creative project calling my attention for more than a moment or two.  The more I sat with the feelings and moved into the resistance, the more I realized how hurt I felt and unneeded and unwanted.  This is just the beginning I know.  Victoria is a senior in high school and Stevie is a senior in college.  The year will be full of endings.   And of course, beginnings......Thank you Seena for my SoulCollage® practice to help me navigate and plum these deep wells inside of my psyche.  To make sense of the story of my life as I move 0n to new places in the outer world as well as my inner world.

The next card up is my Inner Critic.  Or should I say one of my inner critics.  This card comes up to keep me on my toes physically as well as mentally.  It seems this part of my committee is never quite satisfied with my weight or my looks and especially the comfort foods and clothes I have been drawn to on this sabbatical.  I normally work out two hours a day but have taken these two weeks off to savor the mornings and the birdsong with a cup of tea and an open schedule.  Of course these ladies are still hard at work pushing, pushing, pushing me to do more and be more.  This week I have been politely taking their suggestions and then staying glued to my chair with one more cup of tea and a croissant.  Funny they should appear this morning, isn't it?

The last card is one of my favorites.  Into the Mystery is ripe with possibilities and adventures.  As I practice letting go of my children and my primary role as a hands on mother, I am also excited about the possibilities the future has in store.  Will our radio show become a favorite activity and creative outlet?  Will I do more workshops?  Write?  Will my jewelry take off in a larger way?  And how about my dreams of travel and Italy?  This card always quickens my heart when I see it, reminding me to stay centered in the present so I have no regrets as the future unfolds, slowly and steadily, one step at a time.

Happy SoulCollage®!

Little Altars Everywhere Part 3

 

 

 

 
On the radio show I am doing with my friend Jill Angelo, we have been talking about altars in our offices.  These are a few of the ones you would find if you walked into my office/studio space.  The first photo is the corner of my desk.  The old Buddha sits patiently  beside Italian leather books.  Patiently waiting for me to open the antique Chinese glass case and lift my pen.  Patienly holding space for my thoughts just in case I may be moved to commit them to paper.  A constant companion reminding me to stay centered in the present moment, however I choose to spend it.

The next photo is the shelf above my computer.  This spot has changed recently as the "project" board from Knossos has moved to make space for the art work of my children.  The rest of the shelf remains the same.  Inspirational books and authors, spiritual artwork and candles.  And a small giraffe to remind me of our trip to San Diego last spring.

The last two photos show my altars in a more traditional sense.  I have collected meaningful objects over the years to inspire me and remind me of my journey in the physical world as well as in the spirit and emotional realms.  The objects and symbols have changed over the years.  Some have moved on as new pieces have been added.  Each piece is precious and meaningful to me.  There is a snake to symbolize wisdom and transformation, a nautilus sea shell to symbolize the Divine proportion in all of creation, an olive from the Temple of Athena Pronaia at Delphi, and a witch ball to entangle any "negative" energy or spirits that may be hovering about.

These spaces of Grace are always there to remind me of my vision, my journey and my home.  They comfort me and support me in ways too numerous to put into words.  I cannot envision my home or my life without the rituals I have shared.  Their depth and richness has enriched and enchanted my home and my life one hundred fold.                         

Little Altars Everywhere Part 2

My living room is in the "Travel and Helpful People" bagua of my home.  This little vignette is a constant reminder of my love of travel and history.  And of course Italy.  In fact, anything and everything Italian.  If you look closely you can see the tell a-tale signs of my dog Rockne's puppy years.  He loved to gnaw on this wooden corbel.  The angel and the female bust were safe.  They are made of stone.

This family "altar" is located in the "Creativity and Children" section of my home.  I must admit, these portraits began their 20 year sojourn on this wall long before I read my first book on Feng Shui.  Isn't it interesting that it worked out like this?  In ancient times women knew the power of creating a home with immense love and intention.  As we have left our homes for the workplace, we have forgotten the magic inherent in our feminine and primordial nature.  The creative magic we possess deep within our very beings.  The creative magic we can call upon on a moments notice to help us stay present in our lives as we consciously weave the intricate fabric of reverence into our homes and families.  Our lives can be led with chaos or with reverence.  It is our choice.  As I mentioned on the radio show "Creating a Space of Grace" with  Jill Angelo yesterday, here is one of my favorite quotes.

The small things in everday life are no less sacred

than the great issues of human existence.

~Thomas Moore

Little Altars Eveywhere

 

Some of my long time readers may have seen these photos before but they are here today to announce one of my most exciting new adventures.  I am doing a radio show with my good friend Jill Angelo on Unityfm.  The show is entitled "Creating Your Space of Grace" and it is a concept that is dear to my heart as well as Jill's.  Our fourth show will be live on Tuesday, July 13th at 10:00am Chicago time and can be listened to in the archives any time after 7:00pm (Chicago time) that evening.

Jill is an interior designer who uses many spiritual traditions in her work of creating sacred spaces for her clients.  I am not a designer but for many, many years have used these same spiritual principles in creating and caring for my own home.  When we met, we instantly clicked and the rest is history.  Our show on Tuesday will be focused on the altars we have in our homes, some intentionally but most instinctively and on the most part, unconsciously.  It's in our genes.  Altars can be traced back as far as 75,000 years to the Neanderthal people of the Alps and their reverence and celebration of the ancient bear.  Today our subconscious altars range from a lovely dining room tablescape to the seemingly disparate arrangement of trinkets and photos, concert ticket stubs and stuffed animals gracing the average teenager's room.

While we are sometimes unknowingly drawn to create sacred spaces to connect us with the mystery of the unseen world and celebrate our union with the Divine, an intentionally created altar brings much more deliberate power and attention to this mystical and timeless spiritual practice.  Over the next few days I will be posting all sorts of altars found around my home by the various members of my family and a little bit of the story of the altar's origin and history.

And please join Jill and me on Tuesday for our radio show.  You can call in and ask questions or share your own stories of the sacred spaces you have created in your own environments.  We would love to hear from you!  You can find us at unity.fm,  Creating a Space of Grace with Jill Angelo.

Catching Up

I have been away from my computer for most of the spring and summer working on new projects.  I have kept up with my blogging friends but have been amiss at leaving comments.  Our home has been busy and full of activities so this post is an attempt to catch up with lots of family fun. 

Victoria played the lead role in Neil Simon's "Rumors"at the end of her school year.  She was fabulous and yes, I am a wee bit prejudiced!

Next we all enjoyed the 81st annual Blue Gold game at Notre Dame.  Stevie (#63) made two tackles and a sack!

 

 

 

Victoria's 17th birthday was celebrated in the midst of the Chicago Blackhawks incredible run for the Stanley Cup.  We also attended a Chicago Cubs game that weekend having lots more fun than any of us could imagine.  Sports, sports and more sports seems to be our theme song this summer!

 

 

 

 

Next up was Alex's 23 Birthday.  We had a weekend full of celebrations and dinners of all sorts.  Lots of friends and family and fun.

 

 

Victoria spent two weeks in South Bend at Notre Dame's Summer Scholar program studying Pre-Law.  She met lots of new friends and took some very interesting field trips to Federal Courts, District Courts and jails- (oh my!)  I thought she was envisioning Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blonde" but it seems Tori got a pretty good idea of what it will take to become an attorney and she is still excited about the possibilities.

Whew!  July 4th found our home "home" to ten of Stevie's friends.   There are no words to describe the fabulous time we had hosting these wonderful young men for four days.  Each one a gentleman with a little bit of that mischievous little boy peeking through.   Mom Heaven to be sure!  (One is missing from this photo.)

 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit and catching up with me and mine.  I hope everyone's summer has been as full of family and joy as mine has been.  I will be back to my "normal" blogging schedule soon with lots of new adventures of my own to tell you about.   "See" you all soon!