Journey to the Heart-Lesson One:Heart Collage

The most beautiful thing in the world is a heart that is changing. -Lara Ackerman, TrailWalker at Anasazi Foundation

Today's the day!! Welcome to my 7 week class "Journey to the Heart". I am so grateful you are here to take this heart-changing journey with me. I have been working on my own heart for the past ten months and as a result have seen amazing changes and growth in my life. It hasn't been easy and I have had to face some pretty harsh realities about myself...but it has ALL been worth it a million and one percent!!!

MY JOURNEY

This post will be longer than normal...it's important before we begin that you understand a little bit of where I am coming FROM.  Throughout my journey I have posted dozens of blog posts here...truly pouring my heart out in hopes of healing it. I encourage you to read each one so you can get a sense of my past struggles.

*Please note that out of respect for the most important people in my life I am not sharing names or some of the actual events that took place.

Ready to tell my Story Part One

The Rest of the Story

The above posts give a very good outline of the sorrow, the struggles and the stress I was under for nearly 3 years. Looking back on it our lives got even worse. We came within days of losing our home, people closest to me were going through monumental heartache and pain...which affected me...keeping me up most nights and living in a constant state of turmoil. My Mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, my father-in-law with Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer (we buried him less than a year later...my Mom is cancer free and on the mend). Still with all that was going on in our lives...we weren't asking for help. Honestly we just didn't know where to go but prayer. I can tell you that if it were not for my faith in God...I would not have made it through. I would have given up right out of the chutes and just shriveled up. It was during my most fervent prayers when my Heart would open a tiny bit allowing light to shine in. Still it wasn't enough to heal my heart. The best way I can describe it was...black. My heart was dying and turning black. (that's really hard for me to write, especially where I am today)

The turning point for me...for our family...came at the LOWEST point I have ever been in my ENTIRE life...EVER. It's a story I won't share here...but it is one that broke our hearts beyond repair (or so we thought). 

It's funny how life goes...most times it's when our lives are at the lowest, the absolute rock-bottom...that's when we finally start asking for help. 

And that's what happened...we got help. 

We found Anasazi.

To say that Anasazi changed our lives...that is an understatement. 

Anasazi changed our Hearts. 

A Quick Class Outline

We travel only as far and as high as our Hearts will take us. -Good Buffalo Eagle from the book The Seven Paths

Over the next 7 weeks I will be sharing the principles of Anasazi along with other books, quotes and exercises that have changed my heart from a Heart of War to a Heart of Peace. I will be sharing MY STORY...every bit of it. Please understand I am not a licensed counselor but I am someone that has lived with struggle, heartache and pain like I know so many of you do. I am a HUGE believer in ART healing the Soul. I am so EXCITED to have you join me on this quest for Joy and Peace in our Hearts!!!

Take time this week to gather your supplies. You won't need to buy a thing (unless you want to). I am using a journal that is nearly half-filled with other pages...

I bought this one at Wal-Mart for less than ten bucks. I usually gesso the pages to make them stronger as I love to use lots of texture on most of my pages:) But a Dylusions journal will work...any journal! Heck you can even use a plain old notebook! Just be sure and gesso each page to make them sturdier!!

Each Monday and Thursday I will be posting a blog post here along with a project. The link will always be on my Facebook page Mind.Body.Soul . If you haven't joined my page yet just send me a request so I can add you to the list. I encourage you to share your work with us (if you feel comfortable) in our group. We are a very supportive group of women!!

Today's Project

In the Seven Paths book used by Anasazi seven sacred gifts given to us by our Creator are highlighted. They are...

Light
Wind
Water
Stone
Plants
Animals
We

It's how we WALK with this elements that determines whether or not we have a Heart of Peace or a Heart of War. The Path of Light is our focus this week and challenges us to think about what's Truly in our Hearts...deep down, under all the muck. Some tips to ponder this week on your journey...

*Light chases away darkness (think of the Sun and how it illuminates our beautiful Earth)
*Do you and I allow light to chase darkness from our SOULS as well?
*Darkness WITHIN clouds the world WITHOUT
*We who lose the light within have lost our way.

* Answer this question...Does YOUR Heart Walk Forward in the Light?

Art Project...In your journals create a Heart Collage. Gather images, words and quotes that speak to your Heart.

Here is how mine turned out...

Close-ups...

 As you gather images and text be sure and surround yourself with inspiration...for me that looks like my studio, a fave candle burning and Christmas music. Do what inspires YOU:) As you cut out each element let your mind wander...this is an intuitive exercise...don't put a lot of thought into what you cut and paste onto your page. Your Heart knows.

See you Thursday!

"Journey to the Heart"

Begin today. Declare out loud to the universe that you are willing to let go of struggle and eager to learn through joy. -Sarah Ban Breathnach

Has is it really been since July that I last wrote a blog post?? That's the longest time EVER! But life got REAL busy and I was just living life...trying to be present with my family. And even though that was the very best way to be...I have missed writing. 

So.
Very.
Much.

And I don't mean just fluffy writing...I mean real, heart-searching, deep thinking, writing. 

In my 30's I was blessed to write a weekly column for our local newspaper..."View From the Front Porch". What a gift it was to share my heart every week for five years. Not only was I able to encourage others but I was encouraged, uplifted and inspired every single week. And I can tell you there were MANY weeks when I had NO clue what the heck I was going to write about until the last hour before deadline...it was during those times, however when my mind expanded and my writing skills improved. I am actually feeling a bit rusty today as I type this on my MAC. My goal is to fix that and begin looking at my life through a writer's lens again. My heart is singing!

Speaking of Heart...I hope YOU will join me for my latest art journaling class..."Journey to the Heart" from November 30th-January 17th. The course is filled with seven weeks of projects, prompts and inspiration to loving yourself again. Each Monday I will share one project with you...anything from creating a small canvas to collaging what Spirit means to us. On Thursdays you will be prompted to explore your hearts in your art journals in unique and meaningful ways. The goal of this course is to help you recognize what's in your heart and gently help you Walk Forward in Love and Gratitude. 

As always this course is free.

Click on this link to join my Facebook group...Mind.Body.Soul for the projects, prompts and to share your own art with us!

Please share with your friends and FB groups!! See you November 30th!!