This week I’ll be sharing some of my artwork from this online workshop.  Soul Restoration 1‘s last session of 2012 has begun!! This is the powerful 8-week online workshop that has literally changed thousands of women’s lives around the world.  I’m going against Melody’s advice NOT to share my artwork from the class because 1) registration is still open until September 7 so maybe you would like to sign up too and 2) perhaps something you see here will inspire you or motivate you to move in the direction of positive change for yourself.  (Deep breath here… because this is really close to my heart, I am shoring up for any negativity or criticism, not that any of you have ever been at all critical of me.  I’m sure that’s why Melody says not to share such deeply personal work.)

So today, a bit about the class and some photos of the book I’m crafting for the class. Wednesday, more of the same because there’s way too much material for one post, plus some pictures from my class journal.  Friday, photos of a few of my Truth Cards, which are simple pictorial summaries of key lessons that I can pull out anytime I’m needing a reminder of what I’ve learned.

OK so where to begin? I should explain first that while many of the women in the workshop are working through some really tough issues like divorce, abuse, financial woes, low self-esteem, and so on, I am using the class as an opportunity to carve out some time for myself, to think about what big goals I have for my photography/creative self going forward, and to remember all the things that I am good at and bring me joy… all while learning some new craft techniques.  Even though I am not feeling “broken” (been there, done that, thank you very much), I hope to find more of a clarity of my unique purpose and also take better care of myself.

The curriculum is not designed to CHANGE anyone, but to help RESTORE us to who we always have been and who we are meant to become.  Above is the cover of my book.  Thinking of my soul as a house, I designed it to be full of belonging and loveliness.  “The real me is still in there” means that I need to push away some of what has been piled onto the walls and floors of my house (negativity, other people’s comments, false expectations, bad experiences, etc.) and find the original structure.  “I am letting go” of such high standards for myself and others and allowing myself time to rest.

“Closed for restoration” to me means surrendering all my expectations and busy-ness and stopping to focus within.  This coincides beautifully with the month of Elul, our time of introspection before the High Holidays.  During Elul we focus on returning… one aspect of which is returning to who we are meant to be.

In the two-page spread above, I selected some Truths that spoke to me the most from pages of them that Melody gives us weekly.  The ones in the sky are general guidance for me:

“The right people and situations will always show up as soon as it is time.”

“You will do tremendous things – things that no one else could ever do – because there is no one in the world who is exactly like you.”

The Truths coming from the sun are directional/guiding:

“You are becoming who you were always meant to become, dear girl.”

“You are not alone… you have never been alone and you never will be.  Accept the love that is meant just for you.”

“You were never meant to fit in.  You were meant to stand out as a light in the darkness.”

“You make an enormous difference; the world would not be as luminous and beautiful without you here.”

Perhaps most important of all, the Truths laying on the grass are soft reminders to let go:

“You must start taking time to nurture yourself, my sweet friend.  No one else is going to do it, and the world needs the very best of you.”

“Be gentle with yourself.”

This next two-page spread is about my “Truthteller.” I think of her as “that still, small voice inside,” maybe it’s God or maybe it’s intuition or maybe it’s somehow connected to something larger than any of us.  It’s that core knowing that is always right.  The Truthteller has all the answers for me and my job is to tune in and hear how she is guiding me.  Thus far, I haven’t been very good at being still enough to listen.  🙂 When I have, it has only led to good things.

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“The Brave Girls Club is a worldwide community of women who want to live the best, happiest, most productive and fabulously brave life they can possibly live…and that means something different to every single one of us.  It is an online community, a portal for amazing connections, a news source for everyday heroes, a resource for great ideas, amazing endeavors, everyday problem solving, realistic recipes and unforgettable get-togethers.”

Soul Restoration is one of the Brave Girls online workshops, developed and taught by Melody Ross, and is full of fun craft projects designed to “restore” you to your full self.  “It’s designed to help you really really think and hear your own soul again…to help you remember what brings you the most joy, to realize & remember all of the things that you are good at and that make your heart sing…to get back on track and to unleash the courage and motivation to stay on track….to reunite with your soul.”

Even if you aren’t interested in the class, I encourage you to sign up for their free e-mailed “daily truths.” (They also have a separate one for girls and teens.) P.S. None of these are affiliate links… I simply believe in this.

Come back Wednesday and Friday for more!  🙂

This post was featured in the August 2012 edition of the Post of the Month Club.