Offering HeART and SoulCollage® workshops to inspire your creative spirit
My Top 10 Highlights of the Epic Year 2020
Greetings!
  
In January the astrologers warned us that 2020 would be a wild ride. If you are skeptical about astrological predictions, here is one summary from astrologist Gray Crawford that might turn you into a believer: 

“2020 is the beginning of not only a new decade, but a new astrological era. As with any birthing process, the year will involve enduring labor pains in order to introduce a new life. The year 2020 is a threshold to cross, a pause between the way it has been and the way it will be, necessitating a confrontation with all the difficult challenges in need of a remedy within civilization. There is nothing easy about the transits of 2020, yet they also contain a potent force within the dissolution and volatility they will incite.”

What 2020 brought was a series of rolling disasters—the killing of George Floyd, raging wildfires as the overheated Earth continued to run a fever, a political campaign marred by baseless allegations of fraud and illegal voting, and the worst pandemic the world has seen in more than a century.

In addition to all the negative events of this year, there were some positives, right? In the midst of the tragedies there was courage, there was grace, there was sacrifice, there was hope—there were people faced with the very worst rising up to be their very best. I'm sure you could all make your own lists of the gifts that came to you this year, whether you sheltered in place or evacuated to escape a wildfire. I hope that when you reflect on the year you can find some good from it all. Here is my list of good things that came into my life in the year 2020.
An empty calendar. I’ve heard many of you share that having open days with nothing scheduled has been a relief from the hamster wheel of activity many of us were on pre-pandemic. What a gift to wake up and have nothing scheduled for that day! And if you have way too much time on your hands, you might enjoy this: 40 Things to do during a pandemic
Cleaning out my closets. And I mean ALL of my closets, including my art studio. Purging, cleaning, and organizing became my go-to for managing stress. It was something I could do to make things better in my nest while staying home and out of the fray. If you are cleaning things out, you might want to check out. 5 Steps to cleaning out closets.
Time in my art studio. Most days I spend at least a couple of hours in my studio creating. Plus, this year I participated in two fabulous art mentoring programs. One with Annamieka Davidson called "Let's Go Deep," the other one was with Ruth Armitage called "Roaring 20's." When the pandemic is over, I’ll need to host an art show and giveaway because my studio is now overflowing with art! Also, I was honored to be the featured artist in Annamieka Davidson's latest newsletter : ) Check it out here.
Long meandering walks out in nature. This is an outcome of that empty calendar I was talking about – walking just for the joy of walking, not necessarily for exercise and not with time restrictions. Just a walk on a trail or in the neighborhood. Here's a link to my favorite hiking app: alltrails.com
Progress on my book. Again, staying home brought extra time to work on the book I am writing about experiences I've had vision questing over the last 20+ years. I have a goal to complete it in 2021 and publish early in 2022. I'll send out some sneak previews in future newsletters.
Zoom gatherings: Coming together virtually in my SoulCollage® gatherings with people from all over the U.S., many of whom I never would have met were it not for the pandemic. It brings me great joy to see your faces in those little squares on my laptop screen!
Community and belonging: What I took for granted before has now become a treasured privilege. Whether it’s zoom or socially-distanced small gatherings, being in the company of family and friends (both old and new), I understand the importance of connection in a new way and I absolutely cannot wait until I can host some of you here in person at the Down to Earth Studio again.
My mom turned 100. This one is bitter-sweet. We had the joy of celebrating my mother’s 100th birthday in April of this year. Friends and family sent dozens of cards to celebrate Dodie’s milestone birthday. Of course, we didn’t know she would pass-away just a few months later, but I guess that makes the memory of her 100th even more special.
Mentoring Megan. I think this is every grandmother’s dream. I’ve had the joy and privilege of mentoring my granddaughter, Megan, along the way this year as she discovered her gifts, found her niche, and blossomed in her professional life. This year she began facilitating women’s circles through Global Sisterhood, and launched her integrative nutrition and health coaching business, “The Peaceful Plate Method.” Read more about Megan at bewell-withmegan.com
Woman hands together symbolizing prayer and gratitude. Mudra. Yoga concept.
Renewed gratitude. I end this year with gratitude deeper than I’ve ever known – a new sense of appreciation for the simple things, and the not so simple things: a cozy home, food on my table, family and friends whom I love and who love me, my art and writing practices, and a renewed faith in the resilience of the human race. Enjoy this delightful little 2 minute movie: A Story of Gratitude.
SoulCollage® Gathering
Reflecting on the Epic Year 2020
Saturday, December 19, 2020 3:00 pm PST (2 spots left!)
Zoom Gathering at GG's Virtual Down to Earth Studio
Sliding fee scale $15 - $25

Join me in a gathering to say goodbye to this epic year. 2020 is definitely a year for the books. It's brought us the corona virus pandemic, the largest global civil uprising perhaps ever calling for justice for Black lives and police reform, and a contentious presidential election.

So, yeah, 2020 was officially nutzo - but astrologers had been warning us about 2020 for years, as this year delivered a number of rare, intense, and life-altering planetary moments that are shaking our foundations personally, politically, and societally, and forcing us to adapt to an entirely new sense of "normal." It's a year worth commemorating...and maybe even making peace with. Register with GG here.
Three Part SoulCollage® Series
Visioning for 2021
Sunday, January 3,10 &17, 3:00 pm PST (Two spots left!)
Zoom Gatherings at GG's Down to Earth Studio
Sliding fee scale: $45 - $65
Join me in dreaming your visions for 2021. Yes, there is great uncertainty, but that doesn't mean we can't go ahead and put our visions in motion for 2021. What do you want? What do you need? What are your hopes for the new year? And what do the Neters have to tell you about all of this?
In this 3-part series we will use imagery to clarify our visions for the new year in three significant areas of a fulfilling life:
Session #1: Personal - Physical, Emotional, Mental
Session #2: Work - Gifts You Offer the World 
Session #3: Spiritual - Growth, Practices, Beliefs
Come and vision the year ahead through imagery and wisdom from your allies, angels and ancestors.  Register with GG here
Thanksgiving Card

I close with a huge heart-felt thank you to all of you. Thank you for reading my newsletters, signing up for classes and purchasing my art. You are a blessing in my life. You make me want to be a better artist, a better teacher, and a better human!

I wish you all many blessings and renewal in the new year.
From my creative heart to yours,