Dear Creative Friends,
It is hard to know what to write during these volatile times, but I wanted to keep in touch, and offer some ways I have been processing the outer world in my inner world.
One of the things I have been doing is looking to Nature as a guide, as suggested by the poet William Wordsworth who said:
Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.
"Western culture, if not the entire planet, has entered a time of testing and trial. It is no surprise that we feel we are on what the Spanish would call terra incognita, or unknown territory. So far, we seem to be traveling without a map, and we lack the strength to take life-sustaining actions in the face of difficult realities. Too often, we resort to perilous folly."
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Lauren Artress then gives us a suggestion:
"Our job is to reactivate the power of imagination to seize on a vision that will lead us out of the Wasteland. Fortunately, this archetypal vision already exists in the world, in stark contrast to the broken images around us: we call it Earthrise."
"The image of Earthrise offers a metaphorical sense of profound global unity in the vastness of space. It conveys a sense of cohesion, reverence for nature, and wonderment."
In the book Lauren talks about the four cornerstones of the Earthrise Archetype: personal accountability, ecological consciousness, social and economic justice, and community participation.
The words ecological consciousness were the ones that caught my attention at this time. My explorations in this area led me to discover the Sustain Yourself cards, created by James Wanless, who is also the creator of the Voyager Oracle cards created in 1985.
James talks of us as microcosms of the universe and says "... to endure and recycle ourselves through these wild times of transformation and risk requires nothing less than an evolutionary life style. The sustain-able life is an evolved way of living. The skills of sustainability - "sustain abilities" are, in fact, evolutionary traits that can carry us through times of personal and global change."
I reached out to James and asked him to teach a workshop on how to grow these "Sustain Abilities" because I wanted to know more, and he has agreed to do so. You'll find out more about this class here. He has been teaching this class to audiences in Japan over Zoom this past year. I've offered to be the Zoom host for the series here in the US. |
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James is a 78 year-old powerhouse! He teaches with creative passion in a very zany and colorful way. He has a wonderful imagination and he makes me see differently. He opens my mind up. He is not just a teacher, he is an "edutainer"! To get a sense of the way James sees the world visit his Captain Voyager's Log. If sustainability is something you've been thinking about consider joining us.
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Nature is waves: crest and trough, summer and winter, ebb and flow.
Nature is circles: day and night, evaporation and rain, turn and return.
Nature is made up of seemingly opposed but actually complementary energies
that alternate and wax and wane like the moon.
This principle also operates in human nature.
Robert M. Alter
Author of "The Transformative Power of Crisis"
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My 2020 was a time of endings and beginnings.
My darling mother, Shirley Harris, transitioned on October 19th at the age of 86. Those of you that have attended my open studios in Charlotte might remember her. She was always the life and soul of the party and her courage over the years has been an inspiration to me. An example of her courage is the fact that at the age of 70 she left South Africa and immigrated to the United States and started a new life here, making friends wherever she went. I am so fortunate to have been able to have had her close these last years. Wherever she is now, my bet is that she is arranging a party for everyone as she really knew how to turn each day into a celebration. Her grandchildren knew her as "Champagne Granny"!
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I'm sure life changed in big and small ways for most of you this year. I've lived in Charlotte for the past 23 years - ever since arriving from South Africa. Thanks to synchronicity, my husband and I have found our dream property and will be moving to Cape Charles in Virginia in mid-2021 which will also take us closer to his family in Virginia. Ever since I left Durban, South Africa, I have been hoping to move closer to the ocean and I am very excited that this is now happening. I will still be offering retreats at the beautiful St. Francis Springs Retreat Center outside Greensboro, NC but also hope to offer retreats in Cape Charles as well - once we are able to gather in person. Cape Charles will be a beautiful venue for Contemplative Photography Retreats. The photo below is the salt water estuary at the bottom of our garden - ideal for canoes and kayaks! The beach on Chesapeake Bay is a five minute walk from the house. It really does seem that Nature is calling to me ... |
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If you want a photography retreat before 2022, I've just published a small 6.5 inch square 74 page book (ideal for taking with you on a walk) called
It contains 12 contemplative practices to use with your camera and can be used as a self-guided photography retreat.
I created the book as the culminating project of a two-year Spiritual Direction program with the Haden Institute which I will be graduating from next weekend. |
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I am in the process of creating videos to post on YouTube in which I share creative projects for you to make. Finding the joy in creating has made all the difference in my life, and I am looking forward to sharing this joy with you.
Thank you for reading and staying connected with me. Be well.
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With Love and Hugs
Catherine
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Kindness stickers are still available. I am happy to send an envelope of five stickers out to anyone who requests them. Just respond to this email with your name and address. If you want a box of 1,000 to distribute or share with a friend order them here.
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