What does it truly mean to understand ourselves as “that part of the universe  conscious of itself” and to live that fully into the world?

At its core, my work is about what it means to be fully human – in the broadest, deepest, most far-horizon-seeking way. It is about re-visioning what it means to be human in the times in which we live.

My tools and treasures are an alchemical blend of Expressive Arts, creativity, deep imagery, dreamscapes and connection with the natural world, shaped to bring you to that place of deepest self, where that self can meet our world in the most all-embracing way.

At the heart of my work is the question of what the world and these times asks of each of us.

My deep mentoring process is designed to guide you along your own individual path to asking your own questions and finding your own answers to the truths and gifts you carry within, then discovering your way of sharing them with the world.

Below is more about these tools and treasures and times.

The Artwork of Your Life

 

The gift of creativity is part of our birthright as human beings. Everyone has it. Yet, too often in contemporary society, creativity is dismissed as unimportant, denied, stuffed into the back closet of self. When that happens, part of our vital selves becomes diminished or lost. Reclaiming and growing our creativity is a way of living into our full selves.

Our inner worlds speak to us through image and metaphor. Art and creativity speak this same language. Expressive Art is a way of using the arts to access your inner imagery and have a conversation with your interior self. It’s a route to discovering (and deepening your relationship with) your personal truth, the gifts you bring to this time and place, of finding the image you were born to carry into this world. It’s a means of traveling into your deepest self, and through that, connecting with the shared essence of what makes us human.

All this is true no matter what artistic medium you use – visual arts, creative writing, photography, movement, drama, music and more.

Best of all, you don’t have to be an artist or want to be an artist to do any of this. Expressive Art is about understanding and creating the artwork that is your life.

Nature and Self

 

Nature reflects our inner worlds  – we are, after all part of this earth.

Time spent in and with the natural world – noticing what we are drawn to and growing a relationship with it – can reveal hidden aspects of ourselves, longings and gifts as yet unknown. If we learn to listen and pay attention, nature will reflect back to us what is most important for us to know at this point in our lives…

If we listen…

Yet in our contemporary culture this seldom takes place. Our modern civilization cuts of off from the natural world and its rhythms, just as it often cuts us off from our creativity and inner-worlds. It’s easy to forget that we are in fact a part of this earth, that we evolved from and within its embrace.

When we become separated from the natural world, we become cut off from a part of our self, from our wholeness. When a society, like ours, loses its connection with the natural world, it too loses a part of itself. Feeling separate from nature, trying to control nature rather than understanding how to be part of it, has led us to damaging, perhaps permanently, the very earth systems that give us, and so many other living beings, the ability to flourish.

Reclaiming our relationship with nature can guide us to new ways of living that combine scientific understandings with indigenous wisdom about learning from the earth and living in harmony with earth’s natural rhythms.

Through reclaiming our relationship with nature, we also reconnect with our full selves. We can come to know our place in the world, the gifts we bring and their great importance to this time and place.

Living These Times

 

Perhaps there has never been a better or more crucial time in human history to offer your gifts and live your calling into this world, to sing your unique note of our shared earth song.

Today humanity and the very planet that gave us life are at a great crossroads. Unprecedented social and environmental challenges cry out for new ways of being and doing in relation to our earth and each other – perhaps even a re-visioning of what it means to be human.

At the same time, new forms of ancient wisdom are emerging as footprints and guideposts to bridge our crossing into the future. Fresh ideas, visions and approaches arise, as many hearts, minds and voices rise to meet the challenges and urgency of our epoch. Environmental scholar Joanna Macy calls this an “unreported movement” which she has named “The Great Turning” and Thomas Berry calls “The Great Work”.

Exactly because these are times of great peril and potential in human and earth history, there has perhaps never been a time when our gifts are more needed and can make such a great difference. The more deeply and truly you understand your gifts and how you bring them to this world – the more your offering will be felt by our Earth and those living on it – in our times and in the future.