A New Chapter

I can hardly believe it, but I GRADUATED!!! I've never completed something so huge before... it makes me wonder what else I can do.

Marsha highly recommended that I continue this blog for another year, so I can see and share all of the changes that are yet to happen as a result of learning and applying the Creative Journal method. It was not hard to talk me into it. So here is my first official 'next phase' entry.

The first thing I did as a certified Creative Journal Expressive Arts facilitator was make a website. Click here to see it. I also put together an Etsy page where people can purchase prints of my non-dominant hand art... that is linked to my website.

As soon as I got back from Mission, TX, I went to Minneapolis to attend the National Youth Leadership conference, which was AMAZING. I went to some illuminating seminars on reflection tools for service learning, which will really help me in designing a workshop for the teachers at Santa Fe South high school, entitled: "Reflection as an Integral Process of Service-Learning". I also had the great pleasure of seeing Desmond Tutu give a lecture... he is so inspiring!

Things are SWIRLING. I'll share it as it happens.

So, What Now?

On the very day that I posted my last blog entry, love swept into my life... although I did not know it at the time. LOVE is a scary word for me, but it is something I have been journaling about quite a bit. CJEA has certainly opened me up to dreaming bigger than I ever had before, but now that my dreams are coming true I don't really know what to do with them. I very rarely hear this side of things. Lately, with "The Secret" being such a hit, it is now quite popular and acceptable to manifest the life of our dreams... I am beginning to think that a common reaction to people's desires coming to fruition is: OH S%!T, WHAT DO I DO NOW? Dreams are very different from reality. Our dreams are safe... they can be whatever we want them to be. But when they work their way into the world of form, they have to contend with our fears... like: Do I really deserve this? Am I going to drop the ball? How are other people going to react to this? Is this really what I want? When our dreams begin coming true, they unquestionably stir the pot as life is being restructured to accommodate them. It may feel like chaos. We are stepping out of the familiar world and into a space of infinite potential... which, for me, feels like being dumped into the middle of the ocean with three miles below me that I cannot see and all I can imagine are the sharks moving in on the smell of my fear. During the fall intensive, Lucia said something that has helped me immeasurably: CHAOS IS SIMPLY THAT SPACE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN AN OLD ORDER AND A NEW ORDER. This simple statement keeps me moving forward through those moments when my thoughts and feelings are trying to make me run back to the world I know. So I journal. ALOT. And I pray that the fall-out of Love's fruition becomes the fuel I need to grow into the woman that God intends for me to be.

Welp... as I suspected, after I returned from the CJEA training, all of the lovely little seeds I had been tending to have begun sprouting..... FAST. My first art exhibit was a total success. Three paintings already sold before the opening, and another four sold by the end of the night!

While I was at the training, my friend Lauren called to let me know that she met a woman who is wanting to have her art students paint a mural but needed a crew supervisor. So a week after I got back home I set up a meeting to chat with the teacher about the mural project, which sounds AWESOME. Somewhere in the middle of our discussion she mentioned that her school is looking for a VISTA, which is a position obtained through Americorp (click here for more info) where I would work at a school doing, among many other things, Creative Journal Expressive Arts with the students! Both the teacher and the Americorp representative are intrigued by the method. I go in later this week to fill out the remaining paperwork and leave for training in Austin on Monday. I AM SO EXCITED! OH, and the best part is, after a year commitment I will receive an education award that will cover the cost of completing my degree! WOOHOO!

So far, that's it... but that is ALOT. I'll keep you posted.

"My Secret Garden" Art Exhibit

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 16th @ 7pm
WHERE: Sauced on Paseo Dr.

THIS IS MY VERY FIRST ART EXHIBIT!!!!!

Every piece of art in this exhibit was created (at least in part) with my non-dominant hand, which is a major aspect of Creative Journal Expressive Arts. As a result of doing the CJEA method and going through the training program, my creativity has exploded and my style has completely changed. Until I started doing Creative Journal work, I never thought that I had it in me to pull off a show. All I can say is THANK GOD WE EVOLVE.

SHIFT WORKSHOP

ARE YOU FEELING

A SHIFT?

Do you want to learn some
tools to identify and utilize
these intangible stirrings?

Go from FUNK TO FUNTIONAL
with
Creative Journal Expressive Arts

Date: Sunday, November 25th
United Life Spiritual Center
3332 N. Meridian Ave. OKC, OK

Love Offering recommended
R.S.V.P at amandajoy74@hotmail.com

Shifting Latitudes

I'm heading off to Mission tomorrow morning and I am about to jump out of my skin with excitement! I remember my last walk around the grounds at El Rocio soaking in all of the lovely little details... thinking how far away October 27th seemed. Although time flew, the Spring Intensive seems quite distant... so many changes have happened in the space between then and now. I feel like a different person in many ways.

I've been getting down on myself lately, not sure why my external world is not expressing the massive internal shifts that have been happening within me. Although I feel different, I'm still messy and broke and inconsistent.... but I woke up with a strange feeling a few mornings back: this Intensive would bring about as much change as the last one did, but in different ways. I feel like the first half of my time in this program was spent pulling out weeds and planting seeds... and the next half will be about tending to the sprouts that pop up into the world of form. This makes me realize that I still have alot to learn about faith and patience.

On a more practical note, I had my supervised workshop last week and I did quite well for a novice. I am going to be offering this particular workshop again on November 11th at United Life Spiritual Center... It's a SHIFT workshop. I've been hearing quite frequently people saying "I'm feeling a shift and I don't know what it is or what to do with it." This is the first of a three part workshop series meant to help the participant figure out the shape and texture of their shift, and how they envision it manifesting in their lives. I've gotten some great feedback from the participants. E-mail me if you are interested in participating or if you would like me to host this workshop at your venue.

Sleep calls... hopefully it will take me over.

Then there's...

You know, donations are a wonderful thing... but it occures to me that I can offer a service in exchange. I am a painter/muralist, after all (visit my work website here). The art that you see on this page is only one creative style. If you are interested in commissioning a painting, pop me over an e-mail! I must also let you know that I am having an art opening on November 16th at "Sauced" on Paseo. As well as offering large paintings, I will be seeling prints of some of my journal art. All of the sales from this show are going towards my CJEA expenses.

ALOTALOTALOT

My friend John came out and videoed a recent ALTARED BOOK CLUB meet-up and we spent the next few weekends editing it down... and here it is, above.

I've been crazy busy lately trying to get funds together for the upcoming intensive at the end of October that I'll be assisting at. As if I don't have enough to to, I went through crisis training at the YWCA last week to: 1. Do art with the mothers and children at the battered women's shelter, and 2. Be a sexual assault advocate. The latter was not in my plans, but that little voice kept telling me "THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO". Okay. I go in later this week to talk with the volunteer coordinator about how I can incorporate CJEA into their program... namely ALTARED BOOK CLUB.

Also, a few friends and I recently started a group called THE SHIFT COLLECTIVE as a result of us each feeling great shifts happening within us, then realizing that we were not alone in this SHIFT... and we keep hearing people discussing their own shifts. SO now we have a radio show - run by Lauren Zuniga, who I will soon be teaming up with to do some workshops. Click here to get to the SHIFT COLLECTIVE web page.

What else... too much to write out at the moment... except to say: I am struggling to raise the necessary monies to get through the training program, so I will be adding a "DONATE" button to this page for anyone who would feel inspired to sponsor me with a donation of ANY size. This has been a spirit-lead process for me, and spirit suggested that I ask for support. So, there.

ALTARED BOOK CLUB

The OPEN BOOK I've been working on has stirred up the interest of some of folks that have looked through its pages... so, I started a club for anyone interested in creating their own altered book. Click here for more information on the ALTARED BOOK CLUB.

21 Days of Solitude

I'm having difficulty finding words... all of this journaling has facilitated a HUGE shift. I was able to spend three weeks holed up in my home, trying to make sense of these stirrings. Yesterday was the first day I've been able to put some shape and texture to it in my OPEN BOOK:

I'm going to start having regular "Altared Book Club" (yes, ALTAR-ED) get-togethers, where we will do a creative journal activity before playing in our books. E-mail me at amandajoy74@hotmail.com if you are interested in attending.

I had my first Creative Journal workshop a couple of days ago and it was a beautiful success. I have another workshop scheduled for this Sunday. The last open seat has been filled! I am close to meeting my next tuition payment requirement. I am making the goal that the remaining $3250 for tuition and expenses will come from workshops... and any generous spirits who wish to sponsor me in this adventure.

Impromtu Worshop at "United Life"

My friend Lauren invited me to be a part of "Here and Now", a wonderful gathering she is getting off the ground with a handful of other like minded folks at "United Life" church on N.W. 33rd and Meridian in OKC. I am really looking forward to seeing how this gathering evolves. Anyway, I was able to share my experience with Creative Journal Expressive Arts. I invited anyone who was interested in learning more about it to sit with me at my table, which was set up with paper and art supplies. I had a great experience sharing a few CJEA tools with the attendees... and it was a wonderful opportunity to prepare for my first 'official' workshop a few days later.

Okay... lots to say.

First off, I will be having a second Creative Journal workshop on July 29th... and the location has changed for both workshops. The Blue Moon has closed its doors, so Lynda Toney-Bahr has offered her "Art of E-Motion " studio located at 4309 N. Western ave.

Next... doing all of this Creative Journal work has caused a HUGE shift. I feel completely transformed. I tried to sum it up in this OPEN BOOK entry:

(Original photo taken by Paul Medina... I added the dress)

After doing the dual hand exercises in "The Power of Your Other Hand", my art has shifted yet again. When I first started painting with my other hand, my dominant hand kept wanting to take over because it was getting frustrated at the lack of painting skill in my left hand... so I kept on painting until that urge passed. Today my dominant hand wanted to get in on the action and I finally let it. They are working together beautifully:

Below is what the painting looked like a couple of days ago... if you can tell by looking at it, I wasn't in the best mood. What a difference a day (or two) makes... and letting both hands work together.

Open Book

I've been working on a proposal on doing a traveling workshop for young teenagers (hopefully through the OKC Public School System) incorporating CJEA with the journaling style and personal idealogy of Dan Eldon, who's legacy has had a major imact on my life. Click here to see Dan's journals and learn more about this amazing person. Anyway, I thought I should start a journal of my own as an example. I found an old hard cover book and, well... see for your self.

Well...

It looks like all the spaces are filled for my first workshop! If you are interested in attending one then contact me at amandajoy74@hotmail.com and I'll get another one scheduled. To those of you who have tentatively confirmed, let me know if you are able to attend and I will make space.

"Secret Garden" number five

These paintings feel like prayers. I painted this one as I pondered all the space that opened up since my job at the library ended. If you look closely some of the words pop through.