HeartMap Retreat

I hosted my 3rd retreat for women on Saturday. The beautiful weather combined with the gorgeous venue at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens was the ideal setting for the retreat. 6 ladies joined me on retreat, and I was very blessed to have my special friend Lynn, co-hosting with me.

I see art and creativity as a special gift that I give to myself, and it brings such joy to my life. That's part of what I share with the ladies on retreat. I love it when the 'non-artists' discover how easy it is to make art, and they then fall in love with paint and doodling and pottering around with art supplies. My sister, Caron, kept saying "I can't believe I made that!!" Awesome...
 

The end of a beautiful day - Alison, Caron, Lynn and Lynette

Lynn and I - her support and encouragement means sooo much to me!

Lynn made these delicious cupcakes with hidden centers

 Wendy and her very talented daughter Linda, who is doing a Masters degree in Art Therapy in Edinburgh

Lynn, Marlene and Kalnisha

Kalnisha and Marlene

My beautiful sister, Caron

Marlene painting hearts

Promise books

Linda's heart cards

Lynette's heart cards

Marlene's heart cards

Wendy's heart cards

Caron's heart cards

Kalnisha's heart cards

Ready to Retreat

I am so looking forward to hosting the Heartmap Retreat this Saturday for a group of awesome, brave, creative women!  I am packed and ready to roll with a ton of creative supplies and yummy treats for the ladies to enjoy. 

 

Here is a sneak peek at one of the projects...

 

 

Never forget

Never Forget that You may be a Messenger

Understand that ordinary people are messengers of the Most High.  They go about their tasks in holy anonymity.  Often, even unknown to themselves.  Yet if they had not been there, if they had not said what they had said, or done what they had done, it would not be the way that it is now.  We would not be the way that we are now.  Never forget that you too are a messenger.

            

** Lawrence Kushner ** in 'Honey from the Rock'

Peanut Butter and Grace

 

"God is spreading grace around in the world like a five-year-old spreads peanut butter - thickly, sloppily, eagerly, and if we are in the back room trying to stay clean, we won't even get a taste"

 

Throw caution to the wind and jump into the middle of things today!

 

** Donna Schaper in Stripping Down**

Retreat preparation

I'm joyfully preparing for the next retreat in August.  It is going to be sooo awesome!

This is princess Ruby, who 'helps' me

Weekend retreat

We're having a 'warm' winter here in South Africa, and if you're in the northern hemisphere, you're enjoying summer.  The weekend is here...why not retreat into nature? 

 

Go on a mini retreat in nature for an hour or an afternoon or a day this weekend.  Here are a few ideas...

 

* If you have a garden, go out there and plant something; the winter pansies are cheap and cheerful and are happiest in a sunny spot

 

* go for a walk in nature - to a park or botanical garden or just stroll through your suburb to admire other people's gardens

 

* close you eyes and listen to the wind in the trees...breathe very deeply

 

* take note of the birds out there, listen to them and really LOOK at them, see their colours and shape; appreciate how they can survive outdoors in weather that is sometimes harsh

 

* doodle and draw and paint nature as you see it

 

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter” 

              ** Rachel Carson (Silent Spring) **

 

 

Hard work and courage

"Listening to your heart is not simple.  Finding out who you are is not simple.  It takes a lot of hard work and courage to get to know who you are and what you want"

                        ** Sue Bender, quoted in The feminine face of God **

Retreating

Stop looking for the sabbatical, or even the weekend when everyone is out of the house.  Solitude is wonderful, but vast amounts of it can be like bolts of vintage silk - so lovely, so hard to come by that we are reluctant to cut into them, and so they sit unused while we say 'could'

                  ** Julia Cameron, The vein of gold **

 

The busier you are and the more you are giving to others, the more you must replenish yourself.

 

We need a way to retreat in the midst of crying children, deadlines and crazy traffic.  The Heart Map Retreats are designed to provide a safe space for you to retreat for just a day.  I do hope that you will come away with me on retreat sometime soon!
 

 

The busyness of life

 

It's no secret, I'm a huuuge Brave Girls Club fan.  I have personally met Melody Ross when she was in South Africa a while back, I have done many of her online art courses so that I keep growing and building my artistic skills, and I receive the daily emails "a little birdy told me". 

 

Some friends and I were talking recently about the extreme busyness of our lives.  I yearn to do 2 things consistently - regular exercise, and going deeper with God in my prayer life.  I've done the math - work and commuting daily and all my chores leaves me with just 3 hours a day to truly 'live' my life during the week, prepare meals, be creative, relax, watch some TV, read, connect with friends and family, and oh yes - I also need to bath and do ablutions during those 3 hours.  

 

Soooo, where do I squeeze in some time for regular exercise?  Where do I find time to slow down and check in with God, to really listen to Him and get into His Word...

 

This busyness overwhelms me, and life feels hard and like there's no fun.  But I do the best that I can.  I keep going and take small steps towards the life that I really want.  Maybe that's enough for now, for this season in my life.  And that's ok...

 

 

Testimonials from ladies on retreat

Here is some feedback from the ladies who attended the second Heart Map Retreat in May 2013...

 

* "I liked everything!  Good company and nice crafts" - Adele  

 

* "I liked getting away and thinking about the things I need to do to be fun-filled" - Gisela

 

* "I really liked the honesty and the 'safe place' to say what I feel; liked being creative.  Loved it - thanks!" - Tanya

 

* "I really loved the whole day - just relaxing and being in the moment.  I loved the mixed media project!" - Leonie

 

* "Everything was awesome.  The venue was great.  I had a blast!" - Bridget

 

 

Dr. Bridget Sutton

 

 

  

 

Making art

I am a firm believer that everyone needs a hobby.  I believe that creativity has the ability to comfort and heal us, and reconnect us with our own heart.  Making art, no matter how simple, disconnects us from the craziness that sometimes inhabits our daily lives.  It makes us slow down, breathe and reflect for a moment on where we are. 

 

Making art is a key ingredient of the Heart Map Retreats.  Here are some of the beautiful Heart Cards that the ladies made on retreat in May...

  

  

HeartMap Retreat

The second HeartMap Retreat was held on Saturday 11 May 2013.  5 ladies joined us on Retreat, and it was an awesome day.  Despite the cold and windy weather, we were warm and comfortable, we enjoyed good food, and a beautiful day unfolded.

 

The greatest beauty was not the gorgeous botanical gardens or the beautiful cupcakes or the pretty crafts we made.  The greatest beauty came from the wisdom and love and kindness that each lady brought to the retreat.  They gave the gift of themselves.  My role was merely to birth the day as a midwife - to create a safe space and time for the ladies to slow down, to reconnect with their own hearts, and to listen to each other.  The craft projects merely kept our hands busy.  The real fire was in the conversations that flowed throughout the day. 

 

My special friend, Lynn helped me facilitate the day; I couldn't have done it without her.  Thank you my friend!

   

Lynn and I still looking fresh at 07h30 in the morning

Setting out the tools for the first craft project

 Cupcakes for morning tea

 

 

 

Gisi, Bridget, Adele, Tanya, Leonie and I

 

Leonie and Bridget

with Leonie

Tanya and Adele

Lynn makes Heart Cards

 

Gisi's gorgeous creations

With Tanya - she is a very creative lady!

 

Adele's beautiful Heart Cards