How Would You Feel?
Question: How would you feel if you walked into an art-making space and saw this:
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heART 💙SCHOOL rules*
💜 We’re guided by curiosity here. Using questions like, “What would happen if…?” we invite Divine Creativity into this space to play. Our art-making is an exploration, not a performance or a competition.
❤️ We practice “time spaciousness.” We allow our art-making to take as long as it takes. Wherever we are in our skill-building or in our project is exactly where we need to be today. How could it be otherwise?
🧡 We use language mindfully, especially with ourselves. Our words foster, acknowledge, and celebrate our willingness to be here doing soul work. We honor the process of learning and growth.
💛 We take healthy risks. When we step out of our comfort zones, who knows? We may reveal something of ourselves! We aim for honesty, not perfection. Our vulnerability, and that of others in this space, is handled with care.
💚 We welcome serendipity and joy into our practice. Our open-heartedness encourages the Divine Creatrix to return again and again. We receive Her gifts with gratitude and humility, and are propelled to share them freely.
*more accurately, “aspirational goals”
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I’d really like to know.
Again, how would it — how does it — feel to read those “rules”?
I’m learning to trust my deep already-knowing of how human souls are meant to be treated, including my own. Against all odds and cultural norms! And I’m working to infuse that in everything I do as I prepare to re-open my art-making space and create new offerings for the fall.
When I read the statements above, my heart feels full-to-bursting. Honestly, I’m tearing up. I need this as much as you do! #iteachwhatineedtolearn #notestoself
It would be a great honor for both of us (!) if you allowed yourself to sit for a moment with this set of “rules” above and notice how the words land in your body. Do you feel constriction, or expansion? Resistance? Panic? Softening? Grief?
If it feels safe to share, I’d love to hear what came up for you. You might choose to post publicly in the blog post comments, or email me privately. Or just notice where you are today in your creative heart and keep it there. You’re the boss of you. ❤️
Thanks for being here.
In the spirit of Independence Day here in the US, may we each step into our own agency. May we remember what we already know: that our soul arrived on this Earth with a unique purpose and set of guiding principles. Let’s use our gifts to seek liberation and justice for all.
With love,
Pam
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P.S. My book, Doodle Your Way Out of Stuckness, is experiencing a little flurry of late-stage pandemic, how-do-I-want-to-reemerge? interest. (At least that’s how I’m interpreting it.) At the moment it’s only available in my online shop (click here to see it) and at the Rose City Book Pub on NE Fremont St at 13th Ave in Portland (a place you’d enjoy that I’d love to see stay in business). I’ve got plenty of copies awaiting your order, so maybe grab a few extras for your friends who are caught in transition-indecision and/or cycles of soul stretching and retreating. (There’s a digital version and a gift set, too.)
Putting pen to paper can help jiggle us out of some ruts.
The book is light-hearted yet meaty, deep + whimsical, and infused with gentle humor. I read it again the other day and felt proud of its honest imperfection. 🙃I’d love to share it with you!