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Holding Hope in the Chaos…

Posted on by sue boardman

This is an #Apothecary painting from a couple years back. I love #Apothecary… especially this one! And, last night, it was whispering from the wall, complete with notions of healing and relief and hope! Of perspective shifts!

Not a huge surprise, really. I mean, the question of our time seems to be all about holding hope in the midst of more chaos than many of us have known before.

As I experience the painting, the chaos is appearing in the sky, over the mysterious blue dotted being who is either an elephant or an octopus, depending on your perspective. (If you’re curious, look up elephant and octopus spirit animals and see what you learn!)

The real hope for me, in this moment, is the reminder that while the chaos feels big and close and – well – terrifying, I know there is more that is true. It has always been so and probably always will be.

My book is becoming more real by the day.

My wrist is becoming more chaotic. More painful. Less predictable. All my “typing” these days – and much of my painting – involves support gloves with copper threads which seem somewhat helpful, at least in the moment.

The big thing, though, is the sense of calling I feel to get this book out into the world – into the hands of our tweens and teens – now, when they probably feel all the chaos, too, and may not have as much practice processing it as I’ve had.

Just now, I’m going to listen to my inner wisdom which is, perhaps, elephant/octopus wisdom on some mysterious level, and let that be enough for this moment.

The Elephant and the Octopus agree! They also agree that I could, in fact, make one more matched campaign donation and turn my phone off… just in case that results in a wee bit less chaos!

ps… if your inner Medicine Basket could use a bit of new wonder, check out my MetaMod Wisdom Cards… for YOUR journey to the place where YOU are called! Just click here to be magically transported to new-ness! Daphne’s eager to help!

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Wow, did I need questions!!!

Posted on by sue boardman

I’m going to take a wild guess that I’m not the only one having trouble sorting the world these days! The chaos in my dreams has been – well – assertive.

So, yesterday, I fished in my medicine basket for a few favorite questions, my journal, a beloved pen with red ink, and a handful of index cards because you just never know when one of those will be the key to the door! The cuppa cacao probably helped, too!

My first question was, as it often is… What am I trying to accomplish?

The thing I love about that one is that it feels like a new doorway, handle polished and hinges freshly oiled! The answer followed almost immediately!

To create a plan – a vision – a map that will enable me to be able to keep telling the stories that will help our Littles be who they were created to be… to tell the stories I was created to tell and to set them free to help the world heal! (As my ancestors did…)

Then, another question, which took a bit longer to appear… What will be better once that is real?

The answer took a bit longer to appear, too. A whole night, in fact. And when I woke, I heard…

I’ll be able to do the work, rather than grasping at shiny things out of fear!!!

Now, the last question has been one of my most terrifying favorites for a while now, and it didn’t disappoint… What’s holding me back?

Money is holding me back. More specifically, the FEAR of not having enough. Of all the things that could go wrong, of not wanting to over-stress my beloveds. I took a deep breath and wrote it all down.

And then, another piece of the answer arrived, like a gift…

Maximize the resources I already have access to. Continue to ask for help from my healing tribe. And, most of all, act on what I can!!!

No clue what will come next. Only that I am less afraid and that, dear hearts, is not a bad day’s work! Give it a try and let me know how it goes. You can leave a comment, or email me at suesvoice@gmail.com

For now… one more word:

ONWARD!!!

ps… as you might have guessed from the painting, you are not alone!

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A bit overdosed on chaos!

Posted on by sue boardman

Okay… probably a lot! Don’t worry. I’m not going to dump it all on you! Instead, I’m going to dig around a bit in my Medicine Basket and share a few all-time favorite coping strategies that are actually helping me stay on the road known as Book Deadline Highway!

You might want to take a sec to grab some spare paper, something that writes, and a cuppa. (Cacao could be good, or your most precious flavor of tea…) Maybe even go big and switch off the news!!!

Then, my all-time, very-most-favorite question, re-worded just a smidge for this moment: What am I trying to accomplish? Write that, please, in your journal or on an index card or whatever works. Write the inquiry with your dominant hand – you know, the usual one. Then, hang out. Deep breaths would not be amiss. Something will come forward.

Write that down with your non-dominant hand. And, just in case you haven’t heard me say this before, you will be able to read it, largely because it’s coming from most-real you!

Then, another question, so back to your regular hand… What will be better once that thing I’m trying to accomplish is real? This, too, will come. Non-dominant hand, again. Let it all out. Reaching for a tissue could be a very good sign! Depending on how that went for you, you might want a couple minutes to fix another cuppa, or watch birds flitting around in the garden. Deep breaths are totally in order! We’re about to go to meddlin’!

Back to the regular hand… What’s holding me back??? Give it as much time as you need. Maybe even dream on it…

Of course, you can add some doodles or sketches as you go along. Just be sure to make space for the words. (It’s a whole different processing thing.)

On some level of awareness, things have already changed! Now for a bit of whipped cream on top!

If you have a set of wisdom cards around that you relate to, mix them all up really well, and draw one, while holding your writing adventure close.

No cards handy? No problem! Reach for a favorite book. A trusted author. SARK. Anne Lamott. Fred Buechner. Dr. Estes. Shiloh Sophia McCloud. C.S. Lewis. Even Dr. Seuss! You know… the kind that makes you feel heard.

Then open it randomly and run your finger through a couple of pages until the message finds you. Add that to your writing, and congratulate yourself!

There is no way to fail with this, except not trying!!!

ps… the new book will have new cards, too!

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Nancy Drew was one of my best buddies!

Posted on by sue boardman

Once upon a time, we were in Indiana for a visit with some of my dad’s family. My aunt asked if I liked Nancy Drew books. I didn’t know Nancy, at that time, but I liked LOTS of books. It took me about 10 pages to get hooked!

When we headed home, it was with a big box of those books in the back of the station wagon. I felt like a rich kid with her very own library!

Nancy, it must be clear, was different from most of my previous book-buddies. Mostly, I knew Betsy-Tacy books, because my mom grew up with them in Minnesota. And I knew Little House books. Also Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, of course. Nancy seemed edgy. Out of the box I knew.

I think what fascinated me most about Nancy was all the thinking she did. You know, figuring things out. And the secret meanings of things!

In some ways, I’m painting a Nancy Drew canvas at the moment! Full of symbols, and clues to old, old stories. And, yes… that’s one of my favorite bits at the top of this page! A mythic collection of books. Representations of things most dear and empowering to me. There’s way more of this painting, which is about to be in a book. For now, though, let’s spend a bit of time in the library part, down near the bottom. The foundation, if you will… not of what I was raised with, but of what I’ve learned more recently. My chosen beliefs.

Many of the books carry dots to symbolize the prayers of those who preserved them.

The Red Book on the left represents an ancient Red Book that carries the energy and stories of Yeshua/Jesus and the Magdalene, along with those who carried on those teachings. I have not “met” the Red Book in person, but I believe!

Toward the middle, there’s a volume with one of my favorite “secret” codes that resembles a combined “T” and “K”. It came to me in one of my first Intentional Creativity® paintings and reminds me of how totally becoming a grandmother – identifying, if you will – as a grandmother changed my whole view of the world. And, is changing it, still!

The wee dove is in honor of my Cathar ancestry. Believers who taught the ancient truths together, as beloveds. Fairy tales used to pass on dangerous traditions to their Littles.

And, way off to the right, rather like a bookend, is a clay jar, representing Mary Magdalene and the women of that time who used holy oils for healing, anointing, and for burials.

As I mentioned, there’s a lot more of this painting. For now, this is the part that’s keeping me on the road. The road of more stories for our Littles, in this midst of this confusing time.

It feels like the world needs all the Love and Hope it can get! And I suspect Nancy Drew is cheering us on as we open to the mysteries! So, I suspect, is the moon!

ps… new spaces coming up for help claiming YOUR MAGIC! Stay tuned!!! (Or leave me a comment…)

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Okay, news alert! (The TV kind…)

Posted on by sue boardman

Dear heart…

If you live in the US, you’ve probably heard at least a bit of the current flap about reporters from specific TV networks being banned from the White House.

And, you’ve probably guessed that I am unamused. Even if I hadn’t done interviewing, writing, reporting, and audio broadcasting along my winding road, I’d be horrified. Then there’s the preaching thing…

I’ve lived the challenge of telling truth – as best I understand it – in a way that listeners can actually hear. (Otherwise, what’s the good???)

That is not, however, what banning those reporters was intended to accomplish. Instead, the sole purpose was to stoke the President’s irrational ego.

Blessedly, my TV remote will still give me access to the folks doing real news. And, yes, in my world that means MS NOW. When I tuned in today, while waiting for some paint to dry, one of the reporters was interviewing Salman Rushdie.

The 79 year old Indian-born British and American novelist had a mouthful of wisdom to share about censorship and truth. My favorite bit was just this:

If you have the story to tell, then tell the damn story today!

I totally agree! (And you’re probably not surprised!)

It isn’t easy, especially if you were raised, as I was, to be politely seen and not heard. To make everyone around you comfortable.

Sadly, that doesn’t solve all the challenges we face. And one of those challenges, much in my heart these days, is speaking up for our Littles. For the world they’ll inherit. For their rights to speak up.

And – not surprisingly – some of that energy is coming forward in my book-in-progress. Blessedly, I had a very good teacher. Yep! Walter Brueggemann, who’s actually got a line or two in the book! And, whenever I need a reminder, I just look at Shoshana, who joined us as we began. She reminds me that I am here and I am ready. And she’s delighted to help remind a new generation, as well!

ps… Shoshana has a new name. (It was formerly Lily Rose.) And, in a way I’ll admit to loving, Shoshana is the Hebrew name closely related to my name which does, indeed, mean lily and rose. I’m pretty sure she’s glad to have her story told, in this day and time, just like Saman Rushdie!

pps… there will be Medicine Basket cards for tweens & teens to go with the book!!!

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When we have to say “no” to say “YES!”

Posted on by sue boardman

I’m guessing you hear me! If nothing else, this moment in time is a huge reminder that none of us can do it all! (Especially not the ones who are convinced that they can!)

At least in my world, that means making choices, and there are lots of ways to do that. We can choose out of fear. We can choose out of guilt. We can choose out of wanting to fit in. Or, we can choose from a place of intention. Of what we’re trying to accomplish with our lives.

My primary example of that, just now, is the book I’m sneaking up on finishing. It takes time. It takes money. It takes energy. It takes concentration. It takes faith and hope. It takes rest. Most of all, it takes saying no to things that don’t help!

I’ll bet you have examples of things that don’t help, screaming for attention in your head, too.

Here’s an obvious one, at least for those of us in the U.S. The election! As much as I’d like to, I can’t buy places in the House or Senate for as many folks as I’d like. Nor, in Georgia. And, since that kind of buying is pretty much what we’re fighting against, feeling guilty or inadequate about my limits doesn’t help. So… I’m giving to groups that are matching gifts. You know… we’ll quadruple your donation! And I only give to the ones I already trust. Generally, the ones close to home, though there are a few exceptions for me. (You, obviously, do you!) It’s just that I’m not wasting time feeling guilty, anymore. Or eeny-meeny-ing this one or that one.

And, in a very real way, I’m supporting candidates that also believe in what I’m trying to accomplish with my book. Creating a world where our Littles can practice claiming Fierce Compassion. And, Choice!

Fortunately, the whole telling the stories bit comes naturally to me!

Glinda is, of course, all in. A cherished reminder that I DO have the magic… and so do you! And, she’s claimed a bit of real estate where she can be a constant reminder in the space where so much of the magic happens. The studio! There’s lots of stuff shifting in there just now, but Glinda has become both hope and peace in the midst of the chaos. I’m grateful!!!

And, I have more editing to do!

Let me know what kind of space and energy you’re claiming…. it is, indeed, going to take a whole lot of us. And, yes, this magic works wherever you live and whatever you’re creating!

ps… in the practice what I preach department, I made a decision today! Some really cool (recorded) natural world things I’m studying and loving are going to have to wait until the book manuscript is done! How ’bout you???

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I am still still learning!

Posted on by sue boardman

And grateful to author Anne Lamott, who taught me to claim this notion with pride, even when times are rough and quitting seems tempting.

I’m guessing you may have noticed that there’s a whole lot going on these days that feels like that. I know I’m noticing… body, mind, and spirit! And, I know a good place to find help!

In her fabulous Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott reads from the gospel of Toni Morrison:

“The function of freedom is to free someone else, and if you are no longer wracked or in bondage to a person or a way of life, tell your story. Risk freeing someone else. Not everyone will be glad that you did. Members of your family and other critics may wish you had kept your secrets. Oh, well, what are you going to do? Get it all down…”

This is my “fractured fairy tale” made new:

Once upon a time, kind of a medium number of years ago, I found myself “wracked and in bondage” not to a person so much—though that had to be dealt with—but to beliefs I had and stories about how life was supposed to be and how powerless I was to change that.

Then, one day, I found myself four months pregnant and filing for divorce. The details really don’t matter anymore. Go ahead and fill the story in with whatever makes sense to you. I simply could not put a child in the place where I was.

There was no fairy godmother in sight!

Slowly, I found my way to freedom, ironically led by that little child. I learned along the way that the stories we tell, the realities we create with our very words, make all the difference. I learned that our stories can be edited! Re-formed into tales of freedom rather than bondage.

To risk freeing someone else is to tell those new stories. With clients only daring to hope that change might actually be possible for them. With folks praying that the 7:00 news isn’t the only story there is.  And with grandchildren who have the amazing chance to learn better, stronger stories the first time through!

To fashion new stories – stories that are empowering and more true – is to free ourselves over and over again and to risk freeing someone else.

Often Kleenex is involved!

Let’s start right where we are… As ever, you do you!

Body… More fruits and veg. Organic. Non-GMO. Fresh. In my case, no green peas allowed! Brussel sprouts and okra for lunch!

Mind… WRITING! Lots and lots of it. And editing. And paying close attention to the chill bumps that mean I’m getting really close!

Spirit… Giving thanks for all those things I just listed. Celebrating the glimpses of saintly women – many of them family – kindly appearing in my heart and my book. And a huge ah-hah from the painting at the top which has decided to share some more hope!

ps… Yes. You may have heard this story before – from Annie or from me. It’s one of those I depend on, even in the midst of the crazy.

pps… if you’d like to be part of the cosmic team, Gloria, our official cat-angel who’s named in honor of Gloria Steinem, and I would be way past grateful for prayers and positive intentions! This is, in fact, the phase that feels dismayingly like walking naked on the road of mattering!