Month: June 2025

Art JourneyContemplationsFiltersGrandmothersGuardians

’tis the season for summer camp!

Posted on by sue boardman

I grew up at summer camp. I met people I wanted to be like at summer camp. Environmental camp, in the beginning. Led by my chosen shero, Jean, who introduced me to Red Thread and taught me about the notion of the web of life.

She braided my hair every morning when I had poison ivy all over most of me. She let me walk down the path with her when she blew Taps on her bugle at lights out, and hugged me the first time we encountered a bobcat and I was so thrilled, I cried.

I had a job back in those days, when we were all about saving paper and online music didn’t exist. I was in charge of remembering all the words to all the songs from one year to the next!

Late 1960’s – mid 70’s… Peter, Paul, & Mary. Joan Baez. Mellow Peace and Justice music, some of it from Woodstock. Fortunately, I was much better at remembering the words than I was at carrying a tune!

We made art. We picked trash out of the dustpans when it was our turn to sweep the dining hall, and put the dirt back outside.

Eventually, I was Senior Staff, much involved with stories and, one summer, with being the ‘possum’s foster mom! I’ll never forget the chilling sound of Florida panthers screaming in the early mornings at the edge of the water, or the year we swam with Manatees!

It’s interesting to note that the things we were learning – and teaching – are things our world so needs us to know, now. If I had to roll it all into one word, it would be inter-connection.

What I didn’t realize, back then, was that it was also me, being me.

Last night I dreamed I was at camp, again. Perched on a fallen log, swatting mosquitoes, and singing We Shall Overcome. (A detail I might have left out in my postcards home!)

The journey looks different these days. Partially because my body has gotten really attached to the magic chair, as opposed to fallen logs!

Red Madonna is beginning. A year long journey with Mother Nature. With relatedness and balance. With a global group of women looking for connectedness and the Divine Feminine. We’d love to have you join us! Paint, writing, community, growth, ceremony… kinda Camp for big kids! And cool music in our circle calls!!! Here are all the details…

#Filters has also just begun. The next steps on a journey to the place where we feel called, each in our own way. Complete with safe community, medicine painting for beginners, and even wisdom cards with animal guides! Everything is recorded so you won’t be behind, and I’ve requested some Joan Baez for this week! Chocolate & marshmallows are welcome!!! Just click here…

This, by the way, is the place where #RedMadonna and #Filters join hands! Where a new story about ancient, intentional mark making connects with claiming our journeys to the places we are called. Yep! One red thumb print. And a whole lot of opening hope! You’ve got this. Really!!!

ps… Daphne, who probably lived in the woods at Camp, back in the day, so hopes you’ll check out our book! Perfect for summer reading with your Littles!!!

Contemplations

Quite possibly my favorite question…

Posted on by sue boardman

What is your intention?

And, yes… the speaker meant, in that moment, my intention, which I’ll share with you shortly. First, though, could we agree that there’s a whole lot going on in the world and, with all our high-tech gadgets, taking vacations from it is – well – more complicated than it used to be???

Since you’re still here, I’m going with agreement! And that means taking a peek into a meeting, earlier today. The opening circle of Red Madonna – Mother Nature 2025. (And, yes… there’s still time to join us!)

A literally global circle of women, in hopeful community… Many voices, all gathered in beginning. Old friends and new. Comfortable artists and beginners.

I was asked to bring something to share and an odd thing found me, in my dreams. A poem from my book, Grandmothers Are In Charge of Hope (2nd edition @2016). And I’ll share it in a moment. First, a tiny bit of backstory.

This poem was inspired by an ancient Sufi teaching story I learned in an Ericksonian Hypnotherapy training session. Guy from village at base of the mountain gets all upset, climbs mountain, tells story, gets answer that’s not immediately what he had in mind. This goes on about a zillion times. Finally, the lightbulb comes on. There wasn’t time in Zoom-land for the whole ancient saga, so here’s a gently updated version of my earlier poem.

Standing on the Edge

I am standing on the edge.
Toes curled under.
Hanging on.
Like climbing too high on a ladder.
Trying to decide if I’m terrified.
Or excited.
Knowing that, in my body, the experience is the same.
Knowing that whoever decided we could only feel one feeling at a time was wrong!
The wise old woman on the mountain was right.
Trying to glimpse the beyond which is past the edge.
I like beyond.
I like creating.
Abracadabra!
For I will make something with the word.
Though I may paint a bit more, first.
I’m standing at the edge.
Hoping I’m excited!
(®slb, 2025)

And, yes… I hear you! Sometimes excited takes a whole lot of hoping!!! One way to start is with claiming an intention, which we did next in the meeting.

As promised, I’ll share. Shortly. First I need to own that this is not what I learned growing up. It’s not what I learned in school. Perhaps because I didn’t have the capacity for abstract thought, back then. Or because it wasn’t what would get me a good score on the SAT’s. And it’s safe to say that it doesn’t feel like I had a place for lots of this newness, back before the whole self reset of becoming a grandmother!

In any event, I am ready now. So…

It is my intention to live, with my whole self, into the Great MA who dwells within me… and us!

And, yes… I’m hoping you’re curious!

There’s still time to join us for Red Madonna – Mother Nature 2025. And, there’s the possibility of a bit of help with the finances, if that would open a door for you. Just click here, for all the info!

And, #Filters begins on Friday! A bit more process/perception oriented. An intro to Medicine Painting. Six weeks to major shifts. (All recorded if time is a challenge.) Intentional space for your intentions, language, and path. Click here for details.

The other day somebody asked me why I do this work. If you’ve been reading along a while, you may know the answer…

Because I have 2 Grandteens trying very hard to grow up in this world!

What matters like that to you???

This is the place for beyond. And the time!

ps… if you, too, are a fan of The West Wing, either or both of these opportunities are excellent answers to the big question… What’s next??? (And, yes… BOTH is totally possible!!!)

Art JourneyContemplationsFiltersGrandmothersGuardians

I had a plan…

Posted on by sue boardman

I’d even begun. Saturday night. And then, Breaking News.

Cue flashback to preacher days. All prepared for Sunday. Five index cards waiting on the table by the bed, just in case a new thought happened along. Then, news… the big kind.

And this day, which was planned around soup and Solstice Celebrations, turned into nobody knows what’s next news.

For this moment, I’m going with the best thing I’ve got. A thing that actually happened on Friday night. I’d been doing a lot of planning for all the big things coming up. Especially the celebration.

Frankly, I had lots on my mind and I was feeing a bit anxious. My calendar is overflowing from now until the first week in August. Overflowing with awesome, welcome things which somehow tend to bring busy and unknown along! Hence, my anxiety. Frankly, not knowing is hard for me!

Then, I had a thought! A thought which led to action! I went out to the studio and came back with both hands full of my wisdom cards-in-progress. There are production challenges but, I reasoned, the wisdom and the #Filters are there and they work.

So, I pulled myself a card, passing them all through my hands, eyes closed, until one chose me.

Mine don’t have numbers like some of the more famous ones do. And yes, the photo above is of the one I chose.

If you had it in your hand and flipped it over, you’d see this:

I laughed when I read it. You see, some of those same folks who raised me right would not be overjoyed with the cards. (Or the notion of a Solstice Celebration!)

And then, I cried. Cried because it worked. Especially, this part…

…To encourage making conscious choices… about beliefs, on the road to the place where YOU are called! The world needs you!

And yes, I’d be delighted for you to claim this message, too!

So I re-claimed some of my Intentions. One of those is to keep being open to learning new things. Another is my commitment to the notion that I get to choose!!!

This last, by the way, is where the whole metamodern thing comes in, but that’s going to need to wait for another day.

And there will be soup.

For now, though, I’d love for you to witness one of my commitments about next right things:

I am present to choosing these journeys as safe places to continue to unfold… to become more ME, even in the context of this time!

If that sounds good to you… if you feel your inner wisdom whispering… then click here for all the info! There’s still time to join in the adventure known as #Filters! This might be just the right time!

ps… the art for the Creators card was part of an Intentional Creativity® journey called #Animystica. It found a home, and a very important job in my children’s book, A Creation Poem… Daphne & I would Love for you to check it out!

Art JourneyContemplationsFiltersGrandmothersMedicine Basket

Notes from the Many-Me’s!

Posted on by sue boardman

I’m guessing you’ve had days like this, too. Days when it feels like you need a whole committee of you’s to get all the things done. Especially the processing things!

If they passed out crowns for Queens of Many-Me’s, I’m pretty sure I’d get one today. As it is, though, I’m probably going to need to be content with crossing things off the list! In fact, I’m starting early!

By the time you read this, I will have had quite the day with medical folks and big, loud machines. Information is in order. I like having information. Getting it isn’t always so much fun! Fortunately, some of the things I learned in my nurse days are still helpful. Mainly, the absolute permission I gave myself to ask ALL my questions!

And, yes… that same permission applies in other parts of my world, as well!

The legend, if you will, for the #Filters map I’m making is virtually complete. Actually complete, in a hold in your hand sense, will take some help and a bit more time but, for this moment, I’ve done my part!

Just between us, this is really exciting!!!

So is the upcoming painting and writing adventure with Mother Nature that begins June 21. You know me and questions…

Is Mother Nature Calling You Home?

Just click to find out!!! Especially if community and ceremony and creating sound good!

Here’s the thing… the world feels pretty much bat crap crazy these days. Odds are extremely high that some healing is – and is going to be – needed. And I mean to be on that team. I’m guessing you do, too!

That brings us to a sneak peek moment!

This is artwork for one of my #Filters cards. One of the ones that will appear along the road to the places where we are called. The Hebrew words mean both hand and power of Creator. (At least they’re supposed to. I nearly flunked Hebrew!) And, yes… there’s still time to join an amazing group of us live! For all the info, Just click here… (This 6 week adventure will also be recorded if you need to watch on your own time!)

And, just in case you missed it… here’s me, again, inviting YOU to stretch your Medicine Basket and set out on this adventure of Good Trouble! The world needs you!!!

ps… the painting at the top is deep under-layers from an earlier Red Madonna journey… my heart crying out in hope!

Art JourneyContemplationsFiltersGrandmothersMedicine Basket

If I could only have two things…

Posted on by sue boardman

On Friday I was gathered in a virtual circle with some awesome, amazing women. It was a dip your toe in the pool kind of event. An experiential invitation to join a yearlong circle of wonder and becoming. I knew just what I was going to share.

And then the light came on! When it was my turn, there, in that moment, I reached for my Medicine Basket. (That’s a glimpse of the actual basket in the physical world, above. There’s also a whole lot of metaphor involved!)

And I looked straight into the camera (gulp!) and said one of the most true things I know:

If I could only have two tools in my basket, I’d choose Prayer Dots and #Filters!

Meet dots! Each one a sign of praying with a whole lot of our being!

I learned dots in 2017, on my first Intentional Creativity® adventure, known as the Black Madonna Pilgrimage. (You may have been there, too!) And, wow, did I need them! A dear friend in a Florida hospital with a brain aneurysm. Hurricanes and tornadoes. Those dots became a way I could be there, for and with her, until I could be there physically, and help a bit on her road to healing. She’s doing great. And I’m hooked on dots!

Then, #Filters. In some ways, they’re kind of everything else! Ways to sort and understand and relate to all the stuff the world flings in our direction… 2 to 3 BILLION bits of stuff in any one moment!!!

And NONE of us can handle that much, neurologically.

Here’s a personal example, with a bit of help from Dr. Seuss:

I do not like green peas… not even with ham. I do not like them, Sue I am. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere!

And, so – you guessed it! – I filter them out of my awareness. Of my consideration. Just not getting in. Not even to be polite… not since I was about five! (Sorry, Mom.)

Of course, the world is more complicated than green peas… thus the notion of #Filters, along with dots, in my Medicine Basket!

This matters. It matters enough for me to put my camera avoidance issues in the back of the closet and show up, believing that more and more of us adding this tool to our Medicine Baskets will be Good Trouble for the world… and for our Littles!

Yes! You’re invited, to either or both, even if you do like green peas!

Click here for all the info on the 6-week #Filters adventure!

Click here if you’re hearing Mother Nature whispering… we begin our year-long journey next week!

ps… Mother Nature is a huge fan of dots, too!!! Maybe, just maybe, she invented prayer dots!

pps… wish I’d known #Filters when my Dad still walked this world. I’m pretty sure he’d have been intrigued. For this moment, though… I’m still on it, Harry!

Contemplations

What if “Learning” is really Co-Creation???

Posted on by sue boardman

Grab yourself a cuppa and tuck yourself in for an adventure, please. Not a Squeegie Hunt, as the old camp song goes, so much as a Me-gie Hunt! A You-gie Hunt! Seriously!

First, comes the bridge. In this case, the bridge from what we already understood, to whole new possibilities! And, trust me, I’m traveling this one real time, right along with you!

A few minutes ago, I fixed myself a cuppa and went #Hearthtending in the land of #wipwednesday. Hand & wrist support glove in place. Small weighted blanket doing its soothing job. And, yes… Joan Baez doing her thing. Kind of my version of Buckle up, Buttercup!

Then it found me… a friend’s post from someone else which basically said we can’t walk this road in these times all by ourselves. This, followed by a pointed suggestion that we readers grab our divination tools and go looking for some hints.

And, yes… I needed a bit of a deep breath then, too… divination tools being language I learned, back in the day, that WE don’t use! (Or believe in!)

Then I realized that this is, indeed, a #Filters thing! And I know more now than I did back then. Like the fact that I can edit filters. I can make choices. And, I chose how to follow that hint from my friend’s post!

That meant reaching for Alana Fairchild’s Sacred Rebels Oracle Cards which live within reach of the magic chair. Didn’t need to do the whole picking thing. I’d already done it, and not had time to hang with the card that found me. And, yes… it was still just what I needed!

28. COLLABORATIVE DREAMING. The first couple of sentences will get us where we’re headed…

Your heart is big enough to dream not only for yourself, but for a new humanity. Imagine a world that is healed with respect, understanding and with community that fosters life. Even your dreams that relate to you alone will contribute positively to the greater good because that is the nature of your heart…

Here comes the big news… I AM DOING JUST THAT! And, it’s a whole lot like boiling bones!!! Here’s the recipe:

Take a whole lot of things you’ve learned. Add a bunch of bits you’ve survived. A handful of hope. Some bay leaves for courage. Cover it all with gallons of new perspective. Bring to a boil. Simmer gently, as long as it takes. Then scoop out the stuff that’s given its all, and nurture your healing self with the wonder that remains!

And, better yet… do all that in supportive community!!! Yep! #Filters!!!

Just click here for all the info. And click NOW, while you’re feeling it… The adventure begins SOON!

Remember, we’re traveling this world together and I’ve been simmering this wisdom a LONG time!

ps… drum roll, please! Last night I emailed the doc with all the words for my upcoming deck of Wisdom Cards to my tech wizard!!! And, yes… they are well seasoned with #Filters! It’ll be a while… Just think how far ahead you’ll be if you join on the journey!

pps… not ready, this moment, for a 6-week commitment? How about 6 hours??? You’re invited to our ReWilding the Hungry Heart retreat in the land of Red Madonna. You never know what doors it will open!!! New around here? Can’t think of a better way to dip your toe in the ocean of wonder that is Intentional Creativity® !!! Just click here for all the info!

Art JourneyContemplationsFiltersGrandmothersMedicine Basket

The streets of Heaven are crowded with angels…

Posted on by sue boardman

It’s been a complex sort of week in my world. You know… the kind that takes all the consciousness you can muster, along with a fair amount of beyond-consciousness, too.

Because many of you share big chunks of history with me, you may be aware that Dr. Walter Brueggemann walked on this week. He was my teacher. My friend. In many ways, one of the most empowering voices in my head. And, there’s a Walter-ism which very much wants sharing…

Back in the mid-1990’s, I was on campus at Columbia Theological Seminary for a Doctor of Ministry course in pre-marital and couples counseling. It happened to be November 1… All Saints Day on a portion of the liturgical calendar that often seemed overlooked in our tradition back in those days.

Walter was preaching in Chapel. For the first couple of minutes I was a bit perplexed.

I mean… Walter was a renowned Hebrew Bible scholar. Saints seemed a bit off the beaten path. Then, the punch line…

Saints, Walter said, were all the people who believed for us on days when we couldn’t quite believe for ourselves.

That I understood! There have been quite the tribe of those in my life. I imagine there have been some along your path, too.

Ever since that day, I’ve stopped, each year, to make my list. And, more recently, to add an intention. To be one of those people – those believers – for others.

Much like another of my teachers, Dr. H. Steven Glenn, who helped me claim this huge bit of hope:

If a teenaged child has 5 adults who will listen to them, take them seriously, and not shame them or blame them for their questions, that child is practically immune from ever attempting suicide.

As far as I know, Walter and Steve didn’t know each other, in this life. I suspect, though, that there’s a possibility of a whole lot of hope if the two of them get acquainted as they walk on.

Just between us, I’ll gladly take some Saints helping me believe in these days! And, I’m totally convinced that being one of those 5 people for others also means being one of them for myself!

I’m also pretty sure that Walter is getting a good chuckle out of the Wisdom Cards I’m writing for my #Quickening journey, as his voice in my head – and heart – is doing a fair amount of meddlin’! Then, there are both (!) of my new #Legend paintings which also hold much of what I learned from him.

And, no… I can’t explain the timing of all of this. I can only say that I’m grateful.

Then, there’s the other thing I can do. I can invite YOU to see – to experience – some new things along your road! Soon!!!

A one day retreat with Mother Nature…ReWilding the Hungry Heart! An Intentional Creativity® gift to you!

Click here for all the info & to enroll!

Or – even AND – 6 weeks of a whole new way to interact with the world… REALLY!!!

Click here for all the info & to enroll!

Somewhere, deep in my memory, my mom is shaking her head and warning me about not pestering people.

Then again, I’m counting on a bunch of those people called Saints cheering me on for – you know – putting it all out there!

Maybe it’s time for you, and me, to be one of those 5 people for ourselves!!!

ps… happy heavenly 90th birthday, Mom!

pps… may the Spirit – the Advocate – walk among us and guide us, this Pentecost day, and forever!

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