Workshops

I have recently added a section on the right hand side of the blog (scroll down until you reach WORKSHOPS) with outlines of all the workshops that I offer.INTUITION & SELF-DISCOVERY
"Knowing" the Tarot - learning about ourselves though storytelling
"Knowing" the Self - honouring and trusting our intuition
Creating Women - honouring ourselves through creativity
Road Map to your Dreams - visioning the life we want
Living in Balance - bringing balance back into our lives

JOURNALLING
Journalling to my Self - exploring ourselves through journalling
Journal to the Spirit - exploring our sacredness
WRITING
Writers Write - getting you... and keeping you... writing
Poems from my Heart - listening to the words from our heart and soul
Crafting the Story - storytelling through the archetypes

ART
Art Journals - visually recording the days of our lives
Intuitive Art - abandoning pre-conceived ideas and letting the art come through you
Check out the description in more details and let me know if you would like to organize a workshop in your area.

Don't ever be afraid to begin again.

Me? I love new beginnings! Maybe not all of them but a New Year, a new book to read, a new journal to write in, a new day timer or calendar. It speaks of second chances, new opportunities, untold possibilities…
So how come we sometimes also get that uncomfortable feeling that to begin all over again is slightly tainted with failure, especially when it involves relationships, friendships or other major changes in our lifestyles or career choices? Is it because society still expects us to make a choice in the major areas of our lives, somehow miraculously staying on course for the remainder? All very well and good, but apparently a lot of times life hadn't read the same rule book, and change we must.

As last year slowly wound down, I found myself re-reading a gem of a book entitled "Morning, Noon and Night" by Judy Collins. As is often the case, I gained further wisdom and insight from this talented and thoroughly authentic lady, a second time around. This particular passage truly struck gold for me:

"Starting again can give you a new focus and a new purpose. Beginning again is usually the next right thing, the next step in your journey, with a new view and the new excitement and new challenges. You will be up to it. You only need to start."

Doing good... just because

I'm not that big on karma when it pertains to doing something good so you'll get something good back. It's a little too close for my liking to the concept of being good just so that you get to go to heaven. It's often said: "what goes around, comes around" and "what you give out, you give back."

I have to add an addendum to that: ONLY IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING WITH THAT SPECIFICALLY IN MIND! In my experience it is the things that we do from our own truth of who we are, and from our own hearts, with absolutely no intent of anything other than doing something good because it is … quite simply… a good thing to do.

Many years ago in one of my lifetimes in this lifetime, I taught basketry in Calgary, Alberta. Let me tell you, at that time if you could made a success as a basketry business there, you could make it anywhere doing almost anything! To what do I owe that success? I can attribute the better part of 85% of my business to one small thing I did the very first weekend I demonstrated basket weaving.
I had been allocated a young girl for the weekend as my helper. On the last evening we caught the tram together down to the parking lot where she was going to wait for her mother. It was cold and dark, and starting to snow. I offered to let her sit in my car, but, being well trained, she politely refused. So instead, even though I knew it was safe there, and I was longing to get home, I stayed and kept her company until her mother arrived, who was naturally very grateful.

What I had no way of knowing, was that her mother was the organizer of the whole weekend. Not only that, she was the commissioner for girl guides for the entire Calgary region. I lost count of the basketry badge workshops that I did for brownie, girl guide and older girl troupes, guide leader workshops, quilting groups, events this person recommended me for… the list is endless. No amount of marketing I have ever done for anything brought me as much business as this one lady. Just because it wasn't in me to leave a little girl alone in a dark, cold parking lot for fifteen minutes.
Recently something happened to remind me of this again. If you are interested in the whole story go to http://www.youcanbethedifference.blogspot.com/ March 1, 2010 entry –once again I acted spontaneously from the core of who I am, writing quite an emotional thank-you letter in response to something I felt strongly about. And through no planning or scheming on my behalf, the story of my letter has gone across Canada, and even further afield. I have no way of knowing how where this is going to lead, but as an Intuitive, once I saw how things were evolving, I know that good will come from this. Will it be for me? Who knows? And anyway, does that really matter?
What matters is the good. My gift is the wonderful reminder that if I always stay true to myself in every situation, and speak my truth from my heart, good things simply happen.

Taking a different look at Self-Esteem

I came across a phrase in an email recently that I thought deserved a closer look.

"Usually we have low self-esteem when we believe we should be different from who we truly are. So we feel "wrong."

The topic of self-esteem has been extensively explored in books, workshops, and therapy. The definition of self-esteem is: "a good opinion of one's own character and abilities." And yet unless an adjective like "excellent" is attached in front of the word "self-esteem" it always seems to come through as a negative trait. Often the word is used in an accusatory fashion. "You need to work on your self-esteem" or "you obviously have an issue with self-esteem" we're told.

So what if instead we looked at the whole issue of self-esteem in a completely different light? What if we were willing to approach our self-esteem in a far gentler, kinder way? What if when we are labeled with self-esteem issues it is simply a matter that we have temporarily lost sight of our true self. And, in the eyes of others, and ourselves, we appear less.
And that all we really need to do is acknowledge this momentary lapse, quietly take a moment to take a deep breath, and reconnect with who we truly are.

Bearing witness to Haiti

There is such a sense of powerless when tragedy strikes, especially one of humongous proportion as the recent earthquake in Haiti. We wonder what we can do as the images haunt us and we try to imagine the unbelievable: of losing everything we own and facing a daunting and uncertain future while still not even beginning to comprehend the loss of our loved ones. Surrounded by death and disease, no food or water and little or no help a week after the earthquake first struck, despite what the mass media reports.

I remember after my father died the thing that struck me the most was that after most people's initial shock and reaction wore off, their lives continued. I simply could not comprehend how life could… well… just go on… People went on with their lives as if nothing had happened.

Didn't they know someone had died? Didn't they care? Of course they did. I knew it was my pain talking, but since that time I have made a point of acknowledging any tragedy by lighting candles for those who have died or are in peril.

I was taught to "pray" by simply offering up my thoughts and energy to whoever or whatever I believe created me; and that in turn, these good thoughts could be used where they were most needed.

I have made it my business to follow reliable news sources, which are generally not the mass media, for the duration. Somehow by following what is really going on, either by reading or listening to reliable reports and looking at pictures, is some small way of bearing witness to what has occurred, and is still going on. I may not personally be in any position to help those in trouble, but I don't have to pretend that it isn't happening. In that way at least I am paying my respects. In such a way, maybe, a small amount of my energy is passed on to those who desperately need it.

Light a candle, say a prayer, be willing to bear witness. Seek out the truth of what is really happening in Haiti. Please don't let these people be forsaken.

SoulSpeak Cards

Gentle, supportive and inspirational insights come to me while working as an Intuitive. I create SoulSpeak greeting cards from recycled, discarded, or handmade scraps of paper to reflect my interpretation of the meaning of the cards.

This set of four original designs are printed on card stock, individually hand enhanced with painting, collage, and embossing, so that each cards becomes and original in its own right.

The cards are left blank inside for you to add to your own personal message... or simply sign the cards and let the words speak for you. SoulSpeak cards are designed to be kept and cherished, framed individually, or as a set of insights to reflect upon or live by.

Once we have held in our hearts

what we know to be our truth

it is impossible to let go

of who we are

In the mirror of my mind

I catch a glimpse

of who I choose

to become

We could all see

what's within

if we let go long enough to become it

Who you are

is what you know in your heart

to be true

Details
5" x 7" (approx. 12.5 x 18 cm)
Printed on white heavy weight card stock
Blank inside
White mailing envelope
Packaged in individual cellophane sleeve
Suitable for framing

Payment and Shipping Information

Cdn $ 25.00/per set of four includes Shipping and Handling to Canada and the U.S.
Overseas orders will include an additional shipping charge. Please inquire.

TO ORDER

Email me at shenam@shaw.ca the number of sets you want, your mailing address, and your choice of payment:

Paypal: Use the button on this site, or I will invoice you though Paypal
Canadian Money Order: I will invoice you directly

Please note:
Both the words and images are the original work of Shena Meadowcroft and subject to copyright protection. Thank you for respecting that neither my words or images can be reproduced, saved, altered or used in any way.

Tides of Life

"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart..."

Rainer Maria Rilke

Letter to a Young Poet.

Years ago someone observed that quite often, women, when asked the question: "What does the tide do?" reply: "It comes in!" Men, on the other hand, generally reply: The tide goes in and out." As always with generalizations a lot of people tend to disagree, but given some quiet introspection many women have admitted that indeed, we are seldom comfortable with the times in our lives when the tide is definitely on its way out, and at best, we barely tolerate it.

Even harder to bear are the times in our lives when the tide seems to be neither coming nor going, when life itself seems to have come to a halt. When nothing appears to be happening, nothing is moving. We are impatient, we fret that things are not going as planned... that something is blocking our way... we were so sure we were on the right track...

Tides of Life I

Yet it is when it appears that absolutely nothing is happening, that everything is. It's in that time when everything seems to have stopped, that the most is going on. Could it be that it is the unforseen forces in our lives that are at work? As is, almost it seems, that same force is getting its ducks in a row? And once everything is in place, things can then unfold?

Tides of Life II

May we learn to love the pauses in our lives. It might be nature's way of reminding us to take a breath, letting us catch up with ourselves, rest awhile... and be ready to welcome the treasure that the incoming tide is bound to bring us.

A Wish Come True

A few months ago I wrote a post entitled "Make a Wish" in which I shared my Wish List for a new home. Three months later I moved into my little cottage by the ocean which has everything I asked for, and more. Some of the pictures I pasted into my Wish Book bear a remarkable resemblance to the actual place. Notably a rock garden, a winding pathway leading up to the house, a brick courtyard and the house itself which is a wooden structure with nothing but windows.
As to my Wish List... in every category I asked for "excellent natural light" ~ there is a minimum of wallspace (so much so that my bookcases act as room dividers!) and there are several skylights... "hardwood floors" ~ all through the cottage... "No stairs" was another wish, although I did add "loft acceptable as sanctuary" ~ there is a beautiful loft which I am making into my studio sanctuary... "an excellent view" ~ I look over the ocean... I could go on and on, but suffice to say I'm so grateful to be here, to play in my garden, walk to the beach or sit quietly in the courtyard surrounded by my herbs...

Thank you...

Journalling to My Self - Part I

"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
William Shakespeare

To thine own self be true. If only it were that easy. Most of us ... after many years of questionable upbringing, sibling rivalry, an education system that seemed bent on knocking the stuffing out, and a society where everything, even the pain we suffer, is measured ... are still striving for a perfection that seems forever just beyond our reach.
So we talk to our friends and we buy self help books (occasionally reading them), go to workshops, see a therapist, do some counselling, visit psychics and commune with whoever we pick for our higher power, desperately trying to be better, to grow, to become healthy, balanced, grounded or whatever the term is at any given moment. I can admit to all of the above, and a lot more besides, over the years. Approaching that magical age of 40 I got to thinking.

I create... We all create. I won't get into the intimate details, but as either man or woman we have the ability to create a child - and it don't get much more creative than that! And whether I build a bookcase, write a book, set the table, prepare supper, I create the best bookcase, manuscript, dinner table, meal, that I can.
I was created... (and I'm going to keep this so non-denominational, it's not true) ... Whoever, Whatever, However ... I was created. Somehow I don't think that He, She, It said: "I know, I think I'll make a really lousy Shena today!" I believe that what was said was: "I think I'll make the best possible Shena that I can."
Meanwhile here I was trying to be better, improve, change, grow, ground myself, you name it. Wasn't that like someone bringing me over a nice dish for supper that they had created, and I blithely add spices, whip up a sauce, or sautee it in brandy ... without even tasting it first?
How insulting! It occurred to me that maybe all I really had to do was to stop trying so hard to be perfect and just be who I was created to be ~ my self.
Which is where this all began, being true to my self ...

Journalling to My Self - Part II

Now in no way am I demeaning therapy, friends, counselling, psychics, books, workshops or anything else that we can try. All of the above have helped me enormously and besides, I actually now do most of the above, for myself and with others.
But the single most thing that has been with me day in, day out, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and joy, in quiet moments and in celebration, in the depths of despair and the heights of the awesomeness of life, is my journal. You see, there's a special relationship between me and my journal that has yet to be found elsewhere. Think about it: a journal doesn't disagree with you, doesn't argue back, doesn't criticize, is always there, and best of all, LISTENS. It’s a safe place to scream, to be silly, vent, explore feelings and beliefs that I might not just yet feel comfortable sharing with others. Mine goes EVERYWHERE with me. I am totally indiscriminate about what I put in it. My days, my thoughts, great quotes that inspire me, recipes, photos, the fortune cookie message from last night's dinner that was unbelievably meaningful. Notes on a book I'm working through, a class I am taking. Cards, I keep copies of letters I have written to other people. Stuff I don't know where to put but don't want to part with. I have no rules. I buy sturdy, ring bound, inexpensive notebooks with a pocket inside the front cover, and decorate it, making it mine. I make sure I have an abundant supply of pens I like to write with, one permanently clasped inside the rings. I do have some really beautiful journals that I have purchased in a weak moment (they were on sale) and a couple that friends have given me, but I am afraid they lay abandoned on my bookcase. It's really hard to make a mistake in a lovely book, it's even harder to be nasty and I absolutely cannot, for the life of me, swear on ivory colored paper. I just can't. And I'm not saying you have to swear, but sometimes writing an entire page of the rudest word you can think of is very cathartic. Doesn't happen on ivory paper, trust me.