SoulCollage 3rd Class

In today class we mainly were doing the I am One Who… exercise, and What I Have to Say To Your Question is… exercise. We gathered in few groups and started with card readings.

Card readings are never done by a third party, but always by the creator of the cards and answering a question about their own life.

A question is formulated and then a number of cards (typically four: one from each suit) are drawn. In this way, a person taps into their inner wisdom (rather than, say, magic) to address their question.

There are also three Transpersonal cards, which are not read from (are not chosen in readings), but which are displayed during readings as reminders of Divine Mystery.

These cards are the Source (Divine Spirit), SoulEssence (corresponding to what many would call the soul) and Witness (one's own "stepped-back" consciousness).

Here are some basic elements to apply when consulting your cards.

• How you ask your question is important. It should be open-ended, not one easily answered by “yes” or “no”. It should be a question that matters to you and be in writing.
• Draw four cards and leave them face down. One at a time, turn each one over. The cards often offer a synchronicity between their images and the question you have asked in that point in time.
• The four cards each offer four perspectives on the question. Each Neter on the cards speaks (using the I Am One Who… exercise, and then What I have to say to your question is… ).
• Then, reflecting on the four cards together as a pattern can often reveal a holistic perspective that provides intuitive guidance related to your question.

Thus, we do not have much photos today as all of us were recording our own reading about our own cards.

Today I read a certain card that indeed is the weakest point of my life. I know that the influences that have made the entire of my life. Reading the card made me feel a little bit release the sadness and sorrow of my inner self.

I am still not really feel ease and I feel that it does not necessary can heal the wounds that had been made. At that moment, the first thought that came into my mind was the picture of the Savior. Yes, Jesus Christ can heal my wound…

SoulCollage 2nd Class

Throughout last week, I did 2 more cards for the class  at home. Together with the one card which I did in the class, there are 3 cards together.

Today we learned more on on another type of cards from Teacher Mici, and we were learning about Community card.

And we make of our community card as per last class we did. We brought out magazines cutting that we gathered at home.

And we started the whole process again, but this time is related to the influences upon ourselves, whether friends, family, pets, historical figures one emulates, or even very special places.

We were asked to go to the back of the classroom to put the magazines pictures cuttings that we did for last week and start to do our Community cards.

There were spreads of  images around us. We gather them into smaller piles, sorting them by colors, energies, themes, or patterns.

For instance, you might notice that you have lots of images of stairways, or windows, or birds, or people who are frowning…

Or we might see several images that just seem to go together for some reason. You don't need to verbalize a reason for grouping some images together. When you have a few different piles sorted by theme, choose one of them.

Start playing around with the images that you have chosen. Lay them on top of one another, or beside each other. Arrange and rearrange them until you come to a layout that you like. Trust your intuition. You will know when it looks "right.

We learned new things today. There are two primary uses of the cards: the IAOW exercise, and card readings.

There is great value in doing these exercises in community with others, but only a card's creator is authorized to speak from it. IAOW stands for "I am One Who."

The card's creator speaks from the point of view of the card, beginning "I am one who..." and perhaps including statements beginning with "What I want to say to you is..." and "My gift to you is...".

Towards the end of the class, we gather together as few groups and started to the IAOW exercise.

“From the time you tear out your first image and wonder what it symbolizes, begin to use the I Am One Who… Starting with that phrase, let the image speak to you through your own voice.” Seena Frost describes this process in an excerpt from SoulCollage® Evolving.

SoulCollage 1st Class

Today is the 1st class of SoulCollage. This is very new to me. This is the first time that I have been introduced to this ‘new world’. Teacher Mici then did a brief introduction to us on what is SoulCollage?

Apparently, SoulCollage® is a method of self-discovery through the creation and intuitive analysis of a deck of collaged cards. It was developed by Seena B. Frost. Cards are made by tearing or clipping images (often from magazines) and then combining them, perhaps against a new background image, into a collage.

All cards in one's deck should be the same size, generally 5x8 inches. A prototypical SoulCollage deck consists of four suits:

• The Committee Suit is made up images representing of the different voices comprising one's own personality.
• The Community Suit cards represent influences upon oneself, whether friends, family, pets, historical figures one emulates, or even very special places.
• The Companions Suit consists of the animal guides inhabiting one's chakras.
• The Council Suit consists of Jungian archetypes important in one's own journey.

As explained by Teacher Mici, due to our numbers of class only 4 classes, so it is a little difficult to teach or share with us the entire four suits.

As the Companions Suit and the Council Suit basically need more time or practice on this as one has to do a little bit of soul searching and meditate to find their personal own Companions and Council Suit.

So we would learn to do Committee Suit for today. So how are we going to make our own cards. We were given 5″ by 8″ mat card boards, scissors, adhesive (archival glue stick is recommended), and a frame.

We were asked to go to the back of the classroom and see the tables were filled with various assorted of images which were cut from the magazines.

Step 1, we were asked to choose at least two images that attract to us and seem to belong together. Limit each card to a few images that represent the same mood or energy.

Step 2, Teacher Mici asked us to clip loosely around each image eliminates background “noise,” including words and increases an image’s visual power.

Then, later, cut carefully around the edges of our final images, using smaller, sharp scissors for areas of detail.

Step 3, use the frame that given to us to compose our card, moving images around beneath the frame to see what fits and what part we want to cut out and use.

Collage the whole card, using a background image if needed. Experiment with portrait and landscape layouts. Mark borders for cutting. Cut the edges, then piece together our SoulCollage.

Step 4, use an archival quality glue stick on the entire back of each image. We can use a newsprint magazine or phone book, turning to a fresh page after gluing an image. Smooth away wrinkles. Give thought to any layering.

Measure and mark where to glue down the pieces that will be partially covered by another image. Gently brush away glue rubbings. Glue remaining images. Carefully glue on a backing, once you know the card’s suit.

Step 5, name our own card. Give a name to our card which we think suit for it.

We did not realise that the time passed so fast that we were only managed to make a card. Thus Teacher Mici gave us some homework that we need to do during this week before our 2nd class:

• Watch the Inside Out Movie.
• Gathering and bring to class the images that we can find from the magazines, old books, personal art and photographs.
• Make a Committee Card at home.
• Get images of 10 most influential people in your life.

Well it was kind of interesting class to be in but still I personally can feel the uneasiness when I allow my intuition to lead the way as I look through the materials, ripping or cutting out those that appeal to me.

Pastel Palette 20190910 ~ Peace Mandala

This is another piece of artwork that I like!

Pastel Palette 20190909 ~ Love Mandala

This is another piece that I try and I am not so satisfy this but it is my creation! It give me the feeling of charity and the love to help others.

Pastel Palette 20190907 ~ Harmony Mandala

This is my first mandala that I do of my own. Frankly speaking, I am pretty impressed of what I can produce. And I love it so much! I added some jewellery stickers on it and sprinkles some golden and silver dust on top, and it can turn out so nice!

Bread Story…

Today both Annabelle and I were at Citta Mall while waiting for Issac attending his art class. We saw this kiosk that selling the breads and the breads all are so cute!

Thus we bought some breads home.

Pastel Palette 20190906 ~ My Winter

I feel that I should complete my version of 4 seasons, the last one is my Winter. There is still can see some sunlight in the midst of the winter morning, some green trees covered with snows. Even though there is a dried trees without leaves but it still give me hopes in the Winter that is cold and still.

This is the Winter I want!

Pastel Nagomi Art 4th Class

This week is the last class of the Pastel Nagomi Art. Besides sharing any artwork which we did last week, this week we learned something new.

Teacher Mici taught us about using the pastel to create Mandala artwork. I cannot imagine that I can do something so beautiful like this!

It started with the brightness in the centre of the myself, and how I can influence my lightness to the persons beside myself.

The Pony Riding

It was quite a shock to all of us including to me and Alvin when we saw the pony that Issac ride on was suddenly just kicking its legs and wanted to run away. I was stunned at the spot when I saw it and do not know how to react to that. The first thing that came into my mind was: Where is Alvin? How to help Issac?

What can I do is only stand there and I do not know what to do. My mind was blank at that instance. I saw the young men were trying to hold and control the pony, but the pony was trying to run to the field. As the pony was trying its way to run further, I was afraid that Issac would be fall off from the pony as he was almost fell off.

The next second, I saw Issac fell off from the pony and his body continue rolling on the ground till he stopped by a tree. Alvin and I were running towards him and checked with him how is he doing, is he being hurt?

I feel it was a blessing that he is safe and protected by Heavenly Father. If last weekend he attend the KL District Young Men Camp, I believe that he would be involve in small challenges as well.

Issac told us that he is very aware of what was going on, and he was trying his best to determine the time to let go of his hand from the horse saddle. He said he saw the timing when he felt that his body was nearer to the ground then he decided to let go of his hand, then he just rolled onto the ground.

His clothing was dirty with dirt and wet because he crashed into a pail of water which put aside the tree. I quickly went to take his clothing in the car and gave him to change at the toilet. Alvin helped him.

After the incident, Issac felt as he indeed have some trials or challenges that he went through this year. The first is Annabelle and him both were missing in Hong Kong during the KL District youth temple trip, and now here he goes again – fell off from a normal pony ride.

I know he must be scared during when things happen, but I know that he definitely found his testimony in the midst of all these happenings which to him were some major events in his life so far.

I am blessed to have him as my son and a faithful righteous Aaronic Priesthood in our home. I know that the Lord will definitely watching over him no matter what happened.

Malacca Weekend Trip 1 Sep 2019

Today is Sabbath. Our family attended the Malacca Branch. It is the same time as Puchong Branch, from 10.00am to 12 noon. It was already almost lunch 1.30pm after we reached back to our homestay.

We changed our Sunday best to our casual clothing, and walked towards the opposite side from our homestay. We came to the famous Big Bowl Ice dessert shop. It was not really packed with people now. I guessed all the tourists are busy either queuing at the restaurants for their lunch and no one will come to the dessert shop yet.

We ordered the Big Bowl Special with red beans, taro, dragon fruit, pineapple, banana, watermelon with brown sugar syrup for both Alvin and I to share; whereby Issac and Annabelle ordered a strawberry chocolate waffle to share.

It did come in a huge portion, unfortunately we do not think the taste is as good as most of the reviews claimed. Well… at least it did sort of cool us down with the hot weather like this.

After our dessert, we walked to the Malacca famous Asam Pedas Claypot. There are 2 shops which are selling the same and we just walked in to the shop which is not so crowded called Restaurant Dahlea Ria Asam Pedas Claypot. It was already near to 2.30pm.

We can see a lot of Malays bikers and I know it is a good weekend for the bikers to organize a convoy for outing like this. Both shops also packed with bikers! We can see the bikes parking at the roadside.

We ordered a Asam Pedas Pari Claypot and Adam Pedas Beef Claypot. We were served with the rice and vegetables first, and waited for our clay pots for more than 30 minutes. It was due to a lot of customers and we can see that most of the customers were already booked their dishes.

It was really tasted nice and best as this is our first time to eat the Asam Pedas. The sauce is so thick and the hot and sour taste just at the right taste. We love it so much, but we unable to take or eat more as we already full with the earlier desserts we had.

It was already 3.45pm when we left the restaurant and headed back to our homestay. All of us were tired. Part of the reasons also because due to the hot weather especially at Malacca as a city that located at the seaside.

We took rest at the homestay and came out for the short dinner at the Kopitiam nearby at the evening. It was a short getaway for the family to spend sometime together after Alvin started his work. All of us enjoy the company of one another.