Rose Cottage

  I recently wrote about some of the benefits of practicing gratuitude - and this week our women's spiritual bookgroup, Sister Circle begins reading and discussing the Gratuitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan. (I'm Grateful to have found a lovely used hardback copy - and used bonus points for it's purchase!) My creative community often convinced words and image in our journals, plus process oriented painting. We often pour a cup of tea, and sip with our creative muses.  Cup of Creativi-tea I got a lovely journal from 'the other Grands' for Christmas, and it seems perfect for the practice. The John Templeton foundation supported Kaplan's work on the book - and a survey they funded over a decade ago showed 94% of Americans "thought people who are grateful are also more fulfilled and lead richer lives.  But less than half the people surveyed said they expressed Gratitude on any regular basis."  That's a big disconnect!  Gratitude Diaries As I mentioned ea...

 ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ  ᎢᏤ  ᎠᏕᏘᏱᏍᎬᎢ   U-li-he-lis-di  i-tse  a-de-ti-yi-s-gv-i / happy new year! What's on your creative table in 2025? For 2024, our pastor Erika Marksbury got a grant to use  Bonnie Smith Whitehouse 's lovely book, Seasons of Wonder, for inspiration and focus. The grant covered copies of the book for the congregation, plus supplies for our monthly Makers Meetings and funds for field trips; and we met in small groups for monthly discussion.  I really enjoy Bonnie's approach of interweaving gathering as a circle (!!), sharing creativity, connecting with nature, each other and the Divine.  I've ordered her  Kickstart Creativity   cards for more inspiration. In her introduction to Seasons ofWonder, Bonnie quotes  Steven Charleston ,  ' It is all a circle, the ancestors said -- an endless circle within a circle. The drum is a circle.  The dance ground is a circle. The earth is a circle.  There is no us or them...

 Over the last several years, I've enjoyed many crafting circles with friends from around the world - via zoom! I offer  bimonthly circles, choosing themes with my co-facilitators. These were in person before lockdown - there's way less schlocking of supplies with virtual circles!  My friend Kendall hosts full and new moon circles monthly, and we usually work in crafty journals, often making a round moon card. I love crafting round cards, and this process of letting the theme inspire both my collage and a card.  Here's a journal spread from several years ago, which accompanied a painting journey.  Collage spread in CODEX journal Our October full moon is in fiery Aries, called the Hunter Moon by many. There were 8 in today's circle - and it's always fun to witness the variety of images and colors that emerge!  Moon cards from our circles Kendall drew several oracle cards - from a deck which includes recipes! Temperance bespoke balance - and the recipe was ...