Emerging
Courageous Newsletter
Marilyn Dixon Pfanstiel,
Editor
Volume 1, Issue 18, April 7, 2003
Inspirational
Quotes:
*“Whether
you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!”
Henry
Ford
*”A
man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.”
Charles
M. Schwab
From the
Mailbag regarding Creativity - Newsletter 17
*Without
doubt, creativity is one of the four aspects of a good strong foundation for
healthy life in mind and body.” Tony DeLiso
*Marilyn,
you are an awesome gal!!! So talented, and still discovering more. Plus you
have always been so giving of your time and talents for others. Keep on,
keeping on!!! Julia Slaymaker
Sorry, Guys, but this week’s newsletter is for and about women (although you can read it if you so desire). This weekend I attended a workshop at the Hopscotch House in Louisville, Kentucky sponsored by the Kentucky Foundation for Women. It was established in 1987 for women artists and writers to have a place to get away from civilization and all their busyness to be creative in a natural environment. It provides a change of pace and an opportunity for creating without interruptions as well as an opportunity to interact with other artists and writers therefore offering encouragement and support.
I
went as a guest of “Waggers”… a Women’s Art Group from Kentucky. The guest
presenter was Gloria Wachtel, Kentucky Artist. The theme of the workshop was
“Exploring beliefs about being a woman”. Through sharing our stories about our
“womanity”, we discussed challenges and successes about being a woman.
This included following tradition and society’s expectations. We discussed our
hopes and dreams and what we intended to “birth” (at my age –whoa… LOL).
I
shared with them that (as I have told you recently) what I needed was “Freedom”
and to “Nourish My Soul”. Most shared their “fear” of being a woman as not
being taken seriously or not recognized as important as an individual. We all
brought an item that identified us as a woman. I brought my hands (LOL- and a
drawing of my hands). These symbolize the care, compassion and nurturing that I
express through my hands, the healing power I utilize through my massage and
healing therapy, and recently the creativity I express through my art.
Then
we made a “spirit banner” symbolizing these ideas that came forth from our
workshop exemplifying our needs, wants, desires and expression of our being.
Several also made a “creative doll” from scraps of cloth and bits of material
to symbolize the “spirit of the woman within”. Afterwards, each of us left the
outline of our physical body on a cloth where some will be taken and made into
life size forms to be displayed by Gloria Wachtel at Burnheim Forest in the fall.
After the workshop we shared healthy food to nourish our bodies and then
continued to share our talents and creativity. Before we left, several of us
enjoyed nature by visiting the old mill, hiking around, and taking photos and
sketching some old barns on the grounds.
It
was a delightful weekend, being with artistic individuals and tapping into our
creativity. It is a marvelous feeling to be excited about life and the beauty
that surrounds us and through tapping into our creativity, helping others enjoy
it as well
***”To
create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.” Georgia O’Keefe
May
you find within you what it means to be a woman and tap into your creativity,
Marilyn Dixon Pfanstiel
******