Offering HeART and SoulCollage® workshops to inspire your creative spirit | | A Year End Note of Gratitude and Wonder | | "Standing Strong" by GG - A Christmas gift for my 15 year-old grandson : ) | |
Greetings!
As this year draws to a close, I am sitting in quiet wonder (and a bit of melancholy), reflecting on all that has moved through the Down to Earth Studio this past year, the hands, the stories, the images, the courage, the laughter, the tears, and the deep listening that happens when we come together in creative spirit.
I feel a tender gratitude for each of you who crossed the studio threshold this year, whether for a SoulCollage® gathering, an Art Doula session, a ceremony, or a moment of creative pause. One hundred and twelve (112 !!) of you came to the Down to Earth Studio this year, and many many of you came several times. Brava! Every time you choose to show up for your creative life, something sacred happens. You come with curiosity, uncertainty, tenderness, and trust, and you let the images speak. You allow yourself to explore, to question, to remember, and be surprised.
It’s an understatement to say that these have not been easy times. The world feels heavy in so many ways, and it can be tempting to push creativity aside as a luxury. Yet again and again, I have witnessed how art offers us a vital respite and a place to breathe, to soften and reconnect with what feels true and alive within us. Creativity doesn’t fix everything, but it can certainly steady us and remind us that we are more than the news headlines, more than the noise, more than the demands and pressures placed upon us.
In our gatherings this year, I have felt the blessings and presence of my 4-A team: angels, allies, ancestors and affinity spirits—all the energies that support us from beyond the veil. I’ve seen how images open doors that words alone cannot. I’ve watched people reconnect with inner wisdom, uncover forgotten strengths, grieve losses, and glimpse new possibilities. I’ve felt the quiet power of sitting in circle, honoring each person’s voice, witnessing truth, and allowing space for the Soul to speak.
I am deeply thankful for your willingness to be present—to paint, collage, cut, glue, share, listen, and reflect. Thank you for trusting the process, for honoring your own pace, and for contributing your unique presence. Each gathering is shaped by the people who come, and this year’s circles were rich, honest, and beautifully human.
As we step toward a new year, my hope is that you continue to make room for creativity—not as something to perfect, but as something to practice. May you remember that your creative spirit is a companion, a guide, and a source of nourishment, especially when the world feels uncertain.
Thank you for being part of this community and for helping make GG’s Down to Earth Studio a place of refuge, reflection, and possibility. I look forward to all that we will discover together in the year ahead.
As the year turns, may you move gently and with trust.
May creativity continue to be a place of refuge and truth,
guiding you toward what nourishes your heart and spirit.
May you find beauty, courage, and quiet joy along the way.
With deep gratitude and warm wishes for a happy new year,
GG
| | The Breitenbush SoulCollage Retreat is Open for Registration! | | |
The Return of Grace:
Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine SoulCollage® Retreat
with
GG - Retreat Guide & Facilitator and
Kim Buller - Retreat Circle Guardian & Energy Keeper
Breitenbush Hot Springs Resort
September 18 - 21, 2026 (Women Only Weekend)
Only a few spots left!
Register by December 31, 2025 and receive a 10% discount on lodging.
“The world will be saved by the Western woman.” -- Dalai Lama
Autumn + Sacred Feminine + Healing
In the golden hush of autumn, we mirror the Earth — letting go of what no longer serves, composting old identities, and preparing the inner soil for new life. Through SoulCollage®, council, ritual, reflection, and rest, we gather to remember the Sacred Feminine as she lives within and around us — the part of us that knows how to soften, receive, and heal.
Equinox invites us to balance the feminine and masculine energies within self and culture, doing our part to heal the wounds of overdrive, competition, and depletion through receptivity, intuition, and care.
Guided by archetypes of the Sacred Feminine, we’ll explore the path to allowing the feminine to rise again, radiant and whole.
Why you? Why here? Why now? Learn more and Register on the Breitenbush website.
Early Bird Discount: Register by December 31st and receive 2025 rates before lodging rates increase by 10% for 2026. Breitenbush also offers the option to pay a 25% deposit and monthly installments.
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3rd Friday and Saturday SoulCollage® Gatherings
2026 Gatherings are now open for registration!
GG's Down to Earth Studio
240 Bush Street S., Salem, OR
GG's cell: 503.990.0278
Kim Buller and I will continue to team up to offer a series of SoulCollage® gatherings for the winter 2026 season. And the good news is that we will continue to offer once-a-month Saturday gatherings, too.
Give yourself the gifts of creativity and community. Come join us for a potentially life-changing experience in the safety of the Down to Earth Studio and in the company of kindred spirits.
Email GG to be added to the lists.
Friday morning sessions: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Friday afternoon sessions: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Saturday morning sessions 9:30 am to 1:00 pm.
January Theme: "The Oracle Within" –Wisdom from your SoulCollage® Cards for the New Year (Note: This gathering is the 4th Saturday in January due to scheduling conflicts)
Friday morning (9-12) Jan 23rd – GG facilitates
Friday afternoon (1-4) Jan 23rd – Kim facilitates
Saturday morning (9:30 – 1) Jan 24th – GG facilitates
February Theme: "Opening the Heart" –SoulCollage® as a Threshold for Acknowledging Fear and Inviting in Love
Friday morning (9-12) Feb 20th – Kim facilitates
Friday afternoon (1-4) Feb 20th – GG facilitates
Saturday morning (9:30 – 1) Feb 21st – Kim facilitates
March Theme: "Companions and Allies" –Sacred Totems for Belonging, Guidance, and Kinship
Friday morning (9-12) Mar 20th – GG facilitates
Friday afternoon (1-4) Mar 20th – Kim facilitates
Saturday morning (9:30 – 1) Mar 21st – GG facilitates
Note: Fee increase of $5 for 2026 sessions.
Starting in 2026, the sliding scale fee for SoulCollage sessions is $35 to $55. You can pay by Zelle (glendaanne@msn.com), Venmo (Glenda-Goodrich), or mail a check to GG at 240 Bush Street S., Salem, OR 97302.
You will need to pay in advance to reserve your spot. Thank you!
Cancellation policy: Full refund 7 or more days in advance, or if I can fill your spot.
Email GG to reserve your spot at any of these gatherings, or to get on the waiting list for sessions that are full.
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New Year , New Intentions: Shaping the Year Ahead With Images and Aspirations
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 11 AM to 3:00 PM
Art Department Supply Store, Salem, OR
Only one spot left!
What do you want to welcome into your life in 2026? What are you ready to release?
Collage your way into the life you're calling in!
Join us for encouragement, reflection, and connection with your vision for 2026. Use images and evocative words to create a richly layered collage that speaks to your heart. No art experience is needed -- just a willingness to explore, imagine, and trust your process.
A vision board is more than a collage of pictures and words -- it's a tool for manifestation. By choosing images that reflect your dreams, you bring clarity to what your heart truly desires. Seeing your board each day stirs your imagination and emotions, keeping your vision alive and active in your subconscious and opens space for synchronicity and possibility. Making a vision board is a ritual of intention. As you cut, arrange, and glue, you weave your energy into the year ahead, calling in the life you with to create, bringing your dreams to life one image at a time.
Supply List:
Purchasing supplies at the Art Department keeps them in business. Thank you for choosing local! All regular-priced supplies are available at 20% off from Art Department for this class.
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Scissors
- Glue stick
- Paper images and words (instructor will also bring lots of images and words as well as various sizes of mat board to select from).
Workshop fee: $65.00. Register with The Art Department here.
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Drum Making Workshop
Birthing the Sacred Drum:
A day of Creation, Connection, and Ceremony
Two Days:
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 9 AM to 3:00 PM for drum making
and
Saturday, March 8, 2026 10 AM to 2 PM for a drum circle and painting party
Workshop full: email GG to get on waiting list
Facilitated by GG and Linda Hopkins
GG's Down to Earth Studio
The drum is one of humanity’s oldest instruments, and across cultures it is far more than a tool for rhythm—it is a sacred vessel, a heartbeat, a bridge between worlds. Its cultural and spiritual roles weave a shared human story of connection, ceremony, and transformation.
Craft your drum with intention and heart, guided by tradition and spirit. You'll be birthing not only an instrument, but a living ally for your voice and journey. Come honor the circle, the heartbeat of Mother Earth, and the song within.
We will make our drums on 2/15 then return 2 weeks laer on 3/8 for a drum circle and painting party.
Workshop fee: $285 which includes a drum kit (hide will be deer or elk, depending on what is available) and drumstick and all supplies. $100 deposit due at registration.
Register with GG here.
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"Truly inspirational in all ways..."
Courting the Muse: Intuitive Creativity Retreat 2026
with GG and Dayna Collins
Marcola, Oregon
June 11 - 15, 2026
Imagine spending four days nestled in the sanctuary of a rich green forest next to a babbling brook, sleeping in a cozy bed, being pampered with gourmet food, playing with paint and collage, and renewing that spontaneous, juicy, creative, soulful part of yourself. It’s all yours to enjoy in a community of kindred spirits.
GG and Dayna Collins will be your midwives clearing the way for you to step out of what you think is true about your creative self, and step into an environment where you feel free to birth whatever wants to be expressed.
Through a series of experimental exercises with paint, paper, and written and spoken words, you will explore a variety of techniques designed to bypass creative blocks and connect deeply with your personal serendipitous muse. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting to explore your creative potential, this workshop offers a supportive environment where you can freely experiment, awaken the subconscious, discover new creative pathways, build creative muscle, and develop a more profound connection with your mysterious and creative Self.
The Tipi Village Retreat center is a haven away from the ordinary. Located in the Mohawk Valley near Eugene/Oregon, it is the perfect location to step out of daily life for four days and step into a place where you are held by majestic trees and nourishing waters. Meander along the trails, nap in the shade, soak in the hot tub, or dip in the swimming hole, this place is intimate and magical – truly one of Oregon’s hidden emerald gems. Bring your swimsuit and dive in!
Learn more and Register on GG's website here.
Watch a short video from last year's retreat below.
| | Solo Passage Book and Oracle Deck | |
Solo Passage Book and
Oracle of the Sacred Path Card Deck
are both available on my website here.
Solo Passage Book: In this series of interwoven stories, GG chronicles her path toward healing through wilderness quests in the Pacific Northwest and Central California. Thorugh her connection to nature, she rediscovers the importance of self-esteem, forgiveness, acceptance, and standing in her own truth.
*****
Solo Passage Oracle Deck:
Birthed from the rhythms of the Earth and the whispers of the unseen, and graced by GG's original artwork and photography, this 65-card deck is a companion for wilderness questers, threshold walkers, and seekers of truth. Each card holds a question—a doorway to a theme, an archetype, or a symbol meant to speak directly to your Soul.
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Are you curious about what it means to work with the Art Doula? Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation to see if art mentoring can take you to the next level in your creative life.
Here's a comment from recent client:
"I love how you think . . . and how you put questions to me. It's like there's gold at the bottom of the bucket and you are stirring the pot!"
| | from my creative heart to yours, | |  | |
The Art Doula is here for you!
Come and discover, explore, and birth your unique creativity.
I am here to help you explore, discover, and birth more of your unique creativity. I'd so love to work with you to help your creative life blossom. Contact me for a free 30-minute preliminary consult.
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