Offering HeART and SoulCollage® workshops to inspire your creative spirit | |
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New Wild Darling Spirit Being Workshop offering ~ See details below | |
Dear Glenda,
One of my favorite chapters in my book, Solo Passage, is “Resurrecting Wildness”, the story of the vision quest that inspired three wild memories: the memory of the packrats stealing my friend Susanne’s glasses; the memory of looking eye to eye with a huge majestic buck deer during a hunting trip with my ex-husband; and the memory of the dead coyote draped over the fence. Here is a passage from that chapter that sums up my longing for wildness.
“At sunrise I packed up my gear and headed back to base camp.
On the way, I stopped at a clump of sagebrush, pulled off a handful of leaves, brought them to my nose, and breathed in. The aroma sent a sharp cooling sensation through my body, and I wanted to go back to the moment I had seen that coyote, stroked its thick fur, and felt wildness against my fingertips. Questing had renewed and reinvigorated the wildness in me. I had sunbathed nude in Death Valley, danced naked in a thunderstorm in the Inyo Mountains, and put mud on my face and sticks and lichens in my hair and held a ceremonial funeral for dead reptiles—all exhilarating experiences. Coyote beckoned me to leap out into the unknown and let wildness have its way with me once more. I wanted to crawl into coyote’s empty pelt, come back to life, and feel my four feet fly out across the chaparral.”
In the busyness of my everyday life, it’s easy for me to forget the untamed spirit within myself—the part that craves adventure, spontaneity, and freedom. Maybe you find this to be true for you, too? Feeling wild isn’t necessarily about recklessness; it’s about reconnecting with our true, instinctual selves, unbound by societal expectations. It’s the joy of running barefoot, laughing without restraint, or dancing under the stars just because the moon is full.
If you’ve lost touch with your wildness, you’re not alone. Many others of us have too. But the good news? Wildness is always there, waiting to be rediscovered.
Here are some simple ways to reignite the wildness within you...(I left out take off your clothes and dance naked in a rainstorm, but that definitely works!)
: ) Reconnect with Nature: Take a hike, skinny dip in a lake, or simply sit beneath a tree. Nature has a way of reminding us who we are.
: ) Play: Try something new and unstructured—paint with your fingers, skip rocks, or jump in puddles. Let go of perfection.
: ) Listen to Your Body: Move intuitively—whether it’s a free-flowing dance or a deep stretch. Let your body guide you back to your untamed essence.
: ) Break Routine: Surprise yourself. Wake up early for a sunrise, try a daring recipe, or take a spontaneous day trip.
Wildness isn’t necessarily about breaking rules (although a little of that is probably good for us too!); it’s about breaking free! So go ahead—reclaim your spark, and rediscover the unfiltered joy of feeling fully, wildly alive.
Years ago I participated in a Women Who Run With the Wolves book group. Whenever we received a compliment from someone we were asked to respond with these words, "Thank you; it's all part of my wildish nature."
Thank you for bringing all the parts of your wildish nature!
GG
PS I recently watched a fun and quirky little movie with Amy Adams about reigniting the wildness within titled "Night Bitch." Definitely an entertaining flick!
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Art and SoulCollage® Gatherings at GG's Down to Earth Studio | |
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Wild Darling Spirit
Being Workshop
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Sunday, March 16, 2025
9:30 am to 4:00 pm
GG's Down to Earth Studio, Salem
Would you like to reignite the wildness in you? Why not start by making your own Wild Darling Spirit Being? (With a bow to Rumi for the poem featured in this newsletter.)
These beings could also be called “Your Sacred Familiar.” In the context of folklore, a familiar referred to a supernatural entity, often depicted as an animal or spirit, believed to be a companion or assistant. These familiars were thought to be inherited, and were believed to aid in magical practices, divination, and other forms of spiritual insight.
Our Sacred Familiar Wild Darling Spirit Beings serve as reminders of the thrill of being untamed and powerfully authentic. As you begin to create your Wild Darling, she will inform you of her desired size and shape, she will continue to guide you as you create her. In the end, she will be as unique and beautiful as you are.
Workshop fee of $95 includes all supplies.
Register with GG here.
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Some Kiss We Want by Ruimi
There is some kiss we want
with our whole lives,
the touch of spirit on the body.
Seawater begs the pearl
to break its shell.
And the lily, how passionately
it needs some wild darling!
At night, I open the window
and ask the moon to come
and press its face against mine.
Breathe into me.
Close the language - door and
open the love window.
The moon won't use the door,
only the window.
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Friday SoulCollage® Gatherings at GG's Down to Earth Studio
"I am continuously amazed at the depth of the intuitive process of SoulCollage®. I love holding workshops and sharing this profound process with people. SoulCollage® has helped me have more faith in knowing that we are all connected and that the thing we long for the most is within us." — GG
Facilitated by GG and Kim Buller
Morning gatherings from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Afternoon gatherings from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
GG’s Down to Earth Studio
240 Bush Street S., Salem, OR 97302
3rd Fridays:
February 21: Self-Love and Inner Connection: Exploring the Heart with SoulCollage®
AM Session: Kim. PM Session: GG (both sessions are full).
March 21: Pathways to Growth: Nurturing New Beginnings with SoulCollage®
AM Session: GG. PM Session: Kim (both sessions are full).
April 11 (2nd Friday instead of 3rd): Awakening the Soul - A Spring SoulCollage® Journey. AM Session: Kim. PM Session: GG (openings in both sessions)
May 16: The Vibrant Colors of May - A SoulCollage® Celebration
AM Session: Kim. (openings in morning session) PM Session: GG (afternoon session is full)
June 20: FULL DAY RETREAT. Summer SOULstice - Illuminating Your Full Self Through SoulCollage®. Mark your calendar; more details will be forthcoming.
Sliding scale fee $30 to $50. Venmo (Glenda-Goodrich), Paypal (glendaanne@msn.com). Please pay in advance to reserve your spot. Cancellation policy: Full refund 7 or more days in advance or if I can fill your spot.
By the way...I am considering adding more SoulCollage® session options. If you are interested in possibly attending a session but are discouraged that so many sessions are full, please do let me know.
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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Sumi Ink Surface Designs
Saturday, March 1, 2025, 10 - 4 PM
Silverton Art Association, Silverton, OR
Bring your inner artist out to play! In this fun and serendipitous workshop we will experiment with spray inks and watercolor to create dynamic backgrounds, then we blow air through straws to "dance" the sumi ink across the surface and make abstract designs. Always fun! Always surprising!
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Add stamped designs, gel pens, glitter pens, and/or posca paint markers to create designs that can be used in large format as framed art, or in smaller pieces for cards or collage.
Workshop fee of $95.00, $85 with partial subsidy from Silverton Arts Association.
Supply list will be provided at registration, or you can pay GG a supply fee of $25 and everything you need will be provided for you.
Register with Silverton Art Association here.
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Courting the Muse: Nourish Your Innate Creativity! 4-day Retreat
Explore, Express, Expand!
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. “Courting the Muse” is an immersive arts retreat held in the heart of a Doug fir, pine, and fern forest next to a meandering creek, this workshop focuses on tapping into your subconscious mind and intuition to inspire and free-up your original creative expression.
GG and Cindy will be your midwives clearing the way for you to meet your muse and bring forth the creative impulses that have been stirring inside you as you 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.
Only 2 spots left. If you are interested, please don't delay. 10% discount for BIPOC community members. Learn more and register on my website here.
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Fall 2025Soul Renewal SoulCollage® Retreat at Breitenbush Hot Springs Resort
Mark your calendars for September 19-22, 2025.
More information will be coming.
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MAKE IT AN EVEN 10! Solo Passage Book Awards and Placements. I have to say it... I am so proud of my awesome book! | |
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GG interviews GG
Here is a link to my latest podcast with Greg Gerber from Forward From 50.
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Readers' Favorite Honorable Mention Award in Non-Fiction Inspirational | Next Generation Indie Books Award Finalist in Memoir | |
Bookfest First Place
Award Winner in Body, Mind, and Spirit
| Paris Book Festival Honorable Mention Award in General Nonfiction | |
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Firebird Book Award Winner First Place in Inspiration
First Place in Mind/Body/Spirit
First Place in Nature
First Place in Self-Help/Motivational
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Reader reviews of my book make a huge difference!
I would so appreciate it if you would leave a rating and maybe a few comments. You can leave a review on Amazon here. Thank you!
| Best Book Awards: Finalist in Nonfiction: Inspirational | |
Foreword Indies Book Silver Medal Award Winner in Body, Mind, and Spirit | Global Book Award Finalist in Self-Help, Personal Transformation | |
NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite
in the category of Nature.
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CIBA Hearten Book Awards
Semi-finalist in Inspiring and Uplifting Non-fiction.
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Special Opportunities and Recommendations | |
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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!"
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from my creative heart to yours,
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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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Are the mountains calling?
My friend & colleague Larisa Noonan is offering a Women's Wisdom Quest this coming summer (July 7-15) in the wilds of Northern Idaho.
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Wilderness Quest Opportunity
Co-facilitated by Larisa Noonan and Alison DeLong, this rite of passage includes 3 days and nights of solo time in nature, preceded by 3 days of preparation in community and followed by 3 days of meaningful integration.
All women are welcome, especially those longing for more community connection, communion with Mother Earth, and those who are seeking meaningful markers of initiatory change that are already unfolding in their current life (ie: changes in work/career, entering menopause, children leaving home, relationships ending or beginning...).
Larisa and Alison will be offering a zoom meeting in early 2025 for those who are interested - to share stories, the format of this quest, and to answer questions. For more information or to be notified of the date for this meeting, reach out to Larisa directly at larisa@larisanoonan.com.
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What Stories are You Ready to Tell?
Drop-In Writing Circles for Women with Susan Hagen
Susan is the story mentor and teacher that helped me write Solo Passage. The book would not have become what it is without her encouragement and expertise. I whole-heartedly recommend her weekly writing circles as a way to get your stories down on paper.
Wherever you are in your journey or on your path, you’re invited to join women from across the country at Susan's weekly drop-in Zoom writing circles. These gentle, supportive, healing circles foster self-awareness and personal growth. What story are you ready to tell? What will your writing teach you about yourself?
Each session includes a meditative teaching, writing and reading aloud (if you wish), deep listening, and positive reflection. No writing experience necessary, just a desire to explore your writing life in ceremony with other women.
Every Thursday and Friday morning
Via ZOOM, 10 am– 12 pm Pacific Time
Sliding scale $25-$55. Contact suzhagen@sonic.net for more information or to join her email invitation list. Learn more about Susan at her website.
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