Anne Marie Bennett is a SoulCollage® Facilitator / Trainer, published author, website goddess, and two-time cancer survivor who was mentored directly by Seena Frost. In 2005, she fell in love with SoulCollage® and was inspired to use her professional experience along with web technology as a means to serve the world by putting SoulCollage® "out there" in a really big way with KaleidoSoul. Anne Marie lives in eastern Massachusetts with her middle-aged husband and two adolescent felines who keep them hopping. Her other books about SoulCollage® are available here.

Join us as we learn about Tibetan Prayer Flags and how your SoulCollage® cards can come to life in a new way by creating your own Peace Flags. Contemporary Tibetans suggest that we create our own prayer flags by imprinting them with poems, prayers, and symbols from the traditions of the world in hopes of uniting in a spirit of peace, harmony, and global healing.

We can begin in our own backyard to stand in solidarity with the global community by flying creations inspired by our own SoulCollage® cards. Come . . . connect with this ancient practice and spread more peace to the world!!

Time: 12 pm Eastern

FR*EE for our KaleidoSoul Kindred Spirit members.

Visit this page for more info now.

 – Heraclitus

When did you last have the pleasure of looking through all of your SoulCollage® cards, honoring your unique set of Neters? For me, it’s always an adventure to peruse my cards, whether my full deck, a specific suit, or those most recently created. Periodically, I review all of my cards (including those “retired”) with the intention of updating and refreshing my deck, optimizing its relevance to the present time. So, my deck is dynamic not just by the addition of new cards, but also through additional updates.

Of course, as we evolve, so do our Neters. SoulCollage® birthmother, Seena Frost advises (in SoulCollage® Evolving) “…you should not consult a Neter who has nothing useful to offer you, not even a challenge that is motivating.” This suggests we be aware of our cards’ meanings or lack thereof. Seena also suggested that if a Neter’s energy changes over time “…you can add a new image or make a new card.” Again, she guides us to anticipate and embrace change in our decks (and us).

When I review my cards, I find that most remain relevant and retain their original identity (name, suit). Some may even have become more energetic and significant. However, others may feel misplaced, confusing, irrelevant, or even repulsive. It is those cards that I focus on, using a process of questions and possible actions.

1. Is it toxic? Seena stressed emphatically that we do not include toxic energies in our decks. Of course, we welcome healthy challenges and somber energies in our decks—Neters that offer both light and shadow as they support our growth and awareness. But we are not to include blatant toxicity. If you have a card that you find toxic (either immediately, or as its energy becomes clearer), be reassured that it does not belong in your deck. Consider discarding it in a meaningful way. Years ago, I created a Community card for a man who was coercive and abusive to me. Within months, I realized the card had nothing to offer but painful toxicity; I burned it in a ceremonial fire with supportive friends as witnesses.

Of course, most cards aren’t toxic, so you’ll continue on with these steps -

2. Did it ever have authentic meaning or energy for you? Authenticity is important here; time may provide you with a deeper perspective. If a card has ever had authentic meaning or energy for you, then it’s a “keeper.” You may find some cards that reveal themselves as inauthentic, masquerading as a part of you, and perhaps misappropriated (name, suit) or even unwelcome. Such a card could be kept and further explored through this process.

You may have cards that were made more as artful projects than soulful creations, and to which you have never felt personally connected. For example, a collage obediently created in a workshop with specific images or instructions. Such a card could perhaps be repurposed, renovated or (yes, it’s possible) even discarded. Cards made using copyright fre*e images, made by a Facilitator to advertise an event, may also be rote creations. If such a card has no personal meaning for me, but is useful for marketing, it’s kept with my workshop files rather than my deck.

Whether relevant or seemingly not, it’s important to pause and invite a card to speak before deciding its fate -

3. Can it speak? This question complements the assessment of personal relevance (see #2 above). Give a card a chance to be heard. You might simply ask it whether it has anything to say to you. Or invite it to complete the simple prompts: “I am ….” and “I am not…”

If a card has never been relevant and it has nothing to say, then it may be delegated to somewhere other than your active deck or your retired card collection. Again, it may even be discarded. If a meaningful card doesn’t speak, consider whether it might be a Transpersonal Card.

4. Does it have any relevance now? If it’s a “keeper” and it can speak, assess whether it is relevant and meaningful at this time. For this step, listening to the card will be helpful. Begin with these two simple prompts: “At this time, I am…” and “At this time, I am not …”

If the card seems to have outlived its relevance, or has an energy that feels dormant, you may ask it to complete a prompt such as: “Bring me back if/when….” or “Save me for a time….” If the Neter asks to be saved for later, you might put it in “retirement” or “retreat.” You might want to create a special container for such cards. Be sure to review these retired cards periodically, ideally, while you review your active deck.

To get more clarity on how a card can best serve you now, ask it to complete one or both of these prompts: “Consider that I may reflect/represent . . .” and “To be more useful, I need . . .”

This process may help clarify a Neter’s current role in your deck, and where it needs to be. If a Neter is to remain active (i.e., not being retired), it may simply require re-evaluation to illuminate its role. Perhaps it will be repurposed/reassigned to gain a new name or even change suits. Or, a card may gain specificity and energy from a revision, such as adding an image or covering an existing image with a new one. (Shown here is my “Bear” Companion card in its original and rejuvenated form . . . Look closely to see the difference!)

Alternatively, a completely new card may be needed to replace a retiree or reassigned card. I have replaced several cards in my deck, including my SoulEssence card (the original and replacement shown at the top of this column).

I encourage you to review and renew your deck when you have a chance. May this process be helpful and meaningful as you honor the ever-changing you.

(Note: this process was not designed to explore “mystery cards.” Please seek out the many articles and workshops that provide powerful ways to discover the suit and role of a meaningful, but elusive card.)

Dr. Michele Manos recently returned to Marin County, California and is the developer of SoulCollage® Card Games and Playing with a Full Deck Retreats. Learn more about her and her upcoming courses and retreat offerings on her webpage.

Where?  The KaleidoSoul Shop   

Who? SoulCollagers like you! This is a great time to stock up and save big at the same time.

How? Use Coupon Code STOCKUP on the checkout screen.

When? Until the End of the day, Monday June 14, 2021

They are available in packs of 35, or 75.

We cannot guarantee any specific colors, so let yourself be surprised!

Enjoy this Summery savings while supplies last.

* Available on Amazon now *

July: Balance

August: Home

KaleidoSoul - Spinning the fragments of your world into wholeness and beauty through SoulCollage®.

SoulCollage.com - The official website of SoulCollage® Inc.