Day Four: Astonishing Light

"I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being." - Hafiz

Due to threat of T-Storms, we arranged to hold our class in the studio this morning.

The morning gift came to us from the amazing folks at the National Wildlife Federation!  Each girl received a wonderful "Be Out There" T-Shirt.  Thank you, NWF!

We began the morning putting the finishing touches on our art journals so that we can begin our writing prompts tomorrow.

While the journals were drying we made some feather pens to use as a tool for our dreamwork.

Feeling munchy and wiggly, we took a snack break and went for a nature walk.

Refreshed from our romp, we began our final project for the morning.  We stitched the cyanotypes that we made yesterday onto tote bags.  We used fabric marker to embellish our tote with a favorite quote.  These tote bags will remind us to be selective about what we carry with us on our path in life.  We will try to remember to carry that which serves us, and to let go of the things that weigh us down or hold us back.

Our morning complete, we said our goodbyes until tomorrow.  Tomorrow is our closing ceremony and pizza party!

*Mighty Moms, the ceremony starts at 11 sharp.   

Lastly, I would like to say "WOO HOO" to Mighty M who lost her tooth today on our hike - Congratulations, M.






















AND Happy Birthday wishes to Mighty S who just made her 9th ride around the sun.






















Girls, your mission for tonight (if it doesn't rain) is to take a walk with your mom.  This is a wisdom walk.  Ask your mom this question, "If you could give me only one pearl of wisdom to carry on my journey, what would it be?"  Then listen carefully, notice everything, and remember as much as possible.

Dreamwork:  Before sleep consider these questions-

What was most wonderful?
What surprised you?
What would you like to do again?

Jot down your dreams. 

We'll be meeting in the studio again tomorrow as the threat of T-Storms Continue. 

*A heartfelt THANK YOU to Mighty G for making me the gorgeous beaded wrap bracelet pictured above.

Day Three: Our Great Work

"The great work of our time is to bring the feminine into this culture.  And it's not an easy path.
How does each one of us contribute?
Believe it or not, it's done in the most personal ways.
Take time to listen to your dreams, to write them down.
Take time to recognize that there are things going on within you
that need to be felt, or said, or lived, or grieved.
Pay attention to these things both in yourself
and in the people in your life.
Pay attention to the authentic self." - Marion Woodman

 The skies cooperated and we raised the tipi in the meadow.

The girls arrived and received their morning gift.  Today's gift came from the talented mixed-media artist, Lisa Ferrante.  She sent each of the girls one of her gorgeous art prints.  Thank you, Lisa, for your generosity and inspiration!

The girls got right to work on their art journals, adding more layers of paint, collage, and incorporating symbolic objects from their dreamwork.

While the journals were drying, we began our secondary project, Cyanotypes.

The girls wandered the meadow collecting leaves and flowers to use for their prints.  Our sun prints will be sewn onto tote bags tomorrow.  (The cotton squares would also make terrific prayer flags).

 

The sun sensitive fabric was sent to us from the generous folks at the Cyanotype Store!






















While the Cyanotypes developed in the sun, we took a quick nature walk down to the creek.

Our morning complete, we took down the tipi and hauled our supplies back to the studio until tomorrow.

Girls, T-Storms are predicted for tomorrow so we'll meet in the studio.  Your mission for tonight is find a quote, a lyric or a poem that you love.  Bring it to camp!

Dreamwork:  Before sleep ask yourself this question, "What shape waits in the seed of you to grow and spread its branches against a future sky?"  Jot down your dream and bring it to camp!

*Today's class was dedicated to a cherished soul, who got his wings earlier than anyone ever expected.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

Day Two: The Mystery Around Us

"I'm aware of the mystery around us,
so I write about coincidences, premonitions,
emotions, dreams, the power of nature, magic."  - Isabel Allende

The rain greeted us at the meadow so we waited for the girls to arrive, took down the tipi, and moved to a dryer location - the art studio.

The morning gift was Cheerful Mind Balm from Badger!  This uplifting aromatherapy treat is made with essential oils of Lemon, Sweet Orange, Spearmint and Ylang Ylang.  THANK YOU, BADGER,
the girls are blissed-out!!!




Today we continued work on our art journals, painting backgrounds over our textured pages.

Our secondary project for the morning was Talisman Cuffs.  A talisman is a symbolic object that can be carried or worn.  In ancient times they believed that talismans had the power to protect the wearer.  We used an Nazar bead as the "power bead" for our cuff.  The nazar or "eye bead" dates back thousands of years.  It is common in Turkish culture, but various forms of the eye can be found in Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu cultures as well.

Here's a video of day two...

*Girls, your mission for tonight is:  Take a walk with your mom (if it's not raining) and share your dream (if you feel comfortable) see if there are any symbols in the dream that stand out to her.  Ask her to help you find objects that you can use to represent those symbols found in your dreams.  We will begin to add them to our journals tomorrow.

Dreamwork: Before sleep ask yourself, "What do I carry inside me?  What serves me?  What should I let go of?"  Jot down your dreams.  Bring them to camp.

Day One: We Live With Mysteries Too Marvelous to Understand

"In every moment the universe is whispering to you.
There are messages for you carried on the winds.
There is wisdom for you in the morning songs of the birds outside your window and in the soft murmurs of an ebbing sea.
Even in ordinary, everyday events in your life."   

~ D. Linn (Secret Language of Signs)

Early this morning, Chelsea and I marked the trail to our secret location with a bunting made from vintage aprons and loaded up the wagon with supplies to take to the meadow.  Swallowtail butterfly was there in the grass to greet us.  I reached down and it climbed into my hand then flew away.  It was on that spot that we raised the tipi.
 

According to Native American tradition, the butterfly totem reminds us that transformation is inevitable, but growth and change do not have to be traumatic. They can occur gently and with joy.
 

The girls arrived and we began our opening ceremonies.  













Afterwards I handed out the daily gift.  Today's generous and funky gifts were hair feathers from Foxy Feathers and hair chalk from Fashion Angels.  

Thank you.  They were a HUGE hit with the girls!

After adorning our locks with color...

we began preparing our art journals for the days ahead.

 

The morning hours passed quickly and we had many visitors of the wild variety...

Before we packed up for the day, I just had to take a photo of the 2013 Summer tribe.  What an extraordinary group of kindred spirits!  Thank you, for blessing me with your presence, your creative spirit, your sense of adventure and your good humor.  

( Taking down the tipi for the day )

*Girls, your mission for tonight is to investigate intuition...and don't forget your dreamwork.

I'll meet you in the meadow tomorrow morning.  I can hardly wait!

Letter to Mighty Girls

"Our truest responsibility 
to the irrationality of the world 
is to paint or sing or write, 
for only in such response 
do we find the truth." - Madeleine L'Engle


Dear Mighty Girls,

I can't wait to meet you all this Monday - to hold presence for you, and with you. It is an honor for me to spend the week with you creating in the Mighty Tipi.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude to all the kindred souls for their generosity and support for our work together.

See you in the meadow!

Made so & rooted by love,
Wendy