INNERARTSCOLLECTIVE.COM
SPRING ISSUE 2017
HEALING INSIGHTS
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE MAGAZINE
A SHORT PRACTICE ON MULTIDIMENSIONAL LIVING
THE ART OF SELF
UNDERSTANDING YET ANOTHER LIFE LESSON WITH TAROT
ART: "TOWARDS WITHIN" BY CHARLES HACKBARTH
Healing Insights Inner Arts Collective Magazine Spring Issue 2017
01
Who Am I: Self Awareness and the Paths to Rejuvenation Niles Patel
03
Understanding Yet Another Life Lesson With Tarot Lori Lytle
06
A Short Practice on Multi-Dimensional Living Avi Zer-Aviv
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The Art of Self Charles Hackbarth
15
Why I Don't Write Kelly Wilk
17
IAC Conference: Call for Submissions
1 NILES PATEL
WHO AM I SELF-AWARENESS & PATHS TO REJUVENATION
Who am I? The stepping stone to self-awareness & paths to rejuvenation. Who am I? The age old question. It is an introspective, self-meaning, self-discovery and a self-identity question. This piece of writing may invoke some deep thinking, some doubts and some questioning which are all acceptable reactions and may allow one to think about what the future or 2017 could be for us. How do we determine who we are? Some key perspectives begin emerging. Our self-awareness toward answering this question can start from our social location – where we grew up, who we grew up with, what did that feel like emotionally, do we carry some of those experiences with us which impact on how we see ourselves in the world. Or how we make sense of the world and the people around us. Did some of our early experiences and memories create biases, stereotypes and prejudices which additionally impact how we see ourselves in the world around us? Perhaps some of these biases keep us from realizing our true selves and from finding meaningful ways toward rejuvenation. When thinking about moving toward a rejuvenated self, a re-defining of one’s life, or one’s priorities as a way to, in some essence, re-create who we are and to find the direction which allows this rejuvenation. A rejuvenation makes for an interesting subjective and introspective look at our life, at how we want to live our life, who we want to surround ourselves with, knowing what our likes and dislikes are, knowing what we will not tolerate. Ways of finding our own unique path to being authentic and living in an authentic way. These are further meaningful ways of looking toward the eventual rejuvenating of self. In the late 16th to early 17th century, René Descartes said, “I think therefore I am”, perhaps indicating that who we are is within us and extends toward our outer world, being seen as something else and being someone else entirely within. The mask which we all have on, given the context and given the people who are around us at the time. The contrast between who we truly are and how the world sees us in turn adds to our concept of “who am I”. Possibly there is a striving to let the people around us know our true selves, does this help us be more authentic and does this enable a path toward rejuvenation.
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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"In essence then, self-care and rejuvenation are linked, one allows for the other to flourish, and makes one know more-so who I am and what I need to be okay, to be replenished, to feel like myself again." (N. Patel)
2
A part of the motivation toward rejuvenation can come from wanting to be happier, wanting to do more for others, being kinder, more caring and most importantly taking of ourselves first, self-care. Self-care is not a selfish action but rather a responsible one. If I am able to take care of myself – my physical, mental, social, spiritual, professional self, then I am being responsible. Because self-care enables interaction among ourselves, internally within and externally with others to be done in authentic ways, which incorporate being kind, considerate, caring and loving. In essence then, self-care and rejuvenation are linked, one allows for the other to flourish, and makes one know more-so who I am and what I need to be okay, to be replenished, to feel like myself again.
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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3
UNDERSTANDING YET ANOTHER
LIFE LESSON WITH TAROT By Lori Lytle Inner Goddess Tarot innerartscollective.com/lori-lytle.html You would think I would have learned by now.
Second of all, I know that if I focus my heart and soul and grit on what I am passionate
Back about six months ago, I took a minimal part time freelance admin job that I knew was not right for me, that I knew was not the best use of my energy and time. I did this because I wanted the extra income stream, and (a scared) part of me thought it would be a good idea to keep at least one toe in the more conventional job market.
about, my business will grow and the money will flow.
When I find myself in this kind of situation, where I need to refresh and revitalize an area of my life, I consult my cards. I asked them what I was meant to learn from all of this, and how I can benefit further going forward.
I resigned yesterday. I wasted a lot of energy on that small job, not enjoying what I was doing, being mad at myself for taking the job when my gut told me not to, and feeling bad about not giving my all to that organization. I felt like a jerk quitting, and completely tied myself in knots and over-dramatized the situation, when it wasn’t a big deal at all, for me or for the employer. So I think I finally learned my lesson. First of all, I embrace the fact that I am no longer employable in the traditional 9 to 5 sense. There was a reason why I left that life, and it is fantasy to think that suddenly I can thrive and succeed there now.
Looking for guidance from the cards about YOUR next step? Looking for insights into your talents and passions and what might be the most fulfilling path going forward? Book your Tarot reading with Lori Lytle at the Inner Arts Collective at www.innergoddesstarot.com
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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4 These are the cards I drew...
Page of Wands & 9 of Pentacles
See how the Page is looking towards, even gesturing towards or hailing the second card, the Nine of Pentacles. This tells me that the long road ahead will ultimately take me to the Nine of Pentacles, to abundance, ease and financial independence; to a time when I can enjoy the life I have created.
In a nutshell: there I am, as that Page of Wands, full of fire, passion and determination, ready to FULLY embark on my entrepreneurial adventure. I know I have a long road ahead, but it is one of excitement, joy and discovery.
Ideally, if you are in a position where you need to make a sound career decision, you would consult the cards first, and factor in what they tell you when you are deliberating. But, if you don’t have the time or confidence to do this, asking the cards about the lesson that a challenging or uncomfortable situation has to offer after the fact can be illuminating and provide a sense of closure and perspective. However, from now on, I follow my gut, even if it scares the heck out of me.
Learn Essential
TAROT SECRETS Beginner Workshop Series JUNE 7, 14, 21, AND 28 2017 6:30-8:30PM IAC Â | 257 DANFORTH AVENUE See page 13 for description and registration information
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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Deepening Your Soul Connection Presented by Enchanted Living Coaching Facilitated by Annalene Hart Friday, April 28th 5:30pm-7pm ($35) Inner Arts Collective | 257 Danforth Ave
Supporting you in aligning with your soul and the Universe at any given time. The springboard for this workshop is the book, " 365 Ways To Connect With Your Soul." It is an Amazon International Bestseller. Annalene is a contributing co-author and she will present her piece called, " Find the Courage to Express Your True Self," as a starting off point for this workshop. She will also lead a relaxing guided meditation. Afterwards the group will explore and reflect through journaling and simple self-expression exercises. Each person attending automatically receives a copy of the book as part of the workshop. To RSVP, please contact Annalene at lightharts2@gmail.com
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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6 THE
GODDESS By Kelly Wilk, Freelance Writer, Reflexologist, Reiki Master innerartscollective.com/kelly-wilk.html
The Goddess gives us something, It is the nature of acceptance To decide how we see Ourselves. For a while I was always Aphrodite bestowing Gentle blessings On the world with romance. Now I understand her more I realize she did not Just rise out of the sea On a shell propelled By a wave of foam. She is the pearl, The brave act Of looking at everything And everyone Through the eyes of love, Including ourself.
How would it be if we Were perfect? If we were easy to love? With clear eyes And strong backs And whatever's in fashion? How would it be if When we looked in the mirror And softened our gaze And saw the beauty of Protruding bellies, Flabby arms, Streaks of grey And wrinkled lines? These are not accidental Marks of beauty. The Goddess gives Us something to work with On the road to Understanding love.
We love ourselves When we love our Disappointments, Just as much as our triumphs. Love our ingenuity As much as our destructiveness. And love our differences To the degree we love our sameness. These are our roadblocks In the ways we look at ourselves To slow us down, To make us think How do I get over this, How do I accept this And let it go.
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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7
A SHORT PRACTICE ON
MULTIDIMENSIONAL LIVING AVI ZER-AVIV
These times call for our personal and spiritual best, without demanding perfection. As we set sail in our healing journeys, we are inevitably confronted by the intersection of where our individual self meets others and the entire planet (Zeitgeist) as well. This engagement with the interconnected web of experience is the call of the times. No longer can we afford to hide in our bubbles of strict individuality, and paradoxically, escaping into relationships and social movements without a solid individuality is just as problematic. We are being invited to live as multi-dimensional beings, weaving seeming opposites (self and other, individual and world, persona and shadow) into integration and wholeness. How exciting! This invitation into multi-dimensionality and deep, intimate engagement, breaks through rigid patriarchal notions of healing as “fixing.” Instead, we are invited to view ourselves and each other with bountiful compassion and loving-kindness, attempting to understand our experience so we can be inside of it more fully. Just as we are re-attuning to the wisdom of nature, we are beginning to understand how our inner nature (what we call the mind) carries incredible intelligence. So, how do we jump between worlds in this new paradigm? How do we cultivate the ability to honour who we are as individuals while simultaneously staying in relationship with others, and with the planet? We are not islands onto ourselves, and yet, simply merging with our environment (and forgetting ourselves) leaves us burnt out and depleted. In my own meditations, I often imagine myself as a tree. My legs are my roots that go deep into the ground. My torso and core is my trunk that carries incredible creativity and life force. And my arms, throat and head are the beautiful branches, making contact with the spacious sky and lifegiving sun. This metaphor is a valuable one for these times, drawing on nature’s wisdom to cultivate our own integration. Try imagining yourself as a tree and feel each part of your body in the way described. Are your roots strong? Can the nourishing earth energies easily flow up your legs and feed your core? Or perhaps this earth energy feels like more of a weight that keeps you down? Perhaps you struggle to make felt contact with your legs? Try not to judge or scorn yourself. In the current times, most people struggle with embodiment and flow of energy in some form. It is the kindness you offer yourself that will ultimately take you further than any technique or set of instructions. (cont'd) INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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8 What about your base? Base energy begins in our perineum and extends up to our heart region. How do you experience these parts of your body? Does one part of your core feel most alive? Perhaps your heart? Or your sexual center? Does energy flow and move throughout your core, or does energy seem to be sectioned off in parts? Don’t worry about fixing or correcting anything. Bring an attitude of gentle, friendly curiosity to this exploration. You are simply exploring. Finally, tune into your arms, throat and head. What is the quality of energy flowing through these centers? Are you someone who lives ‘in your head’ a lot and has access to feeling and sensation in this part? Does energy flow from the crown of your head down to your feet, or does it fee more like energy rises up from your feet to your crown more easily? Perhaps energy flows freely in both directions? Or stagnates somewhere between? Now imagine your arms, throat and head – your branches – making contact with the sky and sun. Imagine taking in nutrients from the sun’s light and the oxygen-rich air. Invite this sky and sun energy to enliven your arms, throat and head, and move this vital, infused energy down your body, into your core and down through your legs and feet, back into the earth. One powerful way to move this energy down is to use your hands in a slow, swooping motion to direct energy from the top of your head to your feet. As you slowly move this energy down your body using your hands, imagine each body part you are making contact with enriched by the energy of sun and sky.
AVI ZER-AVIV
Registered Psychotherapist Avi is a member at Inner Arts Collective, practicing holistic, integrative psychotherapy. He draws on the best of East and West, supporting clients to experience their greatest depths, creativity, and potentials. http://www.springseed.ca/ INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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9
"FROM THIS STARTING POINT, WE CAN BEGIN TO LOOK AT ALL OUR RELATIONS THROUGH THE LENS OF INTERCONNECTION AND INTERDEPENDENCY. WE CAN BEGIN TO APPROACH OUR RELATIONSHIPS FROM THE PLACE OF FLOW AND BEING-WITH, RATHER THAN MERGING AND DESPERATION." (A. ZER-AVIV)
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL LIVING (A.ZER-AVIV)
Now, with your hands all the way down at your feet, imagine roots coming out of the bottoms of each foot, anchoring deep in the ground. Imagine the rich, dark earth beneath you and use your hands to collect and gather this earth energy into and up your legs. Use your hands again to slowly guide this earth energy up your entire body, right into your head. Then open up your arms and hands again out to the sky, come back to receiving the sun and sky energy. Now repeat by collecting the sun and sky energy and moving back down to your feet again. You can keep going for several rounds, until you feel renewed and energized. Finish the practice with both your hands resting on your heart, with your knees unlocked, taking a few deep breaths into your belly. Know
This practice is a solid starting place for cultivating multi-dimensional living. By seeing yourself as a tree in relation with its own self and with the environment from ‘the top’ (transpersonal) and ‘the bottom’ (earthly), you are moving between self, spirit and material, experientially erasing the seeming oppositional nature of these forces. From this starting point, we can begin to look at all our relations through the lens of interconnection and interdependency. We can begin to approach our relationships from the place of flow and being-with, rather than merging and desperation. I encourage you try out this practice, perhaps even taping the instructions on a voice recorder to make it easier for you. May your own wisdom and intelligence continue to put you in greater accord with yourself, others and the planet.
yourself as a beautiful tree, in relationship with your environment.
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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11 THE
ART OF SELF CHARLES HACKBARTH Seers have been using a broad range of divination tools since before the advent of recorded history. These days, one of the most popular and well known is the Tarot. While the exact history and genesis of the Tarot is still being debated, it’s clear that by the 18th century it had become an essential tool for psychics, seers and “fortune tellers”. A quick query on the Amazon website will show you hundreds, maybe even thousands of decks of Tarot cards. What I find exciting though is the proliferation of myriad other divination cards. Like Tarot but not Tarot. Angel cards, sacred geometry, animal spirits, goddess oracles, Soul Journey cards, etc. It’s to this burgeoning field that my friend Tina and I hope to contribute our deck of divination cards that we call The Art Of Self. So, how does one suddenly decide to create a deck of divination cards? After years of working in an office, Tina, as she puts it, “came out of the psychic closet”. Before that she jokingly told people she was “a good guesser”. Over the past , Tina has been developing her psychic business. As part of her research I suggested that we visit the Psychic and Healer’s Fair at Inner Arts Collective to see how other psychics operate their businesses. While there, I consulted a Tarot reader. Tina looked on while I shuffled and cut the cards. As the cards were flipped face up Tina and I looked at each other and in that moment an idea took flight. The psychic was using the Wild Unknown deck. The art on the cards reminded both of us of my own work. As soon as the reading was over, we voiced our bold and exciting plan. “Let’s create our own deck”.
CHARLES HACKBARTH
Charles Hackbarth is an artist, writer, musician, Reiki Master and licensed holistic practitioner.
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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9
My art has always been influenced by Tarot, alchemy and visionary artists. It wasn’t a huge leap to create art that would be used specifically for divination, meditation and contemplation. This is how it works. Tina channels the name of the card. I begin by doing some research and preliminary drawings. Then I start drawing. I usually have a general idea but trust that through the intuitive and spontaneous process that the image will develop as it should. It is through the drawing process that I connect with source. Once the cards are done, Tina studies them and allows the deeper meaning to flow through her. We are about a third of the way through the creation of the deck. Through Tina, Source will show us the meaning of each card, how to interpret them, how to lay them out. Once we have about half the cards designed we will launch a crowd-funding campaign to produce the cards. We plan to launch The Art of Self deck by the summer or autumn of this year.
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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Facilitated by Lori Lytle
Inner Goddess Tarot innergoddesstarot.com
From one of my students… “I loved the classes, your teaching and the opportunity to meet others who share this interest! It was a lovely class, I learned a lot and appreciated the opportunity to look closely at the symbolism of the cards. Tarot is such an artful way of honing intuition, and your lessons really achieve the balance between information and direct experience! You are also such a perfect teacher — approachable, knowledgable and kind.” -Jasmine from Toronto
Learn Essential
TAROT SECRET Beginner Workshop Series JUNE 7, 14, 21, AND 28 2017 6:30-8:30PM IAC | 257 DANFORTH AVENUE
Are you looking for a way to develop and trust your intuition, a way to hear your own inner voice more clearly? Would you like to explore and more deeply understand your true path in life? Are you curious about Tarot and want to know how the cards can help you to dramatically improve your relationships, career choices and overall level of happiness? You are invited to start your journey with the cards at the Learn Essential Tarot Secrets: Beginner Workshop Series
The Tarot is a powerful tool of transformation, empowerment and personal growth that can help you to navigate life’s ups and downs through taking accurate, guided action. In this four part workshop series, you will: + Learn how to connect intuitively with your cards + Explore the symbolism and meanings of the 22 Major Arcana cards + Understand the four suits of the Minor Arcana (their elements, basic numerology) + Build a relationship with the Court Cards + Learn illuminating and empowering Tarot spreads
+ Start reading the cards right away and get the answers to your most burning question(s) + Start your own journey of transformation and spiritual growth through the cards + Explore 3 major mistakes that beginner Tarot readers make and how to avoid them
Investment: $200 +HST (includes homework support by email) PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Contact Lori Lytle at info@innergoddesstarot.com to book your spot. INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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15 WHY I DON'T
WRITE
By Kelly Wilk, Freelance Writer, Reflexologist, Reiki Master innerartscollective.com/kelly-wilk.html
Someone questioned me as to the practicality of writing and I answered them regarding professional, mindful, creative, and healing benefits - but this got me thinking. Not about why I write, but about why I don’t write. Writing is a smooth trail that leads you somewhere if you follow it. However, for a long time, I didn’t - it seemed so far away from me. Nowadays, it is obvious when I am not writing that I am avoiding something. If I reconnect my mind and my hands to the pen, and the pen to the paper, it will just flow out.
through to them. Locked out, I was my own jailer. My body was imprisoning me and I had the key. I just had to use it.
Creativity eventually re-emerged when I started to take care of myself again which led to narrative healing. This stood me in good stead for quite some time, however in 2011 my wife suddenly passed away. I did not know how I was going to ever be OK again until I started to write. I more than just started to write though, I took the opportunity to say “everyone is already staring at me, I may as well
There have been times I shut myself down - like after my dad passed away while I was in the OAC. I went into university not allowing myself to grieve, not allowing myself to come out, and not allowing those parts of me to speak - even though they were in desperate need of a voice. By my third year of university I was no longer taking care of myself. My chronic pain condition took over my life and I never wanted to write again.
say something useful”. I created an alter ego superhero version of myself called Captain Grief and for a year I swore, spewed, bawled, laughed and eventually let writing take me to my new life and my new understanding of the person I was. The person I had not yet let myself become.
Writing is my gift to myself and to the world. It lets me be of service to myself and other people. Writing pulled me out of the darkest moments of
I was in serious need of self-care after a three-year relationship ended and took the opportunity to say “fuck this, I’m changing my life, now”. I was the only one stopping me. I had put up a glass wall between myself and writing. I saw the words clearly on the other side piled like matchsticks in chaotic heaps, and had no willingness to break
my life and it is made me who I am today. I don’t do writing - I am writing. I am writing as the most authentic version of myself. This is where writing and healing and a search for meaning in my life has taken me.
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
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CALL FOR
SUBMISSIONS
IAC CONFERENCE: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HEALING FOR 2018 AND BEYOND
The Inner Arts Collective is organizing a conference by and for the healing arts professionals, to learn from each other, create more cohesion between disciplines, and improve our individual and collective impact in the communities we serve. The conference will be held November 17th-19th, and the theme is: Shaping the Future of Healing: Understanding Themes, Trends, and Next Steps for 2018 and Beyond. We are opening our call for submissions to wellness practitioners, educators, policy makers, elders, funders, change agents, social entrepreneurs, students, and community leaders. Contributors may be selected for keynotes, presentations, workshops, panels, performances and healing installations.
If you are interested in contributing, please complete the online submission form by May 1st, available at: http://www.innerartscollective.com/call-for-submissions.html
INNER ARTS COLLECTIVE
| SPRING 2017