Today is the first day of 2014. It is also a new (or dark) moon day – the first day in a new moon cycle of waxing-full-waning, when not even a sliver of moon is visible in the sky. This month is special because we will have a second new moon on January 31st.  As when there are two full moons in one calendar month, or a Blue Moon, two new moons in the same calendar month also have the accompanying lore and mythology. A second new moon in one month is referred to as a Black Moon. In creation mythology, black is the void from which all life came forth.  All of that makes this the perfect time for new beginnings.

In this new moon phase of a new month in a new year, I am calling the women of my tribe.
Come gather with me in the Dark Moon Lodge. This is the sacred space of our visioning. This is where you will journey deep within your soul to unleash your spirit and let it soar on Creative W.I.N.G.S ™.  This is where you will realize your own heart’s desire and discover, finally, that your happiness lies within – not without.

Are you one of my tribe?
You are if you are a woman of my generation, for whom so much was promised and so little was delivered. Were you told you could be anything you wanted, that you could have it all – only to find out the truth was that you were doing it all instead? Did glass ceilings, domestic overload, and unfair gender bias keep you in your place? Were you a stay at home mom, busy with family, school and community care – taking up the slack for the diminished, traditional volunteer core that  joined the work force to be paid (even if it was underpaid) for their services?

Did you burn yourself out being a daughter, wife, mother, working women? Was there never any time left for yourself – for your goals and passions?  Were you single, married, divorced – one time, two times, three times?  Any or all of the above?

Did you do all of these things willingly and without complaint, maybe even with joy, thinking that the second half of your life would be your own to explore and enjoy at your whim?  And now, are you still caring for others? Are your children reluctant adults; over dependent, self absorbed, entitled, demanding and still acting like teenagers who rely on you for constant back up – emotionally, financially and physically? Are you doing their domestic work, taking care of their children, their pets, their homes – to give them a break? Helping them make ends meet, yet seeing them enjoy far more leisure and luxury than you ever imagined at their age and stage of life? Is your husband so used to being cared for and/or being in charge that you are barely even second in command – let alone an equal partner?

Do you find yourself wondering if anybody is ever going to give you even half the quality and amount of care you have given to everybody else, sometime before you leave this world?

If you answered yes to any of these questions – and you are ready to make a change for the better in your life, then you are one of my tribe. I’m calling you to join me in a year long journey of self discovery and personal enrichment.

SelfC.A.R.E.™ and The Art of Expression
Discovering and Claiming Your Heart & Soul’s Vision

I am a

• Certified Life Strategies Coach
• Personal Development Coach
• Trained SoulCollage® Facilitator
• Reiki Master Practitioner
• YogaFit® Instructor
• Visionary Artist and Author

I developed the four step program of SelfC.A.R.E.™ for the capstone of my coaching curriculum using  Clarity, Action, Results & Enrichment as the foundation for identifying personal goals and manifesting a joyful life experience. I have used it successfully with clients for more than six years. For the past two years, I have been combining the program with various art forms including discovery journaling, to delve deeper into my personal mythology and create a truly soul satisfying life.

Now I want to share the process with you! This is a pilot program, to test the waters of offering this transformative, personal journey entirely online. As such, I am offering it to you, my tribe, completely free for a limited period! Your only investment is your time and personal commitment to enter the Dark Moon Lodge and surrender to your heart and soul’s awakening.

Absolutely no art experience or previous training is necessary.
I use various forms of creative expression that are accessible to all – such as collage, photo-journaling, abstract drawing and painting,  – and you will be able to work at your own level. Whether absolute beginner or advanced artist, your personal result for transformation will be the same.

Supplies are affordable – you may choose from student to professional grade as your budget allows.

The course will be divided into four main sections following the seasonal wheel of the year and the four steps of SelfC.A.R.E.™
For each month of the year, based on the season and the corresponding mythology,  I will provide a theme and journal prompts along with suggested art projects to help you access your deeper, intuitive guidance. I will also post links to other resources that are relevant. I will include pdf files and instructions whenever necessary, and if you have any questions you will always be able to email me.

You will have the month to complete each leg of the journey, but I will also give weekly encouragement and reminders. You will also be encouraged to share your art journaling pieces with others by uploading jpeg files (this is not required).  And – there will be all sorts of extras along the way – again, this is a pilot program so I will be giving you much more than what may end up in the final version.

At the end of the year – or at anytime you choose to stop participating, I will send you a general assessment form for you to rate the program.

You can start right now – TODAY!
Again, because you are already part of my close circle – I am inviting you to join my tribe and enter the Dark Moon Lodge at no cost to you. If you can navigate a computer well enough to use email, follow a blog, watch a You Tube video and upload an image file – you have all the technical skill you need.

In the Self C.A.R.E.™ Program, the first step is Clarification. Over the coming weeks as we hunker down for the winter and look forward to spring, you will be working to discover exactly what is your heart’s desire and to create a crystal clear knowing of what energies you want to work to bring into your life. I’ll have some nifty little worksheets and exercises to help you get started – and then you will utilize journaling and artistic expression to delved deeper into your personal story.

For now, just download the pdfs below and start gathering your supplies while you wait for the next weekly post – and for me to get our virtual Dark Moon Lodge set up.

• Supply List & Overview of SelfC.A.R.E.™
  Password  – darkmoon

Here is a hint at the first month’s journey:
In the northern hemisphere, we are experiencing  winter on the wheel of the year- from December 21 to March 21. This is the time of year for turning inward, for staying close to the hearthfire, looking back over the year before and releasing what did not serve us well, and also beginning to give thought to what we will bring into our lives in the coming year. These are the energies we will be working with as we enter into the Dark Moon Lodge for the first quarter of the year.

Why am I doing all this?  I have heard the call to a higher purpose; it has been whispering to me  in this second half of life and now  the time has come for me to heed that call, the time to more fully step into my role as crone, mentor and journey guide; a midlife midwife helping women give birth to their own inner wisdom so that together we may nurture the generations coming up after us – to build a better world based on love, compassion, tolerance and peace. This is my calling and I do it with glad heart.

If you would like to join me, the first thing you should do, is subscribe to my blog so you will get email updates of new postings.  You can do that by going to the top of the right hand column and clicking the link to follow the MAD Goddess. Then stay tuned for updates.