Wisdom Painting and Art
NEWSLETTER
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Fall 2002 -- In this issue:
Leaping
Our New Greenwich office
Borrow Our TV Video
Wisdom Painting Kits
Steppin' Out
Getting Lost
"If you take the leap, you will be shown how to
fly."
--- Unknown
October 1, 2002
Dear Friends,
Ah … fall …my favorite time of year; the air is crisp, breathing is easy,
and the cool air feels refreshing brushing over my cheeks. This is the time of
year when I start to get serious again and get busy.
The gardens are put to rest by cutting and discarding the dead stalks and stems, the leaves are raked and trees become bare, along with the scenery. Horizons are much more visible - both inside and out. No more growth to be had on the outside, it is time to go inside and discover new growth there in the dark depths.
Deep in my own depths this fall season finds me taking some major leaps. I trust the above quotation to be right. I have taken a couple of huge leaps and I am finding that I am being shown how to fly.
What about you? Are you ready to take the leap, the necessary leap toward your new and perfect life? Yes, but? What are your "buts"? "I am afraid of heights", "I am afraid of flying", "I am afraid of my own shadow", "I am afraid of falling flat on my face"? Yes? Perhaps your "buts" are more reasonable and more intelligent. But, they are still "buts". And fears. Most of us have fear of some kind. That is what keeps 97% of the population where they are. Only 3% of us reach close to our full potential. In what percentile are you? Let's raise the bar.
Fears grip us and hold us tightly in our safe space. Is it time for you to break out of the deadlock? I don't think there are many people on this planet who do not experience fear when embarking upon a new journey. Can you take the Cowardly Lion by the hand and say "C-C-C-Courage"? It takes courage and sometimes a good cry to help forge ahead when your knees are shaking. But, believe me, when you do, you empower yourself and move toward your highest potential stronger than you were before. Boldness in action is rewarded.
Take the leap this fall and join one of our exciting and life-changing programs. Continue your practice if you have already taken the Wisdom leap. Join us on your journey, wherever you are right in this moment. Now IS the time and the only time.
Peace, love, and light,
Mary
Wisdom Painting and Art, Vernon and Greenwich, Connecticut, 1-866-WISDOM-5
(1-866-947-3665)
Email: mary@wisdompainting.com
Company News
Our New Office in Greenwich
Wisdom Painting and Art opened their doors in Greenwich on Friday, September 27, 2002. Our Greenwich address is 22 Lafayette Place #6, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. We will be running all our regular workshops and coaching from that location in addition to the Vernon location. Watch the Schedule. Thursdays and some Fridays we will be in our Greenwich office. So, please stop by and visit. How about booking a coaching session to be held in our new office?
Borrow our TV Video
If you would like to get to know us better before you take the leap, borrow one of our TV videos. Find out what our programs can do for you. Meet your program leader and personal guide, Mary Gravelle. Hear stories from some of our workshop participants. Both videos are 28 minutes in length. The 1st one is titled Igniting Your Intention: Manifesting Your Dreams. And the 2nd one is titled Wisdom Painting: Unleashing the Artist Within. Both were taped at Nutmeg TV studios as a two-part segment on Joyce St. Germaine's "Sacred Journey" TV show. Send $4.95 shipping and handling fee. Include your address and phone number. Please plan to return it within two weeks so we can keep them in the flow.
Wisdom Paint Kits
Left to right: The full kit, Mary Gravelle with kit, painting kit and its separate parts. Pictures by Bethany Sax, Jack-Of-All-Trades Productions.
Now available, Wisdom Paint Kits, all you need to take your painting projects on the road or in-house, all in one compact little case. It's very cute and very portable. Pack it in the car; stash it away in a cupboard, store it on a shelf. Keep your painting supplies handy for painting whenever the urge strikes.
The basic kit includes, 20 sumptuous tempera colors in 4 oz. flip-top bottles, paint pallet, drop cloth, tote with tray, and a water bottle. All of this costs only $70.00 plus sales tax. Extra items include, two paint brushes for $5.00/set, a pad of 9" x 12" watercolor paper for $5.00, and a 4 oz. bottle of clear varnish for $3.00. All you need to get started. Refill on your own as you purchase full size paints.
Of the 20 colors, twelve are stock colors, and eight others that I mix for you. Why go out and buy full size and mix 'em on your own when you are just starting out? Make it easy on yourself. Plus, it is so easy and compact; you'll want to keep your small bottles refilled and ready to go any time you are. The starter kit will last you a long time.
Call to order (1-866-WISDOM-5) or pick one up at your next workshop.
Web News, www.wisdompainting.com:
Wisdom Art Gift Shoppe
The name of our company store has changed to Wisdom Art Gift Shoppe. It is now powered by Cafeshops.com (the retail side of cafepress.com). We have a new look and new organization. Now you can look at all the designs organized by product. See all T-shirts, mugs, coasters, etc. that are available instead of having to go to different stores for each design. Shopping made easy and fun. Check out our new look. Buy something artful for your next gift. Or, just for the fun of giving yourself something playful to enjoy.
My favorite items right now are the mug and coaster in matching designs. Are
you aesthetically inclined? Then, you will love them too. Buy the Lyrical Dance
to Your Soul design and enjoy your next coffee drinking experience. Good for tea
drinkers too. I like the 15 oz. mug for coffee and the 11 oz. mug for tea.
New Designs
Left to right: Lyrical Dance to Your Soul design, We Are Family: Nod, Dod, and
Dixon design, Lyrical Dance Tile Coaster, and Lyrical Dance 11 oz.
Mug
New Items
New products are being made available frequently. So, please keep checking back often. New products since our last newsletter include backpacks, retro lunchboxes, kids T-shirts, and baby wear.
Open Your Own Store
Attention: All you Wisdom and Igniting students -- you have created wonderful
designs of your own during our workshops. Set up your own store. But, beware, it
is a habit forming and addicting activity! Go to www.cafepress.com
and use my referral ID, wisdomart, when setting up your own store so I will get
credit. Or click on the tab in my store, "open up your own store".
Thanks in advance.
Workshop News
"…what we really gain from the artmaking of others is
courage-by-association. Depth of contact grows as fears are shared - and thereby
disarmed - and this comes from embracing art as process, and artists as kindred
spirits. To the artist, art is a verb." From Art & Fear by David
Bayles & Ted Orland
Igniting Your Intention
New sessions are unfolding with the completion of Level 3. Here are possibilities that have been percolating: Level 4 - Integration, Level 5 - Activation, Igniting for Life, Painting Your Intention, Activation Sessions - Activating your Action List - The Brooklyn Igniters, Nancy SantoPietro and Robin Spiegel have spearheaded (created?) this one. Watch future newsletters for more details.
IGNITER'S CORNER
Mary Kay McDermott, an Igniting, Level 1 graduate, tells us her follow-up story.
Steppin' Out
By Mary Kay McDermott
Steppin' Out: Six Month Review:
In the six months since I created "Steppin Out" I have undoubtedly
lived my life with more trust in "a greater divine plan" and more
confidence to trust myself.
One of the first "steps" I took was to initiate a working relationship with Mary Gravelle, editing her book proposal. This was risky, because, although I had success with my own proposal, and knew I had skills in writing and editing, I had never offered my services to another for a fee. I had to trust my instincts that I could do it, and it is proving to be mutually beneficial for both Mary and I. This experience is growing into a freelance business where I work with first time authors in preparing their proposals and manuscripts.
I also had an opportunity to do some paid public speaking, again, I had doubts about my abilities. But decided to trust and see where it would lead me. Not only were the engagements successful, but now I'm taking the initiative to create more opportunities in that area!
Other changes have come in my marriage, where I've let go of old destructive family patterns to create a new, more positive way of relating. It is interesting to me to notice how prophetic that little image was. It showed me the feelings of timidity that were holding me back. It definitely resembles my inner child and somehow, bringing it to life on paper has helped me let her out to grow and be free of the fear.
Thanks Mary Gravelle for facilitating such a powerful exercise in healing!
Steppin' Out: One Year Review:
Here are some thoughts on Steppin' Out, a year later. A testimony to the prophetic power of creating art!
When "Steppin' Out," was created a year ago I was going through profound changes in my life. Changes involving moving to new levels in so many areas of my life, my relationship, my varied roles as an adult and the responsibilities that come with those roles.
It was amazing that this little child/image of me came forth because that child is asserting herself more fully as an adult. And now a year later, when I look at "Steppin' Out," it's an affirmation of where I was a year ago and also a reminder that the journey continues with parts of me still timidly testing the waters.
I think the vulnerability of the simple little cartoon actually helps me remember to be accepting and gentle with myself as I go through the transitions that accompany growth. And, when I look at the little penguin I'm encouraged to explore the world again with childlike curiosity, and follow my dreams the way a child would.
Wow, writing that reaffirmed a lot for me! Thank you Mary...I feel I'm on a roll!!!
Thank you, Mary Kay McDermott. Keep it going. Mary Kay McDermott is cartoonist and author of "The Bridesmaid's Survival Guide". Click here to read her original "Steppin' Out" writing on our website under Inspiring Images.
Wisdom Painting
Wisdom Painting is also moving forward at the request of more advanced students, Tilda Santiago and Terri Rizzo. Watch for Advanced Wisdom Painting - going deeper into the painting process and deeper into your personal growth issues. Watch for coming details.
Wisdom of Art Coaching
Formerly Wisdom Coaching. Personal sessions where YOU are the focus. Get
started today invoking your perfect life.
Wisdom Bit: Getting Lost Expands Our Comfort Zone
I have never been so lost as I have been in the past few months. And getting
lost has proved to be a powerful lesson in stretching the boundaries of my
comfort zone.
Driving to New York City and Brooklyn for the recent Level One Igniting Your Intention session has felt like riding a wild horse. The first four or five times found me in foreign territory and unable to even read the map and decipher where I was, much less know how to get to where I needed to go.
I like to say, in Feng Shui terms, I have been giving lots of people a chance to be "Helpful People". Taxicab drivers, policemen, gas station attendants, and thank goodness for my cell phone and the unending patience of Igniting Host, Nancy SantoPietro and participant, Robin Spiegel.
Driving to Brooklyn on the various highways and bridges, found me gawking at the expansive urban scenery and in the gawking, missing a few crucial turns. I know a lot of people complain about New York City, but oh the structures - tall buildings, huge bridges, the many roads and highways. Awesome sights. But, take your eye off the road just once, and you are lost. Yikes. How to get back?
I grew up in the Midwest and now live in Connecticut, where it is pretty easy to find your way around. New York and Brooklyn remain wild beasts to be tamed. This weekend I noticed that I was actually comfortable in the fast lane of a curve on I 91 South that used to make me nervous. As I easily cruised that curve over the weekend, it gave me a moment of reflection on all my getting lost adventures. I now know that getting lost and driving those wild roads has made me more tolerable and stretched my comfort zone. What once made me cringe in fear, now feels comfortable and not so bad.
Getting lost on the physical plane translates well to getting lost in the spiritual plane. I was recently filling out a survey for Gina Greenlee, who is writing a book on solo travel. As I wrote my story of a day of solo travel in Mexico, I realized that what I had learned from that experience was that I do not have to know every little detail of how I will accomplish my goals. I don't have to know my way. I don't even have to speak the language. Help is there when and where I need it. All I need to do is to show up, get lost, and get help to find my own way. Help and answers arrive in right time.
This is empowering and comforting news. Get lost and help arrives on your doorstep. Navigate the unknown today and discover these simple truths on your own. Step out, gulp, cry if you must, breathe, and leap. Leap and you will be shown how to fly.
THE END.