Do what you love & you won’t work a day in your life.
Said another way Get paid to play. While ThisThor has yet to reach such an honorable status, she has had the pleasure of dedicating her outreach to “play time.”
Canvas Chicago has just added a new member to it’s content team. Her name is Carly!
Canvas is a network of Chicago-based producers, artists, writers, musicians and venues dedicated to the singular foal of exploring Honest Expression.
Carly first came into contact with them through Primer— a platform for connecting potential collaborators.
At each event, five or so Artists are invited on-stage to discuss their project and ask for assistance. Then after everyone has been given their moment in the spotlight, the crowd sourcing begins. At which point audience members are given opportunity to pitch their ideas for collaboration.
Canvas is also highly acclaimed for their wicked New Years Eve Bash, Voyager.
Keep up with Canvas Culture, or just stay put and find it here. More articles are soon to be headed your way.
In the month of November a Deep Diving Midwesterner set out on an adventure. To the Pacific Northwest, where extreme challenges would test her limits in order to extend what is meant by her own personal best.
Tolly Burkan, the Father of Firewalking has now settled into retirement. Just before taking off his cap for good, Ms. Carlyle stood before him in trial.
Along with a wonderful group of fellow World Leaders.
Together they held hands supporting one another as they walked through the fire.
Now Miss Carly will focus her business on igniting the fire that sits at the Heart Center– with the set intention of empowering each individual she may encounter.
Developing a platform for sustainably strength building self-esteem.
So we may all be blessed by the success of conquering personal challenge.
Narrative Medicine is story-telling used for healing.
James Pennebaker, a Psychologist at the University of Texas, discovered that when a traumatic event occurs in a persons life, said person is more likely (& most definitely) going to become sick over it if the event is kept secret.
Preaching to the choir, Pennebaker!
He goes on to prescribe a healing regimen: to write for 15-20 minutes per day about the most stressful & traumatic events of your life. Practice this for only 3 days per week and study patients have proven to show dramatic healing results.
Writing has saved my Life. However, my medicine cabinet has just been given a boost thanks to a scholarship awarded by the The Kripalu School nestled in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains to participate in their premier Narrative Medicine Program led by Lisa Weinert.
Here’s a Story:
This Thor was ready & rearing to go, excited to make a break through.
Upon arrival she had the pleasure of being met with herself. Those internal blocks. While everyone else spewed their guts, releasing their most traumatic tales into the spoken realm, This Thor wrestled with Insecurity.
Ultimately realizing a deeply rooted fear of Vulnerability.
On the first day, she listened on as someone else shared a fairy tale version of her own open heart surgery to a crowd of sixty.
That’s one hundred and twenty eyes.
“See them see me.” She said inside.
Being closely examined by a crowd is common place for This Thor. This was an exception however, and even though these eyes could see less of her as a whole, what they peered into was much deeper than she was used to sharing. At first it felt very scary. Then, liberating!
What a relief to have that hidden scar revealed. It cannot haunt me now that all of these eye’s have heard its story told aloud.
In a three minute Empathetic Listening Exercise, she decided upon how she came about her first job out of college. A whimsical tale, one that clearly defines her path as a Professional Bridge Builder instigating a path to the future.
When it was her partner’s turn to share her story to the group his voice shook and important details fell by the way side. There was a rush to the finish line.
This Thor knew not to get upset. But she just couldn’t help it!
After digesting the regurgitated tale she came to realize how the recapped story was a clue, a mirror, reflecting back her own deeply “hidden” feelings from which she had been sharing.
Narrative Medicine suggests writing stories in the third person. Professionals have proven profound healing is enabled when we simply Listen, to another person.
The experience allowed me to Listen to mySelf.
Already enabling course correction.
This Thor is truly grateful for her new story telling tools. And, for her enlightened perspective on her own personal narrative.
As the Moon came in conjunction with my Moon at 23 degrees Leo, both cusping the Ascendant, I sat in the hot seat during a meditation.
Charged with channelling the energies for the group to focus.
Leo rules the Heart.
Lion Hearted! RAWR!!
With my natal moon hiding in the 12th house, even as a little Leo, I can be rather shy. So as it became my turn to speak, Self Acceptance, is the topic chosen & spoken.
However, my Heart spoke out for me & called in its own energy. As we went into meditation over 25 people listened to, heard from, and felt their own hearts.
Holy cow!!
Having been in attendance with this circle for over 5 years, I can attest with certainty that this was the Heart’s premiere.
Which shined a bright light on my Mission in Life:
Figuring it out as I go. Lulls lead to writing time…
Call Sara.
I’ll be there in 5 or less.
Okay!
Tell the doctor.
Okay.
Long time passes. Nothing.
We’re all still here, waiting on Sara. It’s Saturday.
She’s over an hour late.
Finally, Hello!!
I scorn her face.
Do my best to look away. Saudi Princess.
Her perfume clogs my nostrils. Now I have to look away.
Pee yew!
Do the thing, she goes to meet with doctor.
12:40 Knock Knock.
Whose knocking?!? This is a doctors office.
There’s no knocking at a doctors office.
Oh.
Hello!!
My reason for being. Here today at least.
A whole family of Syrian Refugees…
No ingles. No espanol either.
Shit.
Who is the a translator?
More refugees arrive. Omg! Okay!!
Sara, she’s the one. She can speak the language.
Her appointment is almost finished. Hooray!
No way! Divine timing. At its finest.
Every thing is always just as it should be. Twenty people came through the door. My manager decided to speak to them in a French accent. The whole office snapped to attention.
Sara’s tardiness was our saving grace!
The only way we all were able to succeed is thanks to her.
I am highly in favor of. Tithing to & ready to promote anyone who is speaking on the matter of self-acceptance. Because this is the medicine I need more than any other.
: ) ( : 