Monday, October 1, 2007

You're Invited to Personal Reinvent-tage Retreat 2007

Reinvent-tage is pronounced ...a long aa like collage or assemblage...

Today is the start of a week and the start of a month...and the start of something new for me...and for you...

Artistic and Passionate Me is undergoing a life-altering process of reinventing myself as a fine artist... you are invited on the first month-long journey unto my first 'gallery-showing for sale' experience...you can share my day-to-day process and rituals...my triumphs and my struggles...my joy and my tears...

Your Personal Invite to the Reinvent-tage Retreat 2007

I invite all of you to a 30-day self-discovery retreat this month. This is not a challenge or a swap...it is a personal creativity revelation process. I have been trying to re-invent myself as an artist for several years now. I came to a point where the pieces of my life were just not fitting together as they should. I needed a change, but transition is scary. I have been down many paths during this time...some were fruitful...some were not...and some taught me much about myself and my art. I offer this for the person who is seeking a way to stretch beyond their edges and dive into possibility that is you...

I always believe that the most difficult times are preparation for a major breakthrough...if you can just hang in there and see the shadows fade.... It is the time I step back, breathe and retreat...not a 'give up' or 'white flag surrender' retreat...but a retreat into the inner sanctum of myself...where all my answers lie.

During these periods of retreat I set an intention to bring creativity to the forefront...either for creation itself or for a creative idea or solution...as long as I have no outside worldly distractions...the creativity flows.

Sometimes I take a day...other times I need a week...when I can't escape my everyday world to be alone...I usually allow a full 30 days...

The 30-day Reinvent-tage Process...

I will begin each day intentionally...with thoughtful purpose. Unlike a to-do list to be ticked off...it is a calm going-within process...to find the intent of the day. In my case to find the art of the day...wherever it leads me. When this process is complete, I say the prayer I always say before I begin to create,"Give success to the work of my hands..." For as Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art."

How the Reinvent-tage Retreat works...

Between 11 PM and midnight EDT I will post the intention of the day... it will be what I intend to bring forth that day...

Between noon and 1 PM EDT I will update you on the morning and show you what progress was made...in photos and/or videos... and writing....I promise to be open and honest with my feelings and my instincts...it will be a peek into the mind and soul of an artist....it will be raw and as real as I can make it....

Each day will be a combination of setting the intention, meditation, studio exercises, and self evaluation. All things will be done with mindfulness...and gentleness...we will leave the inner critic behind for this period.

Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of your experience as it unfolds in the present moment. In cultivating this practice you can enter into deeper states of consciousness where you access your inner wisdom and insight...often called flow.

"I wake up in the morning and I consciously create my day the way I want it to happen. Now sometimes, because my mind is examining all the things that I need to get done, it takes me a little bit to settle down and get to the point of where I'm actually intentionally creating my day. But here's the thing: When I create my day and out of nowhere little things happen that are so unexplainable, I know that they are the process or the result of my creation. And the more I do that, the more I build a neural net in my brain that I accept that that's possible. (This) gives me the power and the incentive to do it the next day." - Dr. Joe Dispenza (from What the Bleep Movie) provided by Katie here...
When I do this with an attitude of complete surrender to the process, I usually undergo a profound transformation. The more you engage in mindfulness...the better able you are to grow and stretch and discover the resources within yourself to fully live the adventure that is your life's journey...

Today's Intention - Why am I making art?

6 comments:

Leslie said...

Okay, I am with you, supporting you, watching where you go . . . Do you need more?

qualcosa di bello said...

rebecca! i am so inspired by this journey you are beginning...i too will join you & i think i will take my own journey to the next baby-step level with you...i will do a poem, creative writing post or photo upload every day of the retreat with you!

Lea said...

Rebecca, this is wonderful... I am going to be gone most of this month, away from computer, but I will follow along and see how I can incorporate these rich sharings and inspiration, for allowing and recognizing the act of creation, even in the midst of paper work, is my ever intention.

girlgonethreadwild said...

What a strong woman it takes to recognize the need for change, the want of it and the desire to take the necessary steps in achieving it. I look forward to your posts.... you definitely are inspiring me to take a look at what I want from my art... something that is not easy to do when there are those critics within ourselves & all around us... bravo for instigating this reflection into oneself...

couragetocreatewriteandlove said...

I am in! I want to play, too. Now, I am not as artistic like some of you are but I absolutely aspire to be like you beautiful women specially you!!!
I would live with the intention everyday so I will wait for your prompt and then let's see what I come with, LOL
Thank you, thank you!!!!!

Anonymous said...

This is such a great idea, I am sorry I found it only now! I need to recreate myself and you are inspiring me, thank you so much!