#REVERB (Day 7): What is one thing you are taking with you into 2013?

ETERNITY SEEKS TO GIVE BIRTH TO ITSELF. (Art by Hallelujah Truth, Words by Karen Phillips)

#REVERB12:Day 7 Prompt: What's the one thing you want to take with you into 2013?

One thing I will most certainly TAKE WITH ME into 2013 is gathering with the SPIRITUAL ART PILGRIMS every three weeks to "EXPERIENCE" our ART through dramatics, movement, voice, art making, and play.

The  SPIRITUAL ART PILGRIMS is a group I founded with fellow artists Robey Tapp, Cecelia Kane, and Sally Wylde several years ago as a way to delve deeper into our SOULS, ARTMAKING, and FRIENDSHIP.

#REVERB12 (Day 6): Compare Yourself from January 2012 to December 2012--What have you learned or discovered?

NOW. In December 2012, I am living in the NOW. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

#REVERB12 Day 6 Prompt: Compare the “you” from the beginning of 2012 to the “you” that you are now. What new skills or talents have you learned or discovered this year?

2012 has been an interesting journey for SPIRITUAL ART PILGRIM HALLELUJAH TRUTH! I began the year still looking, still sojourning with great effort, seeking to discover something about myself that would allow me to pause in my pilgrimage and rest. 

REALLY "EFFORTING." I searched the universe hoping to discover ME. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

Six months into the new year, I declared my arrival to FULL PLANETHOOD! I would stop seeking fulfillment or fullness. Instead, I decided to be the FULLNESS! This decision has taken all of my 54 years of experience and maturity. My declaration of FRUITION is an act of will. It is possible that it is also an act of fun! Whatever my FRUITION of FULL PLANETHOOD is, it is most certainly a shift in a way of BEING--a profound breakthrough. I am professing that I AM, not that I will be.

Recently, I learned these lines which describe where I AM as 2012 comes to a close: 

In these times,
In these uncertain times,
I will remain open
to the miracle
that is each moment!

--from Elise Witt's Vocal Improvisation Class Fall 2012

I AM OPEN TO THE MIRACLE OF EACH MOMENT. Instead of thinking that tomorrow I will find the answer to who I am and what my purpose is, I am practicing the skill of BEING IN EACH MOMENT. BEING THE MOMENT. BEING FULL. Surely this is progress in understanding from the beginning of 2012 of searching for that FULLNESS. (art by Hallelujah Truth) 

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and share the changes that you experienced in self throughout 2012. What have you learned? Tweet

THANKS TO KAT MCNALLY for HOSTING REVERB12 Hurray for Kat who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and blogs at "I Saw You Dancing." and is hosting Reverb12. Pilgrims, I suggest you go there and sign up to blog with others from around the world!

#REVERB12 (Day 5): What was your dream destination in 2012? For me, it was connecting meaningfully with my students...

GETTING TO THE HEART OF MATTERS IN TEACHING.

What was your dream destination in 2012 and why? It can be a town, city, country or region -- real or imaginary -- and doesn't matter if you actually got there or not!

A DREAM DESTINATION for me in 2012 and all of my teaching career has been to connect in a meaningful way with my students, striding past the content and jumping right into relationship of a trusting give-and-take! YES, that is a magnificent DREAM DESTINATION for any teacher, and I arrived there in that juicy connection with my international students this year because of a new course I taught at the Georgia Tech Language Institute--IMPROVISATION!

After taking an improvisation class (improv for short) on-and-off since 2009, my director Karen Tucker, gave me the opportunity to teach improv for the first time in the Spring 2 Session. I had the good fortune to have my improv teacher, Lesly Fredman, help me develop the course, and come to several classes to help launch and instruct these "novel" classes for our English as a Second Language program.

THE FIRST IMPROV ESL CLASS. In the spring of 2012, I arrived at the beginning of my DREAM DESTINATION-- teaching accent enhancement and fluency to internationals at Georgia Tech's Language Institute by doing improvisation. They were an amazing group of students who took to the rules of improv like ducks to water! (photo by Ruth Schowalter)

Improv comes rich with a box of teaching tools and practices for expanding confidence and developing social CONNECTIONS. One of them is that we eliminate the barrier of the desk. To do improv, students must leave their chairs, get on their feet, and interact in close proximity with EVEN the teacher. 

One of the rules of improv is "make your partner look good," and that requires teamwork! Many of the exercises that we ESL improv "actors" do in my class focus on team building--working compassionately together with one another as a group. Whether it be playing "red ball, green ball" or "counting to twenty, or "building a machine," students discover physical and verbal clues to work together. As the teacher, I AM RIGHT THERE WITH THE STUDENTS doing the improv exercises--it has taken more than 20 years to arrive to this DREAM DESTINATION!

To TEACH improv, one must DO improv. And when the teacher DOES what she is TEACHING, the dynamics in the classroom are electric, and the results rewardingly surprising! The TEACHER, ME, LEARNS too! I become a coach, engaged with the team, and the classroom is our field of exploration, connection, and--COMMUNICATION! The target language is being used every day during the entire class period!

And I have discovered in a very short time that improv class gives students more than language skills, it gives them SKILLS FOR LIFE. On the morning of Thanksgiving 2012, this email (the student shall remain anonymous) greeted me: 

"I am X, a student from the Improv class. Wish you a happy Thanksgiving Day! I am writing to express my thankfulness in this special holiday.

I really enjoy the Improv class and I really appreciate your teaching.You have changed my life in this course This is the best class I have ever took. The most important skill in the class is "never be afraid to make mistakes." I used to be a shy boy and are afraid to make mistakes. But then I learned the improv rules and I am more willing to participate in the class activities. That is a big change for me ! I am more risk-taking in communication. I am more confident in communicating with strangers. I hope more and more people can make their life different after taking the improv class. Thank you for teaching us the improv rules. It is not only useful in English, but also helpful in life. Thank you, you are a brilliant teacher!"

WOW! This student email announced that I had truly arrived at my DREAM DESTINATION! Thank you any and every student who takes time to let his or her teacher know they have had an impact!

BUILDING TEAM SPIRIT. A wonderful aspect of the improv classroom is that students must learn to work together in order to "play off" of one another, saying "yes" to their partner, and striving to make their partner look good! I am pictured on the far left in white, and Lesly Fredman, my improv teacher is behind the woman dressed in purple on the left. (photo taken by one of the improv students, who for privacy reasons did not want to be pictured.)

VOWEL MACHINE. An excellent team building exercise! Here the students chose one of the 15 vowel sounds and built a machine which could run efficiently or slow down and collapse! It certainly was noisy! (photo by Ruth Schowalter, aka Hallelujah Truth)

ELEVATOR. To develop strategies for interacting with different people, students get lessons in building an array of characters. In this exercise, students get on and off an imaginary elevator. The new character getting on the elevator establishes the scene and all of the other students must follow the behavior. (photo by Ruth Schowalter, aka Hallelujah Truth)

HIGH STATUS-LOW STATUS. What does your body language look like when you feel powerful? And the reverse, when you don't? Using high status body language can empower and give you confidence even when you lack it. (photo by Ruth Schowalter, aka Hallelujah Truth)

THE PROFESSIONAL LOOK! As a result of using improvisation with these international students enrolled in an intensive English course before beginning their 2-year MBA course at Emory's Goizueta Business School, they willingly respond to a variety of prompts when posing for a class photo! The prompt for this photo was, "Look Professional"!  See the blog entry I wrote about teaching improv to this class in 2012.(photo by Harriet Ruskin)

IMPROV CLASS FALL I 2012. Improv class is fun. And, I have arrived at having fun teaching! Another great destination! This group was my second improv group. Lesly Fredman continued to assist me with some of my classes.(photo by Ruth Schowalter, aka Hallelujah Truth)

IMPROV CLASS FALL II 2012. To practice intonation and lengthening the vowel in the stressed words, students are reading Taylor Mali's poem, "I Could Be A Poet."  Afterwards, they were given five random nouns to create their own impromptu poem and demonstrating the language skills! (photo by Ruth Schowalter, aka Hallelujah Truth)

IMPROV HOMEWORK. Homework for improv class takes them outside the classroom to practice their improv skills with native speakers and other internationals! They are asked to extend the "scene" or interaction for as long as they can using the rules of improv.  (photo by Ruth Schowalter, aka Hallelujah Truth)

IMPROV WISDOM. To find out more about the rules of improv, check out Patricia Ryan Madson's book, Improv Wisdom. She made a career of teaching college students improv because of the important rules that it teaches for life. Here we were playing low status! (photo taken by one of the improv students, who for privacy reasons did not want to be pictured.)

THANKS TO KAT MCNALLY for HOSTING REVERB12 Hurray for Kat who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and blogs at "I Saw You Dancing." and is hosting Reverb12. Pilgrims, I suggest you go there and sign up to blog with others from around the world!

#REVERB12 (DAY 4): How will you celebrate YOU? this festive season?

CELEBRATION BY LISTENING--REALLY LISTENING. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Three times HALLELUJAH! Along with #REVERB12, comes the FESTIVE season! As the days grow darker with fewer hours of daylight, we turn to our winter celebrations to bring good cheer and hope to our SOULS! Today's prompt for #REVERB12 is this:

How are you going to celebrate your self this festive season? 

This is an EXCELLENT QUESTION! During this time of year, it is often the "SELF" that gets sacrificed in service to others. Isn't it possible to meet the needs of others and maintain sanctity with yourself? 

To ensure that I continue to honor and celebrate myself during the upcoming days of December, I am making a pledge to LISTEN to MYSELF, REALLY LISTEN. 

HONOR YOURSELF BY LEANING IN AND HEARING WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. Remember everything is negotiable, but before you can negotiate, you have to know what you want and need. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

In addition, to LISTENING to MYSELF, I pledge to CELEBRATE MYSELF by experimenting with different ways of SPEAKING to MYSELF. This form of celebratory talking requires repetition and flexibility! Hurray! It is fun to try on new ways of expressing MY NEEDS in order to present a festive holiday gatherings!

Paula Underwood Spencer, a native American wrote this:

If you want to be truly understood,

you need to say everything three times,

in three different ways.

Once for each ear...

and once for the heart.

SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF CREATION. For me, the snake symbolizes infinity, persistent and consistent revolutions of the mind. Constant insistent change--a molting of skins as a release to new ways of BEING. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

When we SPEAK to the SELF, just as when we SPEAK to others, we need to be patient. We need to be creative in our expressions. To truly understand MYSELF during the next 27 days, I pledge to say the important things to MYSELF three times, in three different ways. The third time I SPEAK, I will lean into my SOUL, MY HEART. And I will LISTEN, truly LISTEN.

Therefore, this is my pledge for the festive season 2012:

This FESTIVE SEASON, I will CELEBRATE MYSELF both by TRULY SPEAKING AND LISTENING to what I want and need in order to celebrate with others!

That's Coffee With Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and answer this question of how you will celebrate yourself in the upcoming days of the festive season! Also tell me if you really listen to yourself!

THANKS TO KAT MCNALLY for HOSTING REVERB12
Hurray for Kat who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and blogs at "I Saw You Dancing." and is hosting Reverb12. Pilgrims, I suggest you go there and sign up to blog with others from around the world!

#REVERB12 (Day 3): What is one thing you really wish to do? What steps could you take to accomplish it in 2013?

CERTAINTY OF MOTHERLY LOVE. I envisioned  "the mother in me" being a ladder which I can climb. During the process of climbing, I am comforted even before I arrive in her all embracing arms. This is one of the images that I have made for the book, The Mother In Me that I want to complete writing and drawing some day. In 2013? (art and words by Hallelujah Truth)

#Reverb12: Day 3 Blogging Prompt--

What is one thing that you really wish to do that you just haven't had the chance to accomplish yet? What steps could you take (however small) to ensure that you accomplish this thing in 2013?

For me, I have chosen a much beloved project of mine, one I think may have universal feminine appeal. It is my book of words and images I am calling THE MOTHER IN ME: A Book for All of Us Girls.

SUMMER SOLSTICE. Here are "both" selves in one "girl." The child needing guidance and the nurturing mother. I envision a dynamic interplay between the inner mother-daughter that fosters tremendous spiritual growth. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

The idea for this book began in March 2009 to nurture myself with my own concept of mothering. I needed to comfort myself from the despair I felt daily and a deep hunger for love that I was experiencing. This need couldn't be answered on the "outside." I was compelled to fall into my SOUL, to listen to my yearnings, and decide what actions I would take to address them. 

As a visual artist, I delighted in listening to the little girl in me and visualizing what my "internal" mother would look like. When I saw star hair, I laughed at the idea of having such an ephemeral haired mother! I drew her. You see "the mother in me" in these images has glorious stars for hair! Then I created me, the little girl, usually wearing a yellow dress and looking slightly like a brown-haired Alice in Wonderland. 

This past summer (2012), I opened up and expanded the idea from thinking of these images as separate pieces of art with words to putting them together to make a book that would be for "girls" of all ages. In one scenario, I see real mothers reading this book with their young daughters to facilitate sharing and discussing feelings. In another scenario, I imagine adult women reading this book as a way to cultivate their inner psychological mothers en route to establishing new more nurturing behaviors toward themselves.

SAY IT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU NEED TO. Some times, we just need to really say "ouch." If we can't change the hurt, we can validate it by acknowledging it--OUCH! (art by Hallelujah Truth). 

What are the steps I need to take to complete this collection of images of The Mother In Me and make it into a completed manuscript?:

1. Redraw and repaint these "idea" images for consistency and clarity

2. Determine the number of images needed for a completed manuscript (research)

3. Continue to make new images that address important self-mothering issues

4. Consult others who will provide constructive feedback for these areas: writing, images, publishing

5. Learn how to make a ready to publish document (Amazon's Create Space.com)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! Do you PILGRIMS have any comments or suggestions for me regarding my future book, The Mother In Me? What is one thing you wish to have accomplished by the end of 2013? SOUL BLOG with me and tell me. Hallelujah for FULFILLED WISHES!

THANKS TO KAT MCNALLY for HOSTING REVERB12
Hurray for Kat who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and blogs at "I Saw You Dancing." and is hosting Reverb12. Pilgrims, I suggest you go there and sign up to blog with others from around the world!

#REVERB12 (Day 2): Reflecting on the most significant expenditure--feline family members!!

#Reverb12:Day 2 Blogging Prompt--

What was your most significant expenditure in 2012? It doesn't have to be necessarily the biggest expenditure, just the one with the most impact. What difference has it made to your life?


Dear PILGRIMS! I struggled with my answer to this question about biggest  2012 expenditure with significant impact. I have the good fortune to travel throughout the year, and I thought I might select my trip to the United Kingdom or the one to Newfoundland as being important since JOURNEYING to different places profoundly affects our pedestrian lives. Experiencing life beyond cultural and geographical boundaries is life altering. Yet, I chose something else....

2012 WELCOMED NEW FELINE FAMILY MEMBERS. Introducing Sapelo (left) and Tao.  These felines are reclining on the bench where I sit and work at the table making my art. They keep me company by sitting right up next to me. Such remarkable companionship! (photo by Hallelujah Truth at a break from artmaking)

The addition of our two feline family members, Tao and Sapelo, in the past year have been a huge financial expense with profuse and rewarding results.

Last November, my Chiboogamoo and I lost our 17-year-old Siamese feline family member, Misha, and his death crushed our hearts and we sorrowed over his departure (You can read about his life with us here).

Tao, came into our lives in December 2011, after finals concluded at the Language Institute at Georgia Tech, and I found him posted for adoption on Craig's List. He was a four-month old Siamese being nurtured in Peachtree City! When my darling Chiboogamoo asked me what I wanted for our anniversary (December 18), I responded this kitty named Tao, who needed rescuing!

INTRODUCING TAO. Tao's rescue only cost 50 dollars and our wonderful veterinarian clinic here in Decatur didn't charge anything for his first visit, but he had a respiratory infection and subsequent visits cost big dollars for medications. Then he needed to be neutered at five months, and the bills stacked up. We said "ouch," but fell completely in love with this loving, sweet feline.(photo by Chiboogamoo)

TAO, COMPUTER ASSISTANT.  Tao quickly integrated himself into our daily lives. Where we were, so was he! We became the recipients of his adoring attention and entertaining cat-antics! Just look at that mischievous face!(photo by Hallelujah Truth)

As the days progressed, friends urged us to get Tao a feline sibling. Another quadruped who would keep him company while we were gone at work, one who would create mischief with him. I had already started looking on-line every night to find another Siamese rescue, but had failed to find a female around Tao's age. I know some of you might ask why not just any domestic cat? I love the expressiveness of Siamese and they by far are one of the most companionable sorts of cats! 

In my internet searches for a female Siamese, I had come across a cattery--yes a breeder of Siamese cats, Kittentanz. I had even contacted the owner, Michelle Harrison, and we had talked about my getting a retired queen or stud at the price I could afford. I was determined to get a kitten, one that would grow up with Tao.

Time passed. And I could not find the "right" feline family member I was looking for. Until I happened on Michelle's discounted kittens, ones that were young, 6 months, but getting too old to sell at maximum price. I FOUND a soulful-eyed female Tonkinese, one that was not being purchased because she had a genetic kink in her tail!

INTRODUCING SAPELO. This shy little girl entered our lives and hearts--especially Tao's. He adores Sapelo! It seems strange that a small genetic defect would prevent people from bringing this sensitive friendly feline into their homes. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

MISS KINKY TAIL. You can see the kink in Sapelo's tail here. At night, when the cats join us to snuggle, we can always identify which one is Sapelo because of this genetic kink. One her nicknames is Miss Kinky Tail, which offers her all kinds of opportunities to be herself! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

My Dear Chiboogamoo and I got Sapelo from Kittentanz around Valentine's Day 2012. We named her Sapelo after one of Georgia's barrier islands, where we have spent a significant amount time for Chiboogamoo's authoring of his book, Life Traces of the Georgia Coast. Her "release" from Michelle's cattery was not cheap, but again, the expense has been worth the JOY that this dear little female Tonkinese has brought to our home.

We are a family now. Tao, Sapelo, Chiboogamoo, and I. We have paid for boarding at Camp Kitty when we travel. This is a big expense, but we want our cat children to be safe while we are gone. These feline family members have healed our hearts over the loss of Misha. And...they have made us laugh innumerable times. They give us love, warmth, meows. They break porcelain housed on top of the fridge, and knock books of tops of shelves. They escape into the great outdoors and make us hunt them down. They play and leap and chase toys. And one of the most wonderful things? When we come home from work, they gallop to the front door to great us, and we revel in each other's presence!

Hallelujah for the expense of our cat babies, Tao and Sapelo! We can mourn the loss of a beloved feline member, and at the same time go on to love new cat SOULS! That's Coffee with Hallelujah! What significant expense have you had in your life that made an important impact on you? SOUL BLOG with Hallelujah! Let me know!

ART ASSISTANT. Tao has many talents. Among them, the ability to make me stop from my ferocious art making and listen to him. "Play" he says. "Pet me." I welcome the opportunity to be with him! (photo by Chiboogamoo)

IN THE BEGINNING. Tao lacked some welcoming skills initially.(photo by Hallelujah Truth)

INVESTIGATING THE WARM DRYER. (photo by Chiboogamoo)
 

BIRD WATCHING.  Yes, our babies are indoor cats. And bird TV is one of their favorite activities.(photo by Chiboogamoo)

LIFE AT THE HOUSEHOLD OF TAO, SAPELO, CHIBOOGAMOO, AND HALLELUJAH. We are all smiling! Worth the dollar expense! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

THANKS TO KAT MCNALLY for HOSTING REVERB12
Hurray for Kat who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and blogs at "I Saw You Dancing." and is hosting Reverb12. Pilgrims, I suggest you go there and sign up to blog with others from around the world!

REVERB12: How Are You Starting This Last Month of 2012?

#REVERB12 BUTTON. This explosive and colorful Reverb Button was done by the blogger Ms Curlypops. It is being used by the bloggers participating in #Reverb12. You see it on the right side of this blog entry!

Hallelujah PILGRIMS for REFLECTIONS. Hallelujah for our ability to create MEANING out of the passages of TIME. I, along with a community of world bloggers, will be HONORING this last month of 2012 by blogging every day on topics created and selected by a woman named Kat who lives in Melbourne, Australia, and blogs at "I Saw You Dancing." This practice of blogging daily during the month of December was started by Gwen Bell and named Reverb plus the year--hence the current handle: Reverb12.(This year, I have been asked to contribute a writing prompt, so be looking for it later this month.)

#REVERB11 BUTTON. This was the Reverb button I made for my blog last year 2011.  Part of the history of this blogging event is that Gwen Bell decided not to host it last year, and it left the Reverb blogging community struggling to find a way to continue such a lovely shared blogging practice. This is my third Reverb year. Sadly, last year, I did not complete the challenge of blogging every day. This year? YES, I WILL! (Graphic by Hallelujah Truth)

FYI: Reverb is part of the larger word REVERBERATE, which has several meanings relevant to our daily blogging at the end of the year. It means "echo," "reflect," and "resonate." How perfectly lovely to savour one's year reflecting through echos of events and thoughts!

Well, here goes this is Kat's first prompt for #reverb12:

How are you starting this last month of 2012?

Take a moment, close your eyes, take a deep breath and ask yourself the question: how do you feel...

... in your body? in your mind? in your day job? in your creative life? in your heart?

MICRO-JOURNEY PART OF LIFE-JOURNEY. Participating in this #Reverb12 blogging daily challenge is exciting. How often do we get a chance to compress our entire life's ambitions, feelings, and thoughts into the container of one month? I believe that micro-experiences represent the macro-ones! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

I am starting this last month of 2012 as the EXCITED PILGRIM. I am open to discovering through my reflections of this past year, who I am right now. How did the events of the past 11 months contribute to my way of BEING?

 Also at this first day of December, I am present to my imagination and looking into creating new possibilities in the upcoming year of 2013. Reflecting through drawing and writing is a productive way of forging new ideas and new ways of BEING based on nothing!

That's Coffee with Hallelujah on the first day of #Reverb12. Dear Fellow Pilgrim, how are you starting this last month of 2012? SOUL BLOG with me and let me know!