Tuesday, March 11, 2014

#C4ward March Blogathon (Day 11): Seeking grace-full people, places, and activities

FINDING GRACE AT DANCE CHURCH. (photo by Tony Martin)
Hallelujah for resources (see C4ward March prompt below) that support our journeys! On my creative journey, I seek the "physicality of grace." This is the term that Phil Porter and Cynthia Winton-Henry created to define the open, relaxed, calm, and creative feeling we experience in our entire bodies when we are engaged in doing what we love.
EVE AFTER THE FALL. This is a statue that I saw at the Art Institute of Chicago yesterday. For me, what the Old Testament Eve is experiencing here is the opposite of GRACE. Let me be clear, the GRACE I am seeking and what InterPlay means by the "physicality of grace" is not religious. However,  the feeling expressed in this figure who has fallen out of God's grace definitely displays the negative impact that stressful emotions have on our bodies. (photo by Hallelujah Truth, sorry I did not get the name of the sculptor)

WHAT IS PHYSICALITY OF GRACE?
As I train to become an InterPlay leader, I am focusing on embodying the concepts from Phil Porter's book, Having It All, and these concepts come from the chapter, "Grace Is Physical":

BODY DATA
We all know when we experience grace--the opposite of stress. It is acknowledging "the good" in the moment that we are feeling. This physical feeling is body data.
 
BODY KNOWLEDGE
Then when we recognize 
WHERE this physical well-being of grace occurs...
and WHAT we are doing...
and WHO is bringing us grace...
this is body knowledge.

BODY WISDOM
Once we have BODY DATA and BODY KNOWLEDGE, we can practice BODY WISDOM. Yes, we can choose to increase the physicality of grace in our lives! We can make the choice to be in spaces, engage with people, and do those activities that bring us energy, peace, calm, and creativity.

FOR MY LIFE AND WORK, WHAT RESOURCES DO I NEED TO ENGAGE IN THE PHYSICALITY OF GRACE?
Great question! This C4ward March Blogathon prompt has me asking pertinent questions and is helping me clarify the direction of my life's work in seeking the physicality of grace. 
 
SECOND SATURDAY ATLANTA INTERPLAY (March 2014) I feel the "physicality of grace" when I do InterPlay. (photo by Callahan Pope McDonough)

To be an InterPlay leader in the Atlanta community, which would bring me grace, I need the following:

1) Training in InterPlay, which requires time, money, and teachers. 

2) Once trained, I need spaces, players, collaborators to conduct InterPlay.

In addition to being an InterPlay leader, I want to be a creativity coach. Then there is my desire to continue growing as an artist who "draws from the source" and the support I need around that soulful experience. 

I see now that I have a lot of body data to collect to be able to determine the resources I need to embody the physicality of grace I am seeking in my work to earn a livelihood exuberantly and easefully.

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me. Tell me about your experience with grace. Where, when and with who do find that wonderful feeling of calm, energy, and renewal?
 
EMBODIED SPIRIT. This is a small portion of Chagall's stained glass windows in the Art Institute of Chicago. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

 

C4ward March Blogathon: Day 11 Prompt

Today, we want to ask you to name some of the tools, resources, or connections that you need to conquer your creative dreams.

  • What knowledge gaps do you have?

  • What classes are you dying to take? Creative, professional, technical, etc...

  • If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently - or in a different order?

  • What resources do you feel are essential to the growth of your creative or entrepreneurial practice?

  • If you had a super power, what would it be?

  • If you could work with anyone, who would it be?

12 comments:

  1. Wow Ruth...you have such high aspirations for the life you want to live...I applaud your creativity and talent in acquiring the necessary business knowledge and know, with the extensive support group you have around you that you will succeed in whatever you undertake...I wish for you the very best in "having it all"...and look forward to watching you grow but artistically, emotionally and spiritually...I love knowing you as a friend...

    ReplyDelete
  2. No gaps, Always looking for constant knowledge

    The classes i'm super interested are belly dancing , herbology .

    No doing over again just constant change.

    need my own studio and a baby sitter!!!!!

    super power: Flying

    Work with anyone a 2 friends / colleagues from my university that I never had contacted since we graduated.they were very talented and creative.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eileen it is so great that you responded to the C4 blogothan prompt. I would like to learn more about herbs too and yes to belly dancing. Fun fun fun answers.

      Delete
  3. I'm intriqued - I want to know more about the Interplay - I've seen the photos Callahan has posted. The pictures you posted show you so joyous - and I can understand why after reading this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vickie, it would be great for you to join us on Second Saturday in April. Come see for yourself what it is.

      Delete
  4. I love that you see and integrate inspiration and data from inside you and all around you with each new experience. You are already experiencing the integration of mind, body, spirit and cultivating the wisdom that will bring physicality of grace you seek. The data you collect comes from the ongoing journey since wherever you go, there you are; accomplishing the objectives you have set are milestones on the ongoing path. It will continue to unfold ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol, how wonderful of you to give me this way of seeing me. I feel understood and supported. Thank you.

      Delete
  5. Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm with you my friend ;) My heart smiles at this blog entry (and no I didn't read yours before I wrote mine) since we are in sync. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can't wait to read your blog Christine. That is where I am headed next!

      Delete
  6. I'm enjoying being witness to your journey! You are a BEAUTIFUL soul!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jes, the feeling is mutual. I am so happy to have met you at C4 Atlanta and to keep getting to know you better.

      Delete