Wednesday, March 5, 2014

EFT Tapping and Releasing Technique


EFT Tapping and Releasing Technique 10:00 – 11:30am, 2nd and 4th Monday, every month with Jenny Li Ciccone Joyful Journey – Mind Coaching Mind Coach - EFT Tapping and Releasing Technique Career/Life transition 

Discover/Unblock/Shift/Move Forward into a lighter and happier place – for meaning, purpose, joyfulness. Through my own life transformation, I receive and follow my call, to assist people for their career/life transition through mindset shift. I use self help tools - EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and Release Technique, to help people discover their unaware negative mind patterns and hidden inner blockages; to release negative mind/emotion energy, and to shift and move forward into a lighter and happier place, with meaning, purpose, and joyfulness. jenny.ciccone@joyfuljourneycoaching.net www.joyfuljourneycoaching.net Phone: 239 851-5415

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Goddess Shines Circle

"And for those who seek for me, know that seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you know the mystery; that if that which you seek you find not within,  you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning; and I am that which is attained at the end of desire” ― Doreen Valiente

Join us as we celebrate a unique aspect of the Mother God energy each month. Come celebrate and explore the Divine Feminine within, that aspect of you that receives all the abundance and blessings that are at hand, that part of you that nurtures through complete acceptance of what is, and allows beauty to flow with passion and grace. Inside everyone, both man and woman is the Goddess in all her forms, the loving Mother, the pure Maiden and the wise Matriarch. This group is for women, and any man brave enough to venture in.

Meets the 4th Friday of the month.
Hosted at: Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Cost: $10
Facilitate by: Rev. Renee Bledsoe

Introspective Art Workshop


March 29th, 2014 - Saturday 4pm
Join us for this powerful new monthly series, Introspective Art Workshop, facilitated by soul artist, Jeni Willing. This workshop is designed to help people utilize art and creativity to express and learn more about themselves, so they can reap the benefits of its healing power, and enhance their creativity in all aspects of life.

Not so much concerned with the end result, Jeni is more focused on the process of creating from the heart and soul. This helps us to get in touch with forgotten, lost or unclaimed parts of our own selves. Jeni has created special art projects that anyone can do, to help this process along. Everything is done in a safe and supported environment. All are welcome!

Next date: March 29th, 2014 - Saturday 4pm
Cost: $10
Facilitated by: Jeni Willing
Contact: Jeni 239-770-4736 or Rev. Renee 239-560-6314
Hosted by Church of Spiritual Light 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907
To benefit The People Shine Project

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About Jeni Willing
Jeni discovered her love and talent for art when she was in elementary school.  As adolescence and high school approached, she began to deepen her connection to art, as it provided comfort and even an escape from the trials and tribulations of teenage life.  She found herself using art as a tool for self expression, and a constructive way to release and deal with emotions.  Jeni was motivated by the feelings of her own creative power and began taking more and more art electives in high school.  The more she opened and exposed herself to the world of art and the many media options, the more solid her foundation became for her future in art.  

Jeni had always been a person who loved helping others so in college she majored in Art Therapy and minored in Psychology.  This seemed to be the perfect way to combine her passions.  She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Art Therapy, continuing on to graduate school where she earned her Masters Degree in Agency and Community Counseling.  While going to graduate school she worked as an Activity Therapist on an inpatient mental health unit while continuing to create through painting, sketching and sculpting.

Jeni had her first real healing through art immediately after her grandfather passed away.  She was extremely close to her grandfather and was experiencing a tremendous amount of grief and sadness.  She wanted to honor him in a way she had never done before and was called to paint his portrait for his funeral.  The night before his funeral she began painting.  She had painted portraits before but she knew in her heart this one was going to be something far more powerful than she had created in the past.  The process was deeply and profoundly beautiful and healing.  She typically use acrylic paints and this time was no different.  She had a cup of water to use when blending and extending the wetness of the paint, and also for rinsing and cleaning the brushes.  Never did she use the cup of water for the purpose of painting, only for the rinsing.  As she began painting this angelic image of her grandfather appeared, the tears flowed from her eyes so perfectly that she was able to use her own tears as she would have that water.  For the first time in her creative life, Jeni's hands and creative actions were being directed by something far greater than her mere physicality and inherited talent.

No amount of art training or education could have prepared her for that spiritual and cathartic experience.  She was not the artist, She was merely the instrument for this amazing piece of art work.  She stood proudly the next day at her grandfather's funeral with his life essence present in that portrait she had just painted, and everyone who attended knew he was there.  Until a year ago, that was the last painting Jeni had completed.  The power of the process, clearly warranted a period a recovery, 11 years of recovery.  She slowly began to reopen her creative channels. Once she accepted and embraced the reality of her gift, and discovered that it is not only for her but also to share with others, the channels and her true purpose emerged.

Jeni wants to show people the healing power that this type of creation can provide.  It is her desire to teach people how to utilize art and the creative process to reach those aspects of their soul that need to be healed. She believes that the creation process is the most important part of the art.  The process itself evokes emotion, deeper understanding and allows the soul's truth to be spoken without words.   By creating art, the soul can be acknowledged seen and heard through a visible and tangible experience. The soul will find a way to be heard. To honor one's soul is to listen to its calling.  Jeni's soul stalked her for 11 years before she listened.   It is her hope that she may be able to provide a key that will unlock the creative spark in those that desire a new and exciting adventure in healing.

Learning How to Love Recovery Group


Join us for this twice monthly meeting (2nd and 4th Friday's) as we provide education, inspiration and support in learning how to love in a healthy way. We address codependency patterns, love addiction, relationship addiction, self-care, self-love, boundaries, assertiveness, anger/passive aggression, honesty in relationships, energy and hidden hooks, guilt, shame, family of origin, betrayal bonds, personality disorders, anxiety, manipulation, empathy, intuition, marriage, friendship, partnership, career and work, finances, gender, sexuality, spirituality in recovery, esteem building, mindfulness, meditation, and personal growth. Each meeting we will focus on a specific topic.

This group is open to the public and all are welcome. Though this is not a 12 step group, we will employ some of the rules associated such as no cross-talk and sharing limits. This is  a positively focused group designed to uplift, educate and inspire. There are many other groups and forums for venting. It is our intention to hold space for people to come out of their old paradigms and into new ways of thinking and discovery about relationship, while coming into the present moment. We encourage thoughtful and intelligent sharing and input that is intended to reveal experience, strength and hope.

Facilitated by Rev. Renee Bledsoe
Cost: $5
When: 2nd & 4th Friday 6:30pm
Location: Church of Spiritual Light 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Ft. Myers, FL 33907
to Benefit the People Shine Project

Sunday, March 2, 2014

March 2014: Myth, Mystics & Creativity


MARCH 2014: Myth, Mystics & Creativity
“I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking” ― Albert Einstein

If knowing thyself is the key to life, one of the most important bits of knowledge may very well be to know what inspires us to create. What moves our souls? Sparks our creativity? Gets the ideas flowing and the heart glowing? Even if we don't exactly know, the next most important question would be... is there a willingness to explore?

“Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”  ― Walt Disney

All too often when on the spiritual path, especially as mystics who thrive on our connection to the mind of God, we sometimes don't focus on the heart of God. We forget about the Goddess. The Spirit, the lightning bolt of inspiration might fuel our visions, fill our senses and portend the ineffable, but in order to truly capture the essence of God in the physical senses we must have a sacred container to be able to connect where it counts... right here on earth! For the mystic there is truly only one logical conclusion to this conversation, as we go deeper and deeper into the divinity, we find that some form of art gives us the outlet that we need to express the inexpressable quality of the divine in the physical.

“Creativity takes courage.” ― Henri Matisse 

The role of myth and archetype, as well as angels and masters can become a tremendous influence for our creativity. These are fantastic jumping off points into the mystery void of creation, as they contain universal themes and also hold clues about ancient memories. Go with what tickles your fancy. Don't be afraid to allow whimsy and nonsense to tease out some serious art! The wonderful thing about art, contrary to popular opinion, is that you really can't do it wrong. For it is personal expression, and art does not live in time and space. Art is the language of the soul.

“The painter has the Universe in his mind and hands.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

We are all artists. We may not have fully discovered our art, but that doesn't mean that it isn't in there. And if we have discovered something of it, that does not mean that it won't change or evolve. The artists touch  is something to apply to every single aspect of life. Art is not only beautiful, touching and inspiring, it is also deeply healing. In many ways artists are healers, especially if they can get in touch with their own soul through their art. There is nothing like that moment when we see a work of art and feel the recognition of a kindred spirit resonating with us. This is true joy as our own soul is reflected back to us in a way that articulates somestimes something lost in ourselves. We are so grateful when our deepest, innermost soulful notions can find expression. there is a soul satisfaction in this, an understanding of the kindred spirits, that might well be an art form unto itself. The art of Kin.

“There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.”  ― Pablo Picasso

One of our biggest blocks to creativity is what we think about how we feel. All too often I have seen serene, happy people become critical, anxious, and self-effacing during the creative process. Some of that is an over-active inner critic, or triggers from childhood, but much of it is discomfort with long suppressed sexual energy, as the creative process is re-engaged and re-routed into the form of creating art. For sexual energy and creativity go hand in hand, and often the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater. As we have repressed and misunderstood sexuality, as we have been immersed in the world of control, we have metered and rationed the very energy that we need to create with.

“The chief enemy of creativity is good sense.” ― Pablo Picasso

Working with our artistry is crucial to ultimate healing, and our soul's emergence and evolution. No matter what we are creating, the very act of relaying that creative energy into a new channel sends a powerful message to the psyche. Even the smallest project could have big energy opening impact on other aspects of our life. Allowing the soul this expression pleases the Goddess within, and the muse will smile upon us, as one flash of inspiration gives way to a whole series of lightbulb ideas, and then another, and another, as we continue to give ourselves creative license.

“If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.”  ― Ken Robinson, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

As we develop the courage, the strength and the confidence to tap into our imagination and activate our imaginal cells, that part of us that looks like a question mark, we influence the power of our soul to come forth. They mystic within, the part of us that braves the mystery of our own selves is never happier when the fear of going into the void of creation is richly rewarded with synchronicity, divine conversation and inspirational wisdom. It is through this way of being that we can turn our entire lives into a masterpiece, especially if we allow ourselves to keep finding new avenues or going deeper with the artistry of our self-expression.

“To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.”  ― Osho

It is through this trust in ourselves as creator gods in the making that we truly can come to know God, and actually find expression for divine love. As we allow the mind and the heart of the higher powers of the universe inspire and guide us, our creativity takes on new meaning even to ourselves, offering brilliant, out of the box solutions to long standing issues and concerns not only in our lives, but in the world, as we tap into the prodigy within. He or She is in there. We have only to keep exploring and allowing that one to emerge into the light of our soul, and fearlessly enter the unknown. As they say, keep on until you surprise yourself.

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.” ― Martha Graham

Sunday Talks with Rev. Renee Bledsoe
March 02 - Myth, Mystics & Creativity
March 09 - Unlocking the Soul
March 16 - Sacred Altar Church in Circle - Fae Realms
March 23 - Courage, Strength and Confidence
March 30 - Soulcoming

March Affirmations
As I go into the depths of my soul, I am inspired and restored.
My true creative powers come from the realizations of my God Self.
My soul is a Great Mystery to me.
I am comfortable with mystery and excited to learn more about who I am.
I am curious about the world and enjoy experiencing this creation.
I am willing to step out of the box with my creative endeavors.
My life become a masterpiece of my divinity.
I see beauty in everything.
As I look through God's eyes, I witness miracles of creation every moment.
I allow myself to be inspired by others and their art.
I inspire others with my art.
I bring the sacred into the artistry of my life.
I create with my hands something beautiful.
My hands are the extension of my heart.
I address the critic within by making art anyway.
I identify where the critic is coming from and send lovingkindness.
I listen to suggestions to improve and further develop my art.
I collaborate to create art.
I look for inspiration in unexpected places.
I stock my life with chances to be inspired by other creative people.
I soak in the beauty of life.
I am moved through my emotions to creative expression.
I allow my emotions to heal through my creativity.
Art infuses my life with creative solutions on every front.
Every day is an opportunity to create something beautiful.
I enjoy sharing my art with the world.
Art can heal my life by putting me in touch with my soul.
Art reveals the mystery of my soul.
My art and the art of othes helps me connect and communicate with my own great mystery.
I am a creator God in the making.
In truth I am creating all the time.
I am willing to look at what it truly is that I am creating.
Do I create joy and beauty, or do I create suffering?
The more I understand my powers of creation, the more I am inspired to be creative.
I am willing to become responsible for what I create.
I am a creative expression for the divine Will to Good.
My life is my art.