April Retreat for Synthesis

April is spring; the yellows and violets of March explode into all the amazing colors of the rainbow: orange tulips, pink azaleas, lilacs, fresh green, and the blue true dream of sky, that rich blue of patience, peace, and understanding.

During this middle month of spring, I celebrate the limitless energy of the maiden and the crazy wisdom of the fool. I turn everything upside down and inside out - anything is possible! April offers me happiness and wonder; maybe now I can say YES with vigor, enjoy the surprises, confusion, and chaos that life brings, and feel comfortable in the depths of my life.

Synthesis is defined as combining ideas to form a new idea or theory. Today I will take some time to juggle my ideas around in my head and come up with an exciting new order.

1. Retreat day plan

2. Read "The Creativity Book"

3. Elaboration meditation

4. Earth week craftivism

1. Retreat Day plan:

Here's my plan for today -

• Start with reading from The Creativity Book, by Eric Maisel.
• Elaborate on my New Project.
• Work on Earth Week craftivism.

2. Read "The Creativity Book":

A few years ago I started but didn't finish this book by Eric Maisel (one of my favorite writers). The subtitle is "A Year's Worth of Inspiration and Guidance." Who doesn't want that?

I'm on Week 12: Synthesizing. He talks about how the mind draws together ideas to give us a revelation. "If we're not too frightened by our revelation, we embark upon a second series of synthetic operations, sometimes called the 'elaboration phase' of the creative process..." 

This is the phase I'm in, having had a vision of my next series, and having done some analyzing last month (but really not progressing much since then). Unfortunately, he doesn't elaborate on how to proceed with elaboration, except to get quiet and ask myself, "What do I need to do?"

3. Elaboration meditation:

I've got a notebook with ideas and images for this project, and also some first practice watercolors. Today I will spread everything out on the table and begin to elaborate:

• Prepare a detailed list of baby steps to take and playful explorations to make. Be clear and think small. 
• Make a list of different possible media to play with.
• Schedule days for each task, one little step each day.
• Continue to gather intriguing objects, tools, materials, books, fabrics, and other interesting bits and arrange them in plain view.
• Make a Traveling Notebook: List the ideas that I am holding and bits I need to collect. Keep my eyes and ears open for messages and connections.
• Choose one area to research this week - maybe study symbolism, color combinations, or a new technique. Add needed resources to my traveling notebook.

4. Earth week craftivism:

I've got an idea for a craft project that will use up some of my scrap fabric and spread the message:

"Save the birds and butterflies: Shop organic!"

Today I will make a few samples.

Supplies: HeatNBond iron-on adhesive, colorful fabric scraps, butterfly and bird templates, scissors, needle, cord, message tags

1. Bond two scraps of fabric together.

2. Trace the template and cut out. Crease in the center.

3. Thread the cord on a large needle, and sew up through the center of the fabric shape, and down again. Tie knots, leaving a loop at the top for hanging. Sew a message tag on the bottom, and tie another knot.