Creative Sacred Journeys.

Some journeys,

I want to take.

Others need to be taken.

This was both.

Generally,

a class that I share with others

came

from a personal journey that I needed to take.

Once I make it through - - 

or make some steps forward with many left to take - -

I can't help but want

to take the hands of others

as they take

brave

steps

forward.

Writing,

photography,

and

creating

are not only things

that I enjoy,

but also

are

tools

that help me find my way.

They help me

define

and

look at where I am and where to begin.

They help me get real.

They

become

prayers

as well

as 

contain

answers.

Those tools

help me face my fears,

bring them into the light,

so that I can face them with faith.

They help me remember where I have been,

who has been a significant part of my journey,

and how I want to live in my today.

If I'm going to share something with others,

it must mean something to me.

It must be authentic.

It needs to be something I believe in wholeheartedly. 

That's what these times

of sharing art and photo adventures are all about.

Sharing my heart and the tools that have helped me along the way.

It's about providing time and space

to listen to the whispers in your heart,

to work through the hard things,

to have a safe place to be with the questions,

to remember the values and beliefs held dear,

to celebrate gratitude,

and, yes, to be creative and learn something new.

I wish I could put adequate words

to what we do here

and to what I offer,

and the unplanned messages that always show up

that have meaning outside of what I could imagine.

I don't know what to call it.

Art class?  Hmmm.... that's a tiny part of it.

Retreat?  Well, yes... but it's not your normal retreat.

Camp?  Perhaps... but that seems a bit trendy.

Adventure?  Yes . . . but maybe that will scare you away...

It is all of those things.

I know it is real.

I know it is important.

I know it is meaningful to myself, 

and I really believe it makes a positive difference

to the lives of those that attend.

I know that it matters.

It is not just for artists.

Not just for what we call "creative people".

It's for anyone, really, who wants to take time to focus

on what is really important,

to just breathe,

to maybe have space to heal,

to grow and stretch,

to honor who you were made to be.

The projects are fun and beautiful.

But they are not as much of a masterpiece

as what happens inside your spirit.

Some of the most beautiful projects and beautiful moments

are too sacred to share photos.

But sacred journeys 

are what happen.

Perhaps that is what I will call them in the future:

creative sacred journeys.

Creative.

Sacred.

Journey.

Yes.

Summer Location for Mixed Media Art Classes!

Let me take you on a little virtual tour

of the Hoffman's Rifle Ranch

and the scenery around their guest house

which is the location of my summer mixed media art classes!

The Hoffman's ranch is located south of White Owl, SD, on Corral Road.

Locals know it as the old Two Rivers Ranch,

named because the Belle Fourche River runs into the Cheyenne River.

The scenery is rich with wildlife and prairie grasses and wildflowers.

It is a beautiful mix of prairie grassland dotted with pristine dams and ponds

where mallard ducks lazily and happily swim along 

and cedar filled river breaks hide 

mule deer, antelope, and perhaps occasional bobcats or mountain lions.

Surprisingly some of the breaks are so filled with pines and rock

that you would think you were hiking in the Black Hills.

Appropriately this spot below has been named

"Little Black Hills" by Gina Hoffman.

It may take a significant drive along SD Highway 34 to get to your destination,

but you will be so glad that you adventured here!

It is so beautiful that it is hard for me to believe that Brent and Gina are

sharing the secret of what they have down in these breaks.,

but they get such joy from sharing.

The Hoffman's will be hosting my art classes

and serving lunch or dinner

in their recently built guest house.

Brent and Gina believe in warm hospitality and good food.

They are so excited to share their little corner of the world with us.

This summer, I am leading three mixed media classes

on four days in July.

You can read about them and register here:

PRAIRIE ART ADVENTURES

Bring your camera!

Being here will be as much of a treat as your art time!

~ * ~