A 12-Week SoulCollage® Journey Into the World of 6 Fairy Tales

July 10 - Oct 1, 2020

“Fairy tales are born out of necessity and desire.” - Jack Zipes, Fairy Tale as Myth

The wonderful storyteller and Jungian analyst, Clarissa Pinkola Estes implores us to “Go out in the woods, go out. If you don’t go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin.”

And that is just what we will do on our 3-month journey through 6 fairy tales. Every two weeks we will dive into a new fairy tale -- each one of an intrepid girl who enters the forest (initiation), responds to a challenge (integration), and comes out transformed (individuation). We will become the little girl who ventures into the unknown, ready to discover what we need to know about ourselves and the world, the light and the shadow, the big bad wolf and the fairy godmother, the handsome prince and the wicked witch. Is it possible they are all parts of the Self that we must encounter, grapple with, and integrate to leave the forest a fully-formed human being? 

Fairy tales have long been told as cautionary tales with morals and motives disguised as metaphor. Initially, they were stories for adults to both entertain and educate one another about the vicissitudes of life. They were told around the fire, the table, in the parlour, and eventually to children in their beds--the little ones had to have overheard these tales and implored their elders for more.

Many fairy tales have their genesis in ancient myths or folk tales that were passed down from generation to generation, over centuries, across borders. These stories have been told and retold around the world so that there is much cross-cultural overlap from one country to another. We will explore some of these origins as well as the archetypes that live in the world of fairy tales, such as the orphan, the divine child, the innocent, the witch, the predator, the princess and prince, queen and king, the castle, the forest, the path, the gift, and more.

Every two weeks, beginning July 10th, we will immerse ourselves in a fairy tale I have chosen for us. You will receive an illustrated pdf with a link to the fairy tale that explores its symbolism, origins, and archetypes. You are invited to read the story and make SoulCollage® cards of the archetypes and themes as you feel inspired. Those familiar with SoulCollage® will see that some cards will fit into their Council suit (archetypes), while others will find a home in the Committee suit (inner parts), while some may join their Companion suit (animal guides and allies). You will be able to share your cards and wisdom in a secret Facebook group of sister SoulCollagers if you like.

There will be 3 Zoom meetings during the course on Saturday, Aug. 1st, Aug. 29th and Sept. 26th, at 2pm EST.

Each of the 6 fairy tales selected for this course will feature the motif of the little girl venturing “Into the Woods,” the heroine’s journey of answering the call--going into the dark forest where enchanted beings such as tricksters, dwarfs, witches, ogres, talking animals, and other magical creatures live. 

Carl Jung coined the term, individuation, a lifelong process by which the unconscious is made conscious, the psyche is integrated, and transformation and enlightenment are achieved. Jung was careful to say the individuation process is not for everyone. It is, however, an exciting journey for those seekers who want to know more about themselves and who are willing to explore the depths of their soul. The rewards are many: self-discovery, self-awareness, and integration of the many selves, including the shadow--that which is hard to see, much less own. If that journey entices you, then please come along as we step

Into the woods...

Little Red Riding Hood

Lessons on Meeting the Predator (within and without)

July 10 - July 23, 2020

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Lessons on Integration

July 24 - August 6, 2020

Vasalisa the Brave

Lessons on Trusting Intuition

August 7 - August 20, 2020

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Lessons on Discernment

August 21 - September 3, 2020

Hansel and Gretel

Lessons on Finding Your Way Home

September 18 - October 1, 2020

We will get in touch with our inner child--the innocent, who faces adversity, learns what skills she must, discovers who her guides and helpers are, has her mettle tested, gains wisdom, and comes out changed--all necessary steps on the path of individuation.

Special bonus! An audio version of each fairy tale read by the soothing voice of Glenda Cedarleaf will be available.

Glenda Cedarleaf, MSW, is a Heart-Centered® Hypnotherapist who loves writing and recording guided imagery meditations. Her audios and bedtime stories are available on several apps including Insight Timer.

Glenda is the author of "A Guide to Writing Guided Imagery Meditations: 70 Healing Scripts Included".

Register now and you will receive a 7-page illustrated pdf Introduction to the course to get you started... 

Where to buy materials for your SoulCollage® journey through theWorld of Fairy Tales:

You'll need cards (5" x 8" mat boards) and protective clear bags, which you can buy here, along with glue and scissors: SoulCollage website shop

Or you can go here to buy 5" x 8" mat boards in various colors, as well as protective clear bags: Kaleidosoul website shop

You may want to start collecting images now so that you have plenty to choose from, or get together with friends or other SoulCollagers and share the bounty. Look for images in magazines (National Geographic, Smithsonian, spiritual and women's magazines are great sources), calendars, cards, and old illustrated children's books (I look for these at thrift shops and yard sales).

If you haven't taken an introductory SoulCollage class and want to learn the basics, you can take any of these online prerecorded courses:

Fundamentals of SoulCollage with Mariabruna Sirabella

Fundamentals of SoulCollage with Kat Kirby

Complete SoulCollage Workshop Audio Package with Anne Marie Bennett

Or look for a SoulCollage® workshop in your area here: SoulCollage® Workshops

The Goddesses of Self-Care

Self-care is more than mani-pedis and an afternoon at the spa. Self-care is really about soul-care. Many of us talk about it but don't know how to take better care of our Self--our soul.  Many of us could use some help learning the tools and skills of caring for ourselves better. And who better to call upon than the wisdom of the divine feminine?

We’ve already explored 12 weeks of self-care with goddesses from many cultures in our first two courses of the year, so please join us for one more 6-week session during the fall season, starting on November 10, 2019. The course is designed so that we can spend two full weeks on each topic where we will meet two or three goddesses or divine feminine archetypes from various cultures who will act as guides. These mother goddesses will help us tune into our own Higher Self that knows what is best for us and what our soul needs and wants. These goddesses will be chosen for their particular wisdom and energy to help us develop the skills and tools needed to navigate through these waters as well as to help us integrate our shadow and many parts. 

Some of the goddesses we will meet and work with include: Akhilandeshwari, Athena, Jana, Brigid, Grandmother Spider Woman, Freya, Sekhmet, Kali, Hestia, Hecate, Maeve, Yemaya, Medusa, Tara, Mary Magdalene, The Virgin Mary, Tara, Ceridwyn, Isis, Artemis/Diana, Demeter, Persephone, Lakshmi, Inanna, Hathor, Bast, Butterfly Maiden, Quan Yin, and Aphrodite/Venus.

Why We Need This Now

I know from personal experience that it is often hard for women to ask for help. We're supposed to be the caregivers, the mothers, the lovers, the tenders, and we often do a great job of it for everyone but ourselves. I first started working with the goddesses when I realized I needed to have a model of what a loving mother to myself looked like. If you have a mother wound, like I did, and felt emotionally abandoned or neglected or possibly even abused by a parent, self-care is especially challenging because it doesn't come naturally. We may have learned to instead care for a parent or sibling(s) and got good at caregiving others but not ourselves. If no one took care of us, we learned not to expect it, though we may have longed for it. And no one showed us how to do it.

That's where the goddesses come in. In our patriarchal society, most of us were likely raised in religions that venerated the masculine godhead. In patriarchal religions and in the society that has developed around these beliefs, women take second place; the masculine is valued and the feminine is devalued. This is why it is so hard for many of us to learn self-care because we have an old belief that we don't deserve it, that we are less than. We have not learned to receive; we think it might be selfish, and so we don't allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to feel nurtured and receive nurturing. We have the illusion of control, but really we feel out of control and long to be cared for. The goddesses knew how to take care of themselves and so they can be our mothers and teachers, showing us the way to self-empowerment and self-care.

What To Expect

You will receive an illustrated 10-page pdf for each topic (3 during the 6-week course) . There will be a component of art-making as we go, including SoulCollage® and art journaling. We will share our art and wisdom in a secret Facebook group (optional) and meet for a Zoom video session at the end of each course. In this way, you can expect to learn ways to care for your soul with a supportive group of women, both earthly and divine.

When you register you will receive an Introductory pdf that will introduce you to the course and get you started thinking about the goddess within and without. 

There’s still time to register for the last course of the year:
November 10 - December 21 | Autumn Aura (6 week journey) - $89

Health & Healing
Anxiety/Fear
Resting & Being Present

Here’s what others have said about past courses:

Thank you so much, Stephanie, for your inspiration and dedication in putting this course together. It feels like I have found a community of like-minded soul sisters, and I am truly grateful. It's hard to put into words how much I have learned because a lot of it expresses itself through subtle connections that I am still making. And perhaps it's too soon to say how much - I am certain that it will be many months in the gestation! - Ruth G.

Stephanie, I LOVE this class!! Thank you for all your insight, wisdom and enthusiasm!! I also loved all the connection and creativity of all the women who participated!! What and when is your next online class? Thanks! - Vicki W.

I have been touched deeply by your teachings as well as everyone's contributions. The cards and accompanying insights have been profound and soul-stirring. - Lisa P.

What a creative, thoughtful, wise group we've had, and such detailed, rich, incredible teaching, Stephanie! - Lynne L.

Thank you, Stephanie, for your brave and beautiful leadership as you've guided us on this amazing path into our souls. - Kathy A.