We just got back from Alaska’s inner passage and up into Denali National Park. It was all stunningly beautiful. It was wonderful to see grizzly bears, moose, caribou, hares and eagles all in a well-patrolled, protected area in the wild. Animals lie close to our hearts and especially our inner children. My Inner Child was very happy to see these creatures free and safe. We visited the Tlinget people and saw how they honor their animal peoples.

Being safe is a key element in my art retreats for trauma survivors and others who have known childhood pain. We need to feel safe in order to share (in baby steps) what we must about the atrocities that we endured as children. Art is a good way to make those boundaries. I look forward to our Sept 12 retreat, “Finding the Holy.” It wasn’t hard to feel close to the Holy in Alaska. Blessings, Barbarao

I have been working paintings for a show in October (see EVENTS). This last fall I took a mission trip to Haiti and worked in a wonderful home for children who are sick and dying. I spent my time playing and nursing the children. They really moved me and I wanted to commemorate the unique persons that they each are. So far I have done 5 paintings of them and plan to do 3 more before the show. I will try to raise money for the home around this show, but the main impetus is to honor these little ones.”

I will be leading the retreat, “Telling Our Stories through Art” on Saturday Jan 24 from 10:00 to 4:30 at Rahamim in Sewanee (45 Sherwood Rd). The retreat is for women survivors of childhood sexual abuse or any other childhood pain. We each will have a blank storybook in which to make art (collage, words, drawing) using techniques that require no artistic skill, to begin to tell our childhood story. Care-full boundaries will be in place and no one will be required to show her book to anyone. But there will be ample time to show and tell as much of your story as you wish and to get supportive responses. Those who have attended this retreat in the past have found it very helpful.

What always moves me is the power and comfort that comes from getting together with others who have had trauma, and from the art. See EVENTS and RAHAMIM RETREATS. Early bird registration is before Jan 15 for a discount.