Three card spread

Posted by Anita Bondi on November 23, 2011 under Anita Bondi | Read the First Comment

Day 3 of interesting ways to use the InterPlay Inspiration Deck

Sometimes I do a three card spread. This is a way to use the cards that is similar to what you might do when you pick tarot cards or rune stones or animal medicine cards.

In this spread we will look at past influences, current situations, and future action.

Let me explain.

I have in my mind a question I am holding that I would like to have more understanding and information about. (you may even wish to do some journal writing first to flesh out your question or do some exformation with a friend to get more clarity.)

This time I am going to spread the cards out on a flat surface and close my eyes and pick that way. (you can use any method for choosing that you wish.)

The first card I will pick signifies the past. This gives more information about what may have been at play to create the situation.

The second card signifies the present. This gives me more information about current energies at play.

The last card signifies the future and the action that can be taken to help the situation or give more clarity and direction.

If you are still with me and want more details I will do a sample spread below:

Question/Issue: I am struggling with my current work situation and some of the personal dynamics and wish for more clarity and some help to change the situation and the uncomfortable dynamics present.

Card 1. The past. Babbling (upside down is how i drew the card).

~the answer is not so clear to me so I read the story on the back.(each card has a story in which the principle or practice becomes personified through character, symbol and color.) From this I am able to see that one of the past issues has been a lack of babbling or talking (maybe why I drew it upside down). Most of us work as subcontractors and there has not been a lot of interpersonal communication. There is also a lack of clear communication and leadership coming from the directors. (I can say that because I am one of them)

Card 2. The present. Big Body

~this message was clear to me right away. For a while now I have been bringing the fullest expression of myself to the workplace. I have been willing to begin the hard conversations, to speak the truth, and “feel the fear and do it anyway.” Big body’s message is inviting me to bring all of me!

Card 3. The future. Grace

~what I feel in my heart at this moment is that if I acknowledge the “sins” of the past, make amends and apologies for my part in creating this situation, and stay committed to “Big Body” and all of its wisdom, then the result will be GRACE. The atmosphere around the office will be able to move out of stress and into ease/grace.

Amen to that!

connect

Posted by Anita Bondi on November 22, 2011 under Anita Bondi | 4 Comments to Read

Day 2 of interesting ways to use the InterPlay Inspiration Deck

Last week I brought the idea of connection to my InterPlay class.  Phil Porter introduced the idea of small circles of connection  a few years ago and I love to play with it often when leading groups.

Finish this sentence: I belong to a small circle of people who ________?  Some answers from last week’s class:

• wear hats all year long
• have my own website
• have red hair
• would not be caught dead without lipstick

From the ridiculous to the sublime these are the ways we connect with one another, find our intersections, or lack thereof.

Using the InterPlay Inspiration Deck, I asked the group to each pick a card. I invited them to hold loosely and lightly the question: Is there something that could help me feel more connected to myself and to others? Something that would aid and guide me when I am feeling stuck or scared in my relationship to myself or others?

Here are a few of the cards that were chosen:

• following and leading
• stillness
• improvise

I led the group through a variety of experiences using movement, noticing and contact.

Everyone had profound noticings about how to use their particular card to help them have more of what they want and desire in connection to themselves and those around them.

I will share some of my own. I used the closed eyes shuffle approach to choose my card. I got Following and Leading. The first exercise we did was a solo dance in our own small dance bubble. This was followed by a medium dance bubble solo dance and then a large bubble solo dance. The medium and large bubbles overlapped with other people’s bubbles which helped to begin the investigation of connecting with others. At first I was unsure about how to do following and leading with myself. Within minutes though I was filled with ideas: use my right side to lead and my left to follow, set up a pattern and follow it, take something in the room and follow that, use my feet to lead and my hands to follow. And when the dance bubbles overlapped I had even more fun following and leading with the bodies I came in contact with (whether they were actually aware of me or not!)

Some of my noticings about following and leading:

1. setting up something very simple and repetitive works best. (this is so helpful in marriage, child rearing, and most interactions)
2. it is impossible to follow and lead at the same time. (this is so helpful in marriage, child rearing, and most interactions)
3. when I am not clearly leading nor passionately following the dance falls apart. (this is so helpful in marriage, child rearing, and most interactions)

Now it is your turn. Get your own deck and explore the possibilities!

Stillness

Posted by Anita Bondi on November 21, 2011 under Anita Bondi | 5 Comments to Read

In case you missed yesterday’s post, I am attempting to shine instead of shrink. That is a difficult sentence to write as the little Catholic school girl in me is screaming, ” Don’t brag or boast! Be humble. Let someone else toot your horn for you.”

Well, let’s start there.

Day 1 of interesting ways to use The InterPlay Inspiration Deck has begun.

A bit of history:

~the deck is based on the principles and practices of InterPlay ( read more about that by clicking on InterPlay)

~the deck was created between 2008 and 2009 as a way for me to understand the principles and practices of InterPlay in new and deeper ways

~the cards have symbols, stories, and colors to help bring the principle or practice to “life”

Back to the little Catholic school girl….what could help her?

Some of you will say, “only years of very intensive, expensive therapy.”

Today, we will try a much more inexpensive way (only $19.95): we will pick a card from the deck and see how that may apply.

Here is how I am doing that.  I am noticing what it feels like in my body to have that energy of the Catholic school girl present and I am naming it.

~tightness in my chest and upper back

~lump in my throat

I am holding the deck in my hands while noticing my body sensations and will now shuffle the deck and pick a card.

In my mind I am holding the question, ” Is there anything I can do to help change the feelings and sensations in my body?”

The card I pick is Stillness.

I notice there is a chuckle in me and that I like the colors of the card…green and purple…I will close my eyes and let those colors bathe and soothe me while I take a few deep breaths.

Okay, I’m back and about to check in with my body.

~tightness in chest is gone but still a bit in upper back

~lump in throat gone

~ I also notice my eyes feel soft as do my fingers as I type this.  I feel more calm and yes, more still inside.

Wanting to see if I can do something about the tightness that still lives in my upper back.

The deck comes with a booklet that helps with more information about the cards and some “try this” exercises.

Today, I will go to the “try this” exercises and see if one may help with my back tightness.

Here is the one I am choosing:

Stare at a tree and see stillness in action. Watch the leaves and branches move and sway. Focus on the trunk and the notice the solidity of the tree. Focus on the roots anchoring the tree. What are your roots?

For today the deck has given me two things:

1. the courage to post this blog
2. a wonderful excuse to go outside for a run and stare at trees.

Off to lace up my sneakers!

Building Intrigue

Posted by Anita Bondi on November 20, 2011 under Anita Bondi | 6 Comments to Read

Today, I am going to tell you what I intend to do.

Tomorrow, I am going to start doing what I am telling you I intend to do.

Why the wait?

~to build intrigue in you

~to build courage in me

~to figure out what will be meaningful for me so that I can actually intrigue you

~to figure out how to have the courage to actually claim what is meaningful for me

Are you Blog readers, Twitter followers, Facebook friends, or really inexpensive therapists?!

Okay here is my intention:

I intend to stop being afraid of promoting the InterPlay Inspiration Deck and give the world a chance to see what a great tool it can be for personal process and daily experiential growth.

Here is my plan:

I will write one blog post a day for a week.

I will feature various ways to use the deck.

I will be willing to “toot my own horn” and “shine instead of shrink”

That last one made me hyperventilate so I will stop there for now and just take some deep breaths.

See you tomorrow.  Let the week begin!

cheers!

Posted by Marci Molina on November 19, 2011 under Marci Molina | Be the First to Comment

wine glass charms by marci molina

Cheers!

Sláinte! (Irish)
Nastrovya! (Russian/Polish)
À Votre Santé! (French)
Salute! (Italian)
Skål! (Swedish)
Salud! (Spanish)
Prost! (German)
Saúde! (Portuguese)
Okole Maluna! (Hawaiian)
Kippis! (Finnish)
Proost! (Dutch)
Oogy Wawa! (African Zulu)
Kampai! (Japanese)
Chock-tee! (Thai)
Konbei! (Korean)
Gan Bei! (Chinese)
Stin Eyiassou! (Greek)

And the list goes on …