Dear Creative Friend, 

I would like to begin with an invitation and a question for you. 

How can you expand your sense of wonder and awe?

This is a question that has arrived over the past several weeks. As summer takes hold here and we enter a time for expansive renewal, I (Tamara) have spent some time meeting with students, teaching, holding space for healing, and enjoying moments in nature. One theme that has been running through it all is the idea of expanding my sense of wonder. As an expressive arts practitioner, I have built my capacity for embodied presence and a deep desire to be with my experiences fully. Arguably, some experiences are easier to be with than others in life but this summer, I am on a quest to create opportunities for experiences that warrant my full attention and presence. I am on a quest for experiences of awe. Awe is a complex human emotion that has been studied extensively (learn more here if you are interested), but my sense of it is related to wonder and amazement. The paradox is that the search requires me to be still, rather than busy. The more I am able to be with an experience, the more I receive. 

I want to share the biggest one, which I received while kayaking last week. My friend and I were gifted by seeing six manatees who were swimming up the same canal we were traveling to get back to where we launched our boats. It felt like pure magic. Just like Kathleen said last week, this stayed with me. I made art about it a few days later. Now the art image, movement, and words in my expressive arts practice of harvesting the experience stays with me. I continue to benefit from the nurturing effects. 

Here are some photos of my experience. 

Being with nature, with these gentle giants left me with a sense of peace, calm, joy, strength, courage, gratitude, and love. I am so excited to share it with you. I hope you will receive it as inspiration for your own quest for wonder this summer. 

I invite you to seek moments of awe, however small or large they may be. 

We will be taking July off from our weekly newsletter message. In this time, we hope you will seek some wonder-full experiences and make art about them. Dance in nature, paint the sunrise, or express the energy of a beautiful moment that is held in your body and awareness. Make a series of them, keep finding moments that nurture you and find ways to harvest the benefits through your expressive arts practice. 

There are exciting events also happening in July, so you will receive announcements and reminders. 

When you have something to share, we would love to witness you in our private Facebook group. If you are a new member, we look forward to welcoming you.  There are a couple of questions for you to answer when you request to join. 

NEW!!! Save the Date for the following events!

Take a look at what's coming up for the rest of 2026! Registration will open soon for these training workshops. In the meantime, you can see the descriptions by clicking the button below.  

 Interested in a self-study course rather than something live? Take a look at our self-study courses at the link below!

All self-study courses contain detailed, yet approachable instructions, videos, and meditations facilitated by Kathleen & Tamara. The imagery and guidance from this work can assist you, whether dipping your toes into expressive arts or seeking a deeper connection. 

*All courses come with lifetime access so you can refer back to them at any time!

*No previous art experience is necessary!