Back in the Saddle Again

It’s 10:15 pm and I really don't feel like writing but on Friday I made the declaration that I would post before the weekend was over. I was inspired (kicked in the a**, is more like it) when I discovered that a wonderful woman the I met on Facebook, Lisa Ann Bonfiglio, was going through a major health challenge and decided to blog about entire journey from beginning to end. I’m sure, in part to express her Self, but equally (???) as important to be a guide/light for others who may be experiencing their own dark journey (my choice of words.)

Truth be told, I did experience my own Dark Journey from mid' September '08 through the end of January. And that’s about the time I stopped blogging. During that time, I didn’t feel like I could share publically, the fear and the pain that I was experiencing.

Don’t you think it’s interesting how differently people can respond to similar stimuli.

Anyway, reading Lisa’s blog the other day made me feel embarrassed and even guilty, maybe, that I hadn’t had the courage that she is demonstrating.

So here I am, better late than never I always say. I intend to continue my story (which has very recently taken some new and amazing turns - - but you’ll just have to stay tuned for that.

At least I kept my word - - to myself at the very least. Let’s all send some loving, healing blessings to Lisa!!! Oh, and Happy Summer Soltice

Creative Genius

It's been almost 3 months since I made my last blog post. I feel badly about that from the perspective of considering myself a "writer" and yet I haven't been writing. What kind of a writer is that?

From a different perspective, however, these past 3 months have been consumed with healing - - from surgery for the removal of a malignant lump followed by 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments. To compound my situation, my sister has been dealing with a critical health challenge - - and that has the family in turmoil, which in turn impacts me.

Truth be told, I haven't felt the energy to do much more than the most basic necessities of life - - and even that has been an effort. I have done a lot of sleeping and curiously enough began to knit voraciously. It didn't dawn on me until just recently that knitting is commonly used as a means of comfort, relaxation and contemplative meditation.

I received an email today from my friend and former shamanic counselor, Michele Lessirard. It was her most recent New Moon Journal http://newmoonjournal.blogs.com/the_new_moon_journal/2009/02/pisces-new-moon.html

As this is the Pisces New Moon and one of the things that Pisces represents is Our Connection to the Muse, Michele provided a link to a presentation by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-selling Eat, Pray, Love entitled Humans and the Creative Mystery - - A Different Way to Think About Creative Genius.

One of the things she talks about is the radical idea that instead of considering those rare individuals who "were" geniuses, perhaps it would be more accurate to consider each and every one of us as "having" genius. And maybe that Genius, which we all possess, is really nothing more than the Divine seed that lies within us all.

Do yourself a favor and listen to her talk - - It inspired me to write my first blog post in 3 months!!!

Gratitude Power

It's that time of year when gratitude is on everyone's mind. Sadly, it may just be the only time of year for some people to stop and take stock of their blessings. If they only knew the impact that gratitude has on their life! Throughout history the great philosophers have always celebrated gratitude and extolled its virtues. All of the world's religions practice gratitude as a morally beneficial emotional state.

But did you know that researchers have been subjecting gratitude to scientific study? Among their findings is that gratitude plays a significant role in a person's sense of well-being. After conducting the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving, Dr. Michael McCollough, of Southern Methodist University and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, concluded that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Also, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress.

In light of his research, McCollough suggests that anyone can increase their sense of well-being and create positive social effects just from counting their blessings. The reason for this, in part, is that there is a close relationship between people who are grateful and the positive emotions of joy, love and happiness.

Scientific literature reveals that not only does happiness yield numerous rewards, but it is actually seen to promote positive outcomes. What this means is that happiness actually makes good things happen. Additional benefits include higher incomes, superior work outcomes, better physical health and even longer life.

Dr. Emmons goes on to say that happiness can add as much as nine years to one's life expectancy. In a longitudinal study of college students, it was found that happiness levels in college predicted income 16 years later. The most cheerful students earned $25,000 more per year than their most dour classmates.

So for the sake of your health, wealth and happiness, try a little experiment with yourself and begin to keep track of the things you have to be grateful for - - every day. And then watch and see what happens!!

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." - - Willie Nelson

The heARTmatters Children's Project

Back in 2005, I came up with an idea that I decided to call The heARTmatters Children's Project. The purpose was to be able to donate my book, God is Color, to hospitalized children thru sponsorship/ donation.

As the result of the generosity of some very special people, I was able to donate several hundred books to the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, and to children all over the world through the IAM Foundation.

"Susan does a colorfully brilliant job at illustrating God as well as affirming the love and diversity of all children on earth in her beautiful book God is Color."

--Steve Vigione, children's author, founder and CEO of The IAM Foundation

Since my move to Georgia in 2006, I have established a relationship with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and so far have been able to donate in excess of 100 books. What's more, I have been allowed to visit the Family Library there, personally sign the books and put them directly into the hands of the children.

What a thrill - - To bring a smile to those darling faces is a feeling that is hard to describe - -

"WOW! Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Max Brown Family Library. They (God is Color) are absolutely the favorite book of many patients. They love all the color..."

--Patsy Rann, Family Library Coordinator, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

We all know that times are tough, but no matter what we may be facing, hospitalized children are facing much greater trials. So, since we’re in the month of gratitude and heading towards the month of giving and celebration, I invite you to look deep within your hearts and help me to help others by creating some smiles, raising some spirits, and giving to those who are facing such monumental challenges.

If you have your own favorite group or organization to donate to, I will ship the books directly, otherwise I can donate to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in your name.

For your convenience, you can go directly to http://snipurl.com/childrensproject where you can review the different Sponsorship categories. You can then select your level of participation and make your payment using my secure shopping cart. If you have any questions or would like to speak with me directly, I can be reached at 770-578-9393 or 954-812-9268 cell.
Email: successcreative@bellsouth.net

With warmth and gratitude,

Susan Schanerman

The Dawning of New Life

In celebration of the arrival of my first grandchild, Jaylynn Rose Schanerman on Sunday, October 19, 2008 I've decided to post this article which I wrote back in 1996.


Yesterday my friend Susie gave birth to her first child--a 6 lb. 7 oz. beautiful, baby girl. I just had a long conversation with her getting all the details of the labor, birth, etc---and as I got off the phone, I began “musing” about the wonder of it all.

Is there any experience we know of or could even imagine that comes close to the mystery, awe and wonder of birth? I can’t think of one.

From the conception---the merging of male and female energies---to gestation---growth---maturation---to labor---and finally, birth. Nothing less than an out-and-out miracle.

The act of creation is and always has been. PERIOD. From beginning to end---the process has its own timing---its own “knowing”---Just like Susie was saying about when it was time for her to push---it was just time for her to push---she just knew---

Somehow these thoughts about a new birth and the incredible wonder of it all led my mind to contemplate the similarities with the process of creativity, in general. Conceiving of an idea---allowing it time to gestate---mature---going through a labor period and then voila---giving birth---and seeing the idea in its physical form. A thrilling experience for me, without a doubt.

But what I am coming to understand is that any act of creativity, like creation itself, has its own timing, wisdom, “knowing”---and for me, I am coming to realize that the more I allow myself to “go with the flow” of the process---to trust it---the more creative I actually become.

Shadow Dance

I've been studying human nature for the better part of my life. I guess I have the kind of mind with an insatiable need to understand. How and why we do what we do. Internal and external influences and how they play a part - -

I received an e-mail yesterday or the day before, from my friend and shamanic counselor Michele Lessirard. http://www.newmoonjournal.blog.com/ While she is an astrologer and likes to explain things from that perspective, she is also a very wise woman and has great insights about all aspects of life. For her, astrology is a tool to understand the cycles of life, both personal and collective. It offers guidance as to how to live proactively, rather than reactively.

She says that cycles spiral in four stages - a time of hope, a time of growth, a time of completion and a time of standstill. As she sees it, we are currently in a time of standstill. What that suggests is that we are being forced to deal with the death of the old structures. It is also a time when the “shadow aspect” of ourselves wants to be acknowledged. "Too often we discount the richest part of the journey... the death of the old ways, the death of the old self. The moments of standstill...” – Michelle Lessirard

Carl Jung, perhaps the greatest proponent of the shadow or “shadow aspect” of our personalities, wrote that "everyone carries a shadow." He considered it a part of the unconscious mind that holds our shortcomings, repressed weaknesses and instincts. The shadow is prone to project, and without recognition or acknowledgment, it will form "an ever thicker fog of illusion between the ego and the real world." - - Carl Jung

What I found to be particularly interesting was that Jung believed "in spite of its function as a reservoir for human darkness--or be perhaps because of this--the shadow is the seat of creativity."

We spend inestimable time and energy in this society suppressing what we deem to be our undesirable qualities (our shadow.) In so doing however, we are actually denying our humanity.

Author Jill Badonsky suggests that "the phrase 'I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought' and the book/movie The Secret [actually] go against our inherent make-up as people." She goes on to say "...You see what a waste of energy it is to try and stop negative thoughts especially when both the energy we use and the thoughts themselves have so much potential for creativity."

Obviously, we don't want to identify ourselves or act out of our shadow. But observing and acknowledging it non-judgmentally, allows us to embrace our humanity. We've all seen examples of the fine line between madness and creativity. Our shadow can be transformed and even exalted by giving it creative expression.

Giving ourselves permission to be the totality of who we really are is what gives the magic and passion to our lives. You know what the silliest thing is? Each and everyone of us has a shadow aspect - - and yet most people spend the better part of their lives trying to hide, deny or suppress it.

"This it is, after all, the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster's shell that makes the pearl, not pearl-making seminars with other oysters."--Stephen King

The Creative Life

I've recently gotten into the habit of listening to Bob Edwards’ Weekend on public radio every Sunday from 12 - 2 pm. Typically, he interviews authors for the first hour and various other creative types in the second hour. Two weeks ago, his guest was Paul from Peter, Paul and Mary and today it was Joan Baez. The point was made that Baez is celebrating her 5^th decade as a singer.

That reminded me of something that I have thought about for long time. It has always struck me as particularly curious that people who spend their lives in the entertainment business or any other creative field seem to continue to do what they do - express what they have to express -until they leave this world.

So different from the masses who work until they can retire. Or amass enough money to NOT have to work.

Not so with artists, actors, musicians - - Maybe it has something to do with Soul Satisfaction? When we express and live as the creative SELF we truly are, our Souls are full-filled, joyous and at One with All-That-Is. And isn’t that what it’s all about anyway?