The Chautauqua

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

What if you’re not supposed to look in the mirror

and recognize yourself?

What if this was a sign of growth all along?

- Lou Reed

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Monday, 17 February 2025

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to purchase decks: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Saturday, 15 February 2025

Saturday Morning Comic

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Friday, 14 February 2025

My Artist Voice #34 February 14, 2025

Welcome to my 34th Letter to you. To receive these letters directly in your email inbox, please contact thechautauqua@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list. Please share this with friends who may also be interested. Thank you so much for your support.

I spent some time thinking about my 2025 Vision: it keeps evolving as Life throws curveballs my way - some directly and some indirectly - and there are so many directions and areas that I could put my energy into, and I’m still dreaming/determining what are the best for ME right NOW. At this point, my focus is Joy, Pleasure, Magic, Miracles, Ease, and Spaciousness in all areas of my life - what that looks like in a practical sense is still a bit nebulous, except for creating space in the house by shedding what isn’t Me (2nd round of Let It Go with a friend), being very creative and completing projects, listening to my body even more, finding ways to keep publishing the paper with ease, exploring Lou’s program this year, and continuing in Inner Circle.

I don't know about you, but for me, January felt like it was a whole YEAR long so I feel like we should be at the beginning of the year again!

Celebrations:

January 9th I started putting gesso on some pieces of cardboard that I found in the basement. All in all, over 3 days, I put gesso on 11 pieces of cardboard so I could explore painting on them.

On January 23rd, I did my 2,000th sky drawing since April 27, 2021! Oh my gosh!

I published two more comic strips in the paper and posted them online. First is an original and the 2nd was a repeat from last year.

Recently Completed:

Since the last newsletter, I've completed...

4 watercolour play faces (9x12 mixed media paper). L-R: 4-legged...winged...finned...creepy-crawlies

Then I did another set of 4…L-R: sun…rain…wind…snow

And, another set with my interpretation of the creative energies we use in Inner Circle...L-R: Lover...Warrior...Mystic...Queen

I did more playing with the Walmart set of watercolours in the second pad of 4x6 watercolour paper! For this pad, I'm using the technique I heard about in last year's Sketchbook Revival session regarding painting with watercolours - not cleaning the brush between colours to create unique mixes. I even found a nice brand new brush just to use for this process! I confess I am NOT a fan of swatching colours - does nothing for me, however, this process is addicting as I discover what new colour or shade emerges. I really love the deep purple I managed to create.

I completed more mini collages on 4.5x6 mixed media paper. I still need to set up a dedicated space for these so my bits and pieces don't keep getting moved all over.

I completed 4 cardboard play pieces - these are watercolours on the gesso. The top left is 10x13 inches and the other 3 are 9x11.5 inches. I want to try some with acrylic paints too.

I completed my Oracle canvas from Shiloh Sophia's online class on January 25th.

I completed my 35th cartoon comic booklet and you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/beth.richardson.10/videos/1583587852303970

In Beth's Kitchen:

I made a loaf of cheese bread on Feb.1st - didn't turn out, though it had a great flavour. I decided I was going to have to change my approach in the future!

I made a baked rice casserole Feb. 11th and froze over half for future meals. My life works better when I can just grab something ready-made for meals.

On Feb. 12th, I took another stab at making a loaf of quick cheese bread - this time I used the food processor to mix and knead the dough. Worked out much, much, much better. Half of the loaf went into the freezer too.

Jigsaw Puzzles:

Since my last letter, I completed a 1,000 piece puzzle (top) and two 500 piece puzzles.

UFO (UnFinished Object) Update:

January 10th I started watching a beginner watercolour class I've had saved on my computer for ages - I didn't get very far in into it as it was very UNinteresting! I deleted it, and then realized I have a LOT of courses, videos, websites, and more saved over the last 10+ years to learn how to paint and draw as I had no idea how to do it, or even where to start. I deleted most of them, because I also realized that I managed to learn to draw and paint without watching any of them! I kept a handful from artists I still follow (or very recently followed) to see if I want to do them.

Later in the month, I came across 6 more online art classes that I did plan to watch, but I decided I could use those 30+ hours to do something I REALLY wanted to do instead, so deleted them too.

From January 11 - 31st, in Inner Circle, we did a "Let It Go Let It Flow" decluttering process, and over the 21 days, besides the courses/files/emails deleted, I cleaned my kitchen table studio - got rid of a lot of things I was told I “should” have as an artist, but I never use in or for my art processes.

I also removed everything from under the coffee table - most items just needed to find a new home and be put away - I could see the floor under the coffee table for the first time in about (gasp!) 6 years! The dust bunnies were bigger than Jabberwockies!

I set up sorting stations on the south end of the living room and moved various piles and stacks over there so they were out of the way. I could now walk all around the dining room table without tripping over things!

I connected with a friend and we went through the 21 days, and cheered each other on - in our progress and in our stuckness. It worked so great, we decided to go through the 21-day process a second time.

On January 13th, I tossed an xmas ornament I made years ago with Gramma, that broke about 10 years ago - easy to fix, but I didn't have the health at the time - I decided it wasn't something I REALLY wanted to keep, so it went. I tossed the plastic container, that I stored the pieces in, into the recycling.

I also repaired a clothespin butterfly I had found while sorting through a box from Gramma's a couple (?) of years ago - it's hanging on my wall now. Finally, I removed Jabberwocky-sized dust bunnies that were lurking behind those items where they had been sitting on the floor under the kitchen table!

On Feb. 7th, I released another significant item - a Girl Guide camp diorama I created in my late teens. I have protected this for decades, and then shortly before mom passed away, it somehow fell off the shelf, and other items fell on top of it, and crushed part of it. I was going to repair it for years, but when I pulled it out to do so, I realized that it couldn't really be fixed, and that I had been hanging onto it because I didn't believe I could ever create something that clever ever again! Oh my! Of course, I could create something equally (or better!) so I tossed it.

Courses and Challenges (free and paid):

I started watching Christa Forrest's Soulful Goddess Soulful Soul Cards (free) class on January 11th. Instead of making the cards, I decided to create them in the back-to-back journal I made. I have one side of each page done, and am ready to move onto the next part.

Kiala Givehand’s 7 Books in 7 Days course: I still have ideas for books I want to make.

After her Winter Solstice session, I signed up for Lou Reed's free Becoming Extraordinary year-long energy course - I signed up for her freebies every year, but haven't been able to do any, and they were some of the courses I no longer had access to, so I'm looking forward to finally being able to do one! I started it on January 22nd. Alas, I haven't gotten past the intro yet.

Amanda Sophia's free mini Divine Woman Awakening course on the Celtic Wheel of the Year: I wrapped up the Winter Solstice season (season of the High Priestess according to Demi's Wheel of the Year) by reading, and mainly deleting, old emails on the topic of various modern-day priestess paths - they certainly aren't the right path for me. So far, Demi Fox's Morgan Le Fay path, and Amanda Sophia's are the ones that seem to work for me.

As well, I was decluttering (21 day Let It Go, Let It Flow) and getting things organized/prepped so I can move forward on various creative explorations and projects I want to do.

We entered the season of Imbolc on February 1st, where the days are getting longer and dreams are starting to come to life. I'm easing into this season as I still have so much to organize around here.

- Amanda Sophia’s free Geomancy & Land Healing course - I have been practicing dowsing with a couple of coathangers.

- I finished the free introductory course on drum playing on January 23rd. Now that I know the basics, I'll just keep playing for my own pleasure and health.

Physical Activity:

I was very sick from ages 14-27 and physical activity was a challenge. While I was doing weekly Highland Dancing at the time (and teaching it in the latter years) as my main physical activity, plus summer walks with Sis, and weekly yoga after age 23, I was doing more activity in my mind than with my actual body - yippee for the power of visualization.

After I started feeling better, I wanted to be more physically active, but other than yoga, I never was able to really do anything. After I took over the Chautauqua in 2002, I joked that the deliveries were my fitness routine as it involved walking and weights (carrying the papers).

After my total physical collapse in 2013, movement, beyond just getting from one room to the next, was pretty much out of the question for years - and even though I took my Yoga Teacher Training in 2022, truthfully I was lying on the floor for more of it than I was doing any yoga.

Now that my blood work indicates that I am healthier than I ever remember being in my life, I am slowly adding more and more physical movement in. Fingers crossed 2025 brings more energy and vitality!

Seated forward bends! As I got closer to my 1 year mark, and after doing more research into stretching nerves vs muscles, and after having a bit of body upheaval (Dairyland chocolate milk is the KEY to keeping me going, and I wasn't able to buy any for a couple of weeks) resulting in VERY tight/sore muscles, I was ready to give up. Do I really need to be able to complete a full seated forward bend before my 52nd birthday in May? Will it REALLY make any difference in my life?

As one of my visions for this year is to listen to my body more, I listened and she wanted me to STOP the seated forward bends! My last day was February 2nd so I completed a full 50 weeks. While I had made progress from where I started last year, I didn't get any further than where I was in the picture from Oct.

Top: Day 1 - Feb. 19, 2024

Bottom: 33 weeks - Oct. 7, 2024

Rebounder: after Mom died, I was going to get rid of her rebounder as my head felt like it was going to fall off when I attempted to use it, so there was no point keeping it. Sis didn't want it so I stuck it in a corner to "deal with later." In December, I had to move it from the corner, so I set it up in an open space in the basement and did a few trial bounces - head didn't feel like it was going to fall off!!!!! I decided to add a minute of rebounding to my life, but the thing sat there for weeks with no action. On December 26/24, I did a minute before my evening bath, and I've been able to do a minute every day since - before my bath.

In the past week, I've added a minute every time I venture down to the basement.

"Mystery activity” I have done a little bit EVERY day for just over 24 weeks!

Works in progress:

Currently, I'm working on...

- a 9x12 page of watercolour play

- playing on the 4x6 watercolour paper pad with my "fancier" watercolour paints

- 13" round canvas (acrylics)

- painting in my back-to-back journal

- cardboard play - pieces prepped for my next experiment

- painting (18-20?) ceramic Easter egg people from Gramma's craft kits (acrylics)

On February 1st, we had our next Inner Circle painting retreat and this is where my canvas is now - I changed her face shape and lowered her facial features

Featured Art for Sale:

I have inspirational card decks, chapbooks, musical CD's and more for sale that would make gifts. Please contact me at thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone 403-352-3837 to make a purchase. Items are also available for sale at Amy’s Bakery on Main Street in Delburne.

Upcoming Projects:

- I offer Pay-What-You-Can Distance Reiki/Energy Healing sessions. Energy healing works great from any distance and I've sent Reiki healing as far away as Queensland, Australia. Please, contact me to set up your healing session.

"I have been suffering with Long COVID for over a year and have tried every healing modality in the book to get my energy back. Beth has been gifting me with healing Reiki energy for quite some time now and I have, for the first time in over a year, started to feel like myself again. Much of my weakness has dissipated, and the dark cloud that I have been stewing under has lifted. Thank you Beth. ♥️" - Carla, Esthetician, Nova Scotia

Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to share with anyone you think might enjoy it.

Beth

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As a life-long creative, and now artist, I weave my varied interests and wisdom together in an enlightening and entertaining manner, to make people think, but above all else, bring a smile to their faces and hearts, as my style is childlike in its simplicity and playfulness. While bedridden for much of 2017, I developed 5 – 10 minute practices which allowed me to commit to them daily. I’ve been called the “Queen of Small Steps” because my simple practices – though they seem small individually – have added up to quite a body of work in a few short years.

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Thank you so much for your support, to receive this newsletter directly via email please email: thechautauqua@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list. Thank you!

Back issues of this newsletter are found here: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/ under the category "Artist Newsletter"

To support my artistic journey, please consider purchasing my artwork, items available in person at 4910-47 St, Mirror, AB

or make a donation via

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0

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Your support and kindness are always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to bringing you joy and inspiration! Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!

Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Our heads are round

so our thoughts can change direction.

- Francis Picabia

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

Monday, 10 February 2025

email: thechautauqua@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheChautauqua

to purchase decks: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/p/products-for-sale.html

Friday, 7 February 2025

February 7, 2025 Chautauqua

Beth's Ponderings

In Woman Unleashed Inner Circle (the yearlong creative mentorship I belong to), we spent the final 21 days of January creating space in our lives (aka decluttering) for what we want to bring in and/or do in 2025.

Between decades of health challenges, and mom passing away (and her mom before that), I have a LOT in my life, and need to create space around me!

I did manage to deal with numerous piles in the living room so I can now see under the coffee table for the first time in about 6 years! And I can walk around the dining room table without tripping over anything.

During the 21 days, we weren’t just looking at our physical “stuff,” but also our digital “stuff,” habits, emotions, etc.

Physical clutter is easy to recognize because it’s right in front of our eyes (even if it’s hidden away), whereas digital is easier to accumulate, and you have no REAL idea how much you have.

I have (at the time of writing) 6,023 emails from 2013 to today! Plus, I have an older email account that may be fuller! Delete time!!

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18OYrJ0IUurelgVDj571KQvV0gB97hjLB/view?usp=sharing

Whether you've enjoyed reading The Chautauqua from the first issue 23 years ago, are a brand new reader, or somewhere in between, I sincerely hope that The Chautauqua has enriched your life, as much as it has enriched mine publishing it. If you would like to help ensure it continues to enrich others like yourself, I ask you to please consider making a donation to The Chautauqua.

Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0

E-transfer/PayPal to thechautauqua@gmail.com

Your support and kindness is always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration to you with each issue. Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!