Piece by Marjorie Scheer
Photo of Marjorie by Jim Lee
How does a human being manifest the gift that is hers to give others? One way is through having the time and space to sink deeply into a place of rest and renewal. I was given this gift by stone circles this past summer as a participant in the first Soul Sanctuary specifically for artist-activists. This incredible experience helped me clarify my vision for how to use my “post-cancer” self in the world. In late August on the land and home that is stone circles and The Stone House, I found myself amidst the most incredible group of women (it so happened we were all women) whose singing and laughing voices, first-time-swimming-out-in-nature shrieks, and wisdom still resound in my body and being. All this, free of charge.
So here is the straight out reason I am writing this: to ask for your help to grow a vision through a Kickstarter project. Since I prepared my project to go live on Kickstarter.com that vision for the “ultimate” outcome of the project has grown. Things are always changing, aren’t they? This shift has a lot to do with stone circles and the gift of the Soul Sanctuary.
My project is a book of paintings that chronicles my journey through cancer: One Day I’ll Wear a White Hat:
A Dancer’s Journey through Cancer. I hope that, in time, this book and I can inspire and help others move with courage through cancer and beyond.
Gail Burton, one participant in our group helped me to see how I might use my own journey and performing artist background and move it out into the world. She spoke to me about her mentor, Robbie McCauley and McCauley’s theatre work “Sugar” a one-woman performance piece in which she speaks out and grapples with her own journey with Diabetes; Gail spoke as well about interactive theatre and storytelling, about taking one’s own illness /life experience and using it as a healing vehicle for others. When Gail shared her notion, I responded with some version of, “No, no, I’m not ready for … I can’t do that.” Gail’s voice is speaking to me and I know some new form(s) of group-work/art-making-storytelling for cancer survivors…or other kinds of survivors is going to emerge in my work as a clinical social worker/artist. But first I need to birth this book.
Please take a look at a very homespun 2 ½ minute video, a project description etc. and get involved with a pledge and/or emails to friends and spread the link below -now!- as far and wide as you are able. The campaign ends on Dec. 7th at 11:59 pm. THANKS!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/891623653/one-day-ill-wear-a-white-hat
