See Yourself Whole
a course in awakening vision

Drawing of eyes

Fall deeper in love
with perception, insight
and your naturally creative
clarity of mind

Our vision tends to narrow into stale, utilitarian habits.

We mostly see what we expect to see, what we've seen and categorized before. Especially when frightened, stressed and defensive, our field of awareness becomes very restricted.

  Drawing practice invites your mind to become more open, flexible and connected, more intimate with the living world of awareness you're always immersed in.

Drawing can be mind-yoga to expand and enliven our attention.

As you draw, the verbal side of the brain can release its anxious control. You experience the wholeness of the visual field rather than a collection of isolated objects. You relish the play of light that touches and reflects off everything. You become more present, marveling at all you're noticing for the first time.

Are we having fun yet?

As satisfying as learning to draw can be, it may also bring up familiar mental struggles that dim the joy of discovery–judgments, expectations, comparisons, etc.

In the Awakening Vision Course, we'll explore transformational ways to relate with the stressful thinking that can get in your way. We'll create a sanctuary of genuine support for learning and opening, a friendly, accepting group consciousness we can all contribute to and draw (heh!) from.
This Course is for people with the courage of curiosity about their Beginner's Mind. Those with little or no experience in realistic drawing will find a clear, kind way to learn the basics. Those who have done representational art before and want a fresh start are welcome, too.

The Plan

We'll meet 9 times, on Sundays from 12:30-2pm,
in Belfast, Maine, January-April, 2014

Every third week we'll take space for integration to deepen learning on your own–in other words, we'll meet for two weeks in a row followed by one week off:

January 19 and 26th;
February 9th and 16th;
March 2nd and 9th;
March 23rd and 30th;
April 13th

You'll receive email notes on each meeting, along with suggested exercises, and additional downloadable materials to support your continuing explorations.

Course limited to 9 participants.

What we'll do

We'll experience a complete, well-tested, hands-on introduction to the basic principles of representational drawing. And, we'll open more deeply to the mysterious source of wisdom, freedom, peace and presence found within the eyes of the Beholder.

We'll explore themes both practical and metaphorical, such as:
  • Freedom from symbolizing: The innocence of seeing without labeling things
  • Edge-finding: The truth and fiction of boundaries, the wholeness of positive/negative space
  • Relativity and contrast: Everything is made of light/dark
  • Locating your point of view here/now: Perspective and proportion as relationship
  • The flow of composition: Trusting your yes and no in big picture and small
  • "See the world as yourself" (Tao de Ching): Taking things personally and impersonally

You'll be offered follow-up drawing exercises and noticing practices which you can return to long after completing the Course. Though giving yourself time to practice between meetings greatly increases your skill and connection to the material, there will be no pressure to try assignments unless you want to.
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Coach/educator Jude Spacks has taught many people to draw who didn't think they could. A lifelong artist, and always a beginner, she loves seeing the Seer in everyone.

The heart's desire

Why do we want to make art that reflects on the world? For me, a sense of sacred connection, of engagement and flow comes with humbly showing up to make marks on a page about what I see--even when I think the results are an ugly mess.

 Drawing from reality can become a deep, playful form of loving attention, a gift to yourself from the Mystery that supports all creation.

I hope you'll join us!
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Enjoy your wonderful Self!