Women, Girls & the Feminine

Companioning Others As They Grieve

by Sheila Collins | Feb 2, 2023 | Art & Life, Community, Duality, Gatherings, Grieving, Personal Stories, The Art of Grieving, Women, Girls & the Feminine

While at a national conference a few years ago I learned that a young colleague had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I sought her out to offer my sympathy and support and I am still embarrassed by how poorly what I said accomplished that. Fortunately, she told me...

Caring and Not Caring

by Sheila Collins | Jan 26, 2023 | Art & Life, Community, Duality, Environment, Family, Gatherings, Personal Stories, Self-Care, Self-Care for Caregivers, Women, Girls & the Feminine

In a note from Glenda Taylor, the leader of the woman’s retreat I will be attending this weekend in Texas, she did something she’s done every season in the 32 years that I’ve been attending. She shared the topic– Care, Self-Care, Care for Others, Compassion,...

Hello 2023!

by Sheila Collins | Jan 5, 2023 | Art & Life, Duality, Environment, Gatherings, Personal Stories, ReImagine, Resilience, Stillpoint, Uncategorized, Women, Girls & the Feminine

I’ve been in the northern California Bay Area this week and a storm caused a slight delay in posting today’s message. High winds, torrential rain, flooding, downed trees, mud slides, and power outages are continuing to occur this morning. So, as I’m wishing you a...

From Embodiment to Ensoulment

by Sheila Collins | Dec 15, 2022 | Art & Life, book promotion, Dances, Health and Wellness, Our Children, Personal Stories, Stillpoint, Story-telling, Women, Girls & the Feminine

I have journeyed with and ecstatically followed Cynthia Winton-Henry for over 30 years. It was an image of Cynthia on a poster designed by her graphic artist colleague Phil Porter that literally stopped me in my tracks. It was the spring of 1991, and I was in...

When Love Itself Seems to Die

by Sheila Collins | Oct 6, 2022 | Dances, Duality, Family, Grieving, social justice, Women, Girls & the Feminine

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. National efforts to raise awareness of spousal, domestic, and dating violence began in 1987, though my awareness of this issue began in the early 80s. A woman professor, a mentor of mine, and a woman I very much admired...

The Arts and the Queen’s Funeral – Part Two

by Sheila Collins | Sep 21, 2022 | Community, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, History, Rituals, Story-telling, The Art of Grieving, the Big Body, Uncategorized, Women, Girls & the Feminine

In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, the world experienced how the arts can be used to celebrate life, and in this case, perhaps unite the world — even for a moment. A funeral’s purpose is to create an experience for the participants and witnesses. The arts are...