Greetings,
As some of you know, I have expanded my work to include art therapy/ psychotherapy. I continue to provide quilting, and teach Zentangle. Please jump over to my new website, Bloominglife.ca. I have a recent blog post for you to read.
I appreciate your interest in what I share with you. I hope that you will continue to visit my blogs and website.
https://www.bloominglife.ca/single-post/happy-new-year
www.bloominglife.ca/blog
May you bloom and grow.
Deb Kopeschny, RP, Art Therapist, Certified Zentangle Teacher, Quilt artist
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Faithfulness
Faithfulness. What is faithfulness?
Recently I listened to a sermon on faithfulness which was rooted in the stories of Daniel. Interesting stories of my childhood, which speak of believing and acting in faith to God, despite dilemmas that challenge Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel and his friends decided to go against the preferential diet of the kingdom and become vegan; friends whose knowledge and abilities often challenged the Kings of the time.
Faithfulness is a fundamental resolve by most organized religions. Sometimes faithfulness has been used to control individuals and require unquestioning commitment. But is that faithfulness? is faithfulness only part of a religious belief and doctrine?
According to the online dictionary.com; faithfulness is a noun which means: the quality of being faithful; fidelity; being constant; dependable; steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by a pledge, duty or obligation.
With this definition, faithfulness can also represent honest steadfastness in the integrity of one's personal beliefs. This faithfulness means that standing with your beliefs; having integrity; and remembering one's personal focus. So although having faithfulness to God can be one person's belief; faithfulness to one's core values is also a similar form of faithfulness.
Remember your core beliefs and values. This is what keeps you upright when the world is tough; this is what keeps you going when it feels like the systems are against you. Amidst all that, it is your core beliefs and values that remain with you, and what you can remain committed to.
Faithfulness. Try it.
Recently I listened to a sermon on faithfulness which was rooted in the stories of Daniel. Interesting stories of my childhood, which speak of believing and acting in faith to God, despite dilemmas that challenge Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel and his friends decided to go against the preferential diet of the kingdom and become vegan; friends whose knowledge and abilities often challenged the Kings of the time.
Faithfulness is a fundamental resolve by most organized religions. Sometimes faithfulness has been used to control individuals and require unquestioning commitment. But is that faithfulness? is faithfulness only part of a religious belief and doctrine?
According to the online dictionary.com; faithfulness is a noun which means: the quality of being faithful; fidelity; being constant; dependable; steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by a pledge, duty or obligation.
With this definition, faithfulness can also represent honest steadfastness in the integrity of one's personal beliefs. This faithfulness means that standing with your beliefs; having integrity; and remembering one's personal focus. So although having faithfulness to God can be one person's belief; faithfulness to one's core values is also a similar form of faithfulness.
Remember your core beliefs and values. This is what keeps you upright when the world is tough; this is what keeps you going when it feels like the systems are against you. Amidst all that, it is your core beliefs and values that remain with you, and what you can remain committed to.
Faithfulness. Try it.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Welcome and Moving On
The year of 2018 is in full force. With it is new ideas and motivation to engage with customers and myself. One of those important factors is my online presence. I have been working diligently with a website and marketing professional to redesign my brand and presence on the web.
Stay posted, as I plan to begin a new venture with Blooming Life.
This new site will be a ongoing presence, sharing specific information about my psychotherapy/art therapy practice, and also include references and information on my Zentangle and Quilting businesses, which intertwine as life ventures which help you and me flourish and succeed. I hope to hear from you with your comments and feedback - but also your engagement!
Check back soon!
Deb
Stay posted, as I plan to begin a new venture with Blooming Life.
This new site will be a ongoing presence, sharing specific information about my psychotherapy/art therapy practice, and also include references and information on my Zentangle and Quilting businesses, which intertwine as life ventures which help you and me flourish and succeed. I hope to hear from you with your comments and feedback - but also your engagement!
Check back soon!
Deb
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Summer 2017
Greetings,
It has been a half a year since my last post. What is happening in your world? What does your world include?
The beginning of this year could make some of us very disheartened by the increase in discrimination, outright hate, and judgement. It does make me very sad to believe that people want to limit each other's potential and growth by sending messages to each other that controls and restricts us from being who we are meant to be.
In the last year, I have been exposed to the effects of discrimination and control on several groups of people. The long-term impact on people's lives and their ability to overcome the trauma, self-hate and self-judgement is overwhelming. I provide healing presence for those who have experienced trauma and discrimination on multiple layers and levels; hate, abuse, beatings, (and more) on those who identify as LGBTQ2; those who have less power; those who are perceived as being dispensable - including children; and women...
I think for me, the impact on how our society, systems and especially religions controls women has been the most upsetting. The use of the law, distribution of money, distribution of power, enforcement of 'cultural and religious practices' all make woman less than... and contribute to how our society ALLOWS women to be seen and treated as less than. I never would have thought that I would say it ... but I believe I have become a feminist. Feminism does not mean a brow-beating, man-hating philosophy... Rather Feminism means that we are all created equal; and supporting and empowering women is only BUILDING our society to be healthier; to use and implement all of its resources. Feminism means empowering and supporting one another.
Feminism aligns with my belief in a God who is ever present; who works through us; who moves among us; ALL of us ; not just the men.
I leave you with the Womanly Living Tree. May you be able to grow as God intends.
Peace, healing, growth.
Deb
It has been a half a year since my last post. What is happening in your world? What does your world include?
The beginning of this year could make some of us very disheartened by the increase in discrimination, outright hate, and judgement. It does make me very sad to believe that people want to limit each other's potential and growth by sending messages to each other that controls and restricts us from being who we are meant to be.
In the last year, I have been exposed to the effects of discrimination and control on several groups of people. The long-term impact on people's lives and their ability to overcome the trauma, self-hate and self-judgement is overwhelming. I provide healing presence for those who have experienced trauma and discrimination on multiple layers and levels; hate, abuse, beatings, (and more) on those who identify as LGBTQ2; those who have less power; those who are perceived as being dispensable - including children; and women...
I think for me, the impact on how our society, systems and especially religions controls women has been the most upsetting. The use of the law, distribution of money, distribution of power, enforcement of 'cultural and religious practices' all make woman less than... and contribute to how our society ALLOWS women to be seen and treated as less than. I never would have thought that I would say it ... but I believe I have become a feminist. Feminism does not mean a brow-beating, man-hating philosophy... Rather Feminism means that we are all created equal; and supporting and empowering women is only BUILDING our society to be healthier; to use and implement all of its resources. Feminism means empowering and supporting one another.
Feminism aligns with my belief in a God who is ever present; who works through us; who moves among us; ALL of us ; not just the men.
I leave you with the Womanly Living Tree. May you be able to grow as God intends.
Peace, healing, growth.
Deb
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Happy New Year!
Dear Friends, from the news and comments of others, 2016 was a year of stress and questions about humanity. While I have also experienced a lot ... a lot of stress, it has not necessarily been all negative. Rather, the year has been quite a mixture of highs and lows.
On the positive side, I completed the requirements of my Masters degree in Psychotherapy, Spirituality and Art Therapy. This included writing my thesis - a major accomplishment all on its own, finishing practicum hours, and ensuring all my documentation was completed. I also graduated officially in November 2016.
Wow! Then my gorgeous daughter got married in September, 2016, and we had a beautiful wedding - a wonderful, warm, beautiful wedding. I couldn't have been more proud of her and her husband Albert.
Then in October, 2016, my comrades on the Canadian Art Therapy Conference committee successfully ran the Annual Art Therapy conference in Toronto. We hosted Donna Betts, the President of the American Art Therapy Association, and David Gussak, a famous art therapist who works with the prison populations, as well as over 250 participants.
In August, 2016 I got my first fulltime job as a psychotherapist and art therapist at the Riverdale Immigrant Women's Centre supporting women leaving abusive and traumatic experiences. I am learning a lot.
And I turned 50. Whew. Those are all pretty incredible high points.
The negatives have been just as monumental. A family member was involved in a car accident which totalled the car in July, 2016. I watched as one of the saddest and discouraging elections took place in the United States.
In November, 2016 my father-in-law passed away after a 9 year battle with colon and lung cancer.
A friend and son of dear friends was diagnosed with sarcoma in May, 2016 and died the same day as my father-in-law on November 24, 2016. https://holdingfastsite.wordpress.com
So 2017, I hope is more 'mundane'?!!!! Of course there are always opportunities for growth and seeking out challenges. Why would I seek challenges? Because, with challenges come change, new ideas, enhancement, building character, and wisdom.
At the same time, I have been thinking a lot about Vision. My vision, people's vision. That is, how people's vision shapes our focus, our intent, our identity, what we seek and the direction we end up going in. If my vision is positive, optimistic; and seeks to understand, then my direction in life will be shaped by that vision; and my focus and reality will be shaped by that vision. If I believe that I can succeed, and that despite challenges, I can make a positive impact, then that will shape my reality. I have seen people with immense struggles, who should be overcome by pain and find it impossible to go on, and yet ... they still go on... they encounter the pain, find strength in God, suffer, but they know that there is something positive in the struggle, and believe that there is something greater than themselves. But I have also seen people who have seen problems, but find them overwhelming, and then become shadows of their former selves, because they understand life as only handing them problems. One's vision and the way we deal life's challenges define us and our direction in life.
With positives and negatives in life, which do you focus on? How do you meet the challenges? How do you celebrate the positives? Where do you gather your resources from that provide strength to handle life? And what direction are you going IN?
On the positive side, I completed the requirements of my Masters degree in Psychotherapy, Spirituality and Art Therapy. This included writing my thesis - a major accomplishment all on its own, finishing practicum hours, and ensuring all my documentation was completed. I also graduated officially in November 2016.
Wow! Then my gorgeous daughter got married in September, 2016, and we had a beautiful wedding - a wonderful, warm, beautiful wedding. I couldn't have been more proud of her and her husband Albert.
In August, 2016 I got my first fulltime job as a psychotherapist and art therapist at the Riverdale Immigrant Women's Centre supporting women leaving abusive and traumatic experiences. I am learning a lot.
And I turned 50. Whew. Those are all pretty incredible high points.
The negatives have been just as monumental. A family member was involved in a car accident which totalled the car in July, 2016. I watched as one of the saddest and discouraging elections took place in the United States.
In November, 2016 my father-in-law passed away after a 9 year battle with colon and lung cancer.
A friend and son of dear friends was diagnosed with sarcoma in May, 2016 and died the same day as my father-in-law on November 24, 2016. https://holdingfastsite.wordpress.com
So 2017, I hope is more 'mundane'?!!!! Of course there are always opportunities for growth and seeking out challenges. Why would I seek challenges? Because, with challenges come change, new ideas, enhancement, building character, and wisdom.
At the same time, I have been thinking a lot about Vision. My vision, people's vision. That is, how people's vision shapes our focus, our intent, our identity, what we seek and the direction we end up going in. If my vision is positive, optimistic; and seeks to understand, then my direction in life will be shaped by that vision; and my focus and reality will be shaped by that vision. If I believe that I can succeed, and that despite challenges, I can make a positive impact, then that will shape my reality. I have seen people with immense struggles, who should be overcome by pain and find it impossible to go on, and yet ... they still go on... they encounter the pain, find strength in God, suffer, but they know that there is something positive in the struggle, and believe that there is something greater than themselves. But I have also seen people who have seen problems, but find them overwhelming, and then become shadows of their former selves, because they understand life as only handing them problems. One's vision and the way we deal life's challenges define us and our direction in life.
With positives and negatives in life, which do you focus on? How do you meet the challenges? How do you celebrate the positives? Where do you gather your resources from that provide strength to handle life? And what direction are you going IN?
Thursday, August 25, 2016
New Beginnings and Opportunities for Growth
This summer has been a roller coaster of emotions, struggles and growth. Between changes with my thesis, numerous submission for employment, supporting my children through individuation, weddings, and monumental birthdays there has been endless room for learning and growing - as long as I accept the task. It has not been easy. Sometimes our dreams get lost in the everyday demands and our responses to 'survival' require alternative focuses that distract us.
As I begin the new stage in my career, and my role in my family, I see opportunities for my own blossoming, and that of my family. I see it as my role to let go of my desire to 'be everything' for my family. This enables both of us to grow. Family is this binding and loosening of our connections. I see, that in the loosening of my everyday involvement, there will be a rubber band effect. They will both stretch and grow, and yet come back when needed. This is what I want for them. This is what I want for myself.
And so, I expand too; as I become more confident in this internal ability and strengths that can only be expressed. So be it. I am ready to let these abilities out. And it is exciting.
As I begin the new stage in my career, and my role in my family, I see opportunities for my own blossoming, and that of my family. I see it as my role to let go of my desire to 'be everything' for my family. This enables both of us to grow. Family is this binding and loosening of our connections. I see, that in the loosening of my everyday involvement, there will be a rubber band effect. They will both stretch and grow, and yet come back when needed. This is what I want for them. This is what I want for myself.
And so, I expand too; as I become more confident in this internal ability and strengths that can only be expressed. So be it. I am ready to let these abilities out. And it is exciting.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Summer Time
Summer Time is here. How do I know? Because I must use my summer quilt!
Yes, I still quilt - piece, quilt on my long-arm - create: both artistic and practical quilts. As you can see, I love colour. Colour makes my heart sing. And this time of year the world is full of colour. Flowers, trees, people's clothes and the gay pride rainbow.
This week has been difficult for the LGBTQIIA+ community. The catastrophe in Orlando highlights how discrimination and hating create pain in all of us. This is not just a 'them' problem, we must all love and accept one another despite differences and disagreements. We are all responsible and part of a society which allows it to be okay to hate and cause pain. So, instead of alienation, let us ask, 'How can I help, and How can I understand you?' Love one another.
And if you want to learn a simple way to be creative, to develop a meditation using art Join me for my Zentangle 101 class on Sat. June 25, 10:00-12 noon. deb@kopeschny.ca.
Yes, I still quilt - piece, quilt on my long-arm - create: both artistic and practical quilts. As you can see, I love colour. Colour makes my heart sing. And this time of year the world is full of colour. Flowers, trees, people's clothes and the gay pride rainbow.
This week has been difficult for the LGBTQIIA+ community. The catastrophe in Orlando highlights how discrimination and hating create pain in all of us. This is not just a 'them' problem, we must all love and accept one another despite differences and disagreements. We are all responsible and part of a society which allows it to be okay to hate and cause pain. So, instead of alienation, let us ask, 'How can I help, and How can I understand you?' Love one another.
These two tiles were created in combination with the Kumomi painting and Zentangle. I enjoy the colour, and then finding ways to integrate Zentangle patterns among the random colours. I worked on these while I was in the waiting room at the doctor's office. Zentangling while waiting reduces my anxiety about the often very long waiting times. In the end, I feel productive about my artwork, and I also enjoy the beauty that I have created.
Try it! Zentangling is a great way to reduce anxiety and depression because it follows the simple idea of taking action. Taking action while in the midst of anxiety and depression changes the direction of the brain patterns from the downward spiral to the upward spiral. The act of starting a pattern with placing line on paper creates new brain patterns that develop positive and healthy neuronal networks.
Try it. Move on the upward way with activation. Do something. Anything. Just change the direction in a positive way and your brain will develop the new positive "using the positive" to move forward rather than remaining stagnant and not going anywhere.
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