Starting a Mindful Creativity Practice

Ongoing Mindful Creativity Mandala

Developing a Mindful Creativity Practice assists us in navigating through the uncharted territories of life. When life presents us with unexpected twists and turns, many times we get knocked off our center.  Having access to restorative resources keeps us afloat and helps us find our way home. Mindful creativity is one of those avenues, allowing us…

Read More

Harvest Despacho Giveaway Contest

despacho ceremony: sacred creations

What is a harvest despacho? Despacho is an Andean amulet-making ceremony, in which the despacho-maker brings various elements into an object and then ritually sends it off. They are traditionally made by Andean shamans for a variety of (often transitional) occasions, from birth rituals to rituals honoring the dead. In a sense, a harvest despacho…

Read More

Despacho Ceremony: Sacred Creations

A Despacho Ceremony

A despacho ceremony is an ancient indigenous ritual of the Andean people of Peru. Despacho literally means to ship or dispatch something.  Creating a despacho is an intentional, focused sacred ceremony in which an amulet-like bundle is filled with natural, biodegradable ingredients. These ingredients hold symbolic elements that represent the prayerful intentions of the despacho-maker.…

Read More

Honoring Death: Dia de los Muertos

Pondering death teaches me about living.  I have learned that to honor life, I must also honor death.  But recognizing that death is a natural part of the process of living is not something most of us want to face.  It is hard to come to terms with the idea that death isn’t something to…

Read More

Speaking from the Heart: On Mourning

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. – T.S.  Eliot, “Four Quartets” No matter where you are in your cancer journey, life has changed. Overwhelmed by the resulting uncertainty, we often become metaphorically frozen in time, unable…

Read More

Today is Day of the Dead

Couldn’t get down to the Five Points Fountain this Halloween weekend? Well, after going to the voting polls today, why not visit our Autumn Remembrance display? Pause for a few minutes to remember those loved and lost. Celebrate Day of the Dead with Healing Icons At its essence, Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday centered…

Read More

Thoughts on the Upcoming Day of the Dead

Imagine the look on my family’s face last year when I suggested we start a new family tradition – an annual feast to honor the dead. Now, our children are 20-somethings. Our son is married to a beautiful (inside and out), bright-spirited young woman; our daughter is in graduate school and has a terrifically accepting boyfriend. My…

Read More

Welcome to the Healing Icons Blog

Welcome! This blog will highlight the ongoing and upcoming projects of Healing Icons as well as provide a space for thoughts, prompts and insights into living with cancer, grief and the transformative, healing power of art. Community is a powerful force. By communing with others who are dealing with the same challenges and fears, by learning…

Read More