“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes: Women Who Run With The Wolves

“There is a wild woman under our skin who wants nothing more than to dance until her feet are sore, sing her beautiful grief into the rafters, and offer the bottomless cup of her creativity as a way of life. And if you are able to sing from the very wound that you’ve worked so hard to hide, not only will it give meaning to your own story, but it becomes a corroborative voice for others with a similar wounding.”

- Toko-pa Turner, Belonging: Remembering Ourselves home

Who are you, when set completely free?

Thank you for choosing this time, this, in reality, this briefest amount of time to join me on a two day journey to RE-connect with the WildWoman living, breathing, hibernating, ACHING inside of you to be invited home, to be acknowledged and to play.

Now, more than ever, women need the gift of unbridled exploration. 

Not a PRESCRIPTION - according to current politics, or social media mob mentality, or hashtaggery, or cancel culture, or identity politics of who you SHOULD be in order to call yourself a woman in 2020 - but an INVITATION to RE-encounter yourself without the formers’ chains in an environment of color, paint, music, dance, glitter and above all else, acceptance.

Who ARE you, when set COMPLETELY free?

This is our task.

DAY 1

10:30 am - 6 pm

Opening Circle

10:45 - 11:10

Introductions | Red Thread Ceremony

Guided Meditation | Journal | Visioning

11:15 - 11:45

Roopam will guide you in a meditation to meet your WildWoman, she who has a story to share and who will be the main subject of our painting. Documenting what we encounter in our journal will help us as reference during the painting process.

Inviting: Blessing | Portal | Intentional Strokes

11:45 - 12:10

We will set an intention for this painting journey, “get to know” our canvas, and create the sanctuary from which our WildWoman had chosen to reside instead of the Real World. As part of this step, we will use our non-dominant hand to tap into our inner children who were BORN wild and create the rivers and creeks mapping the terrain.

Sourcing

12:15 - 1:15 

We will sketch out our WildWoman and any other highlighted beings/flora/fauna/symbols encountered during our guided meditation.

Break

1:15-1:30

Listening | (Journal)

1:30 - 2:15

We will block in our lines using color in big, bold and WET strokes. Roopam will guide you on how to “listen” to the painting and how to incorporate it into the next steps of the painting (journaling).

Encountering

2:15-3:00

Roopam will demonstrate how to create the “face,” encouraging you to think outside of the box, to ignore what is “pretty” and to instead, to go WILD. Remember: our WildWoman may not necessarily be human at all!

Connecting

3:00 - 3:45

Referencing our last journaling, we will reconnect to the painting as a new portal. Are there any marks / scars / wounds that forced your WildWoman into hiding? Here we document how traumas/relationships/culture/society/family have shackled our WildWoman. What part of her has been bound and with what? [Later we will “cover” these up and transform them into the “doors” for our wildness”]

Break

3:45 - 4:00

Deepening

4:00 - 4:45

Using a darker palette, we will add definition and shadow to provide contrast in the painting. Perhaps there are items from the previous step we would like to put to rest for good by setting them aside forever. What part of the painting should be in the background and what do we want to focus on? Roopam will demonstrate how to use darks to create definition in the face and to create a WildWoman who both remains in the Wild but also in the Real World.

Dawning

4:45 - 5:30

Let’s bring our WildWoman into the light! Using a lighter palette, we will highlight her face and other symbols, areas of the painting. What do we want in the foreground of the painting? As we do this, we listen to see if she needs anything else around her [in the painting] to feel comfortable outside of the cave.

[During this time, if you feel called to head out into the property and add actual elements of nature into your painting: leaves, soil, dirt, sticks, grass, please do so. Roopam will have materials on hand to add them into your painting].

Integrating

5:30 - 5:45

The scariest, WILDEST step of them all. Here, without reservation, we will embody what it is to be WILD and unattached and FREE and GLAZE our painting with abandon, in service of integrating what we have done so far.

Closing Circle

5:45 - 6:00

If called, as a group, we will share what came up for us during this process - any surprises, any revelations - and desires for day 2.

Community Meal / Potluck

6:00 - …

Notes: It may seem like the first day is jam packed (and it is) but remember, on day two, we will have ample time to go back and refine what we have mapped out so far.

Breathe. 

Pay attention to your dreams on this night, and if called, write them down in your journal. They can be used in the next steps of the painting.

If there are any nature elements you would like added to your painting not provided at the property (flowers etc) please bring them with you and we will add them on Day 2. 

DAY 2

10:30am - 5:30pm

Opening Circle

10:45 - 11:10

Did your WildWoman come to you in your dreams? Any reflections/insights on the process after rest? What are you looking forward to? What are you not looking forward to? What do you need today?

Listening to Painting | Journaling

11:10 - 11:20

Let’s reacquaint ourselves with our WildWoman and listen to/for any new messages she has for us today.

The Dance with your Wildwoman

11:20 - 11:30

Oh yes, we are going there! Let’s spend a few minutes letting loose with our WildWoman to Roopam’s WILD playlist. (And yes, there may be Beyonce involved). As we dance with our brush in hand, if you are called to make any kind of strokes or marks on your painting, GO FOR IT. 

Awakening

11:30 - 1:00

We will reconnect with our painting and solidify the color palette we will use for our final painting. Remember the shackles on our WildWoman? We’ll transform them into our personal symbols of freedom and WILDNESS. If any other imagery came to you overnight, here is where you will add them to your painting including any extra items from nature. Take your time here.

Break

1:00 - 1:30

Honoring

1:30 - 2:30

Let’s take a breath here and ask here what our WildWoman wants/needs. Using smaller brushes, we can add dots and dashes, tattoos and lashes, pollen, bugs and more. What in the painting needs to be tended to and nurtured? Any areas of the painting that have been neglected? - Focus here. What details does the WildWoman need to fully embody herself.

Illuminating

2:30 - 4:00

Time to go WILD! We will revisit the previous steps as we feel called to and bring in any/all magic to the painting with moonlight, sunrays, stardust, and more. 

Receiving and Annointing | Journal

4:00 - 5:00 

By this point we are in flow, not following the “steps” but listening to the painting, to our WildWoman, and tending to what is needed. When she says “it is done,” sit back, listen to what she has to say, and write down her message in her journal. If called, add a title to your painting and perhaps even a little bit of glitter to make her shine! And don’t forget to sign your name. 

Closing Circle

5:00 - 5:30

We will introduce each other to our WildWomen and share our experiences. 

Notes

Remember, your painting is a living entity and you can always go back at any time to change it and/or make another one. 

During the painting process, Roopam will be available to answer questions and offer some demonstrations on painting technique. More importantly, she will be on hand to process any emotions that come up during the process.

The agenda timeline is a suggestion and at any time you need a break, you are welcome to leave the studio and take a breath. While the sharing of your process/painting with the group is encouraged, it is not required. 

The workshop will take place in San Lorenzo Valley, CA.

Supply List

Canvas: With canvas, bigger is ALWAYS better. Roopam will be using a 30 X 40 however, a 24 X 36 or even a 20 X 30 will work. Remember, the more room you give yourself to explore, the more the work happens.

Acrylic Paints: These are water-based paints that dry quickly and are perfect for this type of work. Roopam will have Golden Fluid paints on hand for you to use, however, she recommends you bring a basic set of basic colors with you (any brand is fine) so you will feel freedom with your supplies and not be tied to what Roopam can provide. The following are suggestions, but a basic set from the local craft store will be fine:

• Arteza Acrylic Pigments Painters Painting

• Sargent Art Acrylic Paint Set

Brushes: Again, Roopam will have brushes on hand for you to use but a set of a variety of sizes can be found relatively cheaply at your local craft store or on Amazon. Bristle brushes are best as they can be used both wet and dry. 

• Markin Arts Brush Set

• US Art Supply Brush Set

Spray bottle: Please fill with water.

Snacks/Water: Be mindful that on both days our breaks will be short so it will be important for you to take care of yourself and re-energize/hydrate as you see fit.

Potluck: Please bring a Vegetarian (no eggs)/Vegan meal to to break bread and commune at the end of Day 1.

Attire: Dress as your WILDEST self, but please be aware that things can get messy in the studio. Please wear comfortable clothes you will not mind getting paint/water on.

About Roopam

Roopam Lunia, M.A. Transpersonal Psychology facilitates a psychotherapeutic process group with The Heroines’ Journeys Women’s group once/month. She has studied and painted with Intentional Creativity under artist Shiloh Sophia McCloud since 2011 and is currently working towards her certification as an Intentional Creativity Coach. She is a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter and above all else, a WildWoman at heart. 

To register and for questions please email roopamlunia1@gmail.com

“If you have yet to be called an incorrigable, defiant woman, don't worry, there is still time.”

       - Clarissa Pinkola Estes: Women Who Run With The Wolves

Copyright ©Roopam Lunia 2020