“Evalee’s”  - the painting goes here, but it just wouldn't transfer to this webpage. ..which only models that it's okay to be imperfect.	Musings and Mud Coaching Studio   Presents   Surviving the Holidays! (Oops, did I, the queen of Christmas, just say that? I did not say that.)   I MEANT to say...  Enhancing the Holidays!  (Sometimes it just takes a little magic)
December 2008.. a year of newsletters!!!   In this newsletter: ·         Surviving/ Enhancing the Holidays ·         Creative People Christmas Gathering ·         You saw Deepak Chopra...now what? ·         Christmas Giving, I once got household cleaners and it made me happy.         Christmas Giving Ideas Gifts of creativity, experiences, and self discovery   Books that have knocked my Socks off:   Absolutely brand new hot off the press “The Awe-manac – A Daily Dose of Wonder.” by Jill Badonsky.  I danced when I opened it.  And have now hid it for myself for Christmas. Your year never looked so creative, supported and fun! Aha-phrodisiacs and all!   (Click books to learn more. Before you click, though, you might want to read about the party)   This was our new book for this year’s Annual Christmas Storytime held on December 1st when we welcome Santa, magic and Christmas spirit. It’s perfect. Hysterical. About a lump of coal who just wants to be an artist.. .and who runs into all the complications of that.   Many of Janet’s favourite books are on her site bookstore. It’s like a little library!   Give the gift of a lovely journal or sketch book - whether purchased in in an already lovely condition or enhanced with your creativity. Include a copy of Janet’s e-book “Ya Whatever – Journaling for the Journaling Challenged”   for fun, inspiration, and self confidence to finally make journaling a great adventure.   Give the gift of experiences... Gift Certificates are available from Musings and Mud for creativity workshops, Muse Groups, and more! Simply contact Janet to arrange a gift certificate with a brochure of upcoming workshops and courses. Go here to check out the workshops.. More to be added soon for the New Year! Including teleworkshops! Unique cards, calendars, clothing, purses... www.zazzle.com/janetwhitehead* www.cafepress.com/muchmagic (Canadians, as much as I’d love for you to check this out, items won’t arrive in time for Christmas.) “Faerie STILL making snow angels”	December: a Month of Celebrations!   It’s no surprise that December has a special magic, being host to many cultural and religious celebrations from Christmas to Bodhi Day to Hannukah to Winter Solstice to Yule.   Imagine my surprise when I discovered that The Day of the Return of the Wandering Goddess  is a celebration held on Winter Solstice! I suppose it would be presumptuous of me to think it was in my honour after my travel adventures this fall. With no disrespect to Kemetic Orthodoxy who honour this day... I think I will celebrate this day too.  After all, five females* in the family were wandering goddesses this year –  we deserve to celebrate the adventurous spirit in each of us. (*You know who you are, want to join me?) (I’d best look up a wandering god celebration for the guys, huh?)   THAT was off on a tangent.  Oops.  But I had to do something with that discovery!   If you celebrate an important occasion in December, and it’s not Christmas, I hope the thoughts in this newsletter can be applied to your celebration and your magic.   Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. --Norman Vincent Peale   Let’s not kid ourselves though... Christmas can be chaotic. And a lot of work. And a lot of traditions to keep up. (oh, and look at me! I just added another one on solstice!) But there is magic. Do you feel it?    Survival/Enhancement tip for Christmas:                            “Find the magic.”   What if ....   we asked ourselves... How can Christmas time,  from now until New Year's,  be magical for me? What if you paused for several moments and thought about Christmas?   Might this cross your mind:  Okay, seriously, all this chaos?  All this planning?  Who's having dinner what night? What do you mean you can't come?  How can it be Christmas without snow?   Did I get the kids equal amount of gifts?   Oh, damn the baking... I have to get to that! I have nightmares that it’s Christmas morning and I haven’t gotten any gifts for anyone!     Okay, It's Christmas time.  We don't say those things out loud.  Well, some people do, or how else would I know this?   But what if... What if the whole month had many peaceful moments? What if you spent more time with hot chocolate by the fire than with coffee at the mall? What if you looked at the 'traditions' in your family and weighed out their value? Do some weigh really heavy... like tipping the scale so far that anything placed on the other side flew off so fast and so far it would land in the north pole? Can you let any of the weighty items go? Can you choose to include more of the things you love? Helping others? Creating gifts? Reflecting, remembering and feeling grateful?   And what if you really could feel the magic?   This could help:  A very mini-workbook with exercises to help you access your magic. So little that it’s a post in the Musings Along blog.  This is one gift that it’s okay to go peek at. Find the Magic.   Wait! Before you click you might want to read about THE PARTY first, just in case you get so immersed in your magic you forget to come back here! )       Okay, NOW  let’s  talk parties.... Creative People Christmas Gathering Monday December 15 7 pm til whatever makes us happy. The delightfully successful Creative People Gatherings are back. (did I just hear you say, “I’m not creative?”.. read on, anyway!) No Agenda.*  A social event.   Free.  RSVP’s required. Ideal for the creatively inclined:  artists (visual, written, performing) and those who haven't quite gotten around to calling themselves artists; crafters and creative thinkers; and all wanna-be's.  AND all of you who are looking to live your life creatively... yup. That pretty much covers everyone on this newsletter list!   *Well okay, there’s a bit of an agenda this time.  We might have a corner of  jewellery and paintings and some faeries for sale... or Megan’s collectibles...long story, but cool stuff. That’s fun, huh?   And for those who are keen, we will do a creative visualization to use that brilliant creative and soulful mind to discover your answers to the question – “So, what exactly is my best way to feel the magic of Christmas?” (Your answer could surprise you!)  THAT’s another  ENHANCING CHRISTMAS Magical sort of thing.   If you are inspired to bring drinks or treats, please do!    I will provide the faerie wings and troll turds and coffee and tea.. and yes, kahlua.   Please email Janet to accept invite by Dec 12. mudeaven@shaw.ca
Pottery and Painting Janet’s home and The Art We Are Gallery, Kamloops.    Artella Land.. 55% off creative products at this delightful site of “words, art and spirit”	For those far far away, who can’t come... Guided Visualizations work just as well by phone.  Have you had your complimentary session yet?  We could do this! For my current and previous clients far far away.... we can do this too!
Need a Genie for 2009?    Is 2009 the year for your ship to come in, even if you have to swim to it? Coaches support, encourage and help make wishes come true. Just like a Genie! About Janet: Janet Whitehead is a certified professional life and business coach who specializes in life coaching creatively.  Her expertise includes using creative coaching techniques that help others access their most empowering ways to move forward quickly and successfully, authentically and soulfully.  She coaches both internationally and locally, facilitates creative workshops, and is the author of a variety of work (play!) books.  In addition, Janet is a certified Creative Muse Group Facilitator.  She is currently completing her first novel, and working on a solo show in Clay.     Contact: Musings and Mud Coaching Studio Janet L. Whitehead   www.musingsandmud.com   250 376-8402 mudheaven@shaw.ca	“You’ve been to see Deepak Chopra’s presentation... now what? Back to ‘normal’ everyday life?”   Click Here to read Janet’s impassioned plea written after attending this great event.     Christmas Giving I once received household cleaners and it made me happy....   Keep You in mind as you plan for Christmas Giving.  As strange as this sounds,  when you are empowered by your passions and values, you become even more of a gift than ever for those around you.    Honour those you love by sharing the magic and wonder and passions of you.   If you love to create, create gifts for family and friends.   If you are keen on a healthy environment, give gifts you feel good about giving. I was once given a whole collection of ‘green’ household cleaners.  I loved them!  Now, if someone bought me Windex window cleaner, I’d question the motives, but these were a great gift that introduced me to a great product, supported an emerging small business, and clearly came from the heart of the giver.    If you are not comfortable with so much consumerism, or if you have limited funds to spend... humour and practicality can be great.  Last year my travel-on-$5-a-day daughter recycled her housecoat to me.. by adding length with a ‘favourite towel’ and buttons from my treasured collection of my mother’s buttons.  That took some serious humour to come up with that.. who wouldn’t appreciate it?   My other daughter is like Santa.. even at age 25 we call her the Christmas Kid. Have you ever noticed that Santa really pays attention to what a person would love?  She does this... this is her passion.   If you love writing ... write a story or poem or illustrate a children’s story.  (“Is she serious?” you state, “by Christmas?”  And to that I answer, “I bet you’ve got one ready to go, or nearly finished already.. don’t you!)  You can have these bound at a reasonable price at large print shops like Staples.   And now off I go to sit by the Christmas Tree.  It’s enchanted, I’m sure.     Believe in the Magic of You! Believe in the Magic of Christmas!   Wishing you an enchanting Christmas and a 2009 that is extraordinary! Janet
	Newsletter and artwork joyfully created and legally copyrighted by Janet L Whitehead ©2008

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Janet Whitehead