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Ellen Bonnifield
Paul Bonnifield
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Judith Carol Day
Tony Crawford
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John Grassby
Harriet Freiberger
Karen Leslee
Edith Lynn Hornik Beer
Graydon D Hubbard
Michala Miller
Joyce Phillips
Cesare Rosati
Sandra Sherrod
William D. Skees
Bill Stocks
Susan de Wardt
Bonnie McGee
Marian Tolles
Glen Poulter
Tina Weintraub
Robert Howe
Todd Kelly

Susan de Wardt, CAPF, is a masterful facilitator of process -- insightful, courageous, compassionate. She excels at using journal writing techniques to build the bridge from "current reality" to the highest actualization of dreams and visions.

A specialist in the use of story, poetry and art for self-discovery and creative success, she recently achieved the designation of Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator through the Federation of Biblio/Poetry Therapists. Susan regularly provides innovative workshops on a wide range of topics. Recent presentations include:

• Writing for Healing -journal support for cancer survivors and patients with chronic illness
• Beyond the Artist's Way series -overcoming obstacles to living creatively
• The Inside Story -how to capture life's precious moments in writing
• The Art of the Journal -2007 NAPT conference breakout session
• The Journal Process for Writers 2007 Day for Writers in Steamboat Springs

Susan is a member of the creative writing faculty for Arts for the Soul® creative arts camp for adults where she has taught creative writing, memoir, poetry and nature journaling since 2004. She will be presenting "Beyond Words" at the 2008 Journal Conference in Denver, Colorado.

In addition Susan is a Certified Instructor for the JOURNAL to the S*E*L*F® workshop and belongs to a select group of individuals recognized for their expertise in the area of journal writing. With over 20 years of experience in reflective writing and personal development training techniques, Susan can show you how to access creativity, enrich your life and connect with your inner wisdom through writing practice.

As a personal coach and workshop facilitator since 1989, she has worked extensively with clients in Europe and throughout the United States. Susan uses the latest techniques in human development and transformational language arts to help clients identify, refine and redirect their energy and approach to creating satisfying life results and experience. Contact Susan by email sdewardt@mindworkscoaching.com or visit her website for more information about coaching or customized workshop facilitation for your club, group, or organization. www.mindworkscoaching.com

Susan de Wardt, CAPF is an energetic speaker and experienced coach in the fields of awareness training, creativity and communication. Recognized for her expertise in the area of journal writing, Susan belongs to a select group of individuals certified to present the Journal to the S*E*L*F workshop. A specialist in the use of language for transforming lives, Susan has achieved the Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator designation through the Federation of Poetry Therapists.

 

Coloring Between the Lines

My childhood pictures
are always the same.
The grass is always green
and the houses neatly shaped
in brown
with fine black smoke
curling from a red brick chimney.
Two trees stand guard,
one on each side
of a straight path
to the front door.
Safe,
reliable, accepted.

I begged and pleaded
with Mother to buy me
the Big Box of Crayons.
Ninety-six incredible colors
wedged neatly in four tiered rows.
Wild colors with provocative names
eager to unleash a restricted imagination.

Mother always bought the standard
box. Eight normal colors
perfect for staying inside
the lines. <9> --Susan L. de Wardt
      August, 2006

 

Journal Therapy

This scattered attempt at thoughtful healing
reminds me of archeologists
quick on the trail
of some new discovery
disturbing the bones of the past
looking for hope and a future.

Furtively
I dig
among my ruins and glory
looking at wrong turns
well trodden paths
ready
to unearth skeletons,
change the motion of my world.

 

excerpt from 'The Zelda Stories' -tales of everyday life among the not so famous

"Bah Humbug!" she said as she burned her wrist on the oven rack for the third time that day. "Why do I do this?" Zelda asked out loud. "It's not like anyone cares." Her mind continued to race through a litany of circumstances. "I have an anorexic daughter, a husband who's never home and a son with no trace of a sweet tooth! Who is going to eat all this stuff?"
Zelda had already baked four batches of biscotti, two pans of toffee bars, one batch of macaroons because those were her favorites, and eight pounds of sugared pecans to split between the staff at the post office and the airport -the only two places in town where anyone recognized her husband. She felt obligated to thank them for their attentive service.
On top of all the baking, this year Zelda had tried her hand at making truffles. Usually Judy made the truffles for the annual holiday celebration but this year Judy was expecting puppies. Well, not Judy exactly; her prize Irish Wolfhound was expecting puppies. With so much at stake in stud fees and new puppy sales, Judy couldn't take a chance and leave the mother alone with the newborns. The bitch might roll over and kill one of the pups and that would be a sad loss for everyone.
So Zelda bought a dozen bags of the finest Ghirardelli chocolate, surfed the net for some truffle recipes and found a plausible recipe on the 'Cooking for Engineers' website. Complete with photos of every step, the recipe was broken down like a science experiment including appropriate ratios for chocolate to cream to ensure the chocolate consistency would be smooth and creamy. Zelda made hazelnut truffles flavored with Frangelico, Amaretto truffles, peppermint schnapps truffles, Gran Marnier truffles, banana rum truffles and just plain bittersweet chocolate truffles. Unfortunately she had been too conservative with the liqueur and all the truffles tasted the same - just plain chocolate. Oh well - how bad could it be? Start with good ingredients and you can't go wrong. Still, it wasn't good enough so she decided to dig out her sister's recipe book and make a batch of old fashioned fudge just in case.

 

Lost Love

On certain days
when the moon is full
and the fragrance of autumn
lingers in the air

Old memories rise
from a closet
deep within

Memories made in this lifetime
seem centuries old;
are still etched upon the heart

Poets may describe
the shadowed touch of a lover's hand;
the warm human scent of forest
like old tobacco
that once touched another skin.

No words can describe
the emptiness left behind
when a lover leaves
and longing fills the void.

Eyes and ears
skin and nose remember
but this tongue is unable to tell.

but I have no words for the longing
that makes me want to fall to the ground
and bury my face in the damp brown leaves

the body remembers

I close my eyes
and breathe it in
as if thirty years were only yesterday
and I was young again.

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