Dear Beautiful Painters,
Traveling to Switzerland to teach has coincided with a time of the deepest emotional healing for me. Recent events and painful loss has finally triggered me to deal with childhood issues with my father (and early abandonments) that had previously been unexplored. I am here taking my own Painting Medicine as I teach and this is the perfect place to fill a lifelong empty hole with self-compassion and self-worth.
I am in a sweet loving retreat center, Waldhaus, in the famous Emmental Valley, with the Beautiful River Emme flowing through the valley. This is where the iconic Swiss cheese (with many holes) was first produced, (here Swiss cheese is called Emmental Cheese).
There is also a charming nearby village called Lützelflüh made famous by the 18th-century local preacher, Albert Bitzius, who anonymously wrote colorful true stories about the daily life of the local inhabitants under the pseudonym of Gotthelf.
Already, even before the workshop began, there have been many magical discoveries on the land in nature and sacred alters. I am getting wonderful support from the staff and from my 3 dear assistants who have traveled across Europe to be with me. The wonderful group of brave painters have begun last night. Despite all the challenges in the world, this promises to be a blessed week of deep and transformational creativity for all.
I look forward to returning to Arizona revitalized, teaching better than ever. Please see my fall schedule.
Love and Bless,
