Celebrating the Love of Our Beloved (as well as our friends, family and ourselves)…

at Mohonk Mountain House and in our own homes!

The pale quartz conglomerate rocks so ubiquitous in the Hudson Valley rose up behind a scraggly winter landscape and the frozen surface of Mohonk Lake. That muted and calming backdrop spread beyond the large picture window where we were within the warmth of The Parlor. Our team was dressed joyously in red, busy laying out a creative feast on a large table. Within that formal space, rife with elegant, detailed woodworking, impressive oil portraits, antique setees, and balcony overlooking the large carpeted room, we spread out prints of antique botanical drawings, as well as pens, paper of all kinds, scissors, glue sticks, and more tools for passionate play, creatively.

By 10:30 everything had been set up and the chairs filled with some 16 adults who were staying as guests at Mohonk, mostly couples, fidgeting like children and chatting quietly. They had been invited to pay homage to love through traditional love letter writing, collage, and beautiful handmade note cards. Our class description had read, “Bring your lover, husband, best friend, or even join us alone for two hours of creative fun. From, lists, poetry or even just a few poignant words sprawled on a piece of bark or scrap of paper, you will get busy with words, images, and curiosity.” Rather than plunging right into the mechanicals of the projects at hand though, we did as we always do at the start of a workshop: gathered everyone in a circle. At the front of the room, beyond bordered rows of chairs and tables and between the creative supplies, we found a unified space to begin to know each other.

One of our Circle team began to guide the rest of the group, explaining why we were coming together in this way. “Gathering in a circle takes us out of time and place for a few moments. It is the way people have always assembled, and it reminds us that we are not just here to DO something but to connect with others. So you are invited to close your eyes for just a few moments. Feel the floor and the earth below your feet and start to think about what brought you here, celebrating someone you love. Begin to really bring that person into your heart now…”

(We regret we have no images to share of this sweet moment together.)

“As we breathe quietly, we are also going to remember that, from this softer place, we can create with a sense of discovery. There is no good or bad here; only pure and playful expression and curiosity.”

Then we all took three deep and intentional breaths together, “to ground and drop into ourselves a bit more.” As the group was guided, one person on our team silently wondered, ‘is this the “right” crowd or setting for such prompts? Is this going to seem too…woo-woo?’ Even though this formula has worked at every single event we have offered in our studio as a way of inspiring a deeper experience and exchange with others…

“When you are ready, you can begin to open your eyes. I will begin and then we can move to the left around our circle, introducing ourselves and offering up a small share about why we have come here today.”

Instantaneously and without any apparent hesitation, each person in the circle courageously shared their name, then lavishly spilled gratitude and their unique stories of love, openly honoring their partners:

“This is a second marriage for both of us,” a greying woman offered earnestly. “We had been gifted the chance to do it all again and this man is absolutely my best friend.” Sincere expressions of support could be heard and witnessed around the circle. “It’s been 22 years of true joy,” the woman continued earnestly, now smiling brightly. She turned to her husband, and took his hand in hers.

“Oh great! She friggin’ stole my lines!” he exclaimed, laughing, everyone in the circle joining him. “Well, not about the man part. But at least I don’t even have to embarrass myself now,” he blurted, the two of them laughing with the rest of us. “I love you,” he said, pulling his wife in closer.

Who knew there were still so many unabashed romantics?!

A man who appeared to be in his 30’s said, “We do everything together. I am awed by this woman I get to call my wife.”

Another woman offered, “Well, we’re on our Babymoon,” pointing to her round belly, then smiling softly at her husband. “We’re taking time just for us before the baby comes. I’m so thankful and I just love him so much.”

“I guess I tell other people more than I tell my husband how grateful I am…and I realize I should definitely tell him more; tell you more,” the next woman said, turning to look at her husband with a mixture of shyness and appreciation. “He is the kindest person I know, and for 27 years he’s been a great father and my best friend, even though it hasn’t always been easy. I feel so lucky.”

Such genuine declarations and beacons of partnership are not always so easy to come by in 2022—or at least not effusive, irrepressible romantics!

Was there something funny in the water at Mohonk??

Within that brief span of 15 heartfelt minutes, each couple had already gushed about the fulfillment they shared—and it felt completely personal and sincere. They shared a kind of joy that comes from overcoming and slogging through; love built on friendship. All this with only the gentlest and most important of nudges: inspiration to set an intention and express honestly. And because of this simple formula, the whole group was tearing up and laughing in no time, palpably more comfortable with one another than they had been when they were neatly divided by rows of furniture. Well, that and mayyybe the fact that these were people indulging a whole delicious weekend of adoring one another in the name of Valentine’s Day and love.

Still, our Circle Team conferred later that we were separately astounded at how easily each person could express such genuine pride in their loved ones, as well as gratitude for their lives. Yes even with, and because of trials and challenges.

From the heart.

Like swoon-worthy from the heart.

Be that as it may, everyone at the workshop just mighttt have had a little more faith restored in the prevalence of true love. Well, at least in our beautiful Hudson Valley!

Materials were chosen, and then couples scattered to their places at tables around the room to work separately on their cards and love letters. Another couple arrived to join in the fun. A single woman came late and got busy too. The nervous chatter that had permeated the room upon arrival at the beginning of the workshop was now gone, replaced by a sweet focus; a silence that felt more like a soft collective exhale. This palpable calm is something we always experience in our craft workshops, once participants get out of the way of self consciousness and begin to play from their hearts. Hands were busy cutting paper, brushing on color, smearing on glue, writing. Side by side but respecting one another’s space, they each seemed to express tender notions privately in almost complete silence.

After a while, an older gentleman rose up to standing and said with an edge of sweet and well earned pride, “I’m finished!” He held up his creation for our team to see and beaming said, “Making this, being here…was very therapeutic. Thank you very much! I really enjoyed myself.”

“I wish I gave myself permission to do things like this more often,” another woman soon said, tentatively showing us her card, a beautiful image that combined watercolors and collage. “It was SO fun! I’m a teacher, and I actually had my kids work with watercolors last week. The kids were so calm almost right away, as if they just got out from under their burdens and thoughts. There was no chatter. You could have heard a pin drop the class was so quiet. It was an astounding thing to witness, and that’s why I wanted to try this with you. I thought, if it makes them that peaceful, I could use a little more peace too. And it really was!”

**Could YOU use a little more playtime in your life? Well, you don’t need a holiday to justify it!**

You are invited to get creative in your own private spaces to celebrate the love in your life in all its forms, including the love you want more of!

WHENEVER you feel inspired, or if you just NEED a lil more inspiration, drop into your hands.

Here’s YOUR Creative Inspiration Prompt for today…

Slip into something comfortable and join us to explore love through wild play, with your own two hands. Through the power of words and creative expression heat up your love- whether romantic, with your bestie, or to better honor your love of self or even the earth—in whatever ways you feel called.

Have FUN! Love PLAYING…every day without excuse!

Your unique, handmade gesture will be especially meaningful if you can try and get out of the way of self judgement. Do your best to create without feeling rushed. Just remember, the important thing will be that you’re having fun and expressing yourself authentically.

Aaah… Love. (Swoon)

Explore expressions of LOVE for a specific person in your life and relationship, a spiritual connection you may have- or to honor the love you may desire to bring more of. Oh, and make sure you shower some of that beautiful, exciting love on yourself too! Writing a love letter to oneself is a great and healing exercise you may also want to try. Creativity is a great way to affirm or even rekindle your passion for another and life, as well as find appreciation for your own unique heart.

And while this February Circle has been focusing on the craft of words and explosively creative CARD MAKING, we encourage you to explore your own unique forms of expression through fiber arts, paint and more! Remember that whatever you make, be compassionate with yourself. Try to make each stitch or snip a tiny prayer or offering of your fullest presence. If you delight in the processes for the discovery they are, and for the healing they hold, then you will soon see there is a beautiful self awareness and growth that are gifted from the imperfections.

One stitch, one thought, one intention, one small offering of love at a time. Without any perceived pressure of an end result.

What other UNIQUE WAYS CAN YOU EXPRESS YOUR LOVE?

Please remember, YOU CAN SHOW YOUR LOVE OF MAKING by helping to ignite connection through craft for others...

Donate Here to Circle and your generosity will contribute to:

Continuing to offer affordably priced pay-what-you-can workshops and programming
Sustaining our Chrysalis, Sankofa, and Coser a Mano programs
Support compensation for our essential staff
Develop culturally impactful educational craft preservation videos
And your gift is tax deductible because we are a 501(c)(3)! Whoo hoo!

Any amount would be SO appreciated to help our pay-what-you-can programming (and unfortunately many cannot!)

Love fueled, our classes and events are truly connecting, intergenerational, earth honoring, diverse, healing—and inspiration!

Join us. Please help us to keep growing our Circle... and circles and circles, out, and out.

And let us not forget those who have come before us.

While you are spreading your love, perhaps consider honoring the Indigenous ones (whether from your own lineage, the land where you live, and/or beyond) who passed such beautiful wisdom, traditions, and blessings down to us.

Love,
Jenny, Melissa, Mirabai (and Nicole, who joined us for this love fest!)

Words by Jenny Wonderling. All photos by Circle Creative Collective

Heart Play!