The 60 Day Sojourn

[Susan Woodward]

Hello All!

This is my first blog post to this community because I really didn't know how to define myself as a "Conscious Artist". Now that I've created The 60 Day Sojourn, I truly feel that I am using my talents in a conscious way to reach out to others.

The 60 Day Sojourn is an on-line community (like this one) dedicated to the sharing of the Hero's Journey as outlined by Joseph Campbell. It asks members to share examples of each of the steps (after reading definitions and examples that I have provided), to take part in guided meditations, and to respond to introspective questions about their own personal journeys. At first, I thought I get a few people from these online communities to join (and some did), but when I made it an assignment for my students, it really took off. What started out (for them) as homework has become a place where my students are REALLY sharing ideas and pieces of themselves. It's amazing. I am so proud of the depth of sharing that many are willing to do. The classroom atmosphere has improved tremendously as we (teacher and students alike) really get to know on another. It's also having an impact on the curriculum we are working with. The levels of analysis about The Hobbit and the cultural myths we are reading is tremendous, which makes me excited about the rest of the school year. I'm loving their insights, and I am especially loving how the students are able to make personal connections to the literature we are reading. We finally have addressed the age old student question: "Why do we have to read this stuff?"

Please check out the work my students are doing at http://herosjourney.ning.com
Also, feel free to join us!

I am able to hone my own writing skills as I create the personal meditations. I truly feel like a Conscious Artist when I listen to the playback and think, "Wow. That's actually not bad!" I'm proud of the work I am doing, and thankful that I have been able to learn to tap into my Artistry as a tool for reaching out to others.

Now I know what a Conscious Artist feels like!