green living blue planet - Natural Awakenings Magazine Charlotte

coverartist
Sanctuary
by Paul David Bond
Paul Bond’s magical realism artworks
illuminate a dreamlike world where anything
is possible as he deftly juxtaposes
and rearranges common elements to convey
universal spiritual or metaphysical
ideas. Sometimes his paintings are simply
uplifting illusions, expressing some facet
of the whimsical, surreal and fantastic
side of life. Always, they are soothing,
visual meditations intended to delight the
imagination and energize the soul.
Rearranging familiar objects gives
Bond the visual symbols he uses as
a language to reflect an emotion or
thought he’s entertaining at the moment.
“Very often, a painting is born
from something randomly seen from
a car window or a line in a novel or
song,” he explains. “If it stirs my curiosity,
it finds its way into my work.”
Of Sanctuary, Bond says, “The
woman offers respite to the birds flying
in mid-ocean. All of us have some
place or person that serves as our
personal sanctuary—a lover, child or
parent, home, God or a combination of
these. It is a place where we know we
are safe to be our true selves without
fear of judgment. In that safety we are
free to grow and flower.”
For more information and to view the
artist’s portfolio, visit PaulBondArt.com.
newsbriefs
8 Greater Charlotte AwakeningCharlotte.com
Become a Certified Coach in Two Days
Coaching is in high demand. It’s currently the second biggest consulting business
in the country, according to U.S News and World Report. To meet this growing
need, The Certified Coaches Federation (CCF) is offering a “Certified Coach Practitioner”
training in Charlotte on November 12-13. (This is the final NC training for
2011.) These trainings will be led by Jennifer A. Gage PhD, giving participants the
benefit of her sixteen years of teaching and coaching experience.
If you’ve got a passion to help others, this course will teach you the tools, secrets
and strategies needed to build a profitable coaching practice. CCF’s programs are
designed to ensure its graduates’ success. A full year of Continuing Education is
also provided at no additional cost! “I want my students to begin their new career
with confidence,” explains Dr. Gage.
Additional classes are scheduled for Atlanta (October 8-9th) and Orlando (October
22-23rd). Info: Dr. Gage at 704-369-6390 or CertifiedCoachesFederation.com.
Women’s Spiritual Journeys
Classes Create Community and Support
Belinda Haverdill, a Licensed Professional Counselor, believes that during this time
of great evolutionary shift, it is more important than ever for women to step into
their true Selves with power. She has created Women’s Spiritual Journeys, a dynamic
13-week course, to help women more consciously facilitate this shift.
“Sacred circles of women have always known how to create community in order to
activate the strengths and gifts in each other that are most needed in those moments,”
says Haverdill. Women’s Spiritual Journeys will explore the powerful female-honoring
historical roots of women’s spirituality and promote self-discovery and empowerment
through discussions, music, movement and visual art. Women’s Spiritual Journeys will
re-awaken your spirit and soul’s purpose within a safe and supportive sisterhood.
Women’s Spiritual Journeys will meet Thursdays 9:30am-12:30pm, beginning October 27.
An introductory class will be held Thursday October 20. A love offering kindly accepted
for the introductory class. Subsequent classes will be on a sliding fee scale of $20-$25.
Info: Belinda Haverdill @ 704-540-2855 or bh@belindahaverdill.com.
TEDx Charlotte Offers Inspiring Speakers
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx Charlotte, a program of local, selforganized
events, will bring together leading thinkers and doers from the Charlotte
area to speak at Queens University on October 15. The 2011 program will be
centered around Dream Makers and Risk Takers who have powerful and inspiring
stories to share with our community.
TED started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago and has grown
to support world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. Speakers have included
Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, and Elizabeth Gilbert. The TED-like atmosphere
fosters an environment of debate and connectivity. A sampling of speakers for the
Charlotte event include Dr. Mark Moore, NASA Scientist; Scott Swimmer, Founder,
DRUMSTRONG; Rebekah Ferguson, Documentary Filmmaker; Manny Ohonme,
Sports Hero/Founder and Susan Harbage Page, Artist.
Learn more at TedxCharlotte.com.