Have you ever observed the intricate workings of a beehive? It serves as a captivating metaphor for how artists, much like bees, can engage in group dynamics to inspire, influence, and support one another without resorting to imitation.
Imagine yourself as a member of The Enso Circle, which is akin to a creative beehive. Each artist possesses a unique style and perspective, analogous to the varied roles of worker bees. However, the real beauty emerges when we interact, exchange ideas, and collaborate. Here's how this synergy unfolds:

1. Influence, Not Replication: Much like bees cross-pollinate flowers, artists share inspiration and insights. Rather than mimicking one another, we incorporate novel viewpoints into our own work. This process of cross-pollination can be instrumental in nurturing artistic growth.
2. Nurturing Ideas and Providing Feedback: Similar to bees in a hive, we extend our support to fellow artists. We lend our expertise, offer constructive feedback, and engage in collective brainstorming. In moments of creative impasse, the collective wisdom of our artistic hive can be invaluable.
3. Continual Evolution: Bees adapt their honey-making process according to the seasons and the available nectar sources. Likewise, our art evolves as we assimilate fresh concepts and techniques from our peers. We do not stagnate; we thrive through adaptation.
4. Celebrating Diversity: Just as a beehive benefits from a variety of blooming flowers, our Enso Circle thrives on the diverse talents and styles of its members. Embracing these differences enriches our collective creative journey.

In summary, Resident artists can collaborate effectively without sacrificing their individuality. Within the confines of a hive, bees remain distinct, yet collectively create something extraordinary. In The Enso Circle, we draw inspiration from our surroundings, support one another, and evolve as artists, much like our industrious bee counterparts. Together, we can produce artistic honey – our latest catalog is the sweet proof!

There is a link to the Catalog below these images. The pictures show how cross-pollination happens in The Enso Circle. Lyn created an encaustic design called "Irish Paper" while she and Michelle were teaching in Ireland this past summer. Vanessa, a Continuing Resident, used the idea of square sections in her altar composition to the bees.

I am not sure how I alighted upon The Enso Residency program. I am beyond grateful I did. I
had been circling around my art before accepting the invitation - briefly touching down and
engaging but without the needed discipline necessary to advance my artistic growth. This was
because life had wedged itself between my ambitions and reality.

There is a certain kind of judgement and pathology ascribed to the self-described artist who doesn’t ‘art’ (or art ‘enough’). Are quantity, hours and output realistic indices of one’s status as an artist? I came to Enso in the stuck place - that frozen landscape where one’s feet seem trapped in ice and inspiration feels forced and inauthentic.I had been pushing a Sisyphean boulder (an art-based thesis about Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy) up this icy hill. If the opposite of trauma’s freeze response is flow, then does persisting with art heal as a kind of icebreaker? Can it elicit flow when forced, when one is truly frozen? Where is our ability to heal in the space between stuck and unstuck? What exactly is inspiration? These are the questions I ask myself every week as I engage with Enso. Being lost in the process is artful, it is authentic. It is engaging with the divine.

Jacob’s Ladder appeared in my work the first term. I wasn’t expecting this imagery and
had to look up its significance. The Divine, flow - connection to forces beyond our
comprehension. This is art. Dr. Paolo Knill, father of expressive arts therapy, spoke about the
“Holy, wholly other”. The art lives beyond our hands, as its own spirit. It tells its own truths. By
engaging with these works, by staying on the surface and not analysing or interpreting, we may
hear the insights the art offers. Persistence begets flow and flow need not be fast, it can move
like molasses.

Enso is a moving circle, it is living community. Connection and community shifts
one into dialogue. This term has been beset with health issues and I am tethered to the circle by
a golden thread. Enso is the thin rivulet of water that bores through ice. Enso, therefore, is hope and offers that frame in which to persist, to chase flow, however slow. Enso holds this space.

Sometimes it is invisible but we persist with the faith of knowing Winter’s ice yields to Spring’s
thaw.

Nadine Rusinek-Bloomfield 2023 #ourensocircle #theensocircle

     When I was growing up my mom encouraged me to give myself permission to do what’s right, what’s helpful to others, and what’s beneficial to me in terms of self-care and life balance. I learned to truly listen to my inner voice and follow my intuition as often as I could.

     A most radical recent opportunity to do just that came in the form of the Enso Circle, an online artist residency that attracts artists from around the world and was created by award-winning creatives Lyn Belisle and Michelle Belto.

     I was aware of Lyn’s spirit dolls and knew I wanted to create my own. I sought out tips from Lyn and took her how to classes. I gave myself permission to play with fabrics, sticks, and clay. And I had a blast! So, I took the biggest leap ever and applied for membership in the Enso Circle. I was not an artist. I was a life coach and therapist.

     As soon as I hit ‘send’ on my Enso Circle application I gave myself permission to pretend that I was an artist. I gave myself permission to know that if I were accepted my life would change tremendously. And I gave myself permission to wonder what that could look like. Would I retire from the day job to pursue doll making full time? Would I discover other mediums for artistic expression and dabble with a variety of them for fun and learning? Could it be possible that I would learn more about creativity and develop my own sacred studio practice to fuel my creative endeavors?

     I would indeed as I was accepted into the residency! The Enso Circle has delivered a support circle of amazing men and women to move through life and art with. From sharing honest critiques to sharing souls on our regular Zoom meetings and in our Slack channel, the Enso Circle has opened my mind and my heart to more creativity, support, and accountability than I thought was possible. And it’s given me permission to think bigger about what my artistic voice might have to say. I am grateful for the Enso Circle members as we witness the creative spirit as it springs forth from each of us.

     If you are practicing permission giving in your own creative life, you would love the Enso Circle artist residency. Take your own leap and fill out the application today. I’ll look forward to meeting you in our circle.

One of the first things we ask in the application process is what the applicant wants to accomplish in a twelve-week residency. Implied in the question is the need for a goal. For many of us artists, the word itself is intimidating. Can I change my mind once the Residency starts? If I aim to complete three paintings during the Residency, do I have to work on only those paintings? What if I choose a goal that I won’t be able to accomplish?  
 
Our answer: Yes. No. Reshape the goal.

If you have questions, feel free to contact us directly or arrange to talk to one of our Residents about their experience in the Circle.  ([email protected], [email protected])

Note - this "Inside the Enso" post on sacred scents will be used by our Continuing Residents (a special group who have chosen to stay with the Circle after their 12-week initial term) as the inspiration for discussion questions.

 Scents and aromas have been part of sacred spaces for over 5000 years. Originally, perfumes were used in sacred shrines in conjunction with burnt offerings. People burned precious scents such as frankincense and myrrh on their altars. Soon, people began using these rare perfumes on their own bodies and associating scent with spiritual experiences.

Creating a sacred space with the assistance of essential oils, incense, and natural scents is a personal and customizable practice. The scents you choose, the rituals you incorporate, and the intentions you set all contribute to the unique and sacred atmosphere you want to create.

Here are some cross-cultural versions of sacred scents that have endured:

Copal Incense: Copal incense is a resin incense that has been used in Mesoamerican rituals for centuries. It is known for its strong, earthy, and slightly citrusy scent. Copal incense is typically burned on the altar to purify the space, create a welcoming atmosphere for the spirits, and to help lift the prayers and messages to the spirit world. The aromatic smoke is believed to be a bridge between the two realms, helping the spirits find their way.

Below is a very short video about how to burn Copal resin incense from Quetzalcoatl Music Guillermo Martinez.
Source for Copal

Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender's name traces back to the Latin verb "lavare," which means "to wash." This essential oil provides spiritual protection by metaphorically cleansing your spirit. Lavender essential oil has the potential to dispel feelings of depression and aids in regulating our emotional well-being. It is the go-to choice for meditation due to its calming and soothing properties. Lavender essential oil is a valuable tool for enhancing your meditative focus and achieving a deeper state of inner tranquility. Sprinkle one or two drops on your altar cloth or use a mist of 20 drops of lavender oil to 2 ounces of water as a purifying mist.

Source for Lavender Essential Oil

Hand-gathered Smudging Bundles for Purification of Spaces

Smudging with sage or cedar is a centuries-old ritual deeply rooted in Native American and Indigenous cultures. It involves burning bundles of dried sage or cedar leaves and using the fragrant smoke to cleanse and purify a space, object, or person. Sage is often associated with purification, clarity, and wisdom, while cedar is believed to offer protection and grounding energy. The ritual is typically performed by lighting the bundle and waving it gently, allowing the smoke to waft through the area while setting intentions for cleansing negative energy and promoting positive vibes. Smudging is not only a practical act but a spiritual one, fostering a sense of balance and reverence for the natural world.

You can make this even more meaningful by gathering your own plants for smudging bundles. You become part of the sacred process from beginning to end.  Here are directions that we wrote for you about how to make your own Smudge Bundles. They take about two weeks to dry, so practice mindfulness and patience.

More subtle than music, ephemeral in nature, scents enhance, inspire, cleanse and renew on the deepest level of human consciousness. We'd love to read your comments and observations about how you use scents as a creative enhancement in your own  work.

I received an email from a friend today following up on a conversation we’ve been having about circles in general but particularly “found” circles in nature. She sent me a picture of some roots she had found in a green waste pile and wrote "roots of the Enso Circle?"

And then she followed it up with this photo of a circle of bull kelp that a friend of hers fished out of the surf (she lives in the Northwest):

I sent back a photo that I took this morning of a burned-out tree stump:

Looking for patterns in nature, or just noticing them when you see them is so typical of creative people. Circles, of course, have significant magic and meaning attached to them since pre-history and are often perceiving as powerful and profound symbols.

The ancient Greeks saw the circle as a symbol of infinity and unity. The geometric perfection of the circle represented the idea of a complete, unbroken whole. This concept was also associated with the Greek concept of "monas," or the source of all things. The Mandala, a circular symbol, holds spiritual significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. It represents the universe and the idea that everything is interconnected. By meditating on mandalas, practitioners sought to connect with the divine and attain inner peace and enlightenment. And in Native American cultures, the Medicine Wheel is a circular symbol representing the balance of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life. It was used for protection and to promote healing and harmony within the community.

One of the things that Michelle and I love about the Enso circle is that it is typically not a perfectly closed circle; it may have a slight opening or gap. This imperfection is deliberate and symbolizes the imperfection and incompleteness of all things in life. It encourages practitioners to accept and embrace the flaws and uncertainties of existence.

It's not a bad idea to start you day with an eye to finding certain patterns as you go through you daily routine - look for three lines together, or the first letter of your name - or circles! Observation, appreciation, serendipity are all parts of exercising our creative intuition.

Here is a site that explores how children learn from nature and its shapes and numbers - I love the concept, and the exercises are fun!

As we embark on our creative journeys, I'd like to share a transformative perspective I've gained over time. It goes beyond the technical aspects of art and delves into the profound realm of sacred practice.

In our artistic endeavors, it's essential to understand that creating art is not just about producing aesthetically pleasing images. It's a doorway to a deeper dimension of existence. When you engage in the act of making art, it can be a form of meditation, a way to connect with a higher source of inspiration.

Treating the act of creation as a ritual, a sacred dance with your muse, can infuse your work with reverence. Consider your canvas or photographic frame not just as a physical space but as a gateway to the ethereal. Through your art, you can express your innermost thoughts, emotions, and desires, fostering a dialogue with your soul and exploring the universal truths that unite us all.

The beauty of this perspective is that it transforms not only the art itself but also the artist. It can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a profound connection with the world around you. Embracing imperfections, for they too are part of the divine tapestry of existence, is a lesson learned through this sacred practice.

Remember, your creative process mirrors the intricacies of life itself. Creativity is not confined to the canvas; it extends to the way you live, love, and interact with the world. Every moment, every encounter, and every breath can be an opportunity to infuse life with the sacredness of creation.

This perspective has the power to enrich your life in unimaginable ways. Art is not limited to the studio or gallery; it's a living, breathing force that can infuse every aspect of your existence. By viewing artmaking as a sacred practice, you can unlock a profound wellspring of inspiration, transformation, and connection. It will continue to guide you on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and creative exploration.

Wally Lafaiete

Art is solitary work. And you like it that way. Often, though, you might want another creative to bounce off an idea, get feedback on a direction for a work in process, or celebrate a finished artwork or project. The Enso Circle provides that kind of community.

When you enter The Enso Circle Artist Residency, you are joining a small curated community of creatives who, like you, are excited about what they are doing and are engaged in the creative process. As a world community, someone is always online to answer that burning question about the materials or process. Do you need help? In the Circle, you can upload an image and get next-step feedback from artists you respect. It is as easy as jumping online and posting your question to the Help Channel.

We all have used social media to connect to art communities. Still, even when they are private, it is too easy to get sidetracked by interruptions with information and advertising on our feed. In the Enso Circle, we wanted a genuinely private community space where we could be ourselves and show our work. We found it in a user- friendly platform called Slack. Only some people like social media. Slack feels like something other than social media because the community consists of twelve artists/colleagues you meet repeatedly in weekly Zooms, in creative conversation, and sometimes even in person. Before long, Slack becomes a home away from home.

A community offers accountability. When we share our struggles and successes in the creative process, the residents help us do what we came here to do. To help us all stay accountable, focused, and self-aware, we've developed a weekly check sheet for our Enso Circle Residents (and ourselves) to fill out and share with the group. It is a shortcut summary of our progress, concerns, roadblocks, and solutions.

The Enso Weekly Check Sheet takes very little time but makes a huge difference in individual accountability. Lyn and I are attaching our version for you to try in your studio practice. Our residents love it and use it faithfully. And if you decide to join us, you'll be one step ahead already with your own Friday Check Sheet ritual. We'd love to know if you used this Check Sheet or something similar you developed. We'd love to hear about your take on accountability.