<![CDATA[Tara Gill Portrait Photography, Families, Head Shots - Map 2015]]>Sun, 22 Oct 2023 02:05:21 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[A Metaphoric Place]]>Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:36:13 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/map-2015/a-metaphoric-placeMonarch Chrysalistransformation metaphor
Following on the footsteps of the Wheel of Life, and Your Future Self, here a few prompts to discover some personal metaphors. A metaphor is an object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of something else. Butterflies are a powerful metaphor of transformation.

Here is an example of one person's metaphor for their year. This metaphor was developed using Clean Language.

What would I like to have happen in 2015? I'd like to be footloose and fancy free, like Fred Astaire in his top hat, white tie and tails! Floating or gliding effortlessly, gracefully and masterfully over the floor, taking responsibility with quiet confidence. Relaxed. Effortlessly controlling and leading his partner and the audience through the dance of his creation.

Have a pen and paper ready. Take a moment to take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself  "What would I like to have happen? If I could have it all my way in 2015 what would it look like?"
I would be like...
It would be like...
Is there anything else about...
What else about...

Here's an example: What would I like to have happen? I would like my 2015 to be the year to plant my flag. I see it as a sign of courageousness and acceptance of who I am. Anything else about that? I see it blowing in the wind on a snowy peak with a mountain supporting it.
Anything else about that? It feels a little lonely, I would like to have a ring around the base of that mountain, a ring of women and children holding hands and dancing, encircling the whole mountain. Anything else about that? They are in colorful, happy clothing. There is a meadow at the base of the mountain, spring green with lots of wildflowers, there's a sense of freshness and life that the flag leads...Continue to ask what else about....until you feel complete. You can also ask a friend to ask you the question and take turns.

If you received any images, draw or write about them.

Have metaphors shaped your life? Did an image come to you? Please share it.

If you wish to explore further you can check out Kim Hermanson, PhD and Clean Language, both work with metaphor.
]]><![CDATA[Your Future Self]]>Fri, 02 Jan 2015 22:27:54 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/map-2015/your-future-selfA Guided Meditation
Creeping Trumpet Vine, by Tara GillCreeping trumpet Vine design
Another coaching tool from CTI is the future self visualization. Here is one I found on youTube!

You can listen to the 10 minute visualization and write down or draw the things, symbols, colors or metaphors that came to and use any of these things in your map.

You should know that this is a 20 year ahead visualization, and that for the purposes of your map, you could pick one small thing that gets you closer to the vision you got.

I got a metaphor of myself being like a vine, spreading, blooming, with room to grow and fertile soil.

What imagery comes to you? If no imagery came, what did? A word? A feeling? You can always start where you are.
]]><![CDATA[Wheel of Life]]>Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:08:29 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/map-2015/wheel-of-lifeDirection & Focus
The Wheel of Life is a tool used by coaches. It is useful in assessing where you are in your life and its major areas, and where you want to focus. Here is a template and instructions from the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) to print if you think this will give your year and map direction.
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  1. You use the categories provided or make your own. I added Self Care to Fun & Recreation.
  2. Rate your level of satisfaction in different areas of your life. 1 is low satisfaction, 10 is high.
  3. Where would you like to see the most improvement this year?
  4. You can make a compass rose with North indicating the area that you would like to focus on the most.
  5. Take a look at how my creative partner and map-maker extraordinaire Jill Berry, transformed the wheel into a compass rose.

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Here is a template and instructions from the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) to print.
]]><![CDATA[A Word or Two]]>Mon, 24 Nov 2014 03:40:53 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/map-2015/a-word-or-two
Every year I pick one or two words that capture the energy of the year ahead. I post them with some imagery on my studio wall.

What words come to you for 2015?
]]><![CDATA[Why Map 2015?]]>Thu, 20 Nov 2014 19:08:02 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/map-2015/map-2015A place to play, dream, and pray
Putting these disparate pieces together gave me a greater sense of the wholeness of myself.
I am not sure how I came to be interested in maps. The thing I do know is that mapping is a versatile tool that you can use for anything. I came across Jill Berry's book, Personal Geographies, and decided to map my artistic journey.

I began by listing all the themes and bodies of work in my portfolio. When I did this, little stories from my childhood started to emerge. These stories led to knowing that artistic impulse has always been inside me. How, when I was 7, I stamped all my books with my designed name, and how when I was a baby I adored my Mom's sewing machine manual that showed embroidered patterns. Putting these disparate pieces together gave me a greater sense of the wholeness of myself.

This exercise of considering the form and content of your map brings unconscious connections about a specific subject into consciousness so that the brain naturally organizes itself and sees new possibilities.

Choose a subject, build associations, and then make a map to bring them together. You do not have to be ‘artistic' to benefit from this process, and it does not have to be complicated.
]]><![CDATA[Getting Started]]>Thu, 20 Nov 2014 06:20:46 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/map-2015/getting-startedPicture
Here is what you can do:

1. Print out the PDF on the sidebar of Jill Berry's blog. Look for this box.

2. Sketch out some ideas of "where" you would like to go or who you would like to be in the upcoming year. You can use the border for your final map or just for notes.

3. Share your map and/or process on any of your sites,  our Arty Cartophiles Facebook Page and our Mapping 2015 Pinterest Page.

4. Tips for priming the pump and getting direction will be posted here and on the Arty Cartophiles Facebook Event Page. You can also sign up for these updates via email.

5. Use whatever media you would like to create your map. It can be one line with notes, as simple or elaborate as you like. Check out the maps from last year on our Pinterest Page, Mapping 2014 Artfully. Request an invite you can pin to the collective board!
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