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Orange County
Meditation and Painting Workshop
On Wednesday evening, May 11 2005 thirty-five women from throughout the County experienced an evening of creativity and enjoyment at the home of Rabbi Pesach & Chana Burston. Neria Cohen, an accomplished South African artist and skillful teacher, instructed the program.
Each woman received a canvas and palette or colors. Neria described that each month of the Jewish calendar contains spiritual energies that the individual can access by being aware of these energies and how they can be utilized. This month, “Iyar” is a month of healing and growth, both physically and spiritually. Neria explained the commandment of counting the 49 days from Passover to Shavuot in anticipation of receiving the Torah. These weeks provide an opportunity for self-renewal and personal growth.
Through meditation, Neria allowed the participants to experience a journey that began as visualization, and continued with 35 lively paintbrushes streaking colors of self-expression onto white canvas.
One of the highlights of the evening was being able to receiving intuitive feedback from others as participants shared their artwork.
The ladies had all sat together, and experienced the same meditation. Yet each woman's canvas expressed incredible individualism. “And that's what the Jewish Women's Circle is about,” explains Chana Burston, who founded the Jewish Women's Circle last June. “We want to create an atmosphere where Jewish Women from throughout the County can get together for an evening of unity, learning and creativity. We may come from varied backgrounds, but we all share the same canvas; the same heritage. And when we come together to celebrate who we are, our brilliant individual colors shine through.”
The evening continued as everyone enjoyed an array of homemade refreshments and desserts. Two lucky raffle winners won magnificent pieces of crystal, and all participants brought home their canvas. “Many times I learn something inspirational but it can be difficult to internalize,” one participant commented. “Taking home this canvas will help me relate to and remember the knowledge and inspiration I gained at the Jewish Women's Circle.”