Getting Naked with the Now: Rooted in Gratitude



"This is so much more than photography. I am so great~full for this course." – Erica Silvestri

**Registration for Spring session 2013 is now closed.**

^{"Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life." ~ Rumi}

We women are natural changemakers - we thrive on it. We are pioneers of possibility and vamping visionaries, often labeled as complex, wild and difficult, yet able to bring balance and elevation to our current society through our guidance and intuition. 

Each one of us holds a bright light within simply by being who we are but where do we begin to reflect what is already within us and out into the world? The answer to that is simple: Before we rise we must first root ourselves in gratitude.

We often are so focused on manifesting our big dreams or simply drowning in the overwhelm of our lives that it's easy to forget all that we have to be grateful for in this moment, knowing that gratitude is the foundation on which our visions for our lives is built upon.

We do this by getting naked and exposing those parts of us we like to hide behind heavy fabrics and designer labels bearing someone else's name. Let's strip off our layers of shame, judgement and not enoughness, feel the breeze of truth across our bare skin and slip into sexy sundresses of gratitude.

You are luminous with gorgeous dreams that you are manifesting, but it begins by first removing the destructive outer layer we use to protect ourselves with. The one that says when only {the book, the baby, the business, the partner, the weight loss...} happens then I'll be happy. Beautiful soul, it's time to release that tired old frock, it serves no one, especially you.

Your dreams for tomorrow begin with gratitude for today. 

As women we know this already in theory, and even science is proving the connection between gratitude and happiness, but it is through active practice within a safe community where we are free to shed the layers that bind each of us and open our eyes to new ways of being. It's not something we are born with, gratitude must be practiced daily to be most effective.

Gratitude is not about showing up to each moment as a glitter-filled unicorn of positivity, it's about choosing to embrace the whole of our lives exactly where we are by stripping down to our core, which can often feel vulnerable. And vulnerability can feel hard, terrifying and ugly. But vulnerability at it's core is where truth and beauty live - your willingness to be naked is your most beautiful gift.  

Getting Naked is six weeks of powerfully effective photography -based exercises to ground us into a daily gratitude practice and beyond. We focus on one are of our life each week for six weeks, stripping it down and bowing in gratitude. We skinny dip with our days, our desires, our environments, and ourselves. We explore gratitude with words, images and simple craft projects designed to shift our perspective and see with new eyes. 

At the end of six weeks you will be well on your way to rising up to your bigger visions simply because you are well-rooted in a gratitude practice that feels so amazing, you will want to practice it every day!

It all begins with your willingness to Get Naked and root yourself into what is real, what is now.

• Next session: Spring 2013
• Registration opens: Wednesday, January 16th
• Course begins: Monday, March 11th
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Cost: $89 USD 

Each participant will receive a pdf file containing all course content and video access upon course completion as a means to continue your exploration at your own pace. A valuable resource you can keep forever and revisit as often as necessary. 

All levels of photography skills are welcome and encouraged. This is not a technical photography course though we will be stretching and expanding our creative eye muscles which always helps elevate our photographs.



RECEIVING THE LOVE OF THOSE WHO SIGNED UP FOR MY MAIDEN VOYAGE COURSE LAST FALL:

As a non-photographer desperately wanting to be...I've taken lots of photog ecourses - including one very recently that was spendy and came highly recommended that I was super unimpressed with. Stacy is KILLING it with Get Naked. The first day of insights has me so inspired. WOW-o. – Latisha Guthrie



Stacy--- i just watched your video.... such wisdom here. you are natural guide for us beautiful creatives.... the whole burnout thing::: you offered this so simply and eloquently. 
~ Marybeth Bonofiglio

I am deeply in love with your videos, I look forward to squirreling away somewhere quiet and alone as much as I can and I just soak up all your words. Doing it right now actually. you are inspiration, wisdom and truth mama.  ~ Stephanie Perkinson

I want to say Thank You! Yesterday I spent the day hanging all of the things I never unwrapped from my move in September. Because I wasn't sure how long I would stay here...and I have had in my head that "a better place will come along"....ever since I got here. It feels so amazing to have all of my walls decorated!!! Thank you for the inspiration ♥ I had no idea how much i was going to gain from this "simple photography class"...LOL!!!! Erica Silvestri



Um whoa. This is going to get more naked than I expected. This is going to be delicious...I had NO idea how delicious. I am so great~full to you for creating this space 

♥

The exercises are so juicy that I could easily spend all week just working the 100 steps. Thank you for this space, sister, ♥pixie campbell



Stacy - wow. This is some amazing, intense stuff. I am hiring you as my life coach*.– Jeanne Tierno


FAQ

Is this a photography course?



Yes and no. It is a photography-based course where we will use photos as our main tool and every level of photography experience is welcome. But, no, it's not a photography course in the traditional sense because we are not at all focusing on the technical aspects of cameras or processing photos. There will be no photographic instruction beyond ways to exercise our vision.



We will be stretching our creative eyes each week based on our assignments and working with conscious awareness photography. I am open to questions during the course about specific areas and am happy to share what I know during our online session, but it won’t be the focus.

Photography is how I connect to the world, it's how I process and make sense of things. Writing does this for me as well which is why words and images are the main focus of cultivating a gratitude practice in this course. For you it might look different, this space allows us to freely explore and cultivate a practice that works for our own needs. 



Is there a course schedule? 

If by schedule you are wondering is there a syllabus we are following, then yes. Each week we will be focusing on a new life landscape to root down into for a total of six weeks. Assignments and projects will be posted using a combination of videos, written posts and photos.

The six modules are as follows: 



Week One: Environment

Week Two: Home
Week Three: Creativity
Week Four: Self
Week Five: Connection
Week Six: Ceremony

Detailed descriptions of each module to be included in the coursework. 



If by schedule you are wondering if your assignments need to be completed each week the answer is no. This course is designed from my actual life experience and how I rooted myself into gratitude. 

I don’t expect anyone to complete the assignments in 6 weeks and I encourage everyone to go at the pace where it feels good and FUN. This will look different for everyone and I honor that. This course is about YOU, and while there will be no grades or deadlines given, I will encourage you to take responsibility for your life design and self care and make time for you a priority. 
 


I want to take your course but I suck at ecourses. I usually get overwhelmed a few weeks in.

Well, first of all you don't suck, you are magnificent and whole. And secondly, know that I hear you loud and clear. I have signed up for quite a few ecourses myself and run into this same overwhelm. I get it. And honestly it’s the reason I was a bit hesitant in offering a series of Getting Naked online courses in the first place. 

However, I also realize that there is great value to be had in committing to our own self care and personal growth and the sense of accomplishment and transformation when we do set out to better ourselves and our situation in some way. Not only that but gratitude rocks, Seriously it will change your life and cultivating a life long practice and attitude of gratitude is easier with some structure.

There is also great value in tending to our personal soul work while sharing our truths with others doing the their soul work. When soulful and creative women gather together with the same interests it is truly powerful; I have witnessed this more than once. I have formed strong bonds with amazing women who have become friends, partners and business collaborators. That which resonates within and where you feel called to is where you will find your kindreds which is why I ultimately decided to offer this first as a course since I trust that so many women are working around these same themes and holding each other accountable in the process. 



And as the Dalai Lama knows: This is how we women are changing the world.



Though I do want to be clear that the community part of this course is optional and participation in the community forums is not required. This work is deep and personal and I trust everyone will do what works for her own needs. 

Secondly, I only sign up for ecourses that offer a pdf file of the course content as I know myself enough to know that being a working mother of two young children means I need to take the pressure off of myself to add another deadline to the mix. This is why I am offering a pdf file at the end of the course that will be yours to reference forever. 



Your course is called Get Naked. Will we be taking our clothes off?

I will leave that entirely up to you and will also ask that you leave some room for your bravery to surface. 

I hope these answer some of your questions and I look forward to getting naked with you in March 2013.