Since the birth of our vision there have been many synchronistic events that occurred. Our task as expressive therapists is to look for what is hidden by paying attention to metaphor, symbols and signs. It is there, in the mystery that we find the connection to the Creative Spirit.
The Birth of the Vision/ The Dream
Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in a big house. Every night she would have a recurring dream. In this dream she would walk down to the bottom of her driveway. There waiting for her was an angel, perhaps an archangel, with large, luminous wings.The angel carried her high up in the starlit sky to a house, a Star House. In the house the little girl played and rested and felt loved. As the little girl grew older she forgot about the dream but every now and then the feeling of comfort and love from the dream washed over her like a warm wave.
The little girl grew up into a strong young woman. She studied in school, a special school for the arts. There she got in touch with her child spirit, the spirit she still possessed but had been long since neglected and forgotten.
"Draw big, play and experiment, her teacher said, no one will judge you or your art. Just have fun."
The afternoon sun created a warm glow in the classroom carriage house. The teacher drummed sending waves of excitement and joy through her. She approached the canvas saying inside her soul "I am ready for you to arrive."
Green is the color of healing. On the canvas green arrived everywhere and then in the corner a little house.
Perplexed the woman asked the painting What is that? The painting replied "You have forgotten. It is the Star House of your dreams."
The End
A Night of Stars
One night in the midst of winter four Star House dreamers woke up in the middle of the night to watch for a predicted meteor shower. What they saw was an indescribable sight. There were hundreds of shooting stars streaking across the sky. Some of them were small, some enormous with large tails of light.The End
Starfish
On a warm summer day the board of directors, our Star House friends, met in Rockport to make plans to buy a Star House. After the meeting, Linda and several friends went for a walk on the beach. As they approached the beach, some children came running up to them. They were flushed and excited stating "Come and see what is down at the shore!" We walked to the edge of the ocean and there on the rocks at the water's edge were hundreds and hundreds of star fish.The End
The Star On The Pavement
After months of searching without success for a Star House, we finally found a house on Elliott Street in Beverly. We bid on the house only to lose it.Elliott Street was the name of the street where my family lived when I was born. I was discouraged but the realtor told me "Don't worry, I will find you your house."
The day he drove me up a narrow driveway to see a big, blue, converted colonial house, I had a strange feeling of anticipation. We parked in the driveway and I stepped out of the car and approached the house. To my amazement I looked down to see a large, colorful star drawn on the pavement in chalk in what looked like a child's hand. It took my breath away! I knew it was our Star House.
After meeting the parents and two little girls who lived there, I was told that this star had been drawn by one of the little girls. She had been practicing drawing stars for weeks. It was the first star she had drawn completed the day we arrived.
The End
The Arrival Of The First Child
On March 25, 2003, our first child arrived at Star House, an eight year old boy. The staff was eagerly awaiting his arrival. The previous May when we had our blessing, a teenager read a meaningful poem that spoke about the powerful healing work we hoped to accomplish with our children and families.The poem is entitled "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver, the founder's favorite poet. It reads as follows:
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
As we waited outside in the backyard for the car to come we all wondered, what would he be like, look like?
Just then a flock of geese flew over the house in our direction and passed over our heads honking as the poem states in a "harsh and exciting" way. It was as if they were indeed announcing his place in the family of things to come at Star House.
The End
The Christening of the Girl's Bedroom
The day of the Star House Blessing in May of 2002, the house was blessed by four different member of the community: Father B., Pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Church did the Water Blessing. Mike Duda, Chaplain of Endicott College did the Blessing of the Wind. Dixie Burden, Retreat and Spiritual Director from Eastern Point Retreat House did the Blessing of Fire, and Deacon Jesse James did the Blessing of the Air.Meanwhile, upstairs, two little girls, christened the girl's bedroom. They slept in soft, comfortable bundles of blankets on the pink rug for hours. It seemed as if the angels were watching over them.
The End
Scooter
Our first resident at Star House
Once upon a time there was a little orange and white tabby. We came to Star House for the first time during the summer. We saw him lounging under the grapevine. He was nervous and looked malnourished. The Program Director had recently lost an orange tabby named "Pug". Pug had several nicknames. One of them was "Scooter" because he had the habit of sliding or scooting across the floor on his side (a rather comical sight!) This new kitty began to peek in the front door, come in and out of the house.
After several days of coaxing, the kitty decided he would give us a chance. He walked tenuously up the front steps, threw himself on the deck and proceeded to scoot across the surface. From that day on he lived with us and was forever named "Scooter".
After several months with us, Scooter came home with a collar one day. Scooter belonged to someone in the neighborhood. When the family was contacted they seemed to be not invested in his care. Scooter became our "therapy cat" and permanent resident.
Scooter has taught the children many lessons. He was attacked and injured by a neighborhood cat and needed medical attention. One of our children, a child who had in his past injured a cat when angry, went to the vet to participate in treatment, plan a safety plan and learn compassion for creatures. Scooter teaches the children daily about boundaries and space. Scooter can often be found lounging on the sofa, mooching off of the neighbor's food or bringing home nice presents to his favorite staff. At staff meetings Scooter rearranges our papers ever reminding us that relationships come before business.
Our First Fundraiser
Two fourteen year old boys read about Star House in the paper. They wanted to organize a service project to help children less fortunate than themselves. They decided to hold a benefit concert at their local community center. This involved renting the hall, booking four rock bands as well as their own, designing they're own posters and flyers, and holding the event. Colin, Ian, and Peter raised $275.00 for Star House. As they enter high school, they will continue to keep Star House as their service project throughout the next four year.