to dance with the wind . . .

to dance with the wind by ArtfulAlchemist on Polyvore.com

I've always had an affinity for trees. They seem so wise and magical. They are rooted in the earth while reaching into the sky, the perfect blend of physical and spiritual. They embody what I long for in my life. I wrote some time ago (full post here) of a summer thunderstorm and how the trees gyrate in ecstasy with the winds, reveling in the chaos even though it may be their demise.

There's a wildness in me that longs to dance with the wind the way the trees do. That longing is what I tried to capture in the image. Oh, the freedom of that! To simply sway and bend - perhaps even be lifted up into flight. To be in the dance instead of on the sidelines trying to choreograph. To just BE. To dance with the wind . . .

Art Therapy Pieces in Support of Haiti

A number of artists at Polyvore.com have been creating art sets in support of Haiti. Click on any image to see it larger. Please give what you can.

HAITI

Peace Pie Mandala

Last night's Wonderful Wednesday event was a prayer of peace expressed through meditative art. Six lovely women joined me for a Peace Pie Mandala workshop. In this method, developed by Jennifer Star (www.peacemandala.com), a group comes together to individually and collaboratively create a mandala-shaped collage expressing a vision for peace.

We began with a guided meditation which helped us each to tap into the heart and feel our way into our individual perceptions of peace. We then each individually collaged a wedge-shaped piece of paper, selecting images and words from magazines that spoke to us of peace. After some quiet reflection and journaling with our individual expressions, we assembled all the wedges into the mandala.

(click the image to see a larger version)

Seeing all the individual visions come together into a whole is an amazing process. It mirrors the way we create peace in the world: first, within ourselves, then in making our own unique contribution to the whole and, finally, by coming together in groups and communities to do the work of peace. Finding common themes and threads of color running through the whole helps us to see how connected we are. Recognizing unique themes in our own piece of the peace pie helps us to see how important our individual perceptions of and contributions to peace are.

Some of the powerful messages that came through included:

• staying playful and joyful in the process
• finding our inner peace first
• connecting with and creating nature
• seeing children and animals as teachers showing us the way
• honoring diverse traditions
• finding peace in the midst of chaos

We ended by disassembling the mandala so we could each take our piece of the peace pie home with us, knowing that the collective vision is not shattered by doing so. We then made a circle by holding hands and sang the Peace Song: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

May you be at peace and create peace in your community and in the world this New Year!

Happy New Year!

Monkey Business: Happy New Year! by ArtfulAlchemist on Polyvore.com

With the monkey around, 2009 is sure to go out with a BANG! Monkey Business aside, may 2010 hold blessings and abundance for you and yours. Happy New Year!

Art Therapy and Terrorism

There's been a lot of bashing against art therapy in the wake of the failed Christmas day terrorist attempt - trying to twist the fact that because part of the rehab program for some jihadists in Saudi Arabia includes art therapy, that is somehow to blame for this latest terrorist attempt. Here is a good response from Cathy Malchiodi in Psychology Today:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healing-arts/200912/did-art-therapy-fail-rehab-terrorists-oh-come

When I first read about the program using art therapy with jihadists I was impressed. I know from personal experience the power of art therapy to heal trauma and create fundamental shifts within one's psyche. Can art therapy "heal" a terrorist? I don't know. As Malchiodi indicates in her article there is a lot of anecdotal evidence about the power of art therapy and very little scientifically supportable research. The more common alternatives - prison, torture, etc. - will certainly NOT change a jihadist's mind, but will rather create martyrs for the cause and fuel the fire for more and more violence. I am not saying that the perpetrators of terrorist violence should not be held accountable and incarcerated. But if there are any tools that can shift the desire for this violence within a man's (or woman's) heart, by all means let's use them! Certainly, the use of art therapy did not CAUSE the terrorist act and maybe - just maybe - it prevented one or more other similar acts.

May Peace Prevail

May Peace Prevail by ArtfulAlchemist on Polyvore.com

May Your Blessings Blossom!

Happy Thanksgiving! This is the time of year when we shift our focus to all we are grateful for in our lives. It's actually something we would benefit from practicing every day as whatever we praise in our lives will increase.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here is a fun and simple expressive arts practice you might like to try.

Blessings Blossom


Allow about 60 to 90 minutes for this activity

Materials:
4 or more sheets of colored paper
magazines
scissors
glue
other embellishments (optional)

1. Cut a circle shape from one colored paper
2. Cut 8 petals from different colored papers
3. Assemble a flower by gluing the petals to the back of the circle
4. Close your eyes and think of all the people and things you are grateful for
5. Go through the magazines and select images and phrases to represent the things you are grateful for
6. Arrange and glue your magazine clippings on the flower petals
7. Embellish with stickers, glitter, rhinestones, pipe cleaners, or anything else you wish to use
8. Hang your "Blessings Blossom" where you can look at it daily and fill yourself with gratitude for all the blessings your life holds

May your blessings continue to blossom!