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A SHORT DESCRIPTION
This workshop is
about experiencing how the process of creating art connects us to
the moment, to the now, to our inner Source by whatever name we
might call it.
It is not about creating beautiful
art, or perfect art (whatever that is!) or even skillful art. It is
about how the doing of it makes you feel. Deep inside.
It is
true that at first, if you are not used to exercising your creative
instincts, it might feel uncomfortable. But, the more that you do
it, or practice it, the more comfortable it is likely to feel.
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DEFINITIONS
Spiritual:
That part of
an individual's identity and life experience which is fundamental to
all other parts but which cannot be fully seen or explained in
physical terms.
Practice: To actually DO
an activity on a regular basis rather than to JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
Art-Making:
Write. Make Marks. Tear
Paper. Glue things together. Smush Clay. Tell Stories.
Sing. Move.
Spiritual Practice: To
regularly connect in an active, intentional way with the Spiritual
aspect of Being alive and embodied.
Mix it all up with Moments of Silence, Time for
Pondering and Thoughtful
Conversation.
This Workshop: Put it all
together to create a Spiritual Practice designed
by you and for you.
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Is This Workshop for You? |
Are you feeling
stressed?
Do you feel burnout coming your way, just
around the corner?
Are you overwhelmed by the
daily assaults on your senses
from chaos in the world?
Or next door?
Or within your own family
or circle of
friends?
Are you hit with a creeping
loss of
hope?
Or of faith?
Can you be respectful
of other participants who
might have a different
belief system than your own?
Can you practice
listening,
just listening, when others
are telling
their stories
without jumping in
to give advice,
or to solve their problems
for them?
Does
making art in a group
setting, with spirit and
soul an accepted, integral part of the conversation,
feel like a timely opportunity for you?
If so, then this
workshop may be for you.
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QUESTIONS
Q: WHY OFFER THIS WORKSHOP NOW?
A: I am feeling a fracture
in our world and in the familiar structures
through which we connect with ourselves
and
with each other. Are you feeling
that as well?
For me, being in a group that is centered
around creative activities is a delight and
a joy. Included in that experience is the way my
squirrel mind becomes quieter as I concentrate
on
the creative project at hand. Add to that the freedom
to bring Soul and Spirit into the conversation and
I feel a connection that goes beyond the
ordinary.
You may have that experience as
well. Of course that connection is not a
guaranteed outcome of the class. It is
OK to just come along for the fun.
Q: WHAT are the benefits
of a spiritual practice?
A: A Spiritual Practice doesn't
necessarily fix any of our problems,
or
make stress go away. But, for me, a daily
practice is a time set aside for
connection with that deepest part of my
Being, that part of me which connects with the Sacred Mystery, the Bigger Whole, the
All, the Breath that breathes me.
If I start my day with a Spiritual Practice I
feel more centered, more grounded, as I go about
the day. It is a way of reinforcing my faith and
hope in the goodness of this being alive in the
world.
Q: What happens during a
Spiritual Practice session?
A. An Overview of
Spiritual Practice:
There are
so many traditions. It can get pretty confusing
if one is trying to discern a "right way". The
conclusion that I have come to is that there is
no one "right way". There is just a way that
works for each of us. That resonates with the
unique Being that is each of us.
For me,
a regular spiritual practice is a time set aside
for just this, the practice. With no
distra;ctions. For me it works best if I start
the day with it as the to-do lists can easily
pull me away if I give them a chance.
I
have a place on my desk that is set up as a type
of mini-altar. There is space for a candle, a
few creations that are precious to me, and
quotes that have personal meaning.
I
light the candle. Breathe deeply. Move and
stretch my muscles. Enter the silence. The
Stillness. My body relaxes. I enter
the timeless now. I give up control, at least
for a few moments, of all of the demands
and concerns which I know will pour into my
day..
Then usually I'll go to my journal with markers
in hand to see what pops up for me that day.
I may reach for a book. Books, inspirational writings and visual
artworks are nearby and are often the nudge that
I need to go deeper into the
process of listening to Self, to Soul, to Spirit.
It's all pretty simple. Not hard. Just
consistent. Or the best that I can do that day.
Q: Do participants need to be
religious in order to fit into this workshop?
A: No. This
workshop is not about specific beliefs. It is
about helping participants feel more centered as
they go deeper into their own particular way of
being in the world.
Participants will be encouraged to bring
their own spiritual traditions with them
as
we explore
how Art-Making as a Spiritual Practice may
deepen our connections with the Sacred
as we each understand and experience it.
A core intention of this workshop is that all
traditions will be respected.
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