Creative Arts: Messages from the womb

- sharing how quickly images can reap so many learnings in creative art therapy sessions

One of the most common cries I hear is "oh, I'm rubbish at creative stuff. I can't paint/draw/etc. etc."; this cry hasn't changed in all the years I've worked with clients and creative, crafty, arty ways (since 2011). It can take a little time to open up to working in this way, or drop any feelings of shyness.

We're all creative in our own ways, and we are all open to learning so much more about ourselves in the gentlest of ways when working with creative arts ...

So I wanted to share a personal image of mine, to show you that there's no need for perfection, or prettiness, in creative arts sessions.

The small group session I attended last week was all about "connecting to our womb". Having gone through an early onset menopause in 2011 (thank you, chemotherapy treatment) I was curious as to how this would work with someone like myself in the wise crone phase of life, no longer menstruating. But any chance I have to close my eyes for a few minutes and visualise, I'm there!

All group participants had been invited to bring whatever materials we wanted to work with, as we were meeting online using Zoom. Finger paints, pastels, coloured pencils, wax crayons, Sharpies ... surprisingly no-one used clay or plasticine, which are always gorgeously tactile to work with.

My image (to the right of this text) was created in 8 minutes … rough strokes in my art journal, created with Unison Colour's beautiful Botanicals pastels set. We'd started the group session with a small amount of gentle movement, then settling into a wonderful visualisation, honouring the womb.

Now, what you see in this image is very different to what I see. The message (for me) was very personal, going back to a time in my life where I was battling cancer.

This image was not created as something for me - or for others! - to go “ooooh” at. This image was crafted purely for me to put down on paper, in any way that felt right in that moment, the message I had received during the visualisation … and then we all took time to explore what messages our images held for us. The more we shared in a group, the more elements of each other's images resonated within us, giving life to old stories within us that were ripe and ready for sharing out loud, or for holding a little more closer to us.

THIS is the magic of creative arts sessions. The magic of taking time for you to create - in any way you choose - and then sit with your marks, your creations, to gently explore what is in your creation.

Creative arts is not art therapy, but it is a delightful therapeutic form of working. For me, person-centred creative arts therapy and exploration is so powerful because its not about knowledge, or of delving into symbolism.

Creative arts is a process that is guided by me in order for the image to appear, and then led by you, at your pace, which is an incredibly  empowering, revealing and gentle process.

So, if you feel drawn to exploring this way of working, I’m here, always ready to share the magic with you … and if you're still feeling a little nervous about it (or just curious!) we can always have a virtual cuppa and chat things through - it only takes a moment to organise.

Image originally shared on @CreaTEAvityStudio's Instagram feed.

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gift yourself permission to play, heal & show your true colours in the CreaTEAvity Studio: a space to nurture, reconnect to, and rejuvenate your creative spirit - wherever you are in the world

Categories: : creative arts