I bet you know that feeling, that need of cleaning house and space you live in to feel lighter. Even threw away some staff because the space just feels so heavy.
I personally tidy up almost always when I make conscious/subconscious change in my life. I get the need to clear the space not only from the clutter but as well get Ready for the change.
It is symbolic.
Have you ever tried to draw with your eyes closed? Hands just dancing on the paper, picking up randomly different colours, not knowing what is going to appear on the paper.
We use our analytical mind almost every minute since morning until we are going to sleep.
´The coat she´s wearing looks nice´… ´Should I make this or that recipe?´… ´These colours together make a nice match´
Mind is talking all the time about almost everything because we can see what we are doing, select and put objects in front of our eyes into categories.
What if we try to close our eyes and just let go?
Do you know that feeling when you´re very stressed there is many expectations from you from every angle you could think of. Work, family, studies, hobbies, friends, partner, yourself. Sometimes it can be hard to balance everything. Finding that sweet spot in the middle where you are still there for those outside but same times taking care of yourself can be difficult task to achieve. Maybe feel overload of tasks you need to do, deadlines which feels never ending and your life happens to be giving almost all your energy only to one direction and that is not balanced state. Every unbalance we feel as stress, anxiety, depression or physical illness.
Why is art so helpful here?
Once came a girl to me saying ´how relaxed time she had that she feels much lighter and happier after painting´. It was like listening myself when I have started painting. Sometimes we might have head full of thoughts we overthink and overanalyse and it seems like we can´t see the right direction or decision in such mess. Life can be sending our way one challenge after another and we have no time to truly process what is happening. Painting is like brushing away all that dust with every brush line you make. With every colour and every line you create a little bit more space which allows you to see clearly. That´s where the lighter feeling comes from. Once you finish your painting you basically put some of your thoughts on the canvas even if you can´t see them there even if you were painting a tree or a landscape which are least stressful things for you in the moment. Your subconscious is processing all those thoughts through colours and shapes and making space and sense of past experiences. It is not important to see the meaning behind your painting. Important is the process itself the fact you feel better and lighter afterwards.
It can be hard to start.
Your mind might want to talk you out of doing any kind of art because ´its pointless´ ´you´re not good enough´ ´there are more important things to do then paint´ ´there´s no time´ and sometimes maybe there really are different priorities but if we feel stressed and overwhelmed this feeling is giving us heads up that we are not in balance. Any creative action can bring us back to balanced state. Paint, write, sing and you will see the world as it really is.
When you paint you´re giving permission to your mind process experiences you had in healthy creative way. You´re giving permission that your emotions can be heard and acknowledged. Especially in the world and society where demand is quite high and not everyone is built up for its pace painting or being creative in any way can help us to find balance to realise what is really important to clear our minds to hear ourselves.
What are your thoughts about painting and doing anything creative?
Let me know in the comments.
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Tree is very old symbol often chosen by artists who incorporate it in many different ideas, emotions or themes. We can find trees across the cultures symbolising strength, family, bridge in between physical and spiritual. Famous Tree of Life is well known symbol across the world. Carl Gustav Jung brings the symbolism of the tree closer trough psychological understanding. According to him tree is an image of spiritual development. As every tree is different so is every each of us. Unique. Painting tree is not only relaxing experience or artistic practise but can as well tell you something more about yourself.
When we painted actual tree in the park it became very relaxing and insightful experience. Everyone would paint their tree differently even though we might look on the very same one. Why is that?
You can look at art from very different perspective as soon we use our imagination and we are led by our subconscious. It becomes something mysterious and interesting because it becomes your very own deep expression. It becomes something personal in the most positive way. I offer you to experience it for yourself.
Today I will give you little insight to tree symbolism.
´Cooking a dinner. Take kids to the club. Doctor appointment tomorrow. Book accommodation in Spain for our holiday. That girl in an add looks stunning. OMG I am loosing it.´ This is mind running in the speed of 90% of people. Duties, duties and duties. Demands, demands and demands. We love it and hate it in the same time. If we could just get a break.
Art-therapy is based on mindfulness and expressing our deep desires, emotions, fears and struggles. Very often those are hidden in our subconscious and we use therapeutic techniques to bring them into the light of our awareness. What if we are exactly aware what bother us. It´s actually tones of things in our head we have to carry, sort out, manage, process, which prevent us seeing things in clear light.
This little technique might be helpful if you feel overwhelmed by thoughts in your head. It creates space for ´yourself´and that silent inner voice which is the one we usually need to listen to the most. I like doing collages in busy times when I feel stressed and there is way too much going on in my life. This is great way how to take these thoughts out of my head and have a bit of relaxed and creative time. Usually afterwards there comes an insightful moment of clarity.
This exercise is part of 100 art therapeutic exercises what I introduced in last article.
You can choose any size you want as any style you want. It is up to you what pictures you will include to the collage as it is up to you how you decorate the rest. Idea is put pictures in the shape of head (your head) and pictures representing more and less your thoughts (struggles, goals, desires etc.) or what is on your mind.
The key is not to overthink it just take some magazines and cut out what ever catches your attention.
Check out the group process of collage therapy, which I had a chance to try and would only recommend to everyone.
What a messy head. No wonder we feel overhelmed. Finally you did something for yourself and inner peace. Feel free to share your outcome with others. I´d be happy to hear your experience.
For weekly arty exercise for self-awarness and inspiration follow on social medias follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
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