When someone joins our circle for the first time, it can be for many reasons - but generally there's a sense of wanting to meet with others (especially in these times of limited personal interaction!) They may have felt the call to set aside time for creativity, may have lots of art supplies, or just pens and paper! Some are very experienced with arts and crafts - others are new explorers - All are welcome!
The blurb on our MeetUp group reads, "We are a group of women who meet to access our own internal guidance system through Intentional Creativity®, a process which incorporates writing, visioning, sketching and painting to help us each develop a deeper sense of self awareness.
Event hosts are graduates of Color of Woman, Motherboard or RT Guide programs, and occasionally we will have a guest host from another mindful creative practice.
We each bring our personal medicine basket of practices and experiences; our gatherings and offerings reflect that!
• What stories/beliefs run my life/influence my decisions?
• What if there was nothing I could get "wrong?"
• Am I ready to live a Legendary Life?
We are often our own harshest critics - a common challenge is to identify that critical inner voice, and realize it's there to protect us! When were we shut down? How might we soothe the critic, and re-engage the Muse? (hint, Muses love chocolate, and critics are good at details - can you engage your critic in a 'useful task,' while you and your Muse play?)
My little mama loved her craft projects, and often took one along to meetings. Her friend Delpha was at a Medical Mission in Africa, and Lois knit cotton bandages to send her! Of course mama put her love and intention into those simple white bandages, that they might offer kind support to those who needed them!
She and her mama Mary carded wool into 'batts' for tied quilts that warmed us on winter nights. She loved learning new things, and took classes in basket making when I was a teen. My Mother-in love Dorty and I shared a spinning wheel in the 70s, and learned to spin together. She knit cozy hats, socks and sweaters for the family (as did my mom)
These 'women's work' crafts often involved a strong intention - making something that someone could use and was aesthetically pleasing was very common. I love eating and drinking from handmade pottery, and have a collection of locally made wooden spoons - these were made with someone who would enjoy using them in mind!
Recently, an Expressive Arts practioner commented 'my desire is to help people engage in Joyful Self-Compassionate art!' Whether we consider what we're doing 'Art' or more a craft - we can engage in that Joy and purpose.
So - as we gather set an intention for what you create.
Pay attention to how your body feels, to your breath and any discomfort. If your Muse wants to work on something else while we're together - pay attention!! She (and you!) know best what will serve and engage. She may nudge you to get some colorful supplies or watch for little things you can use for making marks.
We often do a Metacognative drawing as we begin our circle - thinking about how we think! This can be a good way to unpack how you think/feel about the subject, and inspire your project, and the direction it takes you...
And - most of all - prepare to have Fun!
Creativity is our Birthright!
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