Expressive, Holistic Workshops

Spirit, Mind and Body Series

A Home for the Soul Through Holistic, Expressive Art Making

Overview of Spirit, Mind and Body Series:

No artistic experience is required—all are welcome. Art making will be joyful, insightful and non-competitive.)

“Wisdom and guidance reside in our very own hearts if we just turn the key to unlock and open the gate to our soul”.  

Introduction:

Using the expressive and healing work from Dr. Lucia Capacchione, we will explore the process of Creative Journaling and connect to our inner, thoughts, desires, dreams and divine spark. This “Body, Mind Medicine”, is a powerful opportunity to explore and transform, and find the “still, small voice within”. Each session will begin with mindful meditation, music and setting our intention. Calling on our intuition as our guide, we will: Collage, Draw and Journal, Create Sacred Scribble, Dialogue with Clay, Paint with Our Inner Child, Write Identity Poetry, and Connect with Our Inner Healer.

Mixed Media

Workshop #1

Spirit Collage and Journaling:

     Stream of Conscience Journaling allows you to take a look at your inner inventory by visiting your past, acknowledging your present, and planning for your personal future path. Building an authentic and respectful relationship with your art materials and intuitive self, allows you to be introspective and imaginative about the solutions and possibilities. Collage invites our inner child to play in a colorful and expressive connection to spirit. The therapeutic and meditative vibrational power of singing bowls and drumming will be woven throughout our investigation as we connect to our “inner wisdom” and “spiritual knowing”. 

 Workshop #2

Mind, Body Medicine of Sacred Scribbling:

      Remember the young, childhood joy of making a mark with your scribbling, bouncing crayon? Spiraling round and round, creating squiggles of color and line which then transformed into shapes and ideas. Your “Intuitive and Wise Self” remembers and is ready for you to revisit. The journey begins with using your non-dominant hand for drawing which accesses your creative and intuitive right brain. A written conversation evolves using both hands and both sides of the brain. Participants experience freedom, creativity and inner wisdom as we “shut off” our thinking and let our spirit talk to us as we scribble out our dreams, wishes and emotions. The therapeutic and meditative vibrational power of music will be woven throughout our investigation as we connect to our “inner wisdom” and “spiritual knowing”.

Workshop #3

Becoming Whole – Spirit Mandala:

     "Mandala" is a Sanskrit word that means "circle" and is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism. Using earthen clay, we will build a greater awareness of our personal path and our spiritual connection by creating a prayerful and meditative spirit mandala out of clay and earthen materials. Understanding this powerful ritual, we will honor the ancestral intentions and begin to create our own. Using the process of sgraffito, we will carve and scribe into the surface of our clay using our own meaningful textures, symbols and words to set our individual and personal intentions. Our tools will be a variety of clay bodies combined with found organic materials. Beginning with "centering" and meditation, our session will combine mindfulness, music, poetry and movement.

CLAY WORKSHOP SERIES

The Joy of Mud, Music and Meditation - Transcendent Vessels of Mindfulness:

     “Be like a lotus. Let the beauty of your heart speak. Be grateful to the mud, water, air and the light.”    ―Amit Ray, Nonviolence: The Transforming Power 

Introduction:

Think back to your first mud pie..... You didn't need instructions. You knew instinctually how to joyfully play and make your exquisite mud creations. This was deep, imaginative, soul work as you "became one" with the dirt, mud, tender blades of grass and glistening puddle pebbles. In this series of workshops, participants will be given the opportunity to build meditative skills and learn to use clay as a powerful tool for self-expression and discovery. The therapeutic and meditative vibrational power of music will be woven throughout our investigation as we connect to our “inner wisdom” and “spiritual knowing”. 

Workshop #1:

Ephemeral Mud Masks of Future Self: 

     As a group, we will explore the concept of masks throughout cultures and history. Why do we wear masks? What is under the mask and how can we learn from the inner dialogue and inner wisdom gained by creating our own mask?

Workshop #2:

Body Vessels - Imprinting in Clay: 

After guided meditation, we will use the contours of our own body (elbows, knees and heels) we will create clay vessels which will be a vessel of our own personal imprint. These small clay artifacts are evidence of our spirit and being. Our body will provide the tools to create this very intimate and personal conversation with clay. 

 

Workshop #3:

Sacred Identity Shards: 
     We will create narrative portraits of self-identity by sketching and painting on fired/bisque white clay slabs. As we embrace the unseen elements around us, we will open up this inner dialogue with ourselves by first creating our “Mud Lotus Poetry” and dig deep to express the “I Am” inside. These poems will be incorporated into our reflective artwork. To celebrate the distinct, authentic individuality of each member of our group, our session will culminate with a group art installation. It will be a celebration of our paths and passages, insightful souls and awakened spirit. At this time, we will also share our "mud lotus" poetry and soul reflections as we illuminate the labyrinth path ahead in our candlelight, sacred vessel ceremony. 

Workshop #4:

Garden Fairy Houses of Whimsy and Magic (3 sessions) Who lives in your magic fairy house and what does this magical creature have the power to do? In this workshop, we will image, design and construct a miniature fairy environment out of clay and found objects. This house can be placed in your own garden or home to enchant your loved ones of any age.

 

 

Workshop #5:

Moon Pots and Constellation Poetry:

What will you hold in your Moon Pot? These organic earthen vessels are pinched upside down and are cradled in the palm of your hands as they take form. These celestial orbs will invite your imagination as will share selected poetry and music to guide our intentions. The clay follows our wishes and the magic begins…

 

Workshop #6:

Workshop: Bohemian Luminaries 

Like fireflies teasing our delight on a summer’s night, we will create a clay lantern to welcome the evening. Setting our inner spirit intensions as we create, we will use clay, glass beads, raffia and other organic trinkets and treasures to embellish these hand-crafted vessels to make our own “Luminary of Light”.