Our Creativity Manifesto: Rules to Live By
“Care of the soul is quite different in scope from modern notions of psychology and psychotherapy. It isn’t about curing, fixing, changing, adjusting or making healthy, and it isn’t about some idea of perfection or even improvement. It doesn’t look to the future for an ideal, trouble-free existence. Rather it remains patiently in the present, close to life as it presents itself day by day. Care of the soul is a sacred art.”
– Thomas Moore from Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life
The work we do at Healing Icons is a sacred art. We delve deep into our subconscious minds, our hearts, our pasts and presents, to care for our souls through art-making. To help guide us in this process, I’ve written the following creativity manifesto.
- Listen to your inner voice. It is crucial to the artistic process.
Humans have always created – 15,000 years ago, these cave paintings were created in the Lascaux Caves in the Dordogne region in France.
- Engage and let go. Trust the process.
Cultivating time for art play = fun = rest = quieting the thunderous roar of mind stuff!
- There is no right or wrong way to create, just different ways.
Learning from each other’s journey – learning to let go and simply laugh again.
- Art belongs to the People, not just to the trained “elite.”
Fred Babb – his bold colorful designs and witty insightful comments have empowered thousands to jump into their creative selves.
- Everyone has creativity within their being.
Another oh so true one from Fred Babb, one of my favorite mantras.
- Art is a language for expressing our inner voices.
Simple materials. Powerful message.
- Art leads us on a journey into self-discovery.
Taking the time to listen to our inner voice takes courage. Art holds our hand the entire time, ushering us where we need to go.
- The creative process just as important as the product.
When your heart and your hands leave the mind behind, that’s when time disappears and you are lost in the doing, the making of art. This is where the magic lies and you ask yourself ” Am I making the art or is it making me?”
- Art has much to teach us if we learn how to listen and speak its language.
Mixed media artwork I created in 2000 about my 1st snake dream. My art-making helped my understand the meaning of my dreams.
- Infuse yourself with creativity – it will feed your soul and heal your spirit.
Jump in and enjoy the ride.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
This is a great reminder that we are all creative beings: allowing myself to play with color and art materials is one of the best ways to get our of my mind and listen to my heart. Thanks, Heidi.
I agree with you Christy – We assuredly need to allow ourselves more time to play and getting messy with art materials is ultimate playtime for me!
What I love about this program is the lack of rules. Everyone has something to reveal in their own way. What a relief to know whatever you do it is right. How rare is that?
Well put Ruth! Thanks!
Intuition and playfulness are really such a relief! Sometimes I don’t make art because I don’t know what I want to say, or have a big, grande idea…but sometimes that is the best time to jump in.
I know Deanna! It is when I just let myself “jump in” that I then figure out what it is I need to express, or even just figure out in my own heart. When my hands and eyes are busy with the materials, it is as if my heart and souls are able to reveal their wisdom to me.
I used to believe that some people were artists and the rest of us were supposed to view it, admire it and maybe even purchase it. Since my cancer diagnosis and treatment, I have participated in the Healing Icons and I learned that there is so much more to art: Everyone has the ability to express themselves and their inner feelings through art, sometimes it turns out well enough that other people may even like it and your creations may speak to someone else through the wordless language of art.
After my cancer experiences I had many feelings of loss that I couldn’t really step away from. Cancer was continuously in my mind and I couldn’t escape it. Through the making of mandalas and writing down my feelings and thoughts, creating collages from items that had meaning for me and exploring different kinds of artwork I was finally able to find a calmness and meaning for my life. Healing Icons has been my way to emotional healing and has added fun back into my life. I’ll always be grateful!
I find that to create the right atmosphere helps to guide me through the creative process. I like to find a space of uninterrupted time with soft background music. Begin by closing the eyes and taking a few deep
breaths, visualizing rest and relaxation. Now with all that done, you are ready to delve into creating.
Thanks Heidi for your wonderful example!
My daughter ,Jill, and I started going to healing Icons when she was diagnosed with cancer and continued going through her two year battle. It was a huge help for us and numerous times when we would struggle to except the unacceptable we would look at each other and one of us would say “trust the process”! I’m not sure how we would have made it without the support of Heidi and the group. We were able to create , play and forget our problems for a few hous!
Since Jills death in 2014 I have continued going and it has helped me with the giving process. I can never thank Heidi enough for all her guidance as I’ve struggled through this time.