Art Making as Spiritual Practice

“I have learned over time that creativity, whatever form it takes, is less about creating something out of nothing and more about being in relationship and conversation with life and the unknown. The more we engage expression as a way to listen and to stay in relationship with life, the more sacred our path.”

-Mark Nepo,

Drinking from the River of Light: The Life of Expression

I feel like I’m constantly trying to make sense of things…asking deep questions, looking for threads of connection in unlikely places, going down rabbit holes of learning new ideas and practices, exploring my inner world of emotions, memories and thoughts…guided by some unnamable part of me that keeps pulling me in certain directions, saying “Over here…” and “Focus on this for awhile…” and “Here, there is something for you to learn here…”

Making art and being creative is something that has been a companion for me for as long as I can remember. It’s part of who I am at my core. Creative expression has taken many forms throughout my life: the way I dress, how I decorate my home, photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, jewelry design, making greeting cards, slow stitching, mixed media art, writing poetry, making altars, practicing Reiki, gathering and curating beautiful objects…but no matter what the medium is, really it has always been about letting this powerful energy inside of me out, giving it a place to go. Experiencing the alchemy that happens when my soul engages with other souls and the sacred energies of touch, conversation, colors, light, old fabrics and the natural world is medicine to me.

Creativity is how our souls express themselves and how this world continues to come into being. I have found that when we connect to that natural creative force or essence inside of us, it can have a profound impact on our lives and our well-being.