Mindful collage making

Recently on my training I've been introduced to the collage making as a form of mindful art and I would like to invite you to see what I have discovered.

So far, I have used art as a mindful practice in a form of drawing and painting with multiple art tools and materials and I must say I did feel quite comfortable with those.

With Collage, well... at first, I wasn't convinced, with my experience with collage I never seen it as something that can relax me or like painting may get me into the artistic flow. I did the paper one in College that must been around 12 years ago and then the digital one at university around 8 years ago, this medium never spoke to me - I put it at the back of my head not picking it up since then.

As I follow every unit of my mindful art and meditation training with Mindful Creative Muse, I decided to give it a go (to be fully honest, I wanted to skip it thinking it's not for me).

When I started, I was even a bit frustrated and really resistant, I was sitting on the floor cutting the images, my back was in pain, and I was close to give up. Then I realised that this may be the feeling others feel trying any type of art, maybe even for the first time since childhood... unsure, not confident, scared.

So, I pushed through this feeling to see if it's possible and to know what to advise others if they find themselves in similar position. I continued the work, with meditation music and the process has started.

As hard it was to start, when I did it totally took all of my attention, I was moving the images, looking for the meanings, adding, taking out, adding again in my creative zone. It felt like 3 minutes has gone and I had 3 collages done but actually it was almost 2 hours.

Thinking brain was on the side, my eyes and hands were creating. Afterwards I didn't look at them just walked away, satisfied, happy, and with empty mind. Because after all I was not creating for the image itself but for the moment.

When I woke up the next day, I decided to sit down with them and reflect back. If it means something to me? What I felt while creating? What am I seeing? Journaling it all out.

When I finished, I finally understood that this was something big, such a beautiful experience that I couldn't believe could get me anywhere, I didn't believe that collage can be a good mindful exercise, but I was wrong, and the lesson was learned.

So many times, we tell ourselves that this thing or activity is not good for us; like yoga or meditation without even trying, that it's a waste of time or energy but often it means that we are simply scared, and our brain is trying to protect us. That's normal!

Next time if you do have this feeling, just try once or twice, push through uncomfortable and if it's really not for you, don't blame yourself, let go and carry on, but at least try!

Now I will add my creations and a short paragraph of how I see them with my creative mind and creative writing. (Which is a bit different than in my training, but I cannot share the whole process here)

No 1.

The message that I made unconsciously, is that even when it's hard it is so worth it to push through, to write it down, to work hard, to surrender and simply take the risk - to find joy. Because we deserve the joy, every single day - no matter who we are.

No 2.

Sometimes I feel like I am being pulled up, by big hand of the society that is telling me who I should be, then the art of decision making comes to play. If I want to listen to it and be pulled or do I follow my own mind adventures, going back to basics, to the nature. Where I find peace.

No 3.

There is always those worries taht we hold inside us, if are we good enough, if we should do more, be more? Then we are starting to chase the control that often we can't even get which is leading us to feel sad, disconnected and lonely. Then the power of positive thinking is our way out of this black hole, the power of knowing deep inside us that no matter what something bigger is always having our back. Then we sit, we write, we meet people, letting go off control. Suddenly we are able to see flowers blooming in front of our eyes.

I will be using those mindful collages exercise on my workshops and maybe one day via online offerings. If you are near Southampton, join us at www.puravidawellbeingcentre.co.uk

Thank you for being here, sending loads of love, Greta :)