Meditation and Art: Tools for Clarity and Joy

I need to acknowledge, national news and the ICE raids in Minneapolis especially, are heavy on my mind. I don’t know how to effectively communicate these feelings, my rage, my sadness and profound discomfort in a blog post. Instead, I offer suggestions in how an artist might use ritual, art making and introspection, in order to feed self and find some regenerative solace. As an artist, I utilize the act of making things as a means to meditate. I notice that when I make things, my brain can release tensions and worry, with ease, I can process with improved clarity and my mind gentles. This is a much needed attribute, in these trying times. 

In prior posts, I have been talking about healing my inner child by making a Spirit Doll. As is my custom, I then made several. 🙃 I find that making more than one item helps me to refine my techniques, while it extends my enjoyment of the task, because of the time spent, multiplied. And, then too, this creates meditative and quiet moments with self. 

Right now, I am using this meditative time to consider where I need help rescripting the dialog between myself and my inner child. I have been nonchalant and somewhat stern with my inner child up until now. My work now, is to become soft and receptive to my inner child’s needs and not be dismissive. I enjoy the work of Fei Wyatt on Instagram, who helps me learn gentle parenting skills to use with myself. 🌿💕 

Another tool I have been nurturing is found within maintaining an altar. It feels especially important to invest in the divine, right now. Each day, before I begin working, I stand before my altar, and I breathe deeply. I speak to my inner child, asking them how they feel, I ask if they have needs, and if they answer, I provide loving support. I may light a candle as I do this. I will often touch small items on the altar, a crystal, a figurine, my magical items. This helps me create an intention for my time.

As I work, I enjoy herbal teas. My current favorites are rose petal and chamomile, which I buy loose and combine myself. ImmuniTea and Rooibus are some other favorites. I enjoy using honey as a sweetener. I like unpasteurized raw honey, to be specific. Recently, I have begun to use a dash of elderberry juice in my tea, to soup it up a little. Elderberry is rich in antioxidants and a great food to ingest during cold and flu season. 

I am leaning into the flower, rose, and it’s spiritual meanings, as I explore the needs of my inner child. Because of this, I have a bottle of rose water at the ready. At any moment, I might grab the bottle and spray the air over my head! I enjoy the moment as I do. I bought a nice rose oil, and I sparingly dab it on my wrists some days. I thrifted a sweatshirt with large, rambunctious roses printed on it, I admit, I would not normally wear this sort of thing, but heck! Things change and so do I. I have a rosy disposition! 💐

Additionally, in making these Spirit Dolls, I have uncovered some lovely stash that really hasn’t seen the light of day, in a very long time. I am delighted and gratified to find Milagros, velvet flower petals, beads in sizes pony to seed, ribbons. Really great stuff. Oh, and earth magnets too. This is wealth. What Spirit Doll doesn’t need earth magnets embedded within, in order to have detachable magical items placed on their bodies? 

And while I am here, cultivating a sense of gratitude, leaning into delight and being receptive to joy, are key components to life and artistic expression. This is the space where surprising choices elevate the message. Gratitude is a tool that can cultivate good cheer and help to keep the door open to wonder, joy and delight. It helps us stay focused on goodnesses, in the here and now. 

So, I have to ask, what creative tools do you possess that help you to meditate, gain mental clarity and express yourself? That need not be art or craft related. I find outlet in exercise, as well. I would just like to know, how do you engage in ritual making, meditation and whatever it is, that is your creative expression? I would really like to know.