Why you should be Art journaling (with me)

On Wednesday, four lovely ladies gathered around my table to discover the magic of art journaling.

To an onlooker, someone who hasn't heard of art journaling or doesn't understand what art journaling is, these photos may look as if we are just doing kids' stuff: playing with stencils, glueing and sticking, a bit of doodling, playing with paper, collage, throwing a bit of paint around, playing (there's that word again) with some art materials (OMG are those felt pens?) and drinking coffee.

Well, we did all of those things and we did drink coffee and herb tea, while eating almonds and Cadbury's chocolate.

But the key words are 'kids' stuff' and 'playing'.  They are UTMOST important.  Art journaling invites your inner child out to play.

Which is in itself incredibly powerful. And if that was all that art journaling did, that would be enough. When did your inner child last come out and run round the playground shouting and screaming for the sheer joy of it? Choosing yummy textured paper to use for collage or pushing around gloriously coloured paint does just that, if a little more quietly. 

Art journaling lets us explore our creativity like we're a child again.  

In fact, art journaling lets us explore our creativity. Full stop. When I was re-connecting with my creative self after many years of zero creative activity, art journaling was the main method I used to reconnect with the muse.     

But art journaling goes even deeper than that.  Art journaling is soul work.  Deep soul work.

When I asked these wonderful women to dig deep and answer some journaling prompts, they replied with such passion and enthusiasm you could feel the energy sizzling off the pages.

Your art journal gives you a safe space to spill your questions and feelings, your deepest thoughts, your doubts and your fears.  It's a place to face your gremlins but also to celebrate your blessings and all you are grateful for.  It is a place to explore who you are.  

Other things you need to know about art journaling:

Art journaling opens up the channel to the secret messages from the Universe.  Are you listening to the whispers? This magical tool will help... 

An art journal is also the most powerful tool I know for manifestation of dreams and desires... Bring on the magic...

There are no rules for art journaling - except that there are no rules...

Is the sky blue?  No, it's orange or purple or green.  Actually there is no sky, here in my art journal I'm outside of time and space today.  Which is another thing art journaling does - it puts you in the moment and allows you to be part of the flow.  

And being part of the flow is making your own connection to Source - wherein lies the joy.

Create art (journals); create happiness... (Did you see what I did there?)

Are you an art journaler? Are you already partaking of the magic?  Yay! 

Or are you yearning to be creative and don't know where to start?

Do you need some direction?  A little step up and a helping hand while you do?

I'm creating a series of online workshops for 2014 including at least one on art journaling.  If you are interested please leave me a note in the comments box below or hit reply and send me an email.

There will also be more in person workshops if you live in the North East of England.

Sign up for the newsletter to make sure you're kept in the loop.

AND as you may already know I'm going to be a tutor in the 21 Secrets art journal playground in 2014. Read more about my own Glorious Goddess art journal workshop for 21 secrets here. 

I'm off to play in my own journal - I have goddesses and an inner child to keep happy... 

From my heart to yours

Rachel xox

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proud to be teaching on 21 Secrets 2014

YAY! I am more than excited to tell you that I am going to be teaching on 21 Secrets 2014!!!!

This is the big news I have wanted to share with you the past few weeks but couldn't until the official launch date which is today!

21 SECRETS is an annual online art journaling workshop, facilitated by Connie Hozvicka over at Dirty Footprints Studio.  It features 21 talented, passionate artists that share a different technique, approach, or method of art journaling that is special to them.  

I took part in 21 Secrets as a student in 2011 and 2012.  It opened me up to so many different teachers and so many different styles of journalling - a delicious feast of journaling!! 

And next year, I will be one of those 21 artists waiting to work with you...

There I am in the middle on the bottom row!! (Can you tell how excited I am?!)

My workshop Glorious Goddess will be one of 21 gorgeous, soulful journaling workshops which you can sign up for here

My Glorious Goddess workshop will help you to reconnect, reclaim, and release your inner goddess. Through guided meditation and some of my favorite art journaling techniques, I will guide you into creating your own Goddess pages. I have worked spiritually and creatively with the Goddess energy for many years now and my art work is about the joy I experience when I make that connection. I’d love to work with you to help you make your own connection.  Absolutely no art experience is necessary.

The workshops are not live until 1st April 2014 but the sooner you enrol, the more money you save as there are lots of early bird savings to be grabbed. To sign up, just hop over here

So looking forward to seeing you next year in 21 Secrets 2014

From my heart to yours

Rachel xox

(ps you may have noticed all the links to 21 Secrets 2014.  These use an affiliate code meaning that each teacher has their own code and receives a small reward for each sale they refer through the link)