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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Art Every day month #aedm2013

It's Friday and for me that means a day in the studio painting.  It's also November and that means it's Art Every Day Month.  We're already a week in, but if you haven't started yet you can start anytime.

I've been working in my journal in preparation for my Glorious Goddess workshop on 21 Secrets 2014. And I've been posting on IG and FB with the hashtag #goddessjournal so if you like, you can see all the goddess pages together.  

You can join in #AEDM any way you like - a page a day in your art journal, a painting a day if you feel so inspired, making art with your kids, baking a cake, knitting, a photo for IG, writing a poem - whatever you have time for in your busy schedule.  And if you miss a day (I missed a couple this week) it really doesn't matter.  It's just a gentle reminder that we can be creative every day even for just 10 minutes to doodle in the coffee shop or while you're on the phone to your friend or like today, spending a good chunk of time with the paint.

AEDM links in nicely with my last post about Maintaining Creativity - if you're looking for some peer support and a creative tribe to join for a few weeks, this could be it.

Five ways you might be creative every day: 

• Junk mail journalling once the mail arrives
• a doodle with your morning coffee (journaling in the coffee shop seems to be a trend)
• blind contour drawing your workmates at lunchtime
• a scheduled art date - gallery visit, art material shopping (one of my favourites) or getting together with friends to make art
• full on journaling in the evening 

Once you've created your piece  of art, you can share online on your blog, on IG, FB and Twitter using the hashtags #aedm and #aedm2013 - or don't share at all, just know that you have honoured your creativity for another day.

Art Every Day Month is hosted by lovely Leah Piken Kolidas over at Creative Every Day - for more info just follow the link.

There's been a bit of a blue and green theme going on the last couple of days - seems like lots of healing on the green ray for the heart and general balancing is what's needed around here.  Are you interested in the effect colour has on us? On our physical and emotional being?  

Would you like to know more about colour for healing through art?  Using your journal as a safe and sacred space to do this?

I am putting together ideas for online courses for next year and would love to know what you think.  

Please leave me a note in the comments box below or contact me  and let me know.

From my heart to yours

Rachel xox