Maybe you're someone who has tried meditating but just can't sit still. Maybe when others tell you to "rest" you go re-arrange your closet. Or when you're sitting in the bathtub, your brain is going a million miles a second.
Me too!
I've found the simple method of free style collage to work wonders when I'm trying to calm my mind (and in turn my body).
Collage is about creating a practice of being present in the moment. No plan. No expectations. Just showing up to the materials and the page to create with your hands. This simple act will help you find the space and calm you crave, while also stimulating your creativity and bringing you into a state of joy.
You don't need anything special to collage. Papers, glue stick, scissors, old magazines or photographs -- anything will do.
Simply begin with gathering all your supplies and arranging them neatly on your workspace. Take a few moments to gather yourself as well -- taking a deep breath, setting the intention to slow down and enter the creative flow. Maybe even dropping into your heart and creating from that place.
Choosing intuitively what feels interesting, begin to cut or tear shapes from the paper. Using different colors, patterns and textures as they call to you. Arrange them on the page. Try rearranging as many times as it feels fun. Sometimes the magic comes from trying new layouts, adding and subtracting, you may even be inspired to go grab another material, paints or crayons.
Is there a word or phrase that comes to mind? Cut the letters out of paper or from the magazine and add them to your collage. Is there a color missing? How's the layout feel?
The key here is PLAY! Play until it feels complete and then glue down your colors, shapes and words. Ask again, what's missing? Add that.
Lastly, I like to take a moment before moving on with my day to observe the collage and see if it has anything to say to me. Maybe it does, maybe today was purely about the process -- whatever it is, take a moment to feel a bit of gratitude for the gift of collage and the time it gave you to tap into your creativity.
After you've played with freestyle collage, you may want to be inspired by some of these ideas below...