Soul Magazine — Gratitude — Challenge — Healing

Expressive Arts As Our Bridge Home

In a world filled with constant distractions and a never-ending stream of information, finding a pathway to inner peace and self-expression can be a challenging endeavor. One such pathway, often overlooked in our fast-paced lives, is the act of creating art. Art serves as a bridge between the chaos of our external world and the profound depths of our inner selves, allowing our souls to find a voice amidst the noise. Art-making creates a space for our truest selves to emerge.

When JC shared her collages of her art with me, I was curious. She then invited me to join her for 100 days in this exercise of expressing our souls through art. I asked, “How do you do that?” She replied, “Just get a glue stick, have some feelings, and glue torn up or cut out catalogs, magazines, or whatever and glue them on your spirit’s way. There is no wrong way!”

I thought that was simple enough and pretty straightforward. The next 100 days of my life required an hour blocked and immersed in befriending my soul and discovering more about her through art. Giving it the space it needs to express its wisdom and grace. Some of my collages even birthed poems!

A few things I have gained and learned through expressive arts:

Emotional Release: Creating art offers a unique channel for the release of pent-up emotions and feelings that often go unexpressed in our daily lives. Whether through painting, music, drawing, sculpting, or any other form of artistic expression, we can give voice to our joys, sorrows, fears, and hopes. This emotional catharsis can be incredibly liberating, as it allows us to acknowledge and process our inner world.

Non-Verbal Communication: Not all thoughts and emotions can be neatly put into words. Art provides a non-verbal means of communication, enabling us to express ideas, experiences, and sensations that defy linguistic expression. This is especially valuable when we struggle to articulate our feelings or experiences through words alone.

Mindfulness and Presence: When engaged in the act of creating art, our minds become fully absorbed in the task at hand. This state of mindfulness is akin to meditation, where we are entirely present in the moment. This “flow” state allows us to detach from our busy thoughts and worries, granting our souls the freedom to speak. Art bypasses the mind.

Intuitive Insight: Artistic expression often relies on intuition rather than structured logic. When we let go of the need for everything to make perfect sense, our intuitive faculties flourish. We begin to trust our inner wisdom, and this trust can extend beyond our creative process into our daily decision-making and problem-solving.

Self-Discovery: Through the act of creating art, we can unearth aspects of ourselves that may have been buried beneath the demands of daily life. The art we produce can act as a mirror reflecting our inner landscape, helping us discover hidden talents, desires, or even unresolved issues that need our attention.

Catharsis and Healing: Art has therapeutic qualities. Many individuals have found solace in creating art as a means of healing from trauma or coping with emotional pain. The act of transforming pain into beauty or meaning through art can be a powerful tool for self-recovery and growth.

Connection to Others: As my art is private, I only just shared it with JC and shared a couple on social media. But sharing our art with others can foster connection and empathy. It transcends language barriers and can touch the hearts of those who view or experience it. Art has the potential to create bridges of understanding between people from different backgrounds, fostering unity and empathy. Last weekend, I was at the Van Gogh Immersive experience, and yes, in some ways, I was connecting with Van Gogh through his art that oftentimes conveyed misery and joy.

A Sense of Accomplishment: Completing an art project provides a sense of accomplishment and pride, boosting self-esteem and self-worth. It reminds us of our creative potential and resilience.

Claudio, a young and creatively amazing songwriter and singer during her Ted Talk speech said: “In art, in any faithful self-expression, you go until you’ve lit up the dark space. How does a great song lay out your emotional experience? As if someone was eavesdropping from your internal dialogue. The taking of something in the inner world, silent, formless, and finding a way to convert it into a shareable perceptible sonic language via rhythms, harmonies, beautiful noise, lyrics, whatever will get you there. It’s a very powerful thing in a world where we don’t always have the tools or the context to express the fullness of who we are. Music has this unparalleled ability to take all of one’s pain, pull it into a single frame, and invite us to relive it with all of the joy of the experience and none of the suffering. Like a wind turbine converts the wind’s kinetic energy into electrical power, the songwriter has an ability to convert the emotional experience, the human experience, however transitory, and convert it into redeeming beauty long after the pain has passed.”

In a world where we are constantly bombarded by external stimuli and pressures, taking the time to create art can serve as a sanctuary for our souls. It allows us to bypass the incessant chatter of our minds, granting us access to the quiet wisdom within. Art is not just a hobby or a pastime; it is a powerful tool for self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. So, pick up that paintbrush, mold that clay, or start that sketchbook, and let your soul find its voice through the beautiful language of art. Establish one of the ways that bridge you back home to yourself.

Grateful for the gifts of expressive arts.

Lani Domaloy 2023. All rights reserved.

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