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July 2020

I had been trying to get a newsletter out to you for a few weeks. Each time I would start to write I gave in to distraction, mostly, I talked myself out of writing because I was too full of words and sadness. It was too much to bear watching a world that was breaking apart.

My first draft, written at the beginning of June, was filled with anger as I reeled from the news of a mother who killed her autistic son, stating he is in a better place, followed by the rage and destruction that filled the news of the horrible death of a man at the hands of a cop, and, oh yay, COVID.

I knew I did not want to use this newsletter as a platform to dump my toxic energy. That would be of no help to anyone. I also did not want anyone reading this to feel they have to respond in any particular way in order to be seen, heard, or valued. I wanted this newsletter to welcome everyone to explore their emotions through a creative process.

As I mentioned before, my first draft was heated. I also did not need to share that piece of writing with the world. I do not want to leave a legacy of wildfire if I can help others to explore their own emotions and remove that which does not serve, similar to a controlled burn to recycle nutrients supporting ecosystem health.

Writing allowed me to 1) vent my feelings in a safe container so as not to add any more pain to the world, 2) explore the opposite of my feelings to gain insight in a completely different perspective, and 3) reconciliation, identify the changes I want to see and additional ways to achieve compatibility. Demanding that someone agrees with our individual perspective and do what we say is the right thing to do does not leave space for those hard uncomfortable conversations that challenge our thinking.

Currently, many interactions have been so polarized making it difficult to be heard and to have an open discussion about different viewpoints. Humans often forget that treating each other with respect and kindness is a good place to start. Taking responsibility for our own reactions and interpretations is also a valuable step. Listening without judging or yelling will be an incredible feat for us, but I think we can handle the challenge.

Love and Trust, in the space between what's said and what's heard in our life, can make all the difference in this world. ~Fred Rogers

Peace and Light,
Lisa Richardson, LMHC, Owner of Spirited Away Art Therapy, LLC

I invite you to try this 3 part writing exercise I experienced at a recent retreat, then illustrate your emotions in a silhouette body scan using colored pencils to show you where the energy of your feelings resides.

1) Write your thoughts as they come forth. Do not sensor yourself, or edit, and it can be as mean as you need it to be. This writing is for your eyes only and you can paint over it or rip it to tiny pieces when you are through with the exercise.

2) Or, what if... Take the horrible thought from the first exercise and answer the "why" from the opposite perspective. Example: I can't stand it when people yell and complain about how they are suffering. Opposite perspective: I yell because people do not seem to listen to me. I feel like I am invisible and insignificant while they see themselves as more important.

3) Create a timeline. Explore the thoughts you think you can get over as the start of your timeline, and continue the story of what happened next to help you move into living in the resolution.

Body Scan Outline and filled in Body Scan

Dearest AFH Supporters, Friends, and Family,
We are all adrift on this river of turbulence. Our goal with this Arts For Health Sarasota - Manatee newsletter is to share with you tools and methods for exploring, understanding, and managing our emotional health, our physical health, and our spiritual health to become the best version of ourselves.

Please give it a go and let us know how trying something new has impacted you. We are honored to hear your feedback through our Facebook Page or our website.

Be safe,
Hedda and Lisa, Co-Chairs AFHS-M

Thank you

We are so blessed
to have our Arts for Health Sarasota-Manatee Practitioners
sharing their juicy goodness with us.

I study with a teacher in California. Her name is Shiloh Sophia and she teaches Intentional Creativity. I’m certified in IC. One of the foundational teachings in Intentional Creativity is called Metacognitive Drawing. It is simply holding a thought or, more importantly, an intention lightly in your mind while moving a pen, pencil, marker, or paintbrush around your paper or canvas, allowing the implement to lead. There is no rush and no trying to draw any particular thing, just movement. Do this for a minute or two. Sometimes I close my eyes.

When you’ve finished, take a clean sheet of paper and begin to write in an unforced way allowing your thoughts to flow. I find this practice very calming and insightful.

A variation is to hold something in each hand and move both at once on the paper. Sometimes I look for an image, then write. Sometimes this leads to further artmaking! Metacognitive Drawing is a wonderful way to get in touch with inner wisdom to help you cope in these difficult times.

You can find Donna offer programs at Expressive Arts Florida http://www.expressiveartsflorida.com/

from Tamara Knapp, Expressive Arts Florida

If you would like to create some art on your own, you might like to try this Expressive Doodle Drawing:

Gather some art materials – or simple drawing materials will do.
Take a few breaths and feel the support of the earth beneath you. Allow yourself to become present in the moment.
Using any color you would like, choose two – one in each hand and allow them to move freely in the air around you. Using quick or slow movements, whatever feels best, do this for a few minutes.
Then, place both hands on a paper – larger is probably best – and continue moving the colors around freely, like a big doodle. It may help to alternate hands so one can hold the paper, or you can tape it down first.
Take a few minutes and look at the lines and shapes created. Choose one that you love the most and color it in. Continue spontaneously coloring in shapes with colors that please you until you feel it is complete. There are no rules about how many you do.
If you see a particular shape, feel free to color It so it is emphasized.
Notice if any words arrive as you do this and consider writing words in and through the spaces. Give it a name.
Look at the image you created from a distance, turn it around, and view it in different directions. Then, write beginning with the words “I am” and see what happens. It may be a sentence or a phrase, or a whole story.

Pictured below is the image I created, and the words I spoke after completing the process described above.

I am a fish out of water.

I swim in the trees.

The forest is my home,

Earthly rhythms I breathe

-Tamara

Mindfulness Resources
I wanted to share a couple of the resources I have been making use of as part of my morning ritual to prepare me for the day.
Please take a look, feel free to tell me what you think.
Lisa@Spiritedawayarttherapy.com

The Tapping Solution - https://www.thetappingsolution.com/blog/releasing-coronavirus-anxiety/

Insight Timer - Free Daily Meditation - https://insighttimer.com/