Expressive arts could be considered a kind of play for adults. It provides ways for you to leave your logical mind and experiment spontaneously into ever-new realms of imagination. Creating spaces and times to create every day can loosen you from the world-weariness of adult concerns and invite the long-forgotten innocence from your childhood to reemerge.
The aim of an expressive arts practice is to explore two or more artistic disciplines within a single session. Regularly changing up your creative practices can keep you imaginatively nimble. Expand your range of play by creating a drawing and then writing a poem about it, or dancing to a song you are singing can deepen your connection to your imaginal world.
Learn more about Expressive Arts here
Tau Center offers many creative spirituality programs throughout the year. No matter where you are along your own spiritual journey, you can find comfort and community in each program.
SoulCollage®
We begin… by gathering images. “A delightful part of the SoulCollage® process is the time we spend searching for images… Imagine sitting on the floor in a comfortable room, surrounded with piles of magazines… there is the sound of paper tearing…an exclamation of recognition… You may or may not know what the image you select means at first. You may not know how you will use it and even if you will. What you will feel is the power in this particular one. As you leaf through magazines, something stops and holds you, calls to you in a mysterious way. Something goes straight into your soul, bypassing your mind. You tear it out and save it.”
- Seena Frost, SoulCollage®
Zentangle
Zentangle, or any form of spiritual creativity when done with careful intention can deepen your relationship with God and with your ‘self’. By using your imagination and creative mind, spiritual creativity can be a means to explore the mystery of your own life experience and your soul’s means of speaking to you. Spiritual creativity is particularly helpful when you are working through major life decisions or highly emotional or stressful periods.
Wisdom Writing Circle
Writing opens windows into our inner-life. Writing can keep us centered, help us discover new aspects of ourselves, and new perspectives on our lives. When we come together as a community of those who write, we share these discoveries in a safe circle. Whether you are an aspiring writer or want to explore writing in a group setting, the Circle will provide a structure and a supportive environment to explore the written expression of your experience.
Mandala and Vision Boards
“Mandala” is Sanskrit for circle, polygon, community, or connection. The dictionary defines a mandala as any of various ritualistic geometric designs symbolic of the universe, used in East Asian traditions as an aid to meditation to open the soul and to try to get to the center, to show the universe and everything that is in it. Visioning is a process by which we hear, feel, see and open ourselves to Spirit and our creative source.
Drumming, Gong and Sound Meditation
Drumming is a time-honored method of healing and helping others. While the drum has the ability to put us in touch with our own natural rhythms, the circle helps draw our individual energies together, unifying them into a consolidated force. Throughout history in various cultures, gongs have been used as sacred instruments. The physical sound vibration of the gong provides a powerful vehicle for meditation and spiritual transformation. The moving sounds of the gong and singing bowls help to quiet and energize the mind and body, and help to restore an intrinsic state of balance. The healing and mystical power of gongs will transport you to a deeply peaceful and healing place.
