I could be one of those bloggers who is constantly apologizing for not posting, or I could just get to the good stuff.
I was recently introduced to the profound practice of making soul collages. Here is the official website:
There is a lot of information there for you to peruse. It is a process created and developed by Seena Frost. It is a creative reflection tool, guided by intuition, that can be used to connect with and understand yourself on a deeper level. Seena Frost and the Soul Collage website offer resources for creating an entire personal soul collage deck, but I’ve also found making just a single collage to be a wonderful, meditative experience.
The photo above is of my first collage, which I’ve entitled The Calling. For me, it speaks of the very intimate and emotional experience of my discernment – grief and struggle and, ultimately, inner peace. My spiritual journey over the past 15 years, beginning with leaving the Catholic Church and culminating in a decision to enter seminary has been both heartbreaking and joyful. I’ve had to let go of many ideas and beliefs, while also finding truth and solace in new ones.
The process of soul collaging, as shown to me, is to begin without any preconceived notions of what you should be making, without any specific goals in mind of where you want to end up, without even an overarching theme in mind. It is a process in which you let the images speak to you, arrange themselves and embody the non-verbal inner self, the divine YOU.
I’ve done it both in a group and alone. In a group setting, there was power and meaning in the discussion of our collages with each other after creating them. Being asked to interpret what appeared in the collage led to some deep revelations.
Music of My Soul is a collage I did alone, at home, with soft music playing and candles burning. It was a time of quiet contemplation and contentment, and when finished, I spent some moments just observing what I had made, without any effort to “describe” or interpret. It was a wholly different experience, but none-the-less Holy.
I’ve been doing collages for many years, but soul collaging is unique in its approach and guiding principles. At this time in my life, during such a momentous transition, I appreciate the insight gained from this gentle communication with my soul, and look forward to building a portfolio of sorts, to both chronicle this journey and continue to guide me in a life of authenticity and compassion.
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