Dear Creative Friend,

Have you ever experienced the phenomenon of having external circumstances reinforce what you are "working on" internally? In the past few weeks I (Tamara) have engaged with mindful art practices, planned for upcoming workshops and a retreat around the themes of chaos and the sacred. Since our last newsletter, we received as much as sixteen inches of rain in twenty four hours and my entire neighborhood, along with several other neighborhoods in the area, were consumed by water. Tropical Storm Debby turned our roads into rivers and merged the ponds and creeks creating a little island for our house to sit on with just a sliver of grass outside our door. It was shocking, surprising, and threw us out of our ordinary reality. Many neighbors homes were flooded and some are still displaced. My family was very fortunate and did not have any water inside the house at all. We used our kayaks to go out, get supplies, and offer help. It was chaos. After the rain stopped, the still waters and reflections looked peaceful. Such a paradoxical, dissonant feeling. We kayaked through the tunnels created by the canopied trees, hearing the water lap against the boat and the paddles push water along as we glided past the homes in places that are usually covered in grass. If not for the realization that the streets lay beneath the water, the scene was quite serene and the reflections of the majestic oaks was stunning. 

After several days, the water receded and life mostly began to return to a sense of normalcy. What I noticed in the presence of this event or chaos was a lack of focus and a tendency to be drawn to small details. I drew repetitive designs with my compass, looked closely at the resurrection ferns that brightened up from the gift of moisture, marveled at the reflections in the glassy water surfaces all around us. Mindful attention to the results of the storm and slow, repetitive drawing provided some comfort and helped me return to stillness and quiet within me. I look forward to exploring the relationship between chaos and sacred, surprise and stillness as I approach the retreat and I feel grateful not only for being spared in the flood, but for the opportunity to reflect and surrender to the moment. 

If you feel interested, I invite you to work with your art materials -express the "chaos" in whatever way it is present for you. Consider the rhythm or energy of chaos and scribble it out on the page, for example. Then, find a place to begin and tend to each part of what the line has created. Be mindful. Take it slow, notice what happens within you. Do some writing, move to your image - allow your inner compass to lead you. 

I also invite you to join us this week "live". Have you participated in an Expressive Arts Discovery session with us yet? We created this 1.5 hour class as a way to connect with yourself and others in creative community.

We will begin with a guided meditation, and then move into art making and writing. We'll close with sharing and witnessing. If you haven't attended Expressive Arts Discovery, or are new to expressive arts, we invite you to join us. This will give you an idea of what it's like to move through an expressive arts practice. We have been offering this process for years and it is one of our favorites. 

Links under the "Save the Date" section will lead you to more information about the Sacred Chaos retreat - Early Bird pricing ends August 15 - and other upcoming classes & events! 

Therapy Services

Tamara is accepting new clients in Florida seeking therapy services and support using expressive arts to heal and grow. Using her years of creative practice and a compassionate approach, she is able to help clients access their inner strengths and create the change they most want in their lives. To inquire about services, you can go HERE, call/text 941-444-9585 

or email tknappcounseling@gmail.com

Tamara Teeter Knapp

MA, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, REACE®

Kathleen Horne

MA, LMHC(S), REACE®, REAT®

www.expressiveartsflorida.com