Hello Creative Friend,

We all need spaces and experiences that bring us home to ourselves. For me (Kathleen) an expressive arts circles is one of those spaces. This past week, teaching The Scope of Expressive Arts with Tamara, assisted by Julie Collura, and attended by 11 beautiful humans from around the world, was definitely a coming-home-to-myself experience for me.  I am now sitting in the afterglow of the sharing, creating, connecting and learning, and considering how I can share it with you. I wonder - what is it in your life that brings you home to yourself? It's a question worth considering.

What do I mean by 'coming home to myself'? For me, it's a sense of being who I truly am, at home in my body, heart, mind, spirit. There is an effortless flow between the inner world and the outer world, between giving and receiving, between the imaginal and the literal. It is a space of intimacy, as we meet others through our hearts, the arts, the imagination, and shared stories. I trust myself and know myself in this space, and I am at my most empowered, and most embodied. When I am at home in myself, too, I experience, with authenticity, the whole spectrum of emotional experience, from deep grief to transcendent joy. When I am at home in myself I have hope, for each of us, and for the world. 

In an expressive arts class, we come to the circle, and we share - our images, movements, writing. At one point during this week's course, I wrote down some of the words that each student shared. This collaborative poem emerged.

Following a map to somewhere

I move with purpose, yet I don't know where my journey is going.

Silent witness guides my steps,

If I rested in her gaze it would be alright. 

Co-creating a unique rhythm that is only ours,

Trust me,

Art is the language.

The evolution of shared whimsy and glory

flows through our fingertips.

Like sky and water we reflect each other

Connection in stillness.

Witnessing this group move through the layers of intermodal arts and the layers of connection, - with self, and with each other- brought us joy and gratitude. Saying yes to an inner call, sometimes moving mountains to get here, these 11 students  arrived at the circle from all over the U.S. and across oceans,  to learn and travel through the territory of the arts together. Tamara, Julie and I thank each one of them. We know this work is good for each of us and good for the world. When we are at home in ourselves we offer the same gift to those around us. 

Here are some photo glimpses of our four days together. 

I invite you to consider this question:

What brings me home to myself?

• Create an image spontaneously.
• Embody the image by moving in response.
• Write in the voice of the image. 
• What did you discover?

 If you would like to share with us, you can do that in our private Facebook group here. 

Our next in-person expressive arts intensive - Expressive Arts as a Wisdom Path: A Journey of Creative Transformation will be in April. Details will be available soon. Our next online intensive - Expressive Arts for Body Mind Spirit - is in January. Let us know if you would like to learn more. 

With so much gratitude, 

Kathleen, Tamara,  and the Expressive Arts Florida Institute Team

In other news, we have just a few spots left for our Sand, Soul and Metaphor online training happening November 15th. This training integrates Expressive Arts Therapy, Play Therapy, and Sand Therapy into an immersive experience, offering innovative and creative ways to support your clients’ growth and healing.

Our next live Mindful Art Play workshop with Tamara is on Monday, October 27th. This is a time for MAP members to come together and practice what they've learned in the membership.

On the 28th we have our next Online Open Studio with Kathleen. This event is donation based and a wonderful way to create in community from the comfort of wherever you are!

Closing out the month we have our favorite guided workshop, Expressive Arts Discovery! Through guided meditation, artmaking, writing and more you'll discover what's waiting just below the surface to be discovered.

Scroll down to see our upcoming events, trainings, workshops and more! Or visit our calendar of events here.

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, NCC, LMHC, REACE®

Kathleen Horne

MA, LMHC(S), REACE®, REAT®

www.expressiveartsflorida.com