Dear Creative Friend,

We gathered for the first session of our new course Creative Presence and co-created a beautiful circle of people to expand our understanding and deepen our practice of sharing expressive arts with individuals. It was a nourishing day filled with new insight, embodied awareness, and deep sharing. What a gift it is to share this work with others. I (Tamara) reflect on what it means to do this work. Offering opportunities to others deepens my own understanding as I continue to articulate the details of what I experience as a facilitator and therapist. Throughout the day we created a few images, moved our bodies, did some writing, and witnessed one another. Even the simplest, brief process can lead to shifts. That is why we offer experiential training and why expressive arts is grounded in experience. It is through our "doing" that we can explore our "being". It is also important to pay attention to how we are being with what is present for us and our clients. Our work is about helping others to be with what they bring into the session. In order to do this, we must cultivate our own presence so that we are being of service to the greater good for the client. What I have been reflecting on is the theme of "being" versus "doing". It is a theme that has arrived repeatedly in many areas of my life recently. 

So many questions have arisen. 

• How is my doing in service of my being?
• How is being related to what I can do?
• What does it mean to just be? Is it okay that I am not "doing" anything?
• What if "doing" something about it (such as the difficulties in the world) is about caring for my beingness?
• What if caring for how I am being is not doing "nothing". 

Try it. See what happens if you tune into how you are "being" in the moment, then "do" something like move your body in response to what you notice, create an image of how the movement informs you, then write the message it has for you. When I tried it, I felt my arms stretch out like they were holding the perimeter of a wide basin. I felt expansive and spacious inside. Then a quick image arrived.  I was led to words that help me be in a more relaxed, reassured way. The words that the image shared were "There is plenty of space. I have time."  The process created an inner shift that now informs how I am being and experiencing my life. It is a simple shift, but one that holds meaning and is helpful. 

I encourage you to try it. Tune it, "be", then "do" something from that place of "being", and notice what arrives. 

We would love for you to share in our private Facebook group. Let's keep building creative community support. 

See all our upcoming offerings here!

 Each course contains detailed, yet approachable instructions, videos, and meditations facilitated by Kathleen & Tamara. The imagery and guidance from this work can assist you, whether dipping your toes into expressive arts or seeking a deeper connection. 

*All courses come with lifetime access so you can refer back to them at any time!

*No previous art experience is necessary!

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