Dear Creative Friend, 

Happy Solstice.

Wherever you are in the world, may this turning of the seasons offer a moment to pause, to notice, and to honour what is present.

Let this be a doorway for you to meet yourself where you are.

To listen to your longing, to nurture what feels tender in your heart.

This was my (Kathleen's) invitation to open last week's online retreat, and it has stayed with me. Isn't that exactly what the essence of expressive arts is? An opportunity to meet ourselves where we are? To listen and to nurture? To witness ourselves, and each other, in the art?

It simply invites us to begin with what is here, and to be present to our experience.

The expressive arts offer a space in which you can witness yourself with curiosity and compassion. Through color, image, movement, or words, what is present can be acknowledged, expressed, and gently held. Sometimes that is enough. And sometimes, in the very act of being met, something begins to shift.

As an expressive arts educator, I often say "there is nothing to fix". This does not mean "everything's fine"; it does mean whatever is present is welcome, and we are ready to listen deeply.

 Perhaps, for instance, a feeling of anxiety is present. In the spirit of witnessing, we can ask: 

 I wonder what anxiety looks like today. 

What color is it? What shape? What movement does it want to make?"

The implicit message is: Anxiety belongs here, too.
 

It is often through this act of companionship that calm emerges, as we cease resisting what is present.

Art-making invites us to offer ourselves the kind of attention we so readily offer others: patient, curious, and without demanding that anything be different.

And sometimes, in being fully met, something shifts. Not because it was 'fixed', but because it was finally given room to belong.

If you feel called, perhaps take five minutes today. Gather a piece of paper and a favorite art material. Without trying to make anything beautiful or meaningful, ask yourself:

What is here today?

Allow a color, a line, a shape, a gesture, or a few words to emerge. Notice what it feels like to offer yourself the same patient and compassionate attention you might so readily offer another.

Here is mine. I sprayed a tiny (3"x4") piece of watercolor paper with water, and then dropped in dots of 3 colors of paint (blue, then green, then yellow) with a small brush and let them run and spread.

Points of color

Dropped into water

finding flow and connection

while remaining distinct.

May my own color stay true

As I flow spontaneously with my community.

And may the light  illuminate the path.

This 5-minute process mirrored back to me where I am in this moment. And, through the image and words, I could see more clearly, and something shifted. 

May this Solstice mark not only a turning of the season, but also a gentle turning toward yourself. I invite you to meet yourself where you are. 

We would love to witness you in our private Facebook group. If you are a new member, we look forward to welcoming you.  There are a couple of questions for you to answer when you request to join. 

NEW!!! Save the Date for the following events!

Take a look at what's coming up for the rest of 2026! Registration will open soon for these training workshops. In the meantime, you can see the descriptions by clicking the button below.  

 Interested in a self-study course rather than something live? Take a look at our self-study courses at the link below!

All self-study courses contain 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!