FINDING THE MISSING PIECE by Kathleen Horne
When I was interviewing Donna Papanhausen last week, she described her Expressive Arts journey as a culmination, as the piece of her life path that has allowed her to be the person she was meant to be.
That got me thinking.
How many times have I heard
someone say something similar? How many times have I said it myself? How often have I heard the expressive arts described as the missing piece, the thing that brought everything together, the elusive, longed-for "something" that was un-named until it was found.
Can you relate?
Donna's story is that she was a painter for 50 years, as well as an educator and a pastor. Her expressive arts journey allowed her to really define her own work.
REMEMBERING I remember showing up as a student at my first 3-week expressive arts intensive at CIIS in 1996. At a retreat center, thirteen of us gathered around a sacred center made of feathers, candles, and flowers, and something new was begun. I didn't yet really know what I was doing there, but the inner call had been strong enough that I had moved mountains (more accurately, mountains had moved) to arrive for something that had awakened a deep
longing.
CIRCLE As a student, and, as a teacher, I have sat in many expressive arts circles where people describe an inner pull, or a call. Words I have heard, and said, a lot, in these circles are words like tribe, missing piece, healing, connection, mystery, longing, sacred, remembering.
In Expressive Arts, we gather together in the spirit of the circle, with acceptance, equality, and
safety. We open, through the arts, to our imagination, to mystery, to a deep inner wisdom that we may have forgotten about, and to an authentic connection with others. These circles are potent agents of change. They provide pathways for people to find their power, own their gifts, and discover purpose, just like Donna describes in her interview. They create the conditions for new responses, and the arrival of new solutions. Circles are containers for safe exploration, emerging possibility
and creative outcomes.
MYSTERY This work brings us into mystery and connects us with a deeper knowing - something that the ancients knew well, and that our modern culture desperately needs. There are many pathways into this deep knowing - Expressive Arts is one.
Perhaps it is one that resonates with you.
TRIBE
Would you like to experience more of the expressive arts? We would love to meet you, if we haven't already.
Have a look at all of the offerings below. MEET US Each of the 3 of us: Tamara, Victoria and myself, have our own stories of how Expressive Arts provided the missing piece in our journeys of personal and professional
development. You can read about mine here.
When I took that first step on my journey in 1996, I
was scared. I knew this was something I wanted but I didn't know what is was, or what it would ask of me. It was out of my comfort zone.
We understand that taking the first step, or the next step, might feel risky.
We commit to provide you with pathways to access your own deepest wisdom through the arts. Whether you are seeking a full certificate training and professional registration or a quick exploratory walk in the territory, we offer you options - both in-person and online. Everything is on our website.
We always welcome your questions, too. Just email us
and ask.
We welcome you to join us - we are fellow travelers and experienced guides in the territory.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER?
Here are the links and details for everything. And watch your calendars as more summer programming will be added
soon!
Embracing the power of everyone's creativity, Victoria, Tamara,
Kathleen
Kathleen Horne, MA, LMHC,
REACE Victoria Domenichello-Anderson, MA, REACE Tamara Teeter Knapp, BA, Certified K-12 Teacher
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