Arts Forum

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Looking forward to the discussion on here! I’ve been thinking about starting a blog about how my personal nature connection experiences are translated through art. Just taking a sketchbook and pencils on a wander then letting whatever wants to speak to me, speak through the images I create based on that silent conversation. This is relatively new idea for me but I really enjoying looking back over my sketches to hear/see a dialogue deeper than words.

[Ivy Walker]

I love the idea of sharing a “dialogue deeper than words” through your imagery in a blog format. I think this could be a really interesting way to share nature connected experiences with a doorway through the visual. So much information can be intuited from an image. I imagine that prospective clients could be looking at this visual blog, really resonating with what you found and what you might have to offer them. Looking forward to hearing about your experience with this as it unfolds.

[Ivy Walker]

A fun thing to share is– I like to carry some unexpected art materials with me for sessions. These can include mirrors of a variety of sizes, marbles, old figurines, poems or cards with nature related imagery. I don’t take the same materials every time to every session. Not always but often, I will listen to intuition before a session with a client to see what is tapping at me or what I might wander by in the studio that ‘asks’ to come along. I hold this with unattached curiosity throughout a session to see if the moment will come up to present/suggest the object that wanted to come to the session. It doesn’t always happen, but when it does it feels like magic. 🙂

[Kent-Singing Panther]

I really like that idea, Ivy. Especially if for some reason a client can’t get out into nature as much, they might be able to reflect on those materials in the moment.

[Elizabeth Wangler]

Ivy, I love your idea of “asking” what wants to come along for clients. Kent, you’ve inspired me to carry my sketchbook more often!

I dream of leading retreats where participants create art from things they find on the land during wanders.

Thanks for creating this space to share ideas and visions, Ivy!

[Ivy Walker]

Hi Elizabeth, I look forward to your dream retreats happening! 🙂 You might enjoy knowing about radicaljoyforhardtimes.org. This group creates artwork with “damaged” places and generally supports artmaking in the land. A place for inspiration.

I must give credit to Kent who had the inspiration for this space. So here we are…. Thanks, Kent! And thanks for all who participate here. <3

[Ivy Walker]

Hi friends,
How has art been showing up in your sessions lately? Or how would you like to play with that possibility?

I will answer these questions, too: I find that sometimes I draw a picture before I meet with client. More often than not the imagery will relate to something in the session. It’s an interesting dance with intuition and tracking. Sometimes I show my client the image, if it seems appropriate.

I have a client in my private practice who has been experiencing a physical ailment. We spoke about the idea of exploring the expressions of this through a drawing or through song/movement. I really hope this opportunity comes to fruition– but only if they still find it relevant next we meet. I did this exercise with myself recently and found it enlightening. Best, ivy

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thanks for posting, Ivy. I have not been working with art as of late though it keeps coming to mind. Today I felt attracted to give a reply to your post and as I opened the forum it struck me that the picture you drew for me for our last talk was making sense. I wish I could post it here for others to see, but the point is that you had an attraction to create, and share, the drawing with me. Of course you had no way of knowing whether or not it would impact me but you followed your souls guidance and offered yourself as a vessel for something both within you, and beyond you, to speak through you. The post I shared with you is giving me some language to work with to decipher the drawing. Back to the drawing; I see those roundish green-yellow images as cells. The large one on the left I see as an energy/power/light/song both outside of myself and also within myself. The large cell is moving with the energy that is spiraling upward and creating a kind of vortex that is pulling me (the 3 smaller cells) toward the larger cell and we begin our dance toward the gateway of the Great Song being played in the Universe and I am part of this orchestra, as are you and all of us who are listening to the pull of the song!

As I re-read the post I sent you and look at your drawing, I feel a deep, deep gratitude. The changes within me are happening at a cellular level. The power within me is unifying with the power outside of me in ways I may not be able to comprehend, but trust that it is happening. Nature is transforming my story and the story that will follow me. I am cell in the greater story being told and in the greater song being sung! What an incredible truth to sense, feel and know within me!

[Ivy Walker]

Thanks for sharing, Kent! To know your experience is beautiful and affirming on so many levels. I love the cellular vision: from individual to wider change and interconnection. Nature, story, visions, songs are woven throughout. Trusting into this as we live, coach and/or create feels so supportive to have these larger resources for the journey. <3

[Mandy Bishop]

Hi friends!

I have not been utilizing art so much in any of my practice sessions lately, though I love the idea of dropping in before or even after a session to create something intuitively and to see what resonates both for me and the client.

I have however been coaching myself quite a bit through my own processes, and this has been a total collaboration between nature and art. I have been exploring my own traumas through the land, essentially doing a wander on the land with the intention to see what I need to be shown to heal my traumas. I am finding that when I arrive at the place I am called to, the way that I am able to process all that is arising is through artistic expression in some form. So far, this has taken the form of speaking or writing poetry, drawing, singing. I am super curious how this will continue to unfold.

I also had a good time creating parts cards as a way to try to understand and get to know my parts better. They sort of remind me of tarot cards for my parts! Trying to drop into what image would represent the part and drawing that image allowed me to drop more deeply into what the part really felt like within me. On the back of these cards are descriptions of what these parts bring to the system. This has been fun and helpful. Potentially something to do with a client if they are interested.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Mandy, I love the idea of “parts cards!” I might have to steal that one 🙂

[Ivy Walker]

Hi friends,
Just curious if any interesting art experiences have come up in your summer wanders and coaching? I had some wonderful experiences with self-created ceremony and making art with natural materials. Also, I had the opportunity to see how reading/ writing poetry and automatic writing could bring clients into a deeper nature connection and creative, learning space. It’s fascinating to watch each client and each session to see where these opportunities can fit-in, in an authentic way.