This is why I love the expressive arts. It gets us in touch with parts of our Selves that otherwise might be ignored, and left  unexplored.  There are many more than just five rhythms to life. But how many of our own rhythms, or ways of being in this world do we actually allow ourselves to connect with?  Or perhaps it is better to look at these rhythms as potentials for being in life.

At the workshop I attended I was reminded of this. How important it is to let ourselves go and freely experience these  other parts of self.

When I paint or art journal or do any sort of creative expression I give myself permission to connect with these true aspects of self.  This includes the parts we may avoid as well. The shadows that scare us or seem ugly are held safely in the space of the large canvas or paper.  Containing them this way allows them to be  explored more deeply.  When this happens, the parts of self that are meek or shy are able to make an appearance, peeking through the pages of my art journal, knowing that they will be seen yet protected between covers.

This is the beauty of self-expression through the arts.  We are not limited by our technical skill, but only by our minds and their eagerness to control out comes.  The more we work in this expressive-process-oriented way the more room we give for authenticity, unhindered by outcome and our own judgement.

Last night I went to the annual Festival of Lights celebration here in Toronto and was reminded of this once again while I watched the burning of a magnificent bird sculpture.  Every year a different sculpture is made and lit for the final bon fire as community gathers to celebrate  this time of year.  There is no sadness as the paper mache sculpture burns, in fact we are all in awe, embracing the beauty of the moment and releasing it happily.  The sculpture, a product made through a loving process of communal expression is not as important as the process of creating it.

I am reminded of how easy it is to let go when we are not invested in hanging on.  I am reminded of how difficult it can be to let go within ourselves when we place unnecessary expectations on ourselves.  And so the process of creating in the expressive arts has the potential for powerful lessons in letting go and connecting with the present.  Letting go of the past and our frustrations with it and letting go of our future hopes which inadvertently can suggest that what is now is not enough.