Collage
“Collage is all about bringing different elements together. Once you form a sensibility about connection, how different elements relate to each other, you deepen your understanding of yourself and others.”
Practice
Gather your supplies. You will need a heavy piece of paper, like watercolor paper or cardstock, to use as a “base” canvas, scissors, and a glue stick. Collect some magazines, old books, and photos. A used bookstore can be a great resource.
Find a spot to spread out. Light a candle and play music, if you’d like.
Open with a prayer for guidance. Pray for an open heart to God and the grace to pay attention.
Cut or tear out pictures from the magazines and photos. Use words or phrases that are interesting to you. Don’t overthink this process, just pick what grabs your attention or appeals to you.
Arrange them on your base. After you have a good selection of images to use, trim as needed, arrange, and glue them down.
Consider what you see and feel. Sit in silence as you look at the collage. Is there something specific coming to the surface? Consider journaling about your response. If you are doing this with others, take a few moments to share about your experience.
We live in a fast-paced world, full of distractions. This reality can make it difficult to access our own souls, to recognize what is happening in our interior life, much less to hear from God. In his beautiful book, A Hidden Wholeness, Parker Palmer reminds us:
“The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient, and yet exceedingly shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is to go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out. But if we are willing to walk quietly into the woods and sit silently for an hour or two at the base of a tree, the creature we are waiting for may well emerge, and out of the corner of an eye we will catch a glimpse of the precious wildness we seek.”
So, how can we help our souls feel safe? In the modern culture of Christianity, there’s a temptation to focus on reason, logic, and information. But when we include creative practices in our spiritual journey, we learn to leave room for mystery. It helps us let go of our need for control. It is a way to sneak past the barriers our souls put up, like a secret backdoor.
I would like to suggest collage as a practice to be present to God, to yourself, and others. It’s an opportunity to bring out all your kindergarten skills: cutting, gluing, and arranging. It’s surprisingly peaceful and fun and doesn’t require any refined artistic skill. Invite a family member, a neighbor, or a group of friends to join you.
All you need are a few supplies and a willing heart that’s ready to listen. And you may learn about yourself, your friends and neighbors, and hear from “the precious wildness we seek,” too.
Gayla Irwin is passionate about helping others cultivate joy and wholeness through contemplative creativity. You can find more at gaylairwin.com or @gaylairwinart on Instagram.
