We are made in the image of God

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy” ~Rumi

We are made in the image of God; we are created to create.

Perhaps you doubt whether there is a creative bone in your body, but you would not be giving your Creator the benefit of the doubt. Everyone has an Inner Artist, but often our Inner Critic expresses itself more ardently. And we believe in the voice that whispers (or screams), “I’m not creative. I don’t have talent. I’m too self-conscious to create in front of others.”

“Undoing our negative inner talk is vital to move past thinking that does not serve us and to our creative and spiritual growth.”—Jill Badonsky

Give yourself and God a little credit. Remember you were CREATED to create.

“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.” –Julia Cameron

When your Inner Critic rears its ugly head, remember that being creative is your birthright. I’m not talking about creating art that graces the walls of galleries; I am talking about art that flows from your soul—that is an expression of your deepest joy, gratitude, grief, fear, faith and love. Creativity is an outward sign of your deepest, inner stirrings, the voice of your soul. Creativity is a process, not a product. It is art for the sake of your soul.

“Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow.” ~Kurt Vonnegut

That river moving in you, the joy that radiates from a true expression of your soul can be captured by creating a simple collage of magazine images and your favorite photos. “I never thought about using my artistic talent to express and discover what it brings out spiritually. And I certainly didn’t think about it as a way to deepen my relationship with God.”—Sandra Renner See what others have appreciated about SoulCollage® retreats.

Awaken the joy of creativity using the playful, intuitive SoulCollage® process to create personal cards for prayer, meditation and reflection. The next retreat opportunity is at St. Benedict Center in Schuyler, Nebraska. For more information about The Joy of Creativity or to register see the St. Benedict Center program schedule.

Using images and collage, we will remember and appreciate the experience of joy in our lives. By exploring the Source of joy, we will learn how to cultivate joy and even experience a foretaste of the joy of heaven!

“Too often we wait for joy to come to us when the real truth is that joy is something we must take responsibility for creating, not just for ourselves but for others as well. The beauty of joy is that, like a stained glass window through which light breaks into a myriad of colors, it enables us to see how good life is, even when it seems that it isn’t. Joy is not an event; it is an attitude a healthy person takes into every situation in life—work, family, social life, and even moments of personal stress. It speaks of hope and openness, of enticing possibility and the deep conviction that what is given to us in life is given to us for our own good.”~ Joan Chittister, Aspects of the Heart: The Many Paths to a Good Life