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Art & Soul Blog

Showing up

1/24/2021

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Picture


​“To be a writer, you must write. To be an artist you must show up at the canvas. - The Artist’s Rule

Ouch! As both a writer and and artist I can say-I’m not showing up!! Are you experiencing that too? Do you have good intentions but never show up to do them? Is your creativity the last thing on your to do list?

I am leading a book club on the book The Artist’s Rule. It’s a book about your inner artist and your inner monk. Without going into too much detail, its a book that applies Benedictine spirituality to our creativity. I am not Catholic but my understanding of Benedictine spirituality is that it emphasizes the idea that everything, even the most mundane task is a holy act if done for and before God. And that every tool we use is a holy vessel. This means that our creativity and even the tools we use to do it are sacred!

But that’s not what this post is about. This post is about showing up and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to do the book group in the first place. I needed to show up. I think about art constantly. I plan compositions in my head. I gather reference photos for future paintings. I read blogs, follow artists on instagram and watch other artists create in videos, but I have remained dormant! I thought for a long time it was because I had more important work to do while I was caring for my father, which was true, and that I’d get right back to it when I was done. But I didn’t. Now I’m caring for my grandkids and enjoying being a spiritual director and life is full. So I wondered for a hot second if maybe that part of me was over? But then why do I still desire to create? In Ignatian spirituality we understand desire to be God given. So where was the disconnect??

Back to the quote. I was reading along and BAM! It hit me hard. I USED TO SHOW UP. I used to love to show up. When I was a working artist it was easy to prioritize my time and values around creating. So I had to ask myself: whats going on that I’m not showing up now? And honestly its a lot of things. Fear, bad time management, lack of energy because I use it on all the “important” things. I could go on...but then there’s that quote! And I realized as I read on that because I’ve shifted my energies elsewhere I’ve moved my art to the bottom of the priority list. The last thing I do when all my “important” tasks are through. The reward I never get to because I’m so tired! But if I’m truthful it goes deeper, I’m avoiding it...

It’s not just reprioritizing things to “DO” art. Its prioritizing “BEING” an artist. We talk a lot about “being” these days. Being present. Intentional. Mindful. All buzz words that are popular now and really just mean showing up! I believe in the mission statement I lovingly created for Art and Soul Ministries: “to create ways to honor and encourage art as a sacred practice”. And because I believe we are all Imago Dei—image bearers of the Creator—as such I believe we are all imbued with creativity!! It’s in our DNA and our very SOULS! And I believe in my mission statement which is one reason I began Art and Soul Ministries in the first place!

So now I have a problem. I’m going to have to show up! I’m praying about what that looks like and I’m leaning in to the Creator and lover of my soul to guide me into what He has for me in all this. And I’m already finding some shifts in how I’m walking in the world as an artist again. Now I’d like to ask you? How are you showing up to your call as a creative being? And how can I and Art and Soul help you do that? Let’s show up together!

​

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Advent Visio Divnia Meditation Part 4: Peace

12/20/2020

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Take time this Christmas season to enter into sacred prayer using Visio Divina during the Advent season. Join Michelle Morris artist and spiritual director, as she leads us each week in a special Visio Divina created for each week of Advent. Michelle created four paintings with audio prompts each week that will lead you into a sacred time of prayer as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Christ.vThese meditations will be posted on the Flourish website and social media pages so stay tuned!

​Advent Visio Divina Meditation Prompts:

Picture
Prompt 1:
  • Sit quietly and invite the presence of God to this time of prayer. As you sit in silence, ask God to speak to your heart while viewing this painting today.
  • Look at the painting and stop at the first thing that catches your eye. Stay there for a moment and ask what it is that draws you to this place?
  • Continue around the painting in the same manner, stopping and gazing at each place that catches your eye, journaling as you go.
  • Now sit back and look at the painting as a whole. What, if anything, do you see that you didn’t before?
  • In this painting, what do you imagine is happening?
Prompt 2:
  • What feelings do you experience when you look at this painting?
  • Do any words or scripture come to mind?
  • What do you imagine the dove is doing here?
  • How do you imagine yourself to be connected to this scene?
  • What is God speaking to your heart through the colors, shapes, gesture and movement in this painting?
  • How does this painting inspire you toward peace in yourself, others and the community around you?
Prompt 3:
  • Are you resistant to anything you are experiencing? If so talk to God about what you are resisting.
  • Next close your eyes and recall the painting in your mind. What do you see, and feel and what has God spoken to you as you recall your experience of prayer with the painting? Take this time to talk with God about anything you experienced.
  • Sit with eyes either open or closed before God and rest with what you have heard and experienced in this prayer
  • Are you being called to any action through what God has spoken to you? Ask God to enable you to walk out what He is calling you to today.

Audio Prompts:

​Author: Michelle Morris

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Advent Visio Divina Meditation Part 3: Faith

12/13/2020

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Take time this Christmas season to enter into sacred prayer using Visio Divina during the Advent season. Join Michelle Morris artist and spiritual director, as she leads us each week in a special Visio Divina created for each week of Advent. Michelle created four paintings with audio prompts each week that will lead you into a sacred time of prayer as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Christ.vThese meditations will be posted on the Flourish website and social media pages so stay tuned!

​Advent Visio Divina Meditation Prompts:

Picture
Prompt 1:
  • Sit quietly and invite the presence of God to this time of prayer. As you sit in silence, ask God to speak to your heart while viewing this painting today.
  • Look at the painting and stop at the first thing that catches your eye. Stay there for a moment and ask what it is that draws you to this place?
  • Continue around the painting in the same manner, stopping and gazing at each place that catches your eye, journaling as you go.
  • Now sit back and look at the painting as a whole. What, if anything, do you see that you didn’t before?
  • In this painting, what do you imagine is happening?
Prompt 2:
  • Are you resistant to anything you are experiencing? If so talk to God about what you are resisting.
  • Next close your eyes and recall the painting in your mind. What do you see, and feel and what has God spoken to you as you recall your experience of prayer with the painting? Take this time to talk with God about anything you experienced.
  • Sit with eyes either open or closed before God and rest with what you have heard and experienced in this prayer
  • Are you being called to any action through what God has spoken to you? Ask God to enable you to walk out what He is calling you to today.

Audio Prompts:

​Author: Michelle Morris

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Advent Visio Divina Meditation Part 2: Joy

12/6/2020

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Take time this Christmas season to enter into sacred prayer using Visio Divina during the Advent season. Join Michelle Morris artist and spiritual director, as she leads us each week in a special Visio Divina created for each week of Advent. Michelle created four paintings with audio prompts each week that will lead you into a sacred time of prayer as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Christ.vThese meditations will be posted on the Flourish website and social media pages so stay tuned!

​Advent Visio Divina Meditation Prompts:

Picture
Prompt 1:
  • Sit quietly and invite the presence of God to this time of prayer. As you sit in silence, ask God to speak to your heart while viewing this painting today.
  • Look at the painting and stop at the first thing that catches your eye. Stay there for a moment and ask what it is that draws you to this place?
  • Continue around the painting in the same manner, stopping and gazing at each place that catches your eye, journaling as you go.
  • Now sit back and look at the painting as a whole. What, if anything, do you see that you didn’t before?
  • In this painting, what do you imagine is happening?
Prompt 2:
  • Are you resistant to anything you are experiencing? If so talk to God about what you are resisting.
  • Next close your eyes and recall the painting in your mind. What do you see, and feel and what has God spoken to you as you recall your experience of prayer with the painting? Take this time to talk with God about anything you experienced.
  • Sit with eyes either open or closed before God and rest with what you have heard and experienced in this prayer
  • Are you being called to any action through what God has spoken to you? Ask God to enable you to walk out what He is calling you to today.

​Audio Prompts:

​Author: Michelle Morris

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Advent Visio Divina Meditation part 1: Hope

11/29/2020

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Take time this Christmas season to enter into sacred prayer using Visio Divina during the Advent season. Join Michelle Morris artist and spiritual director, as she leads us each week in a special Visio Divina created for each week of Advent. Michelle created four paintings with audio prompts each week that will lead you into a sacred time of prayer as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Christ.vThese meditations will be posted on the Flourish website and social media pages so stay tuned!

Advent Visio Divina Meditation Prompts:

Picture
Prompt 1:
  • Sit quietly and invite the presence of God to this time of prayer. As you sit in silence, ask God to speak to your heart while viewing this painting today.
  • Look at the painting and stop at the first thing that catches your eye. Stay there for a moment and ask what it is that draws you to this place?
  • Continue around the painting in the same manner, stopping and gazing at each place that catches your eye, journaling as you go.
  • Now sit back and look at the painting as a whole. What, if anything, do you see that you didn’t before?
  • In this painting, what do you imagine is happening?
Prompt 2:
  • Does the open posture of the hand suggest receiving or letting go to you?
  • What is your posture before God today?
  • How do you experience the space surrounding the hand?
  • Does this reflect any experience in your life today?
  • Where do you see yourself in this painting?
  • How does this painting inspire you towards hope and faith in God?
  • Are you resistant to anything you are experiencing? If so talk to God about what you are resisting.
Prompt 3:
  • Next close your eyes and recall the painting in your mind. What do you see, and feel and what has God spoken to you as you recall your experience of prayer with the painting? Take this time to talk with God about anything you experienced.
  • Sit with eyes either open or closed before God and rest with what you have heard and experienced in this prayer
  • Are you being called to any action through what God has spoken to you? Ask God to enable you to walk out what He is calling you to today.

Audio Prompts:

Author: Michelle Morris

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