by Diane Steinbach
"Making Whole" is a bi monthly column focusing on
art therapy to help heal inner trauma or promote healing and personal growth.
The tree image is a profound symbol. We plant a tree to
memorialize big events: births, deaths… We stand in awe at the roots of giant
Sequoias trees or Redwoods and witness them as testimony to the very power of
nature or God.
Trees are perfect in all their imperfections, just like us;
in fact, it is their very imperfections that make them interesting and complex.
The organic shape of the bark, the knotholes, the scars, the twists and turns
of the branches, our eyes are transfixed.
Imagine yourself as a tree. Using a pen, marker,
crayon or pencil, draw your tree.
Once done, look at your tree. Does it look full and thriving
or dying off? Is it scarred or smooth? Does the tree represent how you feel
about yourself?
What could you do to nourish or improve your tree? What does
the tree need? Over time, do more tree drawings and strive to nourish and care
for the tree that you create. Feed the roots and protect them. Allow the tree
to have foliage and provide shade. Add more things to the surrounds of the tree,
a sun, grass, and animals… provide a glorious environment for your tree – you-
to thrive and heal.
Diane is the author of: Art As Therapy: Innovations, Inspiration and
Ideas:, Art Activities for Groups:
Providing Therapy, Fun and Function and A
Practical Guide to Art Therapy Groups
image:
- License
Some rights reserved by Dan Morelle
How interesting! Why not put stories abut what happened when you used this? Patsy from
ReplyDeleteHeARTworks and
papemelroti
Diane --another great article!
ReplyDeleteInspired on Monday!
http://allthoseartsygirls.blogspot.com
Good Idea Patsy, I hesitated to do that as I didnt want to influence anyone elses results by adding any interpretative information in the article. The article is meant to lead people into doing the drawing for themselves, and I didnt want to put any ideas into their heads before they draw about what something might mean before they draw it...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post. The artists in my family have a fixation with trees. Now I know some of the reasons why.
ReplyDeleteWOW I loved this post. I am always drawing hearts, smilies, trees and the sun when I do draw. My trees when I draw are always huge and full of leaves. This really puts things into perspective.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this.
also thank you for commenting on my blog as well.
This is such a thought provoking post- love how it uses art to heal!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this at Inspire Me Monday - I am SO exited about this series! Congrats on being featured at
ReplyDeleteCreate With Joy
http://create-with-joy.com
Thanks! We appreciate you at Create with Joy!
ReplyDelete