Making Whole: Healing Through Art: Rise from the Destruction

by Diane Steinbach

Making Whole is a bi-monthly art therapy column focused on art to heal.

Many of us feel devastated by life. We feel wrought by our own decisions, regrets over past mistakes tear us apart because we refuse to forgive ourselves and move forward. Sometimes we torture ourselves over pain that we did not cause, but still endure...just to feel alive. Grief over lost loved ones, tragic events, whatever the cause of our inner sadness and self-flagellation, now is the time to end it. 
Spring...Easter, this is the time of renewal. A time to release ourselves of our grief, to forgive ourselves of our past and bloom again as all things do.

What you'll need:
8x11" water color paper
drawing pencils, paints or markers
Medium sized canvas board
Modge Podge decoupage glue
Small sponge brush

Take a 8x11" piece of drawing or watercolor paper and paint, use drawing pencils, or markers and use the entirety of the paper to create a symbolic representation of what it is that grieves you. Use color and line to put all your emotions of regret and sorrow, anger and pain into the image, releasing those feelings into the paper.  Move quickly and don't think too deeply about what you are creating. Use your emotions to move the colors and create the image.

Once done allow it to dry if necessary and get your medium canvas board out along with Modge Podge glue and a sponge brush.

Rip up your image of grief and pain. Tear it up into pieces and strips, destroying the memory of it and the power it has over you. Let it go with each tear.

Use the strips of paper now to create something beautiful on your canvas. Use the Modge Podge glue to glue the strips and pieces of colored paper down to form a beautiful flower, or image of your desire. Whatever it is, take your time to create something beautiful from the old, torn paper.

Once done, take a deep breath and release the last of that tension and know that your Spring has arrived.

image:

License

Some rights reserved by kappuru

Diane Steinbach is an art therapist and 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

God Speaks: Real Stories of God's Guiding Hands in Real People's Lives: Guardian Angel Saved Me

The book "Treasuring Grace" was inspired by a dream in which co -author Tracy Roberts feels that God spoke to her and directed her hand in the writing of the story. Many people feel God's special influence in their lives in direct or indirect ways.  This column seeks to bring you some of their inspirational stories.

 (from dailymail.co.uk)

It happened to me: My guardian angel saved my life

By Richard Webber
UPDATED: 17:00 EST, 4 December 2009

Eleven years ago, Donna Ferguson was close to death. Hours after giving birth to her fourth child, Jessica, she began haemorrhaging and fell unconscious.

Her condition deteriorated rapidly until, suddenly, a voice urged her to summon help. Donna believes her guardian angel saved her life that night.

Now 40, Donna lives with her partner, Gary, and five children, Natasha, 23, Adam, 21, Rebecca, 15, Jessica, 11, and Kalen, five, in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.

Jessica was born at 3pm on 15 June 1998 in a hospital in Lisburn, County Antrim. It had been a normal pregnancy with no complications, but after the birth I started feeling extremely tired and dizzy.

Like all women who have just given birth, I was losing blood, although, in hindsight, I realise that it was more than I'd lost with my previous children. Although, I didn't worry unduly, what I didn't realise was that I was haemorrhaging.

That evening, my partner, Gary, and friend, Shirley, came to visit me in hospital. As I sat on the bed, unable to move because I was so tired, I started to feel as though I was going to pass out.

'I was haemorrhaging in my sleep. A voice kept telling me to wake up and alert the nurses. The doctor said if I'd lost any more blood, I wouldn't have survived'

Shirley got a nurse to examine me, and she thought I looked peaky. Because I was so tired, she took Jessica to the nursery so that I could get a good night's sleep before the doctor saw me the following day during his rounds.

By the time Gary and Shirley left, I could barely stay awake. I drifted into a deep sleep until around 2am, when I began hearing a voice.

'Wake up, wake up!' it kept saying, softly. I didn't want to and tried desperately to ignore it, telling myself, 'I can't wake up, I'm so tired. I need to sleep.'

But the voice – which remained at the same pitch and tone – was persistent, determined to shake me out of unconsciousness. It never got angry, remaining calm as it repeatedly told me to wake up.

This time, though, it also told me to press the alarm. I didn't even know there was an alarm. Still I couldn't open my eyes, but managed to find enough strength to lift my arm. Feeling a wire hanging next to me, I pressed the button. Fortunately, it was the alarm, which alerted the nurses.

Next thing I remember was the light being switched on as a nurse rushed into my room. I was lying in a pool of blood and soon there were three nurses and a doctor crowded around my bed. There was a commotion as they tried desperately
to keep me awake. I remember telling one of the nurses that I'd been woken by someone.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1233189/It-happened-My-guardian-angel-saved-life.html#ixzz2O6cITu1r

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Make a Difference: Yes You Can! Grace Centers of Hope

Grace Centers of Hope is a charity organization that: "was established in 1942. It has since grown and evolved into the largest and oldest faith-based outreach to homeless and disadvantaged individuals and families. Grace Centers of Hope(GCH) provides a full recovery and rehabilitation campus for homeless men,women and children who have been abused or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol."

This non-profit, Christian organization has numerous ways you can get involved and make a difference. Although the group is located in Pontiac MI, you can make a difference no matter where you live.
(from their website)

Are you having trouble trying to find the time to fit volunteering into your busy schedule? Well, becoming a virtual volunteer may be a perfect fit for you. Maybe you're already a volunteer with Grace Centers of Hope and want to do something more? We have a couple of off-site virtual opportunities that may interest you. You may also want to consider coordinating a donation drive for needed items.
Prayer partner We would love you to consider becoming a part of our prayer team. We simply ask you to lift up the needs of our residents, staff volunteers and donors. Networking for Grace Do you use social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) to stay connected and share your life with family and friends? Networking for Grace may be a perfect volunteer opportunity for you. Join the team and help the homeless by sharing Grace Centers of Hope's needs, stories and other information with your network. A staff member will contact you to get you started. Hours and Location: At your convenience, whenever and wherever you get online. Check out other ways you can help by going to their website and spreading the news of their good work...  http://gracecentersofhope.org/history.aspx image: License Some rights reserved by Ed Yourdon

Making Whole: Healing Through Art: Celtic Cross

by Diane Steinbach

Making Whole is a bi-monthly art therapy column focused on art to heal. 

With St. Patrick's Day being this weekend, I cannot ignore the obvious holiday inspired art process. I will spare you the Shamrock drawing, but will instead take a cue from St. Patrick himself and set our minds on the Celtic Cross.

St. Patrick is said to have designed the Celtic Cross himself.  An artist of any faith cannot deny the intricate design pattern is a beautiful example of complexity and detail. The pattern in the Celtic Cross is a continuous, connected line. Creating a pattern like this yourself would be a difficult task to be sure.

Instead, I would like to invite you to use the  square Celtic cross pattern as your foundation and fill it in with a linear pattern, abstract and detailed, use the creation of the pattern as a means of meditation. 

On an 8x8" piece of drawing paper, draw a circle. Then, draw the basic "+" pattern in the center, giving you a interior cross surface to draw into. (as similar to in the image at the top of the post.) 

Take a fine point black sharpie marker, and begin to draw a design in the interior of the cross.

Lose yourself in the creation of it. Much like a doodle, let your mind wander as you fill in the cross pattern with angles, or the repeated swirls or waves you might create.  The joy of this project is in the creation of it, in the nearly hypnotic creation of pattern and line within the borders, not necessarily the completed project.  

While you work, let your mind clear of all worrisome thoughts. Think only of the security and comfort of the lines within the borders, of the flow of the ink on the paper.  Add as much detail as you want, use as much time as you desire.

Much like working within a Mandala, the process itself is the path to healing, it is giving the mind and body a chance to relax, to heal, to clear and de-stress, within certain parameters that give it permission to do so. 

Enjoy....  

image by:

License

Some rights reserved by origamidon

Diane Steinbach is an art therapist and 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

God Speaks: Real Stories of God's Guiding Hands in Real People's Lives: Guardian Angel

The book "Treasuring Grace" was inspired by a dream in which co -author Tracy Roberts feels that God spoke to her and directed her hand in the writing of the story. Many people feel God's special influence in their lives in direct or indirect ways.  This column seeks to bring you some of their inspirational stories.


The following story is from experienceproject.com.

"Guardian Angel"

" This happened a few years ago..

I was on my way home from school, and all I had to do, was to cross this one road.. so I waited for the traffic light to turn green and then I started to walk.-  I remember I was "in my own little world".. so I didn't pay much attention to the cars beside me..

I remember I walked faster than the other people.. and then I saw it..

It was a red sports car.. which was driving really fast. - and it was driving while the traffic light was red, which means, it was driving really fast, towards me.

I was wearing this school bag, and when I saw the car, my whole world went into some kind of slow motion movie.
- and then it happened... it was like someone were holding my bag from behind, so that I got held back from the car too, just in time.
but when I turned around to thank the person, no one was there.

I was shocked. Because I even remember seeing the man behind the car window - thats how close I was to that freaking car!
- and if I hadn't got held back in time, I would have been run over by that car!

So that's how I know, that something... someone actually, is watching over us
- and that is what makes me feel safe in this world - because I know now that Im being taken care of - we all are."

Photo: Diane Steinbach copyright No reprint 

Make A Difference Today: You Can! The Red Cross

The American Red Cross takes the month of March to celebrate its history and volunteer heroes. With this in mind we wanted to remind our readers of the many ways YOU CAN make a difference in your community, or in the larger world by getting involved with the Red Cross.

Whether you have a special talent or skill, want to donate goods, a monotary gift or your time, fundraise or raise awareness, there is a way, big or small for you to make a difference.

Read what President Obama has to say:

President Obama Proclaims March Red Cross Month

This month, we honor men and women who deliver relief to communities around the world, and we renew the compassionate spirit that continues to keep our country strong and our people safe.

Posted March 01, 2013

President Barack Obama has proclaimed “March is American Red Cross Month,” upholding a tradition that began 70 years ago. Started in 1943, each March, the U.S. President issues a proclamation calling upon the American public to support the Red Cross by giving blood, volunteering time or donating funds.

“This month, we honor men and women who deliver relief to communities around the world, and we renew the compassionate spirit that continues to keep our country strong and our people safe,” states the 2013 Presidential Proclamation.

The proclamation also noted the largest Red Cross disaster response in the past five years, Hurricane Sandy.

“We saw the depth of their dedication just four months ago, when the sweeping devastation of Hurricane Sandy put millions of Americans in harm's way. In darkness and danger, thousands of professionals and volunteers stepped up to serve. They secured supplies and shelter when our people needed them most. And when times were tough, they proved that America is tougher because we all pull together.”

More than four months after landfall, donations to the American Red Cross are helping people with food, emotional support and long-term assistance. So far, the Red Cross has:

Served more than 13 million meals and snacks

Handed out more than 7 million relief items

Provided more than 112,000 health services and emotional support contacts

Mobilized more than 17,000 trained workers

Provided more than 81,000 shelter stays

To learn more about the continued Red Cross response to Hurricane Sandy, visit www.redcross.org/sandy-response.

In addition, this past year, the Red Cross prepared and responded to large scale disasters including severe spring storms, widespread wildfires and Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf. The Red Cross was also there in the aftermath of the tragic shootings in Aurora, Colo., Oak Creek, Wis., and Newtown, Conn., providing community support and mental health assistance. Learn more about the 2012 Red Cross response to 113 large disasters in 42 states.

To help people prepare for large scale disasters and every day emergencies, over the past year, the Red Cross developed and released a series of free smart phone applications including a First Aid app, hurricane app and wildfire app. These apps are available for download on both iPhone and Android platforms. The Red Cross will release more in the year ahead, including a tornado app early this spring.

While the Red Cross is most visible during large disasters, the work continues year-round. Every year, the Red Cross:

Responds to nearly 70,000 disasters

Teaches more than 4 million people how to prepare for disaster

Engages more than half a million people as Red Cross volunteers

Trains more than 9 million people in first aid, water safety and other skills to help save lives such as CPR and use of AEDs

Collects 6.3 million units of blood from roughly 3.7 million volunteer donors

Provides services to more than 400,000 military members, veterans and civilians

Helps nearly 150 million people through disaster management and disease prevention activities

Reconnects more than 1,000 families separated by war and disaster around the world

Today, the Red Cross continues to provide lifesaving services thanks to the generosity of the American public, the everyday heroes who put our mission into action in communities across the country and around the world.

To volunteer or read more.. go to :  http://www.redcross.org/