You will need: junk mail or other paper you intend to toss, a few minutes of private time, and permission from yourself to indulge in this joyful, creative practice.
- Place your junk mail or paper in front of you.
- Dose of mindfulness (read through first or watch the video): Close your eyes and take a moment or two to connect with your breath. Set an intention for this positive, healing practice to let something go, big or small, it doesn’t matter. Sink into this for just a moment, noticing any images, sounds, any physical tension or anxiety that you feel as you bring this challenge to mind…is it in your neck and shoulders, your stomach, your heart center? Has your breathing changed? Stay with these feelings for just another minute. Now, visualize the physical sensations and tension all being released from your body, exiting out through your arms, into your hands.
- Connect with your inner child: Open your eyes, it, let it out, and let ‘er rip! Whether it’s two seconds or two minutes, try and use your whole body to shred those pieces and toss them up all around you; into the air, onto the floor, with total freedom and abandonment – it’s only paper!
- Contemplate your torn pieces: Anything in there that you’d like to save for a collage, card, or reminder?
- Say “thank you” to your torn paper for serving you: Remember, this is your practice, and no one’s listening ?
Optional “take it deeper”: Instead of tearing something ready to be tossed, create something new to be tossed. Journal a page of words, situations, emotions or behaviors that you’d like to release, meditate on those, and “let ‘er rip.” Grab a glue stick, markers or any easy-access art supplies to transform your torn pieces into cards, collages, or new journal pages.
For full “take it deeper” guidance, visit my Joy of Creativity blog where art therapist Carolyn Mahlomakulu’s generously shared her “Torn Paper Tranformations” practice.
Remember: creative time is your time…it’s a gift that you deserve!
Namaste,
Elizabeth
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