FREE GUIDES
CREATIVE ECOSPIRITUALITY
PRAYER MEDITATION WRITING DRAWING
CREATIVE ECOSPIRITUALITY
PRAYER MEDITATION WRITING DRAWING
FINDING SHAPES IN CREATION
Creativity is a gift that we all receive as a human being on earth, where God is being found in all things.
Desire: In the act of creating, to be totally present with seeing the sacredness of diverse shapes in nature of God’s creation.
Blind Contour shape drawing
What You Need:
What You Do:
If feeling adventurous, place your drawing under a box or towel as you draw. That way there is no possible way for you to see what you are drawing. Try it. And remember, don't panic if your drawing of a tree looks more like disjointed limbs. Relax and keep it fun. Practice, practice, practice. [1]
[1] Finding God in Nature – A pilgrim day at Minjerribah, Nth Stradbroke Island. 2022 - Lynne Head-Weir
Creativity is a gift that we all receive as a human being on earth, where God is being found in all things.
Desire: In the act of creating, to be totally present with seeing the sacredness of diverse shapes in nature of God’s creation.
Blind Contour shape drawing
What You Need:
- Pencils
- Paper
- Nature
What You Do:
- Choose an object to draw (rock, tree, leaf, plant, cloud, shell, etc.).
- Pick a point on the object where the eye can begin its slow journey around the contour or edge of the object. Remember, the eye is like a snail, barely crawling as it begins to savour each part of its journey.
- When the eye begins to move, so should the hand holding the pencil. At no time should you look at your hand as it draws. Try drawing the entire contour of the object without lifting your pencil from the paper.
- The focus is on seeing parts of nature, not seeing the drawing. When finished the drawing, it may not look anything like the object, which is okay. Over time, it will improve with practice.
- Continue to find all different sorts of shapes in this way.
- Reflection: What surprised me?
If feeling adventurous, place your drawing under a box or towel as you draw. That way there is no possible way for you to see what you are drawing. Try it. And remember, don't panic if your drawing of a tree looks more like disjointed limbs. Relax and keep it fun. Practice, practice, practice. [1]
[1] Finding God in Nature – A pilgrim day at Minjerribah, Nth Stradbroke Island. 2022 - Lynne Head-Weir
PRAYER WITH SAND
LETTING GO OF CONCERNS
ACTIVITY:
Drawing in the sand can have the same effect as speaking out our concerns to God and letting Him oversee the outcome. It may also be a way of turning our anxieties into prayer and receive guidance or healing.[1]
“Take a little journey through the images we have explored. Do any of them speak to your situation?
What specific fears do you see lurking in your heart regarding those situations?
Is there any practical way you can name them, face them, and go beyond them?”[2]
[1] Adaptation by Lynne Head-Weir: Margaret Silf, The Other Side of Chaos, Loyola Press, Chicago, 2011, p. 117
[2] Margaret Silf, The Other Side of Chaos, Loyola Press, Chicago, 2011, p. 118
LETTING GO OF CONCERNS
ACTIVITY:
- Go to the sandy shore. Near the water, make a shape or draw some symbol of concerns about our Mother Earth.
- As the tide flows in and goes out again, notice how the water has washed away our symbol or shape of concern.
- How has this clarified my concerns?
- What do I do with what I know now? Is there some action that I need to take?
Drawing in the sand can have the same effect as speaking out our concerns to God and letting Him oversee the outcome. It may also be a way of turning our anxieties into prayer and receive guidance or healing.[1]
“Take a little journey through the images we have explored. Do any of them speak to your situation?
What specific fears do you see lurking in your heart regarding those situations?
Is there any practical way you can name them, face them, and go beyond them?”[2]
[1] Adaptation by Lynne Head-Weir: Margaret Silf, The Other Side of Chaos, Loyola Press, Chicago, 2011, p. 117
[2] Margaret Silf, The Other Side of Chaos, Loyola Press, Chicago, 2011, p. 118
MEDITATION
RELAXATION MEDITATION / VISUALISATION
Meditation helps us to see things clearly, bringing insights into issues of our everyday life. It also touches places deep in our hearts. …………….. the centre of daily life. It is a natural resource that allows us to experience joy, contentment, and wisdom in the face of all kinds of circumstances.
Christopher Titmuss
Read through very slowly performing each movement and taking as much time as needed to make inner personal connections transforming the words into your experience
Find a comfortable position
Close my eyes or focus on one spot in the room
During the meditation session
If my mind wonders off
Finish the thought through
And gently return my attention to this activity
Take a deep breath in
As I let my breath out
Let the body relax
Be aware of all the muscles in my body
From the top of my head
To the tip of my toes
Say to myself the word “relax”
And feel all muscles
And all of the body relax
Concentrate on doing this for a few minutes
Be aware of my breathing
Focus attention on the tip of my nose
Feel the air coming through the nostrils
Down to the throat
Upper lung – lower lung
Stopping and turning
And going back up and out again
Just observe this process happening
Do not try and control it
It is happening without any effort on your part
Just observe
Concentrate on being relaxed
aware of my breathing
And the positive power of this life giving air
That a loving God is providing
Bring to mind something that I have experienced in the past
Picture it as clearly as possibly in my mind
How did I feel then?
What did I think then?
What are the consequences of this past experience?
How is this affecting me and my relationship with others today?
Is it something that I need to accept
Is it something that I need to change?
How do I feel now?
What am I thinking now?
Who would understand?
Who could I talk to about this?
Is there any action that I need to take for myself and with others?
When I feel I have spent enough time meditating
Gradually become aware of the surroundings
Stretch my body
Open my eyes
By Lynne Head-Weir C
RELAXATION MEDITATION / VISUALISATION
Meditation helps us to see things clearly, bringing insights into issues of our everyday life. It also touches places deep in our hearts. …………….. the centre of daily life. It is a natural resource that allows us to experience joy, contentment, and wisdom in the face of all kinds of circumstances.
Christopher Titmuss
Read through very slowly performing each movement and taking as much time as needed to make inner personal connections transforming the words into your experience
Find a comfortable position
Close my eyes or focus on one spot in the room
During the meditation session
If my mind wonders off
Finish the thought through
And gently return my attention to this activity
Take a deep breath in
As I let my breath out
Let the body relax
Be aware of all the muscles in my body
From the top of my head
To the tip of my toes
Say to myself the word “relax”
And feel all muscles
And all of the body relax
Concentrate on doing this for a few minutes
Be aware of my breathing
Focus attention on the tip of my nose
Feel the air coming through the nostrils
Down to the throat
Upper lung – lower lung
Stopping and turning
And going back up and out again
Just observe this process happening
Do not try and control it
It is happening without any effort on your part
Just observe
Concentrate on being relaxed
aware of my breathing
And the positive power of this life giving air
That a loving God is providing
Bring to mind something that I have experienced in the past
Picture it as clearly as possibly in my mind
How did I feel then?
What did I think then?
What are the consequences of this past experience?
How is this affecting me and my relationship with others today?
Is it something that I need to accept
Is it something that I need to change?
How do I feel now?
What am I thinking now?
Who would understand?
Who could I talk to about this?
Is there any action that I need to take for myself and with others?
When I feel I have spent enough time meditating
Gradually become aware of the surroundings
Stretch my body
Open my eyes
By Lynne Head-Weir C
