Welcome to Week 10 of Mindful Arts and Creative Expression, a reflective space where you can connect with yourself and express your feelings in a creative way.

Each week we will offer a theme or creative suggestion and will talk you through ways to feel centred and connected. We will be including a variety of art forms, for example drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and rhythm/music. 

Remember, you do not need to have any previous experience or having taken part in any of the previous weekly activities so… turn on your audio, watch your video and start to mindfully create!

When you have finished, we invite you to share your responses as seeing others’ interpretations can create a sense of togetherness in these changing times. If you choose to do so, you can share your creative reflections with others on our INSTAGRAM @MindfulArtsCreativeExpression. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.

Enjoy the experience and we look forward to seeing the mindful creative outputs shared in our INSTAGRAM gallery!

See you next week, at the same time at the same place! To make this a reliable weekly routine and receive a reminder with a link to next session, please join the mailing list/follow this blog.

Be well and stay safe,

Jude & Erminia

If you are unable to access the audio, here is a brief summary:

Week 10-Mandalas

• This week we invite you to focus on the contained space that can be created by the structure of mandalas.
• This can be used in whatever way you would like, by using just the outer circle literally as a container and creating whatever comes to mind in the centre, or you can be more structured and map out or use a framework to support you and then start to build designs and patterns around the framework.
• Think of the outer circle as your starting point and work your way inwards.
• Allow yourself some time for reflection and try to focus on what comes up for you in the here and now.
• See whether you are drawn to particular shapes or colours or just having the circle as a frame for an image. 
• You don’t need any particular equipment to do this, you can make the frame work with anything you have to hand, using plates, bowls or glasses and the side of a box or a book for lines, or folding a square piece of paper down the middle, then again the other way and then folding the corners to meet.
• if you would like to share your creative reflections with others, please share a picture and/or your words on our Instagram gallery. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.
• If you use photography, please remember to avoid pictures of identifiable people or places.

Welcome to Week 9 of Mindful Arts and Creative Expression, a reflective space where you can connect with yourself and express your feelings in a creative way.

Each week we will offer a theme or creative suggestion and will talk you through ways to feel centred and connected. We will be including a variety of art forms, for example drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and rhythm/music. 

Remember, you do not need to have any previous experience or having taken part in any of the previous weekly activities so… turn on your audio, watch your video and start to mindfully create!

When you have finished, we invite you to share your responses as seeing others’ interpretations can create a sense of togetherness in these changing times. If you choose to do so, you can share your creative reflections with others on our INSTAGRAM @MindfulArtsCreativeExpression. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.

Enjoy the experience and we look forward to seeing the mindful creative outputs shared in our INSTAGRAM gallery!

See you next week, at the same time at the same place! To make this a reliable weekly routine and receive a reminder with a link to next session, please join the mailing list/follow this blog.

Be well and stay safe,

Jude & Erminia

If you are unable to access the audio, here is a brief summary:

Week 9- Poetry prompt

• • From this week we are going to introduce some different elements and suggestions to support and encourage the creative process.  This week we wanted to focus on poetry in response to what is happening in the world.
  • Use this quote as a sentence starter and finish it with whatever words come to mind.
  • This is a quick exercise to help you connect, so try to go with your instinctive response.
  • “Things unknown, but longed for still….”
  • Read the poem ‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou.
  • As you listen to the words, pick out any words or lines that stand out to you and connect with your feelings in response.
  • Notice what comes up for you.
  • take one of the words or lines that has stood out to you, or continue with the sentence starter and write your own poem in response.
  • You may find it helpful to set yourself a time limit of 10 minutes, or 20 minutes if you would like a little longer.
  • You can also create an image in response to either Maya Angelou’s poem, your response to the sentence starter or your own poem. 
  • Allow yourself some time for reflection in the here and now. 
  • Check in with yourself and see what emerges.
  • Use whatever materials you have available.
  • If it is helpful, set yourself a time limit, if not take the time and space you need to express yourself until you feel ready to stop.
  • Remember that it does not have to be finished for you to share it with others, all creative expression is equally valued.
  • if you would like to share your creative reflections with others, please share a picture and/or your words on our Instagram gallery. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.
  • If you use photography, please remember to avoid pictures of identifiable people or places.

Welcome to Week 6 of Mindful Arts and Creative Expression, a reflective space where you can connect with yourself and express your feelings in a creative way.

Each week we will offer a theme or creative suggestion and will talk you through ways to feel centred and connected. We will be including a variety of art forms, for example drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and rhythm/music. 

Remember, you do not need to have any previous experience or having taken part in any of the previous weekly activities so… turn on your audio, watch your video and start to mindfully create!

When you have finished, we invite you to share your responses as seeing others’ interpretations can create a sense of togetherness in these changing times. If you choose to do so, you can share your creative reflections with others on our INSTAGRAM @MindfulArtsCreativeExpression. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.

Enjoy the experience and we look forward to seeing the mindful creative outputs shared in our INSTAGRAM gallery!

See you next week, at the same time at the same place! To make this a reliable weekly routine and receive a reminder with a link to next session, please join the mailing list/follow this blog.

Be well and stay safe,

Jude & Erminia

If you are unable to access the audio, here is a brief summary:

Week 6 – Kindness

• It is mental health awareness week in the UK and the theme for the week is kindness.  With this in mind, we have chosen this as our starting point.
• Kindness is more important than ever and this includes kindness to self.
• Check in with yourself, what does kindness mean to you?
• Try to stay with what comes up for you in the here and now and see what emerges, whether it is an image, other words or emotions, colours, shapes and give yourself time to express this creatively.
• Out of the materials you have available, notice what you are drawn to.

• If it is helpful, set yourself a time limit, if not take the time and space you need to express yourself until you feel ready to stop.

• Remember that it does not have to be finished for you to share it with others, all creative expression is equally valued.
• if you would like to share your creative response with others, please share a picture of it on our Instagram gallery. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.
• If you use photography, please remember to avoid pictures of identifiable people or places.

Welcome to Week 5 of Mindful Arts and Creative Expression, a reflective space where you can connect with yourself and express your feelings in a creative way.

Each week we will offer a theme or creative suggestion and will talk you through ways to feel centred and connected. We will be including a variety of art forms, for example drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and rhythm/music. 

Remember, you do not need to have any previous experience or having taken part in any of the previous weekly activities so… turn on your audio, watch your video and start to mindfully create!

When you have finished, we invite you to share your responses as seeing others’ interpretations can create a sense of togetherness in these changing times. If you choose to do so, you can share your creative reflections with others on our INSTAGRAM @MindfulArtsCreativeExpression. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.

Enjoy the experience and we look forward to seeing the mindful creative outputs shared in our INSTAGRAM gallery!

See you next week, at the same time at the same place! To make this a reliable weekly routine and receive a reminder with a link to next session, please join the mailing list/follow this blog.

Be well and stay safe,

Jude & Erminia

If you are unable to access the audio, here is a brief summary:

Week 5 – Lost and Found

• This week we invite you to consider the theme ‘lost and found’.
• Check in with yourself to see what comes up when you think about these words.
• Take a deep breath and try to anchor yourself in the here and now.
• Give yourself time and space to feel what you feel.
• Out of the materials you have available, notice what you are drawn to.
• Use the arts to anchor some of your feelings.
• Root and ground yourself in the moment.
• If it is helpful, set yourself a time limit, if not take the time and space you need to express yourself until you feel ready to stop.
• Remember that it does not have to be finished for you to share it with others, all creative expression is equally valued.
• If you would like to share your creative response with others, please share a picture of it on our Instagram gallery. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.
• If you use photography, please remember to avoid pictures of identifiable people or places.

Welcome to Week 4 of Mindful Arts and Creative Expression, a reflective space where you can connect with yourself and express your feelings in a creative way.

Each week we will offer a theme or creative suggestion and will talk you through ways to feel centred and connected. We will be including a variety of art forms, for example drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and rhythm/music. 

Remember, you do not need to have any previous experience or having taken part in any of the previous weekly activities so… turn on your audio, watch your video and start to mindfully create!

When you have finished, we invite you to share your responses as seeing others’ interpretations can create a sense of togetherness in these changing times. If you choose to do so, you can share your creative reflections with others on our INSTAGRAM @MindfulArtsCreativeExpression. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.

Enjoy the experience and we look forward to seeing the mindful creative outputs shared in our INSTAGRAM gallery!

See you next week, at the same time at the same place! To make this a reliable weekly routine and receive a reminder with a link to next session, please join the mailing list/follow this blog.

Be well and stay safe,

Jude & Erminia

If you are unable to access the audio, here is a brief summary:

Week 4 – Hopes and Dreams

• This week we would like to invite you to focus on the themes ‘hopes and dreams’.
• Take some time and allow your thoughts and feelings to settle.
• Take a long, deep breath in, breathe out and check in with yourself, allowing space for how you are feeling in the here and now. 
• Think about the emotions you are experiencing in response to these words and think about what hopes and dreams mean to you right now.
• Try to stay with the connections that come to mind for you personally.

• If you are limited in what you have available you can use natural or found objects to make a collage, picture or sculpture, or you can create charcoal from burnt sticks.
• If it is helpful, set yourself a time limit, if not take the time and space you need to express yourself until you feel ready to stop.

• Remember that it does not have to be finished for you to share it with others, all creative expression is equally valued.
• if you would like to share your creative response with others, please share a picture of it on our Instagram gallery. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.
• If you use photography, please remember to avoid pictures of identifiable people or places.

Welcome to Week 3 of Mindful Arts and Creative Expression, a reflective space where you can connect with yourself and express your feelings in a creative way.

Each week we will offer a theme or creative suggestion and will talk you through ways to feel centred and connected. We will be including a variety of art forms, for example drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and rhythm/music. 

Remember, you do not need to have any previous experience or having taken part in any of the previous weekly activities so… turn on your audio, watch your video and start to mindfully create!

When you have finished, we invite you to share your responses as seeing others’ interpretations can create a sense of togetherness in these changing times. If you choose to do so, you can share your creative reflections with others on our INSTAGRAM @MindfulArtsCreativeExpression. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.

Enjoy the experience and we look forward to seeing the mindful creative outputs shared in our INSTAGRAM gallery!

See you next week, at the same time at the same place! To make this a reliable weekly routine and receive a reminder with a link to next session, please join the mailing list/follow this blog.

Be well and stay safe,

Jude & Erminia

If you are unable to access the audio, here is a brief summary:

Week 3 – Uncertainty

• We thought we would build on last week’s concept of time and this week invite you to reflect on the word ‘uncertainty’.
• Take some time and allow your thoughts and feelings to settle.
• Think about what the word ‘uncertainty’ means to you, in the here and now.
• It may bring up other feelings, so please don’t feel restricted by the word.
• Allow yourself time to see what emerges.
• It may be helpful to think about what feels absent, as well as what feels present.
• You can use any material you have available; you may want to use things you have around the house or found objects.  For example, herbs and spices can add texture and colour, flour can be made into a paste or dough.
• Remember that it does not have to be finished for you to share it with others, all creative expression is equally valued.
• if you would like to share your creative response with others, please share a picture of it on our Instagram gallery. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.
• If you use photography, please remember to avoid pictures of identifiable people or places.

Welcome to Week 2 of Mindful Arts and Creative Expression, a reflective space where you can connect with yourself and express your feelings in a creative way.

Each week we will offer a theme or creative suggestion and will talk you through ways to feel centred and connected. We will be including a variety of art forms, for example drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and rhythm/music. 

Remember, you do not need to have any previous experience or having taken part in any of the previous weekly activities so… turn on your audio, watch your video and start to mindfully create!

When you have finished, we invite you to share your responses as seeing others’ interpretations can create a sense of togetherness in these changing times. If you choose to do so, you can share your creative reflections with others on our INSTAGRAM @MindfulArtsCreativeExpression. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.

Enjoy the experience and we look forward to seeing the mindful creative outputs shared in our INSTAGRAM gallery!

See you next week, at the same time at the same place! To make this a reliable weekly routine and receive a reminder with a link to next session, please join the mailing list/follow this blog.

Be well and stay safe,

Jude & Erminia

If you are unable to access the audio, here is a brief summary:

 Week 2 – Time

• This week we thought it might be helpful to focus on the concept of time.
• Check in with yourself and think about what ‘time’ means to you in the here and now and what feelings you experience in response. 
• You may want to hold in mind the time that has passed, the time to come and how it feels to be right where you are.
• Give yourself time to reflect and see what emerges, an image may start to form in your mind, or some colours might come to mind that represent your feelings. 
• Your creative response could be abstract, it could involve collage, images, photos, painting and drawing or sculpture, whatever you are drawn to or have to hand.
• Remember that it does not have to be finished for you to share it with others, all creative expression is equally valued.
• if you would like to share your creative response with others, please share a picture of it on our Instagram gallery. Guidance on how to upload can be found HERE.
• If you use photography, please remember to avoid pictures of identifiable people or places.