Abuse is no excuse

When I was hurting the most and couldn't find ways of dealing with the incredible pain that was mounting with in me I discovered Altered Books. I enjoyed this new art form immensely. One doesn't have to be artistic at all but it is very therapeutic and had gave me the same results as going for a long walk or having a good sob. This form of art works on the subconscious. It is great for children because there are no rules and yet we are able to access our emotions on a very deep level with out fear of what anyone will think.

Caryl chose to turn to her art in order to find the healing she so desperately was looking for. Altered books became her passion and are a wonderful way to access the subconscious mind. She found memories came flooding back of past events that had perhaps contributed to her Co – Dependency. Along with journaling, slowly the pain began to subside and was replaced with a sense a profound sense of PEACE. Try it, it is a lot of fun.”

Other works of art can be found here Art-e-zine.

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Journaling is a wonderful experience for everyone interested in, not only recording events, or places and experiences, but also it has many other benefits.

Click here to buy: Art Journals and Creative Healing: Restoring the Spirit Through Self-Expression

1. Collecting memories and recording facts.
2. Expressing blocked emotions that perhaps are causing ill health, and strained relationships.
3. Journaling is an art form and therefore therapeutic, for people who don’t need to be artistic at all.
4. Stress relief. If you hate the gym but need the mental exercise and the same sense of peace and relaxation, then journaling is the way to go.
5. One of my all time favourite quotes is, ‘To thine own self be true’. I heard this as a young child and had no idea why anyone would want to tell themselves a lie??? But we very often don’t know our own truth. Journaling is the best way of scratching around the basement and attic’s of our minds.
6. God and the universe speak to us all the time, journaling helps us to hear that inner voice, brings clarity about who we are and what we want in life.
7. We are bombarded with technology, computers in the office and at home, phones at work, phones at home and cell phones 24/7, radio’s in the office, in the house, in the car, television and movies to watch. We seldom sit still and simply listen to our own heart beating. In the west we miss the value and importance of meditation. God said…be still and know that I am God. Journaling silences all the outside noises and distractions. They say we ‘hear’ more in an hour of silence then any other way.

And the list can and will go on and on.

MATERIALS:

You will need the following items to start off with, and on the journey you will be amazed at how creative you will become and what other materials you will start using.

THE BASICS:

An A4 Journal.
Scissors.
At lease 4 old magazines.
A good pen to write with. Use your favourite pen so that you will enjoy writing, what ever the writing instrument might be, even if you want to use a pencil.
A box of water colour crayons. (For anyone who doesn’t know, there are crayons that can be used with water and make your work look as though it has been painted).
Glue. Any stick glue like pritt is good to start off with.
Collect photographs, birthday cards, notes from friends, invitations anything that you want to keep and don’t have a place to put these little treasures.

LEARN HOW TO PLAY