Healing Through the Arts: An Inspirational Opportunity, by Layna Kinsman

When people are at a loss on how to be encouraged, this is a wonderful way to focus on how we can be creative and share our faith at the same time.

“Why should we all use our creative power...? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money.” --Brenda Ueland

You say there isn’t a creative bone in your body. Your mind goes blank and your mouth gets dry. You want to find the nearest exit…Instead, explore the connection between creativity, health and faith. Share what Inspires, Strengthens and Affirms our Life Journey.

Healing Through the Arts Workshop Series

Healing Through the Arts is a nine-week workshop series that introduces creativity as an enjoyable path toward illuminating faith in our life journey. By the end of this course, participants gain a better understanding of:

1. The variable distance we have from God, a Supreme Being
2. Ways in which spirituality is revealed
3. The chronology of our faith in our lives
4. How we can become more trusting and faithful
5. How to use inspired writings for visual and sensory inspiration
6. Ways we can share our inspirations and gifts with others

The course was the outcome of a serious health condition that led to a day of silence and prayer. As an unusual response, I sketched a self-portrait that became my illustration of unrecognized hope for renewal and healing. In a two-hour period following this simple drawing, the curriculum for this course was drafted, expressing the day’s reflections. Within a few weeks, my medical situation significantly improved. Time for renewing my faith and trust in God gave me the hope I needed. It is this renewed hope that was healing and originated from a drawing of 'hope'. Shortly after, I introduced the course in a local congregation where it continued to be a positive experience for everyone. People have participated in this workshop series of different denominations and faiths.

Upon introducing a theme on creativity, some people retreat upon diagnosing themselves as not creative-types. Healing Through the Arts does not require creative talent or prior experience. Rather, each week offers a theme to explore and experiment with, examine feelings and evaluate their effect in an environment where everyone is ‘creatively challenged’. The value of connecting our faith and health with applied creativity becomes the key to gaining interest in the subject matter.

For example, symbols are personally meaningful in everyday life, yet frequently opportunities are missed without giving spiritual meaning to a new symbol, experience, or place. In this course, participants identify and interpret symbols or events in ways that provide fond recollection, inspiration, and meaningfulness. The resulting project or composition, by whatever means of expression, portrays who we are, where we have been, and what we aspire toward…and are only limited by a person’s imagination and inventive potential. Each person becomes intrigued by the potential simplicity and power of physical and sensory impressions. Whether stick figures tell of one’s current journey, a piece of quilt represents a life lost to AIDS, or tears stain a printed poem written long ago, the communication creates change in the creator and the receiver. The potential for joyful, new experiences, openness to others and to God becomes a motivating force behind committed participation.

As a trainer, I benefited from reviewing Prochaska’s Stages of Behavior Change and 12-Step program premises (how the ‘wounded healer’ relates to others’ experiences and shares their own experience, strength, and hope to encourage others). ‘Grace’ as it exists and relieves the stigma or finality of ‘relapse’ is a lesson that heals faulty beliefs--perspectives broaden and prove invaluable as people share their work and interpretations about faith. Group confidentiality is important and clergy or professional referrals are strongly recommended to be available when the workshop series is offered.

Participants experience a sense of recovery, renewal of faith and trust, compassion for others, and a chance to share what is personally meaningful. Each faith tradition, culture or value system that is described becomes significant for the group. Finding an opportunity to communicate and share what inspires us, strengthens us, and affirms our life journey, serves to lessen our pain, loneliness, prejudices and judgment. Instead, people learn again to care about and love each other, encourage an experience of spiritual healing anew--in each stage of life--past, present and future.

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Knowing God
Week 3: Expressions of Faith
Week 4: Reliance on God
Week 5: Biblical Scene
Week 6: Using God’s Gifts
Week 7: Life on a Timeline
Week 8: Sharing our Joy
Week 9: Planning for “God’s Kids – Who We Are”

Click on the button to access the Healing Through the Arts presentation:

For more information, contact:

Rockville Presbyterian Fellowship
rockpres@aol.com

Biographical Sketch

Layna Kinsman, BSM, was the former Executive Director of Bay Area Health Ministries, a non-profit promoting faith-based wellness in communities and congregations. Nearly 30 years of her working career was with the Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest Service where she retired in late 2005. Layna's background included incident administration, employee occupational health programs, and human resource management.