Spiritual Autobiography: Growing, Healing, Creating and Finding Your Voice for Your Story

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Spiritual Autobiography: Growing, Healing, Creating and Finding Your Voice for Your Story

At Pratt I was an art education major. There I learned to teach others that art making is about the process not the product: it's about their story within them. I learned that art was about what matters to someone and what's going on within them. At Pratt I learned that art making tells our story: a piece of our autobiography. And, I also learned that this story is not just a cold, removed narrative: it's deeply meaningful and spiritual. It's a story that helps us heal and grow in life changing, soul changing ways. It's a picture of what we call spiritual autobiography.

This was a lesson I didn't integrate into my own philosophy about the art I made until I matured. I spent many years trying to compete with other artists rather than embracing the story they were telling through their own art making. Today, I am keenly aware of the reality that there are many artists who make more beautiful work than mine: many are more skilled, more talented and more capable. Does that mean that I and "the rest of us" shouldn't even bother, or do we have something to say too? What are our highest reasons for creating?

I get rejected plenty when my art is judged against the art of others. That doesn't feel good but it's an opportunity for me to remind myself of why I make art in the first place: art making is an opportunity for me to share my story with others, to heal, to change and to grow. I'm finding, more and more, that people want to know the story behind what I make and are less interested in whether or not they can look at "better art" instead. People want to know the passion and the purpose behind what I create. This is a movement that I seek to encourage. It's a movement towards looking at art through a brand new lens.

I hope I've helped my own children, and the children I have taught, that they have something to say and what they say matters. I hope they understand the importance of letting judgments about what they make roll off their backs and seek (instead) a community of people who value their art and their message. I hope I can reach out and reach others with this message. Art making is not just something kids can do. Why are we so quick to hang a child's picture on the refrigerator (and ask them all about their reasons for what they made, tell them how beautiful their work is and blissfully enjoy it) yet, as adults, we are terrified to allow ourselves to see our own creations through the same lens?

I want to help create environments for artists (and when I say "artist" I mean the "artist" within each and every one of us!) that are embracing and non-judgmental. I believe more people would make art in a safe place like that. So many people are afraid to begin to make something for fear of the judgment. Inside they have deep desire to express themselves but never do because the risk of rejection (internally and externally) is so great. This is a terrible thing. I want to draw others out into the realm of self expression by creating a space that is safe and reassuring. It's why I love telling a person about the power art has to heal us, help us grow and help us tell our story. When we see art through this lens we point to other reasons for making art beyond the product. We point to one of the much more powerful points: making art, and looking at the art others make, can heal us, change us and give our story a voice. Everyone can be a part of that.

Maybe you want to be a part of it? Do you make art? Do you want to make art? Do you have another creative outlet that lets you tell your story? You can enjoy what you create and benefit from what your creativity expresses. You just need to change the lens through which you see your own art and the art of others. You need to find your own voice to tell your own story.

So, what does this new lens look like? It's non-judgmental, it remembers that the process matters, it celebrates digging deep and creating something that tells the truth about what's happening inside us, it knows that art heals (and rejoices in the healing we can see in the art an artist creates), it remembers that every person has a creative voice that is passionate and spiritual, it remembers that the passionate, spiritual voice speaks through creating, and it remembers that every person has an artist within them that can find their own voice to tell their own story. This lens is the essence of spiritual autobiography and the truth about every human being. Everyone has something to say and share and everyone has their own unique way of sharing it. When we come to truly believe this we have new freedom to grow, heal, create and find a voice for our spiritual autobiography. We've recognized that we have an artist within and we tell our story.

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Everyone has something to say and share and everyone has their own unique way of sharing it. When we come to truly believe this we have new freedom to grow, heal, create and find a voice for our spiritual autobiography. We've recognized that we have an artist within and we tell our story.

About the Author (text)

Alisa E. Clark believes in the power of spiritual autobiography. Her website invites viewers to create and share one's own spiritual memoir and allows readers to learn more about Alisa's own spiritual autobiography: Dancing in the Doghouse. You can learn more by visiting www.journeyoncanvas.com

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About the Article

Category 1: Religion and Spirituality/Christianity
Category 2: Inspirational/Motivational
Category 3: Hobbies/Arts and Crafts

Keywords: spiritual autobiography,spiritual memoir,artist,healing,spirituality,spiritual growth

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