Reflecting on grief

While our child knows how to play and create, our earliest self knows grief and sorrow too, and knows how to express it. Using the non-dominant hand bypasses a lot of our social rules processing, and lets us tap directly into that child-like core of ourself. Sometimes, it doesn't feel okay to express our grief, or we don't have a safe way to get started.
Using the technique of drawing and writing with your non-dominant hand, to get to a place of your feelings, let the dominant hand ask the question "Why are you sad, what is your loss?"

With your non-dominant hand and crayons, write or draw your answer.

Then, the dominant hand can ask the question, "what would comfort you or make you feel better?"

With your non-dominant hand and crayons, write or draw your answer.

Creating: Play/Holy Play

"The most delightful – and revolutionary – action of all is play.
We are not just creature, but creator."
Holy Play by Kirk Byron Jones

If we are created in God's image, and God is a creator, then one of our first and primal callings is to create. But we forget how. Or we just forget to. As children we knew how to play and create. Try this exercise to remind yourself and to remember:

You'll need a blank piece of paper (or several) and some crayons or fat colored markers.

Can I Come Out and Play? From Spiritual Doodles and Mental Leapfrog by Katherine Revoir
"Here is an exercise that allows you to be present for your inner expressive child. Have a conversation with him or her. Your dominant hand speaks as the "adult you" and your non-dominant hand speaks as the child. With your dominant hand, write out a question for your expressive child, like "what do you want to do today?" Then without think, let your non-dominant hand answer, in words and/or pictures. Allow the child's voice to flow, without controlling or monitoring it. Ask what he or she wants to be called. Then see what the picture or words have to tell you. You can use this approach to be in touch with your inner creative child any time."

This exercise can free you to hear your playful self, your first creative self. It also can be used in a reflective way to explore feelings that are otherwise hard to express. Remember that your child might use pictures rather than words.

If you are interested in some of theories about creativity check out this website by author David Ulrich. "Picasso said: 'Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.' Creativity is a way of life and is not the exclusive domain of artists, writers, and scientists. It is the birthright of every human being."