Make a Soul Collage – An Inner Journey

I recently created a “soul collage.” The process took about 3-4 months and was part of an exciting transformative awakening I was experiencing. 

I found that as I worked on my soul collage, a deeply healing process was at work allowing me to reclaim parts of myself that had long been hidden and forgotten, in need of excavation, and waiting to be nurtured back to emotional health. By newly focusing on the multi-faceted aspects of my personality, my long held dreams, symbols that had been important to me my whole life, the prevalent themes of my life, and the wishes I held dear, a profound renewal began to take hold.

This renewal naturally led to new perspectives, a stronger commitment to my essential Self, more inner peace, joy, and a positive outlook for my future.

The project was utterly affirming and revelatory — I highly recommend it for any woman of any age or life experience.  Though it might look complicated, the process was not that hard.  Supplies you will need include:

• stickers
• greeting cards
• scrapbooking supplies
• stamps
• magazines

I worked on mine a few hours a week until it was complete.

I framed it and hung it prominently just outside my bedroom where I can look at it every morning when I wake and start my day.  It’s a visual reminder of my uniqueness, the paths I have taken, journeys I have planned, and the collection of spiritual teachers that guide and nourish me daily.  It serves as a daily affirmation of my inner and outer realms and how I have become who I am.  I am not sure how to describe it except to say that looking at it makes me feel stronger.

I discovered that making a soul collage offered me the opportunity to express myself and let my deepest traits, beliefs, values, and dreams come forth.  In doing so, I found that all of my complexities finally made sense, every part of me was valid, and despite what I experienced, was told, or formerly believed, I was indeed whole.

If you are interested in a making your own soul collage, here are a few questions to help you get started as you simultaneously search for corresponding images, words, and phrases from magazines, stickers, greeting cards, stamps, photos, scrapbook supplies, postcards, etc.

• If you strongly identify yourself as a Teacher to others, you might look for images of oak trees, apples, acorns, books, etc. all of which convey the symbolism of “knowledge.” Likewise, if you are highly connected to the ideas of harmony, peace, and tranquility, then images of landscapes, vistas, skies, water, etc. might do the trick.
• What are the emotional themes of your life?  e.g., victory, betrayal, uniqueness, strength through adversity, giver, achiever, loyalty, independence, misfit, ugly duckling/swan, underdog, golden girl, abundance…
• What are the archetypes that you strongly identify with? e.g., athlete, healer, lover, teacher, mystic, builder, mother, storyteller, hunter, farmer, merchant, daughter, queen, wife, songstress, muse, princess, leader, ruler, heroine, pioneer, writer, networker, mystic, clown, friend, entertainer, philosopher, rescuer, poet…
• What mammals, insects, marine life, and birds are you drawn to? What about them makes you attracted to them? What animals are you afraid of or phobic to? Why?  All animals have lessons to share with us.  Your penchant for certain animals can reveal new understandings about yourself.
• What are your dreams for your life? Who do you want to be and what do you want? Where have you been and where are you going? What have you let go of? What have you held onto?
• What are your favorite colors and symbols?  Research their universal meaning. Here are some to consider:  heart, acorn, cross, leaf, candle, top hat, tree, pinecone, wheel, clock, lantern, bell, steeple, money, deck of cards, egg, nest, hive, star, moon, sun, rainbow, vase, gate, lightning, shoe, mountain.
• What else comes to mind that is at play in your daily life?soul collage represents me and no one else — so make sure yours is all about you, too, in whatever way you wish.  There is no right or wrong way to make a soul collage.   Have fun with the process:  thinking and reflecting, collecting images and phrases, and then cutting, gluing and crea

Enjoy the journey!  I would love to see what you create.  Please share!