Dictionary Art Inspiration, Branch Strengthening, & Smashbooking

I recently stumbled upon this Dictionary Art Journaling Prompt posted by Bebe Butler and couldn’t wait to create something inspired by this idea!  I grabbed the closest dictionary to me, did some photocopying, opened my smashbook, and got out some of my favorite art journaling materials to create this:

Dictionary Art & Branch Strengthening

The word and definition I chose for this prompt was “bough” (i.e. the branch of a tree). I was drawn to this word because I remembered Christine Arylo’s self branches concept introduced in her book Madly in Love with Me (Chapter 3).

Arylo encourages strengthening the branches of our self love tree: “care, awareness, acceptance, trust, esteem, compassion & forgiveness, empowerment, expression, honor & respect, and pleasure” (p 55). This image focuses on self-trust, which is the topic of Chapter 8.

This was fun to work on! Thank you Bebe for the prompt and introducing this inspiration for using more dictionary pages in my art journaling…  🙂

I Care for Me: Self Care through Creative Practice & Intention

I continue to work on my self-care art journal and this week re-visited Christine Arylo’s Madly in Love with ME Chapter 6 dedicated to Self-Care.  I always find the creative tools and honest reminders Arylo writes about in this chapter a really good place to center myself about the value of caring for yourself and your well-being: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

In February, I wrote about one of Arylo’s Me Art Prompts and Daring Arts of Love: to create an “I Care for Me” Proclamation. At that time I created a mini proclamation to include in my 365 revo’lution project, as well as claimed beliefs and habits on a larger piece of paper that I privately kept with me.  Writing this proclamation was really helpful to bring me back to core attitudes, values, and choices important to my self-care.  Arylo states making your proclamation visual is “proof of your self-care choices.”

Yesterday, I focused my art journaling energy on re-honoring this commitment by including it in this special space- and now here:

Arylo also has a “Love Mantra for Self-Care” which I created as a separate piece that fits within the journal.

This mantra also supports Arylo’s reminder that the more we take care of ourselves, the more we can take care of the people and things we love.  Something I think we all know, but sometimes can be difficult to act on and be mindful about in our work, day to day lives, relationships, and the culture we live in.

Having a tangible and visible reminder (proof!) that can keep alerting my brain about the importance of my self-care acts, choices, and values has truly made a difference in my awareness and practice.

What would your “I Care for Me” proclamation be and look like?

Daring Acts of Love on Day 45: Creating Self-Care Proclamation Art

One of my 2013 revo’lution reading companions has been Christine Arylo’s Madly in Love with ME.  I was inspired to seek out & get this book after reading this Subversive Book Alert from Lani. I’ve been very pleased with this recommendation! Arylo’s book has been full of reflections for not only my revo’lution making, but to implement in my art therapy sessions with women & adolescent girls.

I dedicated today’s 365 revo’lution art bit (Day 45!) for Valentine’s Day and the day after International Self-Love Day to Christine’s writings on Self-Care (Chapter 6) by creating a “I Care for Me” Proclamation (page 128).

This “Me Art” prompt encourages the reader to reflect on, choose, and claim new self care beliefs that honor and value your true self, heart, time, and energy.  The act of creating the proclamation in writing (or with art!) “is a promise and commitment towards this self-care and new ways of being and believing.”  Wonderful idea!

On the back of this art bit, I’ve written beliefs and choices for my proclamation.  Arylo adds drawing an arrow towards the heart (from your I believe & I choose sides) is “an action that signifies your choice and commitment to take on this new belief as yours…”

Yes!  So happy to have this image & intention as part of my 365 revo’lution art and I look forward to more art inspired by this book’s contents…