The mandala …

A mandala is a circle that contains a drawing. In the original mandalas symmetry is very important, but I add artistic freedom to it and fill it in how I want.

Writing and collage

1. Draw a medium-sized circle in the center of your page. If necessary, use a compass or a soup bowl to draw the outline.
2. Write spontaneously in your circle about a theme that you feel needs loving protection. Write horizontally first, then write vertically over your first text, making the text unreadable.
3. Now cut out hearts from magazine photos (or colored paper). If you want you can cut each heart out of a magazine photograph which symbolically represents what gives you a loving protection. Stick it around your circle / tekst to make a loving, protective border.
4. Decorate further if desired. If necessary, write a conclusion.

“A mandala the psychological expression of the totality of the self.”  – C.G.Jung

What if … you can’t write? Then draw that which needs loving protection in your circle.

TIP: Write spontaneously. This means that you do not pay attention to your spelling, nor to your repetitions, nor to hiccups … it does not matter what and how you write because i twill be unreadable. The most important thing is that you write and if possible at a fast pace.

Important to know:

Working in a Creative Diary is NOT about results, it’s about expressing you inner self. It is NOT about techniques, techniques only help you to express yourself in more different ways. The exercises I give are an INVITATION, not an obligation. You can do the exercise, or not, you can do it differently, it’s at your choosing. The most important thing to remember is that you’re putting yourself and your (inner) world on paper, you are NOT making art. So feel inspired by images, but don’t compare yourself ! Fun and self-expression come first.

What do you need?

• markers
• coloured pencils
• writing materials
• scissors
• glue
• watercolour
• soft pastels
• oil pastels
• some magazines

And of course: a journal/diary. I recommend an 8,3 inches x 11,7 inches notebook (A4 format) with blank paper, but take whatever you find in your house. Blank papier is good too.

More information:

The exercises used in this Creative Diary are based on a method described by Lucia Capacchione, American art-therapist and author of the book The Creative Journal, by Anne-Marie Jobin, Canadian art-therapist and author of the soon to be coming book The New Creative Journal, and myself, Sarah Timmermans, Belgian art-therapist and psychologist (Dutch book: Het Creatieve Dagboek). The method blends knowledge from writing therapy, art-therapy, psychology and basic creativity. It’s a simple method that doesn’t requires any artistic skills and has been used with many ages, many individuals and many groups of people. More questions? Please write me.

Who am I?

I’m Sarah Timmermans, Belgian art-therapist, naturopath and psychologist. I’m trained by Jungian art-therapist/psychologist Csilla Kemenzcei. I work with individuals and with groups. I’m specialised in using diaries, tarot (archetypes) and dreams.