creative intention-setting in the new year

On the winter solstice, something shifted for me.

I sat down to write 13 intentions for the new year. This is a yule tradition meant to foster and intentional spiritual practice as the light begins to return. I have practiced this tradition before, but never in a situation like this.

Because lately, I haven’t been journalling. And I haven’t been making art. These are intentional spiritual practices that have been neglected for the past few months as I have been adjusting to a life back in my childhood home. 

I am back and I did not expect to be caught off guard by grief and loneliness. I thought I had everything figured out - I would take a short sabbatical, start practicing online and reconnect with my cousins and childhood friends. I would be happy in this new life. Of course, I would miss my life in Vancouver, but this move is for the best. 

While I still think this move is for the best long-term, it has been very challenging in the short-term. I am reforming my identity, figuring out who I am here, forming new community connections and grieving what I have lost.

Art and journalling are both practices that are tender and revealing and vulnerable for me. And when you are already in a grief cycle, these practices can feel very scary.

So last month, when I sat down to write my intentions for the end of the year, I saw that I haven’t touched my journal since August. And the words (and tears) started pouring out of me.

Sometimes you just need the space and permission to come back to a creative spiritual practice. Now that I have broken the dam, I feel more ready to come back to my roots and start creating again.

This new year, I am going to come back to a project I started years ago when I was similarly feeling creatively stuck: The Affirmation Art Project

Here’s how it will work:

Each day for 31 days I will create art based on an affirmation or intention offered from my community. I want to feel connected to myself and my creativity again, but more importantly, I want to feel connected to my community. So, I want to hear from you:

What are the words that you need to hear as you enter into the new year?

What is important to speak out loud?

What do you want to move towards?

I started off the project today with the affirmation: I am seen and accepted as my authentic self, free from the burden of performance, expectation or external validation.

This is a good reminder for me (especially that bit about external validation), as I will be sharing my process on Instagram. Using the platform how it was intended to be used - to create and keep up with community.

If you want to be part of this community project, please send me an affirmation at elspeth@intrinsic-therapy.com or comment on this post! I still need a few more to get to 31.

And if you want to follow along with the project by creating your own artwork, all of the affirmations for the project will be shared in a blog post on January 2!

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Does having a goal or a project help you when you are feeling stuck? I notice this so often with my online art therapy clients - they need a simple nudge and some accountability to make the changes that will lead them to living their most intentional and values-aligned lives. It is so much easier to make a change when there is someone in your corner supporting you every step of the way.

If you need that kind of support, I'm here for you. Book a complimentary initial consultation or check out upcoming groups/workshops to kickstart your therapeutic journey