Journal Therapy: Make a 2011 Vision Collage
Posted by Mari L. McCarthy on Wed, Jan 05, 2011 @ 06:54 PM
2011 is here—where are you? Beginning a new year is a time of rejuvenated hope and optimism and energy, and it is exciting to think of the next 12 months as a blank canvas for you to fill with whatever your heart desires.
What do you hope for in the coming year? What are your dreams and goals? What do you want to change? Sometimes it can be easier to visualize these big ideas when you use actual pictures to spark your imagination. As part of your ongoing journal therapy exercises, make a 2011 vision collage and get inspired for the new year.
What You Need
• Your journal
• If you want to make a larger collage to hang on your wall, a sheet of construction paper or cardboard
• A stack of old magazines, books, personal photos, newspapers, postcards, calendars (or anything else with pictures and big headlines)
• Scissors
• A glue stick
How to Make a Vision Collage
1. Give yourself a good amount of time to go through your stack of materials and see what jumps out at you. Cut out images or words that speak to you in positive or inspirational way, even if you can’t immediately put into words why. Set all of your clippings aside in a pile and just focus on leafing through pages and finding interesting pieces.
Making a vision collage can be a great solitary or social activity; it’s up to you whether you go through this process on your own or with friends (like your Journal) and family who are also interested in creating their own collages.
2. Once you have a good stack of pictures and words, go through them again and this time, try to determine the meaning of each. Why were you drawn to these particular clippings? Do they represent people, places, activities, careers, goals, dreams, principles or causes? How do they fit into your vision of how you want 2011 to go?
3. Now select the most important or meaningful images and words from your stack, and arrange and glue them into a collage in your journal or on a piece of construction paper or cardboard.
4. Look at your vision collage every day and work with as you continue with journal therapy in the upcoming year, and make that vision a reality!
Make sure your Journal participates in the process and experience how easily your writing informs your artwork and vice versa. Please tell us about your experiences with this exercise. Suggestions or recommendations? Please leave your comments?
Send us a picture of your vision collage!