Intuitive painting was birthed to fight the patriarchy. Read our origin story here.
More than ever we need spaces where we can show up as our full selves. So many of us want to practice rest as resistance and joy as liberation. We want to have more capacity to show up in our lives with integrity and courage, and be authentic in the face us so much opportunity for self-abandonment and burnout, but have no idea how to actually do that. Unfortunately, wanting to do that, and actually having the skills and ability to do so are two different things. We have to learn how, and we need supportive, intentional places to practice learning and UNlearning, where we can be our imperfect, messy, still learning, whole selves, without being rejected, shamed, abandoned or re-traumatized.
Intuitive Painting For Liberation provides a practice space for learning how to discern between your intuition/highest self/ inner wisdom, and your inner critic/ social conditioning/ trauma/internalized oppression.
Before we build this inner discernment, our fear's advice sounds a lot like wisdom. This process teaches you how to honor and follow your own inner wisdom even when you've been conditioned to be afraid and untrusting of that wisdom.
Our minds actually process image and color more easily and deeply than words. Combining the vulnerability and creativity of painting with the radical acceptance and non-judgement of mindfulness, and the natural healing of co-regulation and sacred witnessing allows your to connect with your subconscious in new ways, allowing old, stagnant energy to move. If you’re looking for a process/practice to increase your capacity to show up in your life more fully, authentically, and grounded, and that isn’t about performative healing or fixing your “broken” self, Intuitive Painting for Liberation may be for you.
What do we do in a class?
In practical terms, we put cheap paint on cheap paper. We open each session with some movement exercises to come into our bodies and a brief witnessing circle to create the container. New folks receive a talk about the Principles and Practices of Intuitive Painting as the foundation for class. Each participant receives one-on-one facilitation to overcome resistance, fears, judgements and emotions that arise during the session, and we end with a short closing circle to complete the day.
What if I'm not an artist?
Great! This is not an art class! This is a dynamic, active meditation practice using paint. Because you are you, everything you paint is a self-portrait. So when participants feel their painting is too bright, too big, or too intense, too whatever, that insecurity reflects a self-judgment that is being illuminated. When we worry we've made a "mistake" and have "ruined" our painting, we receive facilitation to move through these judgments. This isn't about making pretty paintings or "fixing" ourselves, this is a practice space to begin noticing all the ways that our judging, critical mind shuts down our Aliveness and practice doing something different. It is a chance to be fully present with ourselves while in sacred community and see what happens.
As we move through our insecurities and judgments about the painting, we are actually healing judgments and insecurities about ourselves.
You may or may not initially see a connection to a real-world self-judgment in the session. But over time, your lives begin to reflect the healing you experience in class. With Intuitive Painting For Liberation, your lives begin to reflect the confidence and magic that comes from learning to listen to and follow your own inner wisdom, no matter where it takes you.
After all, our highest self is connected to the universe/ the divine and can provide the best possible guidance for our lives.
What is Intuitive Painting for liberation?
The intuitive painting process is about nurturing your relationship with your own wholeness, which builds resilience, self-confidence, and trust. We just happen to use paint to get there.
- Notice how negative your inner critic can be
- See how freeing it feels to create for play
- Realize that painting and art-making isn’t as scary as it may seem when you are supported and aren’t comparing yourself to others.
- Notice your nervous system settling more easily
- See how your limiting beliefs impact what actions you will let yourself take or not take while painting.
- Realize the ways that internalized oppression - ie your inner critic, negative inner-dialogue, self-judgement, self-doubt- prevent you from trusting yourself to take risks and authentically express yourself.
- Have become aware of the difference between your fear/trauma and your intuition/inner wisdom
- More at ease in the unknown, rather than being shaken off course by it
- Experience a reduced need to perform and conform
- Increased ability to prioritize self and needs
- Created new internal dialogue that is supportive of change, growth, and self-acceptance, (you will have Integrated the principles and practices into their own loving, authentic internal dialogue)
- Feeling more worthy of happiness, contentment, and joy
- In an active relationship with your intuition and inner wisdom, and allow it to help guide your decision making in your life.
- Experience a reduced need to perform and conform
- You’re actively creating the life that you want
