How to make an intuitive collage (and other contemplative practices)

Contemplative practices are practical, radical, and transformative, developing capacities for deep concentration and quieting the mind in the midst of the action and distraction that fills everyday life. This state of calm centeredness is an aid to exploration of meaning, purpose and values. Contemplative practices can help develop greater empathy and communication skills, improve focus and attention, reduce stress and enhance creativity, supporting a loving and compassionate approach to life.

— From the Initiative for Contemplative Study and Practice

For me, contemplative practices are necessary for an ongoing relationship with God and for being in connection with myself. Without them, my inner life becomes shallow, my relationships with people suffer, and my even my mental health starts to take a dive.

I have found the Tree of Contemplative Practices helpful in understanding what constitutes a contemplative practice. You can also see that action and contemplation go hand-in-hand. Pay attention to what resonates with you when you look at the different practices on the tree. You can jot them down or sketch your own tree.

Here are a few of the contemplative practices that have resonated with me over the past several years:

1. Nature walks

2. Swimming/floating

3. Poetry

4. Visio Divina

5. Intuitive collage

6. Photography

How to make an intuitive collage

This is one of my most treasured tools for contemplation. The key is to not use your analytical mind. For me, these are different than vision boards or mood boards.

• I start cutting out anything that resonates with me in any way — words, pictures, phrases, fragments. You can also incorporate blackout poetry and pages from books, stickers, washi tape…literally anything. I have even used origami.

• Then I arrange them on my poster board. Lately I have taken to using a page from a large coffee table book or vintage atlas as my base.

• There are no rules other than to challenge yourself to pay attention to what resonates with you without analyzing it.

• Then, I stand back and notice. A theme or two always emerges for me to further contemplate.

Supplies:

Scissors, base paper (poster board, sketching pad, large book pages), tape, glue stick, magazines, and any other ephemera that speaks to you