by Marcy | Creativity Coaching, Offerings/Activities
The pairing of an expressive medium like collage with the concept of inner "mapping" can pave the way for powerful insights and transformation. This is what makes the
JourneyCircles™ Creative Mapping Kit so much more than a "Kit". It really is a process for deep personal exploration.
New perspectives, new awareness, new insight translate into more possibilities and choices for your clients (and yourself). JourneyCircles™ can easily facilitate depth work.
How to use JourneyCircles™- Individual Work with clients
Lets' take just ONE of the Seven Transformation Card Templates - AWAKEN Your Authentic Truth
Imagine holding the question with your client over a period of time - What is it to awaken to your own authentic truth?
Invite your client to create a collage on the Awaken Your Authentic Truth Template.
As your client holds this inquiry and explores it through imagery, a wealth of new insights and connections will emerge.
As coach or therapist you have an opportunity to deepen and expand on what shows up. Explore with your client the images, the meaning they attach to them and the energy present when they share their collage. Trust your coaching/counseling instincts and follow the clients lead. You will have rich and wonderful material to work with.
Group Work
Any one of the seven Transformation Cards could be the focus of a group process or even a day long workshop. Imagine a day long focus on Awaken Your Authentic Truth or Ignite Your Creative Fire.
If it's a group coaching program or a therapy group, a collage is always a great group activity or homework suggestion. Choose from the Transformation Cards mentioned above or choose the Spectrum Cards which are intended to capture personal stories and explore themes of light and shadow. You can also invite participants to choose the template that speaks to them.
Whether participants create the collage in the group or privately, sharing a collage in a group offers powerful stimulus for discussion and learning for everyone. Images tap into more than conversation alone does.
What comes in the package
The JourneyCircles™ Creative Mapping Kit provides templates and exercises that guide you to "unpack your stories" and
explore principles like authentic truth and sacred power. You are invited to explore "themes" in your life, explore shadow and light and find symbols that empower.
It includes:
- One – JourneyCircles™ Guidebook
- Twelve – Spiral Path Cards – 6”
- Fourteen – Transformation Cards – 4”
- Six – Spectrum Cards – 5 1/4 x 8 1/4”
- Three – Compass Cards – 3”
- all in a JourneyCircles™ Mini Tote
Purchase a kit (or several) today!
by Marcy | Creativity Coaching
If you were a type font, what would you be?
How would that show up in your current project or challenge?
What would it look like if that font were:
Condensed? Italic? Bold?
Had a shadow?
Today I'm feeling like the " Book Worm" font. I like the imperfection of it and the playfulness. Now thats a nice intention to set for the day- letting go of perfection and being playful.
This could be great fun to try this as an art journaling exercise.
Feel free to share "your font style"
by Marcy | Creativity and Innovation, Creativity Coaching
I'm a big fan of using visual imagery with
individual clients and with groups. Images are effective because they
bypass our language censors opening up new avenues for discussion,
sharing and insight. Pick-A-Postcard offers up a fun collection of
images and it's affordable.
Here are two simple ways to use imagery:
Imagery as an Ice Breaker or Introduction
Visual imagery works great as an
introductory exercise or as an ice breaker when you have a really great
open-ended question to set the stage.
I just had a conversation the other day with someone interested is using a visual image
exercise with a group of educators. The question, "Who are you as a
teacher?" became the basis for the exercise. Participants were asked to
choose a card that reflected who they were as a teacher. The ensuing
conversation was rich and insightful. Think about your next group. What
question would you use to set the tone of your event? I guarantee you,
answering the question through images will give you lovely surprises.
And you can always fall back on asking them to choose an image that says
something about them we can't see on the surface.
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Imagery as a processing/debriefing tool
If you do experiential activities in your
workshops you know the importance of processing or debriefing the
experience. The simplest way is to ask participants to choose an image
that reflects what they learned. There is room to be creative. You might
ask them to choose an image that reflects where they were challenged or
to explore strengths that showed up. Sharing via the image actually
helps create safety to share more than they might otherwise and this
deepens the experience for everyone. It's a surprisingly powerful tool.
Learn More Here: Pick-A-Postcard
by Marcy | Creativity and Innovation, Creativity Coaching, Resources
I found a great way to make collages on your computer with images you have on file.
It's called Picture Collage Maker and you will find it at www.picturecollagesoftware.com
The simple collage on the left was created with the free version however the fee based versions have a LOT more tools and options to play with. There are a ton of templates, you can put picture frames around your images, choose from a varity of masks, play with color, backgrounds and shapes and add text or clip art.You can print your collage, email it and convert it to a jpeg.
There are so many ways to use Picture Collage Maker – here are a few:
1. Use for creating a vision board
2. Create a collage for each value that you want to honor (works for goals too). 
3. Create a collection of images from an event to use on a thankyou card or newsletter follow-up
5. Create a customized calendar (there are some cool calendar templates)
6. Create a collage image for a blog post or maybe an ebook cover
7, Use for scrapbooking or greeting cards (templates for this too).
A creative outlet and great way to create coaching structures and reminders. It's fun and they offer a free 15 day trial on the fee based versions – FYI – you do get a watermark on the free trial version.
by Marcy | Creativity Coaching
Are you a right-brainer? I know I am.
Another right-brainer, coach Jennifer Lee is launching a summit just for us! It's not like all the other tele-summit out there – it has a VISUAL component – Yeah!
It's called the Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit and it starts Monday Feb. 28 – I know, Thats tomorrow, sorry for the short notice and the good news is – it runs through March 11. There will be a session a day from 10-10:45am – Pacific time
She created it to introduce her new book;The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success. She has a great line-up of creative entrepreneurs who will each speak to a chapter in the book.
What a great idea! And it looks like it will be a blast – I know I'm signing up! I think it's all part of a right-brainer revolution. Go here to learn more and sign up; Right-Brainers in Business Vido Summit
I'd love to hear what you think!
by Marcy | Creativity Coaching
Metaphors are a great way to engage groups or individuals in a reflective process. Whether used as an introductory icebreaker or for debriefing an activity, metaphors can take the conversation in new directions, add fun and very often create a deeper connection to the learning. Having images, words or objects on hand as prompts can make it really easy. Here's where it gets fun – prompts for metaphors are everywhere.
Here are a few ideas for your tool box
1. Look in your kitchen cabinet and pull out your spices.
You don't have to take the actual spice jars to your event, although you could. Get pictures of them or create a set of spice index cards – one spice per card; pepper, salt, garlic, parsley, paprika, sage etc.
Sample instructions to participants;
Choose a spice represents a strength you bring to your work.
Choose a spice that represents something you would like to add to your marketing plan
Once each person chooses the conversation unfolds as they describe the meaning of their chosen spice.
2. Find pictures in magazines of common objects that show up in a broad variety of styles. It doesn't matter if it's chairs or shoes or cars or flowers, collect as many as possible with as broad a range as possible. Use them with icebreaker kinds of questions, or reflective debriefing questions.
Sample questions
Choose the shoe that reflects something unique about you.
Pick a chair that represents your experience of the exercise.
3. There are lots of great places to look – your kids toy box might be a fun option. You can also buy ready made tools that act as metaphor prompts to elicit responses. Card deck types of products can often work well
Want to play? Which chair best reflects your intention for today?
Share your thoughts and your favorite metaphor prompts.
