Soul Collage

I discovered SoulCollage Cards as I learning about Artist's Trading Cards (ATCs), wanting to take my art to a deeper level. I was in the middle of huge personal changes; my second divorce, my son was at war in Iraq and my baby girl had just left home. Feeling the empty nest of it all, I resisted the compulsive urge to fill my nest with meaningless clutter and found ways to push my self to deeper into the great abyss of my soul.

Soulcollage Cards are based on Jungian concepts of soul and the soul's language of symbology, dreams and archetype. While I personally do not fully subscribe completely to Jungian concepts, I do believe in the artist's journey and the constant pursuit of adding deep soulfullness and meaning to our everyday lives. Making SoulCollage Cards is a way that young and old, artist and the artistically challenged can share in simple and meaningful moments. Honestly, it's so addictive you'll be sharing it with everyone.

SoulCollage Cards, as orginator Seena Frost uses them, are created by first selecting a collection of magazine photographs such as those found in National Geographic (my favorite), photography magazines or other sources of interesting images and backgrounds. The images are then composed and glued onto 5x8 mat boards.

As you get more involved in the process you'll find that the "collages" can be made on anything, but typically I use either 100lb. watercolor paper or mat board scraps available for free or inexpensively at art/framing stores. Anything that won't warp and will support the weights of different glues and magazine images.

It's a good idea to allow lots of room for your first cards. My first cards were done by scanning the images into my computer, then composing them digitally and reducing them to an appropriate card size.

The "collages" can be made any size or from any materials, but typically the finished products are reduced down to the standard SoulCollage Card size of 5X8. I also like to reduce to a 2.5 X 3 ATC card size and have them printed for use in other project or ATC trades.

Typically collages are singular dimension, but the concepts can be included on any art piece including vases, boxes, or you even get into the interesting and bizarre and use this on 3D scuptural hand manikins for a totally bizarre and interesting art piece

img source: http://acapellasoul.blogspot.com/

I really enjoy the SoulCollage process, in part because it is as simple and intuitive as cutting and pasting images onto paper and allowing the Soul to speak freely. I also enjoy, that you can take this process even further through any combination of techniques and tools used in meditation,e hypnosis, dream work, therapy and spirituality. Or even use SoulCollage to spark your creative ritual.

Start with choosing a subject or focus area such as "Death", "Life", The Hero's Journey, a specific archetype such as Jung's "Shadow", you can even choose a mood or color such as "Melancholy" or "Joy".

Then light a candle, put on some music and quiet your mind to the distractions around you. You can meditate on your concept in any way you wish.

Then set your collection of magazines, found images, art supplies on your desk or table and start ripping out pictures. Choose freely, don't spend time analyzing or controlling your selection - just allow it to happen randomly and freely. This is where the magic happens, as your subconscious, your soul begins to express its self and you access the deeper parts of your creativity.

Layout the images on the table, notice any similarities in colors, themes, or patterns. Do you notice you have alot of items from nature or do you have items that are more man-made? Do you have a lot of images of people? Are there similarities in tone or activity..or inactivity? Just notice them, no judging or interpreting - just allow them the images to speak to you.

Now begin laying out the design onto your base card in any style that appeals to you. When you're satisfied with your arrangement, finish the piece by gluing the images into place.

After you've complete the card you will write about your card, from your card's perspective using the prompt, " I am the One Who..." . Again no editing at this point, just allow the thoughts - no matter how surprising to flow - and write.

Feel feel to write and rewrite and delve deeper after you've completed your card. You may find, as I did, that it will prompt you toward more writing and another card. It's wonderfully addicting.

Seena Frost suggests compiling a "deck" to use later in journaling or other self discovery processes. I found it overwhelming to think about compiling a "deck" and just do my cards randomly and layer them into other projects as I want to. The possibilities are unlimited.

image source: KalideoSoul.com

These are my first two cards. Although they were pretty simple, I learned a lot through the process so I thought I'd share them with you to inspire you to make your own.

Death The background is a picture from National Geographic of burnt rubbish and the jumble of bits and pieces remaining. I then layered a picture of found coins and treasures including a tiny figurine of the Buddha, a hand holding a fossiled dinosaur egg and the flicker of hope emerging from the shell in the form of the yellow butterfly.

Recently discovered that in several indigenous traditions the butterfly is connected with the transition of the soul from the human existence into the deeper spiritual realms. Interesting!

"I am the One who purifies, re-cycles and feeds life. You are afraid of me because you do not know me, because I re-define you - constantly and continually. I re-cycle life, I re-cycle you, from what was to what is and will be. It frightens you.

Do not be afraid. Be still and know I Am. Yes, I Am.

I Am the very same. The same substance as life. I Am reborn. I have many treasures for you to discover hidden amongst the ashes and debris of life. "