Our stories, our words, our openings to others say a lot about our lives. It is interesting to begin a conversation with a complete stranger (grocery clerk, massage therapist, hair stylist, etc) and stories just seem to flow. People like to connect with one another. The trick is…what are you telling? What are you saying about your life? What message are you leaving with those you come in contact?
Another step further—What if you could not “say” anything.
We recently took a trip to Southern Utah and hiked among petroglyphs of the Anasazi people. It was fascinating to think about walking through handwriting of people thousands and thousands of years old. To see what was important to them—food, feet, animals, people with horn hats, stars, labyrinth patterns…fascinating! Again. No words, just symbols.
My cute daughter is doing a report on the Northwest Coast Indians and found out they were tribes of people with no specific written language and shared their history and stories through Totems. A Totem is kind of like a book you could read, but instead of using words it used symbols. Totem poles were used as a way of passing down stories.
I thought this was a very interesting idea that could bring up various feelings for people. Think about it!! If you were to create a “Totem” of your life, what would it look like? What would be the main images that you would include. What words (now that we have them) would you include? What message of your life? What symbols would you use?
I think this could be a very fun personal activity you could do to see what comes up from your soul. Think about it. Draw something out. If you like to carve wood–carve away! Maybe make a collage of visual images. Create something. I think a visual of your life’s journey may say something to you. Try it!!
MAKE YOUR OWN CREATIVE TOTEM. Here are some ideas I came up with…
Maybe make a simple totem for your yard. Pick glass or ceramic beads and make a decorative story line that you know the meaning and symbolism behind.
This made me think of making a personal beaded bracelet that you could create that will symbolize different things within your life. Each bead represents something personal.
Maybe make a collage of highlights or things that remind you of your life. [example–pulled off google. Not sure of the source]
This made me think of a crafty idea–if you know or enjoy quilting. Quilt symbols of your life and put them together.
Make symbols that mean something to you personally. Put them together to create a story.
If you don’t feel too artistic you could always find various mandalas and color them to your own style and put meaning into them with specific colors meaning emotion, certain shapes to symbolize parts of your life, etc. Then you could stack and frame them or take a pic to always have close. Mandala’s are a symbol, representing the search for completeness and self-unity.
Hope this post has given you some ideas to finding your deeper stories and unique ways to share them with yourself and those you love.
Happy creating!! -H
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