As an art therapist, my training and knowledge focus greatly on the healing potential of right-brain processes such as making art. By using visual imagery to express ourselves, our brains can bypass our logical, and sometimes critical, left-brain way of thinking that can often hold us back in life. From a human potential perspective, images are the language of the soul. We dream in pictures, and those images often carry messages from our subconscious that can guide and inform our lives when we take the time to understand their symbolism. While books on symbolism can offer insight, each of us is the true authority on what our own images mean. Through creativity and intuition, we often discover that we already hold the answers we are seeking; we simply need to slow down and listen.
Enter SoulCollage®, an intuitive art process that can be practiced individually or within community to deepen our understanding of ourselves and others. Though the process of SoulCollage®, participants create cards by collaging found images and then “read from” the cards to explore their meaning. Each card becomes a beautiful visual expression of the creator’s unique inner world. The meaning of each card is then explored through the unique SoulCollage® journaling process which includes the prompt, “I am one who…,” which gives voice to the card, and therefore to the creator’s inner knowing. I like to think of SoulCollage® as a way to intentionally access the power of our inner wisdom and spiritual guidance.
The SoulCollage® Process
Creating the Cards
A beginner’s recipe for SoulCollage® is to create one card at a time using your intuition. Simply grab magazines and select images that “speak to you” without trying to interpret anything at this point. You then attach and arrange your images to one side of a 5” x 8” card. Try to stick with images and avoid using words in your art.
The “I Am One Who” Process
Once your card is complete, you invite it to introduce itself to you through the “I Am One Who” (IAOW) SoulCollage® journaling process. In a workshop setting, this is done with a partner who serves as your scribe who records your spoken words onto paper, allowing you to focus on the imagery as your intuition guides you to pull out meaning. Many people find that the wisdom that emerges is deeply meaningful and profound, and the card becomes a cherished creation.
A Brief History of SoulCollage®
SoulCollage® was created by psychotherapist Seena Frost in the late 1980s. She developed and refined the process through her work with therapy clients and workshop participants, beginning while a graduate-level student. Frost drew inspiration from notables in the field of psychology such as Carl Jung, James Hillman, and Roberto Assagioli. Since its origin, SoulCollage® has grown into an internationally recognized organization with more than 6,000 certified facilitators worldwide.
SoulCollage® was originally called the “Neter Card Process”. The term Neter comes from ancient Egyptian tradition and refers to guiding energies or archetypal forces. Each SoulCollage® card contains an energy called a Neter. These Neter energies are expressed through one of four “Suits”: The Committee, Community, Companion, and Council Suits. Each Suit represents a different aspect of the forces that influence our lives, and many workshops focus on exploring one Suit at a time.
The Committee Suit
Committee Neters help us understand the many versions of ourselves (also referred to as our “parts”). Most people who are beginning their SoulCollage® practice tend to start here and often return to making Committee cards again and again. Making Committee cards is usually an intuitive process, meaning we simply create cards whose imagery “speaks to us” – only later do we discover the deeper meaning of why we were drawn to that imagery.
The Community Suit
We can make Community cards for people, groups of people, pets, and even special places in our lives that support us or, conversely, challenge us. Making and dialoging with our Community Neters can be a wonderful way to feel supported, or to gain insight on challenging relationships, which often serve to facilitate personal growth and relational healing. Community cards can also be made to honor ancestors or to remember a loved one who has passed on – strengthening a sense of inner connection.
The Companion Suit
Companion cards reflect the unique energies of each of our seven chakras. Almost always represented by animals, these Companion Neters find us though a specialized guided meditation created by SoulCollage® founder Seena Frost. Connecting to the wisdom of our Companion animals can help guide us on our journeys through life.
The Council Suit
The Council Neters are the wise ones, offering guidance as we move along our heroes’ journeys. Rooted in the archetypal energies described by Carl Jung, these cards embody larger-than-life forces that serve as guides and universal templates for humanity. They may reflect archetypes such as The Divine Feminine, The Healer, The Reaper, The Fool, and others who carry timeless wisdom and perspective.
While not “therapy”, SoulCollage® can be a wonderful creative tool for personal growth and self-empowerment. As a SoulCollage® facilitator, my intention is to empower my workshop participants to continue their SoulCollage® practice independently. By nurturing a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us through SoulCollage®, we can live a more creative and fulfilling life.
By Terri Gregory, LCPC, ATR
***
Illuminate Therapy & Wellness offers SoulCollage® workshops throughout the year. Beginners are always welcome. Join us for our next SoulCollage® Workshop facilitated by Terri Gregory, LCPC, ATR, on Friday, April 17th from 6:00–8:30pm. During this workshop, participants will create cards, engage in the “I am one who…” process, and experience a demonstration of the SoulCollage® Oracle process. Call 847-908-8700 x100 to register.
