I went away this past weekend to give myself time to go within, clear my head, talk to my soul, and just BE.
To be completely honest, my intention with this mini retreat was to do all of the above-mentioned things, but also to make some headway on the upcoming Soulful Life Sanctuary, which is opening on July 1st. I wanted to get clear about what it was that I was creating and get grounded in it so that it would have a solid foundation before I began sharing it with the world.
But something strange happened while I was in the hotel room: all I wanted to do was draw spirals.
Let me back up a little bit: A few weeks ago, I had this strange urge to find a spiral making kit. You may remember these from when you were younger – they have grids and circles that go around the grids, and you can make all sorts of fun spiral designs with them. (Here’s an example of one to give you an idea.) I was having an extra sad day (still grieving over my sweet dog-ter, Xena, who passed away in December), and my soul was urging me to go get one of these kits. So my sweetie, Dan, and I headed out to the bookstore where we found the perfect one.
And my time in the hotel was the first chance that I gave myself to really dive in and see what designs came out. So I drew. And I drew. And I drew some more. At first, I couldn’t draw them fast enough – I was so happy to be creating something, and I wanted to create more and more and more.
And then, I settled into it. Round and round and round the circles went around the grids. Round and round and round the pens drew beautiful designs. And while I loved seeing what was created, I was finding that the process itself was so calming.
As you may have read throughout this blog over the years, I have struggled with meditation. I feel called to do it, but it’s honestly like pulling teeth to get me to sit down and actually do it. However, drawing these spirals gave my mind something repetitive to do while my soul could just BE. It gave me something to focus on (similar to the breath in sitting meditation), so that I could get in touch with the present moment. And it was amazing.
Without even realizing it at the time, I now see that I was spiraling my way back to me. With each spiral that I drew, I uncovered a layer that was between me and my soul. And in taking the time to create these spirals, I was giving myself the gift of stillness and the gift of presence. The only thing that I was thinking about was the pen going round and round. Or what color to use next. Or what grid to try out.
That was all.
Everything that I thought I would be focusing on during my time in the hotel seemed completely secondary next to this time in the present moment – this time of complete focus. This time with my soul.
I was telling my mom about these spirals yesterday, and she said that I used to love drawing these as a child. That I used to spend hours in my room creating spiral after spiral. And while I don’t remember that at all, it’s somehow comforting to know that I’m getting back to me. That I listened to my soul, and it led me to me in a fun, creative way.
Meditating can take so many different forms. Soul work can show up in so many different ways. This is how it’s showing up for me. And I’m sure it will show up for you in its own unique way. And it’s up to us to listen to our soul’s whispers and take action.
If you’re being asked to spend time in nature, go. If you’re being asked to sit still, sit. If you’re being asked to create something, create. If you’re being asked to dance, dance. If you’re being asked to laugh, laugh.
Whatever your soul is asking of you, please pay attention. It’s so important. Because these whispers will lead you back to you. And that’s a pretty amazing space to be in. I truly wish that for each of us.
And after all of these spirals were drawn, I did spend some time creating the Soulful Life Sanctuary. So it all worked out – just not quite in the way I thought it would. In an even better way. 🙂
Here are a few of the spirals that I drew. (You can click on them to enlarge them.):
I would love to hear how you’re coming home to yourself, too! Please feel free to share in the comments below.
Hugs,
Jodi– That is wonderful you were able to express yourself through coloring and making spirals. I am sad you are still missing your precious dog–Xena. I too am missing my two cats that have passed. One thing I started doing was coloring and making Mandalas, they can be powerful symbols of how one is feeling. I loved doing spirals when I was a “kid”. I am so happy you are doing these spirals. Thank you for sharing your story of how you ended up doing spirals.
Sweet Jodi, I love this story of spirals and soul speaking creativity. I have a thing for spirals too. I also love art and have been painting lately. I love love love painting. Who’d a thunk it…57 and finding my love for painting. Art is my savior lately.
Jodi, I really connected with your story today. I’m 67 and began painting at 66. It quiets my conscious mind so I can be in the present moment. That endeavor was so successful and allowed me to listen to my soul, then all I heard was dance! So, 2 weeks ago I began a tap dance class! I get an hour’s worth of exercise while my soul is thrilled to be dancing; I go 2x a week and my soul is singing again after a long time of grieving (My 7 yr. old grandson was killed 3/26/2013). Thank you for sharing your story…I, too, find it difficult to meditate and your story validated my need to paint and dance! 😉
Jodi, I love each and every one of your posts. You are such an inspiration to us all. What a wonderful and playful way to come back to yourself. I’ve been feeling a real pull to spend more time in nature and to throw all the curtains and some of the windows wide and open and to let more of the daylight into my house. I’ve really been enjoying my walks with my beautiful dog Pimo, and am very sorry for the loss of your special doggy friend. Like the previous commenter, I’ve also felt called to move my body through dance, and have started belly dance classes with a friend, too. I’ve always felt rather awkward when it comes to expressing my sensuality and sexuality, so I’m sure this is also a great activity for me to engage in. The other things I called to do are to have more interaction with other people on a spiritual path (I’m very new to all of this, so don’t have many friends on similar paths yet), and to let more laughter into my life. I look forward to getting started on those two, too. Wishing you lots of love and light and laughter, and thank you again for such a beautiful post <3
I can’t meditate to save my life, Jodi, but doing something as simple as drawing spirals or just doodling does allow one to BE and let go of thoughts. And, we do need to heed our soul when it is calling us in a particular direction.
Blessings to you!
Jodi, I can really relate to the difficulty with sitting down to meditate. I too feel the call…no, the need…and it really is like pulling teeth to get me to do it too. Yes, art work really helps and this post is a great reminder to pull out some supplies and get back to myself. I’ve been so busy over the past several weeks that I’ve barely taken a moment just for me, when I am not working on something or reading something or listening to something, etc. Thank you for posting this today!
Sounds an awful lot like ZenTangles, just more gadgets and less learning the “vocabulary.”
(And while the most popular kind of these kits gets the tradename “SPIROgraph,” they’re not really spirals because spirals have an increasing radius, and these have constant radii.)
Hi Jodi – I enjoyed hearing about and looking at your spirals! I related to that as well… I do the same when I am knitting or crocheting… I find that a simple and repetitive pattern can just take me to a meditative place, and the “bonus” in that is that I end up with something nice out of it to give as a gift… Calms me down!
What’s amazing to me is that in the last couple of months, I have had a strong desire to buy a spiral set as well and to draw these spirals. I had always remembered how I had absolutely loved drawing these circles. It’s way too interesting that you had the same desire. Cool. 🙂
Love,
Genevieve
Hi Jodi. I loved reading your post today. I find myself am on a similar path trying to find my true “self” as I end a 30 year marriage. To that end, I decided to go away for an undetermined length of time and surround myself with nature,water and things that I remember bringing me great peace.
To do that, I felt this huge pull to shed things from my life that were no longer necessary and “lighten my load” at home. So I spent 7 full days organizing each room of my own and have rediscovered my sewing room, craft room and found that most of the paper in my office was completely unnecessary. It was amazing to redefine my spaces and lessen my emotional burden. Once that was done, I felt fully able to pack up my car and head to my destination.
today is my first day in my new surroundings. I slept long and deeply last night and now sit in front of an expansive window overlooking a beautiful wide open lake surrounded by green trees and open sky (today gray).
I don’t have spiral kit (yet – I loved doing them as a kid too), but have my knitting & crocheting needles ready to begin clicking and my journals to write down whatever my brain wants me to.
It is my way of coming back to me. Where it will take me, only God knows. Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your journey….it makes me feel good about mine.
With warm regards,
Lynn Spiro
I love this Jodi! Your post is definitely a sign for me. Yesterday I was obsessed with getting a spiral set like this. (love you creation btw). I’ve been going back to myself through drawing geometric patterns an mandalas and a spriograph seems like, urgent. I studied fine arts in university but for the past year I’ve done nothing creative, like literally nothing! I was feeling so blocked and weird. A couple of days ago I started drawing again and I feel like coming home! It feels sooo good!
Ooh…I remember those kits. I loved creating with them, but haven’t thought about it in years. I can definitely see how making the spirals would be like meditation. Peaceful, serene, focused. I get a sense of that in the ones you’ve created.
That’s fantastic! How meditative the process and the drawings are really beautiful. I would have never considered this before, but it looks inviting! Next time I see a set like this, I am going to pick one up.