Texas, Abortion Laws and Healing through Collage

     

The Right for a Woman to Govern Her Own Body

(Mixed Media - Dance with the Butterflies) 2021

Background created on a gelli plate / acrylics / and collage.

    I was raised in Texas and lived there for over 50 years.  Seeing what is happening in that state over abortion is really quite shocking. I lived in Austin close to eight years and always found it a progressive and rather liberal city.  But these recent events have really change my outlook. 

    I believe everyone is entitled to their opinions on subjects, and have the liberty to say "yes" or "no" when given the choice on personal matters, especially if it is for their self preservation.  However, I also believe that women have the choice to govern their bodies. 

    For many years, I worked in the Texas public school system and heard from several students, mostly girls, but sometimes boys, how they were physically abused, both mentally and sexually.   It just broke my heart to hear these stories and then witnessed how sometimes Child Protective Services helped and mostly how they didn't. 

    While in high school, I heard a girl making noises in the bathroom stall and later learned she had birthed her baby in the schools' bathroom. No one knew she was pregnant, as she wore an oversized jacket and kept to herself most of the time. I had a student being sexually abused by her brother who provided the whole family with money, therefore they all looked the other way. In college, my roommate almost got raped by a "nice boy" who belonged to a fraternity. I witnessed the bruises on her thighs, but back in 1979, who did we report that to? We didn't, young women were to embarrassed to say anything.  Years ago,  I learned that a local 12 year old was near term, and the baby was her own father. And the stories go on and on of women and young girls who are raped or sexually abused often times by people close to them. 

    My questions is - how is Texas going to fix that?  How do you solve a problem that goes on behind closed doors and people are ashamed to come out and say anything, some to young to understand what is even happening? 

    Which makes me remember that while I was a high school librarian all books by Ellen Hopkins would fly off the shelves since the beginning of the school year. Those books were in very high demand. Many never returned. All checked out by girls who would rarely see two words to me or look me in the eye. 

    Here are some I recommend by Ellen Hopkins.

    

Til next week.

Paty 

Crushing The Page - releasing pent up energies onto your journal

                CRUSHING THE PAGE 

    

As I continue my journey creating ART, I also want to share a wonderful healing process, which goes by several names, but I am calling CRUSHING THE PAGE. Because that is what I did today. I grabbed my journal, crumbled and crushed the page.

It is a method that artists are using following a process such as this: (there are different ways to do this).

    1. Write down on a paper, preferably a journal, what is causing you problems, or stress, or emotional upheaval. Just release all your inner thoughts (pains, fears, anxieties, anger...). Forget about the grammar and sentence structure, just put it down on the page. Unleash that rage, anxiety, tears of grief, disappointments and if your page gets all crinkled, crushed or torn in the process, let it happen.

    2.  Cover your words up - with cut out images from magazines, with markers or paint over it.  Use whatever you have on hand.  Let it dry and spend some time reflecting, wondering WHY this is happening.  Then come back to your journal and add positive words or phrases to your page. When you feel you have finished, close your journal, and walk away from it.  

After a while, (or a few days) you will sense an emotional release.  Those feeling you had been bottling up inside will gradually subside. The more you practice this act of Crushing the Page, the more you will find answers to problems, and find your heart easing from its fears and pains. You will see subtle changes in your emotions and in your way of life.

For a more detailed way to engage in the process, click on the following link and watch Catt Z, creator of  Cosmic Smashbooking. Another fabulous artist that teaches this process is Amanda Mauck.

I invite you to explore this creative way of healing those pains that burn inside.

Below is my page of the day.  All my pains are written underneath this journal page, and then I collaged over it wishing to "Live for Greatness."  Felt so much better afterwards. 

BOOK REVIEW: Memoir about being abused as a child.

I just finished a book written by a friend of mine. In her memoir, she tells how one day, while at a retreat, her brain flashed her memories of being sexually abused by her father when she was a young child. Without giving any more of the story away, here is the link to this moving story on how she healed and was able to forgive. Unexpected Legacy

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As I went on one of my daily walks this week, I encountered this:  a beautiful, bright, orange flower growing in the middle of some prickly cactus.  I am reminded that one can find beauty and the light even amongst the thorniest places. You have to look with eyes wide open and with your heart. 

Til next time, 

Paty