Trust Your Inner Alchemy
Inner Alchemy Collage was formally named in 2013, but is a creative practice which I have been using in my life for as long a I can remember. In the beginning, I collaged only using words! I used to make these wordy layouts for boyfriends as a way to express and connect in a way I otherwise might not have. I have notebooks and journals filled with these wild and messy collages, a way to process, understand and non-verbally express thoughts and feelings that are often not language-based and instead are more visceral, subconscious and sensory.
IAC is ultimately about discernment and staying true to our own authority and inner compass.
In a world which always pushes us to look outside of ourselves for guidance, instructions, validation, healing... with this practice there are no gurus or experts. You need only to listen to yourself.
What this process is:
- An intuitive practice meant to tap into your own wisdom, meaning and magic
- About the messy process of discovery, discernment and self expression
- A creative way to practice radical embodied truth and trust, and bypass negative self talk
- A way to identify and locate who you are in this moment
- A vehicle for connection and vulnerability, with yourself and others
- A journey that is subjective, nuanced and ever evolving
- A tool that is self-defined and flexible
What this process is not:
- A technique, lesson, or how-to meant for you to replicate exactly what I make
- Creating a vision board meant to "attract" or center anything external
- A practice about mastery, perfection or creating in any "right or wrong" way
- About any static end result
- Only for Artists or people who consider themselves creative
You Have Everything You Need
What I love most about this process is that you do not need any artistic talent or creative ability, just the desire to explore and play! There are no fancy or expensive supplies necessary, and you can upcycle magazines or use stock images from the internet. All you need is an open mind and heart, something to collage on, scissors, a glues stick and a source for imagery.
For free magazines: try hitting up family and friends, local Dr's offices, or the free/swap stack in your local library for mags otherwise being discarded.
As with any practice it becomes more honed to your individual needs and preferences the more you use it. I hope you will make it your own and share it widely.
My Yearly Planner and Notebook Ritual
Inner Alchemy Cards
Beginning as a way to make a fast and dirty, smaller version of a full collage spread, I started making these 2x3 cards with simple textures, colors and words. Creating our own card decks was the natural next step.
The first deck we made together was in energy of Water, back in 2014. We created through the elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water, season by season, and the cards expanded to also include explorations of color meanings, symbolism, animal spirits and archetypes. I was incredibly inspired by the beautiful cards you all created! This lead to our next adventure in creating our own tarot deck for Wishcraft in 2017. Over the years, hundreds of us make our own decks from scratch!
What continues to make these cards truly magic is the unique energy and perspective pour into creating them! I still get emails from people who have been using their cards and this practice to learn and grow in new ways.
Workshops
A NEW deck is coming in 2021! As my own work and knowledge has evolved, it is time to use this process to explore new ideas and energies which will help us also create a more just world! I'm also thinking of ways to bring this live, group collage practice to you virtually.
Be the first to get all the info when it's time by staying connected with me here.
Find my current online and in-person workshops and offerings, here.
Discover more inspiration at #inneralchemycollage and #inneralchemycards