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The Deep Spirituality of Art

I often find the words of those that have wrestled with life quite profound. Picasso once said that “art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”. Through art we seek an expression of the deepest part of ourselves, we are somehow reaching out to connect to that which is divine or mysterious, a greater power. For some of us that is our religious faith in a deity, in God. But no matter how we look at it, we find healing in expressing nature or the complexity of the human condition…all the things we perhaps don’t have answers to.

The journey of our lives is a road both beautiful and tumultuous. As we set forth on our trek towards joy, fulfilment, success, and a higher purpose, and even as we proceed through what is mundane and necessary each day, we must traverse difficult trails that knock us about and test us to our very limits. One of the absolute truths of life is that we all will face such challenges and they are often the struggles that shape and strengthen us. The reality, however, is that they can leave us with some deep scars that we must carry with us for the remainder of the journey.

Healing Through Art

It has become widely accepted that a true state of health comes from a balance between the mind, body and soul, where a synergy of physical, mental and social wellness exists.  Connection to creative arts pursuits tap into an inner healing power by encouraging deep self-awareness and expression, and in fact, strengthens critical biological functions. As we all face life’s inevitable challenges, we need to find ways to remind ourselves of the beauty that is life which we are all a part of. There seems to be somehow, great power in music, visual arts, written expression and creative movement or dance. Personally, I believe that through seeking out the deep mystery of life, we find healing for the soul.

Bringing Art To Those Who Need it Most

Here at St. Merkorious Charity, we are embracing this holistic approach for our clients.  We were recently able to run a wonderful Art Course with the kind support of Strathfield Council for the people of the Strathfield community. The course ran for 6 weeks on consecutive Fridays from 20^th May to 24^th June 2022 between 12 pm and 3 pm at the Strathfield Community Centre, Redmire Room.

St Merkorious Charity’s Art Course provided community connection and impact for those who participated. Our small classes brought in an average of 4 participants weekly who were able to explore their creativity. Our visiting art mentor praised the strong connections made by our attendees, who were encouraged to keep and enjoy their completed artworks. The feedback from those who attended was very positive, highlighting their engagement and the general success of the course.

We look forward to similar opportunities in future to host these friendly sessions of artistic expression that will encourage the discovery of inner peace and healing.

We thank Strathfield Council for funding this community initiative and supporting the creativity, health and wellbeing of our local communities.