Art as a Spiritual Practice | Stephanie Smith | TEDxLehighRiver

[@Freejaysongarrow]

Great wisdom. It has changed my life, 10 years ago I was a completely different person. Painting has introduced me to a new world. Thank you god. For the grace. I feel too, that anyone is capable in finding there “voice” or there inner self (god) through the practice of metaphysical art. With incorporation of Sacred geometry, meditation. And nature. Pulling out the vision from the unknown is a beautiful thing. It dwells inside everyone. It’s waiting for you to unlock that human ability. Does the journey challenge the human condition? why that’s a entire different subject, but the journey is worth it. If your strong enough to make it through. It’s worth it. You can’t put a price tag on inner Wealth. Protect it when you find it.

[@darksouth2607]

When you stop doing things for other people and start doing things for yourself. That's when your art becomes yours.

[@Killersnake1233]

Selfish art has limits, allow yourself to be the hand of God, expressing something for the good of other people, and you will be given the ability to do so.

[@cjdevries]

I've been expressing my emotions through art as a practice for awhile, I do emotional drawing, but I particularly like working with clay; it is a great tool for shifting emotions and helping to bring inner healing. I drew Tibetan mandalas for about a year, every day. But Stephanie has inspired me to start drawing these free hand, free form mandalas, which are so simple to do and such a good way of processing feelings. Thank you for this gift.

[@biffybeans]

I’m glad to hear this was helpful to you. Enjoy the process. 😀

[@TravelWithMe480]

embrace your inner critic soon you will be besties. Our inner critic as you call it is here to challenge us out of our comfort zone.. Dont judge just be at peace with it..flow

[@ArtHealsStudios]

I am inspired to pull out one of my many art journals I started and never finished, and do something like a mandala every day. I do believe that art making is a spiritual practice, and one that is extremely important, especially for those who want to grow personally and spiritually. Thank you for this talk.

[@biffybeans]

Arlene Holtz Artist So glad it resonated with you, and thanks for taking the time to comment. I hope you enjoy the process of Mandala making.

[@divenursok]

Intention is everything - it’s the energy you send out❤️ Thank you

[@biffybeans]

Thank you for watching!

[@chitramurali2075]

Thank you, Stephanie! I needed to hear/see this. I used to love doodling and creating all sorts of art and crafts as a child. As a teenager, I failed in an Intermediate level art exam, where as most of my close friends cleared it. Over the years, I stopped doing anything artsy-craftsy. On occasion, a random drawing or a craft piece would be created, but that's it. I love art and wished I could do it as well as many others. Over the past one year, I have increased my spiritual practices.. and have sensed a deep inner shift...It's been wonderful. I just realized where my 'creative block' is rooted....( it's in that perceived failure as an artist, during my teenage years) I'm going to restart, thanks to you. Might I say, your pieces are so beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration! :)

[@biffybeans]

Chitra M Thank you for taking the time to write and I’m really glad you found this talk useful. Happy creating!

[@sheilagarrick]

Thank you for sharing your process, your artwork, your words, and your precious self with us through TED. This was inspiring!

[@biffybeans]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@thousandpetalsproject1494]

Thank you!!! We will be drawing mandalas in my mindfulness class today!

[@debbymeadows5640]

Stephanie - I'm an artist and transformational coach for creatives. All I can say is WOW. Your message really resonated with me deep inside. Beautiful talk that I'm going to use in my programs! Much love and light to you, fellow creative!

[@biffybeans]

Deborah Meadows-Stroud I’m so glad that you found it useful. 🙏Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.

[@andreskosberg4566]

As an artist/musician who has lost his soul a little bit, this helps a great deal.

[@biffybeans]

❤

[@cally386]

Expressing ourselves without the harsh inner critic. Yes. I recently got myself some supplies & haven't been able to start due to that inner voice that keeps popping up whenever I want to try. I was just staring at the blank paper and colors & just don't know where to start. Thank you for this video. I will now start by just showing up & let go of all that negative innertalk and shall start somewhere. Anywhere.

[@biffybeans]

Hooray! Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.

[@debbieekes5718]

I love this on so many levels.

[@biffybeans]

Thank you so much!

[@KateColors]

Wow! I've always loved art. Spirit has always been my word. It never occurred to me to think of art-making as a spiritual practice. Thank you for sharing your self in this talk. It hit home with me. ❤ --KateColors

[@biffybeans]

I’m glad! Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.

[@PaulZelic_MITM]

Beautiful talk. Thanks for the inspiration into my own creative adventures I'm about to start.

[@biffybeans]

Thank you! Best wishes on your new project.

[@carolhedberg2341]

Perfect presentation. Just what I needed as I begin a solo retreat. Thank you!!!!!

[@biffybeans]

I’m glad you found it helpful! Thank you for taking the time to comment and I hope your retreat is enjoyable.

[@MsSylvana63]

Brilliant message spoken with much loving intention! I am inspired! Thankyou 🙏🏾🌈🦋🌺

[@biffybeans]

MsSylvana63 Why thank you so much for watching and taking the time to respond! Glad you found it useful!

[@benschumacher3060]

@@biffybeans That was great! Very inspirational

[@biffybeans]

Ben Schumacher thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@butterflymagicwithhottea9291]

Every word of this is powerful and true, in my experience. I am a big fan of creating mandalas.

[@SV_the_ID]

Thank you! This message came at the most poignant time in my own shadowed times...I’m an artist

[@biffybeans]

Thank you for watching! I’m glad you found it helpful.

[@sudessalynn43]

Thank you for your speech here, I really loved it and have found myself utilizing art for my spiritual development for as long as I can remember. It has helped me in coping and resilience and self understanding.

[@biffybeans]

Sudessa Lynn Thanks for commenting, and I’m glad you enjoyed the talk.

[@theoparsonson1055]

This is great! Affirmed some things I’ve been catch of a glimpse of in my own spiritual practise which has recently shifted toward art making. Will definitely have a go at making mandalas 🖤

[@catherinem4130]

Excellent.....can't wait to do this......actually, some more because I already know how to do the dot painting.....but I would love to be able to help others too

[@Consciousnessdoor]

You made me cry…dont kniw why… but beautybusually does it

[@Mistical1982]

I can relate to everything you said. I recently started drawing mandalas, seemingly from nowhere. I’m a perfectionist, and a good artist. I have been scared to do any kind of art on paper from scratch, since I was at school (now nearly 40!). I had some spiritual experiences recently and decided to draw mandalas, free-hand. They are perfectly imperfect 🙂

[@biffybeans]

That’s fantastic! Going outside our comfort zone can be really scary because it challenges what we believe about ourselves and about the world around us. Thanks for watching!

[@Mistical1982]

@@biffybeans Did you ever not like one of your mandalas? If so, how did it affect you going forwards? I just did one and I have to admit I don’t like it that much.

[@biffybeans]

@@Mistical1982 You can choose to make art simply because you want to and the results don’t matter because it’s more about having fun or because the act of moving energy during the creative process feels important in some way. If you have a preconceived notion of how you want a thing to turn out, you’ll either be satisfied, unsatisfied or neutral. If you are unsatisfied, ask yourself why you feel that way. In my experience, if I’m unsatisfied, it’s usually because I’m being too hard on myself OR because I wasn’t ready or willing to do the work needed to achieve that goal. (Practice practice practice) I found more personal/spiritual growth when I was able to create without judgment. I found more artistic growth when I desired to improve my techniques. To answer your original question, Of course. I’ve done lots and lots of things that I didn’t like. Today I cut two pieces of mat board to use as covers for a small book and they are crooked and I don’t like them. I can easily start a mantra of “I can’t do anything right” or I can make new ones as many times as necessarily till I get them right, or I can accept them as they are and then move onto the next thing. Does any of this help?

[@thejadedartist3843]

wow...that was so well done...and uplifting and true...I had recently come to realize art making for me is like a form of channeling from the spiritual side, and you beautifully talked about how we all need some form of self expression in our lives...thank you for that. :)

[@biffybeans]

Javanni Alvarado Thank you for your kind words. I am very happy that this talk resonated with your own beliefs about art making.

[@beautifulsoul8006]

You inspire me to draw and paint . 💜💜💜I love learning how to draw natural landscapes with oil pastel 💜💜💜 and I'm on the way 💪🏻

[@nab.7250]

Amazing speech, thank you 🙏

[@biffybeans]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@psj18062]

You did it, Stephanie!!! Love you and your art.

[@biffybeans]

psj18062 Thank you!

[@psj18062]

It's me, Stephanie - Pam Jones - thought my name was displayed. Still love the piece of yours that hangs in my home.

[@priscilla9995]

This really inspired me! Thank you! 🌷

[@biffybeans]

I’m glad you found it helpful.

[@louisakeys]

Thank you for this inspiring Talk!

[@biffybeans]

Thank you Louisa!

[@kadekherlina3198]

Thx for your sharing.. love the energy so much ❤

[@biffybeans]

Kadek Herlina your welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@nowandthenbooks]

Beautiful job.

[@biffybeans]

Thomas Christian Thank you

[@JimDonovanMusic]

Go Steph! Wonderfully done. Tip of the iceberg.

[@biffybeans]

Thanks Jim.

[@ryanace219]

It's taken me much too long to watch this. You're amazing!

[@biffybeans]

That's so kind Ryan, thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@ronnisue313]

Excellent!!!

[@biffybeans]

ronnisue313 Thanks Ronnie!

[@Maxlaiharekrishna]

This resonates with me🔥 process

[@kathleenmckenna6909]

Great job!

[@biffybeans]

kathleen mckenna Thank you!

[@ElenaZelenina]

Wonderful talk! You said you liked to doodle before, have you tried to learn to draw after the mandala discovery. I noticed with my own practice and my students as well that mindfulness brings authentic viewing and as a result real-life drawing becomes so easy. Anyway, thank you for your work :)

[@biffybeans]

Hi Elena Zelenina and thank you for your kind words. I try to follow my heart by being creative in whatever way serves me in the moment. My interest in drawing comes and goes and I'm fine with that. I think blind contour drawings are fun, and I think they have been helpful in teaching me to see.

[@Egoblivion]

Hmmm...what's that...looks like inspiration to me! I'll take that! *YOINK*

[@susanalexander7446]

Stephanie, have you heard of Zentangle? It appears to be very similar to what you've just described! :)

[@biffybeans]

I have.

[@annbressie8615]

@biffybeans I loved this talk and am trying to find your work somewhere but you seem to have fallen off the radar. Hope all is well.

[@biffybeans]

💜

[@rod287]

(. REHAB TIME! ). ONE OF THE GREATEST SPHERE-UAL PRACTICES IS SPEND TIME WITH UR CHILDREN LET THEM BRING EU INTO THEIR WHRILD AND INTO THEIR WAVE OF SEAING THINGS AND SIMPLY TO FOLLOW ALONG. FACTS OVA FEELINGS!

[@roselotusmystic]

🙏😻

[@lsusan]

I have been turned off by the bright colored and loud mandalas I have seen, which, to me, seem counterintuitive, and hardly meditative. I was immediately struck by the soft and simple beauty of yours.

[@emmalouie1663]

I contacted Tedx Talks several times about how there are talks that violate the Tedx policies on political divisiveness etc but nobody from Tedx ever responded to me. Sadly, I no longer have any respect for Tedx at all.

[@biffybeans]

I respect your feedback. Have you tried reaching out to the individual TEDx organizers of those talks? Every TEDx event is independently organized and the level of skill and experience the organizers have may vary greatly- which can absolutely affect the quality of presenters. My event was led by a team of prominent local professionals as coaches/curators. We received group feedback from the team and had several private coaching sessions throughout the process. Someone I know who spoke at a TEDx event organized by a college in another state had no coaching at all. As an aside, I am also familiar with stories about presenters who intentionally changed content in their talk during their presentation…

[@babyirene3188]

oh boy.

[@jasonbutz5165]

gargantuan good

[@biffybeans]

Thank you!

[@patriciamartin6756]

The real truth is that we create our own reality, our bodies , ourselves , our reality. There is no one real reality, all realities are valid. The greatest art you can create for yourself is a happy, successful life, but to depend on art itself as a means to earn a living is arrogance , pretentious bullsh--t

[@lsusan]

Too fast to even comprehend.

[@biffybeans]

I appreciate the feedback. There was probably a way I could have better represented what I was trying to represent in that clip but I’d run out of time.

[@mikefinkgallery4294]

Wonderful talk - fascinating to me because, point by point, I had a very similar experience/journey with personal development and mandalas. Thank you for giving this talk and sharing. Cheers! (IG: Mike Fink Gallery @mikefinkgallery)

[@biffybeans]

I appreciate hearing that you’ve had a similar experience with mandala creation! Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a message.

[@iammukta1644]

Why don't you make an effort to pronounce the word MADALA as it pronounced in Sanskrit. Please show some respect. Come on. It isn't that difficult!!

[@biffybeans]

I hear what you are saying and I’m sorry if that offends you. I’d been saying the word wrong for years before I’d heard it spoken correctly. And I have tried saying it the traditional way, but my autistic brain can’t reconcile a familiar word said differently as meaning the same thing. I speak much better off the cuff. Having to write, rehearse, and present a scripted speech in less than eight weeks was really difficult. I did my best.