The Gifts of Creative Expression during times of Grief, Loss, and Change
Lisa Hines
June 6, 2012
Inquiry into Creative and Innovative Processes
Mentor: Susan O’Connell
Abstract
Creative expression is a gift for healing through grief, loss, and change. Through my own recent
experiences of grief, loss, and change, I’ve been drawn to research this subject, and have
experienced and witnessed my own processes and transformations. Creativity is a process which
integrates and moves us toward wholeness. Healing from creative expression is all about the
process of exploration, thus opening the doors for anybody to participate. Through creativity, one
becomes connected to the inner worlds of imagination and the outer worlds of divinity.
Participating in creative expression is a way to let go of the past and future worry, becoming
present in the moment. Finding the gifts of creative expression for healing grief, loss, and change
is difficult to quantifiably measure, yet proves helpful to explore individually.
Keywords: creative expression, grief, transformation, healing
The Gifts of Creative Expression during times of Grief, Loss, and Change
Introduction
I seek to explore the connection between creative expression and intense life experiences
which encompasses grief, loss, and change, as a way to uncover the gifts as a result applying
creative expressive methods. Since my life has been a long, continual series of harrowing events
beginning with childhood traumas, spanning the years as an adult, grief, loss, and change have
become quite familiar to me. Most recently, I’ve experienced a major loss when my Dad passed
into spirit on December 3, 2011 from Prostate Cancer. Compounding this event has been an
extended duration of upset in my workplace which has caused further grief and impending
change. As I immerse in my studies of Creativity and Innovation as it relates to Transpersonal
Psychology, I strive to understand more fully how indulging in creative expression can be a form
of healing. The foundations of being immersed and closely tied to the topic, and having a fond
yearning for understanding, make this subject a prime candidate for Intuitive Inquiry (Anderson,
2007).
I discovered in my research there are many modalities of creative expression, such as art
therapy, writing poetry, singing, dance, movement, sand tray therapy, and clay expressions.
There are a wide variety of applications for research in creative expression that span from
studying the effects on the brain, results in Alzheimer’s patients, and children with cancer, to
name a few. Most of the research articles and books were relevant to highly traumatic events in
one’s life. I was hoping to find more information on creative expression as a healing modality for
times of disruption and change in one’s life, but not much existed on this more basic level.
Creative Expression as Transformation
Creative expression transports the individual toward transformation, and may heal past
wounds. Barbara Hall (2012), in her experience as a School Counselor and Art Therapist asserts
that art in itself allows one to be transported away from the immediate problem or situation
through the imagination, crossing boundaries of time, space, gravity, and reality. When
referencing grief, Sandra L. Bertman (1999) states, “initially it captures us, but we can capture it
back and reshape it; and the expressive arts and therapies function beautifully as vehicles to help
us reshape grief” (p. 15). People utilize creative expression to work with the feelings and
emotions of their problems and as a by-product create movement toward their future in a more
productive manner (Rogers, 1993). Nancy Mangano Rowe (2008) referring to (Kalf 1991) states
“We are on a journey of individuation, the process of becoming conscious of human wholeness
and moving toward integration” (p. 116).
In my own experience, as of recent, and in the past, there is a fine line of timing for when
creative expression is applied within a person’s life. For example, I have undergone a
tremendous amount of stress and not participated in creative expression because my life and
energy was consumed with attention to the stressor. When this occurs, I sense there’s a waiting
period of “creative hibernation” and when the stressor is relieved a wellspring of creativity
emerges. McNiff (1998) recognized “the force of transformation correlates with the
counterforce of resistance” and has “learned to accept the periods of frustration and blockage as
an unconscious buildup for creation.” (pp. Chapter 2, Section: "The Blank Page", paragraph 11).
Additionally, repeated exposure to a traumatic event through creative expression could cause
further agitation (Henderson, 2007). It’s important to recognize through internal awareness, or
circumstance, when creative expression would be helpful. In other words, there is an ebb and
flow to the creative process and in life, resulting in transformation which may not necessarily be
immediately apparent (Hall, 2012).
Creative Expression is About Process, Not Outcome
Creative expression used as a healing method does not necessarily depend on creating
something, or even with having a skill. When working with creativity as a process-oriented
approach, the primary focus on outcomes is typically discouraged as “there is a value to doing
things wholeheartedly without being attached to what you do (McNiff, 1998, pp. Secion "License to
Create," Paragraph 17).” Using the arts, whether it be fine arts, music, or writing, for healing is not
about the beauty, but rather letting go and releasing the expression (Rogers, 1993). Sometimes
the result of the creative expression evokes meaningful changes. When working with children
with cancer, Nicholas and Lister (1999) discovered “by expressing powerful feelings and
impulses on paper, the child is able to start to bring order out of chaos” (p. 102). During my time
of grief after my Dad’s passing, I utilized this approach to use colors and arm movements with
pastels to depict my inner emotions. The result was not necessarily an artist’s rendition of fine
art, but a display of what was bubbling up from the depths of my being. Implementing this
posture of expression, rather than outcome, fosters an environment for anyone to express
emotions through creative methods.
It is important to note when a creative expressive work does produce an outcome, the
symbols and images are relevant to the process solely of the individual. Nichols and Lister
(1999), referencing Furth (1988) and C. G. Jung (1964), state, symbols are “healing agents and
believed that in the creation of symbols the creator moved toward psychological health” (p.102).
Whereas C. G. Jung (1964) asserts symbols or images carry archetypal meanings, it is also illadvised to try and interpret the meanings for someone else. Based on research, Glazer (1998)
recognized this when working with art created by grieving children. The children’s works
exemplified the gestalt of their experience, and referencing Allan (1988) “warned that no
elements are universal in meaning.” (p. 7) Furthermore, Glazer referenced Furth (1988)
cautioning “that a picture may have a meaning other than the one any person sees in it.” (p. 7)
I’ve discovered a disappointment when seeking another’s perspective on a particular symbol,
rather than being with my own expression, allowing the meaning to surface in its own time.
Creative Expression Connects Us to both Inward and Outward Inspiration
Creativity and artistic expression derives from a mysterious place that can be described as
coming from a place within, or from a place outside of us, both of which are connected to our
divine nature (Richards, 1989). When using the creative arts to express inner feelings, Rogers
(1993) asserts “we express inner feelings by creating outer forms. Expressive art refers to using
the emotional, intuitive aspects of ourselves in various media” (p. 2). When treating grief or
illness, a therapist, counselor, or doctor may get a glimpse of the inner world of the patient
through their artistic expressions. (Glazer, 1998) In addition to inspiration being derived from
within, the unconscious world can also be explored through creative expression. (Rogers, 1993)
Besides the inner world explorations, the outer world of the spiritual and divine also serve
as inspiration for creative expression. Creativity stems from spirit being manifested in our daily
lives (McNiff, 1998). Ideas for creative expression can arise from nature, or being exposed to
others’ artistic expression. When synchronous events occur “they result from closer communion
with the ‘spirit energies’ that animate all things” (Taylor, 2009, p. 212). When I explore the
works of others, it inspires me to create similar ideas often evolving the original piece into
something quite different. For example, I was viewing homemade painted wooden bracelets on
somebody else’s web site. This inspired me to create similar pieces, such as necklaces, boxes,
and frames which then led to pondering my ceramics and then to pondering photography. By the
time I finished my day-dream, I was in full business as a photographer. As the day progressed, I
discovered a family member had created a website for her photography, and discovered the
camera I want will be released on Friday. The end result of this experience was a feeling that my
creativity had been revealed with a sense of healing from a painful time in my life where my
creativity had been dormant. Rowe (2008) cites Rogers (1999) with a quote that summarizes it
well: “As we journey inward to discover our essence or wholeness, we discover our relatedness
to the outer world. The inner and outer world become one.” (p. 118)
Creative Expression as Non-Verbal
Art Therapy and other healing practices incorporating creative expression become very
useful, particularly in settings where talking or writing is not possible, or conducive to healing. A
young child, or disabled person may not be able to speak or have adequate vocabulary. A victim
of a crime may find security using creative expression as a tool to protect oneself (Glazer, 1998;
Henderson, 2007; Rogers 1993).. A perpetrator of a crime may find solace in using creative
expression as a tool for healing, displacing or avoiding shame and guilt. When working with
clients, the process of creative expression allows one “to enter into an organic, spontaneous
process that comes from a deep and usually non-verbal place” allowing “the client and therapist
to hear and respond to the voice of the soul”, as Rowe references Signell 1996 (Rowe, 2008, p.
121) .” Non-verbal expression also applies to the written word. There were times when it was
more appealing to me to draw on a piece of paper, or plant flowers in the garden, rather than
write out my feelings of adversity. I would suggest that writing or speaking be optional when it
comes to the healing aspect of creation.
Creative Expression as Healing In the Moment
Part of any healing process is letting go of the past hurt or trauma and future worry. When
faced with extreme adversity, resistance is futile, and the best way to transcend the situation is to
experience it in the moment (Stroud, 2012). McNiff (1998) discusses the art of letting go and
trusting the process as it is in the present moment, surrendering to what emerges naturally as a
result of being attentive, allowing inspiration to flow forth. He asserts, “If we are able to stay
with a situation, it will carry us to a new place. The 'process' knows where it needs to go and if it
is exclusively directed or controlled by any one person, we miss the opportunity to learn this
lesson” (McNiff, 1998, pp. Chapter 1, Section "Stepping into the Unknown", paragraph 12). So it
is with healing; if we try to control the outcome, we may miss something valuable or the ability
to process the grief, loss, or change. As Hendricks (2010) cited, ‘‘Mary once said, ‘don’t worry
about whether your father beat you when you were young, just worry about how you are at the
moment… The question you ask is about yourself at this moment—that is process for me.’ ’’ (p.
68)
Conclusion
Creative expression can be studied from many different perspectives as it relates to
transformation in one’s life. Most of the studies and written topics center on grief, major illness,
or trauma. Some of the more current research is based on phenomenon around our cultural
society, such as aging and Alzheimer’s. Whereas there are many ways to study the effectiveness
and outcomes of creative expression as healing, it is also intangible and enigmatic. Due to its
connection with the spiritual and mysterious essence of our life force, creative expression is not
easily measurable for quantitative research methods, as seen in Henderson’s (2007) thesis.
Furthermore, my interview with Hall (2012) confirmed that an Art Therapist’s or Counselor’s
intervention often times does not evidence factual changes in the client or person.
I’ve witnessed my own transformations, however, as a result of creative expression, but not
always in the form I would have expected. As an example, I’ve created several mandalas and art
pieces, including clay, to express the grief of my Dad’s passing. I’ve also practiced cathartic
gardening and cooking as processes to cope. I understand where I am in relationship to my
healing, but have no way of discerning how it would have been had I not utilized these methods
as part of my healing process. Measuring the growth and transformation as a result of the
creative expressive activities is nearly impossible. The overall feeling I’ve experienced with
these expressions toward healing is that of escaping the hurt, being present with the piece, and
catharsis. I’ve become a believer in creative expression for healing with a broader understanding
of its implementation. I am aware that it can’t be forced in its timing; it has to emerge
organically. As a result of coping with intense change and grief surrounding my workplace, I’ve
noticed that when there is no room or energy for creative expression, that there is room for
resurgence later. Finding the gifts of creative expression for healing grief, loss, and change is
difficult to quantifiably measure, yet proves helpful to explore individually.
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