Using Art Therapy to Integrate a Spiritual Awakening
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Author
Milam, Jacquelyn
Date
2010
Degree
Master of Arts in Art Therapy
Abstract
Art therapy has been used as a vehicle to access parts of the self that the conscious mind is
unaware of. An important piece of the mysterious territory charted by some art therapists
refers to the spiritual arena. While there is some research to validate the connection between
art therapy and spirituality, more is needed. This heuristic study documents an attempt to add
to the growing body of arts based research approaches connecting spirituality and art therapy.
Using four different art mediums, the researcher has made art to the theme “Come to me
empty and I will fill you” in an attempt to integrate a personal spiritual awakening over a
period of six weeks. The art pieces and self-report narratives acknowledge a deepened
relationship with God and self. The process of art therapy leads to personal insights, shifts in
attitude and changes in behavior as experienced by the researcher and measured by a scale
designed for this purpose. The findings suggest that there is a documentable connection
between art therapy and spiritual healing; that spiritual growth is an important part of what
art therapy has to offer and that spiritual growth may be calculated using a scale of spiritual
development. Further research is recommended.