Nature has always inspired, challenged, and transformed us. In the Earth Painting exercise, we take our problem to the earth for transformation in a very intentional way.
Earth Paintings represent us, and they represent the feelings, situations, themes, or questions we are holding at this time. The earth painting mirrors our life and our perspective. Changes in the earth painting can help bring about changes in you or your situation.
We bring our thoughts, feelings, gratitude, and struggles to the divine in this mythical exercise. It is a sacred act of turning over our problems, or surrendering, so that we may see things in a new way. This is a powerful tool of the shaman that anyone can use. When approached with reverence and an open heart, amazing changes will take place. The earth painting brings us and our issue into interaction with the earth, air, water, fire, and all aspects of spirit.
HOW TO CREATE AN EARTH PAINTING:
Find a place on the earth that calls to you. This is the spot that feels like the right place to do this work. In your own way, call in sacred space. This is the act of asking for help from all aspects of spirit: Mother Earth, God, the sun, moon, stars, the waters, and the mountains.
You will create a circle which serves as your canvas. Draw a circle in the dirt, or use natural, burnable materials as your outline. It is best to sit in the west facing east, and to sit directly on the ground. Leave a small opening in your circle in the direction of the east to allow in new energies.
Using your sacred breath, you will be placing your struggles, themes, issues, or feelings into the painting intuitively. A stone is often used to represent the main issue, but it does require some special care afterwards. Other items from nature will appear to be used to represent different feelings or aspects of your work. Allow yourself to get in touch with the emotion, and then blow that energy into the stick, or flower, or acorn you have chosen. Trust that you know how to do this. Allow yourself to leave your problems on the earth for transformation.
The transformational earth painting is generally used for several hours to a few days time. During this time, the elements, the earth, and possibly earth’s creatures will work on your behalf to bring about new perspectives, beneficial changes, and healing. You may return to the earth painting several times to bring more aspects, or add representations of your gratitude. The earth will mulch the dense energies.
When the work is done, the earth painting must be returned to the elements. If stones were used, they can now become your ally if you choose to tend this relationship. Or, the stone can be released into a body of water. Burnable items placed in the painting should be burned if possible, or scattered back upon the land, along with the outline you created.
Close the earth painting with gratitude and reverence, erasing all signs of its existence.
VARIATIONS OF EARTH PAINTINGS:
Above we discussed the transformational earth painting. Earth paintings can also be used as expressions of beauty and love. This type of earth painting my be a Mandela made of flowers or other natural objects. It is still an expression of you, but also a gift to the earth. This type of earth painting does not have to be tended or cleared.
