Vision Boards
circa March 2010 (when Singing a New Song was born!)
Updated July 2020...MORE below!!!!
Updated July 2020...MORE below!!!!
I had gotten so tired of "verbal" sparring with a verbally and emotionally abusive (now EX) husband that I needed to "find my voice" and I thought that a "visual" could neither easily be discounted or argued. I was right. I made three collages or "vision boards" pretty easily from magazine clippings, glue stick and poster board. I have titled them "My favorite things", "The NEW Me" and the most disturbing one; "Free to be me...at last". I took them into a marital counseling session (March 2010) and my NOW EX husband showed much anger over them. Curious, I thought. He has nothing to say about them? Oh, he had many words to say about them and was steaming with the frustration of NOT being able to use them against me in the presence of the marriage counselor that he had chosen. I sat in quiet VICTORY that there we NO words that could combat the raw and REAL emotion that I had been able to portray on my "canvas". In ways, I was "finally heard".
Free to be me...at last!!!
I proudly introduce the first of my "trilogy" of vision board/collages and my very first attempt at this form of visual art therapy. This board visually displays the pain and conflict of living with abuse and the realization of my need to totally break free from an abusive marriage. The woman "suffering from a migraine" above could have also been displayed as a woman "pulling her hair out" in frustration of gaslighting and covert domestic abuse. A counselor looked at this board and affirmed me my "voice" with the clarity of images that NO VERBAL ABUSE could refute. This board came together surprisingly very easily. I was able to find subtle and "not so subtle" images to convey my message. One "vague" image is a cup of "hot tea" and that represents the "hot water" that I found myself "brewing" in constantly. It was also signifying the only comfort or peace that I felt during this stressful life. I felt great to release and visualize my "voice" in this board. Visioning boards have played a vital role in my healing from emotional turmoil and abuse.
💗My Favorite Things 💗
I felt so free to put together pictures of things that I "like"... there were very few pictures of sunflowers or you would see MORE of them in this board. I could not find SO many pictures: Amish buggy with horse trotting and flying V-formation of Canada geese are two images that I would LOVE to see on this board. The simple joys that made me happy in the midst of an abusive marriage could NOT be taken from me. This board was the "most fun" to create. It brings a smile to my face every time I look at it. It is an artistic expression of me.
😊The NEW Me😊
😊The NEW Me😊
I wanted to create a vision board to help me stay focused on the concept of the "new me"; the one who survived abuse and would have a bright future. In it, I affirmed my desires and dreams for "me" and displayed them; again so that they would not be refutable by mere words. This board had a very hopeful feel to it. I actually cried happy tears thinking that hope, love and "being me" would be a possibility in my life, again. I have chosen to share these very personal glimpses into my soul as an encouragement for all women (and men of course) who are seeking a way of "finding themselves" amidst the rubble of their lives. There is always a way to "speak out" and let your voice be heard... It will be a trophy to show your reward for diligence and perseverance in light of the harshest obstacles in life; abuse.
Your vision board could only be limited by the types of magazines that you are able to find. Your creativity is boundless. Good luck and happy "vision boarding".
- Create your vision board on an 8 X 11.5 standard typing paper.
- Leave about 1/2 - 1-inch border with no important art or messages.
- Choose clear images and messages
- magazine clipped images or printed offline on your computer
- Use color and texture to create a background and ambiance.
- Scan into your documents and retrieve from the file.
- Post and display YOUR TROPHY for healing from abuse.
- Title it; something that yells "This is me!!!
Post log (Nov. 2011):
As I look back upon these finished boards, I can fully appreciate the hours of self-examination and discovery that they both required as well as revealed. At first, I felt that showing them to others was "too revealing" as I was still analyzing the stressors in my life and deciding how to deal with them. I can see now that these boards played a VITAL role in my healing from abuse and the many aspects of "damage" that I had to recover from in order to "be where I am today". I hardly recognize the angst these boards portray, and for that, I am very thankful.
If you are hesitating in making a vision board, don't be. If there is an impetus for your "voice to be heard" on any issue and in any way; a vision board just may be the outlet that you are looking for. If you are like me, I know that you will never regret having made one. I did not think of myself as "visually artistic" and would encourage you to NOT let any "lack of talent" on your part block you from such a healing exercise. Again, good luck and "don't stop visioning your future and your dreams". You deserve to have them.
➽➽➽NEW Vision Board...June 2019.
This is the first one in 9 years and the "creme de la creme" of vision boards. It is TWICE the size because I wanted to make sure that I had the room to ADD ALL of the images that I really wanted to see daily!!!
💓My Life💓
This Vision Board is MY LIFE...my goals, hopes, dreams, and desires. I want to write, travel, become financially independent, travel, entertain (domestically; cooking and having dinner parties and create delicious charcuterie boards. I do sing and write music as well but am not referring to it here) and "change the world, one life at a time". Honestly, this sat underneath an antique cedar chest, with many pre-cut as well as some printed images, ready to assemble, for several months before. I was given an "assignment" to complete a Vision Board and found no better time than NOW to complete it. I took it to a library and found a closed off room where I laid the blank poster board upon a large table and then and there I sat and looked at the images for about 20 minutes. The finished Vision Board only took me an hour to assemble but I was in NO rush. You may be artistically talent and include unique drawings and embellish yours with calligraphy as well. (I am envious.) I used quotes and fonts on my computer and printer. Spend as much time as you like on yours. ENJOY the time alone with your DREAMS. I am already looking forward to making another one soon...➽➽➽NEW Vision Board...January 2020
My "Tree of Life" Board. (January 2020)
Denise
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