Art as a Spiritual Practice | Stephanie Smith | TEDxLehighRiver

Stephanie's talk is sub-titled "What I Learned from Making 10,000 Mandalas." Stephanie holds a strong belief that process-based art practices are powerful tools for transformative personal growth. Our harsh inner critic can be temporarily silenced by removing the focus on quality, so that anyone may receive the many physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits that art-making has to offer.

Self-taught artist Stephanie Smith has been working for the last ten years with the sacred circular art form known as mandala as a self-reflective meditative practice. She has, to date, created over 10,000 pieces of mandala art in a wide variety of expressive mediums. She is a resident artist at the Banana Factory Arts Center in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

[thejadedartist]

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. :)

[darksouth]

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

[ryanace]

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

[PaulZelic_MITM]

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

[chitramurali]

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! :)

[MsSylvana]

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

[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. <3 <3 <3

[catherinem]

wait to do some more because I already know how to do the dot I would love to be able to help others too

[divenursok]

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

[debbymeadows]

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! <3

[SV_the_ID]

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

[TravelWithMe]

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

[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.

[mikefinkgallery]

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)

[beautifulsoul]

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

[sudessalynn]

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.

[rod]

(. 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!

[emmalouie]

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.

[thousandpetalsproject]

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

[annbressie]

@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.