Collaged images birthed from waking dreams, night visions, and morning meditations are captured and arranged. The placement of each element is done with sacred awareness. The result is a translation of language from the symbolic imaginal realm into visual prayer.

Ancient rituals, alchemical formulas, diverse cultures, and archetypal mythology, create inspiration and focus for these photo-collages. Each visual prayer contains a soul story, a hidden message or metaphor.

How to Create Visual Prayers:

A visual prayer is a collage made with prayerful intention with an attitude of sacredness. You may choose to create a visual prayer for a specific reason such as:

• Protection
• Healing for yourself or someone else
• Healing for a relationship
• Manifestation of your heart's desire
• Guidance
• Affirmation
• Gratitude
• Feminine Ancestors
• Home
• Transformation of an issue
• Work/Purpose
• Etc., Etc., Etc.

Suggested Materials

• Magazines, old calendars, any printed material for cutting
• Color copies of photos appropriate to the focus of your visual prayer collage
• Scissors
• No. 11 Exacto knife for detail cutting
• YES glue (available at art supply stores) or glue stick
• Damp paper towel for wiping off excess glue
• Bristol board, cardboard, poster board, or scrapbook for backing material
• A rubber brayer or wallpaper roller

Process

Gather your materials on a table with room to spread them out. Play quiet meditative music. Light a candle. Say a prayer and offer an invitation to the angels and muses to bring you inspiration. Close your eyes and contemplate your intention and focus for your visual prayer. When you feel ready open your eyes and begin looking through the magazines page by page. Tear or cut any image that holds an energetic charge for you. It may be a positive or negative charge. Images that strongly repel you might be as important as those you are attracted to. Shadow material is only that which has not yet been exposed to the light. Perhaps surrounding the shadow image with positive imagery is a way to create sacred alchemy and transformation.

When you have gathered what feels like "enough" images, you are ready to begin arranging them into a visual prayer. You may choose to work on large paper, in a sketchbook type journal, or on pieces of bristol board cut to the size you prefer.

Now begin gluing your pieces to the surface you have chosen. I recommend using YES glue and a sponge brush. A little of the glue goes a very long way and you may want to thin it slightly with water. A brayer (like the roller you apply wallpaper with) is helpful for rolling each piece after its applied to make sure it dries smoothly without bubbling. Allowing each layer of your visual prayer collage to dry before applying the next layer is also helpful. Paint, pastel, colored pencil, may be added to the finished piece.

When you have completed your visual prayer you may feel you want to write a poem or thoughts to accompany it in your journal. You may wish to make color copies of your visual prayer in a variety of sizes. Mounting a color copy on tarot card size pieces of bristol board and backing them with patterned gift paper gives you an opportunity to create your own deck of cards. You may also mount color copies on blank note cards to create your own stationary. The list goes on and on for ways to offer your visual prayers as the blessing they are.

Visit the Offerings for Your Spirit page to learn about Dana's Spiritual Midwifery Home Study Package for more ways to explore your creativity through spirit dolls, altars, and the creation of a prayer journal. Visit Dana's Calendar to learn about her workshops exploring Visual Prayer.