In the search for mindfulness: the "mindless" doodle

Art media properties have been a thing of fascination for me. In a brief chapter written many moons ago [Lorenzo de la Peña, S. (2015). 2-Dimensional Materials. In D. Gussak & M. Rosal (Eds.), The Wiley-BlackwellHandbook of Art Therapy [E-book version]. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers.], I went into details on the various properties of art medias. That is something that I’ve built-on from my undergrad years as an art educator student and from sheer curiosity.

In the last 4 or so years, that attention to detail and CURIOSITY, have become the main thread in my mindfulness groups.

I work in forensic mental health. An often bleak environment with limited access to materials and rich in time. Boredom is the biggest complaint, right up there with lack of privacy and noise. The trifecta of negative behavioral expression.

In spite of the recent explosive popularity of Mindfulness; I don’t have to screen those I serve to know that over 90% of them don’t know what mindfulness is, nor have they ever heard the term.

Kabat Zin has defined mindfulness as: The awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment.

I break it down further and (while holding up 1 finger I say): Mindfulness is doing 1 thing at a time.
There's no need to over-complicate things, when the art media tends to do the work for you.

But why teach it in a forensic setting? Why teach it to individuals with a chronic mental illness? I mean really? Can you think of a better candidate who needs to ‘catch a break’ and ‘get out of their heads’. Art media happens to be the best way I know to reach them -- and have them connect with at least the simplest form of mindful practice.

In these groups the expectation is not 100% mindfulness; but increasing self awareness from intermittent mindful moments. Moments where the pupils allow themselves to be captivated by the media or process. Groupings of seconds where their inner voices, judgments, and self-doubts --- quiet-down.

Card doodles like the one above are easy and effective. Requiring next to nothing except (institution assigned safety-pen + card) time and dedication, these doodles are accessible anywhere. Group members take these at the end of group for an outside-the-group practice. 

Make your own with watercolors using wet on wet techniques. [Here are a couple extra examples of using doodles and repetition -- from the #creativedeed365 project in 2015]

Or better yet use tea, coffee, or wine 'spills' to serendipitously create one.

Have your pen handy, once the 'stain' dries start your doodle.