Layers of Meaning-The Book as a transformative force 

Last week we had a zoom live event to celebrate my book published in the US.

In this event, I shared with you my journey in the last eight years, since I started developing my method- SoulPages.

And how writing the book was a transformative force that helped me create my path.

we talked about the seven elements and I demonstrated a full process of activating the dreaming child within.

The Dreaming child archetype

One of the basic concepts I talk about in my book is The Dreaming Child.

It is pure childlike energy that exists within us, it is familiar with our unconscious mind, with all the inner landscapes and all the treasures we have yet to unearth.

The Dreaming Child is ready at any moment to go on a journey of discovery and investigation, with a fresh perspective, always seeing the world as if for the first time

Connecting with this archetype will bring joy and passion to your life.

If you want to learn more about the book click the button

Try one of these transformational courses

Color archetypes is a spiritual-artistic method to identify and understand the source of energies available to us from the day we were born – core energy, connection energy, and spiritual energy.

These three energies, inherent parts of us, navigate and shape our lives. Understanding them will help us live better, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

Art Journaling is an art activity within a personal journal. Another name for this activity can be Visual journaling, art diary etc.

For many years, artists have developed their artistic ideas in a journal and called this a sketchbook. Creating in a format of a journal has begun to develop as another language of art that anyone can do, without learning any complicated techniques, in the last thirty years.

Some artists in the United States and Europe have begun to teach the unique way they create within a diary to allow freedom, creativity and un judgmatical behaviour.

Soul Pages is a special method of visual-art journaling that I developed in the last 8 years and its main idea is the focus of our inner development and the connection to the archetype of the inner artist.

Art Journaling basic concepts

• The use of mix media techniques – any combination of materials and techniques is acceptable
• It’s not about the outcome- the process itself is important.
• It’s a form of self-care art so usually it incorporates writing
• We use meditative techniques such as doodling and collage
• We create in a bound journal
• We use layers of different materials and techniques that expose different meanings
• We can use prompts to create meaning in our spread
• Freedom, joy and play
• There are lots of different approaches of teaching, but usually they either teach art techniques or teach transformation.

About my method- SoulPages journaling

I developed SoulPages journaling method in order to allow for self-care, transformation, joy, playfulness and also cultivating our inner artist.

SoulPages is based on seven elements: Intention, Magical coincidence, background, image, color, line & text. You can learn more about the elements in my book “Elements of visual Journaling”

You can learn more about  SoulPages journaling in my short courses.

Or join my in-depth facilitator training and transform your life.

SoulPages facilitator training is the only mentoring programme in the world that actually teaches how to become a group facilitator with the amazing tool of the visual journal.

In this one year programme you can become an independent artist that creates freely in your bounded journals.

You will learn how to create endless art processes that are healing and also artistic.

art journaling for beginners

There are lots of art journaling for beginners classes and tutorials online but what is most important to understand is that beginners’ minds are an essential part of art journaling.

A beginner’s mind is a state of constant surprise and creativity where you feel that everything is new, fresh, and exciting.

So when you are looking for art journaling for beginners, you need information about the materials and techniques that will help you start an art journaling practice.

In SoulPages Journaling- creating the art journal from scratch is an amazing intention process- You can create a vessel for all your hopes and dreams.

After the art journal is created, you can start exploring materials and techniques that you like.

In my first years, I was so excited to discover that you can use any combination of materials. I felt like an explorer and it was an amazing feeling of being a child in a candy shop.

Try to look for materials that allow for magical coincidence. These are techniques that bring results that we have no control over.

The book “Layers of Meaning” by Rakefet Hadar is the perfect book when you are looking for art journaling for beginners’ ideas.

art journaling for beginners-ideas to get you started

When you want to start creating a visual journal, you can concentrate on the different elements of visual journaling as described in my journaling method SoulPages journaling.

here you can get a few ideas to get you started

• Intention– create your art journal from a cover of an old book or by using a Coptic stitch binding.
• Magical coincidence– start exploring new materials and techniques such as jelly plate, ink, tea bags, marbelling, etc.
• Background– prepare a few simple backgrounds on your journal pages. use watercolor, acrylic, collage simple torn pieces of paper.
• Image– glue some images on your pages.
• color– add color to connect the images
• line– add some lines to give depth to your images and make them yours.
• text– give a name to the art that you created.

Finally, all you need is to embrace your inner child and start creating

The seven elements of visual journaling can help you start journaling on your own. If you want to try a free tutorial you can press here:

The red violin

more art journaling for beginners classes are available in my online courses: The HomeBook.

And also in the Memory Pocket course, that demonstrates how I work with the 7 elements.

Try one of these transformational courses

Color archetypes is a spiritual-artistic method to identify and understand the source of energies available to us from the day we were born – core energy, connection energy, and spiritual energy.

These three energies, inherent parts of us, navigate and shape our lives. Understanding them will help us live better, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

art journal collage

I love to create a small collage journal that is the background for more layered artwork with color and other materials in my practice.

I love to bind my journals in this unique way because collage is the primary technique in art journaling.

When we create our handmade collage journal from scratch -we create a vessel for our inner dreams, wishes, and hopes.

Collage is an artistic technique that incorporates different papers, fabrics, and all sorts of ephemera to create a new image that combines small glued parts into one surface.

The process of collage creates integration in the soul and this is why it is such an amazing art technique.

When I start working on a new journal, I always glue collage pieces to some of the pages so when I bind them together- I will already have images that inspire me to continue and create more.

In this way, I overcome my fear of the white page.

Some people call these special journals- junk journals because you can combine so many parts of yourself artistically.

Collage journal- what kind of material can you use?

• pictures from old books
• vintage pictures from Pinterest
• journals and newspapers
• your art
• stamps
• gift packaging
• colored papers
• scraps of fabrics
• any ephemera material that you can glue.

Collage ideas for art journaling

In my courses, I teach lots of collage techniques with endless materials.

In my free course- The red violin, you can learn the process of collage with the seven elements.

If you want to join this course log in to the site and try the free course.

In the “memory pockets,” you can learn how to create collage journal pages with family pictures.

you can learn more about this course here:

Memory Pockets

In my “HomeBook” course you could learn a special collage method that is made inside old books. I also use the pictures that are already in the book as part of the overall spread.

This is a truly remarkable course with eight different collage techniques.

And finally, you can learn all my collage secrets and become a master in collage journal if you join my facilitator training and learn how to invent collage techniques and create amazing art journaling processes.

Artistic journal

Artistic journal is one of the many names of the visual or art journal.

It is similar to a written journal, but you can add many elements such as colors, images, patterns, fabrics. You can play in your visual journal and create infinite worlds of wonder.

In your visual journal, you can connect with your inner child and play with different materials and tecniques. There are no rules of right and wrong- everything is possible!

I want to share a short story of how I discovered the visual journal.

Six years ago, in my final year of studies for a graduate degree in art therapy, I met a good friend of mine for lunch. She pulled an old children’s book out of her purse, and when she opened it, I saw that between its covers, instead of regular pages, there were thick sheets that were hand-sewn together. My friend had drawn on the pages in pencil and markers, pasted snippets of newspapers, and wrote down her inner thoughts.

“What is this?” I asked her, feeling its magic start to permeate me.

It’s called art journaling,” she said. “It’s a kind of artistic journal anyone can do it; anything goes, no rules, and it’s a lot of fun.”

I went home, not knowing that this meeting would be life-changing. I felt an overpowering need to create a book of my own, and that same day I sewed myself an artistic journal with the covers of an old book.

And I haven’t stopped since …

Today, six years later, I teach the method I developed for visual journaling, a method designed to empower freedom, meaning, and connection to passion, self-acceptance, and love.

you can read more about it in the book “Layers of meaning” by Rakefet Hadar/

If you want to see some short videos for quick fun 15 minutes visual journaling practices go here

Art bites- your daily art journaling practice

You can also enjoy my book “Layers of meaning” by rakefet hadar that has lots of exiting prompts and tutorials.

Artistic journal – set your inner self free

there are numerous ways to start a visual journaling daily practice.

• In your journal write your thought on the right side of the page and then use felt markers on the other side to react to the written words.
• choose a daily word and glue a few images that are connected to this word.
• paint with colorful colors on black background.
• create a face from 10 pieces of colored paper.
• write dialogue about this face.
• work with family pictures
• Join an art journaling group

Daily visual journaling practice will improve your life

The method I created SoulPages journaling is based on seven elements: Intention, magical coincidence, background, color, line, image & text.

when you are working with the elements-visual journaling can be like meditation because in every layer you concentrate on one element.

with only 15 minutes a day, you can experience connectedness to your inner self, more joy and happiness, and above all self-love.

I invite you to join my free course and get to know the seven elements of visual journaling.

Try one of these transformational courses

Color archetypes is a spiritual-artistic method to identify and understand the source of energies available to us from the day we were born – core energy, connection energy, and spiritual energy.

These three energies, inherent parts of us, navigate and shape our lives. Understanding them will help us live better, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

Mixed media art journal is another name for the visual journal or art journal.

In the visual journal, we use lots of mixed media techniques and materials to create a spread, which is a full page in our journal.

Mixed media is a new form of artistic language that allows total freedom to mix and match different materials and mediums.

Picasso is considered the first artist who used paper, cloth, paint, and rope to create a pseudo-3D effect on his canvasses.

There are different types of mixed media art: collage, assemblage, and altered books.

In the last 30 years, many people discovered how everyone could be an artist only by using a combination of materials.

For example- you can use watercolors as background, then glue thorn collage images, and then use acrylic colors to connect all the parts of the collage.

This approach wasn’t possible in the past; every artist focused on one primary medium and learned all the techniques to be great in this medium.

My method SoulPages is based on mixed media art, and you can see lots of samples on my site.

Mixed media art journal- why is it good for you?

• Freedom of using any material and technique that you like
• Exploring new materials allows you to connect with your inner artist.
• You don’t have to be a professional artist to create beautiful art.
• Just play! Any combination of materials and techniques can create stunning pages.
• Using a visual journal is a great way to explore endless possibilities of materials combinations.
• Different materials have a unique effect on our psyche, and it’s a great way to explore them in your visual journal
• The wealth of materials to use in your journal creates a feeling of wonder and excitement.
• Mixed media art journal is one of the best ways to connect with yourself and get insights.

How can you develop your mixed media skills?

In every lesson I teach, I incorporate lots of different materials and techniques and the internal process of growth and development.

I would love to invite you to join one of my online courses, where you can learn to create stunning pages with lots of mixed media techniques.

Online Courses

Try one of these transformational courses

Color archetypes is a spiritual-artistic method to identify and understand the source of energies available to us from the day we were born – core energy, connection energy, and spiritual energy.

These three energies, inherent parts of us, navigate and shape our lives. Understanding them will help us live better, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

The visual journal can be a valuable tool for art therapists, but they have to learn how to use it in a healing and therapeutic way.

As an art therapist, I discovered the visual journal as one of the tools bit I couldn’t find any straightforward suggestions on how to use it in therapy sessions.

I started to work in a journal in 2013 to heal myself, and I used it for a whole year when my mother was dying of cancer.

I developed my method, “SoulPages,” to spread the visual journal as a transformative tool. Still, I got many questions about the benefits of using the visual journal as a therapeutic tool in private sessions of art therapists.

In this article, I want to explain how art therapists can use visual journals in private sessions.

I will use the term art therapy journal to define it from the visual journal.

Any art therapist can work with the visual journal according to the seven elements: Intention, background, images, color, line, text and magical coincidence.

you can read more about the elements in this blog post

SoulPages Journaling and the seven elements

how to use art therapy journal

• As a therapist, you can suggest the journal to your client as a medium to work in during the sessions
• You can create the journal from scratch and use thick paper that allows for mixed media materials and techniques.
• Use the seven elements as layers to create a meaningful spread.
• Start with Intention and ask your client to tell you his/her story.
• After the story, let your client prepare a background in any techniques that you think are appropriate for the story.
• Apply images that symbolize parts or people in your client’s life
• connect the images with colors and lines.
• Ask your client to add words that summarize what he feels right now.
• When the client finishes the work, you can try and get some insights and discover the magical coincidences in the artwork.
• After a few sessions, you will start discovering art and symbolic language that is typical to your client.
• Let your client take the art therapy journal home so he/she can continue working on it in between sessions.

Art therapy journal VS visual journal

Only certified art therapists should create an art therapy journal with their clients because this tool is powerful, and it is advisable to do it in the presence of an art therapist.

Processes like transference, countertransference, and projection could occur within the art journal, and the therapist has to be qualified to stand difficult emotions.

This type of art journal can be created in private or group therapy.

A visual journal is a tool that anyone can use, either by himself or with a facilitator’s guidance.

I developed SoulPages as a method of visual journaling that is not an art therapy but is a method that can help people connect with their inner forces and discover their internal symbolic art language.

In SoulPages, you can learn how to facilitate groups and people in creating a safe space to discover their true potential.

In the last eight years since I started teaching the SoulPages facilitator course, I discovered that around 40% of the facilitators are art therapists looking to learn more about this amazing tool.

If you want to read more about this method you can try here

https://en.visualjournal.co.il/courses/soulpages-vjj-facilitator-program/

Try one of these transformational courses

Color archetypes is a spiritual-artistic method to identify and understand the source of energies available to us from the day we were born – core energy, connection energy, and spiritual energy.

These three energies, inherent parts of us, navigate and shape our lives. Understanding them will help us live better, happier, and more fulfilling lives.

watercolor journal book

Watercolor journaling is a practice of art journaling dedicated to one medium-watercolor.

Watercolors are a fantastic medium to explore in your journal; it has so many techniques, and it allows you to paint your images and create small sketches of your daily practices and routines.

Watercolors are also an extraordinary medium that helps you create magical coincidence backgrounds.

If you want to learn more about magical coincidence with watercolors, you can visit my blog.

In my journals, I always use watercolor as the base of any spread because this material is so versatile.

I use watercolor journaling when I travel to grasp special moments and create memories.

Watercolor journaling-what are the benefits?

• Using mainly one material in your journal can allow for more depth of creation
• It’s great for documenting daily scenes for your journal
• The colors flow and interact with each other in ways that allow interpretation and insights
• It’s a great medium to combine with collage to create beautiful spreads in your journal
• Watercolors don’t stick, so it’s perfect for journals or notebooks that need to be closed.
• You can learn a lot about yourself when you use watercolors as a daily practice.

How to be more creative with watercolors?

In my new method- color archetype- I use watercolor journaling to connect with colors as energies that affect my life.

I started working in the visual journal eight years ago during a challenging period of my life, my mother was dying of cancer, and the visual journal gave me relief and insights. I loved colors, and I liked images, but when I checked my journals, I found that most of my work was related to watercolor.

And so I created and developed the “SoulPages” method, a method of creation that consists of seven elements of which color is one.

But when I checked the hundreds of works I had created in my journal, I realized that color is the most potent element.

I used watercolor in a healing way for myself, and it helped me create works that gave me energy and allowed me insights and understandings that changed my life.

In recent years and thanks to the regular work in the visual journal combined with spiritual inquiry, I have developed the method “Colors archetypes.”

This process allows healing through the use of energies and frequencies that different colors bring to our lives.

If you want to learn more about how I use watercolor in my journals you can try one of my online courses.

https://en.visualjournal.co.il/digital-courses/

watercolor journaling

Watercolor art journaling is an art practice that is concentrated in the medium of watercolor.

whenever I travel abroad, I always take a watercolor set and my art journaling kit with me.

This is all I need in order to enjoy myself and create beautiful watercolor art journaling spreads that capture the essence of the places I visit.

In this post, I want to take you through a few of my watercolor art journaling techniques so you can start creating when you travel.

I just want to remind you that I create SoulPages with the seven elements: Intention, magical coincidence, background, color, image, line, and text.

Watercolors allow me to add layers to my art journaling soul pages.

If you want to read more about SoulPages method you can check this link

https://soul-pages.com/blog/

Watercolor art journaling kit- what will you need?

• A good set of artist-grade watercolors( pan or tubes)
• An art journal with watercolor paper
• A black permanent marker (0.3-0.5)
• White posca
• White gel pen
• A few images from old books, magazines
• glue
• scissors

primary color’s background.

The first great watercolor art journaling technique that I will teach you is primary color’s background.

For this technique, I will need the three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.

You Start with one primary color that goes from one corner of the page.

Then you continue with the 2nd primary color from the 2nd corner until you “meet” the first color.

Let the two-color blend with more water.

Now add the 3rd primary color from the 3rd corner until it “meets” with one of the other colors, blend it in with water.

with wet brush paint over the white spaces of the page.

Let the colors drip and blend naturally.

Can you see secondary colors that were created naturally?

Add more pigment to the corners of the page to create contrast.

Wild watercolor technique

Start with a wide brush full of color and draw an organic stroke all over the page- let your hand move freely until you created a kind of “doodle” all over the page.

with a second color create “marks” with the wet-on-wet technique.( applying wet color on wet areas)

continue to fill up the page with wide strokes and “mark making” techniques- you can use different tools such as sticks,  thin brushes etc.

Fill your brush with diluted white acrylic and with another stick just hit the brush and “spray” the white color all over the background.

Secondary colors technique+ salt/alcohol

secondary colors are the colors that are created from any combination of two primary colors, blue and yellow create green, red and blue create purple, yellow and red create orange.

In this technique, we will create background from only two primary colors in a meditative, slow way until the secondary color will be created in the middle of the spread.

We will use very thin layers of colors.

When the page is still wet play with raw salt and 90% alcohol drops.

Let the spread dry before you get rid of the excess salt.

Summery

watercolors are a great medium to explore in our art journal.

if you want to learn more about SoulPages method and learn lots of fun techniques you can look at my book “Layers of Meaning”

https://soul-pages.com/the-book-layers-of-meaning-is-released/

 If you are interested to become a SoulPages facilitator you can read more here

https://soul-pages.com/courses/soulpages-facilitator-training-22-23/