Cultivating Creativity Calendar

The changing seasons can influence our mood and wellbeing. They can also help us understand our own emotions. Let’s take a moment to notice winter. 

Winter is a time for rest. But that can be a real challenge for us humans, who find it difficult to find moments of calm and slow down when we have such busy lives at home, at school, and at work.

The light will return soon, as will the energy of life. You will start to see this around you in parks, woodlands and gardens: snowdrops bursting through and furry catkins drooping from hazel trees. However, while nature is taking its time, why don’t you try to as well?

In the spirit of taking things slowly, this simple creative activity will provide you with a magical, pocket-sized tool called a Calming Wand.

You can carry your Calming Wand around with you and it’ll help you practice being mindful just by breathing, which can bring about a sense of calm and peace.

If you need further support or want to engage with art therapy, then we’d encourage you to contact an art therapist in your area. Or head to ‘Find an art therapist’ on the British Association of Art Therapists’ website.

To make your Calming Wand:

1. Secure one end of your stick with a bead that’s a snug fit, so it won’t drop off the end. (You could always wrap a bit of tape around the end of your stick to stop it from falling off.)

2. Now push a selection of beads (around 6) onto your stick so that you are left with around the same amount of space on the other side of the stick without beads on.

3. Secure the other end of your stick with a final bead that also won’t fall off! The Calming Wand is now complete!

To use your Calming Wand:

1. Hold your wand in one hand.

2. Taking a slow breath in, move the first bead in the row to the other side of the stick with your other hand, so that it meets the bead at the end.

3. Now, slowly breathing out, push the next bead in the row to meet the one you’ve just moved.

4. Again, with a slow inhale, move the next bead in the line to meet the others at the end of the stick.

5. Exhale slowly and move the next bead to meet the others.

6. Repeat this process slowly, going from one end of the stick to the other, until you feel a sense of calm.

Check out the video below from the Momentous Institute if you need a visual guide to making and using your Calming Wand.

• A selection of beads (old ones, found ones) or anything else easy-to-find with a hole in (like some dried pasta!)
• A wooden stick, around 20cm long and thin enough to get your beads on. A pipe cleaner also works well, if you have one.