This quarter, I facilitated a healing arts workshop called Healing Through Nature and Framing Our Strength for a group of domestic violence survivors who had each weathered their own storms of loss, fear, and broken trust. Many participants entered the space carrying feelings of exhaustion and uncertainty, often describing themselves as “cracked” from the weight of past experiences. For some, it was their first opportunity in a long time to slow down, breathe, and create something just for themselves.
We began by holding Himalayan salt crystals, taking slow breaths to feel grounded in the moment. The group then listened to a crafted story called “The Seashell and the Storm,” the story of a seashell that had been tossed and reshaped by the ocean’s storms, eventually realizing its cracks made it rare and beautiful. This metaphor deeply resonated with the participants, who reflected on how the storms in their own lives had shaped hidden strengths within them.
When it was time to create their “Frame of Strength,” the room filled with quiet focus and moments of surprise. Participants chose wooden frames and decorated them with seashells, paints, plant stickers, and Himalayan salt. Each element became a symbol of protection, growth, or healing. One participant carefully layered green colors with leaves, saying it represented “new growth that I didn’t think I was capable of.” Another wrote on the back of her frame: “This frame holds my healing.” During the reflection circle, one participant lifted her frame and said, “I thought my cracks made me broken, but now I see they are part of my beauty.” Another shared, “This is the first time I’ve seen myself as strong instead of damaged.”
By the end of the workshop, the participants not only carried home a piece of artwork but also a renewed perspective on themselves. Several mentioned they planned to place affirmations or meaningful photos inside their frames as daily reminders of their strength. One later shared that she keeps her frame by her bedside, explaining, “Every morning it helps me start the day remembering I am still growing.”
This workshop became more than a creative activity, it offered survivors a way to reclaim beauty in what once felt broken, and to honor the resilience that has carried them through life’s storms.
