Hey ya’ll! It’s that time again - SOUL Collective is open for registration for about 10 days (ending on September 10, 2024 for the current cohort). I thought it would be fun, in the meantime, to share a little inside ‘peek.’
In case you’re unfamiliar with SOUL Collective, its my online community devoted to the creative heart. And as the leader/creative guide for SOUL Collective, preparing for each new session is a great time - as I get to develop a new session that’s always a unique and fun blending of art, faith, and community.
Each cohort is somewhat different because I go where the Lord leads, taking in consideration each individual and their particular journey. At the same time, the mission is unwavering and rooted in a desire to inspire and nurture an international community of creatives - through a beautiful convergence of faith and mixed media art journaling. It’s a journey that I’m super privileged to be on, and today, I’d like to take you behind the scenes to give you an insider’s view of what goes into guiding the SOUL Collective.
Preparing for a Session
I get quiet, quiet, quiet. I gotta hear from Jesus! For each five month session (cohort), we meet about every two weeks. So for a few days leading up to a Zoom call, I’m getting quiet each morning so I can hear what the Lord wants to say spiritually, creatively, and prophetically before we meet. A big piece of what we do in SOUL Collective is rooted in the Word and what we’re hearing the Lord say to us through intuitive activations and prophetic words. As the creative guide, I believe that involves me ‘going first’ so to speak - and because of that, getting quiet and listening is the most important step.
So before all the emails, planning, studio and other work begins happening in my day, I spend some time with the Lord in worship, reading, and writing. This time of stillness helps me focus on the purpose of SOUL Collective—to create a space where art, creativity, and faith intersect in meaningful ways.
SOUL Prompts and Prophetic Words to Challenge and Inspire (aka Cuppa, Cuppa please!)
With a cuppa (coffee, ya’ll, coffee! ☕) in hand, I usually sit down to write the prophetic word first. That starts with a time of soaking worship and the Word. I’m listening, sometimes researching, and then writing. Not a complicated process, but often intense and time-intensive.
I want to get this ‘right’ to the best of my ability, because the prophetic/intuitive activations and SOUL Prompts (journaling prompts) flow from this step. And, of course, my heart is to honor the Lord and the women of this tribe.
Planning the Content
Each cohort of SOUL Collective is unique, and so it's with great care that I set aside time to design what our Zoom call is going to be focused on, what art demos I provide, what videos I film, and anything else that will resonate with our members. My goal is to create experiences that not only teach mixed media and art journaling techniques but also encourage spiritual depth and growth.
Planning these lessons involves a mix of prayer, holy creativity, and grace! I start by exploring different themes as led by Holy Spirit, as well as any creative ‘thing’ or techniques that align with the prophetic focus. Above all else, this is to be as fun, uncomplicated, and inspirational as possible!
Filming and Demos
I don’t film every week, but when I do film, it’s in a series that teaches something fun. The first cohort had about 8 videos teaching how to get started in art journaling and a super-easy collage method. Then in the second cohort, I created more videos to help those who were feeling a little stuck on art journaling. What started out as a “short” set of videos on "Removing Barriers in Art Journaling" ended up being a series of 14 videos, lol! I loved making them and turns out the artists loved them.
Sometimes at the Zoom gatherings, I do art demos - little 15 minute “shorts” where I’ll talk about and show mixed media supplies, tools, and super easy techniques. Not all in SOUL Collective are mixed media artists - in fact most are not. They’ve come from a diverse background of oil painters, watercolorists, acrylic painters, oil painters, stampers and card-makers, resin artists, writers, illustrators, and more. So they have found these to be great resources for learning.
Community Connection
A few times a week, I check in within the private Facebook group. This is another highlight because of the great interactions I get to witness as the Collective community supports, prays for, and loves on one another. They really are the best!
While most members are in the U.S., the Collective’s audience does span a few continents, bringing together Christian artists from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life. As you can imagine, there’s always a rich and often lively conversation happening :)
I read through posts, respond to questions, and offer encouragement. Whether someone is sharing a new art journal page, asking for prayer or feedback, or seeking advice on a mixed media technique, these interactions are one of the several heartbeats of our community.
One person recently commented on a Zoom call that she felt “seen, heard, and known” within SOUL Collective in ways she had not in a very long time. That’s a great testimony to the beautiful souls inhabiting our group!
Live Sessions on Zoom
The Zoom calls are a highlight of my month. Every single time. There’s an incredible energy that comes from seeing the SOUL Collective community in action—artists and believers from around the world, each bringing their own unique perspective to the table.
During these live sessions, I guide the group to discuss how things went during the previous few weeks with the SOUL Prompts, prophetic word, or intuitive activation.
This is all about connection. We share vulnerably, discussing the creative (SOUL) prompts, and explore how our faith journey impacts - and is impacted by - our art practices. These conversations are deeply enriching, and I always come away from them feeling inspired by these amazing, courageous and devoted-to-Jesus humans.
After the live session, I spend some time reflecting on the feedback and ideas shared by the group. Sometimes I’ll make notes for future sessions, and consider how to further support and inspire members in their creative and spiritual growth. This ongoing dialogue with and about Jesus - and with the community - is what makes SOUL Collective so dynamic. We’re constantly learning and evolving together.
Personal Art Journaling and Response Practice
I find that it helps to start right away to work on the current SOUL Prompt as part of my own personal practice. I’ve discovered it’s best to schedule it ahead on my planner - rather than try “carving out” time later. If I wait for ‘when I have the time,’ all too often it simply won’t happen! Since I work best in time blocks, I have found it’s best to set up one or two blocks for the time in-between Zoom calls - usually within a few days after the latest call.
Working on SOUL Prompts feels essential not just for my growth as an artist, but also for my role as a guide, and something I really enjoy. By continuing to explore new techniques and ideas in my own work, I can bring fresh insights and inspiration to SOUL Collective.
My mixed media practice varies, and art journaling is no exception. When heading into my art journal specifically set-up for SOUL Collective, it’s usually a blend of experimentation and reflection. I might work on an existing spread or start new art journal pages altogether. I love playing with textures, materials, and colors that reflect what we’ve been exploring in the community. This is also an opportunity to integrate what the Lord is showing me through my own creativity and the SOUL Prompts, prophetic words and/or intuitive activations used in the Collective. I often find that my best ideas for the group, my online classes, and other areas of my art business actually are birthed during these deep, contemplative, and discovery moments. Win, win, win!
Dreaming and Stewarding Ideas
Speaking of ideas … my brain often buzzes with juicy ideas, am I the only one ya’ll? 😍
And while it might happen when in planning mode, it sometimes comes in the middle of the night, or after running a Zoom call, or reading SOUL Collective comments and emails. I never know! Over the years, I’ve found it super helpful to capture and steward creative ideas, so keeping an “idea journal” handy is my m.o. for doing that. This way whenever inspiration hits, I can jot those stellar thoughts down, sketch out ideas, and maybe even pause to do a little dreaming and journaling about projects or the future.
Thinking about upcoming cohorts, potential collaborations, and new ways to enrich our community is fun, because SOUL Collective is steadily growing. Partnering with Holy Spirit to dream up new ways to deepen the impact within the creative community is a privilege, for those I currently serve and for those who will come.
Joy of Guiding SOUL Collective
Serving beloved Kingdom people as a creative guide for a season inside SOUL Collective is a role that I cherish deeply. What absolute joy has come from stepping out in obedience to what the Lord has said to do. It has been bold act of faith in my journey. And one of courage, too, because for a long time, I’d kept this hidden in my heart, unsure and staying small. When it was time to release it in 2023, I knew it was time - although I won’t say I still wasn’t fearful, ha! I just went ahead and did it scared. And now I get to see the old fear turned upside right to joy, witnessing all the Lord is doing. It’s such a “get to” in my life!
The creative guide concept is kind of a blend of Holy Spirit inspiration, creative and spiritual coaching, tutoring, prophetic insight, and hands-on creating. Guiding my peeps in SOUL Collective allows me to share my passions for Jesus, mixed media, and art journaling with an absolutely delightful community of faith-driven artists, writers, and other beautiful humans the Lord sends!
Every cohort brings new challenges and delights, and I am constantly inspired by their creativity, honesty, vulnerability, grit, love, and bravery. They are trying new things. They are believing new things. They are hearing from Jesus in fresh ways. It’s amazing what flows in our sessions. I am so grateful for - and I especially love - being connected to this vibrant, global network of creatives who are journeying alongside one another.
You’re Wholeheartedly Invited!
Encountering the Collective is much more than just another online activity—it’s a journey of creativity and faith that we take together and we’re a family. If you’re considering joining our next cohort, I hope this little glimpse into SOUL Collective has given you a sense of the spirit, heart, and soul behind it. And I wholeheartedly invite you to be part of this incredible experience. Let’s create, reflect, and grow together in the next chapter of SOUL Collective!
Until next time, love you lots,
xoxo,
Debra
Debra Hart is an artist and entrepreneur who runs Debra Hart Studio. Her work is inspired by her relationship with Jesus and personal experiences, creating contemporary abstract and semi-abstract pieces resonating with emotion and beauty, using oil painting, mixed media and art journaling. She also is a creativity guide through the various international communities she serves, including Creative Cafe with Debra Hart Studio and SOUL Collective with Debra Hart Studio. You can learn more about her and view her art at Debra Hart Studio.
