Maggie Oman Shannon Interviewed About Seeing Crafting as Spiritual Practice Rather Than a Skill
(PRWEB) July 08, 2013 -- Monica Moses of American Craft Council, one of the top publications on craft as art in the United States, recently consulted Maggie Oman Shannon as an expert on the calming, spiritual benefits of crafting. As the author of Crafting Calm (Viva Editions 2013), Oman Shannon is perfectly poised to shed light on how to get both crafty and merely craft-curious people involved in DIY. According to Oman Shannon, even people who tend to view themselves as uncreative can thoroughly enjoy crafts; as she explains in the article, "by dropping self-judgment and simply allowing themselves to 'play,' they come to see that they are indeed inherently creative."
When asked why crafting is so important, she replied that "our world is in a very precarious state, and we desperately need each person alive to feel empowered, to have a real sense of his or her inner creativity. Crafting can spark that feeling; it is a way of saying that what we do matters, who we are matters. And when we witness what we have been able to make — something that never before existed — we are more inclined to see ourselves as creators, as people who can make a difference in the world."
Moses concludes the interview with a query that relates directly to the book title of Crafting Calm. In answer to why calmness is so essential to spirituality, the minister of crafts replied, "I think it is difficult, if not impossible, to have a spiritual life if one cannot access calm, if one does not allow themselves the time and space to slow down and simply sit in silence."
In this wild and wired world, it is increasingly difficult to truly relax and find stillness within. Maggie Oman Shannon's Crafting Calm is a DIY guide to peace of mind, offering an abundance of ways you can achieve serenity and satisfaction by living the handmade life. From making a desktop shrine or mini-Zen garden, to stringing intention beads and painting personal prayer flags, Crafting Calm is an essential tool for making mindfulness.
Rev. Maggie Oman Shannon, M.A., is an interfaith minister, spiritual director, workshop and retreat facilitator, and author of five books, including Prayers for Healing and A String and a Prayer: How to Make and Use Prayer Beads. In 2000, Maggie Oman Shannon founded The New Story, a coaching and consulting business focused on helping people create deeper meaning in their lives. Shannon currently has the honor of serving as Spiritual Director of Unity Spiritual Center of San Francisco. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and daughter.
Brenda Knight, Cleis Press, INC, http://www.vivaeditions.com, 510-845-8000, [email protected]
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