Or Har-Gil, Art Therapist

I'm delighted to be bringing back my popular Intuition Card workshops, now online! Join me for the next one on Feb 21 from 2-4PM EST. No supplies at home? No problem! I'm excited to be offering curated materials kits by mail so you'll have everything you need to make beautiful cards at home (Canada only for now while I figure this out - everyone else will get a materials list) ... I love sending fun mail, so excited to put this together for you! Info & registration here: https://www.orhargil.com/workshops

I’ve been offering online Art Therapy since April and it’s been really meaningful to see people have an accessible way to connect with themselves or others, reflect on their resilience, and bring creativity into their days. So cool to see this in the CBC!!

Check out this awesome profile on my virtual Art Therapy sessions! It’s been a surprisingly smooth transition to working online and I’ve loved giving people an opportunity to get creative and resourceful from home. Thank you @sunnybrookhsc for highlighting my work! ----- Photo by my lovely live-in photographer, Ryan

Check out this awesome profile on my virtual Art Therapy sessions! It’s been a surprisingly smooth transition to working online and I’ve loved giving people an opportunity to get creative and resourceful from home. Thank you @sunnybrookhsc for highlighting my work! ----- Photo by my lovely live-in photographer, Ryan

Join me on February 9th for my next Intuition Card workshop! This month's session was inspired by Valentine's Day, with a twist - rather than looking externally, we'll be turning inward to connect with our own hearts and the deep wisdom they hold. Bring a friend and save $5 each using code GALENTINES!

Join me on Jan 14 for an evening of learning and art-making in support of Women's Brain Health Initiative! We'll talk about the role art can play in health, wellness, and managing stress, plus enjoy an art workshop with oil and chalk pastels as well as a full watercolour experience.

UPDATE: SOLD OUT!! I added a second date on Jan 19, which has also sold out! There are only 5 spots left to the Intuition Card workshop on January 12th! If you're feeling called to join, I would love to dream and create with you, envisioning what we want to call in for 2020. ... Get your ticket here: https://www.orhargil.com/workshops

These findings suggest that even brief art-making interventions can be beneficial for stressed caregivers of cancer patients. I’ve definitely observed this as well at the drop-in Art Therapy program I offer at Sunnybrook. Always great to see research backing up practice!

Love this Oh, the work of being human!

Still a few spots for this mindful mother's day event I'm co-hosting with the wonderful Cassidy of Just Be // Meditation! Open to everyone. Cassidy will guide us through a meditation to get grounded and lean into creativity, then I'll take us through a mindful art-making practice! A lovely way to start your Sunday, or Mother's Day!

While perfectionism leaves us striving for more/better/bigger in order to be worthy, self-compassion reminds us we're worthy right now.

Join me and mindfulness instructor Cassidy Thedorf for a Mindful Mother’s Day experience! Start the day grounded and inspired with meditation and art!

Good morning and happy April!! Spots are filling up for the workshop, which is less than 2 weeks away! If you're feeling called to join us at the table, I'd love to have you there as we plant our intentions for Spring. https://www.orhargil.com//intuition-card-workshop-hgyll-pd

New workshop alert! It's been a long winter and I'm starting to feel the buzzy energy of spring after some serious hibernation. Join me to focus on what intentions you want to grow this season and create beautiful cards to help nurture them into being.

Art therapy does not replace the need for pain medication, but it can be used as an effective complement and reduce perceptions of pain experiences, says Kelsey A. Skerpan, an art therapist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. It can help people better manage the symptoms of stress and anxiety that accompany pain, which assists with the recovery process and improves quality of life.

Boundaries are hard! This is a cute reminder of small ways we can practice taking care of ourselves.

Love this simple clarification between Art Therapy and art class!

Saying no can be hard, but so is overcommitting or taking things on out of guilt. I like these suggestions!

Inter-generational wisdom

Heroics is often about putting our life on the line. Ordinary courage is about putting our vulnerability on the line. In today's world that's pretty extraordinary.

"There is a softening that happens when we allow space for all emotions, not just the positive ones. There is great learning in witnessing as it gives the emotions space to play and a voice that asks to be heard."

If you’re feeling the new year, new me pressure, this is a helpful reframe.

Update: SOLD OUT!! We’ll be making cards to reflect on and integrate the lessons of 2018, and start to dream up what we want more of in 2019.

Friday reminder

NEW DATES for the Make Your Own Intuition Card workshop - July 26 & Aug 21! The last workshop was so rich and beautiful - I'm in awe of what people created and so excited to see the cards being used in the world. Please share with friends who might be interested in some artsy & magical goodness!

I've been a long time fan of podcasts, and one of my goals for this year was to be interviewed on one! Well, in the past month, I've been interviewed for TWO! Here's the latest, on Brigid Dineen's Guts & Grace podcast where we talk about creativity as a way of making space for your SELF, how to bring self-compassion to your inner critic, and even make up a new word (#burdle) ... Check it out and let me know what you think!

4 spots left for this workshop! Will you join us around the table?

I’m so excited, and a bit nervous, to tell you about a new workshop I’ll be offering a chance to create your own personalized intuition cards. Intuition and tarot card have become cherished parts of my self-care ritual, helping me get grounded in the mornings, listen to my inner voice, and find guidance when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. I gathered some dear friends this past weekend to guide them through the process I’m developing and it was SO special to s...ee how the cards they created were as unique as the people who created them. I love the beautiful decks I’ve collected (including @jenberlingo’s Soul Space oracle, @spiritspeak’s Vessel Oracle and @fountaintarot), and I also love that with the cards I created, there’s no guidebook or outside source to ask what does this mean? when I pull a card. I am the guidebook. Like me, new layers of meaning emerge each time I use the cards. If you’ve been curious about, or already love, using intuition cards and would like to make your own, send me a note and I’ll keep you posted when a date is announced! Photos by Amber of Creating Light Studio, gifted photographer and artist who made her own GORGEOUS deck this weekend <3 See more

Check out this interview I did with Annisha from Shecosystem: Coworking & Wellness on running a business that makes space for the fullness of humanity, grounded in feminist values, and more! Thank you for the feature, Shecosystem!!

TONIGHT! The first day of spring is a perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and explore your inner landscape - what are you ready to shed? What seeds do you want to plant and nurture? Let's get creative and intentional! There are still a few spots left, so grab your ticket and join me.

This fun NEW workshop is coming up next Tuesday, Mar 20th! Join me to learn to use intuitive art making as a way of feeling allll your feels.

Another fun workshop on the roster for March, in collaboration with Gladstone Hotel! Psst...If you're not already on my newsletter, sign up by Friday to get all the juicy updates for March: http://facebook.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe

I'm so excited to be leading this workshop next month on stress and self-care for artists with Akin! Spread the word to the artists in your life. From dealing with demanding schedules, financial stress, comparison, and isolation artists face a lot of potential stressors. This will be a hands-on workshop with lots of discussion to share self-care techniques and strategies to minimize the negative effects of stress and help you feel your creative best.

Tonight's Art F*cking Therapy workshop at The Drake Hotel is SOLD OUT (again!) If you need a dose of colour + creativity to brighten up your February, join me for my monthly Crafternoon this Sunday from 1-4PM. Sign up here:

Have you been craving space to explore, or deepen, your creativity? Is nurturing your creativity one of your 2018 intentions? If so, join me for a FREE 7-day challenge to start your year with creativity! ... You’ll get daily creative prompts, an awesome community to share your journey, and access to my behind-the-scenes process + tips. We start on Monday, so sign up today to make sure you don’t miss it: https://www.orhargil.com/spark-your-essence

Join me on Dec 16 for an afternoon of creative play, connection, and self-care Bring a creative project that’s been sitting on the shelf or come and play with different materials that will be available. We’ll start with a warm up exercise to spark your creativity, then have free time to work on whatever you like, in the company of other delightful creative people. ... Suggested donation of $20 covers materials, tea and snacks. Or PWYC / bring a skill, material, or snack to share! Location: 163 Sterling Rd (Bloor + Lansdowne) Spots are limited, so RSVP to hold your spot: https://www.orhargil.com/crafternoon-rsvp If you can’t make this date, let me know if you’re interested in attending a future Crafternoon - I’m thinking of making this a monthly gathering.

Perfectionism is the 20 ton shield we carry around hoping it’ll keep us from being hurt, when in truth, it’ll keep us from being seen. Words of wisdom from Brené Brown for your Sunday

Deciding I am enough allows me to show up with curiosity and joy and step fully present into my ordinary, imperfect and beautiful life. Beautiful read on how doing the work of accepting ourselves fully is a world-changing act.

This one is for my perfectionists and over-thinkers. For those of us who hold back on putting our work out there, telling ourselves we still need to do more research / get more input / read another book... A great visual and quick read on what's actually getting in the way of doing the thing you want to do (hint: it's fear). If this is you, send me a note - this is a block I've worked with a lot personally and with clients.

This Thursday, Oct 26: Join us for the next Art F*cking Therapy workshop with Mind Matters at The Drake Hotel! UPDATE: This workshop is SOLD OUT! Stay tuned for the next one in early December!

The counterproductive way our inner critic is trying to keep us safe, and why it deserves compassion, too. "If we look closely our inner critic cares. There is some safety need it is trying to meet. Our inner critic wants us to be happy, but doesn’t know a better way to go about it." I love Dr. Kristin Neff's work on self-compassion. I'll be doing an all-day training with her next Friday - can't wait to share what I learn!

I'm excited to announce that I'll be leading a session on managing stress using breathing, mindfulness and creativity for Young Women in Law in September! Please share with the lawyers in your life - register on YWL website: www.youngwomeninlaw.com

Great reminder on why being addicted to busyness is destroying our creativity: "Engaging creatively requires hitting the reset button, which means carving space in your day for lying around, meditating, or staring off into nothing. This is impossible when every free momentat work, in line, at a red lightyou’re reaching for your phone." Thanks for sharing, Anita!

Since our retreat in May was a hit, Barbara Erochina and I are running it again on August 13! Join us for a day of giving yourself permission to show up for yourself, bravely and honestly. After opening it up to people on our waiting list a few days ago, we only have 5 spots left! The last retreat sold out in less than a week, so move fast if you want to join us.

A brave essay about walking away from something that is mentally and physically draining. In this case, a career in law, but it could easily apply to any job, relationship or situation where we feel stuck and drained yet think "how can I walk away?"

The Permission Slip urban retreat was today, and it was magic We explored what it means to give ourselves permission through yoga, art therapy and coaching. To the courageously vulnerable women who showed up; thank you for truly showing up, supporting each other, and diving in ... It was an honor and pleasure to be your guide, alongside the fabulous Barbara Erochina

Photo by Creating Light Studio <3

Check out my interview with the awesome Margeaux of Floral Manifesto! So proud to be on her bossy list

Beautiful illustration on the artist's task in dark times.

This weekend, go for a walk to boost your creativity! "Creativity depends on being embodied. Having a body that is currently hunched over a computer does not count."

...and our retreat is SOLD OUT! *insert happy dance here* We can't wait to welcome the incredible women who signed up on May 28! ... Based on the amazing response, we're thinking of running it again this summer. If you want to get on the wait list and be the first to know, e-mail me at [email protected]. xo Or & Barbara

A powerful conversation about why we need to have compassion for our inner critic, and how to shift to a more compassionate inner voice - because it's actually a lot more effective in motivating ourselves to make changes. -- "We need to have a lot of compassion for our self-critic. It actually comes from a desire to keep ourselves safe...but it’s been twisted, and we think that if we criticize ourselves, we’ll be able to force ourselves to be the person we want to be, that we’ll be safe and loved and accepted. Then, you can bring in the compassionate voice that says, 'I want to keep you safe too but I’m going to do it through kindness and care as opposed to harsh self-criticism because it’s actually a lot more effective'." Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff, Ph.D.

In one hour (7:30pm), I'll be going live on Facebook with my pal Barbara Erochina to chat about what it means to give ourselves permission to show up fully in our lives and businesses. Grab a glass of wine or tea and join us for some Q&A about our upcoming retreat, Permission Slip! We'll also be in Instagram on Barbara's feed, Be With.... Talk soon!

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT! On May 28, I'm leading an urban retreat with coach Barbara Erochina. It's all about giving ourselves permission to show up more fully in our work and life. To stop hiding, playing small, and telling ourselves that we're "not enough" or "too much."... There will be yoga with Lana Sugarman, art therapy, coaching, lunch, and a sweet swag bag - and only 8 spots - so let me know ASAP if you're interested! Early birds: sign up by May 10 and get a deck of Be With Cards for Self-Care ($40 value)!

People sometimes wonder what the difference is between art therapy and an art class. This chart lays out some important differences, if you're curious!

Had a blast facilitating Art F*cking Therapy today at The Drake Hotel in this wild and colorful room - mural by @mayahayuk. Thanks to Mind Matters for hosting and to all the awesome people who came to out!

Engaging in art can help you develop curiosity, creativity, fearlessness and perseverance - all traits that come in handy at work!

Your presence is enough. So often, we feel pulled to SAY or DO when someone shares something vulnerable or difficult. We feel like if we could just come up with the "perfect" thing to say, it would help make things alright, help ease their pain.... I've been reminded again and again that more often that not, just sitting with someone, in a loving and gentle way, and really listening, is enough. Have a beautiful weekend! Love this beautiful print by @laurelandpearl, styled by @themumscorner

Let's all bring a little more Frieda into our lives! It's never too late to start <3