"I realized that tea does not even have taste
but rather just an effect like the wind"
James Norwood Pratt

Spring into Expression…Breaking the Silence of Winter
by Carolyn Jayne

Interested in summer classes? Express yourself in one of her "Expressive Arts" classes. Carolyn is a Holistic counselor, teacher and artist. She works with High School students and adults. Her expressive arts classes focus on meditation and the creation of art pieces through the expressive arts process. Students Create personal mandalas incorporating their vision of mind, body and Spirit. Classes are currently being offered in Rhode Island. Write to us at info@teatimeworldwide.com for more details.

I relish the silence of time alone in my cozy apartment. Each night after tucking my son into bed I retreat to my bedroom and light my candles. My space then becomes transformed into a sparkling display of flickering gems and glitter as the candlelight dances off my paintings. Magic ensues and then I gently slip into the silence and comfort of meditation.

I love teaching my high school students how to quiet their bodies and minds so that they can more easily express themselves on paper with markers, paint, crayons and cray pas. This semester I offered an after school Expressive Arts class. The response was incredible. A group of adolescent girls - all with very different skills and talents and academic abilities came together once a week for five weeks and created gorgeous expressions of self. I felt so blessed to be a witness to their journey into the safe silence of self-expression. As the lights in the art suite were gently brightened (after a guided relaxation), the girls created their pieces in silence. Indeed this silence is true and good and essential for our well-being. This is the sacred silence that connects us with what is true and good and essential within us. This silence precludes creation.. Our creative spirit requires silence as sure as our bodies require food and water and air. This silence is good.

There is another silence, however that is not so good. It is the other side of silence where darkness, shame, and intimidation lurks. We as little girls are often taught (either directly or indirectly) "be good", "keep quite", "Don't make waves". Even after all my years of "Self-empowerment, I am still encountering the challenge of speaking out and breaking the silence. Just recently while sitting in my office at school I heard a tenured "powerful" male teacher verbally accost and humiliate a high school girl. Before his caustic words had time to settle within me, she came into my office saucer-eyed and shaking. He, on her heels, then proceeded to admonish me for calling her out of his class. (I, as a student assistance counselor, send passes to students to they can come and meet with me-it is my job) For a brief moment all my experience and strength vanished, and I felt as vulnerable and afraid as my student. Her tears and expressions of shames jolted me back to my role as a counselor, and I proceeded to comfort her and assure her that his behavior was inappropriate and not her fault.

Consequently, the incident was reported and I experienced subtle yet deliberate acts of intimidation from this teacher. I certainly have no outer authority or "Power" in this situation, but I do have my inner truth and integrity. My only "power" here (which certainly need not be underestimated) is my refusal to allow my fear to stop me from speaking out for her, for other students and for myself. Ironically it is the sacred silence befriended in times of prayer and mediation that has given me the strength to break the other silence. No matter the outcome , I trust that healing has occurred because I have modeled to a young girl what it means to speak out against what is hurtful and demeaning.

Let us all find strength and courage in our inner sanctum of silence so that if the opportunity presents itself, we can speak for those who can not.