Spiritual Practices to Reclaim Your Creative Spark

reflection by Ashley Brooks

Many adults carry a quiet belief that creativity belongs to “other people.” Perhaps you’ve never thought of yourself as a creative person or haven’t engaged in playful art since childhood. 

Yet creativity isn’t a rare gift bestowed on a chosen few. It is a fundamental piece of our humanity, woven into us by a Creator who delights in imagination and beauty. Creativity is not about producing something impressive—it’s not even about making what may traditionally be considered “art.” Creating is a mode of being. Adopting the posture of creativity is to notice God’s beautiful creation around us, as well as contributing to it. 

Each of us is invited to a practice of creativity. We are changed through the act of making art, whatever that looks like for you. When we reclaim creativity as a spiritual practice, it becomes another doorway into God’s presence.

In everyday spirituality, creativity often shows up quietly. It may emerge in the images that surface in prayer, the new dinner idea we decide to try, or digging in the backyard garden. Ignatian imaginative prayer already invites this kind of engagement, asking us to see, hear, taste, and feel our way into God’s movement. Creative practices like these simply give us additional containers for that encounter.

Journaling

Journaling as a spiritual practice can give you the space to process events and emotions alongside God, as well as another way to communicate with God. A few simple prompts can open you up to God’s movement: What am I noticing today? Where did I feel most alive? What is asking for my attention? Try not to edit yourself; see where your stream of conscious writing takes you. At the end of your journaling session, offer the words you wrote to God, and thank him for meeting you in this space.

Art or Collage

Playing with images, colors, or found materials can help you move from the sphere of thinking to feeling. God often speaks through our emotions, and art or collage can open us up to feelings we may not have acknowledged. If you aren’t sure where to start, you might create a collage that represents your current relationship with God, use color to express consolation and desolation, or try making an abstract painting that reflects your favorite scripture passage

Dance

IThe spiritual realm doesn’t just exist only in our hearts and minds. We are embodied people. Movement through dance can help us express joy or lament, peace or fear, as we bring these feelings to God. Dance is a wonderful form of play! And of course, we can dance to express our praise and worship of the Lord. Choose a favorite hymn or contemporary worship song and move your body in whatever way feels right, without worrying about what you look like.

Music.

Whether you play an instrument, sing, or simply enjoy listening to songs others have made, music can draw us deeper into relationship with God. This can be an especially powerful creative spiritual practice if you’re feeling stuck or unable to speak to God through words. Perhaps there is an invitation for you to pick up an instrument you’ve always wanted to learn, or to sing along to your favorite song and invite God into your experience of joy.

Connecting Creativity and Spirituality

Reclaiming creativity doesn’t mean adding more to an already full spiritual life. It is an invitation to trust that God meets us in our joy, exploration, and curiosity. When spiritual directors tend our own creative spark, we also model permission for those we accompany to approach God with openness and freedom.

If you want to explore how creativity can enliven your practice of spiritual direction, we invite you to join us for our upcoming spiritual director development session, The Power of Creativity in Spiritual Direction with Peggy Thompson. We’ll meet by Zoom on January 26 to reflect, experiment, and discover how creative practices can deepen both personal spirituality and the sacred work of accompaniment.

Ashley Brooks is a writer and editor with a heart for seeking the sacred in ordinary days. She will graduate with a spiritual direction certificate and a master's degree in Christian Spirituality from Loyola University Chicago in Spring 2026. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with her husband and their four children.