Sign and Date Your Work

As I moved through my healing process, I used many methods to express what my alters were feeling, fearing and thinking. We used paints (acrylic, watercolor, finger paints), clay, crayons (the really big ones), pastels, journaling, mapping and collage. At any given time, there might be four easels set up in my art area, with four distinct pictures being created with both my right and left hands. The handwriting in my journals would change as each alter took their turns writing. The relationships among the alters were shown in the changes in the maps we drew.

I felt from the beginning that I needed to sign and date every entry, every piece of art, anything that had to do with my process. That way I could look back and see the progress I had made. This habit became a real asset when I began doing public presentations because I used them to explain the process graphically and chronologically. By showing the changes in the art and writing, listeners could travel through my process with me and see first hand what it was like being multiple. It gave them an appreciation of my life that they wouldn't have had otherwise.

I lived in St. Petersburg, Florida at one time, and my partner helped me sort all of the art by the dates. This was a daunting process because there are hundreds of pieces of art all referring to some part of an alter's memory. I've included many of them in my two books (Diary of A Survivor in Art And Poetry, and the second, more comprehensive book, which is not yet on the market). I'm very grateful to my partner for caring and taking the time to help me with that task.

I encourage you, whether you are just journaling, or going through a major healing process, to date each piece of work you do. Maybe even add the place you were to refresh your memory as time passes. You too will be amazed at the progress you make.

More later,
deJoly