Mark and Movement

06/07/2026

This is the lifetime to find full expression and freedom. Not the next one.

01/07/2026

I’m here for the human, not the "perfecting" of it.

I meet you at the "I can't", "it's too much", "I hate being the one who..."

I meet you in all your energy states without asking that to change, to be force out, bypassed or push down. I catch you by the tail, gently, and say, "Can we just be here, in this moment and find you, hold you, support you, -- just as you are."

This is the work.

Clients who work with me are choosing to initiate a healing process, in their ultimate wisdom, to step into the unknown. And it starts out with, "I want to make more time for creativity."

And maybe that statement sounds a little incredulous to admit in this world. Maybe the statement sounds like a little whisper, and maybe they wonder if that is even a reason to seek therapy? Like maybe just getting a colouring-in book is all they need.

But we know those colouring-in books sit on the shelf. We know that starting and committing to the page brings up things, and we know the ego defences make a brilliant case for why "I just can't do it right now." We know that someone else map to a 'creative life' feels a like a pair of shoes that are two size too big.

I am working with people who take, or want to take, their creative life seriously. Who know what gifts, intuitions, and way-finding their creative inner world holds for them, but need help finding their way back in, safely.

Because when we finally come back to ourselves, we don't just get the keys to the kingdom--we have to deal with what was abandoned in the first place.

01/07/2026

We often think the secret to a daily creative habit is more willpower or better discipline. But after years of working with my own practice and supporting others, I’ve realized discipline isn't the problem.

The real culprit is invisible friction and decision fatigue.

When we try to force creativity into a rigid box—or when we set up our space in a way that feels like another "job" to manage—our nervous system senses the "work" and naturally chooses the path of least resistance: procrastination.

It’s time to stop fighting your own boundaries and start honouring them. I’ve just posted a new blog about how to identify that invisible friction, map your art to your actual energy levels, and finally build a practice that feels like a container for your life rather than a set of rules that break you.

Read blog: https://markandmovement.com.au/blog/daily-creative-practice-friction

29/06/2026

August is the coldest month, but its always cosy & warm at our monthly Get Crafty workshop.

In this 2 hour workshop 'll show you how to make a paper LED circuit and then we will craft a beautiful artwork for our card in response to the theme of light and enjoy the relaxing crafty time together.

Spots available at Hurstville workshops
Tuesday, August 4 • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
For Adults 16+

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/get-crafty-light-up-paper-circuit-cards-at-hurstville-library-tickets-1989276668064?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

Georges River Libraries

Build a paper circuit, add an LED and make a card that lights up.

26/06/2026

I recently witnessed an interaction at an animal sanctuary that perfectly illustrates why so many of us get locked out of our inner world.

A man was thrusting a handful of grass directly into a cow's face, demanding it eat. The cow stomped its hoof, shook its head, and audibly resisted. The man was genuinely annoyed, muttering about why the animal wouldn't just cooperate.

I see this exact same approach come up so often in my work with people trying to access their inner worlds.

We ignore our creative expression for weeks, finally sit down with a blank canvas or a journal, and essentially shout: "I gave you an hour, now do what I want." We shove the page forward and expect instant inspiration. When our system rebels, with intense anxiety, a blank mind, or a harsh internal critique, we get frustration and even blame ourselves, blame our skills and scare our inner creative away.

But your inner creative isn't a trained pet or a machine. It has autonomy. If our approach is disrespectful, rigid, or demanding, it will protect itself by retreating or shutting down completely.

The demand for our creative expression to be resolved, logical, or "Instagrammable" is an ego defence. It is an anxiety-driven coping mechanism trying to hold up a particular version of ourselves that can feel like a facade, a way of controlling the narrative rather than allowing ourselves to become our truest, most authentic self in the world.

The inner creative is a wild system. It doesn't care about your timeline or your need to get it right and perfect the first time. While it might seem messy, or feel like a negative trait, or like something separate from you, it is actually a vital part of your internal ecosystem. It is not something to erase or suppress.

You cannot force a wild system to perform through a barrier. True healing only happens in reciprocity, when the lines of communication are entirely open and untainted by a desired outcome.

Stop shoving the grass. Sit down quietly at the edge of the page, and let the wild thing come to you on its own terms.

Have you been approaching your inner creative lately? Like an impatient tourist or as a friendly guardian?

Check out my blog where I delve adeeper:

https://markandmovement.com.au/blog/why-your-inner-creative-retreats

25/06/2026

There are so many different ways to support yourself through creativity.

Colour. Movement. Texture. Image.

Sometimes it is the simple act of choosing a colour and creating a nest.

Or seeing how many different ways you can make marks with one material.
Or using soothing movements while you draw. Or allowing an image to come forward to support a body part.

All of this is just a way to come in contact with yourself. To be with yourself and listen to what you really need.

We can support our nervous system through these simple acts. They bring us into our being so we can actually hear ourselves. It is a way to quiet the noise and tune into you. Not to pass the time, or to make a pretty picture, but to keep the lines of communication open.

24/06/2026

Is your self-care actually a band-aid? I’m talking about the line between soothing and true depth work, and why not every space is built for processing.

Read my latest thoughts here:
https://markandmovement.com.au/blog/is-your-self-care-a-band-aid

Are you using art and yoga as an escape, or as a tool for growth? Learn the difference between self-soothing and deep emotional work, and why the right container is essential for your process.

23/06/2026

When we want to build a daily creative habit, we tend to focus entirely on willpower. We tell ourselves we just need more discipline.

But from a psychological and somatic perspective, discipline isn't the problem. The real culprit is invisible friction and decision fatigue.

Our brains are wired to conserve energy. If your creative space is buried in a cupboard, or if you sit down at your desk with a pile of unresolved projects to choose from, your subconscious senses the "work" required just to get started. Faced with too many micro-decisions, the system chooses the path of least resistance: procrastination.

To build a practice that doesn't trigger immediate resistance, you have to engineer safety and ease into the routine. Leave your book open the night before. Keep the tools out but organised. Pair your practice with an existing anchor, like your morning coffee.

More importantly, check in with your capacity before you begin. Forcing a complex, high "mess" project when your nervous system is already sitting at a 5 out of 10 for daily overwhelm is a recipe for blowout. Subconsciously, you might begin to associate your creative space with frustration.

Here's a way to set yourself up for less friction. Design a sliding scale for your practice. On high-energy days, lean into the complex work. On high-stress days, honour your system by scaling back to 5 minutes of simple mark-making, or skip the art entirely and focus on something that actually soothes you.

Your practice should be a container that holds and supports you, not a rigid rulebook that breaks you.

If you checked in with your system right this second, where are you sitting on the 1-to-10 overwhelm scale?

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m Mary-Helen, a Sydney-based online Transpersonal Art Therapist, counsellor, and recovering perfectionist. Through somatic practices and creative inquiry, I help you reduce the invisible friction of rigid rules so you can honour your daily capacity and become fully expressed in this life. Head to the link in my bio to explore my free living blog or book a free 15-minute discovery call to see if we’re a good fit.

23/06/2026

Say it with me 📣 “my inner work is not to be a perpetual self improvement project.”

The second slide is cat approved, so you rest assured it’s accurate.

13/06/2026

Been working on a new profile pic. I’ve spent about 3 hours on it so far.

Part of the time has been spent getting distracted or rushing off.

Then returning, to resume and stitch around myself.

Didn’t realise how loving it would feel to work on this one. Not sure it will ever be done.