Tools for Transformation with Rachel Postler of Create Your Way Through

Join Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman and special guest Rachel Postler of Create Your Way Through as they delve into the importance of creativity and expressive arts in our lives. Rachel shares her journey from ministry and nonprofit work to founding Create Your Way Through, a unique space emphasizing the intersection of community and expressive arts. Discover how creative play can help us emotionally regulate and tap into our inherent creative potential. Learn about Rachel's various initiatives, including free monthly online workshops, and gain insights on overcoming barriers to creativity. Tune in for heartwarming stories, practical advice, and a reminder that play and creativity are divine acts of resistance and healing.

Direct Links:

https://www.instagram.com/createyourwaythrough

https://www.createyourwaythrough.com/subscribe

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The Wild Goose Festival is Thursday, August 28 to Sunday, August 31. It is a transformational community grounded in faith-inspired social justice. Come learn and grow by co-creating art, music, story, theater, and spectacle, and engaging in a wide variety of robust, courageous conversations with each other and with thought leaders and artists from other communities.

Transcript

S6 E21 Tools for Transformation with Rachel Postler of Create Your Way Through

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: [00:00:00] Hi there, friends of Holy Shenanigans podcast. This is Pastor Tara Lamont, Eastman. Happy Summer. , I hope you're having a great time. I hope you're taking time for rest and recharge, but I also hope that you are taking time to recognize that you have tools and skills and gifts that can make a difference in the world.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: today I'm very excited to have with us Rachel Postler. Rachel and I met through the Festival of Homiletics and, we are just continuing the holy shenanigans here today.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Rachel has started a new ministry and business and she's gonna tell us all about it. hi Rachel. How are you doing?

Rachel Postler: Hey, Tara. it's so good to be here and connect beyond the festival [00:01:00] with you I started, create your Way through, which is a place to intersect the power of community and expressive arts to really unearth our true creative selves. I do it in three ways. I do it through, facilitating expressive art workshops, in places and communities that already gather.

Rachel Postler: So that can be online or in person. secondly, I also am launching a creative, membership for those who are wanting to gain momentum toward their creative potential, their creative dreams, but need community to really usher them along. And, third, I facilitate a monthly free online expressive art workshop.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: So you are trying to help people to dig into their creative self. Their gifts and skills. why is that important for people?

Rachel Postler: From what I've learned from a lot of faith leaders or CEO C-suite leaders is their last art class was maybe [00:02:00] a. Wine and sip with some friends or going on a pottery date or maybe it's even back to elementary school.

Rachel Postler: what's sad to me is that. Elementary school, we took all these classes on how to create art. But then once we became adults, we lost one of our most, valuable resources in how to process and navigate life when life got most complicated Traditionally society has taught, us to navigate life mostly analytically, through thinking, through reading, and science and research is showing that when you do creative expressive play, it actually activates more parts of the brain than traditional methods.

Rachel Postler: And so it's a incredible. Tool for everyone because you know, everyone is innately creative and they have that creative potential, and so it helps people emotionally regulate. But also, the way that create your way through is set up. It's, helping through [00:03:00] community and there's some synergy that happens when you're creating in community.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: You wanna help people to grow in these ways and to really heal. that part of their creative selves that probably hasn't had a lot of attention since elementary school, how did you come to do this?

Rachel Postler: I have been mostly in, ministry nonprofit work, or higher education work for the last 11 years. I grew up, extremely creative. I was getting all the, certificates and awards for creativity 

Rachel Postler: I learned through my family system of origin that creativity was not something that, brought the Scooby snacks of approvals And so I took a different direction, 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Yes.

Rachel Postler: so I took a different direction and I ended up in, the ministry and the nonprofit background that I have, and I don't regret that at all.

Rachel Postler: But now I'm integrating some of that from childhood. And I'll share the story because it's a benchmark in how I've helped others in navigating their creative [00:04:00] authentic selves is the story, in Thailand about how there was a gold Buddha.

Rachel Postler: War was coming. And so the monks covered the Buddha with clay so that it wouldn't be stolen. but actually centuries past and. They forgot the gold was there. And so it wasn't until I think the mid 1950s when, they were trying to relocate the Buddha and it cracked and a monk noticed that there was like a shimmer of gold.

Rachel Postler: And, that's how they discovered it. And I relate that because I think all of us have, you know. that survival clay to get through whatever we had to get through to get through the war of whatever. And Sometimes there's incidents in our lives where we see a crack 

Rachel Postler: It's really terrifying to try to take it all off. Sometimes we just let it be a crack, but how can we slowly chip away the real authentic creativity in our lives? [00:05:00] it's a spiritual practice. So for me, the crack, I guess, was when I first facilitated. an expressive art exercise with a room full of preachers in California.

Rachel Postler: And, instead of doing a, morning study on the text, we did an expressive art exercise and some were really cautious and they came in the room and saw all these art supplies and others were really like, ready to go. part of the expressive art workshop, exercise, is to have a lot of dialogue after and sharing art and noticing what you saw in someone else's art, because we need each other's creativity.

Rachel Postler: one pastor, said that there was a gentle disorientation people come in when they're at like a retreat or conference, to be analytical and on in the mind. 

Rachel Postler: it was, bringing them into the gut and the heart, . And another fellow, preacher, said that, he would not have done this voluntarily. and. When he did it, he saw [00:06:00] this incredible value and said, it felt equally foreign and freeing to be able to just play and focus on the process and not an end result.

Rachel Postler: It was just like, no pressure. Let's just carve out a little solace here and play and, God, we need it. That's where I saw, I guess, the. Proverbial crack in my life and that's when I started doing it a lot more.

Rachel Postler: And now I've started Create your way through.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Wow. That's a wonderful way to articulate that discovery of, oh, wow, we've, fenced in, or, blocked off that part of our lives and that we need all of who we are.

Rachel Postler: Yes,

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: I know for myself, our story of Scooby snacks might be similar, my

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: friend. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: remember, you know, creativity being such a central part of my life and at one point I remember, you know, throwing away my portfolio

Rachel Postler: Mm,

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: so sad, but I thought, oh, that part of my life is over. 

Rachel Postler: Yeah. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: And then, [00:07:00] through the gift of, wonderful people that I believe God brought into my life,

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Oh, you're really creative.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: And I'd be like, no, I'm not creative. because I had, walled up that part of who I was thinking it didn't have a purpose in the world. And they kept saying, I see how this has a purpose in the world. In helping you to be a whole person,

Rachel Postler: Yes, 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: number one.

Rachel Postler: Mm.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: and then how it can bring joy and light and love into the world. Essentially, don't go bury your gifts. that's the metaphor if you're looking for something in scripture, right?

Rachel Postler: Exactly. So you have your friends that's saying, excuse me. what would be the moment for you when you brought your portfolio back? 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: I started drawing again when I was trying to get a job. as a interior decorator for a local grocery store.

Rachel Postler: Oh wow.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: I had to bring a portfolio and I panicked. And I started drawing furiously. and one of the first pictures, I [00:08:00] drew a pencil sketch of was my daughter when she was a toddler \

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: and we still have that picture, and that. Helped me to see that just because I had, gotten married and had children and was working, it didn't mean that I had to hide that or bury that part of who I was. little job working at that grocery store, Made me go, oh,

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: this is really an important part of who I am and way led to way and I've talked about it on the podcast before. eventually I started doing, afterschool programs and teaching children art and afterschool program just for the sake of art.

Rachel Postler: That's so great. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Then that shifted into me integrating that into my work in church world. for a long time I kept it over here in the secular pocket or education pocket . and then, my friend tapped me on the shoulder and said, excuse me, why aren't you doing this in your church?

Rachel Postler: We need all those people that say, excuse me, because it's, something we really can by default, just push down and devalue. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: and then it [00:09:00] became, for me, all of those tools in my toolbox that my friend encouraged me to keep working with. shout out to Lynn Farrow if you're listening. Thank you, Lynn. those were. So important for people, especially when we moved into a lot more online communication and ministry during the pandemic and those things I used every single day, whether, holding an online Zoom group where we did Visio, Dina, or any.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Things. and even to present day where, working with you, through the Festival of Paralytics, and y'all encouraging me to do whatever creative thing to help bring people together. 

Rachel Postler: You did and it was so lovely. you did an amazing job facilitating and creating community. Yeah.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: that's. my story, of how creativity and that reintegration was incredibly healing for me as a person, but also has been able to help other people, 

Rachel Postler: Yeah. We need to hear these stories and how to unearth creativity.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Oh, [00:10:00] thank you. Is that your favorite thing about the work you do?

Rachel Postler: I would say the favorite thing I have when I witness people playing and creating or, unearthing their creativity or digging up their buried, talent.

Rachel Postler: is watching people give themselves permission, to play, to let go of perfectionism, or control. you know, when people get into the room, they, usually are. trying to suss it out and they're hypervigilant. but when they get into that creative play, free flow, no pressure, no judgment, no perfectionism.

Rachel Postler: there's a tangible joy in the room. Then also when they discover, that they need each other's art. so when people are sharing art with each other, realizing, oh my stars, you could do this or you could do that. and there's this cross dialogue that happens in and encouraging each other.

Rachel Postler: those are probably moments where my heart is the fullest. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: I understand holy [00:11:00] shenanigans as, an unexpected moment of love or grace or healing, that God brings into our lives through any number of circumstances. I wonder, do you have a whole shenanigan story that you could share with us?

Rachel Postler: I actually would say, how you and I know each other is through, colleagues as Festival of Homiletics and my main role was. project management for that event, which is more on the administration side. I tapped the program director and asked if I could facilitate in 2024, an expressive art exercise because the theme was about sustainability and, nurturing.

Rachel Postler: And so. this was my first bigger expressive art. group, but I was not thinking anyone would show up because first of all, it was a long walk for people to get to where I was. I was in that mode of like self preservation. I was thinking maybe like 20 will come. if that, and that'll be okay. That's enough. When the time came down to it, I was floored by how many [00:12:00] people came in the room. They were flooding in. we were literally like breaking the art supplies and multiplying them.

Rachel Postler: I think there's about 75 in the room. And for me that was huge. 'cause it was not expected and the joy and the engagement people had \, you know, these were circle tables and so that is so important to face each other and talk about it.

Rachel Postler: And, the response level that I got after was. Some people were in tears, like, thank you for this space because I haven't had this. and so from there, , that was probably one of those, big crack, moments where I'm like, okay, this is definitely something I need to pursue.

Rachel Postler: And I had someone in the room, that kind of tapped me on the shoulder, like, , I'm just observing. that you were alive. You were really alive and enjoying this. And so , I really am grateful for her. And, I would say that was one where I was surprised by the grace that came out of that.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: To the Dawns and the lens,

Rachel Postler: Yes,

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: we are grateful. [00:13:00] 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: And then in turn, do the same for others.

Rachel Postler: exactly.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Just keep that going.

Rachel Postler: That's right. We just keep tapping people's shoulders. Hey, have you thought of this? and, what if we, that narration, that tape that you are playing, Because there's so many barriers to

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Yeah. Say more about that tape that people have in their minds. 

Rachel Postler: Yeah, well, I have been told, by others That creativity is not kingdom work. it has been devalued by so many. I think the worst offenders are fellow faith workers. And you know, for those that are in this field, it is not as important as other things.

Rachel Postler: you know, I've had others say, get a real job that's probably my main tape I don't like using the word imposter syndrome, but voices of doubt.

Rachel Postler: and saying, no, this is very important. And part of those tapes that are playing is why I am here because We need each other's creativity and, you know, there's a lot of other tapes, not good enough [00:14:00] comparing, feeling like they're too much, like, my art is gonna be too much for people.

Rachel Postler: Probably the biggest roadblock is time with the artist circle, the creative circle coming up, we were encouraging people to start embarrassingly small, very, you know, top of style.

Rachel Postler: What's a small five minute goal that you can start with in launching this? Yeah.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: When I was teaching children in afterschool programs, oftentimes when I had a new group, we would take a little bit of a moment and talk about those voices, 

Rachel Postler: Oh yeah. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: and I would encourage them to say, okay, in writing, sometimes they call them like a gremlin, you know, that

Rachel Postler: Hmm. Mm-hmm.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: it's saying those things.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: and we would say, what would we do to keep the gremlin quiet for a little while?

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Maybe the gremlin just wants to play too, but can't, 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: How can we help the gremlin be here but not disturb us? And so with all sorts of [00:15:00] great ways,

Rachel Postler: That's a great way of doing things.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: maybe the gremlin's hungry.

Rachel Postler: Yep. That's awesome.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: That's a big obstacle for not just children. I think probably a lot of adults when it comes to creative practice.

Rachel Postler: Yeah. 

Rachel Postler: love what, Brene Brown says, unused creativity is not benign. it metastasizes and it shows its face through, grief, shame, rage.

Rachel Postler: Using our creative abilities and giving voice to our creative selves is a great way to build resilience and build sustainability and self-regulate and co-regulate. If you're creating with other creatives, it's, an incredible tool.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: So there's a saying, Rachel, that, not all who wander are lost. 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: So for those who feel like they're, wandering or on a sojourn

Rachel Postler: Hmm.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: from church systems or deconstructing or in grief, what encouragement would you offer them?

Rachel Postler: Mm hmm. I [00:16:00] resonate so much with this question. I would say, create your way through it. the world needs your art in the wandering. In the deconstructing in, the journey and that the process is the place, not necessarily arrival. The process, the wilderness is the place where some of the best canvases can be found for your creativity and, to trust your creative, authentic voice.

Rachel Postler: Can be, a form of worship and witness and not necessarily walls or systems that can box you in, even if it isn't what's traditionally accepted. let your creative voice be heard and let that be a spiritual practice in of itself.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Yeah, and if you need a helper, Rachel's here to help 

Rachel Postler: Yes, I'm here. we can create together. \ when you first go in, it's pretty rough and it is very isolating. so this is a safe [00:17:00] place for those who are in those spaces.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Is there anything else that you would like to share today with our listeners?

Rachel Postler: I would just encourage listeners, a gentle reminder. So if we're using the little tap on your shoulder analogy, this is your tap on your shoulder. The permission to create, what you've been waiting for, that permission will never come outside of yourself. It comes when you decide that your inner creativity, your inner voice matters and has intrinsic value, and the world needs your creative art.

Rachel Postler: So give it a microphone And start embarrassing small. And in community.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: So where can people connect with your work, Rachel?

Rachel Postler: I'd say the best way is to go to create your way through.com/uh, subscribe.

Rachel Postler: And that's a great way to get connected with all of, the offerings that we have. we are launching our first creative circle. this is coming up [00:18:00] really soon, but there's still, room, Friday, August 15th, and it's not too late to join. we've got a few months left in the year.

Rachel Postler: So this is a great space to build, support and traction for any goals that you have or things that may have shifted mid-year and you're like, I wanna explore this let's get those things moving. We also have a monthly free expressive art for those who just wanna get their feet wet and see what it's like.

Rachel Postler: that's typically on a Friday, at noon central time. If you know anyone that would benefit From an expressive art exercise, it's really a good community builder and space for creative expression. And there's a lot of different outcomes that could come out of that.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Thank you for all those ways to get involved with your work and, breaking those cracks away so that people's creative lives can become reintegrated. That this is not something to just put up on a shelf. My friends, this is who you are.

Rachel Postler: Yes, it is.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: So I would love Rachel if you could give [00:19:00] a blessing to wrap our time up for

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: us as we're here in this zoom 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: And for those who are listening.

Rachel Postler: I would love that. Well, may you have the grace to stop uncomfortably long enough to hear the whispers your true self has been sending. When the call to create becomes a roar, you can no longer silence. May you give it a voice at the table of your everyday life. When your soul cracks you open to get your attention, may you trust that holy breaking like precious gold, hidden beneath layers of protective clay and survival may the shattering of who you thought you had to be.

Rachel Postler: Reveal the magnificent truth of your belovedness and who you actually are for God knows the way you take. And when they have tested you, you shall come forth as gold. [00:20:00] Amen. Beloved creatives.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: What a wonderful conversation, to share anytime. But I hope that people, especially in this, last taste of summer,

Rachel Postler: Mm-hmm.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: I'll go, wait, I remember what it's like to play, 

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: What a joy that is and to remember that joy and creativity all are acts of resistance for those things that try to harm and to hurt in the world.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: So let's get creative, my friends.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: thank you all for being here with us for Holy Shenanigans podcast that is always sacred and never stuffy. Thank you to Ian Eastman for the always wonderful editing and help in making this possible. may you all be well, may you be at [00:21:00] peace and know that you are beloved

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: So we're here today with Rachel, and we're also here with her lovely cat.

Rachel Postler: I gave her a breakfast and a calming chew. But we are still here. We are fighting for Scooby snacks.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: Um, so, Rachel, tell us, introduce your cat to us.

GMT20250801-144321_Recording_separate2: Well, this is my cat, Lila, and you know, she got named after some observation with her sister. You know, Isla, um, Isla, her sister means a windstorm, but Lila, who is coming in and visiting today. Means divine play. And

GMT20250801-144321_Recording_separate1: Uh,

Rachel Postler: here to remind us that play is divine.

Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman: All right, so take that with you as your final tap on the shoulder to get there and be creative and, [00:22:00] um, it's needed, it's necessary. 

Rachel Postler: Thanks, Lila.

GMT20250801-144321_Recording_separate1: I.