Art as Meditation: A Mindful Inquiry into Educator Well-Being

Authors

Rachael Crowder, University of CalgaryFollow
Jennifer Lock, University of CalgaryFollow
Evelyn Hickey, University of CalgaryFollow
Mairi McDermott, University of CalgaryFollow
Marlon Simmons, University of CalgaryFollow
Katrina Wilson, University of CalgaryFollow
Rebecca Leong, University of CalgaryFollow
Noeleen De Silva, University of CalgaryFollow

Abstract

Being prepared for the intensity and complexities that educators face in their work means building strategies for managing well-being. This qualitative study explored educators’ conceptualizations about their well-being using an arts-based, community-based participatory research (AB-CBPR) methodology. After a brief mindfulness meditation and contemplation of prompting questions, educators were invited to participate in drawing and writing reflections. The artifacts were coded to determine themes. Themes suggested the importance of human connectedness and interconnection, self care and nurturance, the healing qualities of the natural word, and the recognition that institutions need to provide space and resources to support educator well-being. The mindfulness-based art-as-meditation process was itself a salutogenic process and provided a means for developing a deeper understanding of educator well-being through a community-based participatory research approach.

Keywords

Arts-Based Research, Educator Well-Being, Meditation, Mindfulness

Author Bio(s)

Rachael Crowder is a member of the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: rcrowder@ucalgary.ca.

Jennifer Lock is a member of the Werklund School of Education (WSE) at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: jvlock@ucalgary.ca.

Evelyn Hickey is a member of the Werklund School of Education (WSE) at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: ejhickey@ucalgary.ca.

Mairi McDermott is a member of the Werklund School of Education (WSE) at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: mairi.mcdermott@ucalgary.ca.

Marlon Simmons is a member of the Werklund School of Education (WSE) at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: simmonsm@ucalgary.ca.

Katrina Wilson is a member of the Werklund School of Education (WSE) at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: katrina.wilson@ucalgary.ca.

Rebecca Leong is a member of the Werklund School of Education (WSE) at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: rebeccaleong@live.ca.

Noeleen De Silva is a member of the Werklund School of Education (WSE) at the University of Calgary. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: noeleen.desilva@ucalgary.ca.

Acknowledgements

The research team acknowledges that this study was made possible through a University of Calgary Research Grant.

Publication Date

4-5-2020

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4061

Recommended APA Citation

Crowder, R., Lock, J., Hickey, E., McDermott, M., Simmons, M., Wilson, K., Leong, R., & De Silva, N. (2020). Art as Meditation: A Mindful Inquiry into Educator Well-Being. The Qualitative Report, 25(3), 876-890. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4061