I'm Kat Kirby, Art Therapist and SoulCollage® Facilitator and Trainer from San Diego, CA, soon to be from Prescott, AZ!! I work with people in recovery from addictions and eating disorders, and share my passion for SoulCollage® wherever and whenever I can. I am excited to be writing for Soul Songs, and hope you find that my words inspire you to create a new card or two!


Music Makes Things Better

The influence of music in our lives is huge. When we hear a few bars of an old familiar tune, we are immediately brought back to those times: what clothes we wore, how we styled our hair, what perfume was popular, who we had a crush on... etc. When I sent out a recent newsletter at the end of summer and attached the tune "See You in September," many readers sent emails with their own memories of what was happening for them when that song was popular.

My mother played the ukulele, and every Sunday when we traveled to our grandparents house ("over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go".....), she would sit in the front seat, strumming her uke and singing such classics as "Red River Valley" and "Billy Boy." Although sometimes she was doing this for her own self-soothing, as she had a difficult relationship with her parents, we four kids in the back seat just enjoyed the fun. We'd sing along and the trip went so much faster. Music just made things better.

Music has always been important in my life. I remember the day my older brother Kenny came into my room early one morning all excited and told me to come to his room and listen to a new group that was playing on his clock radio...."The Beatles." I had never heard anything like these voices, the harmony, the beat, and realized something really new was happening in the music world. It was one of those defining moments when you are awed by something you might not really understand just yet.

Joni Mitchell was one of the first of many musicians who influenced me. The combination of her originality, beauty, creative talent, and of course long string of famous musician lovers had me intrigued. Her musical style of "open tunings" led me to try new things as I played my guitar, and when I wanted to relax or find peace within myself, my Joni Mitchell albums were always my first choice. Her angelic voice and incredible range never stopped me from singing along!

I Am One Who plays guitar and sings, who creates beautiful music for you to enjoy. My songs seem strangely familiar to many people from all walks of life, although my story is definitely my own. I Am One Who follows my heart and mind, and I encourage you to do the same.

My Community suit (in my mind) includes several cards for artists and musicians I admire, yet as I write this column I realize I have yet to actually create them. I will be making cards for Eric Clapton, the Beatles, Bonnie Raitt, Simon & Garfunkel, and probably a few more. The challenge with these cards is the concept of intentional vs. intuitive. Creating Community cards in general involves thought and planning, finding the perfect image of the person, and putting the image on the right background. As I am currently in the midst of selling our home, moving to another state, and starting a PhD program online, it's hard to make time to search for the right images....and yet, I know it's important to continue to develop my SoulCollage® deck, and therefore myself. And I get such joy out of my Community cards, once they start speaking to me in my readings, that I remember that we need to "trust the process."

Happy Creating!


Kat Kirby is a Registered Art Therapist, SoulCollage® Facilitator and Trainer. She leads creative workshops and retreats throughout the US and abroad. Kat has been working with SoulCollage® since 2006 and believes strongly in the healing power of the arts. For more information about Kat's SoulCollage® workshops, trainings, and retreats, please visit her website, 2 Kat Studios. .