Autumn is my favourite time of year.
I love the colours, the changing light, the leaves gathering on the ground and the smell of soil, woodland and moss.
As summer began slipping away and autumn approached, I felt something calling me back to my love of Trees. I pulled on a big old fluffy jumper, gathered my paints, papers, oil pastels, glue and all sorts of bits and pieces, and began creating again.
What Kind of Tree Am I? first began growing in 2008, but this autumn I felt compelled to return to it and create a brand-new 2026 version, shaped by intuitive creativity and our Body Wisdom.
Because we have more than one Tree inside us.
Every Tree we create is different. Our Tree reflects something of who we are and what is happening in our world at the particular moment in which we make her.
Our circumstances change. Our relationships change. What needs our attention changes. Our hopes, dreams, worries and desires change.
We change. And so our Tree changes with us.
A Tree you create now could never be exactly the same as one you created several years ago - or even several months ago - because you are no longer standing in precisely the same place in your life.
This Tree may grow colours you have never used before. She may hold unexpected words, symbols, creatures or memories and your Trunk will carry something of the woman you are now.
Across six wonderful stages, using my STAR approach to creative therapy, your Tree will reach towards choices, possibilities, hopes and dreams that may be beginning to stir within you now.
She may surprise you completely and become something you could never have imagined.
That is the wonder of this process.
We do not decide beforehand what the Tree "should" say about you. Shoulds, musts and oughts are all about conditioning and patriarchy.
We create enough room for her to emerge through your own hands, your own choices, your own experience and your own knowing.
Your Tree belongs to you.
So, as autumn gathers around us, I would love to invite you to pull on your own cosy jumper, make yourself a warm drink, gather some gloriously colourful materials and come into this new process with me.
You cannot possibly know what kind of Tree you are before you begin.
You will discover her as she emerges on your substrate.
YOUR TREE WILL GROW LAYER BY LAYER
My written and video prompts are full of invitations and your entire process will emerge slowly and surely.
As a therapeutic artist, I trust our intuition and Body Wisdom. We don't plan or need to know. We trust, sense, allow our fingers to play and then watch our Tree become.
You might use paint, paper, collage, oil pastels, fabric, thread, words, beads, glitter, images, mark-making or anything else that attracts you.
You don't need expensive art materials.
You can use cardboard, heavy paper or a canvas.
Then we rummage through our old wrapping papers, tissue wrap, pages from magazines or old books, scraps of fabric and anything else we already have around us. You will never, ever be limited by me. Women have been made small enough!
Perhaps your fingers will insist on a particular colour or texture.
Perhaps you place something somewhere and immediately know that it belongs.
Perhaps you cover something over, hide it, and glue it down...
You may dislike something and then discover that it becomes one of your favourite parts!
That is all part of the process.
Your Tree will not look realistic or conventionally beautiful.
She simply needs room to become exactly how she needs to become, moment by moment - and surprise you.
What Kind of Tree Am I? is not about searching for something painful or deciding that everything must have a deep and difficult meaning.
No-one is hunting for what is "wrong" with you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you!
This process is about allowing.
Noticing.
Listening.
Creating.
And seeing what comes out and trusting it.
Your Tree may help you find your voice or look at something happening in your everyday life from a different angle.
She may remind you of something you had forgotten about yourself.
She may reveal a hope, dream, desire or possibility that has not yet been given enough room.
She is likely to help you hear your own answers more clearly.
Those answers will not be given to you by me.
They emerge through your own hands, your own choices, your own experience and your own knowing.
And I will celebrate this alongside you if you choose to share in our group.
That is what I mean by giving our Body Wisdom a voice, and it is what I love about this process.
Your Tree may also simply give you hours of colour, texture, creative play, relaxation, fun and time that belongs entirely to you.
There is no required outcome. No goals. Nothing to 'pass or fail'.
You never have to share or explain anything that you wish to keep private.
This is not an art course, and it is not "Art Therapy".
It is an experiential creative process that I created through my love of raw, gritty art-making and expression.
I have continued to develop it through many years of therapeutic and creative practice. Almost 30 years now!
You do not need to know how to draw or paint.
You do not need any experience of mixed media.
You don't even need to believe that you are creative - yet you will be astounded at your Tree!
The less concerned you are with art rules, the more freely your Tree will grow.
We want to loosen our grip on planning and release the part of us that can reach for something simply because:
"Oh!!! …my Roots need THAT!!!"
You do not need to justify your choices.
You do not have to make your Tree resemble mine or anybody else's - in fact your Tree will INSIST on becoming her true self through your intuition and fingers.
There is no comparison, marking or critique.
Nobody is judging whether your Tree is "good enough."
There is no correct outcome.
You cannot possibly get this wrong.
Since 2008, many, many women have created their Trees with me, both in person and online.
I have witnessed amazing, intriguing, wonderfully expressive and sometimes gloriously wild Trees emerge - and not one of them has ever been the same as another but each one speaks deeply of their creator. Such a beautiful process... and I am proud of what I have brought into the world <3
Throughout the process, my videos of me creating my own Tree, completely and fully, and so simply... talking with you while I work intuitively will feel like being accompanied.
Many women have shared how they feel like they are in my studio with me alongside them as my videos are so personal, warm and real.
You are completely welcome to copy me if you wish - it is how we learn... but I have a feeling your own Tree will be so determined to emerge she will absolutely be your own. And you will love her! I've seen it again and again for years and years...
You can pause me. Replay me. Leave me chatting away while you tear paper, spread glue, paint, scribble or stare at your Tree wondering what on earth she wants next.
You can follow my invitations.
You can also ignore them, and go in a completely different direction when something inside you wants to lead the way. I will celebrate this in you <3
Our private online group opens on Sunday 11 October 2026 and you will receive full access to all the content immediately, that day.
For ten weeks, I will be there to accompany you as your Tree grows, in our group. If you need anything, tag me and I will show up.
You can share photographs of your Tree, talk about what you are noticing, ask questions or bring your:
"Kas, I have absolutely no idea what the eff I'm doing!" moments into the group.
I can offer a little nudge. I can wonder alongside you. I am very handy when you feel stuck - just ask me.
I can simply witness what you have created if that is what you prefer. You lead, always.
I will not interpret your artwork or tell you what your Tree means.
You are the authority on your own experience. You decide how much or how little you want to share.
There are no live sessions or Zoom meetings that you have to attend.
You can work at your own pace while knowing that, during our ten weeks together, you are not doing it alone.
The supported group will run from Sunday 11 October until Sunday 20 December 2026. But don't worry, I never shut down the groups I offer.
You will also have one full year of access to all the course videos and creative invitations, so there is no pressure to rush or complete your Tree within the ten weeks... AND I feel sure you will be making another Tree and probably... yes... another and another... Each time offers you something different and new.
PERHAPS YOUR TREE IS ALREADY WAITING
Perhaps she is beginning to stir in your imagination.
Perhaps she is covered in brilliant autumn colour.
Perhaps her branches are reaching towards your hopes and dreams you have not yet allowed yourself to name.
Perhaps she carries dreams, decisions, possibilities or parts of you that would like more room to spread and become.
This is a wonderful place to begin. You do not need to arrive with an answer.
We are going to make enough room for your own answers, images and knowing to emerge through your hands.
What Kind of Tree Am I? begins on Sunday 11 October 2026.
You will receive one full year of access to the complete online creative process and ten weeks of my personal support and my accompaniment inside our private group.
Just £39
Join by Sunday 11 October 2026 to take part in this ten-week supportive, loving, warm group with me.
I don't offer you 'therapy' in the group, however I bring all my 30 years of learning and experience of sitting alongside human beings with me to the group.
Bring your curiosity. Bring your colours. Bring your uncertainty, your excitement and your "I haven't got a clue what I'm doing" moments.
You do not need to know what your Tree will become.
We will discover her together.
I cannot wait to see what grows.
Here is the all important link page: What Kind of Tree Am I?
Kas