Okay, I am the first one to say come unto Him like a little child and let’s age backwards. Adulting is highly over rated and there are many of us who take it w-a-ay too seriously. Just the same, this recent trend in adult coloring has left me a bit disturbed.
Has everyone seen the commercials for adult coloring books? There’s one with a woman who crawls into bed with her husband….and her coloring book. She is creating peace and serenity in her life… long into the night, de-stressing by a bedside lamp while her husband snores away. It cracks me up every time because my husband’s response was so unfavorable. I think he has a point. There’s something very neurotic about it, not unlike suddenly deciding to sit up in bed and knit a 45 foot toaster cozy.
I thumbed through a few of these adult coloring books at my grocery store and was suddenly struck by some really demonic imagery. It kind of surprised me actually, but there nestled among the roses sat satan grinning at me. Than there was this lovely mandala…..made out of upside down pentagrams. Call me crazy, but I butt heads with the enemy all day long. The last thing I want to do is fall asleep while coloring demonic symbolism.
There’s another one, an entire book full of teapots. I do like a good tea party, but suddenly I just didn’t trust them anymore. I found myself peering into the designs wondering what kind of subliminal symbolism was hidden among those pages. Also, I got a bit creeped out by the enthusiasm all around me, “you just have to try this, it will change your whole life!” What is this, like the crack cocaine of coloring books? I began to feel as if I were starring in a really bad after school special.
Coming home, there on my library’s reader board, were the words “Adult Coloring.” Yep, part of our continuing adult education now includes actually teaching grown ups how to color. “Adult Coloring and Conversation.” Oh brother, it’s I cult, I tell ya.
Am I being too judgmental? Perhaps. I mean, my idea of a good time is making homemade finger paints and peanut butter play dough. It is not as if I reject childish things, but just the same I find the whole trend a bit disturbing. Perhaps it’s just my inner child having an anxiety attack. Where have all the adults gone? Well, they’ve hidden themselves away in their blanket fort and they’re all busy coloring.
That’s never a good sign, is it? When your adults are coloring away and muttering to themselves?
See, there's this thing called biology... 
One evening I came home from work to find my wife and stepdaughter sitting around the dining table…coloring. It was funny, though, they just bough regular kids coloring books. They seemed to be having fun. They laughed and joked. I didn’t color myself, but did sit down an join in the festivities. I don’t know if the coloring itself was useful, but he hanging out and fun was pretty cool.
Note to wife: Don’t bring the coloring book to bed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ah, what fun Wally! Sounds like a good time for everyone.
LikeLike
I got my first adult coloring book, given to me this last weekend, mine is all floral stuff, flowers vines etc, not a satanic symbol in sight , it is relaxing , but I wouldn’t sit up all hours of the night coloring, just an hour or so every now and then when I have some free time or need to de- stress .
it’s alright , and ya it is the latest rage , but I have been drawing and coloring for decades, I usually use kids coloring books , but the adult book is a nice change of pace , also the paper it is printed on is a better quality than kids books so you can actually use markers without the ink bleeding , which is kinda nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! So you’ve been bitten by the coloring fad, too? There is something satisfying about putting color down and transforming a whole image into something more appealing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yep lol , if you use childrens coloring books, a ball point pen and a creative mind can alter the picture lol , the adult book is alright too lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve always wanted to colour with the Alzheimer’s and dementia patients I work with but the thing is, colouring with them is a lot different due to the deterioration of the brain they are suffering, colouring is beneficial to keeping significant brain activities working.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Well, they’ve hidden themselves away in their blanket fort and they’re all busy coloring.” YES!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a therapeutic element to it, but I’ve never looked at one closely enough to notice demonic imagery. Interesting….there is a thing called art therapy. It really helps a lot of people. Of course, people may be manipulated through images. That’s crazy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My sister gave the adult members of the family coloring books and colored pencils for Christmas. I haven’t look at the coloring book yet, but now I’ll go check it for demonic symbols. I have used the pencils, though. I brought them to church to join other adults in coloring the map as we studied the second half of the book of Joshua. J.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Memi,
Two things, “child like”; good. “Childish”; not good. ‘Hope this is my child like way of saying the same thing you are.
1 Corinthians 13:10-12Young’s Literal Translation
10 and when that which is perfect may come, then that which [is] in part shall become useless.
11 When I was a babe, as a babe I was speaking, as a babe I was thinking, as a babe I was reasoning, and when I have become a man, I have made useless the things of the babe;
Matthew 18New International Version
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Causing to Stumble
6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well said, A dad! You just can’t go wrong with scripture 🙂
LikeLike
I guess I am rather taken aback IB. I wasn’t aware that there were coloring books for adults – although it makes sense as graphic novels have become very popular – why not the opportunity to work in the same medium? My guess is that the devil sought you out for your first experience with adult coloring books – I doubt many are about evil and its symbols. Interesting topic, as usual. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that most of the colouring books are pretty harmless, but I’m not surprised that the dark stuff is there too. What with vampires and demons having become so “mainstream” now, it infiltrates pretty much everything – movies trying to get people to feel sorry for the devil and so on. That sort of thing really should be stomped, but I agree with A Dad – being innocent and childlike isn’t a bad thing to be when destressing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am possibly going to buy my daughter-in-law a coloring book I know she wants and sock it away for her birthday later. I can see the appeal , I just don’t have any time for it what with survival mode and journaling and …well I have to make time to come read your blog first, right?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Yes, please don’t take up coloring, you’ll be too busy to come see me. 🙂
LikeLike