Chapbook Review: Art Therapy 101 By Jacob Moses Explores Symbols Through Poetry

A World of Symbols

By Ghia Vitale

Art Therapy 101 is a unique poetry chapbook by Jacob Moses. In this book, he combines occultism and creativity to explore the symbols of his youth.

Jacob Moses is a poet from Staten Island, NY. As evidenced by his participation in The Revolution, Moses is an active member of the New York poetry community. True to the chapbook’s name, Moses also has a degree in art therapy which bolsters his writing and creative insights in relation to this subject. His poetry includes interesting themes such as mental health, occultism, being Jewish, and more. I reviewed his last chapbook (... and the willow smiled) and enjoyed it, so I was absolutely thrilled to receive a review copy of Art Therapy 101 and read it for myself.

There's a tornado of poetry whirling within each page Moses writes. Prepare to have your mind blown wide open. Moses is very open about living with mental health issues. He’s also open about being involved with the occult. As a witch who also has multiple forms of mental illness, the authenticity and originality of Moses’ perspective resonates with me. I especially connected with the introduction of Art Therapy 101 because I, too, have lost one of my parents and have took to reflecting upon my childhood more because of it.

In the introduction, Moses says, “Symbols offer strength and connection when expression is exhausted.” His words are laden with symbolism and meaning, packing his poetry with power. One major reason for this is because Moses has spent time contemplating the symbols he discusses through other forms of art such as watercolor, pastel, acrylic, and more. It’s clear he’s devoted a lot of thought towards connecting with these symbols and using words to express his visions accordingly. 

This chapbook is a must-read if you want some insight into how art therapy works with the mind in relation to poetry. Many people don’t think of writing as art, but the truth is that poetry and literature are expressions of creativity. Therefore, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to conclude that poetry is a form of art in and of itself.

Although I enjoyed this chapbook, there were 4 poems I especially delighted in reading. The first one was “Majesties,” a poem that details what I think is Moses’ evolution as a poet. I also enjoyed the rich language and raw imagery in “Serpentine Soprano.” That poem explores the snake as a symbol.) I also appreciated “Herbal Eruption” for exploring the volcano as a symbol you can relate to. Turns out, “volcano” is a whole way of being!

The last poem I want to mention is “Ova.” “Ova” touches on the attributes of certain birds.I like how Moses describes crows as “black with intensity” because as someone who works with crow energy, I think it’s a fitting description. People have been perceiving birds as symbols since the days of ancient civilizations. Moses carries on this tradition by connecting birds with personal/spiritual attributes.

Interested in Art Therapy 101? Buy this chapbook through the Amazon affiliate link below. Not only will it benefit Jacob Moses, but it will benefit Quail Bell Magazine as well. (We get a portion of the profits generated through Amazon affiliate links.) In the meantime, follow Jacob Moses on Instagram for more updates.