Why Creativity, Painting, Movement, Drumming and Meditation?
Why Creativity/Painting?
Since the beginning of time the arts and the creative process have always been an important part of humanity. Whether used for healing and rituals (shamans and helping professions who use art), personal creative exploration and expression or cultural as well as financial enrichment, the arts have always had a unique role in ancient as well as modern societies.
I personally have always viewed the creative process as a sacred journey into stillness, possibilities and the unknown. It is a way to connect to ourselves, to others and to our environment. Only when we are still and fully present can we connect to our higher selves and to ´´all that is´´ and with that, open ourselves up to the exploration of realities far beyond our imagination.
Some things can be seen whereas others can only be felt and experienced. If we are brave enough to process and connect with the energies that block and inhibit our natural flow, we can be transmute, transform and heal and in so doing, reconnect with our innate life force.
Since the beginning of time the arts and the creative process have always been an important part of humanity. Whether used for healing and rituals (shamans and helping professions who use art), personal creative exploration and expression or cultural as well as financial enrichment, the arts have always had a unique role in ancient as well as modern societies.
I personally have always viewed the creative process as a sacred journey into stillness, possibilities and the unknown. It is a way to connect to ourselves, to others and to our environment. Only when we are still and fully present can we connect to our higher selves and to ´´all that is´´ and with that, open ourselves up to the exploration of realities far beyond our imagination.
Some things can be seen whereas others can only be felt and experienced. If we are brave enough to process and connect with the energies that block and inhibit our natural flow, we can be transmute, transform and heal and in so doing, reconnect with our innate life force.
´´New Beginnings´´ - 2022 / ´´Nuevos Comienzos´´ - 2022
Why Drumming?
In addition to being used as entertainment in the western culture, drums also hold a special place in history. Drumming was often used as an accompaniment for healing and social ceremonies, rituals, worships, rites of passages, dance, self-exploration, self-expression, community building, etc...
When I was trained in facilitating drum circles by renowned board certified Music Therapist, Christine Stevens, MSW, MT-BC, I was introduced to a particular heart centered practice that I still use to this day. As Christine would always say: ´´All of us have a drum inside of us. It's your heart. It beats the rhythm of your life. As long as you have a heart beat and can connect with it, you can drum."
Why Drumming?
In addition to being used as entertainment in the western culture, drums also hold a special place in history. Drumming was often used as an accompaniment for healing and social ceremonies, rituals, worships, rites of passages, dance, self-exploration, self-expression, community building, etc...
When I was trained in facilitating drum circles by renowned board certified Music Therapist, Christine Stevens, MSW, MT-BC, I was introduced to a particular heart centered practice that I still use to this day. As Christine would always say: ´´All of us have a drum inside of us. It's your heart. It beats the rhythm of your life. As long as you have a heart beat and can connect with it, you can drum."
Why Creativity/Painting as Meditation?
Have you ever noticed how creativity and the way we ´´do art´´ changes once we enter first grade?
I remember feeling this incredible sense of freedom when exploring colors, shapes and textures in my early years. (Looking back, I probably did not know I was experiencing freedom as freedom is something we become aware of once we no longer have it).
I am grateful I had the opportunity to explore and play without worrying about ´´getting it right.´´ My mother would also always encourage my exploration as she would let me know that ´´you will have enough time to learn things in school.´´
Learn things in school? Nobody warned me that the minute I entered the first grade I would hear things such as ´´stay in the lines´´ when drawing. Confused my this sudden, deeply imposing and unwanted reality, I often asked why we all of a sudden had to do things a certain way? Why was I no longer free to explore. No matter what my question was, the answer always seemed to be the same, ´´because.´´
Needless to say I was confused and knew that something ´´bad´´ was about to happen. I did not understand why I had to, all of a sudden, lean ´´how things are´´ without also allowing room for exploration and self-discovery.
I still remember this one incidence in which I was being laughed at and ridiculed by my peers for drawing blue flowers. They told me ´´Flowers are not blue!´´ ´´They are not blue? How do YOU know?´´ Ok, fair enough to say that I drew the blue flowers from my imagination as I had not yet seen any up until that point either. But I knew that just because I had not yet seen any did not mean that they did not exist...
Why Creativity/Painting as Meditation?
Have you ever noticed how creativity and the way we ´´do art´´ changes once we enter first grade?
I remember feeling this incredible sense of freedom when exploring colors, shapes and textures in my early years. (Looking back, I probably did not know I was experiencing freedom as freedom is something we become aware of once we no longer have it).
I am grateful I had the opportunity to explore and play without worrying about ´´getting it right.´´ My mother would also always encourage my exploration as she would let me know that ´´you will have enough time to learn things in school.´´
Learn things in school? Nobody warned me that the minute I entered the first grade I would hear things such as ´´stay in the lines´´ when drawing. Confused my this sudden, deeply imposing and unwanted reality, I often asked why we all of a sudden had to do things a certain way? Why was I no longer free to explore. No matter what my question was, the answer always seemed to be the same, ´´because.´´
Needless to say I was confused and knew that something ´´bad´´ was about to happen. I did not understand why I had to, all of a sudden, lean ´´how things are´´ without also allowing room for exploration and self-discovery.
I still remember this one incidence in which I was being laughed at and ridiculed by my peers for drawing blue flowers. They told me ´´Flowers are not blue!´´ ´´They are not blue? How do YOU know?´´ Ok, fair enough to say that I drew the blue flowers from my imagination as I had not yet seen any up until that point either. But I knew that just because I had not yet seen any did not mean that they did not exist...
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up´´ -Picasso
Already at a very young age I noticed preferring be quiet and still when playing with colors and engaged in the creative process for I would feel a certain something, a ´´presence´´ while being in a unique energetic flow. However, I was not able to experience this when distracted or when talking to others. Although I did not understand this difference, I knew I needed to honor this awareness. To this day I do not speak or engage with others when painting.
I also never understood how art was graded nor who determined an art piece to be beautiful. When observing my peers at school I also noticed how some children focused on the process of creating something while others hurried to ´´get done what needed to get done´´ to get approval and a good grade. Nobody every explained to me why there were these two different realities much less what to do with this information.
I feel fortunate I found a way to combine these two perspectives but not everyone was that lucky as some of my peers were told ´´You are not good at art!´´ or ´´This is not for you!´´ or ´´Try harder!´´ How do you discourage a young child, or anybody for that matter? Not only can words hurt but they can haunt us for the rest of our lives and block our energy, flow and vitality.
Creative energy is innate to all of us. It is... life. After all, everything in life is energy and consciousness, and with that, has either been created by nature or by man (thought). It is important that we protect the energy of life, our creativity and that we become aware of it, connect with it, trust, grow and honor it, not shrink, ignore and judge it!
I am not saying we should not undergo the socialization process but I am suggesting it not be the only process we focus on. Just like we have two sides of our bodies, two hemispheres of our brain, and two polarities in general, there are two main ways of experiencing and seeing the world... Either you look through your eyes or you look through the eyes of others. The choice is yours. Besides, who says we can´t do both.
This is the reason I choose to facilitate my groups within a meditative setting and focus on self-exploration and expression. If we are able to quiet the mind and fully experience staying in the present moment, we can feel peace and a profound connection to ourselves, to others and to "all that is."
I also never understood how art was graded nor who determined an art piece to be beautiful. When observing my peers at school I also noticed how some children focused on the process of creating something while others hurried to ´´get done what needed to get done´´ to get approval and a good grade. Nobody every explained to me why there were these two different realities much less what to do with this information.
I feel fortunate I found a way to combine these two perspectives but not everyone was that lucky as some of my peers were told ´´You are not good at art!´´ or ´´This is not for you!´´ or ´´Try harder!´´ How do you discourage a young child, or anybody for that matter? Not only can words hurt but they can haunt us for the rest of our lives and block our energy, flow and vitality.
Creative energy is innate to all of us. It is... life. After all, everything in life is energy and consciousness, and with that, has either been created by nature or by man (thought). It is important that we protect the energy of life, our creativity and that we become aware of it, connect with it, trust, grow and honor it, not shrink, ignore and judge it!
I am not saying we should not undergo the socialization process but I am suggesting it not be the only process we focus on. Just like we have two sides of our bodies, two hemispheres of our brain, and two polarities in general, there are two main ways of experiencing and seeing the world... Either you look through your eyes or you look through the eyes of others. The choice is yours. Besides, who says we can´t do both.
This is the reason I choose to facilitate my groups within a meditative setting and focus on self-exploration and expression. If we are able to quiet the mind and fully experience staying in the present moment, we can feel peace and a profound connection to ourselves, to others and to "all that is."
Creativity/Movement is the "what." Meditation is the "how." Contemplation is the "why."
