Hello Expressive Arts Friends,
On Thursday I participated in a Zoom session with
Dr. Gabor Maté hosted by Hollyhock, as part of their current Sheltering in Community series. The theme was Stress, Trauma, and the Current Moment. Dr. Maté reminded us of the importance of witnessing and processing the current stressors that are impacting us in various ways (isolation, illness, loss, economic instability, uncertainty, etc.). Without witnessing, the end result could be trauma - an imprint, a wound left in our bodies and
souls. Trauma, he said, is the result of having nowhere to process.
If you are receiving this newsletter, you likely already know how well the arts can help with processing feelings. Dr. Maté spoke of the importance of movement, music, and rhythm. He advocated compassionate self-witnessing, of 'being with' whatever your internal experience is. He suggested treating yourself the way you would treat a child who is upset and stressed. Be there. Be with. Listen, rather than distract,
disconnect, or numb. And, if you find yourself disconnecting, notice and witness that.
I noticed something in Online Open Studio this week that I thought might be helpful to you. Dr. Mate's presentation helped give context to my experience. In our Tuesday studio, I opened with the Loving Witness meditation, created specifically to help with compassionate self-witnessing.
As I moved from the meditation into my art-making, I felt compelled to cut up old paintings into random shapes and glue the pieces down on a round piece of paper. I kept cutting, and gluing, working quickly, and noticing the myriad of feelings that were arising for me. I felt a little frantic, and I struggled. When I stopped cutting and gluing, I began considering how to both accept and integrate all of the
pieces into a unified whole. I painted in the background. I did some movement in response to my image, and then some writing. I was looking for integration, while staying present to a feeling of fragmentation.
What I was trying to do with my image reflected exactly my inner emotional landscape, as I was witnessing all of my feelings and trying to hold and make sense of them. By the end of the session, I had reached a place of acceptance. I still wasn't entirely comfortable, but, when I looked at my image, I felt myself expand to hold it all.
The next day, we had another Open Studio session. This time, I felt the need to soothe and integrate. I chose to work on a detailed mandala-in-progress. Carefully painting in the details and shapes was comforting and relaxing. I noticed my breath becoming deeper.
When I reflect on these experiences today (a couple of days later) I see how much they helped me. The stressors of this pandemic are echoed in my being as a challenging array of ever-changing emotions. The first art session allowed me to both express those emotions, and, in the process of expressing, to really see
them, as they took tangible form. Although is wasn't easy to witness them all, the image helped me to do that.
In the second session, as a result of having witnessed myself, I was able to move into a soothing and comforting process, and further integrate my experience.
And, because Open Studio is a gathering of people witnessing ourselves and one another, I was able to both be witnessed authentically, and to be enriched by witnessing others.
PRACTICE
Although we are all experiencing this pandemic,
we recognize that you are each experiencing stressors that are unique to you.
We invite you to ask yourself:
- What is one small step I can take to compassionately witness myself?
- What is one small step I can take to compassionately witness another?
We invite you to take a 10-minute pause in your day, and try this:
Sit quietly, close your eyes, and notice your breath.
Become aware of your emotions. You do not need to name them, just experience them in your body. Imagine your emotions as shapes, lines, colors. Open your eyes and take 3 minutes or so to spontaneously put marks on your paper.
Then witness (not critique, not interpret) your image, with your eyes and your heart.
Write down the words I know..... and finish that statement.
Consider sharing your image and writing with a compassionate witness, whether a friend, family member, counselor or mentor. Find others to do the practice with you, and share via Zoom or Facetime.
Information on our Open Studios,
and access to the free
Loving Witness Art Meditation is below.
We have deeply discounted all of our online self-study courses this month.
We are continuing to create resources to serve you in this time, and we will keep you posted.
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Scroll all the way down to watch a lovely 'social distance' performance by the
San Francisco Ballet.
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And share some love by creating a postcard of support for someone who needs it.
ONLINE SELF-STUDY WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS
50% off for the month of April
All of these have lifetime access, so you can get started now, or save them until the time is right.
Simply enter april2020 as the coupon code, and receive the 50% discount when you register.
CREATIVE WISDOM:
INTRODUCTORY ONLINE TRAINING IN EXPRESSIVE ARTS
8-week online self-study journey into the field of Expressive Arts.
Get started with your expressive arts training, and make creative changes in your life and work.
ART AS A HEALING PRACTICE
A 6-week series of carefully guided themed sessions. A deeply healing experience, using a gentle and powerful blend of guided meditation, visual art, and writing.
10 STEPS PERSONAL EXPRESSIVE ARTS PRACTICE
Ten steps, ten weeks, ten practices that will guide you into the power of expressive arts in your life. Perfect for anyone new to this work.
INTRODUCTION TO MANDALA:
UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF TRANSFORMATION
Experience the power of the mandala, or sacred circle.
A recorded 1-hour talk and power point by Kathleen Horne, a guided meditation, and resources to create your own mandalas. A sharing forum is included.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS CHECK-INS
A self-study module that guides you in bringing imagination, grounding, presence and metaphor into your group or individual sessions. Some fun, creative ways to get right to the heart of what's happening.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS INTENTION SETTING - SELF-STUDY
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Expressive Arts to chart your course through a threshold or new beginning. Discover and activate your intention as you create along with us.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS DISCOVERY - SELF-STUDY
Discover what a journey into your own creative wisdom can yield. Create with us in this guided workshop.
ONLINE OPEN STUDIOS 3x each week
Tuesdays, 1-4 pm EDT
With Kathleen Horne
Wednesday Open Studio 10 am to 1 pm EDT
Thursday Pop-up Open Studio 5 pm to 8 pm EDT
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
There is no fee for Open Studios. Love Offerings are gratefully accepted.
LOVING WTINESS ART MEDITATION
(no charge)
You can return to it as often as you like. If it is meaningful for you, please share with others.
Make a Traveling Postcard
From your home, you can support a survivor of gender-based violence by making a postcard that will be delivered, through the Women's Wisdom Initiative. A beautiful way to extend compassionate witnessing
and support through art-making.
We may be distant, but we’re not disconnected.
In Sequentia, a choreographic chain letter,
ten San Francisco Ballet dancers connect through movement.
With love and gratitude,
Kathleen, Victoria, Tamara
Kathleen Horne, LMHC, REACE, REAT
Tamara Teeter Knapp, K-12 Art, REACE
Victoria Domenichello-Anderson, REACE
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