Can You Meditate Through Art?
When was the terminal time you enjoyed what you were doing so much that you lost track of time?
Can you lot recollect of a time when you were having coffee with a friend, reading, praying, embankment combing, or making fine art, you got so immersed that you all of a sudden realized ii hours had gone by without y'all realizing?
This feel is something researchers refer to as "flow," and it turns out it'southward really of import for your mental and emotional health. It also turns out that it'due south specially common during art making.
(You can read more about why nosotros experience period in fine art here.)
When Do You Experience "Flow?"
When I go into a land of flow through art, I feel similar I am a "medium." I am less making "decisions" about what to do in the art than I am allowing it to sally and develop. When this happens, it's pretty magical.
I really feel similar I am non in control of the art that is coming from me. (I could go far the way of course, and sometimes I practise, but I try not to.) There are moments I say to myself, "You desire me to do WHAT? That's going to expect horrible!" But I do it anyway.
Sometimes it does wait horrible, simply often it doesn't . It'southward a fascinating ride, not knowing what comes next. I am focused on ane atypical matter, the art, I let get of control, and I experience both calmer and more energized. Sound familiar? Sounds a lot like meditation, right?
You can meditate through art.
Letting Go of Control
My favorite writer, Isabel Allende, talks near not planning out her novels. Each year, she sits down on the same twenty-four hours, and starts writing a new novel. She has no plan, nothing. She lets whatever wants to come, come.
She follows her characters' wishes instead of dictating their lives. Boy, some of us could have a note from her in existent life, huh?
If you are somewhat new to art, or are currently in a slump, letting go of control over the product, and following the "process" can be a cute way to feel menstruum and meditate through art. For me, this is spiritual. This is meditating through art.
Mandalas: "Spiritual" Fine art
I don't see whatsoever art course every bit whatsoever more spiritual than some other. I believe a person'south intention can make art either a spiritual experience or non. Nonetheless, some art forms seem to more easily lend themselves to a "spiritual" or mindful experience. I such class is the mandala. I mentioned them in a post a few weeks back most helping kids with feet through art.
Bailey Cunningham, founder of The Mandala Projection, and writer of Mandala: Journey to the Center, explains that a mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle, or wholeness. She notes:
"It represents wholeness, and can be seen equally a model for the organizational structure of life itself – a cosmic diagram that reminds usa of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds."
This explanation hit domicile for me when she began ticking off all of the different places that mandalas announced. When people gather, we do it in a circle – for music, dancing, prayer, or but talking. Look for mandalas all around you lot:
– In the natural world: atoms, cells, eyes, faces, shells, fruit, flowers, trees, acorns, the sun, moon, stars, orbiting planets
– In compages: Domed buildings: the U.Southward. Capitol, St. Paul'southward Cathedral, the Taj Majal, the Dome of the Rock, The Imperial Vault of Heaven, parts of Machu Picchu, Stonehenge, the Parthenon, and countless ancient and modern temples
– In art: Tibetan sand mandalas, Celtic spirals, Yin and Yang, Halos, and in children'southward first figurative drawings
Mandalas are everywhere.
Mandalas and Art Therapy
Equally an fine art therapist, I run into part of my job as making art accessible to everyone. Mandalas are a mainstay for art therapists. Considering the mandala is a universal symbol, it feels accessible. You lot tin can make full a mandala with free form color, or create a highly patterned piece.
For someone who is not in touch with their creative side, a mandala tin be a prophylactic place to start making art. I demand that sometimes, don't you?
Mandala: One Manner to Meditate Through Art
At that place are countless means to meditate through art, and countless ways to make a mandala. In that location really is no right or wrong. But because I'm thinking at that place's a take chances that you either demand some inspiration for something new, or some management because it's your first mandala, here's a stride by footstep guide.
1. Gather your materials:
Newspaper, pencil, round object for tracing, and markers. Toss in one white or metallic pen for extra fun.
2. Create an Intention.
Once you lot have all your materials fix and have cleared a space for art making, take a few minutes to sit down quietly. Utilize this short relaxation and visualization to create an intention:
Pay attention to your breath. Notice what it feels like equally the wave of air moves naturally into your lungs, your chest and belly ascent, and and so out through your nose, your body falling as the wave crashes.
Simply follow the breath gently with your attending. You don't need to approximate it or change it, simply follow it.
Later on a few cycles of this, I invite you to telephone call to mind that quality or feeling that you most demand right now. You might need calm, centering, energy, peace, humour, or give up. When you are clear about what your intention should be, focus on that discussion for a few breaths.
Imagine that through your art making today, you lot will receive that quality or feeling.
When this feels concrete, y'all can gently open your eyes.
three. Trace a circle
4. Create a blueprint based on unproblematic shapes or lines.
I picked little bloom petals.
five. Repeat or elaborate on the pattern.
After I made the trivial petals, in betwixt each petal I drew more than petals that were a fleck fatter and pointed at the terminate.
Then I repeated those fatty, pointy petals over each other until I reached the border of the circumvolve. I as well added some dots into some of them.
6. Fill in your pattern with color.
vii. Enjoy!
What is your feel with flow, making mandalas, and spiritual art? What of import mandalas did I non mention on my list? Does your art exercise (or exercise, or cooking, or woodworking) feel spiritual at times? Why do you call up that is?
Resource:
Here's some more resources on meditating through art and mandalas.
The Mandala Project
Why Is Art Making a Form of Meditation? – Squeamish post from Art Therapy Reflections
Calm Down and Get Your Zentangle On – Famed art therapist Cathy Malchiodi's slice on Zentangle and meditative state
Mandalas as a Spiritual Practice – A overnice folio from the University of New Hampshire
The Meditative Art School – A couple who specializes in fine art and spirituality retreats in beautiful, exotic locations. How fun is that?
Celebrating the Mysteries: A Retrospective – A gorgeous book of artist Leo Kenney'southward art. They are luminescent.
References:
Cunningham, B. (2002). Mandala: Journeying to the Center, New York: DK Publishing.
Source: https://mindfulartstudio.com/meditate-through-art/
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