by nancy on December 30, 2011
Since intuition and creativity are natural phenomena and the by-product of a balanced and whole individual, my approach to developing them is the same – assist individuals through the identification and reclaiming of their authentic nature. Once your “self” has been reestablished, you are free to proceed through life in an unencumbered manner. Until wholeness is present, your perceptions can be clouded and controlled by other people’s beliefs, opinions, and attitudes.
The first step to regain your authentic nature is learning to still and clear your mind of all unnecessary chatter. Historically this has been done through meditation, though many children and adults aren’t interested in learning to mediate. That is okay because the same components-relaxing the body, clearing the mind, and stabilizing the focus-that are used in meditation to heighten conscious awareness can be taught and practiced with non-competitive or non-goal oriented drawing.
Using art to reclaim the “true self” can take place quite effortlessly by pointing the individual in the direction of their senses and introducing the Socratic method of teaching via questions. “How does it feel when you move your hand in that direction instead of the previous direction?” “Is there any identifiable sensation or feeling on your skin or in your gut, or do you experience it in one of your other senses?” By directing the individual to focus on their feelings and the body sensations that arise when they are creating you offer them an opportunity to explore the inner terrain of their own mind.
What we are duplicating is the natural exploration very young children do before they are inhibited by emotional restriction. Returning to this natural exploration of life with our five senses helps strengthen our sense of self and is a great way to step out of the “right” and “wrong” approach to life. Drawing in this manner can also drop you into a hypnotic-like state. Why is that important?
Between 1988 and 1992, while Dr. Bruce Lipton (author of The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles) was a fellow in pathology at Stanford Medical School, his studies proved that our beliefs and perceptions control our cellular biology, and that when we change our beliefs we can change our whole life. Dr. Lipton also found that hypnotic-like practices were the most effective way to change old beliefs that are stored in our subconscious. He felt that drawing, when approached in a noncompetitive manner, was an excellent method for transforming old beliefs, because it takes the brain into that relaxed and receptive state, which allows for the easy reconfiguration of thought patterns and beliefs, and it is also self-initiated.
So if you want to strengthen your intuition, expand your creativity or transform stifling subconscious beliefs you might want to explore the delights of playing with crayons again. You can begin with scribbling, drawing simple circles and lines or doodling – it doesn’t really matter. You don’t have to create something realistic, you only have to pay attention to how your body responds to drawing different shape lines, color, and texture and possibly have some fun.
by nancy on October 5, 2011
Sometimes when I draw I use a pencil and sometimes I use an eraser. The same is true with life. When I am clear about what I see and want, I use a pencil to add in the necessary lines to develop the picture. On the other hand, when I am unsure of what I am seeing, feeling, or wanting I need to use an eraser to remove the unnecessary lines. In these moments, I usually have too many images floating around in my mind, and I am unclear on which to follow. Using an eraser allows me to slowly extract what isn’t necessary; leaving only what my psyche wants me to see. Unfortunately, my lack of harmony tends to show itself boldly on the paper, so often I don’t like these drawings. On the other hand, I value them immensely, because they are my transformational road map.
I’ve had people look at my drawings and ask how I was able to capture so much with a simple line. The answer is equally simple. I had to transform my beliefs about the subject or how I might draw the subject, because that clouded my ability to see its essence. Once I remove the inaccurate beliefs that cloud my vision I don’t see form–I see the vibrational structure that creates the form, and that is where truth lies. The same is true with life.
If your mind is attracted to something and yet your body wants you to back away, what do you do?
This is not the time for a pencil! You can’t get clear by adding more lines; you have to get clear by removing unnecessary lines. In the process you can uncover the reason for your attraction and the wisdom of your retraction.
This is a time to use the eraser! Where do you start? Focus first on the details that seem unimportant, and then in your mind remove them with your imaginary eraser. One by one remove the things that don’t support or apply to this composition or situation for they just disturb your clarity. What are you left with? Normally you are left with two things–the core of the disturbance–the source of your uneasy gut feeling and your attraction–the subject’s “essence.”
In a composition you can only have one focal point. There is usually tension and sometimes conflict because that creates energy, excitement, and movement–but there is only one main focal point. So you need to choose. In the choosing, you create a reality. (Insightful artists know that this reality is not just on paper, but is a mirror reflection of their perceptions about life and themselves.) Observe the disturbance and observe the essence, then ask yourself what do you want to highlight or magnify. Do you want to create a piece about truth, essence, and purity or will the underlying current be about conflict, pain, disappointment, and upheaval? You can choose because you are creating a picture–it is your story.
When we are aware of what a pencil is used for and what an eraser is used for, we can create our life with the same clarity and effortlessness. Remember there can be only one focal point. So if you feel stuck use your imaginary eraser to remove the background clutter. Once you have done that you will be able to see the root of the conflict: the two different forces that are pulling you in two different directions. Then choose! Decide if your composition today is going to be a reflection of purity, truth, and essence, or if you need to create another picture for your “stuck” or “blue” period. There is no right or wrong, there is only choice. The internal conflict originates from the subconscious mind wanting to create one thing, and the conscious mind wanting to create something different. Pain is the by-product of your lack of alignment with your soul and your inability to choose. So use your eraser to get to the bottom of any internal conflict and then the choice will be obvious.
