Art as Therapy
How does it work
The core subject of art is a feeling, not reasoning. By means of art we enable ourselves to express our inner feelings, including the ones we are not aware of intellectually. When you engage yourself in some form of art that resonates with you personally, you let your deeper emotions out and unburden yourself from the weight of it all. Even without knowing the process and the mechanics of therapy, such artistic activities bring about healing on some level. If that process is guided by knowledge and expertise, the therapeutic effect would be even stronger. But even without an expert by your side, you can reap the benefits, if you pay attention to your intuitive guidelines. The main thing is to let go of all the harmful feelings and thoughts, and to connect to one's own soul, so that the burden is lifted and new insights are available to make the right decisions.
All of the attitude issues and emotional shortcomings are transient and subject to change with a proper set of tools. On that note, we are suggesting wholesome arts as your instrument of change.
Art therapy has been known to release any pent-up emotions that bring about emotional weakness. It is that weakness that debilitates our immune system, and lets us be the target for whatever harmful entities out there - such as viruses, bacteria, toxins etc.
You can unwind through:
- painting your worries or fears/anger away,
- writing it off as a story or diary, and find the good that came out of the bad experiences
- shaking it off through dancing
- playing or singing it out of your system
- designing or sculpturing forms that transcend the common limitations, including your own
and through it use the newly discovered creativity to uplift you and boost your emotional intelligence. Through the use of personal creativity many of the unsolved issues in your life will solve themselves, because unleashing and nurturing your soul, it brings a new perspective on life.
Art appeals to the unconscious (breaking the censorship of consciousness), its power lays in suggesting, not explaining; in invoking innate understanding & feeling of the observer. The aim of art therapy is to achieve your ends whatever they might be.
Arts is there to trigger or awaken that what is already there inside you. Maybe to propound a stimulating tone, or a stirring hue, or a touching verse, all in service of making you feel that there is more to your life's circumstances than you are willing to believe. In a spot-on package it's most likely to touch you deeper than a scholar report, or a friend's advice. The great thing about art as therapy, you don't really have to do anything but surrender to its force, let it bring out the best in you. Art has been known to do that.
Art as Therapy
Passive or Receptive
If creating or engaging in arts is not an option for you, then enjoying the artworks of others can have the similar effect if chosen rightly.
Many of the artworks are impressive, but few are moving. Those that move you, inspire you to do something about your stressful condition are the right ones for you when looking for solutions. We are talking here in no way of arts as means of escaping the painful world of daily experience. We are talking here about the kind of arts that transcend you in an illogical way, that somehow change your mood, your vibration and your view of the world & life, the kind of view that takes you above the common conceptions and conditionings.
