Category: VIDEOS

Healing Imagery

The use of imagery in healing by Suchinta Abhayaratna, Th.D. – Extracts

The famous psychologist Carl Jung writes in his book, Man and His Symbols, that symbols and images can express complex concepts that may not be adequately expressed in words, and make them relevant across cultural barriers, far beyond their point of origin.

Jung writes, …a word or an image is symbolic when it implies something more than its obvious and immediate meaning. It has a wider unconscious aspect that is never precisely defined or fully explained. Nor can one hope to define or explain it. As the mind explores the symbol, it is led to ideas that lie beyond the grasp of reason.

Jeanne Achterberg writes that imagination is a mental process that is “the communication mechanism between perception, emotion and bodily change.” Jung, C.G., Man and His Symbols, (NY: Dell Publishing, 1968), 3 – 4

It is “the world’s oldest and most effective healing resource, affecting the body intimately on both seemingly mundane and profound levels.”Jeanne Achterberg, Imagery in Healing (Boston: Shambala, 1985)

Dr. James Oschman, a pioneer and researcher of Energy Medicine writes that, “…looking at a symbol, or even thinking about (visualising) a symbol results in considerable neural activity involving measurable electrical and magnetic fields.” According to him, writing or drawing the symbol can activate sensory and motor pathways and therefore bring in many more electrical and magnetic fields. Viewing, visualising or writing a symbol can trigger specific patterns of electrical and magnetic fields in and around the body that can be healing. It is also possible that some of these energy fields might be beneficial to a nearby person.

Dr. Judith Cornell describes the mandala as “a concrete symbol of its creator’s absorption into a sacred center.” In its most elevated form, the sacred circle (mandala) mirrors an illuminated state of consciousness through a symbolic pattern – making the invisible visible. It is meant to draw creator and viewer into an encounter with animating sources of numinous (spiritual) energy. The Navajo call this center “a spiritual place of emergence” for sacred imagery. By focusing on it, both mandala artist and mediator can open to the divine energies of deities and to the contents of his or her own spiritual and psychological self. When a practitioner wilfully illuminates and embodies a sacred image from within the psyche while in a meditative state, spiritual transformation, physical healing, and the integration of personality fragments can result.

 For Cornell, the creation of a mandala is about healing and self-realization.

All the pictures are from Judith Cornell’s book.

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MANDALA MAKING MORNING

Every Mandala you make will bring you closer to the truth of who you are! Based on Dr. Judith Cornell’s Mandala Luminous Symbols for Healing program, this is a week by week themed mandala making program with the intention of making joyful and light-filled discoveries.

Events are on Thursdays and Saturdays. Event timing is flexible depending on participants’ time zone. Pls enquire at the contact from below! Thank you.

Details and FACEBOOK PAGE@THIS LINK

EVENTBITE REGISTRATION LINK

FACEBOOK EVENT

Read more about MANDALAS @ THIS LINK

 

DEPRESSION

Audio Version

There has always been a dark hole since I was born.
At the beginning when I was surrounded with loving care there was still a tangible darkness present.
The regime made our lives a misery.
The mental illness that lingered in every room made me feel insecure.
There hasn’t been a moment in my life when I felt at peace.
I know no peace. I do not know how to relax.
My life is a roller-coaster of anxiety, depression and a sense of helplessness.

Now when I am down – it happens more often these days, now that we are in COVID-wave2, because suddenly I started to feel trapped again – I sit with it. Though there are a lot of ‘uplifting’ ways to ensure that I do not feel depressed, I still prefer staying with it.

Depression is part of my tapestry. I grew up with mental illness, depression and suicide around me. I recognize these beasts that tear life out of the living through the weak nerves. These beast operate like spiders, they web your thoughts first, then they paralyze you and finally they take over your whole life.

In my observation, most people with depression try to treat themselves with a form of addiction – drugs, alcohol, games, sex, etc . Unfortunately, none of these cure the ailment of the mind. Instead these hold the victim even more bound in depression and anxiety; in a dark hole where they are now digging themselves in even deeper.

I now think that both anxiety and depression are distillation of earlier events into a pitcher of darkness filled with paralyzing fear.

The spiritual and meditative path that was shown to me 20 years ago has been a blessing. It has not turned my life into a constantly blossoming flower garden though. It has, however, contributed to me becoming more accepting of it. Therapeutic-art became my tool and companion in discovery and release. Whatever shows up, I look at it and put it down on paper. And so we meet, face to face. As a next step, I usually allow my inner light, my personal healing power to shine through the darkness by creating ‘Illumination’ Mandalas.

Though I still do depression and occasionally I allow it to run me for a while, I have also become an observer to it. And this is the key. I now sit with my beasts: my anxieties and my depression. They are dark forces that make my heart ache and they exhaust me to the bone. I know both of them well. I call them relatives. I have understood over the years that they are my companions this lifetime. I can sedate myself to the point where I do not recognize them any more but it is not necessary. They do not have control over me any longer because now I recognize them. I look into them, into the darkness, I see them, they see me, and I am not afraid. I am not scared of falling into that pit any more because I have awareness of it.

It is like walking on an unknown land. Until you know the territory, you are afraid of falling into a trap. I know this territory well now. When they show, I just sit with them and let them speak to me. I let them show me the lesson. They are my personal TV-Show-Hosts. They appear on the screen to introduce the next program on my main channel called Life.

By not trying to squash or numb my depression and anxiety but allowing them to be, they let me be. We co-exist. They are part of me. They want to be recognized, accepted, and embraced in the totality of who I am.

Most of the pics are my own. Top pic artist is unknown.

What’s real?

(Watch this video before you read the text below!)

AUDIO VERSION OF THE TEXT BELOW

We have become so clever! We have read numerous books on ‘how to’. You understand the concept of ‘living in the moment’ or ’what you focus on is what you get. It still does not seem to make the shift. Today, though you are full of valuable knowledge, you live exactly the same way you lived two months ago or even two years ago.

So, what’s wrong? Why  is it that you don’t seem to be able to make that essential change that would make your life look the way you want it to be?

Well, the answer is somewhat complicated because your are a complex being. 🙂 However, there is a short answer.

It is because you do not act upon your newly found knowledge. Just like in the video, you may not ever have tried to ACT upon the wise advise you found in these books, or workshops, seminars, webinars or conferences. You are still sitting at home contemplating those ideas rather than LIVING them.

The only way to make lasting change is to DO LIFE DIFFERENTLY.

Doing it differently requires you to INVESTIGATE what does not work and what may work for you, then  LET GO of what does not work, and finally  PRACTISE the newly found way of doing and being.

I am CREATIVE. I dare say that I am an expert in doing IT differently. Apart from having lived in a number of different countries over the years, I made it my quest in life to constantly ‘uncover and change’. What I ‘know’, I did not learn  from books, I have discovered it along the way on my journey of Life.

Are you ready to  dive right in and ACT? Then, I invite you to join me …

The Therapeutic-Art Enrichment Group Program can help you bring awareness and light to those places in your consciousness where blocks to your fulfilment hide and it will replenish your Soul.

read more about the therapeutic-art enrichment program
OTHER SERVICES

Children of the self-absorbed

Nina Brown has written an amazing book called the Children of the Self-Absorbed. If you feel that you lack self- efficacy, self-esteem, and/or self- confidence I suggest you have a look at this video below and if you can read the book. The book is full of exercises that can support you gain awareness of your life choices in terms of your relationship with your parent(s).

It is often that we feel unworthy of having a magnificent and joy-filled life . Where does that sense of unworthiness stem from? Nina Brown invites you to have a look at your relationship with your family of origin ad investigate the narcissistic behavioural patterns resent there.

Wealth Dynamics

Well, deep down we all want to get rich so we can do the things that are meaningful to us. Very often though we do not realise that we do not need to do something to pay the bills or win the lottery to free up time for the things that we love doing.

According to Roger Hamilton (Wealth Dynamics&GeniusU), we all have an innate and natural way to do things that not only pleases us but when we are in the flow, it generate wealth for us, too.

In this early video Roger explains what the 9 types are and explains how you can recognise which one is your type. In case you are not sure about your type, on his website you can do a test that reveals your type. CLICK

During the THERAPEUTIC ART COACHING PROGRAM we investigate our Wealth Dynamic Profile and create an action plan around it. The Program will support you to take steps toward finding and creating meaningful and fulfilling work for yourself

READ MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND SIGN UP

IKIGAI

The reason for being!

This video gives a very short summary of what the Japanese concept and philosophy IKAGAI encapsulates.

This TED video gives a more thorough explanation of what IKIGAI is and how it may appear in one’s life.

Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is? Tim Tamashiro delights us with a journey into the discovery of Ikigai, a treasure map for finding one’s own happiness. Ikigai originates from Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate and home to one of the highest percentages of centurions in the world. Take the first step in discovering your own Ikigai, and earn your yellow belt in finding your purpose.

Aware!

“A self evident truth is that people who have a clear understanding of themselves enjoy more successful careers and better lives”

Tasha Eurich, organisational psychologist

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We’d all like to believe we’re self-aware, but in reality, the facts point to a more sobering truth. Organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich has spent the last 4 years researching what it truly means to be self-aware, and in the process, has made a surprising discovery about human perception. In this illuminating talk, Eurich dissects common misbeliefs about introspective thinking and provides a simple way we can get to know ourselves just a little bit better.