In the Body-centered Expressive Art Therapy work I use with clients, I often refer to the Mental, Emotional and Physical Bodies. I then share with them that these three bodies are upheld by the Spiritual Body. This corroborates with the Ayurvedic and Vedic Science understandings as well, and this explanation is often used in many of the Indigenous healing arts and energetic healing realms as well.
Within our Westerncentric culture, however, the Mental Body is king and we are asked to rely on its function predominantly. Unfortunately, many of us have other defaults that help us function in a more life-supporting way, but we may not get to use them as often as the Mental Body. We may have even learned to suppress the others as a way to cope with life and "manage" our existence. These different "default" settings within us are a reminder that we each learn differently and express ourselves differently as a result. It's important to create a relationship with all three bodies in our daily lives so that we can become more aware of what is "ruling" us, what predominates within our behaviors, and where we might need to create more conscious awareness. For example, many people have little to no connection with their emotional bodies and often confuse the messages coming from the emotional body with what the mental body is saying. This can result in not getting our basic emotional needs met. In order for us to get our needs met (either by ourselves or others) we must be aware of what our needs are to begin with! Having a conscious relationship, a habit, of checking in with our three bodies or "three levels of awareness" as they are referred to in the Tamalpa Life Art Process (TLAP) is step number one. When we have a more conscious connection to our inner realms, we can then take more effective actions and create a more nourishing and supportive life for ourselves. Often this will come from a realization of "what isn't working" and then changes can start from there. Our emotional, mental and physical bodies have much to tell us and many insights to offer us about what is and isn't working in our lives. Take this quiz to see what your "default" mode is and then let me help you take the next step towards deepening your awareness with them. 5 – Always True 4 – Frequently True 3 – Sometimes True 2 – Rarely True 1 - Never True Category #1 ____I thrive on using my body whether its walking, running, riding my bike or doing yoga. ____My body insists on three healthy, well balanced meals per day + at least one snack. ____Drinking ample water is as necessary as breath for me. ____Caffeine and alcohol are best in low doses or not at all. ____I can feel smoke and drugs instantly. ____Massage and other such treatments are my go-to self care treatment. ____Somatic presence is vital for my well being. ____I am present to all my physical sensations. ____I can not hold bodily functions and must take care of my physical needs immediately. ____Sleeping is a nonnegotiable tool for my total functioning. ____Using my body daily is a primary focus of mine. ____/55 Category #2 ____Making time for friends who matter and make me feel connected and happy is vital to me. ____I give myself permission to not be perfect and I remind my self to do the same for others. ____Accepting my feelings, including sadness, anger, frustration, and shame are my primary concern. ____When I'm feeling down, functioning is almost impossible. ____Taking weekends away, vacations or even mini bouts of seclusion are the only way I can stay sane. ____I seek or desire support from a friend when I am struggling. ____I am apt to tell others what I truly feel and need, but I am often fearful of the outcome. ____Emotional impulses get me motivated to take action- for better or worse. ____People describe me as "passionate". ____Moods are part of my personality. ____Life is highly dependent on "how I am feeling." ____/55 Category #3 ____Learning new things keeps me going. ____When I'm mentally stimulated, I feel a sense of thriving. ____I prefer to read as a relaxation tool. ____My preferred creative outlet is writing. ____I make lists- for everything! ____Doing work or tasks I find mentally challenging is exhilarating. ____I thrive on active conversation, debate, facts and statistics. ____The most important thing to me is how much I "know." ____Others see me as a thinker, always learning and growing. ____I'd rather "feel" less and be clearer about what I think. ____I think emotions can be overcome by a rational mind. ____/55 Category #4 ____Spending time in nature is as vital to me as breath. ____I attend religious services or meetings at least once a week. ____Meditation is my primary self care tool and it takes care of all my other issues. ____Physical movement helps me "feel connected" to something greater than me. ____Gratitude often is all I need to "feel better". ____Reflecting time and making meaning of my experiences keeps me sane each day. ____I can let go of my worries and fears, because I trust god/universe/source to take care of it for me. ____My main practice is being in the moment- savoring and reflecting upon my experiences in the "now". ____I often feel as though it's not up to me to take action, that only something "beyond" me will take care of it for me. ____Most of my life I've felt "different" from others and not aligned with the "worldly" ways of this life. ____Material pursuits feel pointless and unnecessary most of the time. ____/55 Tally your numbers and notice what category has the highest number for you. What is the second strongest category for you? Category #1: Physical Body Category #2: Emotional Body Category #3: Mental Body Category #4: Spiritual Body Your highest numbers will reflect your "default" mode. These modes may change from day to day, week to week, year to year and so on. Ideally, we are creating an ongoing dialogue with these four bodies that helps us maintain a sense of balance and thriving. To connect with the "three levels of awareness" more consciously and start your practice of being aware of your needs more directly, check out my article on doing a Three Level Check-In, for easy step-by-step instructions. Still need help? Confused by all these bodies and your default mode? Connect with me to find out more about my work and scheduling a session. Or join me for one of my workshops and get embodied and grow in your creativity! See workshops.
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Moon Mind
2.21 Moon transits Libra in Vishaka nakshatra with Mars, Saturn and Rahu there and receives drishti from Jupiter. Moon is in the 7th tithi ruled by Saturn. Today can offer a sense of expansion and a productive agenda towards goals. As the there is much movement being felt energetically with so much Rudra energy here, it is important to effectively harness his strength and momentum. Be practical in your to-do's and set mini goals for maximum achievement. Take time for embodiment and bring conscious awareness to the physical body and the "internal winds"- ie. prana. It's too easy to get "blown around" right now and not be grounded. A three level check in is a great way to Self track and check in with your own needs. Close the eyes and do a scan for Mental body, Physical body and Emotional body. Listen to their messages. 2.22 Moon moves to Scorpio (its sign of debilitation) and into Anuradha nakshatra. Debilitated Moons give us the ability for refined sensitivity, an internal focus and heightened intuitive awareness. Use your Saturday for stillness, inward attentiveness and grounding. Embodiment ensures a certain ability to "hear" what your needs/wants are so you can better address them. As Anuradha is ruled by Mitra and the planet Saturn, paying attention to the details of the physical body is assisted here. Today is the halfway point in the waning Moon (Krishna Paksha) as the Moon transits the 8th tithi (Ashtami). Let the pull be to the inside. We are nearing Shivaratri on the 27th where the silence is tangible. Though the planets are inspiring an outward pull, it's essential to attend to the calling of the inner realms as well. Today, if we pause, we can move towards greater balance and harmony. Go slowly. As Sun Moves to Satabisha, ruled by Varuna and who can bring an essence of judgement to us, it is a good time to check in with our critic. The critic is a part of ourselves that feels neglected, small, under served. It acts out and badgers us because it is seeking attention. It has some need or want usually. If we can attend to the need and the want, we often can befriend our critic. Creating a relationship with the critic is essential for artists, creators and those wishing to have more harmonies connections to Self and others.
Mask work is a great way to address the critic "head on" quite literally. Mask work helps us address the layers of ourselves, our personalities and all that we encompass. On a large piece of paper, create a face drawing. This will be your "critic mask". When you think of your critic, what comes to you? What colors, textures, expressions arrive? Let your mask express your experience with your critic. Does your critic have a name? Does it have a message for you? Let your critic be heard. Let it voice it self and share it self with you. Harvesting. Ask your critic these questions: What do you need? What do you want from me? I am ___ I feel____ *Extra credit for taking your critic mask into a dance. Dance, play, sing with your critic. Then, return to the harvesting questions. What, if anything, has changed? {Movement Explorations} -SJM So much movement within the planets this week. As Jupiter moves back into Ardra nakshatra, Rudra energy will be enlivened. This is a powerful and forceful energy that brings movement and changes with it. Destruction and chaos as well as emotions and anger. The symbols of Ardra are a tear drop and perspiration- the internal waters flowing; inner tides moving and offering changes. Change requires that there is an ending but also a beginning.
This week we will play with the image of "stepping into something new" and the movement and changes that come as a result of this forward momentum. Feet bring stability and grounding. They offer us the ability to "step forward" both physically and metaphorically in our lives. We sense and connect to the earth (the ultimate support system) through the souls of our feet which helps us find our overall balance, nourishment and resiliency. It's a new year and the time of Makar Sankranti in the Vedic calendar. Time to step forward with momentum and spring into new actions in order to harvest new growth, wisdom and abundance. Use the feet as a starting point for your movement exploration, but let this be a starting point only. Spine (flexibility and support) as well as chest (expand/contract and open/close) can also be important resources for self tracking this theme. Move through space starting with your feet awareness. Wake them up! Call upon them for activation! Let them move you forward! Let your feet speak to you! Then let that wisdom rise up through the rest of your body. Harvesting: What am I stepping towards? What am I moving away from? As I move forward, what do I need/want? As I close old doors, what do I need/want? What are my actions steps for growth and change? This week? This month? This year? As you think about your 2014 intentions/goals that you created last week, what image comes to you? Put this image on paper using a medium that connects to your theme. Example: water color for fluidity and change, oil pastels for commitments, collage for healing old wounds. The ribcase houses our heart and is both expandable and able to contract. Its movement is vital for breath, reaching, rolling, folding and bending. The physical connection to expansion and contraction correlates to these experiences on the mental and emotional levels as well. When we breathe in, it symbolizes our taking in of life/life force, while our exhales offer a letting go/release experience. The ribcase is literally like a door to our heart space, offering opportunity for both opening and closing. Especially important right now as Venus is about to go retrograde and we begin to re-evaluate our relationships and our relation to others in a more exact way.
Begin by walking and rolling your shoulders, noticing the connection to chest and ribcase. Roll your shoulders forward and collapse the chest while you exhale. Inhale, roll the shoulders back, open the chest. Repeat several more times until you make some new connections. How do you feel as you open? How do you feel as you close and collapse? Notice the differences and continue to check in with your breath. Try this simple awareness activity for at least 5-10 minutes. Then rest on your back with eyes closed to integrate. Come to your drawing pad and capture any images that came to you. What are you opening to? What are you closing to? Who and what is invited in and who and what is uninvited? When you have completed your image, answer these base line statements ::: I am___ I want___ I need___ Circle at least three key words. Then write a haiku with your harvesting. |
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