By Dr Wahida Murthy
We have in all the centuries of civilisation, been enamoured with the developments that make ones work and living apparently easier and liveable and have in the process also paid a heavy price. If one were to look back in the last 5-6 decades, what is obvious is that, there is a growing disconnect with one’s own relationships, be they personal or professional. The material development and wealth created has been at the cost of depleting warmth and kinship. In fact one’s own disconnect with oneself has been the cause for a growing number of illnesses. While the illness have found favour with modern medical methods of management and treatment is available, the root of the problem does not get addressed well enough.
Today the field of Psycho-neuro-immunology has validated the connection between the human mind and bodily processes and Health is addressed as state of spiritual, Emotional, Physical and Socialwell being. Inside of “Traditional, complementary, Integrated Healthcare” system also practiced in Europe since a century Art therapy plays an integral part.
Generally Art in any form (Poetry, singing, music , drawing and painting, clay work , sculpturing, movement, architecture etc) works as healing impulse on the concious soul and spiritual realm of the human being. Either we look at art work or participate in the art activity which also allows one to express thoughts and feelings which sometimes one is not able to express in words. Hence Art is also called as language of Heart . The experience of joy, happiness, creativity, freedom, peace of mind, fulfilment, etc in regular doses enhance the life giving processes, work on strengthening our immune system, in any age group.
In growing children art is a way of life, which needs to be encouraged as early as possible because artistic creative forces directly impact the development of Physical, Psychological and social health. In adults Art helps to maintain health and ability to face challenges and stress. In elderly, art works directly on sclerotic and lifestyle illnesses. Joyful living, creativity diminishes tendencies of dementia, enhances memory and longevity of life.
So what is Art therapy?
Healing forces are hidden in art…Dr.R. Steiner
Specifically here Therapist focuses on the Disease process and is “being of service” to the client. Here Its not, only Art work as end result, but being in the process of bringing back balance through art…in a way it is art sacrificed. He/she in association with medical professional, aims at creating methodically prepared art exercises which would complement the healing processes.
Art therapy works on all the physical illnesses (chronic life style diseases like Diabetes, hypertension, neurodegenerative disease and all the sclerotic tendencies including cancer.) It is most effective in Psychological illnesses.(Anxiety, Depression, Panick attack, OCD ADHD and autism spectrum.).
Process of art therapy is all about discovering balance.One has to experience it to understand it.
Eg. In painting therapy client is guided by the therapist to work to create balance with colours in the painting space step by step, which in turn creates inner balance and health from the disease causing inner imbalance.
We discover the healthy balance through art by planning the following approach.
1. General.
2. Specific. a) Dis-ease specific.
b) System specific.
c) Organ specific.
It is also working in depth on all the 4 koshas (sheaths) 5 elements, 3 systems (Thinking, Feeling, willing), Temperaments, Planets, 12 senses, 7 life process…
We use mainly following healing gestures to balance.
a) Nature moods and colour sequences.
b) working with polarity.
Example:
Breathing in. Breathing out
Opening – Closing
Levity. – Gravity
Light. – Dark
Lightness – Heaviness
Expansion.- ContractionEtc.
It is recommended to do some form of art regularly to impact the soul element positively and thereby the entire Human system.
I have shared few pics from my clients art work who belong to different age groups .
References: Mother Nature – the largest living art GALLERY, Goethe’s“Theory of colours”, aided by Dr. Rudolf Steiner’s wisdom of healing forces behind the colours. Deep gratitude to my teacherMs. Caroline Chanter, Dornach Switzerland.
