| There is an emerging movement around the world to | | | | sense of mastery over what is happening to us. |
| use expressive arts in healthcare settings because of | | | | There is a feeling of control. |
| the numerous benefits to overall wellness. Large | | | | Ultimately, art making is a language unto itself, helping |
| research hospitals such as Duke, Stanford, Ursaline, | | | | us say the things that we don't have words for, |
| Georgetown, Dartmouth, Sloan-Kettering and | | | | working through difficult experiences and making |
| Northwestern, and others, have long understood the | | | | sense of them, and connecting us to a higher place |
| value of bringing the expressive arts into the hospital | | | | of awareness. This way of working with images has |
| proper. Medical science is finding that artistic activities | | | | been prominent for humans throughout history. Mask |
| can actually prolong patients survival rate by reducing | | | | making, ritual pottery and objects, costumes, cave |
| stress levels, increasing relaxation, improving immune | | | | drawings, hieroglyphics - all are visual records of |
| system functioning, reducing and improving blood | | | | self-expression and communication through art. Art |
| pressure, heart rate and respiration, and reducing pain. | | | | has long been associated with spiritual connectedness. |
| The body is the vessel through which thoughts, | | | | Artistic forms such as Hindu and Buddhist Mandala |
| sensations, emotions, and all of life are experienced. | | | | paintings, Native American sand painting, Christian |
| Our bodies literally contain cellular memories of all | | | | iconographic images, and Australian dreamtime |
| growth and regeneration. Consciously tapping into the | | | | paintings, have always been powerful expressions of |
| wisdom of our bodies is a process by which we | | | | meditation, prayer, and healing. |
| exchange with dialogue through a new and different | | | | The beauty of using art as a means of healing |
| language. As we get more fluent in this language we | | | | expression, is that one does not have to be an |
| begin to realize that we truly hold within ourselves all | | | | accomplished artist or knowledgeable of art media. |
| the answers to our deepest questions, as well as the | | | | The focus of this form of art making is on the |
| ability to heal ourselves from emotional and physical | | | | process, not the product. Through the activity of |
| illness. Creative arts expression is one modality that | | | | making art, an individual is able to gain insight into |
| can trigger and enhance this natural process. | | | | one's inner self and uninhibitedly explore untapped |
| Imagery is the most fundamental language we have. | | | | feelings. The finished product is a two or |
| All of our brain processes are initiated through images | | | | three-dimensional record of the individual's insights, |
| and this is the way in which the mind communicates | | | | feelings, and perceptions. It can be touched, looked |
| with the body. Our thoughts have a direct influence | | | | at, and shared with others. The benefit of working |
| on the way we feel and behave. Negative and | | | | with images is that one is less likely to censor |
| anxiety-ridden thoughts cause stress on the physical | | | | oneself. We're accustomed to using words to |
| body and can influence the health of a body. Our | | | | communicate and more adept at filtering out |
| imagination can be a powerful tool to help combat | | | | information that is more challenging or threatening. |
| stress, tension and negativity. Visualization and | | | | With art, however, a slip of the brush is more likely |
| art-making can be used as a means to harness the | | | | to reveal unspoken thoughts and feelings - the |
| energy of imagination. It is a transformative | | | | results can be surprising, and the discoveries that the |
| experience when a negative, angry, and destructive | | | | art provides can be illuminating! |
| image is replaced by a positive, peaceful, and loving | | | | Expressive art is a wonderful and gentle means of |
| image. The body and the spirit responds vibrantly to | | | | connecting to and uncovering challenging and |
| this new awareness. | | | | repressed emotions that have been a factor in the |
| Quite simply, there are three reasons as to how and | | | | development of chronic illness. Releasing these |
| why imagery and imagination (the beginning of all | | | | feelings through the creative process relieves |
| artistic manifestations) are healing: | | | | stressors from the immune system, clears the mind, |
| 1) Our bodies do not discriminate between sensory | | | | and nourishes the soul, allowing the body to fight off |
| images of the mind and what it is that we call reality. | | | | disease and begin the healing process. It is an activity |
| 2) In the altered state of creating imagery or | | | | that can be explored by anyone, with talent or not, |
| imagining in our minds, we are capable of more rapid | | | | young or old. It is our birth-right to create our |
| and intense healing, growth, learning, and change. | | | | optimum health. |
| 3) We feel better about ourselves when we have a | | | | |