| In our high-speed society, there is a quick fix for | | | | sends its healing messages in meaningful images such |
| everything. Our rational minds are sharp and facile. If | | | | as moods, colors, shapes, people, animals, trees, |
| we have a problem we find someone who knows | | | | landscapes, buildings, pathways and countless forms, |
| how to fix it and we follow through—no problem. | | | | even words. This language is sometimes obvious and |
| That may work for your computer. But emotional, | | | | sometimes so ‘weird’, it appears |
| spiritual and general problems of energy and attitude | | | | indecipherable to anyone not trained in symbolism. |
| run deep. Changes or corrections at the surface may | | | | Fortunately, we can access the deep psyche in many |
| not endure. For underlying the rational function of the | | | | ways, through what are known as ‘expressive |
| brain are the limbic, intuitive and other deep | | | | arts therapies.’ One is sandplay, which provides |
| structures that powerfully influence our attitudes, | | | | hundreds of miniature figures from nature and culture |
| behaviors, and bodies. Contrary to the high value | | | | that you ‘play’ with in a box of sand. As |
| placed on language, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio | | | | you make worlds with the earthy sand and water |
| discovered that “Consciousness is the feeling | | | | and the little figures, you ‘dream awake,’ |
| that we have feelings” (Time, 9/18/99). It’s | | | | the psyche speaks. Another is to work with dreams |
| what we sense at a non- or pre-verbal level. | | | | that are themselves works of art. A trained analyst |
| The source of this sensing is the deep psyche. Its | | | | can help you relate to and work with the profound |
| ancient structures carry the blueprint of our authentic | | | | symbols sent by the healing center of your psyche. |
| selves—our unique mix of individual and ancestral | | | | Sand and dream work can be done exclusively or in |
| qualities. It is not the self insisted on by family and | | | | combination, depending on your preference. Either |
| society, but our true self. And the closer we come to | | | | way, traditional talk therapy is included but the sand |
| our original self the more organically and authentically | | | | and/or dream work act as powerful tools to bring |
| we can deal with problems. | | | | you the organic wisdom of the deep psyche, and |
| The language of the deep psyche is symbolic. It | | | | that makes all the difference. |