Art-Making: The New-Age Meditation Practice

Making art is a meditative practice that can help individuals achieve a sense of mindfulness and emotional stability. It is a form of self-expression that allows people to connect with their true selves and escape the negative, anxious thoughts that often plague their minds. The process of creating art can be therapeutic, providing a sense of flow and freedom from the stresses of everyday life. This is supported by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois, who used art as a coping mechanism to deal with overwhelming emotions during her childhood. Furthermore, art therapy has been found to have healing effects for various ailments, including depression, trauma, and illness, improving overall well-being and even enhancing life expectancy in cancer patients.

Art is a vehicle for meditation and self-connection

Creating art is a form of meditation, a way to train the mind to increase awareness and emphasise acceptance of feelings and thoughts without judgement. It allows us to create space between our anxious thoughts and connect with our true selves.

Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher, writes: "Identification with thoughts and the emotions that go with those thoughts creates a false mind-made sense of self, conditioned by the past… This false self is never happy or fulfilled for long. Its normal state is one of unease, fear, insufficiency, and non-fulfillment."

Creating art is about reaching a state of consciousness and breaking free from the constant negative chatter of the mind. It is a way to access a meditative state and the profound healing it brings.

Art therapy has been shown to have a healing effect on a variety of ailments, including depression, trauma, and illness. It is effective across age, gender, and ethnicity. In one study, cancer patients who underwent art therapy in conjunction with conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation experienced not only a reduction in symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and anxiety but also an increase in life expectancy.

Art, like meditation, allows us to connect with our true selves and break free from the fleeting or false sense of identity that can be created by our thoughts and emotions. It provides a sense of flow and freedom, allowing us to tap into a deeper and quieter part of ourselves and enter a state of present-moment awareness.

Through art, we can achieve a meditative state that fosters acceptance, awareness, and relaxation of body and mind.

Art provides a feeling of flow and freedom

Art is a form of meditation that can help people attain a feeling of flow and freedom. This means that one can get so immersed in the process of creating art that they lose track of time and enter a state of flow, where they feel calmer and more energised. This is similar to the meditative state achieved through practices like mindfulness.

Creating art can help people tap into a deeper and quieter part of themselves, allowing them to enter a state of flow and present-moment awareness. Artists can experience a sense of freedom from physical constraints, such as their body or form, and connect with their true selves. This can help them break free from the constant chatter of the mind, which often includes negative and anxious thoughts.

Research has shown that both meditation and art-making can increase awareness and acceptance of feelings and thoughts without judgment, leading to improved emotional stability. By focusing on the creative process rather than the outcome, people can settle into a flow state and experience the therapeutic benefits of art. This can be particularly useful for individuals dealing with overwhelming emotions or harsh realities, as it provides an escape and a sense of freedom.

Additionally, art provides a sense of freedom from the constraints of verbal communication. It enables individuals to express themselves non-verbally, connect with others on a deeper level, and say the unspeakable. This aspect of art-making can be especially beneficial in therapy, providing a means of communication and self-expression that transcends words.

Art allows for true self-expression

Art is a form of self-expression that goes beyond words. It is a language of its own, allowing us to connect with ourselves and others on a non-verbal level. This is especially powerful in therapy, where it can be an effective way to express the unspeakable, as seen in creative therapies with children.

Art enables us to tap into our true selves and express our emotions freely. It creates a space for us to explore our thoughts and feelings without the constraints of language. This form of self-expression can be deeply therapeutic, helping us to cope with overwhelming emotions and providing a sense of sanity, as French-American artist Louise Bourgeois experienced. She famously said, "Art is a guarantee to sanity".

The process of creating art can be a meditative act, fostering acceptance and awareness of our feelings and thoughts without judgment. It allows us to disconnect from our negative, anxious thoughts and connect with our authentic selves. This is supported by spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle, who writes about the false sense of self created by identifying with thoughts and the accompanying emotions. He states that this false self is often a source of unease, fear, and insufficiency.

Through art, we can break free from the constant chatter of the mind and find a sense of peace and self-expression. It provides a channel for us to communicate our deepest thoughts and emotions, which can be deeply moving for both the artist and the observer.

Art has the power to move us deeply, even when we don't know the specifics of its origin. This highlights the ability of art to transcend verbal communication and allow for pure self-expression. Whether it's through painting, sculpture, music, or any other form, art provides a unique language that speaks to our souls.

Art helps us become steady and centred

Art is a stabilising force, a way to anchor oneself in the present moment. It is a way to connect with your true self and to find stability.

French-American artist Louise Bourgeois, who lived to the age of 98, famously said, "Art is a guarantee to sanity". For Bourgeois, art was a tool to cope with overwhelming emotions. She would mould sculptures out of breadcrumbs at the dinner table as a child, as a way to deal with her dominating father. Art was not just an escape for her, but a way to maintain her sanity.

Art therapy has proven to be an effective healing method for a variety of ailments, including depression, trauma and illness. It is a powerful tool for enhancing psychological well-being. It can help us take responsibility for our emotions and create a sense of emotional stability.

Art, like meditation, helps us to create a distance from our negative, anxious thoughts, and connect with our true selves. Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle writes:

> "Identification with thoughts and the emotions that go with those thoughts creates a false mind-made sense of self, conditioned by the past… This false self is never happy or fulfilled for long. Its normal state is one of unease, fear, insufficiency, and non-fulfillment."

Tolle's words highlight the importance of breaking free from the constant negative chatter of the mind, and art is a powerful tool to achieve this. It allows us to reach a state of consciousness and connect with our authentic selves.

Creating art can induce a state of flow, where we become fully immersed in the present moment and lose track of time. This state is highly beneficial for our mental and emotional health. We let go of control and allow the art to emerge organically, which can be a liberating and calming experience.

Art provides a sense of steadiness and centredness by helping us connect with our true selves, cope with overwhelming emotions, and find stability and emotional balance. It is a powerful tool for self-discovery, self-expression, and enhancing our overall well-being.

Art therapy has a healing effect for a variety of ailments

Art therapy is a non-verbal treatment that allows people to express themselves creatively. It is particularly beneficial for those who struggle to communicate their thoughts and feelings verbally, such as individuals with dementia or traumatic brain injuries.

Research has shown that art therapy can reduce symptoms of trauma and depression, improve quality of life, and alleviate psychological symptoms. It can also enhance life expectancy, as seen in a study of cancer patients where art therapy, in conjunction with conventional treatments, resulted in improved life expectancy.

Art therapy provides a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their emotions and gain personal insights. It allows people to connect with their true selves, fostering self-expression, self-awareness, and improved self-esteem. The creative process involved in art therapy can help individuals cope with symptoms, increase awareness of self, and adapt to stressful and traumatic experiences.

Additionally, art therapy can be especially effective for children, who often express themselves more easily through creative mediums. Art therapy can help children experiencing behavioral or social problems, those who have experienced trauma, and children with learning disabilities or special needs.

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