How Can Intuitive Painting Help with Healing?
I have produced an online course that is available on Udemy called Intuitive Mandala Painting. Find it here:
https://www.udemy.com/course/painting-mandalas-with-meditation-instruction-for-creativity/?couponCode=LETSLEARNNOW
I did this because of my passion for art, specifically painting, and I imagine also because I am an empath, attuned to my emotional body, and so many times I know that intentional painting, also with activities around the action have made a difference in what has been going on. I live Tantra as a lifestyle to say yes to the wonder of life, and with the ups and downs of life, the painting has given a handy processing tool, again and again, and it has left new perspectives on the situation that I’ve been dealing with, and given great insights on what has been behind why things played out as they did, even potential solutions when there has been no answer before.
Meditation and yoga, even dance can be involved in this form of therapy. Let’s call it that, because it is art therapy. Here are some simple steps you can take to begin your journey into intuitive painting, which can also help overcome the belief: “I’m not good at art.” Which, many people say. Like everything, its something we can develop and this is a great tool that has endless creative pleasure and new creations every time.
Like everything, prepare with (acrylic) paints, water, music, a cloth, many brushes, a sanctuary in your home or in nature. It’s also nice to have a pen and a journal to write after your session, or you can share with others if you are doing this with someone else.
Begin with a meditation before you go to the canvas. This can be a silent seated meditation with the focus on the breath or the heart, a thicker paper or canvas/board in front of you, your hands can be placed on the medium you are going to paint on or your body. I like to use acrylic paints for this as opposed to watercolours, because they are stronger, you can layer them and throw them around. With watercolours it can turn messy right away if you decide to be reckless, and there is little chance of “correction” or layering, and this really is part of the process. Not caring about the final product but rather focusing on the journey. Same with oils – they don’t dry fast enough and are way to messy and risky, plus I don’t throw oils, and believe me, there is satisfaction in throwing paint!
After the meditation, set an intention. Keep bringing the intention to your time, also set an amount of time you will do this, potentially linking the intention to something happening in your life at the moment. There is always something, perhaps its why you even decided to give this idea of intuitive painting a try, we ae constantly in a process. Then look at your colours available and pick just two or three to work with to begin.
In this first phase, go for it! Make the paint watery and splash or throw it on. Be courageous, angry, playful but fill the canvas with colour and allow the mind to be free from “this picture is going to be like this.” Already, you become more free from yourself, your attachments, and therefore your suffering. Feel free also to pour it on and move the canvas around. Let it dry a bit before continuing, or not! Wet on wet is a risky, and unique approach that takes courage, and maybe that’s what you need?
Next, pause, breathe, come back to your intention. Keep going with other colours if you want and in this phase, let it link the deeper emotion or belief to the present. Formulate the topic, characters, you, the items in the situation and see if they appear in what you are doing now. Do this or make shapes representing things that are happening or happened. Take a while for this. When you need a break, take it. Here you can put on some music and dance, or do a bit of yoga – a long posture and hold it, or three or four asana for grounding and steadiness. You could also walk away and come back, or journal a few moments as ideas, but do remember to take breaks, as space and reflection are key.
The gaps, also what you chose to do with your body and mind are important to process, to have the therapeutic element of painting come through. If someone is around, pull them into the process and see if they will comment on what you have on the canvas. Remember to be an observer, no reaction to what is said or what you’ve done so far. It is possible here, if someone is around, to give them a chance to also paint something on your canvas! Scary but quite revealing, and it doesn’t have to be connected to anyone involved in the issue you may be processing. Then be alone again and keep going.
The third part of a session with healing or revealing intention are the details. Now you can use smaller brushes and also add black and white to the picture. Work on it until you feel good or that there is some type of completion to what you are doing. Also decide to leave it and come back another day to make it a masterpiece. The emotional part has been done.
This has been quite a quick run down on how to use painting to link to life and healing. Share the process with someone else or journal about it. Painting can be a particularly easy way, also affordable, to let go of an attachment or a negative emotion. Life has its ups and downs, and its up to us to use good ways to be happy, also blissful. Instead of zooming out and watching a movie, eating, drinking or intaking something that isn’t good, grab a few paint brushes and see what happens!
https://www.udemy.com/course/painting-mandalas-with-meditation-instruction-for-creativity/?couponCode=LETSLEARNNOW