Expressive Arts Therapy and Spirituality was the name of the workshop I offered as part of the "Creative Health 3rd Annual Conference for therapists, medical professionals, and caregivers to learn about the uses of Creative Arts Therapies in healthcare" put on by Maine Music and Health. This is the first of a series of blogs on the Sacred Dances we shared in the workshop and their divine and healing qualities. Today's blog is designed to give an overview of the workshop. Each of the following blogs are dedicated to the particular divine quality offered by each dance and its contribution to the journey of healing. There is a Jewish story that after taking much time to earnestly search through the bounty of Jewish laws, the essence of Judaism can be expressed in these three laws: 1) Self~reverence, 2) A tender heart, and 3) Beneficent Deeds. These profound qualities also beautifully and powerfully express the goals of emotional and spiritual wholeness and the intention of the progression of Sacred Dances chosen for the Expressive Arts Therapy and Spirituality workshop.
I'm grateful to my husband for the use of the above photo, as it perfectly expresses the energy of exhilaration generated by the 29 people who participated in Sacred Dances from diverse spiritual traditions. The photo shows the illumination and awakening I saw in people's faces and countenances as they embodied the divine qualities in the series of dances and added their own spirited movement improvisations. The Sacred Dances come from the Dances of Universal Peace as a way to both honor and bring together people from different faith traditions through the universal language of dance. I can attest to the power of these dances to make soulful connections among people from religions which have a history of conflict. After I graduated from college, many moons ago, I went to Israel with a performing group called Pageants of Universal Peace and we did these dances at holy sites with Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druids, Sikhs, Shepherds as well as people from other beliefs and walks in life. The far reaching expressions of joy crossed the divide of distinctions and differences and there was peace in our Sacred Circle.
The following are some quotes from people who participated in the Expressive Arts Therapy and Spirituality workshop:
"Uplifting & energizing! A great way for this busy graduate student to reconnect with my body." Lisa Jade
"- A truly worthwhile experience - I liked your mix of different faiths. I got a lot out of the experience." Greg Stanen
"The workshop you did yesterday was wonderful !
I think you could also see that everyone in the group was "glowing", smiling ...during and when they left.
Your talent at making people feel valued and welcome is very evident.
The dancing was lots of fun..." Nancy Lagin
The focus for the next blog is the Sacred Dance, Tis A Gift To Be Simple from the Shaker tradition and how it inspires the quality of Divine Innocence, the first step towards healing.
This is my favorite photo of the highest point in Portugal. Akiba and I went to Portugal last summer to visit friends and make a pilgrimage. I'm putting together a film of some glimpses of our pilgrimage and look forward to sharing it as soon as it's finished being born.
On another note, I've been asked to be the coordinator for the Emotional and Spiritual component of Above and Beyond, a holistic health center in Manchester, Maine. Please let me know if there is a branch of emotional and spiritual healing you wish to offer.
Fusing Glass is the layering of 2 or more pieces of glass and surrendering them to the fire of a glass kiln. It is quite miraculous to assemble pieces of glass and have them emerge from the kiln as a united and luminous whole. This creative process reflects the healing journey of life whereby the beauty, power and chi (life~energy) of challenging pieces of life are embraced.This whole~hearted embrace allows for the fire of suffering to be transformed into the light of joy! This serving dish was a birthday gift for my husband, Akiba.
The Women's Healing Grief Through the Expressive Arts is a 5 week group intended for women seeking to heal the loss of a loved one, a relationship, an ability, one’s home, the loss of one’s sense of self or any other source/s of grief through a life~giving and playful connection with the arts. As each art form has its own medicine to offer the body, heart, and soul, when multiple art forms are knowledgeably integrated in a safe and inclusive context, the brain circuitry for maximum wholeness is activated. Each week focuses on exploring the soul~nourishing qualities of different art forms. Participants may choose from the following art forms: painting, collage, fusing glass, movement, music, theatre, creative writing, poetry, and/or the film arts to help transform the suffering of grief into the empowerment of joy!
Women's Healing Grief Through the Expressive Arts is a group forming in November at Above and Beyond Wellness for Women, 8 Pond Rd, Manchester, Maine 04351. Please call Above and Beyond at: 512-8780 to let us know best days/times except for Wednesdays. Please call Maryam Mermey at: 458-3357 with questions about the group. No experience is necessary.
Dr. Maryam Mermey, Registered Expressive Arts Therapist, holds a Ph.D. in Arts, Health and Society. She also has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology, a M.Ed. in Arts in Education, and a B.A. in Dance and Poetry.
