What happens in the outside world is beyond your control, but the world that resides within you is yours to mould.
In times of uncertainty and social isolation, our minds often fail us. Internalising negative thoughts and feelings becomes a coping mechanism, which is damaging not just to your mental health, but to your entire well-being. Finding a way to break the shackles becomes imperative.
Art can set you free, by allowing a creative medium to do the talking, you not only take back the control of your presence of mind that you may have thought you had lost, but you also purge pent-up emotions. Art therapy allows you to express your true self without judgement. When you create or admire art, you activate the part of your brain that also manages stress. You mobilise your mind even when your physical being is forced to remain immobile. Blissful thoughts replace negative ones, and a feeling of being productive serves as a welcome distraction. In fact, some of the artists associated with Art-ma are known to produce work that is healing to the mind, body and soul.
Art can also be a window to the outside world. Take mandalas as an example, the word means ‘circle’ in Sanskrit – which is a powerful symbol in many cultures. This concentric circle pattern is familiar to us, it surrounds us. We see it in nature, in our biology and our universe. Creating a mandala is therefore not just therapeutic and comforting, it is also symbolic. Your inner self is reflected in the shapes you create and the colours you use. The mandala you create is a snapshot of your mind at that moment in time.
If you are wondering where to begin, Art-ma has provided a blank mandala for you to download and fill with your imagination of colours. If you need inspiration, you can always refer to a completed version of this mandala, created by artist Ashima Kumar. Art-ma’s goal here is to help you heal through synchronicity and visual representation.
Remember, art therapy isn’t about how the final product turns out. It is about the meditative journey that you take in creating that product. So in tough times, surrender to your creative side and let art heal you
