There are those special moments in life when we feel more deeply its essence. In these times, our senses are heightened. Time expands, our perception opens, and we experience a greater sense of beauty. We feel a sense of oneness with all, it is as if things make sense. It is like seeing the world from the top of a mountain. Everything is in its rightful place. These are what Maslow called Peak Experiences. What is interesting is that psychologists now talk not only about Peak Experiences, but also Nadir Experiences. These are extremely dark moments in a person's life. The loss of a loved one, physical catastrophe, or any other painful life event can throw us into a space where our psyche gives up living out of the normal conditioned self (Robot Mind), and surrenders into a more pure state of cognition. Most people don't want to experience the Nadir. But artists seem to spend much of their lives exploring this state of consciousness. Art helps us experience it and move through it. It helps us use the experience to transform and let go of what is no longer serving us. It is most certainly a spiritual experience that can cause us to question the nature of everything. This week at The Art Garage we painted pictures in the style of Mark Rothko. As I was looking a bit into his biography, I was surprised to find out that he was an alcoholic and committed suicide at the age of 66. How painfully sad and disturbing. What an amazing talent, and yet he was tormented. Why is it that artists are so often tormented souls. When I was growing up my parents had a book of photos by Diane Arbus. I loved looking at these interesting and sometimes disturbing images of humanity. It wasn't until I was in my forties that I learned that Diane Arbus had committed suicide. I really felt that I wish I had known that when I was young. It might have helped me feel less alien and alone in my own struggle with finding peace and happiness. It wasn't until my senior year of high school, when I read the biography of Franz Kafka, that I suddenly had a realization of how I could learn to navigate life. Kafka was an unhappy and disillusioned man. But his writing so moved me; it is powerful and beautiful. I felt, through seeing his struggle, that ultimately happiness wasn't everything, but rather if I were to find something beautiful to leave in the world, that would make my life worthwhile. It is ironic that through changing my focus from myself to others, I was able to find purpose in my life and that lead me to happiness. Today I do feel a great sense of joy and a deep sense of purpose. But that doesn't mean I am always happy. Negative emotions are natural and healthy. Ultimately, we need not avoid the dark spaces. We don't have to run and hide from our sadness or fears. We can experience them with a sense of awe and conscious awareness, using those moments to understand deeply our own needs and the needs of others around us. We can use those moments as jumping off points to create something better for ourselves and the world around us. Art is a beautiful and soulful experience. Still we need help when we move into those spaces in the soul that are dark and painful. We need a basic sense of hope, feelings of unconditional love from others, and the awareness of purpose. My new date for purchasing the Brick House Sober Living is to be 10/10. The chance to bring more hope into the world can't be passed up!
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Abigail LarrisonEducator, Scientist and Art Maker. The purpose of all life is to spread joy. What brings more joy than making art? Archives
November 2023
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