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  • A tree as metaphor

    Before I ever got to graduate school to study dance movement therapy I practiced, studied and assisted in a movement based creative arts modality for 20 some years. This modality, called Motional Processing is based on the (Anna) Halprin Method and uses therapy techniques from movement, art, writing, drama and group. When I work with groups and individuals today these techniques are an essential part of my practice.

    One of these techniques is working in the environment with metaphors. In 1991 while assisting with a Motional Processing group I had an opportunity to jump into the experience as a participant. This particular group was a ten-day residency of adults who came together to learn and expand their self understanding through a creative arts group process. On this day we went to a park and the group was instructed  to find a tree that spoke to some aspect of where they were in their lives and once they found the tree they were to explore their thoughts and feelings through writing, drawing and moving.

    The tree I chose was an oak that was quite massive and spoke to me of solidness and tradition with deep roots. My exploration of this tree included creative movement around the mighty oak as well as a poem and drawing which I share below.

    Blessing Tree
    The words I hear come from
    The voice of De Danna & the sound of
    The wings of the Red Tail
    In procession we walk/ side by side-proud like horses
    The rows sway with each hoof beat
    Together our voices raise the cry
    A sweet song of ancient harmonies
    Which dance on our
    Lips –hands-feet-hearts
    We are the tribe that carries the talking feather
    Come let us bless this tree
    And weave a circle round
    And celebrate the birth of a new spring.

    In the creative arts process the symbols that one creates in writing/drawing and movement contain valuable messages which speak to the circumstances of life. The unique aspect of the creative arts is that it often taps into the subconscious parts of ourselves and literally uses a different part of the brain to express than what is used to verbalize. This tree, for me, was a symbol of strength, endurance and family: the strength of roots and the endurance to maintain under pressure, and family, as a great uncle or perhaps a grandfather.

    I embrace trees in my life as symbols and more. Trees have been friends, play mates and companions in my life. They have been a place to hide, to cry, to feel comforted, and to play. Trees have provided food, shade, color and scent. They have and continue to be a blessing in my life.

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  • Blue Jay Coloring Page

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  • Narixa – Short Film by The Emigrated Movement

    Narixa is a short dance film based on the beautiful natural element of water. Shot in the ‘Río Chillar’, Nerja it explores the waters journey from spring to sea. Through dance and cinematography we analyse the waters relationship with both the human body and its natural environment. What starts as a pure and unpredictable moment can soon become a one-directional movement.

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  • Blackburns Bluet Coloring Page

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  • Resiliency

    In Dance Movement Therapy sometimes we work with the idea of resiliency.

    Resiliency ….. What does it mean to be resilient? Bounce back, bounce off of, withstand, remain standing. Is it a part of our hereditary, our inborn temperament? Perhaps it’s a positive self concept. An ability to remember the past, live in the present, and look to the future.

    Could it also involve hitting rock bottom, being aware of limitations, seeking support? Perhaps it’s a mentor, a will to live, a focus on healing.

    Could it be that resiliency is a connection with spirituality, a commitment to listen to others, a willingness to be truthful?

    One thing is certain that resiliency is different for everyone, with some commonality mixed in here and there.

    As a child, I found/rediscovered resiliency outside moving, often in my favorite tree.

    A tree stands alone
    Wind rustles leaves together
    We sway arm in branch

    As an adult, I have found resiliency many places and many ways. Often, in combining the practice of creative movement, tai chi and hatha yoga, something I first learned to do  in a Creative Dance Class in 1983. Something that I teach/guide individuals and groups to do whenever I can.

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  • American short hair Cat Coloring Page

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  • Watching Birds, Trees is Good for Mental Health

    According to a study led by University of Exeter researcher Daniel Cox, people living in neighborhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress.

    Dr. Cox and his colleagues from the University of Maryland, the University of Queensland in Australia, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Exeter in the UK, surveyed mental health in 263 people from different ages, incomes and ethnicities.

    “All the participants lived within the urban limits of the so-called ‘Cranfield triangle,’ a region in southern England, UK, comprising the three adjacent towns of Milton Keynes, Luton, and Bedford,” the researchers said.

    They found benefits for mental health of being able to see birds, shrubs and trees around the home, whether people lived in urban or more leafy suburban neighborhoods. They also found that those who spent less time out of doors than usual in the previous week were more likely to report they were anxious or depressed. MORE

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  • Mountain laurel Coloring Page

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  • Moving into Being

    “If your legs let you down you can still dance with your hands and reach those forgotten parts of living in the process. Rosetta Life at St Michael’s Hospice, Hereford,UK.”

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  • Wire Fox Terrier Coloring Page

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