"I could be a birdwatcher" (inspired by Charlie Sommerschield)

Gazing out of the window because she had just recognized two hawks flying in the sky, lapping in the firmament. I can see the American flag from the window, the hawk has just rested next to it, stretching it’s wings. Can the hawk identify itself with the "thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton (referred to specifically as the "union") bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars"?

Envious, for it reminds me of a different perspective. The world seen from above. Blue sky and strong light hit the building structures, in peace. The trees, planted on Washington square park are rooted, changing through the period of time. In this moment they are still and naked, subliminally adapting to a time to come.

Final concept--

I am trying to construct an entity stating the importance of self reflection ending in self expression which can only be achieved by „sharpening  the senses“, in order to create a universal sensibility.

In other words I want to create an exhibition regarding writing (poetry, phrases which help and move us) in combination with art (photography because when we think in pictures, supposedly some before we write. The still life which is engraved in my mind is an image which has been captured, influenced by time (memory)- the medium abstractly seen- portrayed in the exhibition is the camera vs. the brain/mind.

Reflection on David Brooks words...

do we take emotions in?
do we feel?
do we sense?
do we know our body and the way it reacts to the outer world and it’s influences?

I want to express what I understand in todays world, especially felt in cities like New York. Time is not an issue anymore. The faster the better- we lack reflection on important interpersonal processes. There is a constant stimulus satiation, which drives us insane. But Insanity has already become accepted and is therefore inanely. It's this big pot of individual mindsets, which depend on each other but still haven't understood that functioning in order to achieve the best outcome as a whole is only a success if we start creating by thinking beforehand and this means comprehending that opening your senses are inevitable.

writing serves as a valve... 

understanding that emotions are inspiring.

Inspiration-David Brooks

content:

• Emotions are not separat from reason but they are the foundation of reason because they tell us what to value. Reading and educating your emotions is one of the central activities of wisdom.
• 90% of communication is non-verbal
•  „We are really good at talking about material things, but we are really bad at talking about emotions, we’re really good at talking about skills, safety and health but we’re really bad at talking about character
• „We have the concepts of the acient morals of virtue, honour and goodness but we no longer have a system by which to connect to them
• this leads us onto a shallow path in politics but also to a range of human endavors.

Looking back on personal research

Research is an important step because it brings you closer to your destination.

It guides you and shapes already existing interests, which are there, consciously and subconsciously.

The next step is to: filter 

What message does it bring across to me?

How did I chose my research topic wise?

What did I Iook into? What were the reoccuring issues being raised? 

And how can I narrow all of this down and put it into one complete concept?

I realized that the main focus in writing therapy is expressing emotions.

interesting website

http://www.elephantjournal.com/

Elevision - Natalie Goldberg: How to Write

I am reading "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg at the moment and it is a great source of inpiration when you are one of the people who enjoy writing. It gives you a profound insight to imporoving your writing skills but also encompasses the necessity of writing because it simply helps one develope and master the mindset and it's weaknesses in thought.

NOTE: spiritual at times

a little taste of content

• timed excercise: "write what your mind actually sees and feels not what it thinks it should see or feel(..)don't let go of the pen, write...and capture oddities of your mind."

-> expressing something egoless and therefore it is full of energy  for it is expressing the truth of the way things are in your mind at that time.

"It is like Zen meditation: continue to sit even if thoughts or emotions shall try to stop you."

"When you are present, the world is truely alive."

• The practise of writing regularly without expectations: finishing a notebook a month reference to Chögyam Trungpa, tibetan buddhist master

-> "We must continue to open in the face of tremendous opposition"

• Artistic Stability: writing trash is part of the process of becoming a good writer-persistance.

-> "We have to look at our own inertia, insecurities, self-hate, fear that, in truth, we have nothing valuable to say"

• Obsessions: when you are obsessed with something, do it. This is where obsession becomes our core point of life and the entry to happiness.

-> "Freedom is knowing who you are, what you are supposed to be doing on this earth, and then simply doing it."

Inspiration Source Nr. 4


Natalie Goldberg -She is the author of "Writing down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within"(1986), which broke open the world of creativity and started a revolution in the way we practice writing.The book has sold over one million copies and been translated into 14 languages. Since then she has written nine other books, including the novel Banana Rose. "Living Color: A writer paints her world", is about painting as a second art form. Her painting can be viewed in the Ernesto Mayans Gallery in Santa Fe and on certain websites. Natalie has been teaching seminars in writing as a practice for the last thirty years. People from around the world attend her life-changing workshops and she has a reputation as a great teacher. The Oprah Winfrey Show sent a film crew to spend the day with Natalie for a segment on Spirituality that covered her writing, teaching, painting and walking meditation.


"This is what is good to remember: if you want to get high, don't drink whiskey; read Shakespeare, Tennyson, Keats, Neruda, Hopkins, Milay, Whitman, aloud and let your body sing."


-Writing down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within-

colour and sound therapy.listen.and see

"Writing enables your mind to reach out and at the same time allows you to go play with imposed boundaries, which in the spoken language are necessary to act in society."

The Power of Art Therapy

The Power of Writing Therapy

different approaches..

There is a lot to say about "poetry writing", "colour sound therapy" and

"writing based on shapes and imagery".
Poetry writing includes bibliotherapy, narrative psychology, mataphor, storytelling and journal writing and is explained in the book "Poetry Therapy: Theory and Practise" by Nichloas Mazza. He also explains the different modes practised (receptive/ prescriptive- expressive/creative-symbolic/ceremonial mode ).
I have also come across the "National association for poetry therapy", which is a foundation created 1993 following the purpose of supporting the field of poetry therapy and receiving tax-deductible donations, endowments and grants from individuals and organizations to further the goals of the NAPT and the field of poetry therapy. The community consists of "healers and lovers of words and language." As poetry therapists, they say that they "use all forms of literature and the language arts, and they are united by their love of words, and their passion for enhancing the lives of others and themselves."
Second, "colour and sound therapy" is also a good way of curing. I spoke to a Scandinavian friend about it and she mentioned a musician called Melody Gardot, who was treated with music/sound therapy after having a "close to death" accident. And was healed. 
And "writing based on shapes and imagery" which is directed more towards art therapy.I feel it encompasses the same feeling and process of healing. And while some traditional art classes may ask you to paint or draw from your imagination, in art therapy, your inner world of images, feelings, thoughts, and ideas are always of primary importance to the experience.

writing therapy?

researches revealed that writing therapy is the useful way of healing for many diseases. 
This type of therapy is been under research process since 1970 and until recent times Scientists and Doctors have found the usability of writing in a different spectrum. 
It can be used for growth of one's personality by developing a sense of recreation and identification. The purpose for writing therapy lies within in you (writer)!
First you choose genre of writing then you figure how you are going to express your feelings and in what time frame. 
Twenty minutes of writing a day is proven remedy. 
It is a useful method in re-creativity, self administration and also helps in improving wisdom by exploratory writing methods. Writing can get you started and you do not need special talent for it.
There are several genres which can be used for healing:

• story writing
• journaling
• humor
• poetry narrative
• drama and screenplay writing 

and many more...

The Symbolical Head

.writing as a tool to learn and heal.

Inpirational Source Nr. 1

James W.Pennebaker -examination of a putative relationship between writing, talking and physical health. He is professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas and Austin and is the author or editor of 8 books and over 200 articles. He has devoted himself to understanding the mysteries of emotional writing. And using schientific research, he has constructed a writing program that has changed people's lives.

New York Times article about Mr. Pennebaker: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/science/14prof.html?_r=1

Inspirational Source Nr.2

Celia Hunt -writer, teacher and founder of the MA programme in creative writing and personal development at the University of Sussex. 

Member of the Lapidus journal (UK-based organisation for the literary arts in personal development)- offers diverse articles exploring areas of writing for wellbeing, from writers reflecting on their own process, to practitioners and researchers involving writing in their work with others.

to find more information about Celia, visit:

http://www.sophienicholls.com/tag/writing-therapy/

Iniprational Source Nr.3

Peter Abbs -has written widely on education, working to join the concept of education to those of ethics and aesthetics. With the distinct sense of being opposed to the dominant trends, he has written on creativity, the arts and of the need for sense of well-being, og eudaimonia, of human flourishing. His most recent book "Against the Flow" (www. routledgefalmer.com) is his most outspoken and most comprehensive. 

A little insight:

From time to time one can be haunted by a paralysing dread-that we are stranded at the beginning of a new millenium in a culture where all spiritual resources have been spent, where shopping is the last world religion, where the latest Tesco is the last cathedral and where the concept of consumerism is the last idea. It is as if one had dreamt of the vast ocean or high paths over the Alps and woken to find oneself confined to a shopping arcade for the rest of ones life..

50 Years of Research on Writing: What Have We Learned?

written words- by Laura Trumpp

introducing...

I believe writing is a strong method in order to solve severe conflicts. Language is the presupposition of comprehension and therefore the greatest good of a human being. When one writes, one undergoes a certain think process. The time beforehand, noting what shall be said, is the time of reflection. Whilst this process one learns how to sort the thoughts according to a structure. This structure is necessary in order to make sure that what has been written makes sense and when spoken reflects on the thought. A lot of people lack a certain structure in thought and therefore have difficulties expressing themselves.