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How is spirituality connected to art?
By engaging works of art, we can experience a sense of comfort and peace, as well as feelings of unease and being challenged. Art invites us to an encounter, which is a gift—a spiritual gift that might bring us into a deeper relationship with God. The benefits of artistic expression go far beyond just relaxation and enjoyment. Studies have shown that art therapy can be helpful in treating mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and even some phobias. Q: How does art contribute to healing? A: Art is healing because it forces you to forge a connection between your mind and your body. Unlike exercise, which works your body, or meditation, which clears your mind, art-making accesses both mind and body to promote healing. Traditional healing arts include music, art, dance/movement, poetry/writing, and drama therapies. These approaches combine artistic expression with psychological awareness and communication, and are led by therapists experienced in both areas. Art therapy, just like talk therapy, has enormous healing potential when done with a trained professional. In fact, for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), working with an art therapist has been a lifesaver.
How can art express spirituality?
Even though they don’t follow a set religion, non-religious people can still experience the spiritual side of art, music and literature. The arts may offer a chance to reflect, to feel uplifted and happy, and to bring something intellectually or spiritually nourishing into their lives. Abstract. Spirituality reigns supreme in art. Known as the driving force of art, spirituality is art’s expressive vehicle as well as a special voice. Human history of arts has never been devoid of spiritual content; artists studied the relationship between art and the spirit for decades. Art has the power to move individuals to social action, manipulate and influence, entertain, and educate. Many are afraid to approach art, viewing it from afar as an elite subject and esoteric. The arts are also one of the greatest gifts God has given us, cheering the heart, stimulating the mind and enriching human life. Ultimately, as with all gifts, art is there to give glory to God, the greatest creator.
Is spiritual a function of art?
Spirituality reigns supreme in art. Known as the driving force of art, spirituality is art’s expressive vehicle as well as a special voice. Human history of arts has never been devoid of spiritual content; artists studied the relationship between art and the spirit for decades. All art can broaden knowledge, give enjoyment, and challenge our assumptions; but it can also help soothe, calm, enlighten, and uplift the mind and spirit. Even art that leaves us uncomfortable can still help us to think differently and give us new perspective. Art has always been associated with power. At times in history, the individuals who made art were seen as having special powers. They could conceptualize shapes and forms and then bring them into being. They could create images and objects from dirt, ashes, and stone that looked like living creatures. Art is the energy that sees a thing as it is, by seeing it more as it is. Always in energy is the idea of more: energy is more than stillness, more than leaving a thing as it is at any one time. So, in art as energy there is the change that is care, the power that is good will. Art therapy, a type of psychotherapy, helps provide a way to express emotions and experiences not easily expressed in words. It is not about the final product; it is about healing through the process of making art. Research has identified a range of physical and mental health benefits of art and art therapy. Art makes you feel better Trying creative activities helps our brain produce more dopamine, the brain chemical that we are not getting enough of when we’re lonely or depressed. Dopamine provides us with the motivation to start and continue an activity.
How does art help the soul?
Creating and experiencing art has been shown to have amazing therapeutic effects on the brain—Engaging with art can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. In addition, using art as a form of expression can help folks manage their mental and emotional well-being (McLean Hospital, 2021). There is increasing evidence in rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. Art can also raise serotonin levels. These benefits don’t just come from making art, they also occur by experiencing art. Because our encounters with art transform the habitual routine of looking into the sacred act of seeing, it offers a “mini-enlightenment” experience. Like the experience of true love, the experience of art melts the egoic or separate sense of self, awakening us to our essential oneness with the mystery of life. Therapist use patients’ free form art expressions to encourage them to talk about the images and to begin to look to themselves for meaning and insight. Combined with talk therapy, it can help people deal with strong emotions, increase self-awareness and self-worth and decrease stress and anxiety.
Can art be a spiritual gift?
“Art invites us to an encounter, which is a gift—a spiritual gift that might bring us into a deeper relationship with God.” — Brother Lee Colombino, S.J. In addition to finding God in all things, another important theme in Ignatian spirituality is imaginative prayer with the application of our five senses. Any art form can be a way to pray, reflect and cultivate a relationship with God. Personal devotional practices should respond to one’s styles and personality, so bringing one’s authentic self before God in prayer could also mean including art. Art is a powerful means of communication and self expression. It has an incredible ability to unify a group of people. Whether it be music, visual art, performance, or any other form, art makes us feel deeply. Art is a powerful way to express oneself, and it is also one of the most important ways to connect with others. Art helps you process your emotions and understand your surroundings. It allows you to see life from a different perspective and it makes you feel alive.