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Philosophy ~ Visual Meditation ~ Notes


Artistic Philosophy

Although viewing artwork digitally can never replicate the experience of viewing the original works, we can still receive greatly when we allow ourselves to open and receive what is available to us.

I notice people often look at art, even abstract art, and quickly begin defining what it is. "I see a person, a dog, a chair etc.". Subtle as it may be, defining is a way of seeking control of our  experience. What I welcome is freedom. 

I often invite art viewers to notice how they feel in response to a piece instead of what they think. This takes their experience from an externalized analysis (seeking an absolute definition or completion) to an experience of relational and interconnected curiosity. From this curiosity, awareness and sensing we gather the notes of our own unique sensory experience; a thought, memory, emotion, a moment of tension or sweet excitement in the body. And what else?  These are the self-sourced raw materials you can use to create your next moments and beyond with intention. 

Presence in creation requires presence in the moments approaching creation. Presence is both attention and sensuality, receptivity to what is, a willingness to make space for your authentic, raw, honest, uncensored, longing-for-ease Truth. This quality of attention and sensory presence is the pleasure we often ask for from others. It takes diligent practice to sustain presence, and we practice with ourselves so we might offer ourselves that which we've been outsourcing to others since birth, since conception.

​We rest in fulfillment as we practice sensual presence. Integrating the Masculine will to take form and space, and the feminine yearning to open and let in the wild tenderness that is life writhing as itself in full bloom and decay all at once.   When we can hold presence in and as the glory, beauty, pain and suffering inherent to life, we can hold greater space for that within others. We can show up self-sourcing our energy, not asking or needing anything to be different.  We can hold space for the truths of life many are not yet ready to forgive, permit, or offer compassion to. We can show up free from obligation, centered within the self. We know how to sense within for what is right, what is not aligned, and when we're complete with an experience, a person, a pattern.  


We evolved to look externally for patterns. Today I'm interested in how we look and sense internally for our own patterns, patterns we can take ownership of and mold into something delicious and perhaps more useful. We generate our life experiences from an internal ground, whether by responding (following) or creating (leading and co-leading). This is the internal space I encourage you to go. 

To lead and to co-lead, it is helpful to meet the internal ground from which you push off from to lead yourself. From here you can more effectively lead others. We begin within. 
​

Visual Meditation

Here is one way of creating an easy visual meditation practice. You can adapt this, making the practice larger or smaller, for use on and beyond this website. 
  1. Set your intention along with the timer on your phone to spend 1-5 minutes with select pieces.
  2. Connect with your breath, place both feet on the ground and relax your gaze upon the image.
  3. Let your eyes move very slowly through the image finding areas to pause. You are not in a rush. You have an abundance of spacious time. Be with the view and the breath. 
  4. Simply notice arising thoughts, emotions, memories or sensations. You may notice certain colors, shapes or textures that  invoke rest, while others prompt an experience. Treat it all as information, free of judgement. Notice when you're tempted or begin to chase a story trail, and simply bring your awareness back to breath, the visual information in front of you.
  5. Slightly adjust your focal area within the image when you feel complete with an area. You may even relax your gaze completely, viewing the image with blurred eyes as you take in the image as a whole. 
  6. When the timer sounds silence it. Take a last set of breaths with the image as you bring your awareness back into your body, perhaps placing your hands someplace on the body that feels right and grounding in this moment. Give a gentle squeeze. Become present with the quality of your current experience in this moment. Offer yourself appreciation for the time you've given yourself in this visual meditation. 

May you always be surrounded by beauty, filled with beauty and resonating as beauty.
May the wisdom of your being know just how to open, to welcome, to be, and to share as beauty. 
​

                        ~ Anna 

Notes of Vision

Picture
Your perceived reality is immediately turned over by your mind to construct an understanding of the context your body currently exists within. As we turn over objective vision, the things we see, we begin rolling them into potential meanings, associations and stories. Therefore vision is always perception: fact + association + anticipation = story. These can be helpful and they can also disallow us from presence and ease with a candle that may just be a candle.
Picture
Your vision travels all the way to the back of your brain to reach your visual cortex. This means that your vision holds the container for the entire brain/mind, from front to back. Practicing visual meditation brings greater awareness to what you're welcoming into your visual field. It reveals how you have historically responded to these visual stimuli and cues, whether they are specific scenes, people, or places, or general shapes , textures or colors. Visual Meditation is a practice of rewiring your brain and reclaiming your nervous system's response to vision.


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  • Experiences
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    • Artistic Philosophy
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