Artful Mindscape Blog

Artful Mindscape Journey

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:47:44 GMT

Artful Mindscape Journey

Five years ago, I started running monthly workshops for primary school children as my first attempt to connect psychological health and art. I was motivated by frustration with the educational system, which I believed neglected to nurture children's creativity, a crucial innate ability. This neglect hindered the development of important skills like non-verbal self-expression, self-awareness, mindfulness, observation, collaboration, planning, delayed gratification, and attention. Drawing, music, drama, and dance all support healthy psychological growth, especially when the focus is on the process, not just the measurable outcome. Creativity is a gift, but without the right environment, it withers. As a neuroscientist, I knew that arts education was beneficial for the development of resilient and thriving young minds. I was on maternity leave and had time on my hands, so, I rented a room in a community center and named my venture Artful Mindscape. Though I didn't have a grand vision at the time, I had intuition and a bit of stubbornness .

Not knowing how to define my work precisely, I followed my curiosity in various directions, teaching children about art, teaching artists about the brain, and teaching adults about the connection between the brain and art. I ran workshops in person and online. Eventually, I realised my dream of a safe space for people to escape their daily demands by moving into a cozy loft studio above the New England Coffee House in Stow-on-the-Wold.

My interest became an obsession, leading me on an unexpected learning journey. I read numerous books, attended courses, participated in projects, and even earned a coaching diploma. All of this was in pursuit of a deeper understanding of how our biology and psychology interact with artful experiences and how they can transform our lives. This exploration gave birth to Artful Brain, a six-week course that provides evidence-based insights into why and how art and beauty strengthen our physical and psychological well-being. With this course, Artful Mindscape shifted its focus and embarked on a mission to transform the experience of life by exploring the interaction between art and self-knowledge, which brings joy, fosters resilience, increases presence, and sharpens our focus.

It's amazing what can happen when you follow your curiosity and intuition. Workshops with children were the beginning and have since evolved into something fresh and different. It has been a beautiful journey, made possible by the support of kind-hearted individuals who share a desire to learn and make the world a better place. Thank you all!

With love,

Kariné

P.S.: Providing artful opportunities for children remains an important issue, and it's heartwarming to know that wonderful charities like Access Art are doing amazing work to improve the situation in schools, although there is still a long way to go.

Tuning In

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 12:57:09 GMT

The Power of Tuning Into Ourselves

When was the last time you truly tuned into yourself? In our fast-paced and busy lives, it's easy to lose touch with our own needs, emotions, and desires. However, taking the time to tune into ourselves can have profound benefits for our overall wellbeing.

Just like tuning a musical instrument, tuning into ourselves requires intentional and careful attention. It's about deep listening and filtering out the noise of our daily lives. When we make tuning into ourselves a regular practice, we become more attuned to our emotions, thoughts, sensations, values, and intentions.

One of the key benefits of tuning into ourselves is increased self-awareness. By taking the time to honestly zoom in on our inner world, we gain a deeper understanding of who we are and what truly matters to us. This self-awareness allows us to make more aligned choices and decisions, leading to a greater sense of fulfilment and satisfaction in life.

Tuning into ourselves also helps us to recognise and address any areas of imbalance or disharmony. Just as a piano needs regular tuning to maintain its performance, we too need to regularly check in with ourselves and make necessary adjustments. By acknowledging the noise in our lives - whether it's external pressures, negative self-talk, or unhealthy habits - we can take steps to shift or release them, creating space for greater authenticity and wellbeing.

When we tune into ourselves, we cultivate a stronger connection with our inner voice and intuition. This inner guidance becomes a compass that helps us navigate life's challenges and make choices that align with our true selves. As a result, we experience greater clarity, purpose, and a deeper sense of inner peace.

Making tuning into ourselves a regular practice has a ripple effect on our overall wellbeing. It enhances our emotional resilience, allowing us to better manage stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions. It also fosters healthier relationships, as we become more attuned to our own needs and better able to communicate and empathise with others.

So, how can we start tuning into ourselves? It begins with carving out dedicated time for self-reflection and introspection. This can be through practices such as making art, journaling, meditation, or simply finding moments of quiet solitude in our daily lives. It's about creating a sacred space where we can listen to our inner whispers and honour our own needs.

As we embark on this journey of tuning into ourselves, let's remember that it's a lifelong practice. Just like a piano that requires regular tuning, our inner selves also require ongoing attention and care. By making tuning into ourselves a priority, we open ourselves up to a world of greater self-discovery, authenticity, and wellbeing.

Let us embrace the power of tuning into ourselves and watch as our lives transform into harmonious symphonies of joy, fulfilment, and inner peace.

Presence, Art & Science

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 15:29:30 GMT

Presence, Art & Science

It was such a privilege to attend this beautiful meeting in Vancouver, Canada, profoundly named A Joyous Celebration of Ideas, the Arts, Science and Efforts to Make the World a Better Place. Four days of fascinating talks and tons of inspiration to last me awhile.

Let me give you some background. Prof Adele Diamond (whom you see in the picture above) was instrumental in kickstarting an entire field in neuroscience - the cognitive developmental neuroscience . She has devoted her career to studying how children’s brains develop thinking capacities, what helps them learn and regulate, how the environment in which they learn shapes these abilities, and importantly what helps to improve them… Her research informs education policies and has a far reaching effect around the globe.

Adele also happened to be the first professor I worked for, when straight out of uni I was fortunate to land in her lab, which has transformed my life…

Adele is just an incredible human being. She was diagnosed with lymphoma, which has become the saddest yet powerful catalyst to gather some of the most incredible scientists, physicians, artists, educators, philosophers, even the Nobel prize winning economist and Dalai Lama’s former translator to talk about some of the most pressing issues, such as disconnection, social injustice, the effects of poverty, stress, trauma and adversity on children’s and our potential. And to talk about solutions and hope emerging from the work that many of these beautiful courageous, smart and creative people do to serve the light in the world.

Over 90 presenters, such as Gabor Maté, Dan Siegel, Elisa Epel, Bessel van der Kolk, and many others were eluding to a similar conclusion - the world is in desperate need of connection. For children's brains to develop well, positive social interactions and enriched experiences are imperative. For adults to heal from trauma and live fully, it is vital to find a way to connect with deep emotions in a safe, compassionate and curious way. Gratitude and kindness towards ourselves and others has an overwhelming power to transform the world. And it all begins with listening. Truly listening to ourselves, and being fully present for others... It sounds so simple, but is becoming increasingly difficult. Caught in our to-do lists and life's ambitions, we find it hard to slow down and be present for ourselves and others...

Art for Healing

Tue, 16 May 2023 13:02:19 GMT

Art for Healing

The rendered image above shows a small part of the X-ray of my spine, which has been severely curved and twisted since my teenage years. This condition, known as scoliosis, is believed to have genetic roots and is more prevalent in girls than in boys. Although my spine will never straighten up, there are things I can do to rewire the way the rest of my body supports it. By training my brain to remember new corrected posture and by training my body to respond to it, I can hopefully live a highly functional life.

Although taking action to improve my condition was empowering, I still have a lot of work to do in terms of accepting it. Art has become a way for me to process and connect with my spine. When I first saw my X-ray this past October (after 20 years of not having one done), I felt sick in my stomach. It got so much worse. I wanted to ignore the image and the pain so badly. In time, I started to look for treatment, but it wasn't until I began drawing what I saw on the X-ray, one vertebra at a time, that I began making a transition from denial to acceptance and awe. I was transformed by the beauty and resilience of each of these building blocks that keep me upright. Through drawing, I allowed myself to connect deeply with something that I had been trying so hard to ignore. It's still a process, but one that I'm progressively enjoying more and seeing parallels in the rest of my life.

My recent experience only reinforced my belief that art is not just a luxury, and its creation is not limited to artists. For centuries, art has been instrumental in promoting physical and emotional healing, fostering resilience, and building connections with others. Whether one is creating art or simply immersing oneself in its appreciation, it provides a means of rejuvenation from the daily stresses of life. Art has the power to transform. And it is the mission of Artful Mindscape to facilitate you in the process of learning how...