:: June 2005 Volume 4/Number 4

The Art of Meditation

By Julie Deife

Southern California is recognized for having a huge population of creative types: actors, fine artists, sculptors, musicians, writers and dancers. Many have achieved success without a conscious meditation practice; others are connecting or re-connecting to source by learning how to meditate. And, not a-typically, many of these people have a hatha yoga practice or are even part-time yoga teachers.

This may come as a surprise, but the fact is, artists often struggle with their creativity. Writers draw blanks and painters may produce no new work for years at a time. Why?
Many spiritual teachers have addressed the mystery of the source of creativity. Deepak Chopra talks about it in terms of a field of consciousness, which is nothing less than pure potentiality, where all possibilities and infinite creativity exists. He goes on to say that one way to access this field is through the daily practice of meditation. Yoga and meditation teacher Erich Schiffmann has for years discussed developing a meditation practice as a passageway to creativity.

One local artist, graphic designer, yoga and meditation teacher has successfully manifested these ideas into a body of paintings. Lynda Carre’s recent work illustrates the journey from being discon-nected with her energetic essence to direct
connection, inspiration and manifestation. “Behind Closed Eyes,” the first showing of her personal artwork, is a result of her meditation practice.

Says Carré “meditation reconnected me with art like a lifeline.” In 1986 she began learning to meditate by studying with a variety of teachers, such as Sharon Salzberg of the vipassana tradition then becoming a Kriyaban with Self-Realization Fellowship while at the same time starting a hatha yoga practice.

As her meditations became clear, Carré began using a notebook to capture and reconnect. Direct experiences would come that seemed significant. The art became more prominent and she broke through a level of fear about producing works of fine art, even though she has a long and distinguished career as a graphic designer.

Today her description of what moves through her into her work is “subtle rivers of energy.” In the meditation classes she teaches, bringing the physical body alive comes first – shaking the hands, the feet, the whole body awake, so that one literally must be aware of physical sensations. She advocates using all the senses as pathways to waking the field of consciousness. Our bodies start interfacing the gross body level of awareness with the subtle body – the energetic essence, when we can then sit down and tune in.

The multitude of meditation paths available are not as important as knowing the various tools that exist to arrive at a place of connectedness, becoming inner directed as opposed to outer directed. It could be following the breath or it could be focusing on a drumbeat or a visual symbol.

At some point, recognition of the witness, that which is always present, enters awareness. Witnessing diminishes resistance, because upon entering the field of pure potentiality only that which is pure creativity exists.

After years of studying the art of meditation, Carré is now able to translate that experience into one of downloading the art, and one might ask, is art the meditation? Or, is meditation the art?

 

Lynda Carré has served major healthcare companies, yoga studios, spas, retreat centers, music companies and individuals with communication materials. She teaches yoga and meditation at Exhale/Sacred Movement and Equinox. Reach her at studiocarre@earthlink.net.

 

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