Hello there,
It's Steve with another Art Mindflay practice.
We'll be playing and practicing with themes of focus and clarity,
Curiosity,
Along with letting this work of art lead us possibly towards some new ease and connection.
Our practice is focused on a 12th century bronze,
Shiva as Lord of Dance,
From the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
I'd like to suggest that when viewing the Shiva image,
That you might stand for the opening and closing sequences of this session.
It is by no means an imperative,
But it might have interesting results,
Allowing one to lean deeply into sensing some aspects of this work.
So whether you are sitting or standing for this part,
Begin now with the image of the sculpture before us,
And visually taking it all in.
This is also a chance to sense and feel into our own bodies,
As we observe the dancing form of Shiva.
If you choose,
Let's either lower our eyes into a soft gaze,
Or closing them completely,
Which allows us to become more internally focused.
Begin with becoming aware of contact with the ground,
Of the pressure and weight of your feet on the ground,
Feeling gravity holding us down to the earth.
Feel your hands hanging down,
And the feeling of your shoulders weighing down.
Next,
Feeling into the lower back,
The pelvis,
Each having its own part in keeping the balance of your position,
Either sitting or standing here,
Right now.
Now,
Bring your attention back to the lower part of the body.
Very slowly shift your weight from the left side of your body to the right.
You can do this either sitting,
Or ideally standing,
For just a little longer.
Noticing as you do,
How various sensations change as your balance shifts.
Letting your awareness move to where you sense ease in your body,
As you continue this very slow shift back and forth.
Where is the body feeling support?
Where and when it feels anchored and stable?
Where might there be places where the body feels some slight relaxation or ease?
So,
Returning to just being still and upright,
And returning to a sitting position,
If you'd like.
We now return our focus to the Shiva.
With open eyes,
Let's start by observing the whole sculpture before you,
Moving your eyes around the various elements and shapes.
Just engaging with the experience of the sculpture,
Letting the eyes wander wherever they might lead us.
If thoughts arise,
Simply observe them.
Do the same for any bodily sensations,
Simply witness them.
Anchoring your attention back to the contact of your feet on the ground,
To help break that compulsiveness of thought so many of us wrestle with.
Really feeling the feet.
Not the idea of the feet,
But the sensations.
Possibly some throbbing,
Some tingling,
Some numbness,
Or just the weight holding us to the ground.
Witness and welcome without getting caught in whatever arises.
Now,
Let's take a closer look at the details of this sculpture.
Noticing variations in color,
The range of shade found in the green and golden bronze colors that dominate the sculpture.
Let your eyes wander around the sculpture again,
But noticing the contrast between the green and the glimpses of golden bronze.
Letting your eyes just naturally rest from time to time on various parts of the sculpture and the color you find there.
Noticing the contrast of green,
Where it appears darker,
Where it might be lighter,
And even seem shiny and reflective.
Now,
Moving our attention to noticing the various extensions and elements that radiate out from the sculpture.
The forms that move and protrude,
The arms,
The legs.
Taking notice of the movement created through these forms,
Where forms move the eyes upwards to the side.
Those elements like the central leg and central arm that even push out into space.
Within all the movement,
Are there places where the eye rests sometimes,
Where you might even notice some points of stillness?
Now,
Noticing the various shapes that emerge surrounding the dancing form.
Consider the rounded shapes.
Shapes that are pointy or jagged.
Shapes that are wave-like,
Or even those that are just flat and rectangular.
As your eyes scan the various elements,
Can you be attentive to those places your eye naturally rests before beginning the scanning once again?
Now,
The invitation here is to close your eyes for a moment,
And imagine the sculpture before you in as much detail as you can.
With your eyes closed,
Can you call to mind the shape of the figure?
Can you call to mind some of the elements and shapes that surround the figure?
Are there possibly some aspects of the sculpture that allude you?
So finally,
Opening your eyes,
And take some time to look even deeper at this Shiva for just another few moments.
Are there any more details about this sculpture that you might not have noticed the first time you looked at it?
As we approach the end of this practice,
I'm going to offer the suggestion of standing once again.
And with your imagination,
Or if you're up to it,
Just offering the slightest physical movement by raising one hand and creating a small contained gesture with your hand.
Possibly just a small sweep of the hand in front of you.
This doesn't have to be a bold gesture,
Just a subtle movement.
It's only for you.
This gesture is a way of mirroring the energy within the work,
And seeing how it awakens a place inside of us.
Finally,
One more look at the work,
Feeling its presence with openness,
With even the possibility of some tenderness in the heart.
