Healing Arts Intensive

The Healing Arts Intensive participants do not perform in the LFAE Sound Healing Ceremony, but they do contribute by

• doing creative writing and poetry based on their Transformational Goals, which the LFAE performers may use in the Ceremony
• choosing music which the LFAE performers may sing or play in the Ceremony
• choosing archetypal energies or helping spirits who the LFAE performers invoke to guide the Ceremony

The purpose of the Intensive is for each participant to achieve or make progress toward their Transformational Goal within the six-week period of the HAI. This “aha” moment of transformation can come at anytime during the six weeks. Perhaps the transformation comes in a session while writing or drawing, or in a discussion with fellow participants and facilitator, or because of the sound healing in the LFAE Sound Healing Ceremony. Or maybe it happens as the participant does self-reflection in between sessions. By the end of the six weeks, participants not only have made progress towards their Goal, but also have gained expertise in using the arts as a healing modality that they can use for the rest of their lives.

How it works

There are three components of the Healing Arts Intensive (HAI)

• Life Force Wisdom Wheel (LFW)
• Transformational Goal
• The Arts

Life Force Wisdom Wheel teaches the Skills of being human. Through personal growth practices in the arts, participants learn the basics of LFW, especially the 4 Skills, which are key to navigating smoothly through life.

The 4 Skills of the Life Force Wisdom Wheel

• Streaming (Perception – being conscious and present with your thoughts & feelings)
• Osmosis (Power – leading and following)
• Dialogue (Process – interacting creatively)
• Crystallizing (Partnership – operating within a structured form)

Transformational Goal: Each participant formulates a Transformational Goal (intention) for the Intensive: something in their life that they want to create significant transformation regarding. The transformation may be framed in various ways, including:

• healing
• learning
• self-discovery
• personal growth
• professional development
• evolution
• transition

Fulfilling this Intention shapes the activities of each participant and of the group.

The Arts: Visual, literary and performing arts are woven into the Intensive, especially the Writing, LFAE Sound Healing Ceremony and Artmaking sessions.

Format of the Healing Arts Intensive

Each Healing Arts Intensive has a Group of six to eight participants guided by a Facilitator, usually LFAE Artistic Director Joan Forest Mage. There are six sessions, usually meeting once per week for six weeks. The sessions are usually 2 hours each. The sessions are:

• Orientation – Intro to LFW  and creation of Transformational Goals based on Keywords of the 4 Skills of LFW. Discussion of the background of the LFAE Performance that the Group will be attending: its theme, Main Text, visuals/artwork, music and movement
• Issues & Goals – Discussion, writing, drawing, meditation and divination to examine the Issues related to each of the 4 Skills of LFW and how they interact with each participant’s Transformational Goal and the theme of the performance
• Writing – Participants create poetry and creative writing that embodies their Transformational Goal, and may be included in the LFAE performance.
• Artmaking – Participants take a class offered at LFAC in visual art, writing, dance, theater, music, storytelling or art history. There is sometimes a choice of classes to attend.
• LFAE performance – Participants observe Ensemble members in an interdisciplinary art performance which includes dance, singing (sound healing) instrumental music poetry and visual art. Part of the performance allows time for the audience to journal through writing or drawing their responses and insights, and a time for sharing.
• Closure – Participating in interdisciplinary arts and divination techniques to complete Transformational Goals and bring Closure to the Group. Each participant has the opportunity to reflect on and share the outcome of their experience and Transformation

Note: different Intensives have the sessions in a slightly different order. Orientation is always the first session and Closure is the last session. But the middle four sessions can change order, depending on the Intensive.

What happens in each session

Between the sessions, participants are guided in designing their own individual self-reflective and artistic practices as part of the process of accomplishing their Transformational Goal

Before Session 1: information given to participants on LFW and on the Life Force Arts Ensemble (LFAE) Performance that the Group will attend

Session 1: Orientation – begin creation of Transformational Goals. Discussion of the background of the LFAE Performance that the Group will be attending: its theme, Main Text, visuals/artwork, music and movement

Between session 1 & 2: Exploring your Transformational Goal and how it relates to the LFAE Performance. What aspects of your Transformational Goal relate to the Skills of the Wheel? Which of the Keywords associated with that Skill most apply to your Transformational Goal, and which do not? Why? How can understanding the Skill(s) help you achieve your Transformational Goal? Practice the 4 Skills in daily life. Create individual projects in any of the arts to further Transformational Goal.

Session 2: Issues & Goals – Discussion, writing, drawing, meditation and divination to examine the Issues related to each of the 4 Skills of LFW, and how they interact with each participant’s Transformational Goal and the theme of the performance. Suggestions taken for musical selections and dance/movement themes for LFAE performance

Session 3 or 4: Writing – This session has participants further discussing the theme of the performance and their own Transformational Goals. We take time to do creative writing and poetry to continue to process our understanding and expression of the theme and our Goals. This writing may be incorporated (with the participant’s permission) as part of the LFAE Performance.

Between sessions: If you wish, continue the writing you began in Writing, or produce other writing, drawing or art that furthers your Transformational Goal.

Session 3, 4 or 5: Artmaking – Participants explore one or more of the arts – visual art, writing, dance, theater, music or storytelling – as self-expression helping them create further change towards their Transformational Goal.

Between sessions: Exploring your Transformational Goal and how it relates to the LFAE Performance. What aspects of your Transformational Goal relates to the Performance? How can understanding the relation of the 4 Skills and the Performance help you with your Transformational Goal? What intention can you have for the performance to help further your Transformational Goal? Create individual projects in any of the arts to further your Transformational Goal

Session 4 or 5: Life Force Arts Ensemble (LFAE) Performance: Sound Healing, meditation on the artwork in the exhibit, leading the audience in a shamanic journey to catalyze a breakthrough for each participant.

Between sessions: Participants receive access to video of the LFAE Performance. Create individual projects in any of the arts to further Transformational Goal.

Session 6: Closure – Participating in the arts to complete Transformational Goal and bring Closure to the group. Each participant has the opportunity to reflect on and share the outcome of their experience and Transformational Goal.