Artful meditation is a receptive form of art engagement and an informal practice of meditation. In each practice, the teachings of yoga are blended into slow and close visual engagement with an artwork as the meditation’s inspiration. This 30-min interactive, guided meditation practice is then followed by a spotlight talk on the artist. Participants often share that this practice makes meditation more accessible due to the focus on the visual medium of art. Some practitioners have also shared that their artful meditation practice has stimulated their creativity, inspiring them to produce new artistic creations following the practice.

 

These meditations allow for the exploration of new ideas and perspectives. It has been observed that a museum visitor would engage with a work of art for an average of 3-15 seconds. However, the process of artful meditation, which is about 30 minutes long, helps one to deeply engage with the artwork and thereby tends to cultivate a personal connection to art. Often, this helps one to view art through their unique perspective. Further, one could experience and express their somatic, intellectual and emotional responses to the artwork, making this practice a vehicle for self-awareness and expression. It is also an effective tool to improve visual intelligence and observational skills.

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Learning about the artwork, its artist and their art journey in a community setting allows for meaningful social interactions, fostering connections and promoting wellbeing. It also facilitates perspective taking when different views are presented in a space of mindfulness and inclusivity cultivated through meditation, thus serving as a useful tool in building tolerance and empathy. 

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Check out our artful meditation offerings here, and join our artful meditation community, now!