Do We Need Art? The science behind the why

"Icy Sunset" Acrylic Spraypaint on Watercolor Paper, Artist: Matthew Sabey Smith, (Best For Water & Fire Elements)

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Do We Need Art? The Science Behind The Why.

       Art and health can be an interesting mix and truthfully it helps to predict the framework of how someone approaches their own life. So with this concept in mind, the question is, do we need art? How does art serve us?

Art Is Not Essential

       So for what reasons would we think art is not essential? The reality is that often times people see art as a luxury or something that is not necessary for our survival. And this is understandable because we need basic things like food, shelter, transportation, and medicine for our survival. Maybe we need some exercise for our health or medicine for when we are sick. Where does art come into the mix? 

But Wait...

       The truth is art is absolutely essential for our well-being because while we talked about survival and the means to serve our bodies, art is what is there to serve our mind and our spirituality. What is the body without a mind? Not so exciting! Think about the aspects of your life that you cannot see. Perhaps you are religious? Believe in the “universe?” The point here is, many people tend to have some belief of something that is in fact beyond themselves. Maybe one might just call it “energy” or “a higher power.”

The Conscious & Subconscious Mind

       Well, this is where art can thrive. Art is the cross between the conscious and subconscious mind. Let me break down that phrase further. Art, is actually essential to the health of the mind because it has the taps into both the conscious and especially the subconscious of human beings. It can actually heal or damage our psyche.

The Three Treasures

       Let’s take this concept even a step further in relation to our necessity that is “medicine.” Traditional Chinese Medicine actually has a really good grasp of this concept in relation to the three treasures, jing, qi and xue (blood). Jing represents the life force energy, qi is essentially the “electrical force” of life and blood is the physical manifestation that brings  jing and qi together into a physical form. This is often why the science behind something like acupuncture is questioned. What is qi? What is jing? I thought blood was just hemoglobin and stuff!?

Quantum Mechanics

       This is where quantum mechanics- the study of quantum theory shines. This is the area of physics that shows we are all interacting with energy fields of our own and not of our own. Just like the physical things around us, we too are a mix of very small atom sized particles that are arranging and constantly rearranging at a very rapid rate. And just as we can remain balanced in this state, our vibratory selves can also enter an unbalanced state. 

Energy Body & Intention

     The reason something  like acupuncture is effective is because the body can be treated through both physical and non-physical. This is why we can explain how the acupuncture meridians follow the physical fascial planes while also understanding that is not the full story. Acupuncturists also understand forms of esoteric acupuncture that address the individual’s “energy body.” You will find much carry over to this concept in energy practices such as Reiki for example. The intention of the practitioner and their energy body ultimately plays a role in the treatment. 

How This Is Related To Art

       My point here is that same concept applies to art. Art has the ability to heal, just as much as it has the ability to damage. Have you ever thought about where art comes from? Sometimes an artist may practice their physical eye and draw what they see. Sometimes an artist may practice their abstract mind and create something completely from their head. These are examples of the conscious and subconscious mind at work. Much art however,  tends to fall in between these two areas where the marrying of conscious and subconscious occurs. 

So Why Would Art Be Essential?

       So how does that circle back to our idea of art being essential? Do we need art? Whether you are the one creating the art or you are the one viewing the art, the energy around that artwork will have an effect on you as the creator and as the viewer. Good art makes us “feel” something differently than an inanimate object. We connect our emotions, our life experiences, our traumas and our victories all to things that may seemingly have “no meaning or purpose” outside of what we feel about them. Truthfully a painting is often just some oil paint on top of some primed cotton. So why do we respond to that?! 

The Gateway To What We Cannot See

       Art is the gateway to the unseen, the ethereal or the heavenly. It can hold extreme power, influence and thus necessity in our lives. Art is where humans learn about their history, tap into the minds of others and form new ideologies and beliefs about the meaning of life. Art itself is a mindful form of medicine. This is also why we need to be selective with the art we hang within our homes. The way we “feel” about our art, magnifies the same energy we put out into our daily life. The better we feel looking at art or creating it, the more that energetic vibration will come from you and to you. This is where we could mention “The Law of Attraction.” Essentially, we receive what we put out.

The Power Of The Mind To Change The World

       If we can harness and understand the ability and power of the conscious and subconscious mind, how could that change the world? I would even make the argument that art is a force that creates the pathway for us to unlock the unused 90% of our brain capacity- after all humans typically only access 10% of it. What if we used 100% of our brains? Could art be one of the ways we pass that 10% threshold?

So let me ask you again… do we need art?

For more information covering these concepts and how to benefit your own space, check out my book: "How To Design For A Healthy Mind" Just Click Below:

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