Tanya Craig
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Spiritual Awakening and Spiritual Emergence

3/10/2018

 
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Someone approached me recently with concern for her adult son who isn’t ‘spiritual’ but says his third eye is opening.  This had me wondering, how many other ‘non-spiritual’ people are spontaneously ‘waking-up’ without a previous frame of reference.  She and her son were doing great.  He, researching his 'non-ordinary' experiences whilst managing well to stay grounded in his daily life.  This isn’t always the case and it’s a real credit to their trusting and heart-centred way. 

In my career so far, I’ve had only a few clients seek my help who were going through intense spiritual awakening.  In my training it was termed ‘spiritual emergence’ or if it’s becoming a crisis for someone ‘spiritual emergency’.

What is Spiritual Emergence?

Spiritual emergence is...
"the movement of an individual to a more expanded way of being that involves
enhanced emotional and psychosomatic health, greater freedom of personal choices, and a sense of deeper connection with other people, nature, and the cosmos. 

An important part of this development is an increasing awareness of the spiritual dimension
in one's life and in the universal scheme of things."
(Grof & Grof, 1990)


Spiritual emergence can happen to anyone, in fact I believe it is happening to our planet.  Those who are spiritually attuned are noticing that the 'veil between worlds' is becoming thinner.  Science is reporting that Earths magnetic field is becoming less defined as our poles begin to shift toward a predicted pole reversal. 

Whatever the reason, as a planet and as people we seem to be awakening to energies beyond our ordinary ‘field’ of vision.  With a shifting personal and planetary field, it makes sense why centreing in our heart chakra and awakening our presence to the greater unifying force of love, has become key to our process.

For each of us this process is also a uniquely personal one, be it sudden and rapid, full of grace or a deepening spiritual path.  For most however, it is just the stuff of life, such as facing major challenges like illnesses, and death/s.  All challenges have the potential to awaken our conscious presence and release what no longer serves our truer self.

How can we help?

There are ten common themes of experience that spiritual emergence may take.  The SEN website www.spiritualemergence.org.au is a great resource with pages of information, such as how to recognise spiritual emergence and how to support a friend or family member who is having an intense awakening.  You may even recognise the key themes showing up in your life as 'mirrors' to your own emergence.

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Acknowledging that they are moving through
an important and natural process,

removes much of the fear and resistance,
which then allows it to
flow with more ease and grace.


For some these experiences may be so frightening that it may seem they are 'losing' their mind or going to die.  Death is a common symbolic theme that arises during spiritual emergence as the fear-based consciousness or ‘ego structures’ begin to breakdown and 'die'. 

This breakdown is followed by a break-through into awareness, love and unity-consciousness.

Why is it so important?

Most people going through spiritual emergence intuitively know their experiences are an awakening process.  However, because of the intensity some may seek help, be diagnosed and prescribed strong medication to halt this process.  In some cases when all other practical tools and assistance doesn't help, prescribed medication will be needed to help manage it.

Who else can help?

There is a lot we can all do to help another and ourselves stay present, grounded, fed, rested and safe during spiritual emergence.  Finding a heart-centred practitioner that is versed in the symbolic and energetic terrains of both the collective and the personal unconscious can be very important for some.  Witnessing, integrating and grounding the energies through processes such as art, ritual and client-centred spiritual counselling, will assist the transition from unconscious fear to loving presence in both the ordinary and spiritual realms more effectively and safely.

......And other times, it may simply be a warm bath or immersion in nature that will serve best :-)

To find out more about my art therapy sessions go to Art Therapy.

Namaste,
Tanya

Art Therapy and Eating Disorders

7/9/2018

 
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A helpful perspective

Whenever we struggle with an ongoing issue, in truth, it is actually 'life' nudging and helping us to grow and evolve.  Contrary to what consumerism tells us, all of us are exactly where we need to be right now and our struggles indicate that we are emerging from a cocoon that no longer serves us.  It is a time of renewal.  There is no where else anyone can be but exactly where they are right now.  Welcome!

Art Therapy is about reclaiming your true self, your innate beauty
and your powerful connection to Source.

Who is this for?

Eating disorders are generally characterised by excessive concerns about body shape and weight, leading to harmful weight control behaviours. 

My support in this area will suit anyone who is struggling with any of the following....


  • disordered eating
  • body image issues
  • unhealthy dieting
  • clinical eating disorders

...OR those who feel they will benefit from growth in any of the 7 areas below.

Art Therapy for eating disorders focuses on 7 key areas needed to shed the old cocoon and strengthen your wings. The structure below is entirely flexible as everyone's journey is unique.


  • Centering in awareness and your true self
  • Understanding the eating disorder/disordered eating
  • Skills for solving the problems
  • Understanding and reclaiming emotions
  • Healing body image issues
  • Finding self acceptance
  • Developing spiritual connection

How does the art therapy happen?

Each area above has a range of art therapy processes to engage with and each is a process of exploration and self-realisation which enables you to evolve.  Every process of exploration (shedding) is followed by a secondary process of responding (renewal) to claim the power in what was realised or gained from the first.
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What if I'm not good at art?

You do not need to be good at art, in fact it's better if you are not because then you bring a childlike quality to your art and the symbolic message will be clearer as opposed to art that's main focus is to look 'beautiful'.  Each process has a specific focus for the 'art' with clear and simple guidelines.

It is not how the art looks that matters,
but what it is telling you about your experience.

What art materials are used?

A range of easy, 'no rules', mixed media (art materials) are used; collage with glue sticks and magazine images and coloured tissue paper, water colour washes, oil pastels (as in the drawing above), finer detail can be added with coloured gel pens, textas or coloured pencils, clay for sculpting and acrylic paint for ink blot pictures.

And lastly! There's opportunity to start your own visual arts diary if you choose to.  Additional suggestions can be given at the end of each session for further self-expression to be done at home.

Namaste
Tanya

Scribble Drawings

19/7/2017

 
When is the last time you did a scribble drawing?  Back in the days of Mr Squiggle maybe?

In art therapy scribble drawings are an easy way to bypass the conscious mind/ego and allow current images/messages to arise from the subconscious for integration.  It begins with some random scribble then slowly turning the page around until you see something begin to emerge in the scribble. Then, fill in the picture to welcome it forth!

The final part of the process once the drawing is filled in and feels complete, is a technique called amplification in which I guide you more deeply to connect with the energies and messages arising from the symbolism.  This is where, what you are ready to know about your issue comes to realisation and begins to be integrated into consciousness through a process of relating, understanding, acceptance and love.

There are variations on how this process can be engaged with depending on where you are at in your process.  If you are exploring an issue related to your body I may ask you to scribble with your whole body involved or if it's an emotional issue I may ask you to feel into the emotion as you scribble e.g. 'angry' scribble.  Or I may ask you to formulate a specific question that you are asking and hold it with intent as you scribble.  All in all the disarming of the ego in this simple process of allowing an image to arise through the nonsensical gateway couldn't be more surprising and powerful.

Divination Card Sessions

24/3/2017

 
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Divination Card Sessions are for gaining clarity and awareness on a specific aspect of your life or a question you have.
 
Unlike other card readings, during this process  (originating from transpersonal art therapy) I guide and empower YOUR innate ability to divine and powerfully realise the answers to your own questions!
 
Be guided through a beautiful process of divination in which truth and knowledge becomes apparent through a deepening connection with your cards.

Here's what Andrea and Monty said about their sessions;

"I had a unique card reading with Tanya. I chose 3 cards and called them deep, deeper, deepest. One by one I saw what they meant for me guided by Tanya so beautifully in her calm loving way. I had a question to ask and I got the answer in a most magical and unexpected way. It was a wonderful personal experience to read my own cards. It bought up stuff from deep within, but felt good to finally voice it in a safe space. Today I feel lighter, brighter and completely at peace." ~ Andrea

"I've had many card readings, this one was the most profound by far.  Tanya's process with the divination card reading is truly incredible. She guides you to delve deep into the images and see what's being shown to you. Her questions and guidance as she holds space allow and empower you to tap in to your own intuition and process the messages as they surface.  I was absolutely amazed at how much I was able to see in the cards!! " ~ Monty

Emotions

12/3/2017

 
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Just as behind every positive emotion, an important need is being met...
Behind every negative emotion there's a basic need that is unmet and needing to be heard.

Our needs are so important to our well-being yet expressing certain emotions is difficult in our culture... they can be messy, provocative and it often doesn't go well because most of us haven't be taught how to do it well. 

Did you know that beneath anger there is always a more vulnerable emotion that isn't being expressed and is linked to an important need that isn't being heard or met?

Owning and naming how you're feeling is a skill worth learning.  It enables you to share your true feelings, recognise what specific need is unmet and request what you need (without attachment to the outcome)....human heart to human heart rather than slipping into shame or blame or demand.

It is your masculine mind and your feminine feeling body working together in sacred union AND it is your divinity embracing your humanity!

If you'd like to learn how, book a session (same price as art therapy)...I am passionate about supporting this process to empower our feeling soul.

Or take a look at NVC steps which outline the best way I've found to express feelings effectively.  There's also a 3 hour video on Youtube of a NVC workshop the founder has run with a group overseas.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
Tanya

"At the core of all anger is a need that is not being fulfilled."
~ Marshall Rosenberg (founder of NVC)

    Author

    Tanya Craig of All One Therapeutic Practices

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0415 227 058

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