Art, Intuition, Trauma and Your Amygdala

Send it some love.

The role of the amygdala in trauma is well-documented at this point.  It is the part of the brain that sounds the alarm when we are in perceived danger. It is the part of the brain that contains the unconscious portions of an event, thereby qualifying it as a traumatic memory. It is known that long-term exposure to unresolved trauma can have one of two contradictory impacts on the amygdala:  it can become smaller, or it can become larger than normal compared to controls.  It is known that the amygdala has a role in intuition, intuition being defined as “the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.” Oxford Dictionary.   It is our response center for both positive and negative emotions. Studies have shown that the amygdala has a role in our judgement of what is beautiful.  It is also well documented that creative endeavors such as painting, writing, singing, and/or playing an instrument are good for one’s mental health and well-being.

Given this data, my decades helping people resolve trauma, and my considerable experience with artists, I have noticed the following:  People with significant trauma have healed in substantial ways with a consistent artistic practice over time.  Intuitive healers who have resolved their trauma gain even more impressive depth in their ability to perceive and understand immediately.. I have also seen people take quantum leaps in their abilities as artists and intuits when they have focused on resolving past traumatic events. I think that part of what occurred was the result of a quantum leap of ability because I believe that many who I observed had enlarged amygdala because of their trauma histories.  I once had an actor friend who didn’t want to resolve his trauma as he was afraid that he would lose his depth as an actor.  The opposite is true.  One gains deeper perspective and has more ‘mental space’ to understand one’s art, and without traumatic triggers, the ability to move forward with a project becomes much easier.  

Anyone capable of learning is a candidate for training in Traditional Trauma Resolution. I will hold both a special online training and retreat in Costa Rica for those who would like to increase their artistic capacity and who are ready for the life-changing experience of resolving their trauma.  The training info is here!    Here is more information about Traditional Trauma Resolution.

Pura  Vida,

Tree

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