Ellen F. Franklin, PhD
This past month at the Mothership we have been engaged in a variety of creative pursuits, from making art to trying out inventive new recipes with some of our abundant fresh produce. I’ve hammered steel to create sound sculptures, and Donna, Joanie Solaini and Max have been welding metal bars together and cutting steel for a new art installation that will represent Hexagram 8 of the I-Ching: Bi, to unite or hold together with our own inner truth, unity, union, community, intimacy and closeness. This hexagram also relates to uniting the disparate parts within us. Bi is an expression of community and the bond between people. In this hexagram, we have Water above and Earth Below, envision the way in which water nourishes the Earth and the Earth provides sustenance. This is also a reminder of the importance of loving and caring in any union. In our lives, nothing is more destructive than successive conflict and more auspicious than building harmonious relationships between people, recognizing that we are all one.
As we reflect on world events Hexagram 8 may be viewed as an invitation to examine how the events in the world around us are being mirrored within us. What prevents us from engaging in a rich transformative process or accessing our creative gifts? How do we build unity and community amidst the seemingly endless divisiveness and tearing apart? With the current global climate, are we giving in to despair instead of using the amazing sound tools we have at our disposal to come back to center, to ground and be present to continue with the work we have been called here to do in this life time. We are part of a community and through this bond the potential for creative synchronicity is exponential.
Are we engaging in everyday creativity, a concept put forth by Dr. Ruth Richards in her book Everyday Creativity and the New Views of Human Nature, Psychological, Social and Spiritual Perspectives? While working on my PhD I had the pleasure of studying with Ruth and she also served as chair of my dissertation committee. Ruth along with an interdisciplinary group of practitioners and scholars explore the critical importance of creativity to our very survival. Engaging in acts of creativity can help us to be present in the moment to survive and flourish while leading to improved physical and mental health as well as innovative ways of thinking, working, playing and experiencing the world around us. Whether you acknowledge it or not, it is highly likely that each day you do something that requires creativity. Yet, in the past when I have lectured on creativity many people would approach me after my talk to say: “I’m not creative – I am not a writer, artist, photographer, designer”, yet these very same people may have come up with an innovative solution to a problem in the workplace, redesigned a kitchen that didn’t function properly, or planted a garden to feed their family. These are all acts of everyday creativity to be valued and fostered. What are you doing each day to engage in creative pursuits?
Often when working with new students to Acutonics there is a push for us to provide specific protocols to address common health conditions, yet, each person is unique and their story and the underlying issues that may be leading to a health concern are also distinctive. This is why we place so much importance on listening to the narrative, exploring the archetypes and understanding the harmonic signatures that are present (explored in depth in Harmonic Pathology). It is from this information that we craft an approach to treatment. As teachers, practitioners and students of Acutonics working with sound tools every day we engage in returning art and spirit to Medicine, approaching healing as an art, inviting our patients to co-create with us. Each one of us is an artist engaging in daily acts of creativity, and when we midwife just one person in their transformational journey to health and holism we exponentially impact the world, the planet and the greater universe.
In addition to the many creative projects underway at the Mothership both the growing dome and outside gardens have been delivering an abundance of amazing produce including broccoli, cabbage, corn, lettuce, raspberries and zucchini. Today we harvested all the potatoes, and I picked a great crop of green beans, with many more on the vine. We’ve also begun the process of removing all of the raised beds in the outside gardens envisioning something new for 2018. Donna has been harvesting fresh herbs, tomatoes, tomatillos, cucumbers and all sorts of chilies from the growing dome. The tomato plants are almost to the roof of our 33’ dome.
Creativity abounds in this month’s newsletter, Carmen Cicotti provides our astrological perspective for the month and Paul and Jude Ponton offer their monthly treatment advise. In both of these contributions there is a focus on working with the Microcosmic Orbit, comprised of the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and the Du Mai (Governing Vessel). These are synergistic contributions as I often think about the Ren Mai as supporting our efforts to conceive something new, inspiring creative pursuits, and nourishing the see of Yin our watery potential to create. The Du Mai nourishes the sea of yang and provides strength and support to address psycho spiritual issues and to support our creative actions.
This month’s student profile, features Alanda Greene land steward, published author, facilitator of dream workshops and Acutonics Student Intern. Dr. Oksana Merimskaya who teaches Acutonics in Russia is our featured licensed senior faculty member. In both of these profiles you will see two powerful women who approach life with a creative Joie de vivre and a love for community.
Visitors to the Mothership in August included senior faculty members Dr. Alicia Villamarin, Susan Goldstone, Joanie Solaini and Mary Burke-Kelly who joined us with her husband Tom for viewing the eclipse. As fall approaches we are making many improvements to the land and buildings including having a screen door made for the growing dome by a local wood artisan. We are hoping this will deter some of the large critters who have a taste for shiso and tomatoes. A new screen door for the yurt where we teach is also being made.
September is a very rich and creative time here as we harvest the gardens and take a group of committed Acutonics students through Acutonics Level III and IV as well as Ethics in Clinical Practice (Level V), Clinical Documentaries (Level VI) and a clinic day. There are still a few places in Level V and VI but Level III and IV are full. If you are interested in the Ethics Class or Clinical Documentaries please be in touch with sande@acutonics.com.
Sending you blessings of harmony, unity, light and creativity,
Ellen