Tag Archive for 'coaching'

Drawing inner resources

Published on October 20, 2009 in aikido and iaido, art and coaching. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Hijab

We all have profoundly powerful inner resources. However, sometimes we do not realize them fully until we are challenged.

Where I live is a tree called Manzanita, beautiful red smooth bark and oval shaped lime green leaves. It’s seeds can only be opened up by fire or a lightning strike to the ground, only then is it possible for a tree to be created. Poet Gary Snyder talks about the speed and agility in the flanks of the deer, as a direct result of the wolf that preys upon him.

Art and the creative process is sometimes like this – the most beautiful things blossom and come out of the most challenging circumstances. My art often depicts people in the context of overcoming great odds, calling forth their inner most resources to do this. In my creative coaching and hypnotherapy work I help people access their inner most capacity for  healing, change and growth.

There is a story told of a great Tea master in Japan, who had been challenged to a duel by a Samurai warrior, who too was a master, in swordsmanship.

In these times it was not hard to insult a Samurai, a simple brush by shoulder or a bump in passing would be viewed as disrespect, and would be cause to challenge someone to a duel.

The tea master had only one week to the duel, and he was not up to the challenge, knowing nothing of the art of sword. He sought out a teacher going to the finest school of sword in the province. Telling of his predicament he convinced the teacher to help him. Day and night they worked hard and long fencing. Even though the tea master gave his all in the training it was of no use, he was just not a swordsman. The tea master new he was doomed and in a final plea said to the teacher, what am I to do now. I cannot win this man in sword, and I will lose my life.

The teacher looked resigned, and then said to him, you are the greatest tea master in the land,  are you not. There is no match for you when you are serving tea. The Master of Tea said, yes. The teacher then said, tomorrow morning I want you to go to the duel and present yourself to this Samurai, look him straight in the eyes like you are about to serve him tea, with the all the confidence of your craft. That is the only way you have to match him.

The Tea Master did just as the teacher said, and to his surprise the Samurai bowed deeply and said, I have met my match, and left.

Life’s challenges can be met creatively and we can rise to greater levels of awareness and potential.

The above image is part of a triptych, oil painting 6″ x 6″ each, titled “Hijab.”

Prints of my art are available on this Blog. Original artwork for sale, contact Michele at mbm@fivechanges.org or by cell (310) 339-3531

Love of Art – Art of Love

Published on November 12, 2008 in Uncategorized, art and coaching. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Spiritual traditions world wide speak about longings – the longing to be one with the source of  love. Like a bamboo reed growing in a still pond that dreams of being a flute played in the hands of a virtuoso, the bamboo flute that longs to be a reed in a still pond, and like our own longing to connect to the source of our existence.

There is a clear connection for me between the creative process that makes art and the creative process that is love.

My late Japanese grandmother – Obaasan, Noe, saw that I had a passion for drawing. I was three perhaps four years old living in Japan, and we (my mother, father, sister and I) were staying with Obaasan.

I remember the many coloring books, and crayons she gave me. The many days spent coloring with her. One day in particular stands out above all the rest. I remember that day clearly – feeling this enormous frustration as she tried to keep me coloring within the lines.  It was quite an advanced coloring book with pages upon pages of Japanese letters and Kanji. I would naturally continue to spill out and color all over the whole book, and even onto the floor. She eventually replaced the book with these huge pieces of blank paper. I remember the enormous joy and freedom I felt when she did that. Eventually I got too expressive for these large sheets of paper on the floor, so she then began to tape the paper together all over the floor, and even onto the walls!

We were both set free that day. Free to love. Free to create!

Unconditional love frees us from the limitations of our conditioned love, informs us to be creative! Michele Benzamin-Miki

All things splendid have been achieved by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances. Bruce Barton

The image above is Dry Media 11×14 inches, titled ‘Longing,’ all works are for sale and prints are available. Contact me if you’re interested.
I can also be contacted for Creative Coaching and Hypnotherapy.

Healing Power of Imagery and Art

Published on October 19, 2008 in art and coaching. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

birth-root-copy2

Art heals, in the making of it and the seeing of it.

This piece is titled ‘Birth root’ 22″x 30″

I use imagery purposefully, visioning my future, re-visioning my past, looking at the present with greater possibilities. This engagement shapes my artwork, my healing work whether teaching meditation, martial arts, my coaching and hypnotherapy work and my inner core sense of self.

Imagery is a flow of thoughts you can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. An image is an inner representation of your experience of your fantasies – a way your mind codes, stores and express information. Imagery is the currency of dreams and daydreams, memories and a reminiscence: plans, projections and possibilities. It is the language of the arts, the emotions, and most important of the deeper self. Dr. Rossman

Let us exercise our imaginary powers. Take responsibility for our inner world. Spend time intentionally guiding how we see our life, and future.  This is not spending time in a wishful state, it is much deeper. It brings to light our potential for healing physically and mentally and living on purpose, with purpose.

DR. Martin Rosaman wrote in his book, ‘Healing Yourself’ – Imagery is a window on your inner world; a way of viewing your own ideas, feelings and interpretations. But it is more than a mere window – it is a means of transformation and liberation from distortions in this realm that may unconsciously direct your life and shape your health.