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For many people, art is healing. It’s a powerful way to express what is sometimes difficult to put into words. Every aspect of the creative process becomes an instrument for communicating one’s emotional landscape.
Somatic art, which is trending on TikTok, is doing just that by allowing creators to share their artwork and move through emotions that can feel “stuck” in the body, including anger and sadness, Bustle reports. Whether it’s through scribbling freely or painting a large canvas, there are so many ways to do it.
What is Somatic Art?
Somatic art invites you to move, let go, and put your energy into projects without thinking about the outcome. This form of therapy blends art therapy with somatic therapy, which works with the connection between the mind and body to heal from trauma.
The best part about somatic art is you can try it from home and it doesn’t need to be perfect. It’s all about focusing on what you feel while you create and letting your body lead the way.
“It often looks simple and unstructured: scribbling, painting, or making on large paper, sometimes on the floor or wall, sometimes using broad movements rather than precise detail,” Chloë Bean, LMFT, a somatic trauma therapist in Los Angeles, tells Bustle. “The goal isn't the planning or interpreting while you create — it's about letting the hand move and staying curious about what you are experiencing as you do it.”
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The Benefits of Somatic Art
Somatic art has a variety of benefits for one’s inner emotional world. It can be especially helpful if you tend to analyze your emotions instead of feeling them. According to a blog on Enodia Therapies, it also paves the way for deep emotional expression since art can open the door to expressing feelings that aren’t always easy to communicate.
By paying attention to sensations in your body, somatic art allows you to notice and let go of stored emotional tension. It can also help heal trauma since you can process buried emotions in a gentle and safe way.
Furthermore, somatic art is empowering. Through this practice, a new voice and way of self-expression may arise within. By getting in touch with your body and creativity, you learn more about who you are. Finally, creating art can be a calming and meditative experience. With repetition and emotional expression, it’s a way to relax the nervous system and lower stress.
Experiencing the Beauty of Somatic Art
Whether you’re painting, drawing, or scribbling — even a quick 5- to 10-minute session can have a positive impact, Bustle explains.
To try somatic art, first gather your supplies. Choose a large surface and grab any materials you like including pastels, markers, or paint. Attach your canvas to the wall so you can move freely. Next, leave your thoughts out the door and pick the color that speaks to you. “Rather than thinking about why, simply starting to trust your nervous system from the beginning will set the tone,” Bean says.
Next, notice how it feels to create art. Tune into sensory details including the pressure of your pen, what it’s like to move, and even the smell of your supplies. Make sure to move by swaying and jumping around. Release the need to fix “mistakes.” In this practice, healing is the priority and there’s beauty in imperfection.
You can put on music to match artistic movements or get creative through movement in other ways. A TikTok video by creator @thecognitivecorner shows both hands being used simultaneously for bilateral stimulation. Bean notes that the movement helps the nervous system feel more regulated.
Whether it’s through slowly dipping your brush in paint or rhythmically drawing, pour your heart out on paper. It can be a simple and gentle practice to get in touch with your inner artist while healing your soul.
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