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Integrating the Right and Left Brain
From my experience the amount of time needed for this initial intense focus depends much on one’s ability to be able focus the beam of concentration intensely, to able the still the “inner chatter” at will.
It is well known that we are still under utilizing our brains. As a specie we are still under-performers.:] It is actually remarkable what we are capable of when we know how. For me it is the same with right and left brain functions. We believe that we are only right handed or left handed but with practice it is possible to teach yourself to be ambidexterous. Just so with right and left brain functions. The more you practice the faster can become the interaction between right and left brain, so that the feedback and integration between the two hemispheres can seem almost instantaneous. However just as in becoming physically fit, you need to keep at it or you will fall back into old habits. The secret is becoming aware of what you are using when.
The much lauded process of individuation of Jung and Maslow’s self-actualization, reflects for me this process. When you become aware of your thought processes, you do become aware that we have several “inner voices”. We normally have a rationalist, critic, observer, rebel, dreamer, tyrant and wise mentor that partakes in our decision making processes. The more you become aware of this chorous of inner voices the more you can become the wise leader of yourself, and the more you can utilize the the different perspectives they give on challenges we face. By seeing the many perspectives of the same thing, each of which contains valid concerns, we are more likely to come up with solutions that will not have as many unforeseen consequences that our present solutions have brought. By seeing the extremes we can find the middle sustainable way. Our times is all about finding the balance between extremes. Each choice we make has a consequence. Are we seeing a wide enough picture? The more you integrate the inner diversity, that we all have, the more you operate with integrity in the outer world.
The creative process is a sequence of four indispensable stages (Graham Wallace – British sociologist)
1. - Preparation – Gaining knowledge of a subject through a confident, inquisitive attitude towards the subject.
2. - Incubation – A creative though begins in the conscious mind, but it must be left to incubate in the subconscious before it reaches its full potential. I have found that first I look at all the diverse view points, information, and possible options, then when I feel satisfied of having gathered what I need (I feel this intuitively) then I leave it to incubate …
3. - Illumination – Eureka – you know it is the right answer.
4. - Verification – How to bring it about practically; how to/if to materialize
You can see that in the creative process itself we use both the right and left brain to bring something to fruition. Our minds and bodies are indeed wonderful instruments at the disposal of our will, it is just a matter of becoming aware of what we have and then to train ourself in the proper utilization of it. There is a wonderful ancient Egyptian exercise I was taught by a Sebekkha master, called the day and night exercise. You hold your hands, palms facing up in front of you. You then have raise each finger independently, same one on each hand, while the other fingers must stay flat and together. When you first do it some fingers just won’t lie flat, but with practice it can be mastered. The fingers that you are least able to control reflects areas in you that needs work on it - under-utilization. Once you have mastered that, then you can try and raise different fingers on the opposite hands simultaneously. - Fun!
I am constantly awed at how beautifully everything about us is designed, as if we are given all the tools to be masterful creators, we just have to learn how to use it.
First posted on;
http://nordiblog.devioustyrant.com/?p=163#comment-204
I find the process fascinating too. We do have many inner personalities
that need to be brought into concert. Was curious as to whether these
personalities had full manifestation in another lifetime.
Capt., there are many who believe that the inner chorous each had a turn in
past lives to be the dominant character in our personality. It is clear to
see how a certain one being dominant will influence our lives in what we
experience and also what we manifest as a life path. Which being dominant
forms in our early childhood, but it can be changed.
Sophia, I hate to rain on your parade (of blog entries), but I find that my
creative process doesn't fit so neatly and nicely into the four-step
process that you outlined. Certainly, there are times when it does, but
because I am so intimately familiar with my primary process, I find more
often than not that the products of my creativity arrive and arise without
much forethought, and that many of these products require little or no
long-term tweaking. I find that I can spontaneously give birth to my
products fully-formed. It's remarkable how quickly and how often these
products come to me full-formed without much in the way of conscious
preparation or verification. I suppose it pays to be creative on a regular
basis.
Ah, but I do so love the rain ... Indeed I find that with myself too, but
then I have also had life-long practice in creative expression. I do find
however when I decide to use a new medium, I do go through the processes.
If for example I feel that I want to use decoupache to express something,
then I will first go and research the practical methods, combine it with my
original idea and then something will spontaneously arise in how I can
taking into acount the limitations of the medium, come up with an original
way of using it to express what I wanted to express originally. So you can
also say that the steps overlaps and continously flows.
Sophia, what you say makes perfect sense, especially in the exploration of
new media of expression. I also find it interesting to think about how the
stages of creativity manifest for me in my own creative process. For
example, at the stage of illumination, I often have sparks of illumination
as I create and work towards completion, and then a vivid, distinct sense
of completion when I finish.
