Art & Consciousness – The Transformative Power of Appreciating Art

“In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors.” William Blake

This talk will explore the transformative power of engaging with art as a vital aspect of what is missing from our current ways of thinking and knowing. When we really discover how to see, rather than just look at, our attention, our consciousness and perceptions alter. We are able to re-assess the personal with greater meaning and purpose.

We have all heard of the positive effects of yoga and meditation. But deep observation and appreciation of art has recently been cited by modern neuroscience as one of the most effective ways of increasing emotional and mental wellbeing, increasing creativity and inspiration and transforming consciousness. Yet this is not new knowledge. In this talk Mary will draw on research from ancient and modern ways of knowing that re-educate our inner and outer eye, becoming what was termed in the Renaissance, as the window to the soul.