Creative Interactions Mini Presentation Transpersonal Psychology and Actor

Creative Interactions Mini- Presentation Transpersonal Psychology and Actor Training: Considering a Spiritual Approach to Theatre and Performance Practices. By Seán Fitton.

O O O O O Creative Interactions Text for Mini Presentation – Pitching my project 4/3/19 (Slide #1) Transpersonal Psychology and Actor Training: Considering a Spiritual Approach to Theatre and Performance Practices. Even though this trimester contains two modules, the manner in which each module informs the other has led me two consider them as two aspects of a larger project. The following description, therefore considers both the Lecture-Demo for Creative Interactions and the Assessed Performance for Developing your Practices. My project, then, in collaboration with a Transpersonal Psychotherapist, will involve an examination of the relationships between three specific areas of study: (Slide #2) The practices and concepts used within Transpersonal Psychotherapy, described as “a process of self-actualisation and self-realisation, which helps clients to discover the deep core of their essential self. ”(Anon, see references below) and as a holistic and humanistic therapeutic approach which has ‘an anti-reductionist stance and the rejection of a narrow definition of human nature’ (Feltham & Horton, 2006, p. 543). (Slide #3) My own practices and philosophies as an occultist and multi-faith Pagan, concentrating particularly, but not exclusively, on physical practices and rituals and their worldwide cultural similarities. (Slide #4) Actor/performer training, concentrating particularly, but not exclusively on the realm of physical theatre. (Slide #5 scrolling automatically to Slide #26) In my studies as a life-long Pagan and occultist, I have noticed striking similarities between the spiritual practices involved in religions and cultures worldwide. Many of these practices, such as creative visualisation, body awareness, and breath and movement work have been adopted as therapies within Transpersonal Psychotherapy. When I began training as a performer, I was immediately struck by the similarities between the exercises I was instructed to do, such as postural, movement and visualisation exercises and the methods I was already using in my daily practices, such as Chi Kung, shamanic embodiment and creative visualisation. It is the crossovers between these elements that I shall be examining with my collaborator, using a mutual interest in the archetypal images of the Tarot as a connecting point (Slide #27) The project will have two practical outcomes. The first will be in the form of a ‘lecture-demo’ in which I will discuss the nature of the collaboration and any mutual findings while leading the audience, or volunteers from the audience, in a Chi Kung class. (Slide #28) The second will be a physically-based performance, possibly durational, in which I will be using combinations of my own rituals and physical practices with more commonly held rituals (such as cleaning one’s teeth) while telling stories from mythologies and scriptures and from my own life in order to examine my search for and identification with the archetype of the Holy Fool, as symbolised by the Tarot card, The Fool. This is intended to be a work in progress rather than a finished piece. (Slide #29) It is hoped that the exchange will benefit both parties primarily in the form of increased knowledge into each other’s area of expertise and a deepening of knowledge and experience in our own specialisations through practical work and experimentation. It is also hoped that the three areas of study can inform each other and therefore that any dissemination of the findings might bring greater understanding and potential for improvements for their various practitioners. (Slide 30? – text of speech) References: Anonymous (date unkown) [website page] Counselling Directory: Transpersonal Psychology [accessed 3 March 2019] available from https: //www. counselling-directory. org. uk/transpersonal-psychology. html Feltham, C. & Horton, I. (2006). The handbook of counselling and psychotherapy. (2 nd edn). London: SAGE.