Mapping the Resistance: A Somatic Art Journey
Workshop Structure (10 x 3-minute Segments) Each segment includes: - A prompt (spoken or written) - A suggested gesture or material (adaptable) - The psychological layer being explored 1. Arrival: Settle Into the Page - Prompt: “Let your pencil greet the page. There is nothing to fix, nothing to prove.” - Gesture: Soft loops or spirals, eyes closed optional - Focus: Arrival, grounding, safety 2. Resistance Awakens - Prompt: “Draw the resistance. Let it take shape. Don’t analyze—just feel it move.” - Gesture: Quick jagged lines or tight scribbles - Focus: Identifying resistance, surfacing blocks 3. Flow Interruptions - Prompt: “Interrupt the marks. Start, stop. Pause. Start again.” - Gesture: Broken line patterns, staccato movements - Focus: Noticing discomfort with stopping/starting 4. Inner Critic Comes to Visit - Prompt: “What does your inner critic sound like? Move like it.” - Gesture: Harsh, repetitive marks; write down critical thoughts if they arise - Focus: Externalized inner voice, self-judgment 5. Beneath the Critic: Tenderness - Prompt: “Shift now—draw the mark that soothes what was just said.” - Gesture: Gentle curves, soft shading, slow rhythm - Focus: Self-compassion, nervous system downshift 6. The Loop You’re Stuck In - Prompt: “Draw a loop or pattern you can’t seem to break. Let it repeat.” - Gesture: Figure 8’s, spirals, literal loops - Focus: Habitual patterns, stuck energy 7. Breaking Pattern - Prompt: “Change direction. Break the loop. Introduce surprise.” - Gesture: Switch tools, switch hands, sudden marks - Focus: Disruption, experimentation, new neural paths 8. Breath and Release - Prompt: “Match your breath to your line. Inhale—draw. Exhale—draw.” - Gesture: Wave-like lines, expansive motion - Focus: Regulating through breath, nervous system integration 9. Your Creative Self Emerges - Prompt: “Invite your most playful, curious self to the page. What do they want to create?” - Gesture: Intuitive play, layering color, childlike marks - Focus: Reconnection to creativity, joy