PATHWAY TO JOY AND HEALING

Today was my glassblowing apprenticeship and when I showed up to work, I was the only apprentice working with the glass artist today.  I was overjoyed in that I am able to do all the assisting instead of sharing tasks with other apprentices.  As I have been working for this glass artist since last fall, I have done all the tasks to assist her in blowing hot furnace glass that she expects and prefers but never alone until today.

In my two earlier posts, I talked about how our brain learns art and music.  Glassblowing is very similar to learning to play the piano or guitar or learning to play music, and less like other forms of art. Furnace glassblowing requires coordinating both hands while doing two different things, and being able to instruct your assistants on what you need from them. The initial process of learning to blow glass is in the left brain that focuses on the steps, in a linear and methodical way. Once you learn to do two different things with both hands, this can be stored in your muscle memory, then the work is done in the right brain where we are no longer focused on the steps, but rather on the creativity of making the glass object.

Once we reach muscle memory and working through the right brain, glassblowing as well as playing music are both meditative in nature. Today, I began practicing this meditation.  In this meditation, we focus intensely on the moment but in a relaxed manner.  Before gathering the glass that is picking up molten glass on a blowpipe or punty (a rod), I began deep breathing until my arms and body felt relaxed.  Next, I picked up the molten glass with the blowpipe or punty trying not to think about the steps but simply reacting to the molten glass’ movements.  Instead of forcing the molten glass to do what I want, I simply moved with it.

Today was the most successful day for me as an apprentice since I began my apprenticeship.  It was easy, effortless, and fun!  Every task came out the way I wanted, and I felt relaxed doing it. My spiritual practice has really helped me with my art and music!  Blessings or love, Brooke (Copyright 2014 Kundalini Spirit with All Rights Reserved)