expressivista - create. collaborate. elevate. by jennah ferrer-foronda

108. The TV series Lost was utterly obsessed with it. Add up Numbers 4 + 8 + 15 + 16 + 23 + 42 = 108. These Numbers were entered into a computer at the Dharma Station every 108 minutes. Wikipedia further cites, “One hundred eight is also the number of days “the Oceanic 6″ have spent on the island. And Jacob tells Hurley to rotate the mirror in the lighthouse to a heading of 108°”

If you google “significance (or symbolism) of number 108″ you’ll find references to mathematics, astronomy, buddhism, sacred writings and baseball.

So. What does this all have to do with Expressivista: spiritual psychology & creative arts?

The best way one could understand expressive arts therapy would be to watch it unfold as an experiment. Linear. And in optimum awesomeness, interact.

You may have heard that it takes 21 days to dump a habit such as my ex-boyfriends: smoking, complaining, gossip. In Kundalini Yoga, 40 days breaks a habit. 90 days less denial and resistance, this habit is embedded into your body & mind. 120 days the new habit is a part of who you are. 1000 days certifies you as a jedi master.

While doing research last week, at 1:08pm on my iPhone (seriously, I swear), I read this on Wikipedia:

“One hundred [and] eight (or nine dozen) is an abundant number“

A-ha! 108 days of active arts meditation = pick something you want to focus on in your life: self-confidence, love, prosperity, abundance, freedom from feeling stuck, releasing anger, more energy, appreciation, going for that novel you want to write… creating a business with nothing but a spark of intention and moxie… let’s see what happens for 108 days {hint = 108 being an abundant number} of Expressivista - active meditation through:

• art
• writing
• music
• chalk drawing
• hiking
• storytelling
• celtic salt baths
• baking

The hope is that after 108 days… anyone in the World Wide Web can stumble upon a cookbook of recipes to dip into inspiration, breakthrough of a creative block or manifest a hidden treasure at the end of a 21, 40, 108, 120 arts meditation. Try one or try them all in times of blues, more-than-just-blues, stress, stuckness…

With that said, for the next 108 days, I’m committing to my 108 Day Arts Meditation of Happiness As A Habit:

Happiness as a muscle, Life is the gym – you show up especially when you don’t wanna & just like 108 beads in a rosary with 108 mantra repetitions, the reps of lifting weight break & rebuild the muscle until eventually the ritual sculpts out a transcended YOU.

Day 1:

#108meditate of the day: Happiness inward is solid. Happiness based on externals is risky ground. Breath is free & can clear up mental muck & become addictive:  close your eyes, breathe in to 8, exhale to count of 10. Repeat. You’re welcome. (<–my mentor, Terri Cole, often says that after her breath meditations. Twas a gratitude nod to her.)

Right Action: based on an idea from my teachers, Christine Arylo & Gabrielle Bernstein, start a list of 108 things:

• that you love about yourself
• that make you happy
• more specifically, books & music & films & food that make you happy
• that you’d like to visit, learn, create over the next  (fill-in-the-blank)years…

Enjoy! xx.

Love love love comments & questions & equally love responding. If you are so inclined, please comment, like, +1, tweet (hashtag #108meditate) & spread the love!

…Even if you’re cool just reading or skimming, thank you. There is much value in witnessing another’s music, design, writings, art, performance… if you’re moved or inspired – positively or negatively – the art isn’t dead.

Anyways, as a treat, here’s some more fun facts on the number 108 from that Bastion of Knowledge, Wikipedia:

• Buddhist mala beads, catholic rosary beads:  108 circular. in some twist the circle to be an infinity – see photograph. – 108 repetitions of a mantra or yoga pose
• Sanskrit alphabet is made of 54 letters. Each has a male + female part = 108 letters
• Vibrations & Frequency, Sound = The highest broadcast band of FM radio is 108.0
• New Year in Japan is celebrated by ringing the gong 108 times
• Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.
• In Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope had 108 suitors.
• An official Major League Baseball baseball has 108 stitches.
• The pre-historic monument Stonehenge is about 108 foot in diameter.
• On April 12th, 1961 Jurij Gagarin was the first man in space. His official time in space was an hour and 48 minutes or as we know it, 108 minutes.

About Me:

Jennah Ferrer-Foronda is an Expressive Arts Therapy Advocate, Educator and Consultant. She received her graduate training at New York Expressive Arts/Glass Lake Studio; European Graduate School, Switzerland as well as the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, NY. Currently under development: curriculum for a psycho-spiritual arts flagship program in Los Angeles focusing on women and children, as well as a book synthesizing neuroscience, creative arts and healing. Social media is Queen: connect at Facebook & Twitter: @expressivista. #108meditate.