 Center for an examined life founder Arzi Mckeown |
When Arzi McKeown moved to the Hudson Valley from Maryland two years ago, she had been envisioning for years a center to help deepen self-awareness through the creative and expressive arts. That vision is now reality at the Center for an Examined Life, in West Hurley, which opened in April. A group of workshop leaders has joined McKeown in putting together a diverse program using movement, art, music, poetry, writing, psychodrama, dreamwork, and meditation, both to heal and to enrich personal and spiritual discovery.
The focus on creative arts comes from McKeown's 25-plus years of experience as a therapist in hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, and in private practice. "The creative arts touch people in different ways," she explains, "bringing the subconscious and unconscious to conscious awareness by engaging our senses, our hearts, minds, and souls. People learn and become aware from the inside out. Issues aren't covered up by extraneous words."
McKeown finds dance an especially powerful tool and has used it therapeutically for years. "We have each acquired specific movements—we develop ways to hold our bodies or specific mannerisms in response to life situations or experiences. Some of those are associated with emotional shutdown or a closing off that hinders our growth and wellness. If you change the way you move or experience your body, you can change perception and behavior." That opens the door for healing and for living a vibrant emotional and spiritual life.
McKeown relates her own experience in a dance therapy workshop when she was training. "At the time, my mother was dying, and I was not in a good place with her. I'd been talking about it [in therapeutic settings] for years, and all that had come up was anger. This gave me a whole different perspective." In her movements she was imagining the color ecru and a rich brocade fabric, which suddenly helped her perceive a richness in her mother that she hadn't let in before. "I started to see her in a different light, and really understood the pain in her life."
In addition to dance, McKeown incorporates guided imagery, dreamwork, poetry, music, and songs in her workshops. She currently is offering "Legacy Writing: A Gift Honoring Your Life and Times," "Coming of Age: Approaching the Second Half of Life with Creativity and Awareness," and "Healing the Wounds of Relationship."
 the center in West Hurley |
In her first experience with it, Zelizer says "I had this impulse to roll on the floor. When I came to a wall, I wanted more room." In grappling with the frustration of that, she had a flash of insight that, possibly because she is a twin, she has always wanted more space and fought against the restriction. Over years of practicing Authentic Movement, she has both literally and metaphorically come to acknowledge "walls" without distressing over them. "I now enjoy the space I have instead of recognizing the space I don't have."
Zelizer also facilitates workshops in journal writing on a range of themes, often codetermined by the participants. One of her favorite tools is "stepping stones," a process of listing 10 key events in one's life and then writing about their influence on one's spiritual journey. Group discussion about each person's journaling deepens awareness and insight. "People can have very powerful opening experiences," she has witnessed.
Several workshops at the Center for an Examined Life use psychodrama methodologies. Micky Shorr, with over 30 years experience as a clinical social worker and more than a thousand hours training in psychodrama, uses the technique in her workshops on personal development for women, support for parents and caregivers, and an interchange among helping professionals. "Psychodrama is guided dramatic action in a safe and affirming setting," Shorr explains. "You are not acting. You are just being, cocreating what arises. As the director, I make suggestions, but the protagonists decide where it's going to go."
Psychodrama is predicated on the unique contribution of group interplay to self-discovery and awareness. "I've been a therapist for a very long time but nothing has been as powerful as what happens in a group," Shorr says. "When we are fully present and authentic and spontaneous, we become creative and find new solutions and connections. It's very optimistic, very spiritual."
 the group meeting room |
Kafka describes hypnosis as a form of highly focused attention—an induced state of mind that enables people to alter the way they perceive and process reality. "Once you realize that you are awake, aware, and in control, you will find the experience quite enjoyable." She often uses color as a tool in the process. "When I first began my conscious spiritual path I received the gift of becoming a color healer. Violet is a visual tool I use to open the crown chakra. If you begin a journey with this color, you can find blockages." She then helps clients identify those blockages and resolve them.
Kafka's regular offerings at the Center for an Examined Life are "Finding Love: A One Day Workshop to Propel You Toward Love," and "Stop Smoking in One Session with Group Hypnosis." On June 11, the center will host a free mini-version of the Finding Love workshop, followed by a social mixer so people can get to know each other.
It's impossible to do justice here to the center's full schedule of workshops and each of the leaders. Below is a selection of what's coming up over the next few months; call or check the website to find out more.
• "Finding Angels' Eve: Finding the Sweetness of the End Time" (Garnette Arledge)
• "Dreams, Divination and Imagination: Exercising our Right Brain" (Sarvananda Bluestone)
• "Sounds for Healing: Rhythm and Vibration for Awareness and Growth" (Peter Blum)
• "Opening our Dreams" (Ellen Foreman)
• "Sacred Art: Yantra Painting of the Divine Mother" (Mavis Gewant)
• "Motherhood, a Sacred Journey" (Mavis Gewant)
• "Writing for the Soul" (Susan Krauss)
• "A Playgroup for Women with Difficult Bodies" (Jana Smith)
• "Answering the Call to the Creative Force" (Jeddah Vailakis, Lynn Keller)
 the sanctuary |
The Center for an Examined Life is located in the Kingswood Park complex, 33 Basin Road in West Hurley. (845) 331-3390; www.examinelife.com.