methodology

Spectrasomatics combines color therapy, sound healing, and somatic movement techniques filtered through the lens of the chakras to offer new creative wellness practices. The above illustration depicts the Spectrasomatics methodology by visualizing the connection of the chakras to their respective colors, body locations of the energy centers, and related keys from the major musical scale.

This chapter proposes a system, or a series of systems, which can be applied by the participant to create their own Spectrasomatics combinations to enhance their personal wellbeing. This is a rough, preliminary manual on the methodologies behind the concept of Spectrasomatics. Many of the proposed activities in this methodology section were undertaken as personal experiments which resulted in various art pieces as documented in video and photo.

This methodology is based upon the research presented in this thesis and principally uses the theory proposed by Isaac Newton noting the connection between the musical scale and the color wheel, the chakra-based performance art methods devised by Linda Montano and additional chakra wellness concepts found in The Sevenfold Journey. (Judith, Vega 1993)

practice examples

sound practices:

sing or chant

shruti box, singing bowl, tuning fork

synth and keyboard play

finding music that is in a specific key and listen

color practices -

spaces: sit in a colored space such as a yellow room, red rock canyon, mossy green forest floor, purple jacaranda tree, orange house, the indigo of deep winter evening light, the blue sky reflected on a lake.

clothing: make or find your own monochromatic outfits. wear the chakra color that you are working with or actively unblocking/toning. make colored visors, sunglasses and headdresses.

food: eat the color of the chakra you're working with

Practice Example

This next portion provides an example of what a written guide of Spectrasomatics could become. The goal is to create well-researched combined therapy videos that could be used alongside written practice guides or in conjunction with immersive experiences, live classes, or installations. While this thesis will not create fully detailed practices for each chakra in this juncture, below is an idea of what one chakra practice could look like. The example uses Manipura, the Yellow Chakra connected to the Solar Plexus, to expand upon longer practices dedicated to a single chakra.

INSTRUCTIONS:

YELLOW CHAKRA - MANIPURA - SOLAR PLEXUS - KEY of F

Isadora Duncan believed the soul was housed in the solar plexus. In the Yellow Chakra Practice, you’ll be pulling, folding, twirling, twisting, opening, arching, flopping and flowing from the powerful center of the torso, the solar plexus. Expand and contract with the diaphragmatic breath based in the solar plexus.

First, find a piece of music in the key of bright, sunny F. Tones in the key of F work too. It is suggested that you find a yellow outfit or add some yellow to your body. If you do not have a lot of yellow, choose a neutral colored base outfit and add a few yellow details. Try to make a playlist or find a piece of music that is at least 40 minutes or more.

Second, you can choose to go out and find yellow in the world, or find yellow in your home. Look for a yellow wall, a yellow tree, or a yellow spot somewhere in the world. If you cannot find a yellow space out in the world, or in your house, find yellow objects and make a small altar in your home.

Third, when you are in the yellow space or near your yellow altar, begin to move, drawing energy and inspiration from your solar plexus. Move with intention and focus from that spot, envisioning a bright yellow light emanating from your solar plexus. You can make up your movements or you can follow these inspired movement prompts if desired. There are 3 different movement sections. For best results, do them in order as they are listed in an optimized order which gently warms up the region. Remember, these are all suggestions and everything is up to the participant.

GENTLE WARM UP:

Abdominal Tapping - gently tap your solar plexus/ upper abdominal region while breathing deeply and slowly into your diaphragm. 1 minute
Energy Push: Standing softly with feet grounded hip width apart, imagine there is a ball of energy at the center of your solar plexus. Gently move the energy with two hands, pushing it out away from the center as you. Push the energy while standing centered, gently twisting left and right while pushing the energy away from you. Breathe deeply and slowly into the diaphragm. 2 minutes
Abdominal Twists: Twist side to side warming up the solar plexus, mid-spine and upper abdominals. 1-2 minutes
The Wood Chop: standing tall and soft with feet hip distance apart and arms raised overhead and hands clasped, bend forward and drop your arms between your legs, feeling the energy in the solar plexus. Repeat for 10-20 repetitions to charge energy to the solar plexus.
Forward fold & hang for a few moments while breathing deeply.

STRETCHING & TONING

This portion involves yoga positions, so please familiarize yourself with common poses before beginning. Please breathe in and out slowly aligned with the movements to the best of your ability.

Breathe in and step back into Downward Dog. Exhale. Inhale and roll up into Warrior 1 right side. Exhale into Warrior 2. Inhale and reach the right arm down to the ankle, exhale and twist the left arm up and look to the sky. Inhale and slide back into Evolved Triangle. Exhale and float back into Downward Dog. Take three deep breaths here and repeat for the left side.

You can do an optional flow through by inserting chaturanga and cobra in between if you’d like a more intense flow. You can repeat each side up to 7 times each if a more strenuous flow is desired.

EXPRESSION & FLOW

After the stretching and toning warm-up, float back to standing tall and centered with feet hip width apart. Take a deep breath in and feel as if your head is held by an invisible string suspended from the sky while letting your knees softly bend. Feel as though there is a bubble of air beneath your feet. Sway slightly suspended from the invisible string. Place 3 fingers on the solar plexus. Take three deep breaths pressing slightly on the solar plexus.

With fingers on the solar plexus, let your body begin to flop left to right and back to forward from the solar plexus, softly at first and gaining energy as you play in this motion. Push your energy with your finger tips and follow that energy movement with your body. The hand does not have to stay in that one place.

Begin to move around in an unrestricted fashion, playing with speed and size of the movements and drawing all movement from the solar plexus. Think about moving like yellow things. Move like a leopard, a daffodil, the sunlight at 4pm on the water, etc. Move like your mom’s 1960s floral chiffon swing dress. Move like a yellow brushstroke. Move as if you have a flock of canaries inside of you, following their movements as they fly throughout your body. Let the energy flow through other body parts. Make motions drawing the energy out. This is not rigid and it is encouraged that you let transformation unfold without restriction.

Let the movements begin to take you around the space you are in. You may shuffle, leap, wave, fall, ripple, shudder, spin, wiggle, or any other type of movement that intuitively expresses through your body as led by this solar plexus energy. You may walk more slowly than a sloth, or you may fly across the floor like a water strider. The movement comes from within, unrestricted and liberated. Isadora Duncan believed that “the center from which emanates all movement is the solar plexus” (McComb), describing that “movements radiate from the solar plexus” and that her students should not move until they were “imbued with that inner emotion to feel from the solar plexus before commencing to dance.”

Do this as long as you need until it feels finished. It is nice to film yourself to see what arises from this creative practice. When you come to an end, you can close your practice with a few gentle abdominal twists and 5 deep diaphragm breaths with abdominal tapping. At the end of the practice, you can optionally engage in stream-of-consciousness drawing, painting, sculpting or writing. It helps to incorporate the color you just worked with. Interpret what mental images, memories or emotions may have arisen during the practice. Tune into your body, see where it feels most activated, and take note of it. Another option for solar plexus work is to follow the Katusgen Undo Butoh practice from the comprehensive Butoh Manual Online, a contemporary wiki created by Butoh artist and teacher Adam Koan.

annalaurahafner@gmail.com

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