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On this page you will find a variety of Articles authored by Tammi Baliszewski and published in various works.  Please enjoy your time here and feel free to contact me with any questions or to request further information.

What exactly is the effect of creating art? Can painting, singing, dancing, making pottery or poetry really change or heal us? It is my intention to explore the connection between creativity and vibrant physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being. I will share information from studies, doctors, artists, teachers, healers, students as well as my personal experiences about how expressing ourselves through artistic and creative endeavors can shift and transform us from the inside out.

When I mention that I am a Mandala Facilitator, the first question people often ask is: “What is a Mandala?” The word Mandala stems from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. It is derived from the root “manda”, which means container, to which the suffix “la”, meaning essence, has been added. Thus, one obvious connotation of Mandala, is container of essence. It can also be loosely translated to mean “sacred circle”. The second question is usually something like; “Why are they so great?” or “How do they work?” Mandalas are a doorway or portal to inner wisdom, intuition, and the Divine within.

Art heals, but how? Scientific studies are beginning to reveal that art heals by changing a person’s physiology, mood and attitude. The body’s physiology can shift almost instantly from that of stress, discomfort and fear to that of relaxation, inspiration and creativity. Art, devotional music, prayer, and meditation create similar brain wave patterns and can soothe the autonomic nervous system.

Creativity and art takes us into our inner world, a world far beyond that of our conscious thinking mind. This is a world of imagery, symbols, emotion, far beyond that which words can express. This journey inward can support us in experiencing integration, revelation, healing and peace.

The word mandala stems from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit.  It is derived from the root “manda”, which means essence, to which the suffix “la”, meaning container, has been added. Thus, one obvious connotation of mandala, is that it is a container of essence. It has also been loosely translated to mean “sacred circle”.   More than a simple shape, the circle is a primal pattern that has existed in nature since the beginning of time.  It is present in all aspects of life, from the microcosm to the macrocosm.  Just as the particles of an atom revolve around a center nucleus, the planets of our solar system revolve around the sun.   Astrophysicists have discovered that the universe is expanding and a dynamic force is at work – new stars are being created, revolving and rotating planets, solar systems, galaxies, and super clusters- and the timeless model is the pattern of the mandala.