Using a contemporary synthesis of Jungian and Post-Jungian imaginal perspectives, animate ecological phenomenology, somatics and recent scholarship in dance movement and progressive spiritualities, this unique book discusses how the promotion of a fluid relationship between imagination and movement can bring the mover back into relationship with soul and spirit. This connection with soul and spirit is considered as an essential and powerful resource in mental health. The book provides a rich digest of theory and produces a clear framework for the application of transpersonal theories to Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) practice, writing and research, illustrating the use and value of transpersonal perspectives through detailed case studies.Providing spiritual, soulful and mythological perspectives on DMP rooted in theory and practice, this book will be essential reading for dance movement psychotherapists, drama psychotherapists, expressive arts therapists, and dance movement psychotherapy students, drama psychotherapy students and arts therapy students.
Foreword by Daria Halprin. 1. Transpersonal Dance Movement Psychotherapy Practice: Sensing, Feeling and Imagining Soul and Spirit with Butterfly. 2. Transpersonal Dance Movement Psychotherapy Writing and Research: Languaging Soul and Spirit with Hawk. 3. Listening to the Animate Earth. 4. Listening to Archetypes. 5. Listening to the Flow of Life. 6. Energizing the Archetypes. 7. Story as Soul Journey. 8. Re-perceiving Dance Movement Psychotherapy from a Transpersonal Perspective.
'With this book, Jill Hayes joins the many voices arising throughout the world urging the recovery of a fading sense of how the cultivation of the infinite possibilities of body movement are crucial not only for negotiating the challenges of everyday life, but for the development of the soul itself. She articulates clearly how moving in depth, into and through suffering, opens one's heart to the world, finding the courage and compassion that so many spiritual traditions have made the ultimate goal of their works. It is an important work of philosophy and vision, a healing work.' - Don Hanlon Johnson, PhD, founder of the first graduate studies program in Somatics, and professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies.'This is a vital text vital for practitioners and students involved in somatic movement modalities, transpersonal movement forms and Dance Movement Psychotherapy vitally important because it addresses invisible, yet perceptible, sensory spiritual processes somatically encountered through movement that have hitherto alluded academic debate. Jill Hayes articulates the delicate felt presence of spirit and soul, bringing a methodologically innovative, and highly sensitive awareness to transformational processes in Dance Movement Psychotherapy. Jill's text, developed through decades of immersion in practice and academia, will be of great value to students and practitioners, setting forth a new framework that attends with integrity to spiritual experiences - in contrast to those experiences remaining ephemeral and fleeting in academia and practice. This is a playful, colourful, rigorous and deeply moving text its value extends beyond the subject discipline of Dance Movement Psychotherapy into the wider field of Dance Studies.' - Amanda Williamson, principle editor of the peer reviewed academic Journal of Dance, Movement and Spiritualities, Intellect Publishers.'I love how the stories in Jill's book make visible the subtle and transformational processes of creativity and movement. This is a wise, deeply thoughtful and much needed book that articulates the power and beauty of embodied process. It will be a valuable resource for anyone engaged in dance, community and somatic wellbeing.' - Miranda Tufnell, dance artist, movement educator and Alexander teacher.'This finely crafted book offers us a practice-based guide to transpersonal Dance Movement Psychotherapy beginning with the embodied story that arises from the fleshy substance of the living body. The writing flows smoothly from theory to research to practice, guiding us through stories of transformation and discovery that emerge from the practice of transpersonal Dance Movement Psychotherapy. We are challenged to encounter the physicality of our existence in the living, breathing organism that is the self and from the inner darkness of that physical self, we learn how our creativity and imagination can flow, as matter and spirit converge. The writing cleverly leads us into a liminal space between our own mortality and the infinite arena of the universe and in that sacred chamber, expressive movement becomes a catalyst for transformation. This book connects the reader on a deeply human level to the transpersonal practice of Dance Movement Psychotherapy in a quest to find the essence of soulful living.' - Caroline Frizell, Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Coordinator of the DMP MA at Goldsmiths, University of London.'Jill Hayes dares to bring academic discussion to those ineffable experiences known more easily to the moving body: soul, spirit, and the creative life force. She does so with the voice of someone steeped in years of experience in the transformative somatic arts. Hayes' writing takes us straight to what she calls ''the centre,'' bringing us inside a more poetic handling of the practice of transpersonal Dance Movement Psychotherapy. We honour the way she invites readers to share her passion for the wisdom of the body.' - Hillary Keeney, Ph.D., and Bradford Keeney, Ph.D., co-authors of Circular Therapeutics: Giving Therapy a Healing Heart, and Seiki Jutsu: The Art of the Non-Subtle Life Force.
