Can art and imagery heal?
“Oh yes, definitely,” said Dr. Joven Cuanang, who, some time ago, hosted a lecture by Todd B. Peyton, a licensed counselor with a master’s degree in Depth Psychology.
The lecture was at the newly opened Pinto Academy for Arts and Sciences. The academy is found in the beautiful grounds of the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, Rizal—and for a reason.
Integral
“In earlier times, the arts were an integral part of the attainment of a healthy and well-lived life,” said Cuanang, the former medical director of St. Luke’s Medical Center, a foremost art collector and gallery owner. He founded and owns the Pinto Art Museum, and the new Pinto Academy for Arts and Sciences.
“In medicine, healing is currently dominated by pharmaceuticals and technology, oftentimes to the detriment of a human being. In this academy, we want to nurture and explore the concept of healing from the mind.”
Peyton’s lecture presented a truly intriguing concept. He discussed the correlation of Egyptian mythology with human dreams.
Underworld
The Egyptian god Ra was said to travel daily to the underworld using a boat called a barque. In the morning, he would bring daylight to everyone; Ra represented the sun in Egyptian lore, and evening was when he would be at the final stage of his journey.
In the underworld, Ra would fight various creatures. This struggle in the darkness by Ra reflects our own journey in the dreamworld, explained Peyton.
Dreaming is about process—“processing the information we gathered throughout the day. And just as Ra is renewed by the process of travelling through the underworld, we are renewed when we visit our dreamspace. Dreaming is our way of processing our daily experiences and traumas.”
Peyton said we should examine our dreams more closely and recognize the value of sleep in recharging our body and mind. Healing does not occur only during waking hours, but in sleep as well.
Expect more lectures like this at the new Pinto Academy for Arts and Sciences. While the museum is a treasure trove of modern and classic art pieces, the place itself is a work of art with its whitewashed buildings and New Mexico design aesthetic. Guests can spend the entire afternoon just walking around the expansive grounds.
Pinto Art Museum is along Sierra Madre Street in Grandheights Subdivision, Antipolo City. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Entrance fee is P150 adults, P120 seniors, and P75 students. E-mail pintoartmuseum@yahoo.com.