Del universo simbólico al arte como terapia. Un camino de descubrimientos

Abstract

The article aproaches therapeutical art and its benefits, in the way of life of natives and afro-colombian communities of the chocoana region of the Bajo Atrato Colombiano. The symbolic universe, a point of convergence between them, opens many possibilities of creation, restoring health, strength, possibilities of being, doing, creating and believing. The research begins by placing the reader in this region full of jungle and rivers, populated by communities with ways of living, with ancient traditions and worldviews that have enabled them to withstand powerful military assaults product of territorial, economic and military interests. This opens as preamble and questions about how to transcend this valuable resource
to individual or group therapeutic setting, and recognition of subjectivities that unfold right before, in contexts framed by the characteristics of western modern thought. Then, the text links both contexts with the use of art therapy as a device that, similar to the founding myths of the communities chocoanas, reveals the depths of human baggage in an attempt to build a sense of identity, belonging, feel and express the wealth of affection beyond the requirements of current rationalism. When creating, we establish a dialogue between self and life and we can decide to abandon, leave and lose that what takes away the desire to feel, learn, know or explore. Herein lies the power of creativity and the importance of different methods to stimulate its development.