Hey Reader, 💙

​

Sorry for missing last week's edition of our newsletter. I was on holiday in beautiful Portugal in a complete digital detox mode. What a fantastic country with wonderful weather, mouthwatering food and kind people!

So, here's a quick round up of what's been going on at Curious Muse over the last few weeks:

​

⚕️ Art therapy: can art really heal?

💡 Curious Bites:

• ✌️ This is how different cultures count on their hands.
• 😱 Tampons are used by women but they were originally designed for men

​🎭 Cultural Read:

• 🎥 All 9 Yorgos Lanthimos Movies, Ranked
• 🎨 Impressionists beyond France attract attention in movement’s 150th anniversary year

​✍️ Quote of the week from The Beatles

​

Let's dive straight into it!

⚕️ Can art really heal?

Recently, I was speaking to someone (let's call her Sarah) who told me about her experience with... art therapy.

Battling anxiety and depression, she had tried various treatments with limited success. The idea of using art as a healing tool seemed unconventional and she was quite sceptical of it (just like me), but she decided to give it a try.

Apparently, art therapy isn't new. It began in the 1940s when doctors noticed that patients with mental illnesses often turned to art to express themselves. This led to the development of art therapy as a formal treatment. Sarah's therapist explained that art therapy involves more than just drawing or painting. It can include dance, drama, music, and even writing. Each form of creative expression has the potential to help individuals explore their emotions, develop self-awareness, and cope with stress.

In her first session, Sarah was given a blank canvas and a variety of paints. Her therapist encouraged her to let her mind wander and express her feelings through color and shapes. As Sarah painted, she found herself immersed in the process, temporarily free from her anxious thoughts. By the end of the session, she felt a surprising sense of relief and accomplishment.

Over time, Sarah's art therapy sessions became a vital part of her healing journey. She experimented with different techniques, from sculpting with clay to creating collages. Each session allowed her to explore her inner world in a safe and supportive environment. She learned to analyze her creations, uncovering themes and conflicts that had been affecting her emotions and behavior.

Art therapy proved beneficial for Sarah, just as it has for many others. Studies show that engaging in creative activities can reduce stress, improve mood, and boost self-esteem. Art therapy is used to treat a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance abuse. For example, research has shown that art therapy can significantly reduce trauma symptoms and alleviate psychological distress in cancer patients.

Sarah's journey also taught her that anyone can benefit from art therapy, regardless of artistic talent. Simple practices like drawing, listening to music, or journaling can provide therapeutic benefits. Unlike a traditional art class, art therapy focuses on personal expression rather than creating a finished product.

If you're considering art therapy, Sarah suggests finding a qualified professional with a degree in psychotherapy and an art therapy credential. Health insurance might cover some sessions, especially if they're provided by a certified psychologist or psychiatrist.

Today, Sarah continues to use art as a tool for maintaining her mental well-being. Her journey through art therapy has shown her the transformative power of creative expression. She encourages others to explore this unique form of therapy and discover how it can enhance their own mental health.

💬 Have you ever tried art therapy or any other form of creative therapy? What was your experience like?

💡 Curious Bites

✌️ This is how different cultures count on their hands.​

The Yuki people have one of the most unique ways of counting on their hands. Instead of counting the fingers themselves, the yuki count the spaces between them which lead them to a total of eight spaces in both hands and that's how their counting system is base-8 rather than the more common base-10.

In Japan, the method involves starting with an open hand and folding down fingers to count. For example, they first fold down the pinky, then fold down the pinky and ring finger and then Fold down the middle finger along with the previous 2 and carry on like that.

And one of the craziest ways is used by the Kaluli people who not just use their hands for counting but include almost the whole body in this process. They often start with the little finger of one hand and move to knuckles, then the wrist, and move up the arm to the elbow, shoulder, across the neck, and continue down the other arm in a similar fashion.
​

​😱 Everyone knows Tampons are used by women but believe it or not, they were originally designed for men​

Tampons, specifically the brand Tampax, have a history that extends beyond their current association with feminine hygiene. In the 1920s, tampons were originally designed for medical use. Hospitals utilized tampons to staunch bleeding from various wounds, including nosebleeds in men and it was one of the most major things used by medics during World War I.

The shift towards using tampons for menstrual hygiene began in the early 1930s. Dr. Earle Haas, an American inventor, recognized the potential of tampons for menstrual use after hearing about a friend's use of a sponge soaked in vinegar for menstrual protection. He developed and patented the first commercial tampon with an applicator and named his invention Tampax by combining the 2 words "tampon" and "vaginal pack."

​

🎭 Cultural Read

🎥 All 9 Yorgos Lanthimos Movies, Ranked​

Yorgos Lanthimos, the Greek director of Poor Things, The Lobster, and the most recent new supersize anthology Kinds of Kindness, has to be one of the most unlikely success stories of 21st-century cinema: an oddball visionary whose cracked comedies and antagonistic allegories of power and madness have been widely embraced by American moviegoers and awards voters alike...

​

​🎨 Impressionists beyond France attract attention in movement’s 150th anniversary year​

Overshadowed by French peers since 1874, artists from the UK, Sweden and elsewhere are gaining in prestige and price

​

✍️ Quote of the week

​

Stay curious 💙

Artem xx

​

​​​​​

​