Movement Therapy

This study articulates a rationale for a cosmologically

oriented, movement-based expressive arts educational and therapeutic

model. It is inspired by the investigation of a primal symbol, the

vortex, and of movements which incarnate its axially aligned, spiraling

rotational form, with a special focus on circle dancing and spinning.

The first section examines theoretical issues. I establish the

ontological framework for my exploration, clarifying that my worldview

is founded on a "contemporary Tantrism" in which life is seen as

inherently creative. An approach to epistemology grounded in imaginal

and kinesthetic experience is proposed. The history of such an imaginal

epistemology is summarised, followed by a discussion of significant

ideas on the nature and function of symbols. Two approaches to

psychophysical transformation which form the foundation for my work are

described: the tradition of harmonisation with the cosmos, and its

expression in cosmic dance; and the principles and practices of embodied

spiritual disciplines that aim at identification with a numinous image.

The second section is an integrative symbol study of the vortex as a

symbol of generativity. It is framed by a developmental as well as a

cosmological model, and features a chronologically organized

crossdisciplinary review on the topic, with sources ranging from art

history, anthropology, mythology, symbol studies, and spiritual

philosophy to contemporary science. The third section explains how these

ideas can be applied to emotional healing, personal growth, and artistic

development. I introduce relevant concepts,