Download Healing Femininity - Balancing Energies

Healing Femininity - Balancing Energies
Katerina Ferkov M.Sc.
EASA 10th biennial conference, Ljubljana, Aug. 2008
Objectives
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To evaluate the techniques and methods for balancing energies
(breathing exercises, changing mind/behavior patterns, daily routines).
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To examine cognitive-behavioral or psychosocial influences of these practices.
Why?
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Destructive mental/cultural patterns and negative self/body image cause the majority of contemporary
problems that affect society in general.
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Ignorance can give way to conscious understanding.
Aim
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The result will help define the role of balancing energies in current perception of femininity (pathological
family patterns, what is beauty and female principle/mission/role) further our understanding, and provide
preliminary analysis and benefits of such healing.
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Wellbeing of humanity.
Definitions
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Energy/Balancing: in the Western scientific discourse studied in the field of quantum physics;
the base of most ancient scientific systems in the East (Tao, yoga).
Universe is composed of two complementary forces (male and female, dark and light, positive
and negative) friction between them is energy. The Quantum Vacuum is where these two forces are
in absolute balance.
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Femininity: observed not just as a biological fact but also as a cultural construct (cf. G. Geer,
1999: 288). Femininity is based on a body but understood and transformed on the energy base
which transgress social/cultural patterns - in a totally different manner like for example queer
strategies.
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Healing: Core aim of this project is regarding a human being not only as a physical object and
subject but also as an energy filed[1]. Healing means “to make whole or integral”.
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According to World Health Organization, health is ‘physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’.
[1] NCCAM; (http://nccam.nih.gov/)
Project “Even My Mom Would Like That!”
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Posters around the capital city Ljubljana at official
advertising spots.“Even My Mom Would Like That”. Three
girls representing “growing up” and depending on opinion
of their mothers. Broader context.

Performance /forms from shen chi, chi gong, Tibetan
exercises, yoga, tai-chi/. Free entrance, performance
included breathing exercises with audience

Aims:
-
Anyone at any age, stage of education, gender, health: can
improve their well being and consequently well being of
the whole society.
-
To propose a question what is a full potential of a woman
(man, human) apart from conventional norms and if so
how to optimize them.

Various reactions of audience:
From uncontrolled laughter, giggling, whispering,
embarrassment, wonder, to pleasant feelings approval or
impulse for deeper research/healthier life.
Beauty, Gender, Consumerism –
Contemporary Femininity

MTV Thank you Beautiful and F*!k You?

“Friends”
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“Desperate Housewives”
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“Sex and the City”
Diagnose: AMOR FATI (Love Thy Fate).
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In the process Bourdieu argues women are
objectified! It is women’s role to convert
economic capital into symbolic capital for
their families through the display of tastes.

Consumerist society demands cult sacrifices
from women. Gender is not only culturally
constructed but literally - bought.

Women oscillate between patriarchal norm
and postmodern laissez faire in much stress.
Techniques for balancing energy are a
possibility of transformation. Since they give
us additional energy (literally) to function
better in all aspects of life.
Consequences:
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Everyday pathologies (inherited/gained destructive
patterns, absence of meaningful life purpose: selfrealization)
-
Partnership (lack of communication, repressed
sexual energy)
-
Family Life (repetition of destructive patterns)
-
Social Life (inability to live one’s potential)
.
Current Femininity
“Global Westernized model”:
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A more active role of women on the neo-capitalist market.
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Cosmetic surgery/intrusive pornography/compulsive shopping (identity seeking).

The blast of nuclear family right into our faces.

More knowledge, more access to means of transformation.
“Slovenian model”:
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A dominant mother which is simultaneously The Victim.
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Great manipulative power over children which tend to linger in primal family till mid 30’s and over.
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Epidemic of mental health problems; as reported in 2007 by University Psychiatric Clinic of Ljubljana it is a
fact of each third inhabitant in Slovenia (as it seems the conditions hasn’t improved in 2008).
Question: “What is the solution?”
Healing Femininity – Balancing Energies

Offering new understandings in current family patterns (partnership, motherhood) and above all
stressing the possibility of self- realization.
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Avoidance of identity structualisation/core life purpose, on significant Others but rather one’s
own/ World’s wellbeing.
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Change of mental patterns as they affect bodily functions and all aspects everyday life.
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Offering of understanding of suppressed emotions.
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Education in daily routines that provide stability while balancing energy and how to include them
in social life.
Healing Femininity-Balancing Energies
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Project is researched at treatments of Society Natural Life www.naravno.org

All the treatments are conducted by therapist (Vesna Nikolić) who gained her knowledge as
shen-chi instructor which she combines with various complementary praxis.
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It consists of daily meetings which include techniques:
ego operation (hearing what might be extremely unpleasant for our self-image)
injection (explanation of how to balance situation, offering understanding and explanation)
smile technique (when we put a discrete smile of our face, we can rest in “emptiness”)
reaction (emotional or mental for various external or internal reasons)
explanation of dreams (C.G. Jung, C. Castaneda, Osho, experience)
meditation
breathing exercises
Tao self-massage
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Healing Femininity-Balancing Energies

Definitions of Complementary medicine (CAM)1) contributing to a common whole, 2) satisfying a
demand not met by conventional practices, and 3) diversifying the conceptual framework of medicine. (CAM
Associations in EU, March 2008.)

Mind-Body Medicine/Energy medicine (affect the energy fields of human body) Researched treatments are not
biomedical and do not represent traditional healing methods although they use experiences and parts of
both.They offer individualized diagnostic and treatment system. Therapist is available for any advice in reaction.
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Not regulated by the state but official/ no formal education or licensing (“the third millennium forms of
healing”); there is an ongoing public debate in Slovenia how to classify and regulate healers. This will be much
need since in EU up to 65% of the population is using CAM.
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Therapies can as sometimes needed support include homeopathic remedies, advice from energy field
measurements, acupuncture, chiropractic, fasting and various diet regimes.
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Project “Healing Femininity – Balancing Energies” is Postgraduate winner (sociology) 2008 at
international festival Memefest that nurtures and rewards innovative and socially responsible
approaches to communication (www.memefest.org)
***** Thank you for your attention*****

Katerina Ferkov M. Sc.
Ph.D. student at University Nova Gorica and Slovenian Academy of Arts and Sciences (ZRC SAZU)
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Contacts:
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +386 41 334362