When we take the time to be fully present and engaged in communication, we gain a deeper understanding of the speaker's perspective and the emotions underlying their message. By being aware of our own internal reactions and responses, we become more empathetic and responsive in our communication.
Engaging with trauma in a constructive manner requires a thoughtful approach. The objective is to attain performances that feel liberating while maintaining a compassionate awareness of the elements that resonate deeply. On a personal level, such mindfulness can be profoundly transformative, guiding individuals toward self-compassion and introspection. This process cultivates personal growth and resilience, enabling individuals to deliver exceptional performances.
Tarkovsky gives a lot of importance to his childhood, as he believes it’s the first and foremost source of inspiration for creativity. No wonder his first movie « Ivan’s Childhood » is such a masterpiece… also the power of innocence, naiveness, the figure of the child, is present in every movie he made.
Every actor’s inquiry is different: one might want to take bolder risks, another to embody their voice fully, another to explore the rawness of the emotions through the lens of the character or the freedom of impulses discovered through embodiment, or to perform an extended scene free of interruption to see where presence can guide them.
We then went to the Ancient Aptera Theatre, where each actor explored their scene. We experienced ten authentic presences, ten different stories, ten magnetic universes. All actors dove into each scene with such fun and ease, with a true sense of playfulness, regardless of the material.
Ownership at times felt like embodied presence through the language, and other times it was me landing into an idea about the line. An idea would be an action that I chose to embody or it was a physical choice, like leaning forward or changing position. My physical choices were always filled with intention, such as leaning forward to speak quietly or to put emphasis or be cheeky.
I have often lost contact with myself, and I lost significant ground. But even then, the goal remained intact: to understand my psyche, to understand the human psyche, to meet my freedom, and to undergo what it takes for human beings to meet their freedom.
This exploration is not an attempt to create separation between ourselves and others. On the contrary, from this place of self-awareness, we can engage with others more freely and genuinely. We are, after all, interconnected, and the essence of human connection lies in unity. To offer genuine and effective support, however, we must first understand who we truly are.
While observing this inner life, we also notice that not all thoughts and experiences are consciously chosen by us. Sometimes we choose to focus on a task, but other times thoughts and experiences simply arise. The mind often follows its own path, similar to when we sleep and dream, where we merely watch a movie play out.