MP4PR
(Meditation Patterns for Pain Reduction)
Matt Vis
Without any initial specific intent, these “Meditation Patterns” were born in a hospital bed during an extended stay following an accident resulting in multiple back and pelvic fractures. Overwhelmed with pain and stripped of my physical capabilities for an indefinable period of time (possibly for eternity), what was I to do? Relinquish my ambitions and submit to placidity? No. I would not accept that. I had to do something. I took to reorienting myself and plotting a path beyond my “confinement”. My exit plan became a mission to observe both outwardly and within. I would connect the two and plan my escape. The source photographs were taken of what I called “situational anomalies”; mostly architectural incongruities that I captured in this foreign environment from a wheelchair. The visual schematics in the hospital felt disjointed somehow, so I took photographs of them; then I cut, mirrored, and manipulated them into more harmonious patterns when I returned to my bed. Understandably, I wanted to create order out of chaos, and perhaps I could find solace in a theoretical space created from images of this disorienting environment? In doing so, I soon realized I was constructing images of neural pathways around my trauma to achieve release from my pain. I thought “when you experience trauma, you must forge a new path in order to reach your goal.” That was my revelatory moment: create my escape through personal design. These patterns represent theoretical spaces where anyone can train themselves to create new and healthy neural pathways around their traumatic blockages. They aren’t “puzzles” you have to solve; they are intended to stimulate an innate desire to unlock your ability to adapt and change. Some responses take time, some are almost immediate. Look at one pattern at a time. I have found that this stimulation increases in its effect the longer you stay engaged. There is no particular time requirement, however. You can spend as much or as little time with them as you see fit. Begin by choosing any pattern that inspires you in that moment and explore. In a world of over stimulation, these are intended to be a place of solace. Don’t try too hard. Slow down, open yourself up, and let it happen. With this approach, you can and will unlock a pathway to a healthier and more harmonious existence. That is the goal. I hope they help you as much as they’ve helped me.
