Denise Blackburn’s art philosophy finds its inspiration in Rumi’s timeless words: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right-doing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” This perspective, coupled with insights from Zen and nonduality, underpins her workshops.
Denise’s workshops aren’t about creating perfect art for display but instead about nurturing conscious creativity and self-expression. Participants explore mark-making, textures, layers, and styles, fostering curiosity and playfulness. She believes that our innate creativity is the source of our well-being and prosperity.
Influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Denise draws inspiration from artists like Ian McKeever, Mark Rothko, Maria Chevska, Therese Oulton, and Helen Frankenthaler.
She hosts monthly three-hour art workshops (check her blog or workshops page for dates) and occasional afternoon retreats that blend meditation with activities like painting or jelly printing.
Read more about her in the latest interview with MysticMag.
What are the key principles and philosophy behind Polarity Therapy, and how do they guide your practice?
The key principle of Polarity Therapy is to balance the client’s own energy system by applying the rules of the Ayurvedic 5-element system, whereby we look at the body as a mixture of the elements of Air, Ether, Fire, Water, and Earth. There are particular elements that tend to predominate in each person’s body, for instance, most people are largely a mixture of one or two key elements, which are called ‘Doshas’There are specific ways of working out where the imbalances are by employing toe and finger pulling, and responses to pressure on points on the body (ie, soreness is stuck energy) and filling out a questionnaire to ask how you respond to life and what you eat. For example, someone might be predominantly Air – and they would be described as a Vata (or Air) type.
Can you explain how Polarity Therapy specifically addresses imbalances within the 5-element system and restores energy harmony in the body?
In Polarity Therapy, the energy imbalances and blockages are addressed by particular sequences of touch and movement of the body, mainly using two fingers on the body, and also flat of hand and cranial sacral techniques, yoga, and dietary suggestions to either calm a particular element or stimulate it.
How does the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) work to release emotional blockages and promote healing, and what inspired you to become an EFT practitioner?
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), works to release blockages by tapping specific acupressure points on the body whilst repeating affirmations. I decided to become a practitioner because I’m constantly working on my own patterns, in order to be more present for others, and a friend introduced me to it. I was impressed by how efficiently it works.
Could you share an example of a challenging emotional issue or trauma that EFT has successfully helped a client overcome, and what was the process like?
An example of an emotional issue that EFT helped with is when a golfer came to me for treatment. He was having trouble with his game because he would get so far, and then couldn’t swing the golf club. There was a trauma that we found which was a circular thought that he was fixating on. As we progressed with the sessions, the affirmations changed and in the end, the fixation had no emotional charge left and he became extremely relaxed. He said afterward that he couldn’t find that trauma again even if he tried. In EFT sessions, it’s as if the trauma gets smaller and smaller as the session progresses, and I test for any residual charge as it’s almost as if the problem is multi-faceted and you have to get it from all angles to clear it!
What led you to explore Infinity Healing, and what sets it apart from other energy healing or spiritual modalities?
What led me to explore Infinity Healing was its simplicity. I was looking at all sorts of ways in which we say ‘no’ to life, without realizing it and Infinity Healing is about saying ‘yes’. At the time, I was also finding out about the ‘allowing’ experience. Infinity healing is not about the physical body, it’s more about broadening your acceptance so that you become more present in life, so you can ‘rest as you are’ in this moment.
Can you describe a transformational experience or outcome that a client has achieved through Infinity Healing, highlighting its unique approach to healing and personal growth?
One interesting experience that happened through Infinity Healing was when a client said she was having problems with her creativity. I’m also a practicing artist and she asked whether I could combine the healing modality with an art session. As I took her through the art session, I used infinity healing with her every time she felt blocked and couldn’t move forward with the painting. She then became more present with herself and with what she was creating, and she said that she felt profoundly peaceful for weeks afterward. She then asked me to ‘attune’ her to Infinity Healing in order for her to be able to use it on herself.
