Contemplation / Feeling Duration
I’m in preparation for my masters performance coming up in about 5 weeks. It will be two 45 minute improvised solos over two consecutive nights. This is the 1st ‘major’ work I’ve done for a long time now. The longest improvised solos I have ever done been 20 minutes.
A new component I’ve added to my practice is contemplation. I’m approaching contemplation via Ralston. His take on it is this: “..being open to a direct experiential breakthrough in consciousness with the intent that it occur.” It involves placing ones attention on a question and staying present to the question until insight is experienced. This can be done sitting or whilst doing an activity.
I’m doing it sitting (I’m working hard enough in the studio already). The duration I’ve given myself for each session is … 45 minutes! I’ve been interested in developing my stamina in the area of concentration for a long time now and contemplation is one way of doing it. This new aspect of the practice has a sub agenda stitched into it; working on developing a feeling sense in my body for 45 minute durations – useful for the upcoming performance event.