SohKiDo™, NohKiKo™ and Therapeutic
Noh Theater® Definitions
Transpersonal Psychology
The word “transpersonal” literally means “beyond
mask” or “beyond persona.” Transpersonal
or spiritual psychology acknowledges the reality, which transcends
body-ego
boundaries. Transpersonal psychology also transcends extensive
focus on negative values, weaknesses, problems and pathology.
Without ignoring challenges, it draws its strength from positive
values, wellness and creativity, while raising questions
the true purpose and meaning of one’s life on earth. Transpersonal psychology aims to strengthen one’s ability to be present and aware in everyday situations.
Classic Noh Theater
During the Muromachi Period (1333-1573) in Japan, Kannami
(1333-1384) and his son Zeami (1363–1443) developed classic
Noh Theater into its still current and well-established format.
Noh Theater evolved from a variety of ancient spiritual dance
rituals and sacred theatrical traditions and synthesizes
the use of masks, fans, splendid costumes, music, dancing
and chanting. Its main play repertoire consists of about
200 plays, which have been performed for about six hundred
years with
the same basic choreography, music and chanting. Some of
the masks, worn today, may date back several hundreds of
years. Noh Theater is a form of sacred ritual, which has
a highly symbolic and transpersonal form as well as content.
SohKiDo™ - is the umbrella
term and refers to the Way of Creative Spirit Energy, a
training method consisting of the Prism of
Consciousness™ tools, the Rainbow
Method™, and NohKiDo™ training of
Therapeutic Noh Theater®.
The Prism of Consciousness™ is a transpersonally based set of tools to be used in the SohKiDo™ training.
The Rainbow Method™ refers to a transpersonal creative arts, or transpersonal creative arts therapy, training method consisting of the use of colors, rituals and action meditation techniques drawn from ancient wisdom traditions and their contemporary creative applications.
NohKiDo™ refers to Therapeutic
Noh Theater® training. NohKiDo™ is
the Way of Spiritual Energy of Noh, a comprehensive modality
of transpersonal creative arts or creative arts therapies,
focusing on creativity as a bridge and a path to the
Higher Self within focusing on the training in the multiple
aspects of Therapeutic Noh Theater®. NohKiDo™ training
begins in 2008 (and only after the 3-year training has
been completed, SohKiDo™ training will
begin). NohKiDo™ — The Way of the
Spiritual Energy of Noh (Noh = ancient Japanese Noh Theater;
Ki or Chi = Spiritual energy; Do = the Way).
Meditative sacred dance kata, the use and making of masks, choreography, costume design, chanting, music, poetry and story writing, dramatization of Neo Noh Plays, and directing, are components of the NohKiDo™ training. Therapeutic Noh Theater® public dance recitals, and at the advanced levels eventually public performances, end the training modules. When all study components have been completed, the learners will prepare a final Therapeutic Noh Theater® performance, which must be approved for creativity, skills, knowledge and overall excellence before receiving a first level certificate of Therapeutic Noh Theater®. The first level certificates, unless taken for personal or creative growth, will authorize the use of Therapeutic Noh Theater® for performances or for therapy as specified, not for teaching any part of the method.
NohKiDo™ Training is a 3-year certificate program consisting of a 6-week summer residence in Virtasalmi, Finland, optional winter courses in the USA and internships and studies reported via internet. The learners will choose to participate in the training for 1) Personal Growth, 2) Creative Growth, or 3) Professional Growth. The options 1 or 2 require no prior experience or training or internships. The option 3, however, requires prior psychological as well as creative arts training and experiences. If the students will meet the prerequisite academic credits, the option 3 may lead to RDT — Registered Drama Therapist, USA via National Association of Drama Therapy (NADT) — but only if the educational credits have been met and all other requirements have been completed officially as required. The completion of RDT may exceed the 3-year training period and continue until all NADT requirements have been met.
Therapeutic Noh Theater®
 Therapeutic Noh Theater®, a form of transpersonal drama therapy developed over 40 years, synthesizes ancient theater, rituals, mythology and spiritual traditions of Japan, Finland and other wisdom traditions together with contemporary theater and healing practices to produce catharsis, positive change, personal and transpersonal growth and healing. The aims of Therapeutic Noh Theater® are to teach discipline and self-control of one’s physical self and stillness of one’s mind, and expansion of one’s awareness through connecting and communicating with the audience. Therapeutic Noh Theater® culminates in theater productions, which consist of ancient music and chanting, basic and expressive meditative dance and movement forms, and mime. The productions and public performances utilize glamorous costumes, fans and masks and offer multi-level experiences to its audiences ranging from visual to auditory and from personal level experiences to transpersonal ones. It aims to touch deeply not only its participating actors but also its viewing audiences.
View the Therapeutic Noh Theater® Public Performances |
