Cartography of the Body and the Mind 

“Cartography is the practice of map making which involves the application of both scientific and artistic elements”

- NGI

What?

Cartography of the body and the mind is a 3 phase project that has as a final product the construction of an autobiography. Through this activity the participants will be able talk about their past experiences and their present reality, and their future as they if have already lived it. This way they will be able to imagine a future that matches their dreams and hopes, but includes their past experiences. 


The autobiography has a double function. Firstly, it will allow a person to imagine a better future for themselves; the first step to actually realising it. Secondly, with consent of the author we will publish the stories here on our website, allowing people from outside the communities to have an insight into the lives that are so far apart from their own. 


Friedrich Nietzsche famously said: “He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how”. Having a why, a reason to live, can make humans survive even the hardest realities. Hope and faith in a better future gives us a reason to not let go of the present, no matter how tough it can get. That is what Cartography of the Body and the Mind aims to accomplish.


However,  it is easier said than done. Often, one of the main symptoms of depression and trauma is that an individual is not able to have a positive perception of the future. That's why Cartography of the Body and the Mind consists of three phases:


  • Opening Phase: calming the mind through meditation, yoga and art therapy.
  • Development Phase: mapping the mind, reflecting on the past, the present and the future.
  • Final Phase: writing the autobiography

Opening phase 

Meditation, yoga, and art therapy will help participants to reach the proper state of mind to be able to think about the past, to notice the present, and imagine a future with hope and positivity.

Development phase 

The development phase focuses on mapping emotions, feelings, and sensations through the use of 4 different activity sheets which serve as a structure to learn to recognise, verbalise, and manage feelings and emotions.

Final phase

During the final phase participants will write the autobiography. The writer will be able to talk about their past experiences and their present reality, and also open themselves up to imagine a future that matches their dreams and hopes. If people are not able to or are not comfortable to write, they can tell their story and we will help them write it down. 

 “Yoga’s ability to touch us on every level of our being—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—makes it a powerful and effective means for trauma victims to inhabit their bodies safely, calm their minds, experience emotions directly, and begin to feel a sense of strength and control"


– Linda Sparrowe