Welcome to Our First Issue of Līlā Magazine
Editors: Markus Scott-Alexander and Rivka Sadarangani
LĪLĀ MAGAZINE is a project of Expressive Arts Without Borders from the World Arts Organization and is volunteer-run. We hope you enjoy this aspect of our community-building and look forward to your responses.
The Sanskrit word, Līlā, means divine play, the play of creation, destruction and re-creation, the folding and unfolding of the cosmos. Līlā, free and deep, is both the delight and enjoyment of this moment. Līlā may be the simplest thing there is – spontaneous, childlike, and disarming. But as we grow and experience the complexities of life, it may also be the most difficult and hard-won ‘achievement’ imaginable, and its coming to fruition is a kind of homecoming to our true selves.
As Expressive Arts Without Borders moves forward, we intend to continue to reach out and reach in. Creating balance in these challenging times requires not only intelligence but profound creativity. The arts stimulate our capacity to imagine change and a return to innocence. Thank you for your participation in this growing international community.
~Markus Scott-Alexander
Like most things, the magazine began as a conversation, with ideas exchanged over Zoom. The more we spoke, the more ideas, thoughts, images, and possibilities emerged, and we followed wherever it led.
The name "Līlā" came from that same space of flow. I was familiar with its etymology and many meanings in Sanskrit, Hinduism, and Indian philosophy, signifying divine play with different significance in various schools of thought. In the context of expressive arts, we are using it in its essence of deep play – spontaneous creation free from necessity, in freedom.
With that intention, I hope that you will see yourself (selves) in the posts, words, images, and ideas and that this magazine will be a home to you. A space to rest, to wander, to explore, to meet others through their words and images, to delve deep, and to be nourished along the way. I hope that what you read, what you see, and what you sense ignites something within you and that you know you are held in a space where even that infinitesimal unknown something, when we take care of it, nurture it, and play with it, becomes something wondrous and transformative for ourselves and the world.
~Rivka Sadarangani
Please post and comment on our Facebook page, Expressive Arts Without Borders. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to receive invitations to our free online expressive arts workshops, subscribe to this magazine below.
At the time of this writing, we are approaching 6,000 members from about 50 countries. We began in October of 2022.
Markus Scott-Alexander, PhD, REAT
Expressive Arts Without Borders’ Founder/Director
Dr. Markus Scott-Alexander, PhD, REAT draws upon decades of interest in the development of the Self and the Self in community. The contemplative arts have provided a bridge to his inner life and the expressive arts, to his many outer explorations. He has been a multi-modal artist and expressive arts therapist and educator since 1986, working internationally with his body-centred and nature-based approach to cross-cultural healing work. Markus is one of the first Registered Expressive Arts Therapists and a pioneer in the field of phenomenological, intermodal expressive arts therapy. He was senior faculty at the European Graduate School from 1997 to 2020 under the mentorship of the late Paolo Knill. Markus is currently the director of World Arts Organization and the founder of Expressive Arts Without Borders. He and his wife left New York in 2002 and currently reside in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
“Returning to what precedes our distortions, to where we are inherently creative and wise, is my priority. And secondly, I like to support and encourage returning to the world, where we can inspire others to celebrate their wholeness. The arts play a role in our collective global healing.”
Rivka, currently pursuing her Master's Degree at The European Graduate School in Switzerland, is an Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner. Grounded in Expressive Arts, Non-Violent Communication, and Internal Family Systems approach, her client work is rooted in self-connection, empowerment and transformation.
Starting as an artist and art educator in Chicago, IL, USA, Rivka crafted after-school, in-school, and community programs integrating art and technology to amplify youth voice, identity, and expression. She went on to lead the transformation of the city of Portland's community television agency, introducing innovative and inclusive media arts education programs focusing on community engagement. Transitioning to Mumbai, India, Rivka managed the cutting-edge Gallery Maskara, promoting visionary artists and engaging in creative and curatorial projects at prestigious venues like the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and Gallery Art & Soul. Following this, as COO at Art1st, Rivka consistently advocated for the transformative power of arts and arts education reflecting a rich background in arts and culture advocacy spanning two decades.
Presently, Rivka likes to wander around cities, walk on beaches, jump into waterfalls and have deep conversations about life the universe and everything.