I remember an Ursula Le Guinn story where the hero turns the boat around and chases after the flying 'ghost' (not the right word). Finally he catches up with it and discovers it is his own self who needs embracing and taking in.
Sounds like you're heading in the right direction. Thank you for sharing it.
I adore your writing, I anticipate your posts like waiting for the first papers off the press on Friday night.
Im in Australia, so I get them on waking. They always give me thoughts, and deeper understanding to take into my day. This one cracked me open a little bit.
As a drama therapist (retired) I have worked a lot with active imagination, both with myself and with clients, including but not solely with dreams. So rich. My imagination keeps me sane and enables me to write. Where does inspiration come from? Not the rational mind. Enjoy your therapy, even when you cry. ❤️
‘There’s this world,’ she banged the wall graphically, ‘and there’s this world,’ she thumped her chest. ‘If you want to make sense of either, you have to take notice of both.’
Wow, my own experience is absolutely different from yours, (and I too am a novelist and essayist). I think of consciousness as a twig floating on a river of wider (unconscious) knowledge. What is that river? I'm not sure, but I do know it's where art lies, at least for me. My job is to keep thrusting my hand under the surface, trying to pull out living fish. To put this differently, I think of my writings, my books etc, as things that already exist. My job is to find them.
Your raw authenticity and transparency is soul food for me, and I wish more people could be as open. I myself have found therapy (and also hypnotherapy) to be literally life saving. As someone who is (and always will be) estranged from my family of origin, I relate completely to what it is to feel invisible. Thank you for yet another thought provoking post. Sending love x
I've often believe loving your neighbour and being a host to the stranger is about being open and caring for our inner self, our within, so often harder than the outside one.
Thank you for bringing this: "The vitality of life is not rushing about doing it all. People confuse busyness with vitality. Activity with energy. As we get older and we can’t use our bodies to convince us that we are FINE, we have a chance to wonder if vitality and energy might now be pointing inwards, not outwards." to my attention as I hadn't thought about it in the way you've presented before now.
The ‘therapist away, phew’ feeling made me laugh with recognition. I both loved and hated therapy but it has allowed me to shed some of my heavier burdens and has allowed me to become more of the artist I wanted to be.
I believe that almost everyone on the planet could benefit from therapy and finding out why they do what they do - perhaps we’d live in a more just, equitable and kind world if we did.
I love this and I love Active Imagination, which yes... is exactly what you are doing! A rose by any other name is still a rose. 🥀
I just remembered I saw you reading at a Blackwells bookstore in Hampstead Heath in 1990, I think. (Sexing the Cherry?) I was a 19- year old American student abroad, and because you were (and still are) my best friend's favorite author, I went to buy her a signed copy, and found myself mesmerized by your reading the words.
If you have time, I invite you to listen to this episode on active imagination and the shadow. Obviously, I'd love if you were a guest talking about your own experience with it sometime too! 🙏
Looking forward to what new stories come out of this newish version of your psychic process. (It's no wonder "it comes easily" to you.)
Beautifully put, of course, you may enjoy this jungian life podcast - a dream a week talented therapists. Shame she’s only gone to Scotland that won’t take too long to cover off in your
Thank you Jeanette for a thoughtful article. I was reminded of the Shakespeare quote : “self love is not so vile a sin as self neglect”.
Imagination is a powerful tool for dealing with burnout and hurt from your past.
At several points in my life, creative writing has helped me deal with complex issues and to see things from others point of view.
I’ve found therapy comes in different forms: from professionals, friendships, nature, exercise and I’m just discovering the therapeutic value of art.
I remember an Ursula Le Guinn story where the hero turns the boat around and chases after the flying 'ghost' (not the right word). Finally he catches up with it and discovers it is his own self who needs embracing and taking in.
Sounds like you're heading in the right direction. Thank you for sharing it.
I too thought of LeGuin’s Ged /Sparrowhawk from The Wizard of Earthsea as he crossed the ocean in his boat Lookfar.
I adore your writing, I anticipate your posts like waiting for the first papers off the press on Friday night.
Im in Australia, so I get them on waking. They always give me thoughts, and deeper understanding to take into my day. This one cracked me open a little bit.
As a drama therapist (retired) I have worked a lot with active imagination, both with myself and with clients, including but not solely with dreams. So rich. My imagination keeps me sane and enables me to write. Where does inspiration come from? Not the rational mind. Enjoy your therapy, even when you cry. ❤️
‘There’s this world,’ she banged the wall graphically, ‘and there’s this world,’ she thumped her chest. ‘If you want to make sense of either, you have to take notice of both.’
Just finished reading this. Eye-opening.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/6159Y5eV3yL._SL1000_.jpg
Wow, my own experience is absolutely different from yours, (and I too am a novelist and essayist). I think of consciousness as a twig floating on a river of wider (unconscious) knowledge. What is that river? I'm not sure, but I do know it's where art lies, at least for me. My job is to keep thrusting my hand under the surface, trying to pull out living fish. To put this differently, I think of my writings, my books etc, as things that already exist. My job is to find them.
Your raw authenticity and transparency is soul food for me, and I wish more people could be as open. I myself have found therapy (and also hypnotherapy) to be literally life saving. As someone who is (and always will be) estranged from my family of origin, I relate completely to what it is to feel invisible. Thank you for yet another thought provoking post. Sending love x
Thank you so much for this. I do appreciate your suggestion to use the daytime to encourage night dreams.
I've often believe loving your neighbour and being a host to the stranger is about being open and caring for our inner self, our within, so often harder than the outside one.
Thank you for bringing this: "The vitality of life is not rushing about doing it all. People confuse busyness with vitality. Activity with energy. As we get older and we can’t use our bodies to convince us that we are FINE, we have a chance to wonder if vitality and energy might now be pointing inwards, not outwards." to my attention as I hadn't thought about it in the way you've presented before now.
The ‘therapist away, phew’ feeling made me laugh with recognition. I both loved and hated therapy but it has allowed me to shed some of my heavier burdens and has allowed me to become more of the artist I wanted to be.
I believe that almost everyone on the planet could benefit from therapy and finding out why they do what they do - perhaps we’d live in a more just, equitable and kind world if we did.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
So many pearls of wisdom here. Can't wait to see what emerges.
Yes, dreams know when we are taking notice, then the step up. They like the conversation.
I love this and I love Active Imagination, which yes... is exactly what you are doing! A rose by any other name is still a rose. 🥀
I just remembered I saw you reading at a Blackwells bookstore in Hampstead Heath in 1990, I think. (Sexing the Cherry?) I was a 19- year old American student abroad, and because you were (and still are) my best friend's favorite author, I went to buy her a signed copy, and found myself mesmerized by your reading the words.
If you have time, I invite you to listen to this episode on active imagination and the shadow. Obviously, I'd love if you were a guest talking about your own experience with it sometime too! 🙏
Looking forward to what new stories come out of this newish version of your psychic process. (It's no wonder "it comes easily" to you.)
Here's the episode:
https://open.substack.com/pub/artandalchemylab/p/jessica-ballentine-and-shadow-work?r=28hct9&utm_medium=ios
Thank you for the link, this podcast is excellent.
Beautifully put, of course, you may enjoy this jungian life podcast - a dream a week talented therapists. Shame she’s only gone to Scotland that won’t take too long to cover off in your
next session :) X
Look up gestalt reoccurring dreams… ‘empty chair technique. Fascinating. It worked for me.