I was listening to an episode about 'creative depression' on 'This Jungian Life' and I thought, isn't all depression ultimately creative, an emptying out for something new to come in?
So very interesting, a wonderful new perspective on the darkest hour. Thank you for sharing your experience and your thoughts. I’m also thinking of William Bridges’ work on transitions, and the patience required to sit out the Fallowlands, the scary Limbo. If something creative can arise, if this place is actually generative, then … there is always Hope!
Jenny, your post reminds me of a line in a poem attributed to St John of the Cross: the lucky dark. "There in the lucky dark, none to observe me, darkness far and wide, no sign for me to mark ... I know I've been deeply thankful for the times life has rolled me flat, there to rise with the world alight with new possibilities. Appreciate your reframing one of the great tropes of our times.
Look forward to your thoughts Jenny. I came upon that poem searching for something unrelated at a time when I’d hit one of life’s big brick walls. In fact The Write Road came out of that wall!
Thankyou Jenny for your writing connecting depression, dreams, creativity etc. This really resonates with me. I’ve just written & read a piece to my memoir writing group about my time recovering from chemo & cancer- using notebooks I kept at the time (& had put away for 10 years)- including dreams, which now seem so full of strong clear images.
Looking forward to joining your dream-related workshops in September.
Hi Shelagh - I think that's one of the extraordinary things about recording dreams, how reading back after an interval of years you see so many forward echoes and even predictions, and the images feel so right and clear. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the dream course - there are only a few places left and it looks like a really interesting group.
Jenny. What an insightful and generous article. I think many find fear in stillness and quiet, where you are urging us to befriend them. Thank you too for the notion that unconditional acceptance gives us courage and curiosity.
Hi Carolann - thank you for commenting. I mention my own experience because I don't want readers to think my view is based on ignorance of just how frightening and bleak depression can feel
So very interesting, a wonderful new perspective on the darkest hour. Thank you for sharing your experience and your thoughts. I’m also thinking of William Bridges’ work on transitions, and the patience required to sit out the Fallowlands, the scary Limbo. If something creative can arise, if this place is actually generative, then … there is always Hope!
William Bridges - I don't know his work, so another new avenue for me to explore. Thank you, Lisa!
Jenny, your post reminds me of a line in a poem attributed to St John of the Cross: the lucky dark. "There in the lucky dark, none to observe me, darkness far and wide, no sign for me to mark ... I know I've been deeply thankful for the times life has rolled me flat, there to rise with the world alight with new possibilities. Appreciate your reframing one of the great tropes of our times.
Thank you, Stephanie. I haven’t heard of the lucky dark… I’m going to check that out right now!
Look forward to your thoughts Jenny. I came upon that poem searching for something unrelated at a time when I’d hit one of life’s big brick walls. In fact The Write Road came out of that wall!
I've started the trail and I can see this is going to be a really good one to follow - I love the cross pollination of ideas you can get on blog sites
Yeah, me too. Happy trails.
This is new to me as well. Thank you - and I’ll be looking it up too.
Thankyou Jenny for your writing connecting depression, dreams, creativity etc. This really resonates with me. I’ve just written & read a piece to my memoir writing group about my time recovering from chemo & cancer- using notebooks I kept at the time (& had put away for 10 years)- including dreams, which now seem so full of strong clear images.
Looking forward to joining your dream-related workshops in September.
🌱
Hi Shelagh - I think that's one of the extraordinary things about recording dreams, how reading back after an interval of years you see so many forward echoes and even predictions, and the images feel so right and clear. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the dream course - there are only a few places left and it looks like a really interesting group.
Jenny. What an insightful and generous article. I think many find fear in stillness and quiet, where you are urging us to befriend them. Thank you too for the notion that unconditional acceptance gives us courage and curiosity.
Hi Carolann - thank you for commenting. I mention my own experience because I don't want readers to think my view is based on ignorance of just how frightening and bleak depression can feel