Published Items
Personal Philosophy Essay
UNDERSTANDING THE TERM ‘CONTEXT’ IN PSYCHOSYNTHESIS
The term ‘context’ can be confusing because it is used in a number of different ways within Psychosynthesis. Essentially though, all it means is a picture or frame within which a particular event or phenomenon makes sense. Depending on the frame, the meaning changes.
Who put the 'cissi' in Narcism?
A popular cliché in our culture is that many of the most creative performers and artists are narcissistic, requiring a degree of self-centredness to develop and nurture their art and to promote themselves. We live in the age of ‘celebrity’. Christopher Lasch referred to American society as the ‘Culture of Narcissism’. Psychotherapy, conceived as the liberation of the individual, has often been accused of playing its part in this by promoting the needs of the individualised self rather than building the ground for collective conscience. I believe we are dealing with a paradox – both cultural and psychological – and with a spiritual and moral issue.
Narcissism and creativity
Some skeletal thoughts to stimulate discussion
A popular cliché in our culture is that many of the most creative performers and artists are narcissistic, requiring a degree of self-centredness to develop and nurture their art and to promote themselves. We live in the age of ‘celebrity’. Christopher Lasch referred to American society as the ‘Culture of Narcissism’. Psychotherapy, conceived as the liberation of the individual, has often been accused of playing its part in this by promoting the needs of the individualised self rather than building the ground for collective conscience. I believe we are dealing with a paradox – both cultural and psychological – and with a spiritual and moral issue.