Man on the chair | Psyche Films
February 8, 2023
An animated figure’s world grows enigmatic when he begins to doubt reality
— Read on psyche.co/films/an-animated-figures-world-grows-enigmatic-when-he-begins-to-doubt-reality
Kafka’s Drawings
October 30, 2021
It seems that Kafka made an argument for disallowing illustrations and drawings to be associated with his writing. By emphasizing the power of visual imagery he suggested the strong effect such visuals would have on the imagery in his writing. It makes sense- a writer may want the imagery of their words to be evoked independently of suggestion. To read this essay from the Philip Oltermann at The Guardian and see a few more drawings, click the link below.
Evocative imagery from unexpected materials.
September 16, 2021
It is good to see that research is being done on the imagination. However, as with so much research, the expectations and methods tend to bring results that stay within a rational framework. I doubt that such research will learn much about the arational aspects of the imagination.
Picture yourself winning the lottery. A telltale pattern of brain activity can be seen on an MRI machine.
— Read on www.inquirer.com/science/mri-imagination-depression-alzheimers-joseph-kable-20210601.html
Imagination in “The Queen’s Gambit”
November 23, 2020
In “The Queen’s Gambit”, currently showing on Netflix in the U.S., the protagonist Beth Harmon, a young orphan is first introduced to the game of chess by observing from a distance. Having activated what develops into a genius for the game, she uses the stimulant and relaxant drugs her orphanage requires to activate her imagination to run through games and moves.
A sometimes demeaned phenomenon, imagination is present and available to anyone with only a shift of attention and a willingness to trust this arational aspect of knowing. As a form of knowing imagination follows logic that does not apply to rational knowing.
(Mild spoiler ahead!) Beth’s dependence on the drugs for this imaginative process runs throughout the story until near the end she discovers she can, and must in this instance, use her imagination in this way without the drugs. For me, this was one of the best parts of an engaging and entertaining story.
For one scholarly and enlightening explanation of the logics of rationality verses arationality see: Gregory Bateson, “Style, Grace, and Information in Primitive Art”, in Steps to an Ecology of Mind. 1972
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Queen’s_Gambit_(miniseries)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steps_to_an_Ecology_of_Mind?wprov=sfti1
Imagination and Health
June 17, 2020
Imagination’s Healing Power: A short clip of an interview with Dr. Martin L. Rossman
Book Review: The Flying Drum by Bradford P. Keeney
June 23, 2011
The Flying Drum by Bradford P. Keeney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Keeney is a therapist who used systems theory and cybernetics and had a national reputation with several publications in the 80’s. He was a student of Gregory Bateson and Heinz von Foerster. He has developed a radical approach to therapy which is deeply informed and shaped by shamanism.
If you are interested in this, there is an engaging podcast available that I would recommend with an interview with Keeney by Tami Simon of Sounds True. Here is a link to this podcast.
“The Flying Drum” book is a fast read. He tells his personal story of his own “professional” development and describes his way he met with shamans from all around the world, received initiations and instructions, and brings what he learned to the world. It is literally fantastic, operating in that domain of what seems unbelievable and yet here in direct experience.
While the book has similarities to New Age books like those of Lynn Andrews, etc., it feels to have more substance and is more grounded in ordinary reality while not shy of stories of the seeming impossible. It is also a bit like Carlos Casteneda’s books with many descriptions of encounters and personal experiences but without going into as much of the detail of the stories of his contact with the shamans.
I found this book to be validating and inspiring.
Knowing Imagination 