Ocean Thoughts

Carl Jung knew and understood the importance of examining one’s own life, and taking the inner journey of and to the self. He believed that human beings have an innate drive and curiosity towards self-knowledge and wholeness. I find this to be true. I love that it is "wholeness" and not "completeness" when we talk about Carl Jung and the explorations he did towards self and understanding. Can the collage of our human experiences, lessons we learn, wounds we do or do not heal, ever be complete in our time alive? I don't think so. Our lives are a beautiful compilation of pursuit of meaning and purpose in which the pinnacle of this persuit would be wholeness. And if that is taken seriously, this is what Jungians would call individuation. To me, individuation is the journey you take to find who you are in the world, how you can contribute to the world by being your authentic and truest self, and becoming secure as to who you are as a person. Are you able to stand on your own two feet? Are you able to stand in the power of being exactly who are you? The process of going inward again and again, can be full of grief, but on the other side of grief, there is joy. Facing that grief and sadness for the tragedies in our lives, and at least in western civilization that is not something we like to do. Because of this avoidance, we end up with an entire society set on destroying itself. Joy is obtained when one allows oneself to live with meaning, and then that is what opens one to an experience of the divine in outer reality, in the body, on the earth.

"The ability of healthier people to dip into the unconscious and preconscious, to use and value their primary processes instead of fearing them, to accept their impulses instead of always controlling them, to be able to regress voluntarily without fear, turns out to be one of the main conditions of creativity. We can then understand why psychological health is so closely tied up with certain universal forms of creativeness (aside from special-talent), as to lead some writers to make them almost synonymous." -Abraham H. Maslow

I love this quote because it makes me analyze my own life in a way that doesn't make me feel bad for regressions. Sometimes it actually feels like I am stepping backwards and I can feel myself devolving. But then I eventually take that regression, and actively catalyze it into art. I love to think, and try to live, "my existence is ecstasy, and my agony is cathartic". My rage, primal desires, darker impulses become sacred when I'm working to pass them through the transformation field of the heart. And it is always evolution if you can stay in your heart.

"Any artist who remains true to himself becomes a work of art himself, because that is one of the most difficult things to do. If someone does have that vocation, and diligently applies himself to the

exigencies that arise, he will lose a great deal but he will have created his own character." -Leonard Cohen

I love this quote because it can be extended beyond the personhood and into everything you do in your life, and in your day. It reaffirms you can chose to be, who you want to be. You can make each day a work of art even if it's a day of anxiety, disarray, or chaos. For me this means taking my time preparing fresh vegetables from the farmer down my road, a hot mug of tea in the evening, a deep stretch session on my floor, the way I wash the dishes with care, how I'm able to brush my hair with love knowing it would fall out in the brush beyond my control. Making each day a work of art to me implies awareness and compassion for both others, self, and the objects we choose to keep in our lives.

"When one has let go of that great hidden agenda that drives humanity and its varied histories, then one can begin to encounter the immensity of one's own soul. If we are courageous enough to say, "Not this person, nor any other, can ultimately give me what I want; only I can, then we are free to

celebrate a relationship for what it can give." -James Hollis

Sometimes I feel like I discovered James Hollis at too young of an age. He is so wise, and I love his thoughts on courage and bravery. This reminds me of the William Wallace quote "Your heart is free, have the courage to follow it". This aside, I think in a world that is taking away peoples sovereignty on a mass scale, the greatest act of courage is the rebellion to be yourself; and most importantly find who that is. And then there is the second half of this quote. And to me that is loving someone through freedom in all the waxing and waning points or intersections of our life. How can you actually appreciate what a relationship with someone (romantic / friendship /otherwise) can offer you, unless you can stand in your own in compassion and love? Otherwise all we are seeing and getting are projections of our wounds, or a lack of self through no personal accountability.

"True marriage can only be based on human love which is different from romantic love, being in love, or in-loveness. Romanticism is unique to the West, and is a relatively new occurrence, only since the twelfth century. Romantic love is not a basis for marriage… When we're in love, we put our gold-our expectations-on the other person, and this obliterates her. There is no relatedness."

-Robert A. Johnson

At the ripe age of 28 years old, soon to be 29, I can see exactly where I am in my heartspace. I only mean this in the way of choosing to find out who I am and who I want to be in the world, and how I can live with an open heart. That becomes increasingly important to me, and I want to radiate it outward through my art and creative visions. Living with an open heart means speaking my mind, being uninhibited, and not feeling helpless. I can take action for the things I desire.

I love to think of true love (and I'm not referring to one person in each of our stories because I think we all have many loves of our lives) as being ultimately accepting of your partners journey together or apart. This means loving in freedom, by non attachment. How could we place such a burden onto another person to make us feel complete? Love is perfect kindness, patience, and the ability to see beyond yourself.