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CRAZINESS AND CREATIVITY

Discussion in 'General Discussion Subforum' started by Eric "Herbie" Watson, Aug 12, 2013.

  1. Eric "Herbie" Watson

    Eric "Herbie" Watson Beloved Grand Eagle

    To me, the unconscious mind and its inner reality is a fascinating
    creative, dynamic and exciting place. It has been said that the
    unconscious process is similar to that of the schizophrenic process. I
    believe, however, that the so-called schizophrenic process, directed
    toward the solving of problems and the discovery of that which is new, is
    the creative process. This same process, turned toward building
    limitations and fears, can be called "craziness." To paraphrase George
    Santayana: Creativity is merely craziness put to good use.
    Another personal story might make the point even more clear. Many
    years ago, we lived on the second floor of a two-story apartment
    building. My daughter, who was three at the time, had developed the
    habit of jumping off her bed over and over, playing some private game
    that only she understood. One night, our downstairs neighbor came up to
    complain about the noise. My wife went into our daughter's room and
    said, "Don't do that anymore. The man downstairs is getting very angry."
    Later that night our daughter became very upset. When we tried to calm
    her down, she told us that the man who lived in the rug was mad at her
    and was going to hurt her. We attempted to explain the concept of
    upstairs/downstairs, but she was too young to understand. We even took
    her downstairs to show her where the man "down below" lived. All she
    could or would understand was that the man in the carpeting was mad at
    her for jumping on him.
    Now, we adults know that's ridiculous. We adults, we who think
    logically, know that a man can't live in the carpet. We logical adults who
    throw salt over our shoulder, who knock on wood when we have good
    fortune, who step around ladders and step over cracks, know that those
    little childish beliefs have nothing to do with us.

    Steven Heller- Monsters and Magical Sticks p.122
     

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