Emily Dickinson once said that a poem is not a poem unless it is properly “haunted.” This brings to mind Jung’s concept of the creative spirit as an autonomous complex and Federico Garcia Lorca’s belief in “duende”, a primal creative force that the ego must make room for to allow unadulterated creative expression to manifest as true art.

This workshop will make space for the idea that words are alive. As James Hillman understood them, they are messengers, angels, that facilitate communication, interaction between the human world and that of the divine.

What is it that makes a poem move us? Words are not just the purview of logos. A good poem takes us into the realm of eros and into a glimpse of the transcendent.

What to bring:

A favourite poem or example of word (lyrics, prayer etc.) that inspires you – as in elevates you into the company of spirit and soul.

A notebook: This workshop is about facilitating creativity by making room for it. We’ll have quiet, reflective time to express what’s in our hearts or on our minds, perhaps connecting to that more autonomous creative spirit and giving it a welcoming voice.

Sharing what may come up for you is, of course, optional but time will be saved for sharing. Terilynn Graham Freedman is a trauma-informed Jungian analyst in private practice in London, Ontario. She has been a contributing member with the Ontario Association of Jungian Analysts for many years, including on the Board. She is also an examiner, supervisor and seminar instructor for the OAJA Analyst Training Program.

In addition to 20 years in practice as a Jungian analyst, Terilynn has approx. 10 years of experience in crisis mental health and currently also conducts trauma assessments for refugee claimants in Ontario. With a background education in cultural and symbolic anthropology her interest in international expressions of archetypal energy continues to intrigue her. Other major interests include poetry and mosaic art.