I posted this on a site that was looking at the link between creativity and depression

There is a school of thought that says we ALL have a shadow side that we try to sublimate or push down. It often comes up when we are partying & do something really stupid that we normally would never do. Or if someone is attracted to children, they act on it when the urge becomes too strong.

I believe the original idea comes from Carl Jung, but Robert A Johnson writes about it in “Owning Your Own Shadow.”

He says that we all need to find a creative way to let our dark side out. Otherwise, we will be either self-destructive OR destructive of others.

Even before reading Johnson’s book I had a sense of this idea. (Honestly, I don’t really understand Jung so I sat mutely through many conversations with grad students when I was younger.)

When I went to Iceland at around 25 years of age, I discovered a country where everyone is encouraged to express themselves creatively, whether it be dance, painting or photography. (I didn’t meet any writers, but I did visit a farm house that was filled with books!) Sadly, it occurs to me now as I write that most countries don’t want us to feel good so they convince us that only the chosen few are artists. That way, they have plenty of unhappy young men (& now women too) who are willing to express their dark side by going to war. Also, content people don’t buy as many products to try to make themselves happy.

Later, I discovered the Popul Vu, which is the Mayan bible. The Mayans believed that we are all little creators. The Popul Vu was filled with little creators of art, whether it was clay dolls they made or paintings or houses. I was fascinated with this idea.

Later, I went to Agape in LA, the one with Michael Beckwith. I learned there that we could heal and in the process, make art that expressed that healing. Rev. Michael’s wife was the chorus director, as well as the musical director for the Agape International Spiritual Center and not only did the chorus travel the country (and sometimes the world), but Ricki Byers Beckwith brought musical groups to Agape every Sunday, often more than one.

The lesson I learned was “Don’t try to push down your “shadow side” or act it out by getting drunk and going home with a stranger.” “Instead use that dark side to make the world a better place through your art.”

These ideas may have saved my life!

Peace, love & Art,

Sherrie

Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:

http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y

Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too: