Atrophy And Dissonance

This drawing is based on a direct observation of my own thought processes. I have observed a cognitive mechanism happening by which I dismiss myself and my own thinking by importing and absorbing the most cynical views possible - let me give you some examples:

A friend and I were talking recently and I had the following thoughts:

“of course this is our points of view, we’re just two privileged white women” *Cue eyerolling*

“Of course I would challenge X idea, I’m just trying to hang on to power”

“Of course this debate between two white men is happening, middle aged white men are so entitled they think everyone wants to hear their ideas” (A thought that popped into my head at a talk between people I admire which I recently paid to go to).

The perniciousness of these tentacles cannot be understated. I did not invite these tentacles to embed themselves in my own psyche, in fact, I reject them.

My next thought was “I do not think that. Whose thoughts are these? These are not my beliefs”

But nonetheless, this process feels akin to having two software programs running at once- one I actively chose and subscribe to, and one that opened itself and runs parallel, and has cynicism, resentment, self censorship and cruel dismissal built into it.

If this program runs in my mind without my express permission, I wonder what it might be doing in the minds of others, including those who do actively subscribe to it.

This drawing examines these programs of belief. On the left, where the colour is, there is a sort of intellectual freedom that is becoming increasingly rare, there is reason and logic (and here comes that cynical automatic thought originating on that other side which I didn’t invite: “Logic and reason are tools of whiteness and oppression”) There are emotions on this side, too… a fully 3D and whole experience of being alive.. this side is characterised by truth, discussion, curiosity, delight…

On the other side is… something else. Maybe a system that gaslights one into abandoning one’s own reason in favour of group think 💭

A closed system of thought that doesn’t welcome questions (or importantly living according to one’s conscience) and instead pressures one to conform (maybe even to conform under the pressure to ‘be kind’ as if being kind and being truthful are in opposition to one another… just be kind becomes code for just conform to what I believe because there are no other valid alternatives). This system is not open to moral pluralism.

The tentacled thing is interested in the destruction, in fact, the self-destruction, of those wonderful human gifts of reason and thought (Take that, cynical automatic thought…there is my actual belief). On this side, individual thought might be a bit dangerous or toxic…debating or discussing is off the table. It dislikes the originality on the colourful side. It asserts lies about the colourful side by cleverly reframing the things that characterise the colourful side as problematic. The degree to which these tentacles have taken hold within academia, the workplace, and even within faith groups (just to name some areas) is the degree to which these places become weaker, hollower, and soulless.

I discussed this strange dissonance I was experiencing with a professional acquaintance recently and she said something profound: “It’s almost like a spiritual boundary is being violated. You didn’t give this worldview permission to take hold. You don’t believe it. But it doesn’t ask for permission”

I have been chewing over that thought and I think there’s something truthful there. In some ways it feels like I need to deprogram myself like one would after leaving a cult. Except, I didn’t join this cult. I see it and reject it’s claims. But the damage of its cynicism has still been done on some level. How much more damage is it doing within those who have actively given themselves to the tentacled creature.

Psychological Break and Enter, 2024. 29.7x42cm

I explored this in another artwork and focussed on the violation- a psychological break and enter of sorts. The little thieves embedded themselves and were destroying me along the way.

I love the work of people who are living by the program on the colourful side- people like Bari Weiss at the Free Press, Winston Marshall and his Dissident Dialogues, Josh Czeps and his Uncomfortable Conversations, John Cleese and his Dinosaur Hour, Douglas Murray and his fierce debating chops and writing. Others are emerging more and more (Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Richard Dawkins among others).

These are people who are not afraid to say a taboo thought out loud, who don’t run on the program of fear or submission to group thought, who don’t even agree with one another on many things but do agree that discussion, debate and uncensored thinking is absolutely of paramount importance. Examining ideas is on the table. These are people to follow who are not afraid to challenge the grey monstery beast.

I know which program I would prefer to run. Do you?

Questioning New Theologies (Bad Ideas Destroy Social Fabric)

Hi friends.

I discussed ideology in my last post; specifically how I saw it being applied to recent world events. This post will critique and illuminate some of that ideology (Man, where there is an itch on one’s brain it doesn’t do to ignore it). I notice that there’s a part of me that worries what might happen if I share my genuine thoughts, and there’s some hesitation about the risks (of offence, of rocking any boats), and for that exact reason I think it’s really important to do exactly that- formulate thoughts, and engage in critical thinking, and ask questions.

This picture is called “Bad Ideas Destroy Social Fabric” and it is based on my observation of the effects and outcomes of intersectionality and critical theory (What some may lazily also call “woke” thinking).

View fullsize

‘Bad Ideas Destroy Social Fabric’ 2024 original 29.7x42cm pencil and pen

First for the layperson not versed in this stuff: What am I talking about? Two academic theories in particular (Maybe better called theologies, which I will argue is how they function).

Theology 1. “‘Intersectionality’ refers to the ways in which different aspects of a person’s identity can expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation.” (Victorian Government, 2021). It was theorised, and coined as a term, in 1989 by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe the way “race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics “intersect” with one another and overlap”, specifically for use in the context of the legal system (meaning its common widespread uses today were not the original intention of Crenshaw).

Point of agreement: We DO all have complex and layered identities, and many things do influence/ form and shape us. AGREED. But this is a complex system of belief, which I want to suggest is not being utilised and understood in the way that Crenshaw initially expected or intended. This concept is being applied to other domains of society and by people who use it for their own purposes, and that’s an issue. (Here is a real world example of how these ideas can manifest: Evergreen College Protests).

Because this theory strongly emphasises group identity, particularly identities it deems marginalised, posts like one I recently saw for Women’s day that promoted “Fat, Trans, Poor, Disabled, Indigenous” women make much more sense and have emerged out of a desire to “subvert” the power of the “dominant” group- which I assume would be ‘white cis-gendered, able bodied wealthy women’ that they might suggest have been the dominant group too long.

Theology 2. Critical Theory

Marx (Karl, that is) defined critical theory as the “self-clarification of the struggles and wishes of the age” and this theory has been the focus of “several generations of philosophers and social theorists in the Western European Marxist tradition” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2023) Critical theory (something I don’t enjoy) is totally different from critical thinking (something I enjoy). Critical theory is a “marxist- inspired” academic theory, and a “primary goal” is to “understand and to help overcome the social structures through which people are dominated and oppressed” (Britannica). Sounds great, in theory.

Here’s my (not comprehensive) list of reasons I find both intersectionality and critical theory deeply flawed (I will refer to these as the New Theologies from now on, as they makes inherently theological claims about the world, and function as a religious system. Especially when they become a hybrid beast mixed together, which is often what happens).

A Therapeutic Perspective

• I do not believe conceptualising one another through a lense of rigid social categories is the most accurate (or useful) way to understand and relate to one another.

• This framework is not conducive to mental flourishing for anybody, because:

These categories cause division regardless of where on the hierarchy you’re conceptualised to be. You are either boxed as oppressed and the implication is there are faults in others (and systems) that should be blamed for your life (therefore fostering an entitlement, resentment, and an outward, externalised expectation that others fix what is wrong, or that evil/ badness is “out there” somewhere in systems, which calls for external action like protesting) or that you’re privileged -by no choice of your own - and therefore by implication find yourself higher on the hierarchy (what an arrogant conceptualisation- ‘Sorry, due to my whiteness, I am up here and you are down there.’ I have no idea how that concept alone is not recognised as an inherently a racist position). Being higher on the hierarchy, according to those use subscribe to this theory, you face a life of apology, listening (you’ve had your time in the spotlight so shut up), and sense of responsibility for your entire race, class etc.

From a therapeutic perspective, neither message is helpful to internalise, or conducive to human flourishing (and the pushback I might get on this idea is that these ideas are not designed to shame anyone, and that this theory is really about addressing discrimination and real issues, and my pushback against that is I’m sorry, you don’t get to control how people hear and apply/ distort these concepts, and they are causing shame, division and confusion wherever they’re preached, and breeding an extremely unhealthy activism culture where entitlement and anti social behaviour reign).

• The importance of personal responsibility and a sense of agency is completely neglected in this framework which I believe are important concepts for mental wellbeing. What therapist would encourage someone to look outward to blame others, or encourage someone to focus on what is happening “out there” rather than looking to address issues within themselves. What therapist would encourage someone to problematise and nit-pick their relationships and encourage rigid categorising?

• I was asking a rhetorical question above, but I do have an observation to make: that these theories do indeed seem to prey on those (mental health professionals included) who believe themselves to be on the side of the oppressed and think themselves virtuous. These theologies take advantage of our better human impulses to seek justice (a noble idea). There may indeed be mental health professionals who are exactly like the therapist I described above. I saw an instagram post from a psychology clinic locally that mentioned “patriarchy” “exists within all of us” as an internal system and that we need to “fight this system” we must “recognise subtle power” and “resist the patriarchy,” and another post that claimed that “people who insist on the preservation of the cis-hereto (that means: not transgender, and not gay) gender binary” really wish to “preserve an arbitrary heirarchy from which they benefit” There are legitimate mental health organisations for whom these ideas are orthodoxy, and to question these ideas would not only be blasphemous but potentially career- jeopardising. It needs to be brought to attention and discussed, because no orthodoxy is above criticism.

Religious Dogma

• These conceptual frameworks function as a worldview and a religious belief system (and these theories can be quite hostile to other faith systems, or ‘organised religion’ in fact) though these ideas do not market themselves that way. These are far more dogmatic and unquestionable ideas than any faith-based ideas I’ve ever encountered.

  These theologies also make philosophical and pseudo religious claims about the nature of reality, the nature of humanity (envisioning some groups are guilty and others are virtuous simply based on whether they fit a narrow oppressed or oppressor binary) and they presuppose an understanding of reality that directly undermines the worldview of many people of faith.

  These theologies borrow important religious concepts (that are legitimate and should be addressed, let me be clear about that) including justice, oppression, penance, sin, evil and redemption (let me again state: important).

  The new theologies attempt to address these ideas in ways that foster resentment and envy, over- emphasising differences and placing unnecessary burdens and guilt on those deemed as ‘sinful’. They ignore other equally important religious ideas including the cultivation of personal virtues, forgiveness and grace, among other things.

• These new theologies burden people with the need to engage in penance for “sins” they haven’t actually committed (by virtue of their group, they are complicit) and overlook “sins” they personally might actually be responsible for (If we are talking religious belief systems and theologies of “sin”, I want to suggest that Christianity, the worldview with which I am most familiar, is MUCH more gracious and MUCH more realistic about the nature of “sin” and offers much kinder options for how ‘sin’ is to be addressed…as well as a path to redemption, and I for one would much prefer the Christian view of sin and its answers for healing and redemption than anything these new theologies offer).

• These movements have their prophets and priests - academic theorists who make a bucketload from visiting institutions to spread their ideas (Robin Diangelo and Ibram X Kendi come to mind, and there are many more).

Other flaws

• It has built in mechanisms to self insulate and shield against criticism (eg “white people will resist this idea so be ready for that” “You're just speaking from your privilege when you critique these ideas”) and that is a problem.

• It’s not aware of its own blind spots

• I suggest that adherents to this worldview struggle to conceptualise legitimate alternative worldviews (and there are always going to be alternative worldviews)

• This worldview is presumptuous about others (I cannot assume an experience of oppression or privilege based on somebody’s skin colour and it is an arrogant starting point to make such assumptions about others).

• Intersectionality in particular views power as central to the human experience and is overly focussed on problematising power and hierarchies.  I believe power is amoral and neither power nor hierarchies are inherently oppressive in and of themselves (for example, someone in a position of power can absolutely use that power for good and is not immediately an oppressor, and power or leadership does not inherently mean there is something wrong or that that leader is immediately immoral. Teachers know more than their students, for example, so there’s a “power imbalance” and a hierarchy of teacher and student, and that is just a fact to respect, not a problematic issue to correct)

• Intersectionality is grounded in standpoint epistomology, and gives excessive weight to individual experiences, as well as assigning perceived morality based on standpoint (eg those in power = immoral, those who are oppressed= virtuous). I believe objective truth exists regardless of how it is perceived by any one individual. One’s standing in society (or chosen / immutable identity marker) does not determine what is true- their experiences are important, but should be called what they are- experiences (which are inherently subjective).

The Use Of Language

Critical theory in particular uses cult like language as a way to infiltrate the common imagination and has an excessive focus on destruction, including “dismantling” “disrupting” “subverting” “deconstructing” “demarginalising” “desupremifying” “dominant discourses,” and problematising (finding to sins) the following: “patriarchy” “whiteness” “heteronormativity” or in fact any concept of “normative” (ie. mum and dad and a nuclear family structure for example, or monogamy), with very little thought given to what comes next after everything has been dismantled. I have not seen literature focussed on reconstruction of a positive vision of society (which seems to be an indication of an ill thought through belief system that has yet to be put to the test). We may realise too late we’ve destroyed the very component parts of our society that promote social cohesion, flourishing and stability.

There’s also the issue of redefining of words that were once commonly understood (racism used to be understood as prejudice against another based on race, but within this system racism is defined power + privilege, meaning if you’re poor, a minority or non-white in the West, you cannot be racist, as you’re seen as powerless, even if you hold extremely prejudicial attitudes towards other races).

The Drawing

• The social fabric (where these ideas take root) is being unravelled, and destroyed. It’s not done in secret, it’s done in the open, it’s discussed in academic papers and literature. We are told exactly what the goals are.

-To disrupt and subvert (insert whatever the sin / system is, which changes, gets redefined, and new evils are uncovered at every turn, so this never reaches an end goal where the work of dismantling is finished)

• Bad ideas are drawn as broken lightbulbs. The capes are my fairly sarcastic comment that these ideas position themselves as the saviour of all woes, that they are saving others / the world and somehow heroic and I strongly reject that.

• The boxes are the rigid social categorising of others in this system. I have never seen these ideas be used to bridge gaps, cross divides, offer grace, or seek to understand others. I have seen them be weaponised, turn regular people into self described activists, I have seen these ideas contribute to groupthink and the mentality of “us” vs “them” more than ever, and I think it has caused some of the deep rifts and ideological divisions that are plaguing many countries (in the West, at least. These are very Western ideas).

• The window is my alternative to ripping the social fabric. This is a source of real hope, of light. There is needle and thread offered to restore and repair the fabric. A better goal. A love across differences that covers a ‘multitude of sins’ which we can offer one another (at least on the individual level). A light that does abhor oppression and does illuminate the dark and call for righteousness. It cares about truth. This light did not originate with Crenshaw, Diangelo or Kendi.

To Close

Phew. You’ve made it. Straightforward stuff? You’ve done well.

I want to make a caveat that it would be quite easy to want to overcorrect on these things and swing the other way, and cringe when even hearing the overused phrase ‘social justice’

BUT.

These theories, like all half truths, have some basis in the truth. Oppression does exist. I was privileged to grow up in a two-parent, loving household where mum and dad were present, able to care for me and provide what I needed. I am privileged to belong to a faith that models bridging divides of difference, where I go to church every week with people of various ages, abilities, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. I have a great community. These things are ‘privileges’ to some, and are also what mental health professionals might call protective factors that contribute to great mental health.

I am aware, though, that things are not fair or just in our society, because where there are flawed (sinful) people, there are flawed systems. This speaks to the deep, inherent truth that life is not fair. There’s the sense that something is not right. Our world seems a bit broken. We are all seeking ways to make meaning, feel like we belong, and find purpose.

I see issues worth addressing too (I wouldn’t have become a therapist if I didn’t care about these things, and desire to work in the midst of complicated issues). I just fundamentally reject the way these issues are defined within both intersectional theory and critical theory, and the methods being used to address them. I also don’t think we need these academic theories (one developed in 1989, the other with a slightly longer and more complex origin story) to help us recognise that Things Are Not Right.

We absolutely should strive for justice, to ‘set captives free’, as well as work to cultivate our own personal virtues (which has the flow on effect of improving the world around us), and we should absolutely repent of our sins when we are guilty of them.

We need to be careful with our definitions of all of these things, and be careful not to become bound to dogmatic worldviews and ideas that offer us no hope, lead us further and further away from one another, and have no in-built mechanism to self-evaluate their own flaws. These ideas will not slow down until the fabric is ripped to pieces.

If you read this and identify as intersectional or subscribe to critical theories, I have the following questions:

-In what ways is intersectionality a stabilising force for good in society?

-Does intersectionality or critical theory allow for criticism of it’s weaknesses?

-When does the work of ‘dismantling’ end, or go too far? Is there a too far? What is the metric by which that is measured?

-What were the answers for oppression and sin before Marx was born?

-What were the answers to address societal issues before Crenshaw theorised intersectionality in 1989?

--What effect does intersectional theory / critical theory have on interpersonal/ social relationships?

-Is the development of personal character (honour, integrity) important within these theories? Why/ why not?

-Who are the leaders/ heroes and villains within these theories, and why?

-In what ways do these theories build bridges across differences?

-Are there ever any other acceptable explanations for social difference other than nefarious power imbalances?

-Is truth (objective truth) important within these theories? Is subjective truth more valued/ important? Why/ why not?

-How are these theories conducive to social cohesion and mentally healthy societies (I would love to hear about that)?

Sources

Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/critical-theory

Part One: The Evergreen Equity Council: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2WeWgcSMk&t=1545s

Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/critical-theory/#CritTheoToda

Victorian Government: https://www.vic.gov.au/understanding-intersectionality

Vox.com: https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-discrimination

When Ideology Fails

What do we do when our clear “oppressed” and “oppressor” categories become too narrow?

This will be a heavier post than usual, and a little ‘off-brand’ shall we say, but ideology has everything to do with mental health, and I have been carrying these thoughts around and thinking through what to do and how to express them as a person, and an artist. This post will mention war, death, terrorism, and a critique of marxist thought. feel free to scroll on if these are sensitive topics for you.

This post is primarily about groupthink ideology that has crept into our homes, hearts and minds, but this can’t be discussed without giving time to the Israel-Hamas war, which has exposed some already existing, deep ideological rifts in attitudes in Australia. I have also observed this within the field of therapy and the attitudes of therapists (and maybe specifically in the small niche world I’m in… this will be a very specific post). I will be referencing Hamas ideologies and how people fall for ideas like these when using a marxist framework to understand social complexities, but I could have named any number of different ideologies as the game play is similar.

‘I Won’t Dine At This Table’

2023 29.7x42cm

This is my visual representation of dangerous ideologies [insert whichever one you’ve been exposed to] - Beasts eating a toxic meal. I wish no-one dined at the beasts table and gave them an ear. I wish no-one would drink the poison because we become beastly ourselves. I wish people did not consume what the beasts have to offer.

There is another way, it is gently inviting, it doesn’t impose, doesn’t force people to bask in it’s light, but for those who have eyes to see this door may we walk through it instead.

I have felt a simmering fire within me for awhile now and wonder if finally perhaps it is the quiet persons turn to speak up and say something. I don’t routinely or loudly add my voice to public or online commentary because not everything we think deserves to be broadcast (like, who am I? I don’t know anything. I’m not even 30), and people who I think are misguided or even wrong are allowed to be wrong in whatever way they want…. but there comes a time when speaking your mind is important.

To be clear:

To be human is to ‘MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN.’ And  ‘WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP.’ And to SEE THE HUMAN who is your neighbour.

THE PRINCIPLE: We* believe- or perhaps we should believe -That human life has a stamp of sacredness we don’t ascribe to other living things.

Anyone, on any side of any war or conflict who REJOICES when their neighbours are harmed or killed is WRONG. Death is not something we should wish on our enemies or celebrate.

Ultimately, people are not our enemies. Ideology and ideas are. It is tragic when people give themselves over to bloodthirsty and destructive ideologies wherever in the world it happens. It is necessary that when they act in the name of that destruction and carry that out they must be stopped. The idea that life is sacred is also why it is important to protect life when there are clear aggressors who do not agree and are trying to end it.

Okay, now that is out of the way.

NEW IDEOLOGIES HERE

There is a real underlying “anti-west” “anti-faith” specifically “anti Judeo-Christian” sentiment that has been bubbling away below the surface some time now in Australia, and other parts of “the west” too. I’ve noticed it in academia. I’ve seen it evidenced in social media posts by professional mental health acquaintances who critique “Christian privilege” as a blight in our society to overcome.

(I did challenge that, by the way, and wondered if one is able to “convert” to become “privileged” and further more…are we supposed to think, according to this framework that being “privileged” is an inherently helpful or good thing, or a bad thing? Is it better to aspire to be oppressed? Or to aspire to have “privilege” and use it for good? Because they certainly implied it was a bad thing to have ‘christian privilege’ …So many unanswered questions..)

I’ve felt this sentiment at gatherings with “friends” where increasingly I have felt uncomfortable to the point of avoiding those friendships because of the cynical throw away comments mocking Christians despite the fact that I’m in the room.

The ideology and worldview I am talking about tends to lump in anything it doesn’t like and denounce it as an evil package deal- capitalism, patriachy, landlords (lol), being western or having “white-ness”, being religious though specifically holding a Judeo- Christian worldview…Does any of this sound familiar? You may have noticed that frequently, if you know someone’s critical opinion on one of these, you can pretty accurately guess their opinions on about 10 other things.

This game of being “anti” whatever is deemed as “oppression” (there is even a movement for “anti-oppressive therapy” as an entire framework) and viewing the world through this narrow and inadequate lense plays fantastically into the hands of groups like Hamas. The existing sentiment fits with their charter and ideas hand in glove and is partly how they are able to win minds all over the world.

I’ve seen it increasingly in calls like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” with seemingly no thought about what that rallying cry might actually mean for the population of Israel and Jews everywhere (is that ideology not oppressive to a population?)

Or worse, when people are questioned on this rhetoric, I’ve seen the response “we don’t care about them [the population of Israel], they can go to hell”

Not every slogan that has the word ‘free’ in it really stands for freedom (this applies to many of the political catch phrases of our day…many are deceptive and sound noble on the surface, and don’t actually mean what they claim to mean).

I read the entire Hamas charter on a lunch break last week (I’m fun at parties). Part of the charter states “the only thing that overcomes iron is iron” Do the people skipping school and holding signs in Australia stand for that idea and realise the implications?

There is a political ideology at work calling for death and championing it when it happens. It will not stop until it achieves its aims. It is driven by hate. It is plainly evil. It is truly “oppressive” if we want to use that language- of its own people and its neighbours. Before a weapon was even raised it wished for death and destruction.

I have seen the broad commentary online that:

“ISRAEL BAD” “PALESTINIANS GOOD” or

“ISRAEL COLONIAL EVIL OCCUPIERS” and “PALESTINIANS INNOCENT FREEDOM FIGHTERS” and it doesn’t work…

There are death-loving Palestinians calling for and celebrating with Hamas when Israelis are slaughtered. They are not interested in freedom. They are not interested in life or peace. Peace talks are specifically condemned in the Hamas charter.

There are also (I’m sure) grieving, peace-loving Palestinians who probably fear for their life if they dared go against the grain of their government- and we don’t even hear their voice in all the chaos- it’s been robbed from them and doesn’t fit neatly into the narrative anyway,  so whose ears are listening? We should stand with and care about them.

There are probably revenge-seeking Israelis who are cheering when the IDF bombs a target or the civilian death toll rises (I have not actually seen evidence for this and am told if Israelis held these views it would be uncommon and immediately called out, but I’m making a broad point about how ANYONE call fall prey to ideology, to be fair)

There are also peace-loving Israelis who desperately wish to feel safe in their own TINY country when much of the world through history has wished death for them. They wish for PEACE- for them AND where possible, everyone else too. We should stand with those who prefer peace.

So what happens to this way of thinking when we are confronted with the uncomfortable truth that humans on all sides can be guilty of being ‘oppressive’ despite their geographical location, AND at times can be the victim of themselves, their own ideology, as well as the death-loving ideology of others?

We are not simply our groups, and it should be self-evident that we have been given the gift of intellect to think and reason and our thinking does not always fall into neat, intersectional (God I hate the intersectional game) binary categories that match our “group” thought. This rigid way of thinking may even be called a ‘cognitive distortion’ or ‘generalised thinking’ (unhelpful thinking styles often focussed on in CBT) so it is beyond me that mental health professionals anywhere adopt such a simplistic, concrete idea as a worldview.

AN ALTERNATIVE

Those of us who live in societies that allow this true diversity of thought and expression should count ourselves as not just lucky, but blessed. This freedom should be preserved, everywhere it can be. And Israel is one of those places.

This is my call: Can we actually think beyond what is expected of us? We don’t have to be “activists” who become more dogmatic than what we oppose.

We don’t have to participate in every protest our friends participate in and chant slogans that sound good on the surface.

We don’t have to embrace what our “group” tells us to think. We can have varied opinions on things, and it is not a cop-out to see that some things really are complex geo-politically.

Also, God forbid we admit we may not know all of the details between neighbours far away. Maybe it’s okay to say “I don’t have enough information”

Wolf In Sheep Clothing

2023

Ideologies that sound good, that provide us with meaning (where there is a meaning void in the secular West) and that apparently give us an identity. These can function like a ravenous wolf. Initially we get taken in by the soft woolly coat and how lovely he appears, only to let him into our homes and have him slowly wreak havoc.

I recently caught up with a therapy colleague who I haven’t seen for awhile and for the first time in a long time felt free to share my genuine thoughts and opinions. It made me realise there may be others who are self-censoring in the name of ‘fitting in’ or feeling the pressure to adopt certain ideologies. We could actually talk with some naunce without using a narrow framework to discuss our ideas. I hadn’t realised someone else in a similar context (thinking things through as people and professionals and holding in common our Christian and Jewish values) may be as bothered as me- I was silently carrying it around. It felt like a long sigh of relief.

It was a refreshing, uplifting conversation. If nothing else, the current world events are exposing undercurrents that already exist and allowing some of us quieter ones to find and connect with one another.

“Death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.” and- “The time (16) will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews (and kill them); until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: 0 Muslim! there is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him!” - Hamas Charter

Not all ideologies are equal, and it’s necessary to denounce the ones that really are oppressing and ensnaring people.

Dare we be people who aren’t afraid to think critically, who are known for our consistent principles and not our political games, known for our consistent vocal defence of human life, who mourn when all people become captive to destructive and hateful ideologies. May we wish for their psychological release from such damaging ideas.

Dare we call out obviously dangerous ideas clearly when we need to speak clearly. And also dare we reject the idea that society is made up of strictly “oppressed people” or “the oppressor class” and start remembering people are complex individuals.

Can we reject this oppressor-oppressed paradigm masquerading as ‘care’ and ‘compassion’ especially when it’s only awarded to the ‘oppressed people’ we decide fit our politics for the wolf in sheep’s clothing it actually is? Which is this: An invention that has only stirred up hate and division since its’ inception in the minds of Marx and Engels in the 19th century.

Dare we be people who have a sacred sanity in an increasingly insane world around us.

Shifting Minds: QLD Mental Health Commission 2023

Hi all,

It’s been a minute so I am just stopping by to share something cool that’s happened recently.

The QLD Mental Health Commission has just released the 5 year strategic plan to tackle mental health In this state, and 5 artists were commissioned to contribute an artwork and a thought around being well.

This was really exciting to be part of! Here’s a quick snapshot of the artworks in the shape of leaves:

MORE HERE

And my leaf:

"This artwork reflects the role that learning plays in keeping myself well and engaged with life.

For me this comes in the form of interesting conversations, listening to podcasts and reading books to widen my perspective and foster my curiosity. It’s also about giving my otherwise busy and anxious mind healthy things to dwell on that are good, true and beautiful."

I wanted to expand a bit more on what I wrote about this artwork.

Firstly, I focussed on learning (reading, conversations, podcasts) as being an important part of keeping well. To want to learn, one must have some curiosity. For me, I am curious about myself, and about humanity in general.

Other areas of curiousity: the lenses people look through to interpret the world around them. How are morals shaped? How is meaning made and applied? Where do people derive their sense of self and what are the consequences of that? How do people understand purpose and live that out? How does any given culture arrives at “norms”?? How important is the human conscience and should we study it to understand it better? (just to start with the light subjects)

Secondly, I mentioned two things: having a busy and anxious mind, and wishing to focus on things that are Good, True and Beautiful (also called the “Transcendentals” which can be traced as far back as Plato and Aristotle, and then Augustine).

My mind goes fast. Really fast. and the AMOUNT of thoughts. Sheesh. I recently sampled to my husband what goes on in my head in a short portion of my day and he said he was exhausted. Haha.

That being said, if I am not careful, my mind churns things over that are not good for me ( I sometimes seek out grimly fascinating things though they never lead me to peace)- not good physically (knots in the stomach anyone?) mentally (more anxiety, feeling drained) or spiritually (inner existential turmoil and a sense of doom and gloom/ sense of despair and disconnect)

There is a replacement to those things, and that is the Good, True and Beautiful (the objective Things That Exist according to our ancient philosophers)

Here’s how I engage with these:

Good- Glimmers of hope that nourish the soul and calm down one’s nervous system. For me, it’s dwelling on The Good- wins at work, positive experiences in my relationships, healthy goals for the future etc etc…

True- My belief is that there is actually absolute truth (therefore that means I reject moral relativism) and the closer I live to the Truth, the healthier my life is in all areas… Therefore dwelling on things that I know to be true- and even knowing that there actually is even such a thing that exists outside of myself that I can get to know- is of great comfort (I am terrible at this Postmodernism thing we’re all supposed to be buying into)

Beautiful- Thinking about art! Marvelling at the skills of the artists I know. Co-creating new things with clients. Witnessing clients create new futures. Dreaming up the next drawing. Listening to a WELL crafted song. Being in nature. Enjoying it when things function the way they are supposed to. When my ears and heart or eyes and heart are happy at the same time (ie hearing music; looking at colours, feeling peace within myself)

We have a degree of control over what we feed ourselves (mentally, spiritually) and what we feed ourselves shapes our outlook and our well-being.

Do you ever have encounters with things that are good, true or beautiful? How do these look for you? Can you make some time to dwell on things of goodness, beauty and truth?

x

Post Traumatic Shadows In Suburbia

Post Traumatic Shadows In Suburbia, 2023. Pencil and pen 29.7x42cm

Hi there!

As part of an ongoing drawing series depicting mental health conditions, the focus of this image is post traumatic stress and post traumatic stress disorder.

As a therapist I have seen and worked with this on a regular basis and thought it would be helpful to shed light on this disorder (as well as curiously representing it as an artist)

What is it?

Post traumatic stress can occur after exposure to any event that threatens life or safety (including war, accidents, assaults, natural disasters…Beyond Blue notes interestingly that car accidents and other serious accidents are the leading cause of PTSD in Australia)

Beyond Blue (2022) notes the following symptoms can occur a traumatic event:

• “Very negative beliefs about yourself, others or the world.

• Persistently blaming yourself or others for what happened.

• Persistently feeling negative, angry, guilty or ashamed.

• Feeling less interested in doing things you used to enjoy.

• Feeling cut off from others.

• Trouble remembering details from the event

• Touble feeling positive emotions (such as love or excitement).”

Some of the warning signs that post traumatic stress is lingering is feeling ‘wound up’ or ‘on edge’ (or hypervigilant)- this might come with feeling irritable, not being able to sleep well, and being startled easily. Along with this, ‘flashbacks’ of the event may occur- unwanted reliving of the event as vivid images or nightmares.

In this drawing, the following aspects of PTSD are emphasised:

• the lingering feeling of unsafely and danger…(shadows) in contrast with the bright (almost too cheerful) backdrop of normal suburbia

• The person is blank..numbed? It could be anyone…it could be someone you know..

• It looks like no matter where the person turns there is a threat waiting for them…Finding the feeling of safety and stability again is a challenge…

Treatment

BeyondBlue notes there are several ways to treat PTSD…including CBT and medication.

Art therapy, I would argue, is also a great modality to address trauma.

Art therapy addresses the “whole experience of trauma: mind, body, and emotion.”

“By working through PTSD with art, what was a terrifying experience that caused lots of symptoms can become a neutralized story from the past.” (Healthline, 2017)

In my own practise, we often start with the physiological trauma response: What is the body doing? And how can we soothe the fight/flight/freeze response? We work on feeling safe. We work on the present. Through being in a safe environment, and building a trusting connection with a therapist, artwork created in therapy can represent and explore some of the challenges that come with post traumatic stress.

What does the feeling of ‘on alert’ look like? Sometimes clay figurines are created to show this state of being. Sometimes finger painting all over a huge piece of paper accurately expresses the darkness being experienced. Sometimes just sitting and repeating a soothing sensory experience is part of recovery. Sometimes we explore distraction strategies by looking at artworks and drawing a favourite safe place. Sometimes writing letters or poetry gives the person their voice to find themselves amongst all their symptoms. Sometimes a person is not ready yet to explore and face their PTSD symptoms so we look at quality of life experiences to bring enjoyment into their present and reduce their distress.

Myths

It is just army veterans who have PTSD….It can be experienced by anyone after a huge variety of traumatic experiences

Its chronic and can’t be treated…. There are lots of ways to manage and work through PTSD and it does not have to be lifelong

If the trauma happened ages ago you should be ‘over it’ by now….Traumatic experiences affect everyone differently (there are a number of reasons for this) and time does not automatically heal all wounds

PTSD happens right after the traumatic exposure….Sometimes this may be the case, but symptoms can emerge after many years or come and go over long periods of time

Hope & Post Traumatic Growth

Several decades ago the term ‘post traumatic growth’ was coined to capture a phenomenon that can occur following exposure to trauma. There are 5 domains of growth that have since been identified:

1. Appreciation of life

2. Relationship with others

3. New possibilities in life

4. Personal strength

5. Spiritual change

This phenomenon allows for the understanding that some people (WHEN THEY ARE READY) are able to experience growth in the shadow of a trauma- not a false sense of positivity but a lense to see through which helps make sense of their experience and identify strengths in the aftermath.

This understanding can assist with a person “reconstructing their perceptions of self, others, and the meaning of events while they are coping with the aftermath of trauma” (Psychology Today, 2017).

If you or someone you love is experiencing posts traumatic stress, know that it does not have to be a permanent place to live and the shadows can become smaller.

Please reach out or click on any of the links to find out more about support available.

Further Reading and Links

https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/270232/Art-Therapy-2018-Full-Report.pdf

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

https://www.everydayhealth.com/ptsd/common-ptsd-myths-debunked/

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/ptsd

https://www.healthline.com/health/art-therapy-for-ptsd#PTSD,-the-body,-and-art-therapy

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/post-traumatic-growth