Deep Blues: Human Soundscapes for the Archetypal Journey

This presentation will explore the genesis, history, and thematic patterns of the blues from both  psychological and archetypal perspectives.  In our increasingly isolated and technologically engrossed culture there are increasingly fewer opportunities to move into shared experiences of unitary reality in which the bubble of our individualism is pierced, allowing a felt, relational connection to our environment and those around us. The blues, a genre of music which originated in experiences of trauma, oppression, and enslavement and which embodies both sadness and release into joy, can be seen an artistic expression of the potential for psychological transformation and wholeness within, as well as facilitating a deeper union with the other.  Drawing from mythological and shamanistic parallels, we will focus on the role of the bluesman and his role in the process of psychological healing, particularly when working with patients who are in retreated states and unable to verbally express psychological trauma.