“We must not forget that only a very few people are artists in life; that the art of life is the most distinguished and rarest of all the arts. Whoever succeeded in draining the whole cup with grace?” — C.G. Jung
“The meaning of life is to build a life as if it were a work of art.” — Abraham Joshua Heschel
The image of fire expresses an elemental force that can be both creative and destructive. When it is contained and focused, fire is transformative, enhancing what has been placed in it, such as in the shaping and strengthening of metal or in the cooking of food. Uncontained, fire can rage and incinerate, like wildfires consuming forests and homes. In this presentation, we will explore the symbol of fire through poetry, story, and myth. In particular, we will trace the role of this symbol as a psychological energy that is implicated in the creative life of the individual. This talk will explore such questions as: What does it mean to live life “as if it were a work of art?” What prevents us from knowing and living our creative depths? What are the consequences of not living from these depths? In pondering these questions and encountering this powerful symbol, we will begin to uncover ways that we might connect with our own creative spark and fan it into a vitalizing and transforming flame.
