Adam Blatner
Words and Images from the Mind of Adam Blatner
The World Needs You (Or, Why You Belong)
I read on a listserve news item of a colleague doing a workshop titled, "Where Do I Belong?" I wrote an email to my professional colleagues and, before erasing it, it occurred to me that it applied to lots of folks. I googled “The world needs you” and found many entries. Good! So what if […]
Posted in Current Events, Psychodrama, Wisdom-ing | No Comments
Let it Go (On Not Over-Packing One’s Life)
I’ve been contemplating a bit of obsolete mental programming I picked up in my youth: The cultural injunction to be well-read, well-informed, scholarly, well-traveled, active, etc. (At least this was so for the sub-culture in which I grew up in the mid-20th century.) I should keep up on the news, know what’s up so that […]
Posted in Autobiographical, Follies, Psychological Literacy, Wisdom-ing | 1 Comment
Coleg Degrees 4 Sale
So what are diplomas worth nowadays, really? Here’s an addition to a previous blog, with some further thoughts about a recently received ‘nother bit of spam: Subject: “The education it’s prestigious ! (Really their words!) To: (recipient) Date… whatever.. Actual text: You have a choice today! We are an experienced company, who will give you […]
Posted in Current Events, Foolin Around | No Comments
Victimoid Cruelty
I coined this term to describe a type of subclinical emotional abuse that arises not from the cruel person’s feeling of power, but rather a kind of grumpy defiance. I also think that for every situation in a marriage or family where there’s recognizable emotional abuse—not to speak of the other kinds of physical or […]
Posted in Follies, Psychological Literacy, Psychotherapy and Psychiatry | No Comments
Get a Bcahelors Degree ? ;-)
Here’s a weird actual spam and my playful (imagined) response. My son David says the sender’s misspellings are maybe intentional to get past spam filters, but the incongruity of the message amused me: Subject: Bcahelors, Matsers, , PhD can be yours in 4 weeks if you qualify. affordable business hosting plan web service. From (deleted), […]
Posted in Foolin Around | 1 Comment
Misunderstandings Abound
I recently inquired about some item that I wasn’t sure I should be looking for somewhere in the context, but the person I asked took it as an implied complaint, as if she “should” have had it there for me. I hadn’t even thought such a thing; there was no reproach in my mind—but the […]
Posted in Follies, Psychological Literacy, Wisdom-ing | No Comments
Sharing Your Story
I’m suggesting some reasons why it would make sense to weave in a degree of group dynamics, sharing our stories—especially the stories of our spiritual journeys—, listening, offering support to each other, and even deepening this exploration together using certain psychodramatic methods. We were raised in an era before actual spiritual community. Some of us […]
Posted in Psychodrama, Psychological Literacy, Spirituality and Philosophy | No Comments
Writing Systems and Alphabets: The Lore of”Scriptology”
There is a fascinating, interdisciplinary field that has been developing rapidly over the last several decades, with references in the literature multiplying. I’ve put an extensive bibliography about writing systems on a related webpage at this website, and it gets periodically updated. (I’m open to your sending me suggestions for new items, updates or comments on the […]
Posted in Scriptology | No Comments
Hoodwinked by Expert Culture?
An acquaintance wondered if I was “hoodwinked by expert culture.” What a provocative phrase! (Provocative is a compliment, because it provokes my thought, not my defensiveness.) I responded, “You might be right. Blind spots happen.” But what is “expert culture?” Is it the received knowledge of the dominant worldview, what is taught by those whom […]
Posted in Essays and Papers, Psychological Literacy, Wisdom-ing | 1 Comment
Mind/Brain Research: A Dialogue
A few days ago my friend John asked me to think about and respond to a few questions he had, and it occurred to me to also post it here: 1. J: What is new concerning mind/brain research? AB: tons, but much is still preliminary, and has little relevance to anyone. What relevance it […]
Posted in Essays and Papers, Psychological Literacy | No Comments