Adam Blatner
Words and Images from the Mind of Adam Blatner
Spectrums of Mind
My son David recently wrote a book titled “Spectrums”—really a fine book—opening to the wonders of the actual range of varieties of our existence—size, intensity of energy, speed, etc. I highly recommend it, even if I’m prejudiced. It is really interesting and well-written and often uses phrasing that I find both amusing and evocative. But […]
Posted in Mind-Spectrums, Psychological Literacy, Social-Depth Psychology (Sociometry), Wisdom-ing | 1 Comment
Slow It Down a Little
Too much too fast too intense… whoa! So I was intrigued by the mention by a friend of a “slow living” conference next early summer. They cover so many facets but I didn’t see psychology. I’ve been pondering SDP (social-depth psychology), the deeper resonances in the psyche of that part of the mind that is […]
Posted in Current Events, Social-Depth Psychology (Sociometry) | No Comments
Beyond Reason in Philosophy
Most of true philosophy involves reason, but not all. I like this following quote from one of my favorite philosophers, Alfred North Whitehead (1869-1947), who wrote near the end of his book, Modes of Thought: “The use of philosophy is to maintain an active novelty of fundamental ideas illuminating the social system. It reverses the […]
Posted in Follies, Spirituality and Philosophy, Wisdom-ing | No Comments
The Lure of Irrational Hope
A friend asked, “Why are people so inclined towards irrational hope?” I pondered and here are some thoughts. You are welcome to comment. First, some hope is semi-rational in the sense of it doesn’t hurt to look for the best, and it’s no help to imagine negative consequences—unless you can do something realistic to change […]
Posted in Current Events, Follies, Psychological Literacy | No Comments
“A World Too Wide For His Shrunk Shank”
This age-ist phrase was used by William Shakespeare in a little speech given by the character Jaques in the play, As You Like It (Act 2, Scene 7), to describe the 6th of the “Seven Ages of Man.” This sixth age is older than the “Justice” (the 5th age), and senility, the seventh, age. The […]
Posted in Autobiographical, Essays and Papers, My Favorite Things, Spirituality and Philosophy, Wisdom-ing | 1 Comment
Paradigm Changes in Our Time
I’m aware that this phrase, paradigm change, has become somewhat cliché’d, but I think it useful to recognize what we are going through many cultural trends or shifts of world-view. It occurred to me that while the years around 1901 have been called “fin de siecle,”—meaning the end of the century, our own era, the […]
Posted in Current Events, Wisdom-ing | No Comments
Creativity & the Arts Therapies
In response to a request to speak to some students of one of the arts therapies at a college in the USA, I contemplated what such students need to hear. I asked about improvisation as a theme and the teacher noted that developing skills to promote improvisation in art media—music, dance, art, poetry, etc.—is indeed […]
Posted in Play and Spontaneity, Psychological Literacy, Psychology, Wisdom-ing | No Comments
“Being Yourself”—Some Thoughts
A contemplation on two poems from the early-mid 20th century poet, e. e. cummings: — "may I be I is the only prayer— not may I be great or good or beautiful or wise or strong." – – "to be nobody-but-yourself—in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody […]
Posted in Current Events, Spirituality and Philosophy, Wisdom-ing | 2 Comments
The Great Story (Video)
In 2010 I gave a lecture series (posted on my website) about the history of the cosmos as far as we know. It’s called “The Great Story.” Recently someone sent me a video montage only 2 minutes long that recaptures the drama to some degree. Take a look, and then visit my webpages that explain […]
Posted in History, Spirituality and Philosophy | No Comments
Social-Depth Psychology
J. L. Moreno developed a method called sociometry that involved more systematically asking people about their interpersonal preferences according to specified criteria. Diagramming the responses brings into view the intangible matrix of the social field. It operates in a way analogous to what a microscope does. But more, the social field thus exposed deserves attention […]
Posted in Psychological Literacy, Psychology, Social-Depth Psychology (Sociometry) | 1 Comment