Repression keeps anxiety arousing impulses, feelings, and memories locked away in the unconscious depths of the mind. Are they bound away out of fear, or for healing?
the 2nd face looking down … with the apearance of a skull is quit haunting….. i believe repression is like a thorn.. the skin may heal over.. but eventually it festers……. better to cut the offender out cleanly from the beginning……….b
The thing about repression though is that’s it’s not typically voluntary. If there is a thorn, there is no memory of being pricked, and no knowledge of where to cut – cutting at random is self destructive. Like chopping trees to find the forest.
– Brad MacDuff
lianneover 3 years ago
I can’t say what the answer is – repression eventually takes its toll, even years down the road when you think you’re well healed. But venting isn’t always safe either nor is it always possible to know whom to trust. As Butch has indicated cutting the offender out is probably best but far far easier said than done. So we muddle through until we’re ready to learn the lessons from that which we repressed. Vicious circle if you ask me – lol. The image is provocative and evocative – and yes it has not so much a haunting but a haunted quality about it Brad.
Hi Lianne – I agree with you. It’s a conundrum, and one we’re typically unaware of… so we muddle until the lessons make themselves clear.
– Brad MacDuff
jtaftover 3 years ago
This image is simply poetic, and i love what you have said in the caption. I think they are bound away out of self protection and fear. But I will be thinking about that now:)
Thanks Jessica. I always thought it was protection and fear as well, then I started looking at the bindings as bandages… an aid to the healing process. Perhaps some memories are better left alone until one is strong enough to unbind the wrappings…
– Brad MacDuff
jtaftover 3 years ago
I never thought of it like that, the idea that our mind represses memories while they are too painful for the lessons and growth to come through. very interesting take on protectionism..
I agree they are there to protect us until we can face what we’ve hidden from ourselves. When we are strong enough the wrappings unbind themselves and our task is to bear witness to the pain beneath until it changes into something else. Your image is a wonderful visual metaphor for this process.
Comments
the 2nd face looking down … with the apearance of a skull is quit haunting….. i believe repression is like a thorn.. the skin may heal over.. but eventually it festers……. better to cut the offender out cleanly from the beginning……….b
The thing about repression though is that’s it’s not typically voluntary. If there is a thorn, there is no memory of being pricked, and no knowledge of where to cut – cutting at random is self destructive. Like chopping trees to find the forest.
– Brad MacDuff
I can’t say what the answer is – repression eventually takes its toll, even years down the road when you think you’re well healed. But venting isn’t always safe either nor is it always possible to know whom to trust. As Butch has indicated cutting the offender out is probably best but far far easier said than done. So we muddle through until we’re ready to learn the lessons from that which we repressed. Vicious circle if you ask me – lol. The image is provocative and evocative – and yes it has not so much a haunting but a haunted quality about it Brad.
Hi Lianne – I agree with you. It’s a conundrum, and one we’re typically unaware of… so we muddle until the lessons make themselves clear.
– Brad MacDuff
This image is simply poetic, and i love what you have said in the caption. I think they are bound away out of self protection and fear. But I will be thinking about that now:)
Thanks Jessica. I always thought it was protection and fear as well, then I started looking at the bindings as bandages… an aid to the healing process. Perhaps some memories are better left alone until one is strong enough to unbind the wrappings…
– Brad MacDuff
I never thought of it like that, the idea that our mind represses memories while they are too painful for the lessons and growth to come through. very interesting take on protectionism..
I agree they are there to protect us until we can face what we’ve hidden from ourselves. When we are strong enough the wrappings unbind themselves and our task is to bear witness to the pain beneath until it changes into something else. Your image is a wonderful visual metaphor for this process.
freaky, well done dude
powerfully good
Fantastic, just love , room for interprtation.
Thank you Michelle – interpret away!
– Brad MacDuff
very beautiful work
Thank you. I must have a dozen versions of this guy, but this one’s my favorite.
– Brad MacDuff
LOVE this. yes…this is the state of man.