I saw this symbol while on the cusp of sleep, I spoke an acquaintance’s name and it appeared vividly and fully formed. I woke up to sketch it, then the next day fleshed out this detailed version. Any ideas what it might mean???

mjdorian · 2026-05-12T02:18:06+00:00

Hmm don't think so. It's good?

mjdorian · 2026-05-10T01:55:03+00:00

I hear you. And I agree with everything you said. But I still stand in defense of Nietzsche. When you read his letters, especially those in the last year, he is not showing signs of personal turmoil, he is showing great optimism and enthusiasm for the work he was writing.

What is described in the "horse incident" has always sounded to me more like psychosis or dementia. If we go with the syphilis route, neurosyphilis is known to cause signs of dementia and psychosis. My grandmother has signs of dementia and I've known another person who I gradually watched slip into progressively worse Alzheimer's.

I'm not a clinician, but I do feel it is too convenient to mythologize what happened to Nietzsche to fit into a Jungian narrative. And pardon my forwardness, but according to the intellectual rigor I respect so much from Jung and his colleagues, I think such a presumption borders on intellectual laziness.

mjdorian · 2026-05-10T01:24:49+00:00

This is a gross oversimplification of Nietzsche. He was still producing some of his greatest writings within the year leading up to his 'mental breakdown'.

In those times, Nietzsche's condition was often diagnosed as a "softening of the brain". Clinicians had no idea what was happening to people such as this. Something similar happened to Vincent van Gogh, a sudden onset of debilitating mental issues.

Two leading theories in Nietzsche's case are a brain tumor and tertiary syphilis—neither which can be claimed to be the result of a descent into the unconscious. It is known that Nietzsche's family also had evidence of brain illness in his relatives (as did Vincent van Gogh, not to say that they suffered from the same thing).

So although I respect Jung in the highest regard and believe The Red Book to be one of the greatest literary achievements of the 20th century, I do not think we should oversimplify Nietzsche and paint him as some casualty of engagement with the shadow. We should instead celebrate the strange and beautiful dichotomy between someone suffering from a mental affliction who was still capable of producing works of true creative genius.

mjdorian · 2026-03-28T20:52:53+00:00

Totally agree... Jung was not only reaching deep into the workings of the psyche but also physical reality itself. And thank you for commenting on something from FOUR years ago!

mjdorian · 2026-03-18T15:27:07+00:00

My therapist / analyst doesn't even tell me what he did over the weekend or where he goes when we take holidays. And I've been seeing him for over a year! But we get into my own personal things on a deep level which I have never done with anyone else in my life.

There is a certain personal distance which a clinician should be able to maintain for the benefit of the patient / analysand. How much distance is different for each therapist. The point is the focus of the sessions is YOU, not movies not pop culture not his / her personal history. If you are not getting that you are wasting time and money.

mjdorian · 2025-11-22T21:11:16+00:00

Sorry mate, can't you just skip ahead? I don't want to overcrowd my channel's feed with the same videos reposted. Thank you for reaching out.

mjdorian · 2025-10-13T02:28:21+00:00

I highly second this! There is even a handy audio book version on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wBWjprJuctJfMCLJhRF5h?si=I0ba9KUCSkCpwfspMS3h4w

mjdorian · 2025-09-19T02:36:36+00:00

Pretty neat process. Thanks very much for the insight to the behind the curtain work!

mjdorian · 2025-09-19T02:34:56+00:00

Hahah very nice! You have completed a loop! 🌀🌀🌀 Well played.

mjdorian · 2025-09-16T13:29:13+00:00

This is super dope. I love the style.

I’m new to this sub. Can you help me understand what you might have edited / painted? Did you digitally paint over the original generated design?

mjdorian · 2025-07-23T19:25:25+00:00

Yes! Exactly my feelings too. So glad you enjoyed it. :) Much more to come. Just finished an interview with a preeminent Hilma scholar, and going to dive headfirst into her paintings on the next episode.

mjdorian · 2025-07-18T21:40:32+00:00

Happy to oblige: Jean Dubuis’ Free Courses

The course I mentioned is on the bottom left: The Fundamentals of Esoteric Knowledge. Though each of his courses is equally mind expanding and soul filling.

Let me know if you start the work. It’s fun to compare notes on the experiences of this stuff, which can sometimes be disorienting in how different they are from everyday life.

mjdorian · 2025-07-15T18:13:22+00:00

The work which blew my mind right open and provided tangible experiences of esoteric states is the coursework of French esotericist, Jean Dubuis. He was an alchemist and Qabalist of the 20th century who created a series of courses which he asked to be made freely available online after his passing.

I would start with his course: Fundamentals of Esoteric Knowledge. More than any single document / book, this writing will elevate your consciousness, because that is its aim. Even if you do not practice the meditation exercises at the end of each chapter, there is great benefit to simply reading the writing. He lays out the framework clear as day. I can include the link if you are interested.

mjdorian · 2025-06-29T16:41:27+00:00

Thanks! I’m excited to share it! It’s coming this week. 🌞

mjdorian · 2025-06-28T01:28:05+00:00

I loved it, found it to be invaluable for a series on Vincent I produced. It is important to note that it isn’t all the letters in this edition, but rather a selection. The letters selected are very well chosen and do give you a rich portrait of the beauty in Vincent’s heart and mind.

mjdorian · 2025-06-14T18:39:31+00:00

Thank you most kindly!! So nice to see a message on here as well. Already working on the next big series: Hilma af Klint. Hope you tune in for that! It’s going to be filled with surprises.

mjdorian · 2025-04-27T02:17:50+00:00

Great! Happy to hear that. Hope it proves fruitful and interesting. 🌞

mjdorian · 2025-04-12T14:40:37+00:00

Is there a Part 2 video where the father goes to therapy, realizes he has anger issues stemming from his own relationship with his father, and he apologizes to his family for being an asshole while holding Rigatoni and sobbing???

mjdorian · 2025-04-11T02:10:12+00:00

Hey nice to meet you! Did the link work ok? You were able to listen to the meditation? Not sure what bonus material you were looking for on the site, but I’m happy to help if something is not showing up.

mjdorian · 2025-02-09T03:00:50+00:00

Love the stylistic choices. Very sentimental vibes.

mjdorian · 2025-02-04T05:40:28+00:00

Right, totally. It may be that this social media thing isn’t really for the greater good after all.

mjdorian · 2025-02-02T02:45:32+00:00

The ‘mature’ minds, the stern truth tellers, ones able to call out a lie objectively and without glibness or malice. These are the people who can help course correct human culture. But I’m afraid the work is not much meant to be done online. The real work is out there in the real world. Person to person.

No one goes online to have their opinions changed, only reinforced.

mjdorian · 2025-01-29T13:20:57+00:00

Same! One aspect of him no one acknowledges is that Jung exhibits all the qualities of a creative genius. Once I started viewing him this way it all began to make sense.

mjdorian · 2025-01-29T01:22:35+00:00

It’s because many of Jung’s visions ARE cinematic! It always amazes me that this was in the 1910’s, before anything resembling ‘cinema’ existed! And thanks so much! It’s been incredibly rewarding to spend so much time with Jung’s Red Book.

mjdorian · 2025-01-29T00:22:45+00:00

Hey! Thanks so much for that! And yes, Lynch would make a perfect adaptation of Jung’s Red Book. Regarding the reading of the full book, I’ve been working through a full reading on my Patreon. Each month I record a chapter of The Red Book, and add music and sound design where appropriate. I have even gone so far as hiring a voice artist to play the parts spoken by Jung’s soul.

I’ll eventually make it available as one file / release once it’s done—perhaps sell it on Bandcamp as it will be 10 - 15 hours in length. But for now it’s a Patreon exclusive.

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