Earlier in this season on the Practice of Being Seen, Molly Merson, MFT, and I initiated a discussion around the “American collective unconscious”. It’s such a complex, layered subject. And though we covered quite a bit of ground in in that hour of conversation, there still is so much more to explore. And so many questions to open up to possibility.

Through this exploration of our collective unprocessed traumas and the deep healing we need, we’re really talking about witnessing in a collective experience in which we are all implicated. How do we make space for more witnessing? We also discuss responsibility and resilience, post-traumatic growth, and the Parkland shooting victims and activists. We ask about the American Dream: Who is dreaming it and who is it for? We ask about the possibility of equality: Can it ever be so? When the urgency of fighting back and holding others accountable is so palpable and necessary, where is the space for hope, for dancing, for aliveness? Ultimately, we are asking: What is true? What do we know for sure?

Quoted in the Episode:

“Whatever you touch, you change. And whatever you change, changes you.” -Octavia Butler, “Parable Of The Sower”

“We have to call upon our ancestors in some way to do some of this remembering.” Molly Merson

“It's not a reliance on an outside force or some kind of benevolent parent who knows the way. It's like something much more participatory and urgent.” Molly Merson

“We have to get into trouble because the truth is we're in trouble already.” Molly Merson

“I keep thinking about this bigger collective unconsciousness that is our country. We need a witness. We need many witnesses.” Rebecca Wong

“I don't know about you, but I'm having fantasies and projections that we dismantle this whole thing and rebuild.” Rebecca Wong

Resources Referenced in this Episode:

Parable of the Sower: Octavia Butler

Jessica Benjamin

The Catcher in the Rye

Viktor Frankl

Leonard Cohen

Molly’s blog post, “The Necessary Precariousness of Hope”

Molly’s blog post, “Resilience as ‘Hope with Teeth’ via Pussy Riot and ‘The Chi’”

Where to find Molly:

If you're interested in working with Rebecca Wong, you can find out more about her services here: https://www.practiceofbeingseen.com/work-with-rebecca/

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