Tag: anima
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What would Sprout Do?
“Theo and Sprout” is a coming-of-age, gender bendy, magical realism story. The characters and plot pack a pretty good punch. The situations and struggles are relatable. These are good things. Readers like them. I like talking about the twists and turns. But I seldom get to talk about some of the underlying themes I thought…
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More Meanderings on the Collective Unconscious and Inner Work
Right below the surface of “Theo and Spout,” a seemingly simple gender-bending coming of age story, lies an exercise in Inner Work and the Shadow. While Theo is just Theo, Sprout is clearly or not so clearly many things. On the surface she is his spirit guide, there to help him through adolescence, give him…
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Self-Discovery and The Collective Unconscious
In “Theo and Sprout” Theo is on a journey of self-discovery. He has the good fortune of being guided on that journey by Sprout, his usually helpful inner self. They learn together to navigate adolescence. But why is Sprout a good guide? What does she bring to the table that is so helpful? Well, we…
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In Extremis
I find the West’s obsession with extreme’s to be…well, many things. Unhelpful, unhealthy, distracting, annoying, well, you get the point. And it’s not just an obsession but a celebration, an embracing. You see it everywhere. The person who is extreme is lauded for the act of being extreme. You have to run marathons or triathlons.…
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Sprout: Divine Feminine
“Who is Sprout?” “What is Sprout?” “Is she an imaginary friend?” “Is she a delusion? A split personality?” I get questions like this form people who have read “Theo and Sprout.” My response is usually “That’s a good question,” not to be glib but because it is a good question. Obviously she’s a metaphor. But…
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Find Your Inner Sprout
I wrote a guest post about “Theo and Sprout” for a Young Adult book site. I thought you might enjoy it. You ever think of that person inside you? You know the one. The one you wish people knew better. The one that is hard to let out. The one that your afraid to let…
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The Shadow Knows
When you inadvertently use Jungian shadow work to create one of your main characters, you begin to understand why writing the first daft of each chapter was exhausting. That’s what happened in Theo and Sprout. Sprout, basically Theo’s Anima, came to life from deep inside me. which is not surprising since the concept of her…
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Theo and Sprout: Jungian Twist
While I didn’t begin writing Theo and Sprout as a coming of age story, I definitely began writing with Jungian concepts in mind. Granted, I realize now that probably wasn’t the best theme from a marketing standpoint. But I give myself some slack here since it was clear from the beginning the story and the…
Joseph Gergen Works 