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This collection of papers has been developed by an interdisciplinary group of contributors. They present a variety of new perspectives on creativity, spirituality, and transcendence as experienced in adulthood. The discussions in this volume, address the interplay of variables from theoretical, experimental, and clinical vantage points. This book is written for academic and clinical audiences, as well as for those who are interested in-and wrestle with-unexpressed aspects of their own creativity and spiritual yearnings. Unlike the current cognitive trend in creativity research that seeks rational and biological explanations for human phenomena, these essays give consideration to the power of extraordinary sources of inspiration. The research and theoretically based articles presented make a captivating collection that challenges our thinking about what it means to be a creative adult striving toward personal integrity and wisdom at the dawn of the 21st century.
List of contents
Figures and Tables
Preface
Introduction: Creativity in Adulthood: Personal Maturity and Openness to Extraordinary Sources of Inspiration, Susanne R. Cook-Greuter & Melvin E. Miller
Part I: Creative Process, Inspiration, and the Muse in Writing and Composition
Creative Writing as a Spiritual Practice: Two Paths, Christopher G. Edwards
The Dark Side of Creativity: The Function of Duende and God-Battler in the Writings of Garcia Lorca and Kazantzakis, Verbena Pastor
Limitations to Artistic Creativity: Joseph Conrad's The Secret Sharer, Carl Goldberg Inspired Creativity, Joel Funk
Part II: Personal Transformation and Integrity
Ethical Self, Spiritual Self: Wisdom and Integrity in the Writings of Erik H. Erikson, Carol H. Hoare
Edith Kramer-Artist and Art Therapist: A Search for Integrity and Truth, Melvin E. Miller & Susanne R. Cook-Greater
Healing Images: Art and Meditation in Recovery from Cancer, John J. McKenna
Part III: Theoretical Approaches and Reflections
Scientist and Artist within the Mature Self: The Integration of Two Worlds, Ernest Zebrowski, Jr.
Major Creative Innovators as Viewed Through the Lens of the General Model of Hierarchical Complexity and Evolution , Michael Lamport Commons and Linda Marie Bresette
Lifelong Learning and the Good Life: Reconceiving Adult Education for Development, Stephanie Glass-Solomon & Cheryl Armon
The Transpersonal Orientation as a Framework for Understanding Adult Development and Creative Processes, Marcie Boucouvalas
About the Editors
About the Contributors
Author Index
Subject Index
About the author
Melvin E. Miller has been interested in philosophy, narrative, and the creation of meaning for most of his life. He received a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, in addition to postdoctoral clinical and psychotherapy studies, he has twice been a visting scholar at Harvard Divinity School. He is presently professor of psychology, director of psychology services, and director of doctoral training at Norwich University, Vermont.
Susanne R. Cook-Greuter is fascinated with how complex adult reality conceptions, language, meaning-making, and creativity interrelate, and has been investigating mature ego development for the last 20 years. She is an independent scholar and consultant who recently recieved her Ed.D. from Harvard University. Before she came to the United States, she studied linguistics, Romance languages, and psychology at the University fo Zurich, Switzerland.
