Psychomagic is invented -or better put, compiled- by filmmaker and lay-psychologist Alejandro Jodorowsky as a therapeutic practice and is an eclectic mix of art, psychoanalysis, eastern philosophical thought, and Jungian style mysticism. I guess the name is an unfortunate choice, as the founder of the discipline lay no claim on being a magician of any sorts. He was trying to propagate the idea that art have the power to change, to heal and to give insights in a very particularly surrealist manner. Plus, many will agree that Psychomagic was indeed an early conception of art therapy, an area just recently begin to gain proper attraction.

 

According to Jodorowsky’s principles of Psychomagic, the unconscious mind is capable of a great deal of expression, and the visible counterpart to these expressive floods can span from compulsive behaviors to bad relationship patterns to actual physical disorders. This idea is not new of course, it is taken directly from psychoanalytic theory.  Usually, in a typical psychoanalysis session, the aim is to communicate through talking and hopefully gain an understanding of the patient's unconscious and conscious processes, to eventually turn this knowledge upon the patient to create a therapeutic realization. The original idea is that this realization by itself will create the sought-after change in reality, which is, as we now clearly know, rarely sufficient. 

 

Psychomagic claims, what is usually needed to create impactful change, is a symbolic act. “ Symbolic” because, every person in existence has their own language, their own metaphors, their own subjective existence besides the objective, shared perspective we’re all part of. This subjectivity is at its most unique and transparent, when in a dream state. And just like the encrypted nature of a dream, a kind of encryption may be needed to communicate something to the unconscious, to provoke change on a deeper level.

 

And it is an “act” because to be in an “active” position means positively intending a new formation within the self. It is not a coincidence that almost all religions have incorporated “intentions” and “intentional actions” within their practices as key features. Because to intend before a certain action, is usually what separates that action from being an automatic or passive one. 

 

Blend these two features and a “symbolic act” becomes a ceremonial, celebratory gesture against the deterministic forces of nature, which undoubtedly includes the unconscious. It becomes one way in which we can understand ourselves and maybe even heal. This series of compositions are my “symbolic acts”.

 

Entertain the example of an African voodoo priest, putting needles into a doll that symbolizes a certain person. What is traditionally thought within those folk tales, is that the witch is cursing the victim in order to agonize him in ways possible to her craft. From the perspective of psychomagic on the other hand, what she is actually doing is a symbolic action towards herself, towards the unconscious, to resolve an issue. The aim is not to chain the person targeted, but to unchain one’s self from the fixation. 

 

And you might have already guessed by now, that there must be a specific chain of events that catalyzed this need for me to enroll in a series of self-directed therapy sessions, and inevitably decided upon its content. What you’re guessing is mostly true: I do have a story, a narrative I am putting forth, encrypted as usual for a symbolic act. But to verbalize it in a standard, everyday manner, to give you everything easily, would only mean exposing my life events and a number of other parties' private issues, to a wide audience, without consent. 

 

So there it is, you now also have a puzzle, a mystery, a “What is it about?”, which might be fun if you’re into that kind of speculation. I am not against that. Still, what I do want to end on, is this under-utilized relationship between art, psychology, and the symbolic, metaphorically woven way we navigate our consciousness. Starting from the premise that individuals' psychological profiles might add up to societal levels of contentment or anguish, it is easy to conclude that art has some motive to be a more active participant in the therapeutic sphere.