“Not just any talk is conversation; not any talk raises consciousness. Good conversation has an edge: it opens your eyes to something, quickens your ears. And good conversation reverberates: it keeps on talking in your mind later in the day; the next day, you find yourself still conversing with what was said. That reverberation afterward is the very raising of consciousness; your mind’s been moved. You are at another level with your reflections.”
– James Hillman, We’ve Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy and the World is Getting Worse
James Hillman (1926 – 2011) was an American psychologist born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He studied at, and then guided studies for, the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich, founded a movement toward archetypal psychology and retired into private practice, writing and traveling to lecture, until his death at his home in Thompson, Connecticut on October 27, 2011. After high school, he studied at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University for two years. He served in the US Navy Hospital Corps from 1944 to 1946, after which he attended the Sorbonne in Paris, studying English Literature, and Trinity College, Dublin, graduating with a degree in mental and moral science in 1950. In 1970, Hillman became editor of Spring Publications, a publishing company devoted to advancing Archetypal Psychology as well as publishing books on mythology, philosophy and art. His magnum opus, Re-visioning Psychology, was written in 1975 and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. (Source: Wiki)
Source: Image – Circololettori. Quote: Whiskey River.
Idle chatter which is gone before the words are even uttered v. meaningful conversation. This is the distinction between your blog and many others. You engage. You make me think. You challenge me. You are prepared to keep the dialogue going until it need go no further. Hmm…I think there’s a “For David” post in my future.
WMS, WMS!!!! 🙂
Love you Lori – that’s going to become a new acronym…LYL!!
🙂
I’m speechless. Let me stop right there. (Thank you)
This is a very momentous day – you? Speechless? Because of something Lori and I have written? O.M.G.
(No thank you’s needed – you are that good. Or that much better than good)
Laughing. And, still, speechless.
What a wonderful way of talking about meaningful conversation. It’s a skill that we all should develop, in my opinion. You learn some fascinating things that way.
Yes. And I believe it all starts with authenticity…
“…it keeps on talking in your mind later in the day; the next day, you find yourself still conversing with what was said. That reverberation afterward is the very raising of consciousness; your mind’s been moved. You are at another level with your reflections.” Wow! Especially with words that begin with “M”! I’m teasing! I like this post…it’s true. 🙂
🙂 Laughing. It is true.
This blog will stay with me for awhile. In our modern world of texts and tweets and multiple distractions, deep, meaningful conversations become that much more meaningful when they do happen. Thanks for this …
Yes, Laurie, that’s what snapped me to attention when I read this quote.
Oh geez, I just love this. Was just yesterday talking about this in terms of blogging, and the comments, and the dialogue that ensues and how I love how it all expands my mind. So this, “… your mind’s been moved. You are at another level with your reflections.” sums it up more perfectly than I ever could.
So true Bonnie. He captures it. And note that this quote was captured in a book written in the early 1990’s. http://www.amazon.com/Hundred-Years-Psychotherapy-And-Worlds-Getting/dp/0062506617
Not only “A good conversation reverberates: it keeps on talking in your mind later in the day; the next day, you find yourself still conversing with what was said.” At times its the bad converstaion which stays in your mind and you can’t sleep at night.
Yep, valid point….
Love this, David. I can relate to what Sonia has commented though. 🙂
Yes to both Sylvia. I agree.
Love Hillman! Reading several of his books has given me new ways to understand and respect how much language influences our perspectives. Good conversation, like good food, will nourish you. Thank you for posting this David!
Thank you. I agree. It is my first exposure to Hillman. I need to dig in further…Dave
I just so love it when one meets someone willing to have a real conversation. Some people are so draining–all talk and no listen, always busting for you to finish what you’re saying so they can get their next bit in. Good conversation flows, no-one interrupts. There are also comfortable gaps for silent reflection on what the other person has just said. It’s the sort of conversation that enriches and lingers in one’s mind after the person you’ve been talking to, is no longer there.
So true Sarah…
Reblogged this on virtualborscht.