Workshop with the title "Daimonic"

Last spring, I attended a 3 day workshop with the title "Daimonic" (δαιμονικό).

The term "daimonic," as discussed by existential psychologist Rollo May, refers to an intrinsic force within humans that can drive both creativity and destructiveness. The daimonic encompasses all natural urges, impulses, and energies, including both human nature's positive and negative aspects. It is not inherently evil or inherenly good, but represents a fundamental aspect of the human experience that can manifest in various ways, depending on how it is integrated and managed by the individual. Overal, the daimonic reflects the powerful, dualistic forces within each person! In therapy, I see the daimonic as something that must be recognized, integrated, and channeled constructively. Although still pretty broad, seeing it this way helps me bring in my work as a therapist.

After the workshop, I did take the liberty to look more into the notion of the Daimonic. Although the term is not that common in literature, the idea behind it is often discussed under different vocabulary. It is a broad idea, the one that daimonic represents, and even during the workshop I noticed that most of us psychologists, had a different understanding of what it means. Whenever something's meaning is this broad, I am conflicted between it being very insightful/inspiring or it being nothing! This conflict is one I keep coming across throughout my life. It usually comes with the big questions, such as the meaning, life purpose, love... Are they everything, or are they nothing?

Overall, the workshop focused on our experience and responsibility to make meaning out of anything. It helped being in this beautiful location in Greece by the beach, which we took advantage of. Perhaps my favorite part was the silent long walks by the beach, where we were also advised to find an object that is meaningful to us and which can remind us of this workshop experience. It was in that process that I studied how I myself can actively create meaning out of anything. To be more precise, it is me actively creating meaning out of nothing. It is an active process that requires ingredients, among which creativity, narrative building, sense of self, and time. It is that...or nothing. Same with the daimonic.