Jung At Harp

Deborah Henson-Conant & Kathleen Wiley
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Jung at Harp – Where Music and Psyche Meet Join us most Fridays at 9:15 AM ET for Jung at Harp—a weekly conversation between composer Deborah Henson-Conant and Jungian analyst Kathleen Wiley exploring the deep connection between music, psychology, and self-expression. This series isn't about teaching, selling, or proving anything. It's about curiosity, exploration, and the art of conversation. What happens when a psychoanalyst and a musician discuss creativity, freedom, and the human experience? New ideas unfold, perspectives shift, and deeper understanding emerges. Jung at Harp began as a simple car ride conversation—one that neither wanted to end. Now, it's an ongoing dialogue, shared with the world, about how music and the mind shape each other and transform our lives.

  1. [201] Jung at Harp - #201 When One is Missing .... Strings of Passion and Jung's Basic Principles

    5D AGO

    [201] Jung at Harp - #201 When One is Missing .... Strings of Passion and Jung's Basic Principles

    Jung at Harp | Episode 201: The 7 Strings of Passion and Jungian Principles In this episode of Jung at Harp, with Kathleen Wiley unavailable, Deborah Henson-Conant takes listeners on a reflective solo exploration of the 7 Strings of Passion — principles of creative expression — and their intriguing parallels with Jungian psychology. Through this lens, Deborah examines how creativity, inner life, and psychological dynamics may be more deeply connected than we often realize. Blending artistic insight with psychological curiosity, this episode considers how the forces that shape creative expression — such as tension, contrast, flow, and authenticity — also echo fundamental Jungian ideas about balance, energy, and the movement of the psyche. Rather than a formal lecture, the conversation unfolds as an intuitive inquiry into how creative principles may illuminate personal growth and self-understanding. This episode invites you to reflect on: • The deeper meaning behind the 7 Strings of Passion • How creative expression mirrors psychological processes • Connections between artistic dynamics and Jungian thought • The role of tension, contrast, and resolution in both psyche and art • Why creativity is not just output, but a way of being • How inner resistance can shape creative flow • The relationship between authenticity and psychological alignment • Seeing creativity as a dialogue with the unconscious • Expanding self-awareness through artistic metaphors Why listen? If you're drawn to creativity, psychology, or the invisible patterns that shape both, this episode offers a rich and thought-provoking perspective. Deborah's solo reflection opens space for listeners to consider creativity not merely as a skill, but as a living psychological process. Even in Kathleen's absence, the spirit of Jung at Harp continues — exploring the fertile intersection of music, psyche, and lived experience.

    48 min
  2. [200] Jung at Harp_#200 Travelling Buddies_ Overwhelm & Anxiety ... Grounding & Support

    FEB 13

    [200] Jung at Harp_#200 Travelling Buddies_ Overwhelm & Anxiety ... Grounding & Support

    Jung at Harp | Episode: Coexisting States – Overwhelm, Anxiety, Grounding, and Support In this episode of Jung at Harp, Jungian psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley and harpist, composer, and mentor Deborah Henson-Conant explore how certain inner states tend to travel together in our lived experience. Rather than viewing emotions and body sensations as isolated events, they reflect on how patterns like overwhelm and anxiety often coexist and reinforce each other — while other pairings, such as grounding and support, can gently redirect us toward stability and resilience. Through a blend of psychology, felt-sense awareness, and lived reflection, this conversation invites listeners to notice the subtle relationships between mind, body, and emotional states. How do these internal companions shape our reactions, choices, and sense of self? And how might cultivating grounding alter the entire trajectory of our experience? This episode invites you to reflect on: • How emotional and somatic states can coexist and "travel together" • The connection between overwhelm and anxiety in daily life • Why certain inner patterns feel self-reinforcing • The role of grounding as a counterbalancing state • How support — internal and external — shifts our nervous system • Listening to the body as part of psychological awareness • Recognizing state patterns without judgment or self-criticism • Small shifts that can interrupt cycles of stress and reactivity • Moving toward steadiness rather than fighting inner experience Why listen? If you've ever wondered why certain feelings seem to arrive as a package deal — or why shifting your state can sometimes feel impossible — this episode offers a thoughtful and compassionate lens. By understanding how internal states interact, we gain more than insight; we gain choice, perspective, and the possibility of responding differently. Sometimes, meaningful change begins not by eliminating anxiety, but by inviting grounding and support into the picture.

    43 min
  3. [199] Jung at Harp ##199 Presence

    JAN 23

    [199] Jung at Harp ##199 Presence

    Jung At Harp

    42 min
  4. [198] Jung at Harp #198 What if it's not working_

    JAN 1

    [198] Jung at Harp #198 What if it's not working_

    Jung at Harp | Episode: #198 What If It's Not Working? In this episode of Jung at Harp, Jungian psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley and harpist, composer, and mentor Deborah Henson-Conant explore a question many of us quietly struggle with: What do we do when something in our life just isn't working? Through personal stories, metaphors, and Jungian psychology, they reflect on resistance, projection, purpose, and the subtle difference between engagement and proving ourselves. From Instagram hacks to childhood toys, from music practice to creative identity, this conversation uncovers how pushing harder often creates more resistance — and how letting go can open unexpected pathways forward. Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode invites listeners into a deeper inquiry: What if "not working" isn't a failure, but a signal to shift perspective, reconnect with purpose, and return to authentic engagement? This episode invites you to reflect on: • What it really means when something "isn't working" • How resistance and over-effort can create compensatory pushback • The Jungian principle of compensation and psychological balance • Why stopping, breathing, and slowing down can restore flow • The difference between engagement and trying to prove yourself • How projection shapes our relationship with tools, platforms, and people • Why reconnecting with purpose can unlock creative movement • How creativity, learning, and growth happen in layers — not perfection • What it means to show up grounded in your true self Why listen? If you've been feeling stuck, frustrated, or caught in cycles of effort without results, this episode offers a compassionate and thought-provoking lens. What If It's Not Working? reminds us that real change often begins not with force, but with awareness, curiosity, and reconnection to what genuinely matters. Sometimes, what isn't working is pointing us toward a deeper truth — and a more authentic way forward.

    41 min
  5. [197] Jung at Harp #197 Debunking Feke

    12/18/2025

    [197] Jung at Harp #197 Debunking Feke

    Jung at Harp | Episode: #197 Debunking Feke In this episode of Jung at Harp, Deborah Henson-Conant and a fellow harp player dive into a provocative question: Can we step into our confidence by letting go of the idea of being "fake"? Drawing from Jungian ideas and personal reflection, they explore how beliefs about authenticity, performance, and self-judgment shape the way musicians and humans show up in their creative lives. This conversation invites listeners to rethink what it means to be real in music and in life. Rather than chasing an ideal of perfection or fearing that we are somehow "phony," Deborah and her co-host challenge the very notion of feke/fake as a limiting concept. This episode invites you to reflect on: • What we mean when we label something or someone as "fake" • How the fear of being inauthentic can block confidence and creativity • Why giving up the concept of perfection can be liberating • How musicians wrestle with identity, image, and self-expression • What Jungian psychology can teach us about inner truth and artistic presence • How embracing imperfection can strengthen artistic voice • Ways to cultivate confidence that are grounded in honesty, not performance Why listen? If you've ever felt insecure about your playing, your ideas, or your sense of self, this episode offers a fresh perspective. Debunking Feke isn't about dismissing standards or effort — it's about freeing yourself from fear-based thinking so you can engage more fully in your creative journey and your life.

    41 min
  6. [196] Jung at Harp #196 Bring the Music

    12/18/2025

    [196] Jung at Harp #196 Bring the Music

    Jung at Harp | Episode: Real Gratitude Isn't Perfect — It's Whole In this introspective solo episode of Jung at Harp, harpist-composer Deborah Henson-Conant invites listeners into a reflective exploration of gratitude through a Jungian lens. She challenges the common notion that gratitude must be positive, cheerful, or spiritually flawless. Instead, Deborah presents gratitude as a profound and grounded relationship with one's whole self, including both light and shadow. Through personal insight and philosophical inquiry, Deborah explores why trying to force gratitude while dismissing difficult emotions can feel incomplete, and how embracing the full spectrum of experience enriches both inner life and creative expression. This episode invites you to reflect on: • Why real gratitude includes both joy and struggle • How ignoring anger, sadness, or pain can limit connection with self and others • The difference between toxic positivity and true emotional presence • How Jung's concept of the shadow contributes to wholeness • Why accepting all your feelings strengthens creative confidence • How emotional honesty deepens musical expression and improvisation • Why gratitude becomes more meaningful when it embraces complexity • What it means to build an honest, whole-self relationship Why listen? If you've ever felt pressured to just be grateful, even when life feels hard or mixed, this episode offers a more compassionate understanding. Deborah shows that gratitude is not about perfection but about wholeness. When you make space for your entire experience—including difficult emotions—it deepens your creativity, enriches your inner life, and allows gratitude to be truly grounded and human.

    29 min
  7. [195] Jung at Harp #195 The Power of Gratitude

    12/05/2025

    [195] Jung at Harp #195 The Power of Gratitude

    Jung at Harp | Episode: Real Gratitude Isn't Perfect — It's Whole In this reflective solo episode of Jung at Harp, harpist-composer Deborah Henson-Conant explores a powerful Jungian idea: that real gratitude is not about being cheerful, positive, or spiritually "perfect." It's about holding the full truth of who we are—our light and our shadow—at the same time. Drawing from personal insight, musical storytelling, and Jungian themes, Deborah unpacks why forcing gratitude while ignoring harder feelings can leave us feeling incomplete, and how embracing conflicting emotions can actually deepen our sense of wholeness. Starting with the question, "Can you be grateful and angry at the same time?" Deborah guides listeners into a deeper understanding of gratitude as a relationship with the self, not a performance. She shares how acknowledging both gifts and wounds allows musicians, creators, and humans to live—and create—from a more grounded, authentic place. This episode invites you to reflect on: • Why genuine gratitude includes both positive and difficult emotions • How suppressing anger or sadness can block real connection and creativity • The difference between "toxic positivity" and true emotional presence • How Jung's concept of the shadow helps us embrace the parts we often avoid • Why honoring all your feelings strengthens your creative voice • How musicians can use emotional honesty to deepen expression and improvisation • Why gratitude becomes more powerful when it makes room for complexity • What it means to build a relationship with your whole self—not just the "good" parts Why listen? If you've ever felt pressure to "just be grateful" even when you're hurting, angry, or overwhelmed, this episode offers relief and clarity. Deborah shows how real gratitude isn't about perfection—it's about wholeness. When you say yes to your entire experience, your creativity expands, your music deepens, and your inner life becomes more honest and alive. This episode is an invitation to let gratitude be real, grounded, and human—woven from all the parts of you, not just the polished ones.

    42 min
  8. [194] Jung at Harp #194 Imperfect vs Incomplete

    11/24/2025

    [194] Jung at Harp #194 Imperfect vs Incomplete

    Jung at Harp | Episode 194: Imperfect vs. Incomplete In this thoughtful episode of Jung at Harp, harpist-composer Deborah Henson-Conant and Jungian psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley explore what it really means to create something that is imperfect yet complete. Through stories about creativity, music, improvisation, external feedback, and personal growth, they open a conversation about the tension between perfectionism and genuine expression. Starting with a simple moment of noticing an "imperfect" hair day, the discussion unfolds into deeper reflections on Deborah's newly released holiday fake book, the creative process behind it, and the discomfort of sharing work that will continue to evolve. This episode offers insight into how musicians and creators can embrace incompleteness as part of the journey rather than a flaw. The conversation invites you to reflect on: • The difference between something imperfect and something incomplete, and why they are not the same • How musical structure and patterns create a safe foundation for freedom in improvisation • Why creative work feels "never finished," and how embracing process can open new understanding • How external feedback can both affirm and challenge, helping us grow into more authentic expression • The power of simple musical patterns and why musicality isn't dependent on complexity • The emotional courage required to strip away performance personas and play from genuine self-expression • How having a clear process supports completion and helps creators move forward • The importance of connection: how even one person deeply moved by your work can be enough • The ripple effect of creative acts, even when they feel small or unseen Why listen? If you struggle with perfectionism, hesitate to share your work, or worry about whether what you create is "good enough," this episode offers reassurance and perspective. Imperfect vs. Incomplete shows that creative work is part of an ongoing evolution—and that music, expression, and human connection flourish not because of perfection, but because of authenticity. Through stories from their musical lives, teaching, and personal experiences, Deborah and Kathleen reveal how embracing imperfection can open the door to freedom, learning, and impact—sometimes reaching exactly the one person who needs it most.

    43 min
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About

Jung at Harp – Where Music and Psyche Meet Join us most Fridays at 9:15 AM ET for Jung at Harp—a weekly conversation between composer Deborah Henson-Conant and Jungian analyst Kathleen Wiley exploring the deep connection between music, psychology, and self-expression. This series isn't about teaching, selling, or proving anything. It's about curiosity, exploration, and the art of conversation. What happens when a psychoanalyst and a musician discuss creativity, freedom, and the human experience? New ideas unfold, perspectives shift, and deeper understanding emerges. Jung at Harp began as a simple car ride conversation—one that neither wanted to end. Now, it's an ongoing dialogue, shared with the world, about how music and the mind shape each other and transform our lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Deborah Henson-Conant & Kathleen Wiley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Jung At Harp