Creative Codex

Support my work and research by becoming a patron and get access to the full Tarot Exegesis series and many more exclusive episodes: patreon.com/mjdorian

This is a preview of my Tarot Exegesis series, which analyzes every card of the Major Arcana. I've created this multi-part series as supplemental material to the main Tarot series.

Each episode is an in depth exploration of the symbolism and psychological significance of severa...

When did the Tarot begin? Can it be traced back to Egypt or is it more recent in origin?

The Tarot is a tradition with a varied reputation, over centuries it has been labeled: a card game, a divination tool, a creation of the devil, and a spiritual book of wisdom. What is it about the Tarot's symbolism that provokes so much emotion out of us? We will explore the cards through the theories of Dr. Carl Jung to find out.

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Compan...

What do J.R.R. Tolkien, David Lynch, Emily Dickinson, and Damon Albarn have in common? They each pursued ambitious projects—something challenging within their skillset that compelled their growth.

On this video-minisode, we explore the benefits of ambitious projects and the many inspiring examples of artists pushing their limits.

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Check out the dark pop album (CATHARSIS) which I wrote & produced here: https://www.youtube....

Video not showing? Watch it on the Creative Codex YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/WLCVwqdw53o

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Why must the righteous suffer? This is a question at the heart of The Story of Job. On this special episode, we seek out the answer through the visionary artwork of William Blake. In 1805, William Blake was commissioned by his patron and friend, Thomas Butts, to create a set of watercolor illustrations depicting key sce...

Why did William Blake create his own gods? What does Blake's cosmology teach us about humanity? What role does Blake's visual art serve in fulfilling his creative vision?

Join me on a journey to The Morgan Library & Museum, where we view Blake's original manuscripts & artworks, to answer these questions.

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View the companion gallery for this episode here, including a fully rendered copy of The First Book of Urizen with...

What makes Blake's Songs of Innocent & of Experience a work of genius? What is the nature of vision? What is Blake's concept of fourfold vision? Is it even graspable by the intellect? We will make the attempt. Join us for a deep dive into all of this and much more.

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View the companion gallery for this episode here, including read-along versions of the poems: ⁠https://mjdorian.com/blake/⁠

∞∞∞∞∞Support Creative Codex on my Patr...

William Blake is considered one of the greatest artists and poets of the English language, yet he lived most of his life in poverty. Why? Many of his acquaintances considered him mad while friends who knew his art considered him 'brilliantly mad'. What was so different about Blake?

Join me on this William Blake series as we pry open the mind of this celebrated creative genius to find the true meaning of his enigmatic works...

Dr. Carl Jung began to have apocalyptic visions in October 1913 which compelled him to engage a dialogue with his unconscious. In the following months, he transcribed these experiences in his personal journals (Black Books). When World War 1 started in June 1914, Jung realized that his visions, dreams, and meditations may have been precognitions of the impending war.

On this minisode, we explore the writings and journals of D...

Where language breaks, art begins. Language routinely fails us in conversations about art and creativity. In the following essay, I elaborate on the reason for this problem and offer three terms which can help give more depth and clarity to our discussions of art.

The three primary experiential aspects of art:

Art-making: verb, a creative act that results in an art-object.

Art-object: noun, a material or immaterial byproduct of art...

What happens to Alexander McQueen when he achieves his life's dream? Is he able to continue creating inspired collections in spite of the intense pressures of global fame? What are the personal meanings behind his most iconic collections? And what leads to his tragic end?

We will explore all of those questions and much more on this finale to the McQueen series.

∞∞∞∞∞ View the companion gallery for this episode here: ⁠⁠https://m...

All creative geniuses have visions throughout their lives which guide their work. What does it mean to have a vision? How does a vision differ from a goal? How do you discover your own vision? Let's talk about it.

This insight developed from recent studies and reflections I've been engaged in, it is part of my current attempt to define creative genius through several traits which all creative geniuses seem to share. In sear...

More than anything else in the world, Alexander McQueen at 21 years old wants to be a fashion designer. He embarks on a bold journey to flip the fashion industry on its head. But what makes his early collections so revolutionary and controversial? And what leads to him being 'discovered'? ∞∞∞∞∞ View the companion gallery for this episode (including the video of McQueen's graduate collection) here: ⁠https://mjdorian.com/...

How does a boy from a working class London background with no connections to the fashion industry go on to become one of the greatest fashion designers of all time? This is the story of Lee Alexander McQueen. Join me as we dive into the life and work of one of the most celebrated and controversial designers of the 21st century.

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Support Creative Codex on my Patreon and get access to exclusive episodes, including the Kurt Coba...

Ever feel like life is too busy to explore your creativity? Ever feel like you don't have enough time? On this Creativity Tip minisode we explore the idea of finding and utilizing the corners of your day. And the possibility that less time isn't always a bad thing–just ask yourself: What can I do with the time that I have? ∞∞∞∞∞ Help fund Creative Codex in 2024 with a donation to our Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/creativ...

All of the questions in this episode were sent in by listeners via Instagram, Patreon messages, or Spotify responses.

Support Creative Codex on my Patreon and get access to exclusive episodes, including the RED BOOK READING series and all the Episode Exclusives: 

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/mjdorian⁠⁠

Questions (in order of appearance, with timestamps):

1. Do you think sadness / heartache / trauma is the secret ingredie...

What is your relationship to matter? On this episode–the fourth and final episode in the Jung & Alchemy series–we journey to the heart of alchemy. Through studying examples in alchemy we answer these questions: What are archetypes? What is the collective unconscious? What is individuation?

And the question to end all questions on the matter: What happens when you practice alchemy? Does it confirm Jung's theories? Let's ...

This is a preview of my new Red Book Reading series, which is now available on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mjdorian

Each month I read the next chapter of Dr. Carl Jung's visionary masterpiece, The Red Book (also known as Liber Novus). Each reading is complete with original music and sound design.

Whether you've already read it once and hope to gain new insights, or you have it but haven't cracked it open yet–thi...

Join me for a journey back to a time when alchemy was revered by Kings & Queens and practiced in the courts of nobles. A time when Prague was the alchemical capital of the world–drawing occultists to it from all of Europe, and ruled by a King who supported esoteric spiritual practices. Along the way we will find direct parallels between Jung's Red Book and the work of the alchemists, leading us to Jung's most misunderst...

What is the hidden link between play and creativity? Why do we discourage adults from play? How do you heal your relationship with play and improve your creativity?

As we journey from childhood into adulthood, the world demands that we abandon play and daydream–relegating them to the domain of childhood. But of the many sacrifices we all must make in our transition into adulthood, this sacrifice is the most damaging to our cre...