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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this inspiring episode of Jung at Harp, harpist-composer Deborah Henson‑Conant and Jungian psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley explore how ritual and rhythm can serve as gateways into deeper musical flow — freeing you from the "practice grind" and into vibrant creative play.

Through personal stories, practical prompts and musical insight, this episode invites you to:

• 🔄 Create meaningful rituals — warm-ups, transitions or space-clearing methods that set the tone before you play.

• 🕰️ Use rhythm beyond time-keeping — exploring pulse, groove and bodily movement as gateways into presence.

• 🎼 Let structure enable freedom — discovering how the right structure becomes scaffolding for musical spontaneity.

• ✨ Bridge intention & improvisation — using rhythm and ritual to shift from mechanical practice into expressive creation.

• 🌿 See your instrument as partner — treating your harp (or whatever you're playing) not just as object, but as collaborator in the ritual of music-making.

Whether you're preparing for performance, teaching, or simply playing for your own joy — this conversation will help you invite flow, focus, and freedom through the power of ritual and rhythm.

✨ Why listen? If you've felt stuck in a mechanical practice loop, or find it hard to move from warming up into genuine expression, this episode is your invitation. Unlocking Musical Flow Through Ritual & Rhythm shows you how simple intentional patterns can open the door into creative abundance — so your music becomes a lived experience, not just a task.

In this thought-provoking episode of Jung at Harp, Jungian psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley and harpist-composer Deborah Henson-Conant dive into the subtle yet powerful forces of mindset and context — exploring how our inner world and outer environment shape not just our music, but our lives.

Together they explore how our assumptions, mental habits, and physical settings can either act as invisible constraints or gateways to deeper freedom. Through candid conversation and humorous anecdotes, they invite you to:

🎵 Recognize the hidden frames — Discover what mindset and context you're operating in, whether it's limiting or liberating. 🧠 Shift from "trapped" to "free" — Learn how simple reframes and new perspectives can unlock creative and personal potential. 🎼 Use your environment as a partner — Explore how your practice space, tools, and surroundings can serve you instead of them draining you. 💫 Turn mindset into music — Hear how Deborah and Kathleen translate psychological insights into sonic metaphors and musical experiments. 🌱 Embrace growth through change — Whether your challenge is musical, emotional, or relational, this episode reminds you that context isn't fixed — it can be reshaped.

Whether you're a musician, a creative professional, or someone curious about inner transformation, this conversation provides a fresh lens to see how your real world and your internal world interact.

✨ Why listen? If you've ever felt stuck in your playing, practice, or life — as though something invisible is holding you back — this video is your invitation to lift the lid. How Do Mindset and Context Trap Us … or Free Us? reveals how the environments we create (and the beliefs we carry) either constrain or expand us — and gives you tools to choose freedom.

In this reflective solo episode of Jung at Harp, harpist-composer Deborah Henson-Conant (DHC) explores the musical and psychological idea of stretto the overlapping of themes that creates tension, energy, and, ultimately, transformation.

Without her usual co-host Kathleen Wiley, DHC takes listeners on a journey through music, creativity, and problem-solving from the challenges of arranging "Carol of the Bells" for harp to life-changing moments of artistic surrender. Along the way, she connects the dots between musical structure and personal growth, revealing how technical obstacles can become gateways to creative breakthroughs.

Through music, storytelling, and metaphor, Deborah invites you to:

🎵 See structure as liberation how boundaries and challenges can spark innovation. 💡 Embrace imperfection discovering freedom through "good enough" progress. 🪶 Transform frustration into flow turning impasses into opportunities for creative growth. 🌉 Find meaning in musical metaphors from descending bass lines to emotional build-ups. 💞 Hold opposites with compassion allowing transformation to emerge from tension.

What begins as a study of a holiday tune unfolds into a rich reflection on artistry, surrender, and community reminding us that the places we feel stuck often hold the seeds of our most meaningful transformations.

✨ Why listen? If you've ever faced a creative or personal roadblock, this episode will remind you that challenges aren't dead ends they're invitations. Stretto reveals how constraint and discomfort can lead to innovation, resilience, and heart-centered growth — in music, work, and life itself.

Jung at Harp | Episode 190: What Matters Most — and the Gift that Wants to Be Seen

In this illuminating episode of Jung at Harp, Jungian psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley and harpist-composer Deborah Henson-Conant explore two essential questions: What matters most? and What's the gift that wants to be seen?

Why listen? If you've ever found yourself overcomplicating your art, your music, or even your life, this episode invites you to rediscover simplicity — not as a limitation, but as a gateway to fluency and authenticity. "What Matters Most" reminds us that freedom and creativity grow from presence, repetition, and allowing what's already within us to unfold.

Through heartfelt dialogue, humor, and live musical reflection, Deborah and Kathleen uncover how the deepest gifts often arise when we stop striving and start listening. They explore:

Simplicity as strength — how doing less on the harp (and in life) can reveal more resonance, power, and beauty. Fluency through repetition — why mastery and self-expression come not from complexity, but from doing the simple things over and over until they become second nature. Letting the head serve the heart — how to balance intellect and intuition so that your creativity flows effortlessly. Trusting your essence — releasing comparison and allowing your unique gift to emerge as it wants to be seen. Structure as freedom — finding joy and flow through clear frameworks that support your natural creativity.

From reflections on playing with others to stories of rediscovering old songs like "Late Last Night," this episode celebrates the paradox of simplicity — that what's easy is often what's truest.

Whether you're a musician, artist, or seeker longing to reconnect with your authentic flow, this conversation will inspire you to honor what matters most and to trust that your gift, just as it is, is enough.