Endless Night: When Starlight Becomes a Guiding Light
無盡的黑夜：當星光成為引路明燈
As an expressive arts therapist, I often witness unexpectedly beautiful moments emerge during the healing process. Today, I want to share a story that deeply touched my heart.
A Unique Painting
During a group session, one participant created a painting of the night sky, speckled with a few twinkling stars. While the others shared their works—mostly filled with vibrant colors and sunlit vitality—I noticed a striking contrast: this was the only piece depicting a deep, dark night.
Another participant was moved by the contrast and sincerely expressed her desire to bring the group's light and warmth to the "night painter." This gesture of kindness and mutual support deeply moved me.
Redefining the Meaning of Darkness
But is darkness always a symbol of inner gloom?
As the artist began to share her piece, an entirely new perspective unfolded. In her experience, the night represented profound serenity and peace. The stars, to her, were like the one that guided the Three Wise Men to Jesus in the Bible—proof that even in the darkest night, the presence of starlight means there's no need to fear.
The most awe-inspiring moment came when she gently shook her artwork: the sequined stars began to shimmer and twinkle. In that instant, we no longer saw darkness—we saw a beautiful world full of hope and quiet strength.
The Profound Wisdom of Art Therapy
Carl Jung once said, “A work of art must convey something that is not visible in its outer form.” This experience once again reminded me of the core value of art therapy.
Another of Jung’s famous quotes speaks even more deeply to the nature of artistic creation: “Art is a kind of innate drive that seizes a human being and makes him its instrument.” This perfectly captures what the participant expressed through her night-sky painting—art often transcends conscious intent and flows directly from the depths of the soul.
Each person’s creation holds unique meaning, a meaning that only the creator can truly define and interpret. As therapists, our role is to:
Let go of preconceptions: Resist the urge to interpret others’ work through our own lens.
Let go of rational analysis: Allow emotion and intuition to guide us in understanding the language of art.
Stay open-hearted: Trust that every creation carries a unique life story.
Renowned art therapist Shaun McNiff reminds us not to rush to translate images into concepts, but instead to engage in genuine dialogue with the artwork. While others’ creations may stir certain feelings and resonances within us during the therapeutic process, we must always remember: the true meaning of a work belongs to its creator.
Through art, we not only express our inner world—we also witness the unique and precious life story within each person. Sometimes, what appears to be a scene of darkness actually holds the deepest serenity and hope.
As an art therapist, I continue to learn and grow within this field. Each therapeutic journey deepens my appreciation for the beauty of human nature. If this story touched you, I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
作為一名表達藝術治療師，我經常在治療過程中見證著意想不到的美麗時刻。今天想與大家分享一個特別觸動我心靈的故事。
一幅與眾不同的畫作
在某次小組活動中，一位組員創作了一幅夜空圖畫，畫面中點綴著幾顆閃爍的星光。當其他組員分享他們的作品時，我注意到一個有趣的對比：大部分的畫作都充滿了繽紛色彩和陽光普照的生命氣息，只有這一幅描繪的是深邃的黑夜。
另一位組員被這種對比深深觸動，她真誠地表達了想要將整個小組的光明與溫暖帶給那位「黑夜畫家」的願望。這份善意和互相支持的心意，讓我深深感動。
重新定義黑夜的意義
但是，黑夜真的等同於內心的幽暗嗎？
當那位創作者開始分享她的作品時，一個全新的世界向我們展開。原來，在她的感受中，黑夜帶給她的是無比的恬靜與安寧。那些星光對她而言，就像聖經故事中指引東方三博士朝拜耶穌的那顆星——即使在最黑暗的夜晚，有了星光的帶領，就無需恐懼。
最令人驚艷的是，當她輕輕晃動畫作時，那些用珠片製作的小星星開始一閃一閃地發出光芒。那一刻，我們看到的不是黑暗，而是一個充滿希望和力量的美麗世界。
藝術治療的深刻啟示
心理學大師Carl Jung曾說過："藝術作品必須傳達一些在其可見形式中並不顯現的東西"。這個經歷讓我再次深刻體會到藝術治療的核心價值。
Jung另一句著名的話更深刻地點出了藝術創作的本質："藝術是一種與生俱來的驅動力，它抓住人類並使他成為它的工具"。這正好呼應了那位組員透過夜空畫作所展現的——藝術創作往往超越創作者的理性意圖，直接從內心深處湧現出來。
每個人的創作都有其獨特的意義，這個意義只能由創作者本人來定義和詮釋。作為治療師，我們需要做的是：
放下預設立場：不要急於用自己的理解去解讀他人的作品
放下理性分析：允許感性和直覺引導我們理解藝術的語言
保持開放心態：相信每個創作背後都有一個獨特的生命故事
著名藝術治療師Shaun McNiff提醒我們，在面對藝術作品時不要急於將圖像翻譯成概念，而要學會與作品展開真正的對話。雖然在治療過程中，他人的作品可能會喚起我們內心的某些感受和共鳴，但我們必須記住：作品的真正意義，永遠要留待創作者自己來賦予。
透過藝術，我們不僅能夠表達內心世界，更能夠看見每一個獨特而珍貴的生命故事。有時候，看似黑暗的畫面，其實蘊含著最深刻的寧靜與希望。
作為藝術治療師，我持續在這個領域中學習和成長，每一次的治療經歷都讓我對人性的美好有更深的體會。如果這篇文章觸動了你，歡迎在留言區分享你的想法。
