Unboiling eggs is a thing now, at least in the laboratory. Scientists have managed to unfold proteins and put them back in their original shape, which could have important medical applications in the future. And I’ve recently read articles about undamming rivers and unpaving roads, two more movements that have gained traction. If we can undo the damage of our past mistakes, can we undam the human soul just as easily? (Maybe we could use the word “undamn” here instead, but this isn’t a religious discussion, so let’s stick with “undam”.)

If a person’s mind is messed up, art can provide a great alternative to expensive therapy. Painting, sculpting, acting, writing, and reading poetry are a few examples of artistic activities that can help you with what’s inside and out. Without a channel for creativity, it’s easy to get stuck. But when you tap into an artistic outlet, all things are possible.

If you’re lucky, a creative outlet can turn into a passion. And passion can lead you from a dark place into greener pastures.

Undamming Rivers

In the United States over the last century, 1300 dams have been removed from rivers and creeks. There are many benefits to having dams, such as electricity generation, flood control, and water diversion for drinking water and agriculture. But over time, it has become clear that damming up a river or creek also strangles its ecosystem. Fish cannot migrate through the watercourse and the landscape is fundamentally changed.

Dams are also damned expensive to repair and maintain. Environmental benefits aside, cost is probably the biggest reason so many of the smaller ones have been removed. In order to comply with modern regulations, dams need to be seismically fit and install fish ladders when they are repaired and re-permitted. So in many cases, it’s been easier to take them out.

Whatever the reason, undamming a river or stream lets the water flow freely again. And this is a powerful metaphor for unblocking the mind and spirit as well. When you’re free of an obstacle that has held you back, you are free to move on and follow that path forward.

Unpaving Roads

Similarly, many towns across the United States have begun ripping up some of their roads. Towns in 27 U.S. states have unpaved some of their roads in recent years. Many have been replaced with gravel, which isn’t as smooth, but is easier to maintain. And in some rural areas, they have decided they didn’t need as many roads anyway.

There is something more serene about an unpaved country road. There’s another metaphor in those winding roads. Maybe even another form of therapy.

Performing Arts

A few years ago, I attended a live stage performance of Ajax, a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles in the 5th Century BCE. This was the modern version that is set in Iraq. The audience was full of military personnel and several members of the cast were ex-soldiers, too. Many of them had been wounded in more ways than one.

And Ajax was so freaking relevant to them that it could have been written yesterday rather than 2400 years ago. It’s the story of a fallen soldier, utterly broken and degraded, who transforms himself. He becomes human again and he grows into a hero.

There were tears in the auditorium where we watched this performance. Some very tough guys even cried. They had watched their own lives play out on stage. They were coming to grips with the great traumas they had suffered. The actors were a step further along, playing other roles but becoming their own heroes.

For those who want to connect with a production or reading of this, there is a stage company called Theater of War (link at the end of the article), which brings together soldiers with the performing arts. The founder of it has written a book as well. The image below is followed by a video clip, which shows the him discussing his book and then some major actors conducting a reading.

Other Art Therapy

Painting, writing, metalwork, ceramics: there are many other ways to channel one’s creativity. Each one can help launch a journey toward recovery and self-awareness. An organization called Art Therapy Without Borders maintains a great list of organizations around the world that are involved in providing such opportunities for people: http://www.atwb.org/what-is-art-therapy/art-therapy-organizations/.

I witnessed firsthand the power that art has to heal wounded minds. After the show we watched, one of the main actors explained this a little less delicately: “It helps you unf*** yourself.” I hope so.

LiveScience news story on unboiling eggs: http://www.livescience.com/49610-scientists-unboil-egg.html

List of dams removed in U.S.: https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/restoring-damaged-rivers/dam-removal-map/

PBS story on dam removal: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/earth/dam-removals/

Wired article on unpaving roads: https://www.wired.com/2016/07/cash-strapped-towns-un-paving-roads-cant-afford-fix/

Art Therapy Without Borders: http://www.atwb.org/

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