Creative Codex

NOTE: Spotify has removed Part 3 of this series due to a copyright claim by Nirvana's record company. (A Nirvana song was used in the intermission segment to promote my Kurt Cobain series.) I have stitched Parts 1 to 3 of the Seven Sermons series together into one super-episode which you can listen to for FREE on my Patreon (no signup required) here: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/collection/1838953...

This is a special clip show of some of the best moments from the last 3 years of Creative Codex! The focus of this episode is: sonic simulations. In the show, sonic simulations are the use of sound design, music, and narration to convey an experience, time, or place.  The clips featured in this episode, in order of appearance are: Nikola Tesla’s Earthquake Experiment (Episode 5) Discovery of...

Does boredom play an important role in creativity? If so, is technology ridding our lives of boredom at a perilous cost? On this Creativity Tip minisode, the truth gets 'curiouser and curiouser.' Along the way we explore research in neuroscience regarding the Default Mode Network, and psychological research that potentially proves the link between boredom and creativity. Try the Mental Cigarette B...

On this episode we sit down with multi-talented singer / songwriter: L'FREAQ. (Also known as Lea Cappelli.) We dive deep into all of the most interesting topics: Does creativity feed on despair and depression? How do you get to the gold? What is L'FREAQ's songwriting process? Do you hear music on the cusp of sleep? Listen to L'FREAQ's phenomenal new album, Showgirl : https://open.spotify.com/artis...

Is art dangerous? On this minisode, I share a personal story about the art project that almost killed me. I call this: The Devil Wood Incident. This is Exhibit A in a miniseries exploring the theme: Art Is Dangerous.  Here is a link to the Devil Wood music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TTL-GKBMTk If you would like to share your own Art Is Dangerous story for a future episode, reach...

On this episode we explore the tragic death of Vincent van Gogh. We seek to answer, once and for all, was it: suicide or homicide? In the process we discover that the two popular theories explaining Vincent's death are deeply flawed, and a new theory emerges.  This episode follows the events of that fateful day through Theo's perspective. After a thorough investigation, we explore the afterma...

On May 8th, 1889, Vincent van Gogh checks in to a mental asylum. What begins as a three month stay extends into a year. A period of time during which Vincent paints 141 masterpieces in between bouts of debilitating psychotic attacks.  On this episode, we dive into Vincent and Theo's letters to finally uncover all of the details about Vincent's yearlong stay in the asylum.  The original m...

What is the 10,000 Hours Rule? How can you apply it in your life? I first stumbled on this theory in the book: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. The basic premise is this: to achieve mastery in any skill that requires complex cognitive processes, you need to put in roughly 10,000 hours of effort, spread across a 10 year span. In other words, if you want to become a master at something, you will have t...

On this special episode, we dive into the full truth about the most infamous event in art history : Vincent van Gogh's ear incident . The 'ear incident' serves as a catalyst event, which signals the onset of a mental affliction which will torment Vincent van Gogh for his final three years. Paradoxically, at the same time his mental health is in decline, his paintings are showing the signs of a cre...

Can madness and genius be contained in one individual? Can psychosis and the rarest artistry be contained in one mind? These contradictions pervade the story of Vincent van Gogh. And in the final three years of his life, they culminate in a whirlwind. You may think you know Vincent, you may have heard about him on a TV show or a podcast. But not like this.  Over the next three episodes, we wi...

This is a special Guided Meditation episode called Discover Your Heart. (You do not need to have any experience with meditation for this experience to work for you. Give it a try!) Oftentimes we only truly listen to our body when we are feeling pain or pleasure. This means we ignore the subtle sensations which are happening every minute of every day. This meditation specifically focuses on your he...

Is there a line between genius and madness? What is the difference between the madness of artists and the madness of genius? This is a brief opening lecture which I presented for an event called The Madness of Genius, which was held on April 20th, 2021, on the Clubhouse app. This was the first event held by the Creative Codex Club, and featured two special guest speakers: Emily Dickinson scholar,...

In 1948, Salvador Dali wrote a notorious treatise with the intention to "save modern art from chaos and laziness". On this feature length episode, we explore Salvador Dali's 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship .  We focus on ten essential secrets from this bizarre treatise including: the secret of the painter's pointed mustache, the sleep technique known as the 'slumber with a key', rules for l...

How do you find the ideas that excite you? How do you encourage inspiration within a fixed structure of habit? Ideas thrive in the unfamiliar. Take your expertise and engage it through something related but unfamiliar. This is a Creativity Tip mini-episode. If you found it helpful or interesting, please share it with someone you think will enjoy it! If you would like to listen to all of the Creati...

Join us for a special Listener Q&A episode of Creative Codex, where the spotlight is on you, and your thoughts and questions. Questions covered on this episode include such gems as: How do you decide on a creative figure for your next episode? What's up with NFTs and thoughts on digital art? Could you discuss Austin Osman Spare and his theory that art and magic are somehow linked? Why do more...

Join us as we dive deep into the enigmatic mind of Emily Dickinson. In this episode, we explore her creative process, her most intimate letters, the mysterious details about her illness, and the secret to her creative genius: solitude. Episode Guide including the featured poems is available here: http://mjdorian.com/emily/ The voice of Emily Dickinson is performed by: Frances LaVette. Follow Franc...

What would you do if you had unlimited resources? What project or career would you pursue? On this Creativity Tip minisode I guide you through a thought exercise that re-frames how you view the world. We often view the world through economic resources because society is limited by economics; but that doesn't mean your creativity needs to be. Change your perspective and you will be surprised to fin...

On this special episode, we dive headfirst into the enigmatic genius of Emily Dickinson. We explore what makes her poetry so brilliant, her strained relationship with religion, the challenges she faced living in a Puritanical town in the mid 1800's, and the influence her uniquely distinguished family had on her work. Read along with the incredible poems featured in this episode here: http://www.mj...

In 1944, the psychologist Carl Jung experienced a vision that transcended any others he had during his life: it was his near death experience. On this mini-episode, we dive into Jung's written account of the experience, pairing it with original music, and we explore the implications it presents in the context of the clinical phenomena of NDEs (Near Death Experiences) and Western esoteric tradition...

At what point is inspiration plagiarism? If an existing work of art inspires you to create something, where do you draw the line of ownership? Is it even reasonable to assume a line should be drawn? On this Creativity Tip mini-episode we tackle this conundrum and offer examples from history to backup the wild implications. If you'd like to hear all of the Creativity Tip mini-episodes, head over to...

Join me in the art studio of painter, mural artist, and Renaissance man: Beau Stanton. We discuss symbolism, the ability of art to move the unconscious, incorporating historical elements in your work, how Beau plans a mural, what happens if you stop making art, his early apprenticeship experiences with Ron English, and Beau's personal art philosophy. Check out all things Beau Stanton on his websit...

The Middle Pillar is a unique and profound meditation popularized by Israel Regardie. Regardie was a writer on Western esoteric traditions and a ceremonial magician during the 1900's. The meditation we explore in this episode is based entirely on Regardie's description in his book of the same name, released in 1930, entitled: The Middle Pillar. During his lifetime, Regardie was a prominent member...

Reflections is a minisode series I will occasionally record that is of a more personal nature. Think of it like a journal entry with a specific theme. This minisode is about Grief & Creativity, how one influences the other, and how they are inextricably linked. If you would like to pose a question or make a comment about this episode or any creative topic please visit our subreddit: https://ww...

NOTE: Spotify has removed Part 2 of this series due to a copyright claim by the record company that still owns Robert Johnson's recordings. I have stitched Parts 1 & 2 together into one super-episode which you can listen to for FREE on my Patreon (no signup required) here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1838953 --------- The life of bluesman Robert Johnson is a tangle of myth, genius,...

Have you ever tried to keep a dream journal? Are there any benefits to your creativity or personal growth in keeping up with such a habit? I have kept a dream journal for the last three months. Here are my thoughts on this old fashioned habit and the intriguing personal benefits that come with starting your own dream journal. Visit my Patreon for exclusive content , including all Creativity Tip Ep...