Songwriting as Soul Work: Songs and the Inner Life

In a world that encourages creatives of all kinds to monetize their artistic expression and judge it by commercial standards, Lynn Harrison offers an alternative approach. In Songwriting as Soul Work, Harrison offers a perspective that challenges outlooks of popular culture and affirms the value of songwriting as a path toward personal growth and spiritual understanding.

Drawing from principles of Jungian psychology as well as the personal stories of songwriters themselves, Harrison offers simple ways to deepen songwriters' understanding of their work as a potentially lifelong spiritual practice and enable the accessing of their own inner wisdom. In this collection of nourishing short essays, Harrison explores the psychospiritual value of songs' symbols and metaphors, the potential to move beyond expectations of praise and commercial success, and the wellspring of meaning that awaits discovery through the songwriting process.

Valuable for experienced songwriters as well as those starting out, this book serves as an important reminder that the value of artistic expression is not determined solely by commercial success but rather by what it reveals about one's inner life and untapped personal resources. As well, psychotherapists, pastoral counsellors, spiritual directors, and other helping professionals will find in Songwriting as Soul Work wisdom and useful insights to assist in supporting their creative clients.