Deep Blues explores the archetypal journey of the human psyche through an examination of the blues as a musical genre.

The genesis, history, and thematic patterns of the blues are examined from an archetypal perspective and various analytic theories – especially the interaction between Erich Neumann’s concept of unitary reality and the blues experience. Mythological and shamanistic parallels are used to provide a deeper understanding of the role of the bluesman, the blues performance, and the innate healing potential of the music. Universal aspects of human experience and transcendence are revealed through the creative medium of the blues. The blues originated in experiences of trauma, oppression, and enslavement but now serve to liberate our emotional lives and facilitate a deeper union with our environment and those around us. Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Howlin Wolf all have something significant to contribute to the care of our soul.

“Just like a fine bluesman, Winborn ‘riffs’ on the various psychological aspects of his topic: the genesis of the sound, the unitary reality created in playing and listening to the blues, its archetypal manifestations and healing potential, and the influence of the personality of performer and performance. As he states, ‘the blues belongs among the great arts because of its extraordinary capacity to embrace, embody, and transcend the opposites, especially as they become manifest in the experience of tragedy and suffering.’ Using original lyrics throughout, Winborn invites us to re-imagine the power of the blues in its ability to deepen our own soulfulness.”

August J. Cwik, Psy.D.