Critical-Creative Companionship: A Reflection

Weaving a Path Towards Human Flourishing The first few steps.

Mary Mulcahy, Nurse Educator, Practice Development, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney,
Australia.

In June 2013 I made my way to spend some time and visit Dr Angie Titchen in her
home in Oxfordshire, England. I first met Angie at an International Practice
Development Conference in Sydney, Australia in October 2012, where I presented
a paper that had elements of critical creativity spun through it. Angie was seated
in the front row. Even though I didnt recognise her, I felt comforted by her
presence in the audience. This was my first time presenting at an International
conference and my presentation experience up to then had been fairly limited. At
the question time, Angie commented on my use of
metaphor (the sheep on the rock) that I used in the
first slide of my presentation. I had invited the
audience to consider the following reflective cue;
How do you think you would be feeling if you were
that sheep, standing up there on that rock? Well
thats what it was like for the early facilitators of
Practice Development in our hospital, they didnt
know if the rock would collapse beneath them or if
it would support them. By the end of the
presentation you will get to see how this sheep
fares out!
(Creative commons (https://www.flickr.com/photos/7ty9/424185912/)
When I was preparing for the presentation I had debated with myself whether I
should use images as a way to engage with the audience or if I should just stick
with the facts and provide the data from the research project that I was
presenting on. I followed my heart and used the image to frame the
presentation as a means of creating a meaningful connection between me, the
presenter, and the audience and also for individuals on a personal level to create
an empathetic link between the research participants in the study and
themselves. When Angie expressed her enthusiasm for my use of critical creative
methods in my presentation, it felt as if she saw a light within me either flash or
glimmer and later asked to meet with me for morning tea to share how I was
using critical creativity in my workplace. Of course, I was delighted and our
journey as critical-creative companions (CCC) began It was a joy to share with
someone who also understood the power of working with self and others in
critically creative ways.
For me, critical creative companionship is all about trust and this takes time to
build. It is also about recognizing the light and shadow of self and situations,
embracing all its aspects. Critical companionship takes on a type of inquiry that
one takes with a more experienced facilitator. The rewards of CCC are far-
reaching. Words are hard to find to describe the transformation that occurs. CCC
can be seen as a trusted companion to journey with on a common road towards
human flourishing.
The whole
self is used in
this work,
imagination,
physical
movement,
ritual,
emotional
connection,
written and
artistic
expression.

A key element is creating silent spaces. As companions journeying towards the
inner parts of self, I see it as if you are actually walking on holy ground together.
Angie and I, as CCCs, crafted a huge mandala together using the natural resources
(e.g stones, tree branches, cow pats, buttercups, water) found in a stunning
meadow in the Cotswolds see picture). The symbolism inherent in this process
will remain forever etched on my consciousness and continues to serve me in my
current practice today with a richness that serves to remind and motivate me to
keep flourishing. As Angie says, A little bit of critical creativity goes a long way!
I continue to approach critical creativity through the use of personal mandalas to
access inner knowing, to allow for wholeness of self, while nourishing my sense of
professional artistry (Mulcahy, 2014). CCC is a privileged relationship to have,
allowing for support and challenge that provides me with the courage to keep
taking the next right steps towards human flourishing. In my Practice
Development work I integrate elements of CCC when I facilitate groups through
mandala making or individually through reflective supervision and coaching.
What I notice when I work with others in critical creative ways is that it allows
individuals to believe more deeply in their own intuitive selves. It fosters graceful
attention to their own professional artistry and consequently creates deeper
meaning to the work they undertake with the patients they care for. Critical
creativity gives honor to the noble work that health practitioners do.
This weekend I am visiting a retreat centre in country New South Wales, it has an
amazing labyrinth garden. I am really looking forward to walking the labyrinth
and to reflecting on my own practice to hopefully gain new insights. When I
return home to Sydney on Sunday, I plan to speak to Angie and Lorna (my other
CCC who is from Ireland) via Skype and, hopefully, to share some of my
experiences with them. As CCCs, the journey is continuous and, as we weave our
own individual paths from different parts of the world, we can still be there to
support and inspire each other.

14
th
August 2014
Mulcahy M. (2013) Mandalas as a tool for transformation to enable human flourishing: the influence of Carl Jung:
International Practice Development Journal 3 (2) (11). http://www.fons.org/library/journal/volume3-
issue2/article11