Madness

Legendary psychologist Joseph Campbell once observed that, "the psychotic drowns in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." Indeed, both madness and transcendence seem to emerge from what Carl Jung referred to as "The Spirit of the Depths" in his paradigm shattering Red Book. Mainstream Psychology & Psychiatry leave no space for functional psychoses, despite the reality of perennial shamans, religious mystics, and geniuses of all ilk throughout history whose experiences advanced human existence by leaps and bounds but have no home in psychobabble lexicon outside severe psychopathology. Heralded materialist Isaac Newton squirreled away his writings about what exists beyond matter in a chest lest he be branded a lunatic. We debated naming this section 'Madness & Transcendence,' but ultimately decided on madness alone to highlight and underscore the complex nature of insanity. As horrific and debilitating as madness can be, it can be equally transformative and healing for both individuals and the collective. Our collection of songs in this section includes selections of terrorizing darkness and transcendent divinity.