From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



When the work is finished it is found to be quite 

 different from the plan sketched out; but it may give 

 an impression of beauty and order above the writer's 

 own powers; it seems to be partly strange to him and 

 he may even admire it as if it were not his own. 



There are all possible degrees and modes in this 

 collaboration of the conscious and the unconscious. 

 Certain artists and writers, usually (but not always) of 

 moderate ability, do not perceive this. They quite 

 sincerely think that all they produce is the result of 

 their own endeavours. Others perceive it more or less 

 and use it without questioning its origin. Others again, 

 understand it so well that they restrain effort, and are 

 quite aware whether or not they are making progress 

 or are straying into byways. 



Inspiration, however, except in very rare cases, does 

 not dispense from effort. It simply fertilises effort and 

 reduces it to a minimum. Effort, however, cannot dis- 

 pense with inspiration, and it is in the collaboration of 

 both that the highest and best work is produced. 

 Without rationalised effort and conscious control, even 

 the inspiration of genius is liable to stray. Disordered 

 and uncontrolled inspiration may result in fine work 

 disfigured by want of proportion, by want of order, by 

 redundance, errors, and mistakes. 



Just as a virgin forest presents magnificent foliage 

 against the sky, and dark impenetrable thickets stifled by 

 parasitic vegetation, so in a powerful work the beauty 

 of genius may disappear under clumsy errors and aberra- 

 tions resulting from creative inspiration unrestrained by 

 sane and healthy consciousness. 



Side by side with inspiration must be placed Intuition, 

 also subconscious and all-powerful, on the one condition 

 that it is under due control by reasoned judgment. 



The data of intuition lie beyond facts, experiences, 

 and reflection, and surpass them all. Intuition is the 

 very essence of subconsciousness. Outlined only in 



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