Untitled/ mythologicis mentis by AL Rivera
It was hard to talk to the doctors, the counselors, the psychiatrists. The words would get stuck
in my mouth-- not because I was entirely afraid of speaking, but my speech would be delivered in
a dialect unable to reach my confidant’s ears. They never quite hear, understand. So I decided I
needed something else to speak for me, a medium, a vessel. People are often fond of using the
saying “demons in my head” when speaking of mental illness or similar psychological struggles. It
might have originated from Freud saying something similar in his various patient studies, using
the word daemon- as did Jung: daimon, defined as some sort of internal animate spirit. I think it’s
a very interesting notion to explore, if we’re gonna go with calling our inner voices demons. If
that’s the case then yes, let me find a medium. Send out my demons to possess this vessel, whatever
form it may be. In this case, it’s art. I become the otherworld behind the universe’s curtain, a
ventriloquist orchestrating a performance to communicate what cannot be properly ascribed in
human tongue. Because it’s so much more than human tongue, they’re feelings, thoughts, so
primal and ancient that you may mistake their familiarity for something humble. They might be,
these thoughts feelings sensations ideas dreams grievances confessions.
Therapy exercise? You must’ve meant, therapy exorcise.
AL Rivera is an aspiring Art Therapist with a deep appreciation for the transformative power
of creative expression. A self-described "jack of all trades" in the arts, AL moves fluidly between
disciplines, writing, visual art, performance, and more, using each as a language to process,
reflect, and connect. While writing isn't their most frequent medium, AL turns to words when
thoughts become too layered for casual conversation, quilting together reflections into thoughtful
statements. This submission marks their first time sharing work in this way, a small but meaningful
step in honoring the many ways art shows up in their life and the lives of others.
