When conducting Visual Connection Mapping sometimes I may or may not consider what is justice and what is not justice.
Three components of justice that I may / or may not consider when applying Visual Connection Mapping are from the principles of the Code of Hammurabi from 1772 BC, namely
“The entire world needs diversity of ethno – linguistic entities for its own salvation, for its greater creativity, for the certain solution of human problems, for the constant rehumanization of humanity in the face of materialism, for fostering greater esthetic, intellectual, and emotional capacities for humanity as a whole, indeed, for arriving at a higher state of human functioning.” Joshua A. Fishman (1982)
When I conducted Visual Connection Mapping in the drop in center at Our Place Society on Pandora in Victoria City Vancouver Island, BC Canada every Wednesday morning from 0900 to 1100 am (for a number of years pro bono as a trained and qualified Mental Health and Addictions Practitioner), many individuals without a home and living on the streets of Victoria City, BC would refer to the Bible text of Jeremiah, specifically and often even themselves quoting, Jeremiah 10:23 on the corruption of man. They would not be referring to themselves (the individuals without a home in Victoria City, BC) but rather the staff in charge, the three levels of government and society as a whole.
Title: Rundown of Visual Connection Mapping, Part 1 and Part 2
Part 1
Visual connection mapping is meta-psychology. It supersedes any existing therapy or counseling as it falls outside the realm of social work and psychology.
(Image taken in Saanich, Vancouver Island, Sept 17, 2017)
Visual Connection Mapping believes in the potential that an individual has and it believes in the ability of the individual to by-pass regular symptomologies and systemologies by engineering mind techniques which ultimately enables profound unconscious positive capabilities.
Part 2
Visual Connection Mapping is a triangle technique whereby I (in the role of the helper) listen and draw the conversation by using lines. The lines pull out communication that is otherwise forgotten.
(Image, VCM 121)
It works like a magnet pulling out unconscious language which maps the psychosis abstraction in a logically and concrete way.
Each drawing of the conversation starts as a random set of lines but as the conversation progresses the drawing turns into a structured and balanced whole. When the abstract lines end up representing a structure the organization with the conversation changes from psychotic to normalized providing clarity versus confusion and light versus darkness.
(Image of 2 pink flowers, taken in Saanich, Vancouver Island on Sept. 17, 2017)
Title: The Mustard Seed Model, Victoria City, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
This journal entry of mine was written in November 2014.
Recently in November 2014 The Mustard Seed closed their drop in center in Victoria City. This closure has resulted in marginalized individuals exodusing to the Our Place Society on Pandora Avenue. I witnessed this exodus because I go to the drop in center at Our Place Society (OPS) to conduct Visual Connection Mapping which is a communication device whereby I listen to an individual’s story and draw a picture. I find it is a very ingenious phenomenon – that is – to close one of the two Victoria City drop in center whereby creating a full-on monopoly position for Our Place Society. In one month Our Place Society has increased their service load with no extra government funding to sustain them. To me, the closure of the Mustard Seed drop in center represents a new Victoria City model of care and that is to decrease quality and increase efficiency – but what about the possible detriment the closure brings to the Victoria City community? This is what I call The Mustard Seed Model.
Who is measuring the possible negative effects that the closure of the Mustard Seed drop in center can have on the already fragile strain a marginalized individual experiences?
Will the strain result in an added stressor?
Is this really the most effective way to contribute to solving homelessness in Victoria City?
My recommendation would be to first evaluate what the effects would be to both the community and to the individual before making an adhoc management and / or Board decision instigating the closure of the Mustard Seed drop in center in Victoria City, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Title: Stigma among stigmatized, my journal entry about Visual Connection Mapping which I conducting at Our Place Society 919 Pandora Ave, Victoria, BC V8V 3N4.
Within the realm of marginalized there is a hierarchy. This hierarchy rests in the hands of individuals with more power. They apply a revisionism. This revisionism is like how historians write about facts that occurred in the past. To be more specific, in the Second World War and how the Israelites were targetted by the SS. There was a hierarchy in place. A hierarchy whereby each individual followed orders and the majority of system was like a dystopia versus a utopia. The cause and effect of the dystopia is the hierarchy system. It is within this system structure that the human being in the lower ranks cannot voice ones opinion, instead one is to follow orders. Even in 2014 this hierarchy system is in place. It is even in places like Our Place Society where the most marginalized apply the hierarchy system themselves. This leads to a stigma among the stigmatized. To me, it is the hierarchy system which causes marginalization and at the same time it is the best and only human system which is operable. Written August 15, 2013 Picture of the author here under. Sept. 17th, 2017. Greater Victoria Area, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. (Putting my mark on my work by showing my face)
Journal entry. September 17, 2014
Location: Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Ave, Victoria, BC V8V 3N4, Canada
My role was as the Chief Operator of visual Connection Mapping / Developer / Helper to clients. The conversations, and most of the Visual Connection Mapping drawings that were conducted and created are private and confidential. Often I would do a self-reflection with the intention to bring tough topics to light. My motivation was to bear witness to the psychological pain of the clients and to reflect and try to help through any means I could, such as writing about my feelings and experiences myself in order to help other people.
Title: The dissolving of schizophrenia, the visual disappearance of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is the result of a capitalism system. Are all the so called illnesses the result of our environment? The stress of trying to survive within a capitalist society? Schizophrenia, I used to understand as a mental illness but as I look around Our Place Society I see individuals as unique and I no longer see mental illness.
Each individual has their own narrative and their own logic. There are virtually zero signs of symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia and dissociations. There are virtually zero signs of treatment resistant psychosis. All individuals are human beings, who are intelligent and strong in their own beliefs. What makes this different than the lives of other people? The capitalist system in the drop in center at Our Place Society is alive amd well and the idea of being better than the next guy is what separates each individual. But is not that the way on all layers of society?
Post plan Dated October 23rd, 2014. Have conducted Visual Connection Mapping (VCM) for one (1) year in the drop in center at Our Place Society, on Pandora in Victoria City, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Self evaluation / self reflection on my journey as a VCM helper
What am I doing?
Creating a new way of thought regarding treatment resistant psychosis
How am I doing this?
By leading by example
The strategy is (…)
Validating treatment resistant psychosis especially treatment resistant ambivalence and counterattacking both levels with straight-lining and transparency
Why?
The Mental Health Act in Victoria City, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada and the Involuntary Treatment Clause regarding law around schizophrenia in my mind are not helping but instead causing individuals with treatment resistant psychosis with no resources and no supports to land on the streets; and I do not agree with this. I believe this to be an injustice to humanity.
“We the unwilling, led by the unknowing are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.We have done so much for so long with so little we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.” Regarding Public Service, quoted by
Book:
Title: Istorija Srba
Author: Jireček, Konstantin
Publisher: Beograd : Izdavačka knjižarnica G. Kona, 1922-23
Locations:
McPherson Library: DR317 J53
Above is a image of Visual Connection Mapping (VCM 34)
While working with the City of Victoria’s most vulnerable population on Pandora ST at Our Pl;ace Society, British Columbia Canada – I often experienced a profound sense of religious feelings. Often Bible verses would help me to understand and gain insight into what I was feeling and they often helped me put undescribeable situations, feelings and observations into some sort of context, which often lead to a kind of transcendence experience, which was impossible to slot into language. It went so far beyond the English Language.
Brainstorming ideas
Books referenced
Quotes and Bible verses for inspiration to help with conducting Visual Connection Mapping
Paintings that I referenced and looked up
Rembrandt, Return of the prodigal son, 1668
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