Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Yes, the crayon in the original story (which has been changed slightly to protect the child) was a physical object I used to form a bond when there wasn’t a shared language. The child wasn’t guaranteed to respond. This story exemplifies how creative the therapeutic relationship can make both participants. It has to be a ‘mindful’ relationship in order for it to work.

In reference to myself, the word purple means that state of mindfulness about myself rather than a specific word. Writers (& therapists) are great observers of the world at large; this is my request to myself to observe or witness my own story.

The purple crayon was for the child not so much a metaphor but rather a connecting point between you two, correct? It opened hidden doors allowing access? You surely make an excellent trauma therapist, as you yourself have the capacity to stand outside your mind and observe things that happen to you – something that trauma patients also do, as I understand.

This article is about you, although you’ve started with someone else 😉 But you do nail it in the end “Learn my word for purple” – so what is your connecting-word? I suppose as women, as you say, we are all witnesses. And as women, we also yearn to connect. But connecting is not easy, especially if its been violated – it comes with immense trust – the door to which will open only with the magic connecting-word.

Anyway, thank you for the article.

So many of the women who participated in the Witness film said something similar, have taken that experience to expand their own creative works. The concept resonates, I think, because it’s an act that binds us into communities and families. When you write, ‘I think I’ve fallen in love with the term,’ I think, ‘Yes.’ Thank you.

Art therapy brings up such a rich type of metaphor, doesn’t it? I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

I’m so glad you liked it, Victoria. My own purple crayon is exactly the type of metaphor we all generate. The effort comes in recognising them! Thanks for reading.

Thanks, Anora. Glad you caught the wallpaper reference. Powerful stories – yes, the ones people live are so often the most moving. Glad you enjoyed the piece.