Kim Hermanson's Blog

This spring, I entered a period of withdrawal, reckoning, and renewal. After 30 years, I was burned out and disillusioned. I needed to find my way back to myself.

I dropped everything except long-time clients and turned my energy to physically creating a sanctuary on my land in Mt Shasta. It was such a relief to get dirty��� some days I literally crawled through dirt pushing boulders.

I had always thought that if I could just find the right words, the right funnel, the right message��� the world would finally understand what I offer.

But what I carry doesn���t sell itself in 3 easy steps or a soundbite. And unfortunately, it doesn���t scale.

Because it’s not content. It’s not even a method. It’s Mystery. Depth. Another Way.

It asks people to shift into a different state. To feel. To enter a space beyond language where real transformation happens.

But the world isn���t wired for that. I couldn���t keep trying to translate something sacred into a system that can���t receive it.

For a while, I thought the only solution was to retreat—to accept that there are two separate worlds that can���t intertwine: the world of depth and vision���and the world of loud, circus noise. (Circus was the image that showed up with a client this week. Strangely perfect.)

But now, I���m beginning to sense a third way.

We can create portals in this world. Mystery Schools.

And that���s what I���m doing. If you���re interested in my Mystery School, feel free to message me. It���s not quite ready yet, but the seeds are in the ground. (Literally, lol).

My work isn���t for everyone. It���s not for the masses. It���s for those who already feel the hum beneath the noise and know something deep is trying to come through them.

On that note, I invite you to listen to my recent interview with Kelly Carlin-McCall, M.A. on her podcast, Humans on the Verge.
We talked about the deep, visionary intelligence that lies beneath the surface.

Hope you enjoy it.

With care and deep thanks for walking this path with me,Kim

P.S. If you feel the hum beneath the noise���if something deep is stirring in you���I hope you���ll stay close. The Mystery School is forming.And if you know someone who���s also been walking through burnout, disillusionment, or deep creative reckoning, feel free to forward this. Sometimes, just knowing we���re not alone can shift everything.

Many years ago, I sat in the art barn at the Esalen Institute painting a paper-mache mask. I���d initially signed up for some sort of contemplative workshop but found it too cerebral and ended up here.

I painted the mask magenta and then decided to paint a vine on one side. As I slowly drew a long vine down the side of my mask���getting into the feeling of the vine���s graceful, elegant beauty���Something drew with me.

I was no longer directing my hand, Something else was. Something else was stroking the paint on this mask.

Some sort of divine life force beyond what I could know or understand was moving my hand.

Deep creativity is a higher energy, an energy that���s wiser than us. It wants to show us what we���re truly here to do���it holds the key to our true essence and gifts.

Certainty can feel safe, but it also limits us. When we���re sure of something, we close ourselves off to other possibilities, which can lead to stagnation. Creativity thrives when we let something greater take over.

When we stay open, let go of control, and lean into your creativity, you connect with your truest self���and with something far greater than you can imagine.

Years ago, I found myself grappling with a problem that felt impossible to resolve. I tried every logical approach, but nothing seemed to shift. 

Then, almost unintentionally, I threw myself into a creative project that lit me up with energy and excitement. As I became absorbed in the creative process, that once-urgent problem gradually lost its grip on me. I saw firsthand what Jung describes: by expanding into something that brought vitality, the problem faded, making way for new clarity and insight.

Jung���s insight captures something profound about how we deal with the most pressing challenges in life. Often, we try to solve problems logically, forcing solutions that just don���t seem to come. But as Jung suggests, it���s not the problem itself that needs solving���it���s the expansion of our perspective that brings relief.

When we prioritize creativity, we prioritize our life force energy and vitality. It���s this vital energy that shifts our attention to something greater, something alive, which in turn makes our seemingly unsolvable problems fade. Creativity invites a broader horizon, and as we engage with it, we find ourselves renewed and invigorated. By focusing on vitality, we breathe fresh energy into every aspect of our lives, allowing new solutions and insights to emerge naturally, from a place deeper than the rational mind.

The key to transformation isn���t about solving a problem���it���s about expanding beyond it.

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By embracing the unique ways we’re wired to know���through movement, sound, or sight���we transform how we learn, create, and experience the world.]

When I was in college, I took an astronomy class (twice) and failed it both times. After the wonderful lectures in the planetarium where we gazed at the constellations above, I would walk out of the room and not remember a thing. I couldn���t believe it���failing classes wasn���t something I did. So, I took the class again, but I failed once more. It wasn���t until I read Dawna Markova���s research that I understood why: my learning style didn���t align with the teaching method.

The concept that there are 3 modes of knowing [kinesthetic, auditory, and visual] is not new.

Kinesthetic knowing is rooted in physical movement and bodily sensations. People who engage through this mode often need to move to think, learn, and gain deeper insights.Auditory knowing involves processing information through sound, such as listening to speech, music, or environmental sounds.Visual knowing is centered on images, symbols, and the visual realm. People with a visual mode of knowing often process information through images or diagrams.

It���s also not new that each of us favors one of those 3 modes. But Markova took her research a step further by explaining that each of us have all 3 ways of knowing, but we���re hooked up differently to them. Knowing how you process these different modes is important because it will tell you not only how you learn best (direct classroom learning requires being fully conscious, while for intuitive guidance or creative work we���re drawing on ���subconscious��� processes).

For example, some of us are stimulated by kinesthetic knowing, while for others, kinesthetic knowing makes them drowsy. Same is true for auditory or visual knowing. Some people easily imagine images with their inner eye (visual knowing), while others don���t have that capacity at all.

There is no right or wrong way to be hooked up to these learning channels.

Reflecting on my own experiences, I see how my primary mode of knowing���kinesthetic���has shaped my learning and creativity. In college, I could easily fall asleep during lectures. To stay engaged, I began taking notes on everything the professor said. This physical act of writing helped me stay alert and allowed the material to stick in my mind. Without that kinesthetic engagement, I found it was difficult for me to retain information.

The astronomy class I took is another perfect example. I loved the subject and was eager to learn the constellations, but I couldn���t retain the material. Despite attending the class twice, I failed both times. Why? The class was taught in a planetarium, where the instructor would point to the constellations in a dark room. Without a way to physically interact with the material (i.e., to write things down), I couldn���t connect to it in a way that would help me remember. As Markova���s research suggests, when I engage with my conscious mind through kinesthetic activities, the material becomes memorable. Without that ability, I struggled.

Markova���s research also highlights how auditory input can impact our state of being. For me, auditory input often has a calming, almost sleep-inducing effect, which means I struggle to stay mentally alert when the input is primarily auditory. This is why I often take notes or need to be physically engaged when learning or processing information.

But other people process auditory input differently. 

When I taught creativity classes at Holy Names University, I played quiet background music during art projects. While I enjoyed the soothing sounds, some students had real difficulties with any kind of music, no matter how soft or calming. Those individuals likely had a strong auditory mode of knowing, and the music disrupted their deep creative flow. For them, the auditory input pulled them into a more conscious, alert state, which probably blocked their ability to access the more subtle, subconscious insights they needed for their creative work. (Those students would have done well learning in my Astronomy class.)

Next time you feel disconnected or struggle to retain information, take a moment to reflect: How are you wired to stay alert so that you can know at your best? And what is the part of you that can access more intuitive, under-the-surface inner guidance? For me, that way is visual (inner imagery) but for you it may be auditory or kinesthetic.

By embracing your individual ways of learning and engaging with the world, you can unlock deeper insights and ignite your creative process.

Check out Markova���s book, No Enemies Within

Creativity isn���t a luxury; it���s a survival skill. As industries evolve and challenges grow more nuanced, those who can tap into their unique creative intelligence will shape the future. They���ll build bridges where others see walls, spark innovation in unexpected places, and keep humanity vibrant in a rapidly changing world.
In an age of AI and automation, the skills that set us apart are no longer rote memorization or following a prescribed formula���they’re creativity, intuition, and the ability to see connections others miss.

I���ve walked through countless museums in my life, and it never fails to amaze me: the roughest art is often the most profound.

And the simplest art? The most accomplished.

At a poetry event in Berkeley years ago, I heard poetry written by homeless women. Their words carried a raw, unfiltered depth, far more captivating than anything polished by English lit grads.

And I���ll never forget my first encounter with the quilts of Gee���s Bend. Made by poor, uneducated women in the South, they���ve been described as some of the best examples of modern art.

I think about a friend���s husband who once criticized Garrison Keillor���s ���terrible��� voice and questioned how he could dare sing on Prairie Home Companion.

It hurt my heart to hear him dismissed so easily.

It reminds me of Yo-Yo Ma speaking about playing just a single note���with great feeling. Or Dubuffet���s belief that simplicity is the measure of great art.

Even Einstein said, ���When the solution is simple, God is answering.���

Simplicity moves us. We���re not stuck in our heads, untangling layers of complexity���we���re just present, connected, and alive. Simplicity allows us to feel. 

#simplicity #art #creativitymatters

Yesterday, madly working on a digital course for an organization that needed it LAST WEEK, I somehow lost both files I was working with. I went to a caf�� to regroup, and while they���d always had a ���dogs are welcome��� policy, the city health inspector just happened to be there���and I was loudly yelled at. I quietly left and went to the lake to decompress. My dog wouldn���t come when I called, and when I finally found him��� he was wearing a proud new coat of heavily aromatic, freshly-deposited horse poop.

I used to believe that truly spiritual people were always calm and peaceful.

I���m not so young anymore, and I still have messy days. I lose my cool, cry in my car, and talk to my dog like he���s my therapist.

For a long time, I felt like I shouldn���t STILL be messy at my age. I thought it meant I hadn���t ���arrived��� yet at some elusive spiritual threshold.

But what if the real spiritual path isn���t about being perpetually serene���
but about staying connected to ourselves even when we���re anything but?

What if evolution looks more like this:
Taking a breath instead of a side swipe.
Letting yourself cry without shame.
Owning your humanity instead of hiding it behind performance.
Remaining centered while the world spins.

I don���t believe the most integrated people are always peaceful. I believe they���re TRUTHFUL.

They don���t bypass the chaos���they breathe through it.
They show up raw��� and still keep showing up.

I think the eternally calm, radiant, zen master floating three inches off the ground at all times is seductive. It’s also a myth.

Enlightenment isn’t sterile or tidy.

Being ���a mess��� doesn’t mean I’ve failed. It means I’m in it. I’m alive. For me this week a messy life has included grief, rage, laughter, snot, awe, exhaustion, and a poop-covered dog.

Why Academia Overlooks Creativity (and Why We Need More Play)

Creativity gets short shrift in academia because it carries a light, playful energy���quite the opposite of the heavy, dense weight of facts, charts, research, and those thick, dusty books that have sat in the library for a hundred years.

Don���t get me wrong���I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and I love research. There���s definitely a time and place for diving deep into facts and data. But every now and then, I think most of us crave something more���a chance to step out of what we know and into the unknown. 

And that���s where play comes in.

Play is powerful because it moves us beyond the limits of what we think is possible. It opens up space for curiosity to thrive, for us to create in the moment, and for new ideas to emerge��� ideas that facts and data alone may never reveal.

Sometimes, the key to discovery isn���t more analysis���it���s more play.

I once joined a coaching group where the leader emphasized making business decisions based solely on what would generate the most money. She even suggested surveying clients or followers to determine what they���d be willing to pay for. While this approach may seem logical and rational, it���s not how visionaries approach their work.

Visionaries Operate Differently

Visionaries don���t make decisions based on external demands or market trends. Their actions are guided by a deeper connection to their inner knowing and creative source. If everyone simply surveyed the market and produced only what was popular, no truly original, groundbreaking work would ever come into existence.

This isn���t to say visionaries ignore the needs of others. On the contrary, their work often has a profound and lasting impact on people. But this impact is a byproduct of their connection to their unique gift, not the primary driving force behind their decisions.

The Power of Alignment

For visionaries, the focus is on listening to their inner voice and creating from that authentic place. Their work becomes an expression of something greater, something deeply personal yet universally resonant���something only they can bring into the world.

Here���s the truth:

Don���t write a book just to help people. Write it because it���s demanding to come through you.Don���t teach a class because you think people need to learn something. Teach because the subject is alive and vibrant within you.Don���t become a therapist or coach simply to heal others. Do it because the work feels like a natural extension of your essence, a calling you cannot ignore.Why Centering in Your Gift Matters

If your focus is entirely on what others need, you���re disconnected from your gift. This lack of alignment diminishes the energy, authenticity, and transformative power of your work. But when you center yourself in your unique gift, you radiate clarity and purpose. The right people���those who truly resonate with your message���will naturally be drawn to you.

Centering in your gift isn���t selfish; it���s the foundation of creating something truly authentic and transformative. When you align with your deeper knowing, you serve the world in the most meaningful and impactful way possible.

When we teach, counsel, or coach, there���s often a deeper dimension at play���a greater space of wisdom that transcends our usual ways of thinking. I call this��Third Space.

What Is Third Space?

Third Space is a realm of expanded knowing, where creative breakthroughs and intuitive wisdom flow naturally. It exists beyond the binary, black-and-white thinking that often traps us.

Instead of limiting ourselves to questions like, ���Should I do A or B?��� Third Space opens up an entirely new dimension of possibility. It���s a space where answers arise that we might never have conceived on our own���a space of profound creativity and insight.

Third Space as a Whole New Reality

Many of us operate within the confines of linear, either/or thinking. We look at problems and decisions as though they exist only within the boundaries of what we already know. Third Space disrupts this paradigm. It���s a whole other reality that invites us to think beyond the obvious, uncovering surprising and transformative solutions.

In Third Space, we connect with:

Expanded Knowing: Insights that seem to come from a larger intelligence.Creative Breakthroughs: Fresh ideas and innovative approaches that feel inspired and alive.Intuitive Wisdom: Answers that resonate deeply, even if they don���t make logical sense at first.How to Access Third Space

Third Space isn���t something we can force. Instead, it reveals itself when we create the right conditions. Here are some ways to step into this realm:

Pause and Reflect: Take a moment to step back from binary thinking and open yourself to new perspectives.Trust the Process: Let go of the need to control outcomes and allow the unknown to guide you.Engage in Dialogue: Sometimes, a conversation with a trusted mentor, coach, or peer can create the space for Third Space to emerge.Practice Presence: Quiet the mind through meditation, mindfulness, or creative activities to access this intuitive state.Why Third Space Matters

When we operate from Third Space, we transcend the limitations of our usual thought patterns. We tap into a deeper, collective wisdom that helps us see problems and opportunities in entirely new ways. This space is where transformation happens���where we grow, innovate, and connect with our higher potential.

Whether you���re teaching, counseling, or coaching, Third Space offers a powerful way to unlock the insights and breakthroughs you���and those you work with���are seeking.

Are you ready to explore this whole other reality? Step into Third Space and discover the wisdom that���s waiting for you.

For more on Third Space in teaching, training and coaching environments, check out Getting Messy: A Guide To Taking Risks and Opening the Imagination for Teachers, Trainers, Coaches and Mentors