An Exploration into the Transformational Process of Traditional Hawaiian Quiltmaking

Abstract

This research explored Jung’s development of the concept of soul and its manifestation in the material world. In particular, this phenomenological study investigated Hillman’s anima mundi, the soul in and of the world, and how individual and community transformation occurred through the making of traditional Hawaiian quilts by hand. Using qualitative organic inquiry, ten participants including the researcher were asked to describe their emotional, psychological, and relational experiences of quiltmaking–thus, integrating the handmade art into the very heart of this dissertation. The findings validated the social, healthful, and emotional benefits of quiltmaking by hand, having strong implications for clinical work and the process of individuation. Individuation achieved through the making and completion of one’s quilt was not just the creative journey of an individual soul, but a shared community endeavor that created enduring social bonds serving to perpetuate the tradition of Hawaiian quiltmaking. One of the most significant findings addressed Jung’s belief that soul lives among us in the material world. Further studies might examine individual and co-creative endeavors to compare creative, social and transformational experiences. Also, further exploration into Jung’s notion of the soul of the object may deepen our understanding of soul and its delivery into the tangible world through the work of our hands.