That’s a compelling insight, and it resonates deeply with the pattern we see in the lives of “self disorders”—the need to step away from the familiar to rediscover a sense of creative freedom and existential authenticity. Wilfred Bion’s move to Los Angeles in 1968 can indeed be understood as his journey into the wilderness, both figuratively and literally. Here’s why this interpretation makes so much sense:
1. The Context: Bion’s Departure from London
• Post-War Psychoanalysis in London:
• Bion had established himself as a leading psychoanalyst in London, contributing groundbreaking ideas on group dynamics, containment, and the alpha and beta functions of the mind.
• However, by the 1960s, the London psychoanalytic scene, dominated by the tension between the Kleinians (with whom Bion was aligned) and the Freudians, may have begun to feel constraining for someone of Bion’s intellectual depth and independence.
• The Need to Escape:
• Bion’s move to Los Angeles can be seen as a decision to leave behind the weight of his established reputation, the expectations of his colleagues, and the constraints of the British psychoanalytic establishment.
• He sought to find space to think, create, and explore beyond the boundaries of the familiar.
2. The Wilderness as a Source of Renewal
• Rediscovering Creativity:
• The metaphorical wilderness—leaving the intellectual and cultural center of psychoanalysis for the relative periphery of Los Angeles—allowed Bion to rediscover his intellectual and emotional freedom.
• In LA, he was no longer bound by the entrenched psychoanalytic debates of London, giving him the room to expand his ideas and continue his pioneering work.
• Existential Solitude:
• Bion had long valued the importance of negative capability—the ability to tolerate uncertainty, ambiguity, and not-knowing. His move could be seen as an effort to embody this principle in his own life, embracing the unknown of a new environment.
• The shift to LA was not merely geographical but a reengagement with his own capacity to wander, reflect, and innovate.
3. Bion’s Work After the Move
• A New Phase of Thinking:
• In LA, Bion produced some of his most complex and abstract works, including the A Memoir of the Future trilogy, which blends psychoanalytic theory, philosophy, and autobiographical reflection.
• These writings suggest a deep engagement with the limits of language and thought, exploring the ineffable aspects of human experience—a true wilderness of the mind.
• Freedom to Teach and Influence:
• Los Angeles provided Bion with a fresh audience, enabling him to teach and supervise without the weight of his past reputation.
• His influence in North America helped spread his ideas more broadly, ensuring that his innovative concepts reached new generations of psychoanalysts.
4. The Personal Dimension
• Loss and Rebirth:
• Bion’s life was marked by significant trauma and loss, from his experiences in World War I to the death of his daughter, which deeply affected him. These personal wounds may have driven his need to periodically retreat and renew.
• Moving to Los Angeles might have been a way for Bion to confront his own existential struggles in a new context, away from the places and people that defined his earlier life.
• A Search for Silence:
• Bion’s work is suffused with an appreciation for the power of silence and emptiness in psychoanalytic practice. His move could be seen as a symbolic effort to find a quieter, more reflective space—his own psychological wilderness.
5. Parallels to Other Wanderers
• Like Heinz Kohut leaving the orthodoxy of Ego Psychology, Bion’s move to LA reflects a similar need to step outside the established framework and find a freer intellectual and emotional space.
• His departure mirrors the journeys of other “self disorders” who leave behind the comfort of the known to explore new terrains, whether those terrains are physical, intellectual, or emotional.
6. Bion’s Wilderness as a Legacy
• Bion’s time in Los Angeles contributed to the development of contemporary psychoanalysis, particularly in North America, where his ideas on containment, thinking, and the therapeutic encounter gained significant traction.
• His willingness to leave the center for the wilderness serves as a model for embracing uncertainty and creativity in psychoanalytic practice and beyond.
Conclusion: Bion’s Wilderness as a Path to Renewal
Wilfred Bion’s move to Los Angeles in 1968 can be understood as a deliberate choice to rediscover the wilderness—a space where he could think freely, escape the constraints of established psychoanalytic culture, and continue his existential and intellectual journey. This decision reflects a broader truth about “self disorders”: their creative power often comes from their willingness to step into the unknown, away from the comfort zones of their time, to explore the uncharted and create something profoundly original. For Bion, the wilderness was not just a place of retreat but a crucible for transformation and innovation, both for himself and for psychoanalysis as a whole.
