“A red thread” (n.)
a theme woven throughout a narrative
Like many archetypes, the image of the red thread appears across time and cultures. In Eastern philosophies, it can represent fate, connection, or protection. In Greek mythology, it represents a way back home.
In the Greek myth, Theseus enters a labyrinth to slay a dark and dangerous beast: the minotaur.
But he cannot navigate the maze alone. To help him mark his way, Ariadne gives him a red thread to trace his steps back.
Fate, connection, protection, and a journey home. All of these appear when we undertake trauma work.
Confronting a psychic struggle is not unlike walking into a labyrinth, full of twists and turns, in pursuit of an ominous and frightening thing.
The healing process happens when, like Theseus, we prepare to face the beast head-on. And just like the Greek hero, we cannot navigate this labyrinth alone.
As a drama therapist and psychotherapist, I believe my job is like that of Ariadne.
I cannot slay the beast for anyone, but I can help them mark their way along the path, navigating the dark corners alongside them, leaving a trail of red thread for us to find our way back to the present.