This thesis is, first and foremost a story, an unfolding narrative concerned with the phenomenon of creativity in relation to disrupted human life.

I draw on hermeneutic-existential-phenomenological traditions and narrative theory to pursue a greater understanding of the 'essence' of creativity, and the relationship between creativity, consciousness and disruption. This threefold relationship is explored through the lived experience of creativity and disrupted life and the interpretation of emerging texts. From these experiences I construct a narrative bricolage, a patchwork of written and visual texts that describe, illuminate and interpret the experience of being in the 'time and space' of creativity.

The idea of the body being 'inside creativity country' when engaged in creative work, is central to the discussion emphasizing, as it does, the importance of the whole body-mind in the spatio-temporal experience of creativity. The relationship between extended consciousness and creativity, and the part that emotion plays in that interaction is also crucial to the discussion. By bringing aspects of neurobiological theory, narrative inquiry and psychological theory together with a phenomenology of creativity and disruption I offer insights into the role creativity plays in maintaining an ecology of equilibrium in human life.

The narrative texts, written and visual, emerging from my journeys in creativity country, record and reflect upon my experiences and encounters there. They are the maps that detail the terrain covered, they are the artifacts that I bring out of country to represent what I see, think, feel and imagine as I travel.

Characters from my fictional stories step out of their narratives from time to time to engage with philosophical and theoretical questions and discussions. They are in constant dialogue with the meta-text, providing an alternative voice, a continuing critique of impressions and interpretations. The purpose of this continuing dialogue is to establish a narrative ethic of inclusiveness and openness to a multiplicity of views.

This thesis seeks to challenge prevailing misconceptions about the nature and purpose of creativity and to provide an alternative view that acknowledges the spatio-temporal relational aspects of Creativity as Country and the significance of 'duration' in its exploration. This study contributes, in a personal sense, to another on-going undertaking – the development of an ethical understanding of how I live in the world as a writer and multi-media artist through the examination of my own creative practice.