The following presentations have been offered at various times in conjunction with The Analytic Training Program of the Ontario Association of Jungian Analysts and the Public Program of the Ontario Jung Foundation.
Imprisonment and Individuation – lecture
It is not unusual for the theme of imprisonment to arise in the individuation process. As one might expect, an expressed feeling of being imprisoned by some situation – inner or outer – is invariably accompanied by a longing for liberation. And it is often the case that the person in question will have to undergo a radical change – in the form of a new attitude – before they can see a possibility of freeing themselves from that by which they are psychologically constrained. Drawing on symbolic material including visual art, dreams and literature, this lecture will explore the dynamic tensions between freedom and constraint and the potential for “imprisonment” to serve as a crucible for transformation and individuation.
Camino: Outer Journey with Inner Meaning – lecture
Pilgrimage – a sacred journey in pursuit of wisdom, healing, guidance and inspiration – is evident in all world religions and was also important in the pagan religions of ancient Greece and Rome. While pilgrims traditionally seek a specific place sanctified by association with a divinity or other holy personage, the increasing popularity of the Camino of Santiago de Compostela (150,000 pilgrims completed the 500 mile walk in 2010 as compared with only 2,500 in 1985) is marked by a growing emphasis on transformations in the self. This presentation will explore the “camino experience” from a Jungian perspective, noting parallels between the pilgrimage experience – a kinetic ritual carried out in liminal space and time – and the journey of individuation.
Accessing the Unconscious via Finger Painting – experiential workshop
Finger paint is a primitive and direct medium of spontaneous expression. Bodily motions and emotions are given visual form through the application of paint to paper. The technique is simple and action oriented: while standing, the color is smeared onto dampened paper with the flat of the hand, fist, fingers, wrist or forearm. Because the medium does not lend itself to controlled and elaborate detail, it can subvert the painter’s inhibitions arising from concerns about technical skill. Workshop participants are encouraged to experiment and follow their fantasies as figures and shapes emerge from their markings and the finished pictures can range from the pictorial to the abstract. In this four-hour workshop, participants will have an opportunity to experiment with finger paint and discover for themselves its many properties. Finally, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their finger painting experience – both on the process itself, as well as on the feelings and insights generated as they contemplate whatever images have emerged.
Dancing One’s Own Steps: Inner Call versus Collective Constraints – film seminar
As the film Strictly Ballroom opens, the red curtains part and we sense that, as with a fairy tale, what we are about to witness will be both wildly fantastic and deeply real in archetypal terms. Scott, the young man at the centre of the story, wants to “dance his own steps” instead of following the collective rules of the dance establishment. This film by Baz Lurhman lends itself to a reading on several levels – it provides insights into the creative process as well as the process of individuation and it also highlights the potential connections between personal and social transformation. Scott’s attempts to express an inner imperative create conflict not only outwardly with the dance community but also inwardly as he confronts ego fears about security and collective status. In this young man’s struggles we will recognize various archetypal themes: coming to terms with the parental complexes; developing a relationship with the anima, including distinguishing the true from the false bride; and, initiation into an adult masculinity capable of challenging a patriarchal order. A close study of this film, like the study of a fairy tale, provides seminar participants with an opportunity to view the unfolding of a particular psyche over time and to discern dynamic patterns of the self-regulating psyche in action.
The Mother – film seminar
In the film The Mother, May, a woman in her 60’s, is catapulted into a painful crisis of individuation when her husband dies. Unable to go on, she is faced with the challenge of transcending her sense of herself – and the life she has built around it – in order to “live forward.” In this seminar we will consider The Mother, written by Hanif Kureishi and directed by Roger Michel, in segments, pausing to reflect on May’s experiences as her process unfolds. We will explore the conflicts – both inner and outer – that manifest as the transgressive stirrings of new life begin to disturb the habitual order of her world and she encounters previously split off aspects of her own psyche. In the particulars of this woman’s journey toward greater vitality and wholeness, we will discern some of the archetypal patterns and motifs common to the individuation process in the second half of life, including the issue of sacrifice with no guarantees of how the future will unfold.
Alchemical Symbolism in Psychotherapy – seminar series
According to Jung, the psyche consists essentially of images, and the vital activities taking place within an individual appear as a series of images. Within the almost infinite variations in images, Jung discerned recurrent patterns and regularities which he called the archetypes of the collective unconscious. As part of his broad comparative study of symbolism, not only did he note striking parallels between alchemical symbolism and certain archetypal motifs in his patients’ dreams, he also saw that analytical psychology and the individuation process coincided in a curious way with the alchemical opus of transformation.
Jung’s writings on alchemy are extremely challenging. This four part seminar series will serve as an introduction to some of the key symbolism and will provide an opportunity for participants to explore parallels between psychotherapy and alchemy. The required text is Edward Edinger’s Anatomy of the Psyche and the course will entail reading, presentations and discussion.
The Parental Imagos and the Process of Individuation – seminar series
Adulthood is hard won, the work of heroes. The struggle for freedom and for one’s own individuality takes place in stages. Even though one leaves home and establishes a life that is outwardly free, one may yet remain inwardly contained in the parental world. To free oneself inwardly, the parental imagos must undergo a transformation. This 4-part seminar series will be based on The Parental Image: Its Injury and Reconstruction by M. Esther Harding. The author provides an overview of the process by reference to the ancient Babylonian creation legend, The Enuma Elish, and also illustrates the process through case material.
Private Seminar Series – Understanding Our Dreams
“Dreams,” wrote Jung, “are natural phenomena which are nothing other than what they pretend to be. They do not deceive, they do not lie, they do not distort or disguise….They are invariably seeking to express something that the ego does not know and does not understand.” Work with one’s dreams can contribute to the individuation process via a broadening of consciousness and the recognition of split off potentialities. We all dream every night. However, when we do remember our dreams, it is difficult to make sense of them. In this seminar series, we will explore the basic principles of Jungian dream interpretation, and experiment with applying these principles in the examination of some actual dreams. We will also reflect on common themes, motifs and symbols that appear in our dreams and discuss their possible implications. Our explorations will enable participants to begin to engage with their own dreams in a more active way and hopefully glean fresh insights into how they might approach their day-to-day life in new ways.