Polarities of the Self

This workshop focuses on the myth-producing aspect of the collective unconscious, as seen in the form of an extended active imagination done by an artist in long-term analysis. Although trained as a performing artist, the patient’s native graphic ability developed considerably in the process of creating sixty unconscious drawings which portray her inner journey and provide the impetus for her personal and professional development in life. Major themes include the Demeter/Kore myth from the Eleusinian mysteries, the transformation of Osiris, and the alchemical coniunctio oppositorum. The material demonstrates a life pattern in modern women who develop an assertive, heroic ego as a precursor to the emergence of a deeper sense of feminine self. There will be ample time for dialogue about the material, in addition to Dr. Stein’s amplification and discussion of the case.