Spiritus contra Spiritum: The Depth Psychology of Alcoholism: Flying High Again: Steps to Remaining a Grateful Recovering Alcoholic

It is not enough for the alcoholic to just stop drinking. The alcoholic, like Dionysios, Icarus, and Hermes, has a moral obligation to get high again, to get his/her spirit back, to become in-spired, and to celebrate what it means to be free of chemical dependency and its negative psychological consequences. This lecture will concentrate on some of the insights from Jung’s complex psychology which can help the alcoholic develop a more positive Self-Image. The same Puer complex which was a mill-stone for the drinking alcoholic can become a stepping stone for the recovering alcoholic. Jung’s typology will be shown to be a means of understanding the “dry drunk” and getting beyond it. Finally, we will clown around with laughter and meditate on gratitude, the two essential companions on the road to recovery.