The vampire myth, with its riveting facination, is one of the oldest and most widespread legends throughout the world. Fatal symbiosis and the nourishing of oneself with another’s vitality-two central characteristics of the vampire legend-are also dark and bewildering elements of the shadow in many human relationships. Over this weekend, Julia McAfee will explore with us the history of the vampire in legend as well as the nature and dynamics of the vampire shadow in personal relationships. She will also focus on vampirism and the creative process.
Season: Spring 1992
The Vampire Archetype and Vampiric Relationships
The vampire myth, with its riveting fascination, is one of the oldest and most widespread legends throughout the world. Fatal symbiosis and the nourishing of oneself with another’s vitality-two central characteristics of the vampire legend-are also dark and bewildering elements of the shadow in many human relationships. Over this weekend, Julia McAfee will explore with us the history of the vampire in legend as well as the nature and dynamics of the vampire shadow in personal relationships. She will also focus on vampirism and the creative process.
The Girl Within: Touchstone for Women’s Identity
Caught between selfless devotion and selfish ambition, contemporary women are repeatedly disconnected from their inner authority. Many women accomplish much of what they set out to do but all too often lose themselves striving for success. Without a female blueprint for identity, where is today’s woman to look for a bedrock sense of self?
The notion we will explore this weekend is that the source of female identity is lodged in the girl of eight or nine. Women’s life studies show that a woman comes fully into her own only when she circles back to catch hold of the girl she was-and lost-in childhood.
The Girl Within: Touchstone for Women’s Identity
The workshop will focus on reclaiming “the girl within” through:
guided meditations that revive forgotten girlhood memories
photographic images of girls and women
imaginary dialogues with the inner girl
By tracing a new pattern of female identity development, we will seek to rediscover the spirited, self-possessed girl within ourselves. Those who are therapists will acquire a new set of tools for working with clients engaged in the search for the true self.
Once Upon a Noon Time: Fairy Tales and the Psychology of Men and Women at Mid-Life
This lecture and workshop will explore the archetypal masks of mid-life as depicted in fairy tales from around the world. Some dozen stories from Germany, Persia, Russia, Japan, Israel, and Italy will be retold and discussed. These tales portray crucial tasks of mid-life: transforming youthful ideals into practical action; breaking gender stereotypes to free the anima and animus; for men, learning new forms of masculine power from a Spirit Brother; for women, embracing a Sisterhood of Nature beyond patriarchy or matriarchy; and for both men and women, reconciling opposites through contact with a primordial life source, a center of creativity and healing.
Once Upon a Noon Time: Fairy Tales and the Psychology of Men and Women at Mid-Life
This lecture and workshop will explore the archetypal masks of mid-life as depicted in fairy tales from around the world. Some dozen stories from Germany, Persia, Russia, Japan, Israel, and Italy will be retold and discussed. These tales portray crucial tasks of mid-life: transforming youthful ideals into practical action; breaking gender stereotypes to free the anima and animus; for men, learing new forms of masculine power from a Spirit Brother; for women, embracing a Sisterhood of Nature beyond patriarchy or matriarchy; and for both men and women, reconciling opposites through contact with a primordial life source, a center of creativity and healing.
The Archetype of the Animus and Feminine Consciousness
This lecture will present both the definition and the experience of the animus within a woman’s psyche, along with the other manifestations in collective life. We will see through examples the vital importance of a woman’s conscious relationship to this archetype for her relationships to men, creativity, psychological autonomy and spiritual fulfillment.
The Archetype of the Animus and Feminine Consciousness
The workshop will further amplify how the unconscious animus is experienced in real life, both positively and negatively, including severe neurotic symptoms. Clinical examples and a well-known painting will serve as symbolic material for discussion and response from the participants.
A 3-Day Workshop: Going on a Quest: Opening to the Creative – Day 1
There is a center in us which, if we could but open to it, would give us strength, wisdom, and the capacity to live our creative potential. Connection with this center gives our lives presence and vitality. Creativity depends on it. Like most real truths, this potential is hidden: the “treasure hard to attain”. There are tools for contacting and remaining open to it.
This workshop uses the creative arts and body movements as an opener to the depths of the psyche, to what Jung calls “the Self”. It is an opportunity to play with color and shape. No previous knowledge or art skills are necessary — only a longing for a deeper understanding, a joy in color and a wish to play again.
Participants should write their own stories–as if your life were a personal myth or fairy tale — and bring them to the workshop. What are you in search of? Where are you on your pilgrimage? Where do you think you will be at the end? Please also reflect on your favorite fairy tale as a child and your current favorite. This material will be enhanced by the revelations that will arise during the weekend. Bodywork will be coordinated with collage work. Collage materials will be provided.
A 3-Day Workshop: Going on a Quest: Opening to the Creative – Day 2
There is a center in us which, if we could but open to it, would give us strength, wisdom, and the capacity to live our creative potential. Connection with this center gives our lives presence and vitality. Creativity depends on it. Like most real truths, this potential is hidden: the “treasure hard to attain”. There are tools for contacting and remaining open to it.
This workshop uses the creative arts and body movements as an opener to the depths of the psyche, to what Jung calls “the Self”. It is an opportunity to play with color and shape. No previous knowledge or art skills are necessary-only a longing for a deeper understanding, a joy in color and a wish to play again.
Participants should write their own stories-as if your life were a personal myth or fairy tale-and bring them to the workshop. What are you in search of? Where are you on your pilgrimage? Where do you think you will be at the end? Please also reflect on your favorite fairy tale as a child and your current favorite. This material will be enhanced by the revelations that will arise during the weekend. Bodywork will be coordinated with collage work. Collage materials will be provided.
A 3-Day Workshop: Going on a Quest: Opening to the Creative Day 3
There is a center in us which, if we could but open to it, would give us strength, wisdom, and the capacity to live our creative potential. Connection with this center gives our lives presence and vitality. Creativity depends on it. Like most real truths, this potential is hidden: the “treasure hard to attain”. There are tools for contacting and remaining open to it.
This workshop uses the creative arts and body movements as an opener to the depths of the psyche, to what Jung calls “the Self”. It is an opportunity to play with color and shape. No previous knowledge or art skills are necessary-only a longing for a deeper understanding, a joy in color and a wish to play again.
Participants should write their own stories-as if your life were a personal myth or fairy tale-and bring them to the workshop. What are you in search of? Where are you on your pilgrimage? Where do you think you will be at the end? Please also reflect on your favorite fairy tale as a child and your current favorite. This material will be enhanced by the revelations that will arise during the weekend. Bodywork will be coordinated with collage work. Collage materials will be provided.
Changemakers: Sibling Position, Family Atmosphere, and Questions about The Psychological Roots of Democracy and Dictatorship
It is technically very simple to note down the “other” voice in writing and to answer its statements from the standpoint of the ego. It is exactly as if a dialogue were taking place between two human beings with equal rights.
C.G. Jung
Jung’s statement conveys the essence of his method of active imagination, which is a re-activation in psychotherapy of the innate process of individuation. If we look to the socio-political world for the projection of this process, it would appear to be democracy. “A dialogue…between two human beings with equal rights” is the essence of democracy. It is also the essence of true friendship and of true marriage. We need only look to ourselves, to our friends, our spouses, our family, to realize how imperfect is our commitment to “true” democracy. Nevertheless, the ideal exists, and we are often painfully aware when we fail its requirements.
This lecture will take up the influence of family and sibling position on the destiny of the individual and the future of society. Dr. Stewart will look at political leaders and discuss how an individual may be “seized by the spirit,” for good or for evil, democracy or dictatorship in the world. His study reveals a startling, new perspective on the family as it focuses on the largely unconscious factors that determine the use and abuse of power.
The Moving Imagination
‘I move,’ is the clear knowledge that I personally, am moving. The opposite of this is the sudden and astonishing moment when ‘I am moved.’ It is a moment when the ego gives up control, stops exerting demands, allowing the Self to take over moving the physical body as it will. It is a moment of unpremeditated surrender that cannot be explained, replicated exactly, sought for or tried out.
Mary Starks Whitehouse
This one day workshop will introduce an approach to movement that was originally developed by Mary Whitehouse. Sometimes called “authentic movement” or “movement in depth,” it involved a mover, a witness, and their relationship. We’ll take up the development of this work an its use as a form of active imagination. Morning and afternoon sessions will include lecture, movement experience and discussion. Participants are invited to bring journals and/or art materials. Enrollment will be limited.