Archetypal Dimensions of Child-Raising

The archetypal dimensions of child-raising appear in many activities. From the actual raising of our children, to improving childish aspects of our own personalities, to developing our society’s potential for new ways of living, to improving the adaptability of the human race, the dynamics are the same. In this lecture Dr. Van Eenwyk will break new ground to provide a conceptual framework for taking Jung’s formulations on archetypes into this crucial dimension of our lives.

Operation of the Archetypes in the Stages of Child Development

The lessons of child-raising apply to many different areas of psychological development. Archetypal child-raising seeks to describe those patterns of dynamics that are common to all of these arenas. Whether we focus on the child without or the child within, or deal with issues of how we were raised or how we raise our children, this workshop will be an exploration of what seems to work and what doesn’t. The overarching concern is with the play between archetype and instinct in the individuation process during the different stages of development.

Feminine Mysteries in the Myth of Orpheus

Why did Orpheus lose his bride on the day they were to be married? Are the reasons similar to those which cause failure in relationships today? Orpheus was unwilling to accept this loss, and he became the only mortal in Greek mythology to risk his own life by descending into the underworld to retrieve his beloved. His gift for music rivaled that of the gods, enabling him to charm the King and Queen of Hades into releasing his newly deceased bride. Orpheus was recognized as the most important poet in Greek mythology. This lecture will include images from the myth of Orpheus to illuminate the contemporary problem between men and women, and between the human species and nature.

Healing the Splits Between Us

The potential for healing these splits is implicit in the words of the French philosopher Jacques Maritain as he reports the ancient definition of poetry: “that intercommunication between the inner being of things and inner being of the human self…” The workshop will include monologue, poetry, music, visual image, reflection, and discussion of the voices presented in myths to better understand everyday relationships.

Vampires, Eroticism, and the Lure of the Unconscious

While many contemporary works of fiction expand on the legends of vampires, it is an ancient theme. Symbolically, we can imagine vampires as unconscious energy that preys on our feelings of desire, preys on the desire to connect to life itself. What is the meaning of these dark forces that can rob us of our libidinal connections to life? And how might the hand of the Self be working through this dark mythology? In this lecture Nancy will use Ann Rice’s novel The Witching Hour to focus on the sensual lure to remain unconscious, and the kind of courage that is needed to face individuation.

Animal Body, Animal Soul

Native people have always looked to animals as important teachers and appreciated their soulful qualities. Whether predator or prey, bird, reptile, mammal, or amphibian, knowing the nature and habits of the animals inhabiting our dreams can lead us into greater integration, authenticity, embodiment. Attending to these animals can assist us in developing an authentic libidinized life. Through the experience of play, interaction with animal images, and active imagination, this workshop will explore the instinctual aspects of the psyche.

A New Look at Active Imagination

For Jung, life is paradox, so it is not surprising that he described his most important ideas in paradoxical ways. On the one hand, active imagination is a meditative procedure or expressive technique meant to be used by the patient alone, away from the analyst. On the other hand, by linking active imagination to his symbolic method of dream interpretation and to the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship, Jung seems to be laying the groundwork for a comprehensive method of psychotherapy. In its deepest sense, active imagination is a central, self-reflective psychological attitude drawing from the creative resources of human culture: aesthetic, religious, philosophical, and social.

Moving Active Imagination

This one-day workshop will introduce a way to use body to express imagination: it involves a mover, a witness, and the dynamics of their relationship. Sometimes called “authentic movement” or “movement in depth”, it is a form of active imagination as well as a way to explore the dynamics of projection and empathy. Participants are invited to bring journals and/or art materials.

A Textbook of Integrity: A Contemporary Commentary on the I Ching

The I Ching is an oracular book which has been used for divination in China for at least 3000 years. Although it has shamanic roots and Taoist content, the I Ching is one of the foundations of Confucian philosophy, which places emphasis on the correct handling of situations. In the West, students of C.G. Jung’s psychology have turned to the I Ching when an archetypal issue demands an ethical standpoint. In this lecture, Dr. Beebe will relate the philosophy underlying this ancient text to the psychology of integrity that has been developing for Jungian analysis.

Living with the I Ching

C.G. Jung used the I Ching to anticipate the dynamics of the Self in problematical situations. His many inquiries of the traditional Chinese oracle convinced him of its reliability as an analytical method. What can we learn about human dilemmas by following the way of the I Ching? How can we determine when it is appropriate to consult it? What would a life look like if lived in accordance with its guidance? In this workshop Dr. Beebe will work interactively with participants to explore these questions.

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