Digital Jung

In this episode:We finish our reading of the tale, Old Sultan, and discuss the importance of limits in the discovery and expression of our true selves.Let's make this a conversation:Do you have a comment or  question about this episode, or about something you would like me to address in a future episode? Please contact me on Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith).For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:"In an era which has concentrated exclusively upon extension of living space and increase of rational knowledge at all costs, it is a supreme challenge to ask man to become conscious of his uniqueness and his limitation. Uniqueness and limitation are synonymous.” ~ C.G. Jung from 'Memories, Dreams, Reflections.'Episode 32: Embracing Change, Old Sultan, pt. 1“The complete expression of everything of which we are capable — the whole psychological zoo living within us, as well as the embryonic beginnings of artist, statesman or saint — means chaos, not character...." ~ Evelyn Underhill in 'The Spiritual Life.'Old Sultan from 'Grimms' Tales,' translated by Margaret Hunt.“Fidelity to the law of one's own being is a trust in this law, a loyal perseverance and confident hope; in short, an attitude such as a religious man should have towards God.” ~ C.G. Jung from The Development of the Personality in 'Collected Works, vol. 17.'Episode 29: The Art of Reflection“Becoming conscious means continual renunciation because it is an ever-deepening concentration.” ~ C.G. Jung in 'Selected Letters of C.G. Jung, 1909 - 1961.''The Archetypal Symbolism of Animals' by Barbara Hannah.“Distant ends, religious, moral, and artistic interests, may become as relevant to us as our concern for food.” ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel in 'Man Is Not Alone.'“To develop one's personality is indeed an unpopular undertaking, a deviation that is highly uncongenial to the herd.” ~ C.G. Jung from The Development of the Personality in 'Collected Works, vol. 17.'“The truly free individual is free only to the extent of their own self mastSupport the showConnect with me:Instagram (@digital.jung)Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social)Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

In this episode:We begin to read through the tale, Old Sultan and to explore our need to learn to face the inevitable changes of life with creativity and courage.Let's make this a conversation:Do you have a comment or  question about this episode, or about something you would like me to address in a future episode? Please contact me on Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith).For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:“In myths and fairytales, as in dreams, the psyche tells its own story..." ~ C.G. Jung from The Phenomenology of the Spirit in Fairytales in 'Collected Works, vol. 9i.'Episode 31: Remembering WisdomOld Sultan from 'Grimms' Tales,' translated by Margaret Hunt.Episode 14: Serving the Inner Life, pt. 1Episode 15: Serving the Inner Life, pt. 2Episode 16: Serving the Inner Life, pt. 3Episode 30: Knowing and Not-Knowing“The afternoon of life must also have a significance of its own and cannot be merely a pitiful appendage to life’s morning.” ~ C.G. Jung from The Stages of Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'“In our technological age man could not conceive of this world as anything but material for his own fulfillment.”  ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel in 'Man Is Not Alone.'“A young man who does not fight and conquer has missed the best part of his youth, and an old man who does not know how to listen to the secrets of the brooks, as they tumble down from the peaks to the valleys, makes no sense..." ~ C.G. Jung from The Stages of Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'“The only thing to do is to accept the animal as a divine and secret mystery, a divine secret....” ~ Marie-Louise von Franz quoted in 'The Archetypal Symbolism of Animals' by Barbara Hannah.Music:"Support the showConnect with me:Instagram (@digital.jung)Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social)Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

Explore the contrast between ancient wisdom and modern knowledge, emphasizing the deep connections to timeless truths. Discover how myths enrich our understanding of psychology and spirituality, and why preserving these archetypal narratives is crucial for growth. Delve into the therapeutic power of myths and the role of memory in our lives, encouraging a more profound presence in today’s fast-paced world. Engage with the insights of philosophers and Carl Jung, inviting a richer dialogue between the past and present.

This conversation dives into the limits of rationality and the transformative power of mystery in life. It highlights the interconnectedness of knowing and wisdom, urging personal engagement in understanding. Love emerges as a key alternative to logic, unveiling life's deeper complexities. The discussion critiques scientific rationalism, advocating for a holistic view that embraces both knowledge and the unknown. Listeners are encouraged to find a balance, recognizing that intuition can lead to richer insights and experiences.

Delve into the essential role of reflection as a cornerstone of human existence. Discover Jung's insights on how reflection enhances both psychological freedom and spiritual growth. Explore the impact of modern distractions on our ability to reflect and connect deeply with ourselves. Learn the importance of conscious reflection to address both personal and collective needs in today’s chaotic world. This enlightening conversation emphasizes the privilege of reflection in navigating our abstract lives.

In this episode:I present some highlights and excerpts from a recording of a recent talk that I gave on my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.Sources for quotes and more:“Now, we have no symbolic life, and we are all badly in need of the symbolic life. Only the symbolic life can express the need of the soul — the daily need of the soul..." ~ C.G. Jung from The Symbolic Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 18.'"Do we ever understand what we think? We only understand that kind of thinking which is a mere equation, from which nothing comes out but what we have put in..." ~ C.G. Jung from The Stages of Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'"All teems with symbol; the wise man is the man who in any one thing can read another." ~  Plotinus"The religious symbol is used against the perils of the soul. The symbol functions as a sort of machine, one could say, by which the libido is transformed...." ~ C.G. Jung in  'Seminar on Nietzsche's Zarathurstra.'“The individual, who hitherto has been caught in his personal entanglements, is then confronted with a problem which no longer represents solely his personal conflict but gives expression to a conflict that it has been incumbent on man to suffer and solve from time immemorial." ~ Jolande Jacobi in 'Complex/Archetype/Symbol.'"Among all my patients in the second half of life -- that is to say, over thirty-five -- there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life...." ~ C.G. Jung from Psychotherapists or the Clergy in 'Collected Works, vol. 11.''Memories, Dreams, Reflections.' by C.G. JungMusic:"Dreaming Days," and "Slow Vibing" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee:Support the showConnect with me:Instagram (@digital.jung)Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social)Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

In this episode:I discuss some of Jung's advice for working with dreams, and suggest some questions you can ask when working with your own.Sources for quotes and more:“One would do well to treat every dream as though it were a totally unknown object. Look at it from all sides, take it in your hand, carry it about with you, let your imagination play round it, and talk about it with other people...." ~ C.G. Jung in The Meaning of Psychology for Modern Man in 'Collected Works, vol. 10.'Episode 25: Preparing to Work with Your DreamsDiscussion of "knowing through not-knowing" from 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.'“So difficult is it to understand a dream that for a long time I have made it a rule, when someone tells me a dream and asks for my opinion, to say first of all to myself: ‘I have no idea what this dream means’. After that I can begin to examine the dream.” ~ C.G. Jung in On the Nature of Dreams in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.''Tracks in the Wilderness of Dreaming.' by Robert BosnakEpisode 21: Dreams and the Sacred“Any approach to the symbolic dimension, hence, remains in the realm of felt intuition and calls for an artistic and spiritual sensitivity from dreamer and interpreter alike...." ~ Edward Whitmont & Sylvia Perera in 'Dreams: A Portal to the Source.''Waiting For God' by Simone Weil“Who wants to understand the poem, must go to the land of poetry.” ~ Goethe from 'West-Eastern Divan.'Dreams ~ a poem by Mary Oliver in 'Dream Work,'Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee:Support the showConnect with me:Instagram (@digital.jung)Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social)Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

In this episode:I discuss the importance of play and creativity in the practice of the symbolic life.Sources for quotes and more:"If play expires in itself without creating anything durable and vital, it is only play, but in the other case it is called creative work...." ~ C.G. Jung in Psychological Types in 'Collected Works, vol. 6.'Episode 25: Preparing to Work with Your Dreams“If the wrong person uses the right means, the right means work in the wrong way.” ~ C.G. Jung in Commentary on The Secret of the Golden Flower in 'Collected Works, vol. 13.'"A vivid awareness of infinite Being at the roots of our own limited being" ~ Thomas Merton in 'New Seeds of Contemplation.'“In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order.” ~ C.G. Jung in The Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious in 'Collected Works, vol. 9i.'Proverbs 8:22 - 31 in The Revised English Bible.“Whoever finds me finds life.” ~ Proverbs 8:35 in The Revised English Bible.“Play is the free spirit of exploration, doing and being for its own joy.” ~ Stephen Nachmanovitch in 'Free Play: The Power of Improvisation in Life and the Arts.'“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” ~ C. G. Jung in 'Modern Man in Search of a Soul.'Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee:Support the showConnect with me:Instagram (@digital.jung)Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social)Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

In this episode:I respond to a listener’s questions by discussing the importance of examining our intentions and motivations when preparing to work with our dreams.Sources for quotes and more:"The meaning of the dream, or our interpretation of it, is largely dependent on the intentions of the interpreter..." ~ C.G. Jung in The Meaning of Psychology for Modern Man in 'Collected Works, vol. 10.'“I should be suspicious of what I want” ~ Rumi from the poem 'Who Makes These Changes.'“I am convinced that there is in fact no absolutely reliable method of interpretation.” ~ C.G. Jung in The Meaning of Psychology for Modern Man in 'Collected Works, vol. 10.'“Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.” ~ Anaïs Nin in 'The Diary of Anaïs Nin.'Mark 4:21 - 25 in The Bible, New Revised Standard Version.“No one can truly philosophize outside a tradition, even when rejecting that very tradition.” ~ Raimon Panikkar in 'The Rhythm of Being.'"Dreams provide the most interesting information for those who take the trouble to understand their symbols. The results, it is true, have little to do with such worldly concerns as buying and selling. But the meaning of life is not exhaustively explained by one's business life, nor is the deep desire of the human heart answered by a bank account." ~ C. G. Jung in 'Man and His Symbols.'Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee:Support the showConnect with me:Instagram (@digital.jung)Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social)Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter (https://digitaljung.substack.com/)For more on living a symbolic life:Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

Explore the nuances of depression through the lens of Jungian thought and symbolic material. Discover how classics like Dante's Divine Comedy and Moby Dick reflect the transformative potential of suffering. Embrace the idea of navigating the wilderness within ourselves for personal growth. Delve into rich storytelling and poetry that illuminate the paths less traveled, revealing how stepping off conventional routes can lead to deeper insights and healing.