Jung Society Melbourne Podcast

Chronic Fatigue is a complex, acquired condition whose cause is a topic of muchresearch and debate. The severity of symptoms vary, however, around a quarter ofpeople are unable to leave their home due to the multi-system impacts of ChronicFatigue. In this lecture, Robert shares examples of how Embodied Imagination canbe used to dream the dream onwards. By extending dreams into waking life, hispatients have the opportunity to experience dream characters and objects as bodystates. He explores how placebo responses can be reframed as a meaningfulresponse that can activate self-healing. Please note we include a question answerfrom the end of the lecture as it includes another valuable example of EmbodiedImagination.

The Enclosed Garden is one of the oldest expressions of civilization, and possessesa long and direct relationship to symbolism and mythology. Such a garden creates afertile place of verdant abundance, a haven of peace and quiet, shade and water,order and pleasure and a retreat from a hostile, threatening and chaotic wilderness.The world beyond the wall is boundless, expansive, universal, timeless and chaotic.By contrast, the world within the wall provides us with a sense of palpability of therich dark earth or the ‘erotic’ sense of space; senses and feelings of safety, finitudeand individuality: a Temenos for the soul. This lecture explores three images of theEnclosed Garden: the Garden of Eden, the Islamic Garden and the Taoist Garden.The enclosed garden symbolises not only our coming into being, but also our journey of becoming.

This talk explores ways to engage in climate change conversations to facilitate conscious change. Sally draws on stories from facilitating in depth discussions in a research group, where participants shared their dreams, imaginings, frustrations, grief, hopes, fears and inspirations in relation to climate change. This process enabled participants to reflect on their changing personal and collective myths, while nurturing the awareness required to sustain ongoing climate engagement and action. Engagement with the emotional and existential dimensions of climate change, can open space re-conceptualisation of the problems and innovative solutions.

This lecture discusses the loss of feminine representation, including in the changing myths and religious stories, and its impact on society. It explores challenges for women when they feel alienated from their instinctive femininity and for men when they are only able to connect with their femininity in private. There is a strong call to re-personify the feminine values, for all genders, through the re-evocation of the goddess archetype.

This lecture discusses electronic gambling machines known as “pokies” in Australia, “slot machines” in the United States of America and “fruit machines” in the United Kingdom. It explores their use of symbols, how players may be entranced by the promise of spiritual connection and let down by the lack of revelation. Regulations surrounding electronic gambling machines vary greatly around the world and continue to be the subject of fierce political and social debate in Australia.

This lecture explores the alchemical union of opposites through the symbolism of bees including love and war, sweetness and bitterness, the individual and multiplicity, regeneration and death. Circumambulating the hive is linked with mandala symbolism and the archetype of inner order.

Robert Johnson, a popular author and Episcopal priest with roots in Jungian analysis, dives into the complexities of Dionysus, the fragile god of ecstasy. He connects ancient myths to modern psychology, discussing the balance of joy and responsibility in our lives. Johnson explores themes like repressed impulses, the cultural dichotomy between East and West, and the significance of integrating ecstatic experiences with discipline. He also touches on the blend of Christian traditions with Dionysian celebration and the intricate legacies of cultural appropriation in spiritual practices.

Illness, Symptom & Individuation approaches the process of integration and healing through experiences of illness and trauma in the life of the body. Mary shares a personal experience of serious, prolonged illness that evaded medical diagnosis for some time. This experience led to an intense period of change where symbolism of the inner world mirrored her experience in the outer world, and led to an embodiment of spirit.

With a focus on the big questions of the human condition – cycles of birth and death, destiny and free will, suffering and the life journey - Maureen weaves her way through ancient rituals in honour of the earth mother and Goddesses with many names, to the rise of the patriarchal era, including the Greek tragedian plays. These plays incorporated the sacred mysteries and fundamental questions, now focused on individual man. The significance of ritual in attending to and supporting our inner struggles toward Selfhood is captured in her discussion of Jung’s essay Transformation Symbolism in the Mass. Please note, Maureen does refer to a number of images in the talk, examples of these or similar can be found on the internet. 

In today’s talk, Mary works with Zen Buddhist 10 Oxherding Pictures and accompanying poetry to establish a way of ‘being with’ the unconscious. These ancient pictures reflect stages an individual might progress to toward enlightenment and a return to the outer world to gift their insight and care back to the community. These images are accessible on the internet. Mary notes how attention to our dreams can convey communication between our conscious everyday reality and our capital ‘S’ Self. From a Jungian perspective, the paintings and poetry can be seen as a wonderful metaphor to reflect upon and be with the process of individuation. Beginning with an awareness of something not quite right, a loss of meaning, identity or energy, Mary takes us on a rich journey into the power of dreams to begin an ongoing conversation between our ego and our Self.