Fri Mar 2, 2007
Purified Mind, Transcendent Self: Yoga and Jungian Thought A lecture by Bob Bongiovanni
C.G. Jung was deeply influenced by Eastern philosophy, particularly Indian yoga. After his 1910 break with Freud, and his subsequent “confrontation with the unconscious,” Jung turned to Eastern philosophy for support and insight, even taking up yoga practice himself. After a trip to India in 1938, Jung turned away from yoga and toward Gnosticism and Western alchemy for inspiration. But concepts from yoga continued to appear in Jung’s thinking.
In this lecture, Mr. Bongiovanni will explore areas of similarity and difference between Jungian thought and Vedic yoga. Jung’s concepts of Self, libido, psyche, archetype, and active imagination will be compared to similar concepts from yoga: Brahman/Atman, citta, prana, karma, and samyama. Mr. Bongiovanni will present and analyze a selection of Jung’s writings on yoga, particularly kundalini. Finally, he will look at Jung’s concerns about the superficial adoption of yoga in the West, a phenomenon that has accelerated in recent years.
Bob Bongiovanni, M.A. has lectured and taught courses on Jungian thought for over fifteen years. He is a founder of and principal lecturer at The Jungian Circle, a Denver-based discussion group (www.orgsites.com/co/jungiancircle). For the past twenty years, Mr. Bongiovanni has applied Jungian concepts to public health issues, including sexuality education and drug prevention. He has a master’s degree in community psychology from Regis University and was certified by both the Jung Foundation of Colorado and the Jung Association of Therapists and Teachers.
Fri April 6, 2007
The Two Faces of Enlightenment A lecture by Jeffrey Raff, Ph.D.
In almost every spiritual tradition there appear two aspects of the Divine: the immanent and the transcendent. Although some traditions favor one or the other of these faces of God, most try to find a means of uniting them. The immanent face of God looks to the world and seems involved in our daily lives, while the transcendent face looks away from the world and seems unconcerned with normal day-to-day life. Both aspects reflect truth about divine reality, but also about the needs of the human psyche. For the psyche to experience its own awakening and fulfillment, it needs to discover two forms of enlightenment: one that unites it with the immanent and one with the transcendent. Dr. Raff will address these two forms of enlightenment in this lecture from both a theoretical and practical perspective.
Dr. Raff’s newest book, The Practice of Ally Work, will be available for sale at the lecture. Afterwards, he will sign copies of the book for any who wish.
Jeffrey Raff received his B.A. from Bates College, his M.A. in Psychology from the New School for Social Research, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Union Graduate Institute. He attended the C.G. Jung Institute in Zürich from 1972-1976, graduating as a diplomate Jungian Analyst. He has written articles on shamanism, the Kabbalah, and alchemy, as well as four books, Jung and the Alchemical Imagination, Healing the Wounded God, The Wedding of Sophia, and his latest book, The Practice of Ally Work. He is currently in recovery from Guillain-Barré Syndrome and attempting to comprehend the mysteries it brought into his life.
Fri May 4, 2007
(Workshop May 5)
Courting Experiences of the Subtle Body A lecture and workshop by Monika Wikman, Ph.D.
Between the concrete world of matter and the world of spirit resides the realm of imagination and the subtle bodies. Any life crisis, in which the ego learns it does not have the answers, can open us to this third realm where healing potential resides. And beyond crisis, consciousness can also learn to court the subtle body as individuation unfolds.
The 16th century alchemist, Martin Ruland stated, “Imagination is the star in man, the celestial or supercelestial body.” And C.G. Jung commented that the imaginal realm points to the “psychic realm of the subtle bodies—an intermediary realm that manifests in mental, as well as material form. Subtle body energies are both corporeal and semispiritual in nature.” (CW 12 paragraph 394)
This lecture will explore images and experiences of the subtle body in alchemy, dreams, waking life, Hopi Myth, and poetry. The aim of the material is to help seed our imaginations so that consciousness may further learn to open to the healing possibilities inherent in the subtle body realms. Attention will also be given to healing experiences, and various healing arts that tap this realm of being.
On Saturday, a workshop from 9a.m. to 1 p.m. will allow a small number of participants to work further with Dr. Wikman in the exploration of the subtle body. Pondering and playing with images from myth and dream, meditations, music, and Active Imagination — the workshop aims to help each of us learn to shift the point of awareness toward experiences of the subtle body. For the workshop, bring pen and paper and wear comfortable clothing. (25 participants maximum). Cost is $75 up to a week in advance ($60 for members, $90 late registration and at the door).
Monika Wikman, Ph.D. is a Jungian Analyst and Astrologer in Tesuque, New Mexico. She is a graduate of the Centre for Research and Training in Depth Psychology in Zürich, Switzerland. Her book, Pregnant Darkness: Alchemy and the Rebirth of Consciousness, was published by Nicolas Hays in 2005.
Fri June 1, 2007
BROTHERS AND SISTERS: a lecture on the psychology of companionship by Lara Newton
In a book she worked on for over a decade, Lara Newton lays the foundation for a new psychological perspective on the brother-sister relationship. Then she explores that relationship in all its variety, both externally in the world of inter-personal and cultural relationships and internally in the relationship between conscious and unconscious, masculine and feminine.
In this lecture, Lara will present the process of transformation from bonding, to wounding, and finally to healing and redemption, which is described in her book. This is a transformation process that takes the brother-sister relationship from an outer experience, whether negative or positive, to a powerful intrapsychic reality, for any individual who takes up the challenge of relating to this psychological phenomenon. In the course of the lecture, Lara will refer to fairytales and stories of destructive, as well as creative brother-sister relationships, taking us through the transformation process for both. She will also share some poetic material that inspired her.
Ms. Newton’s book will be available for sale at the lecture. She will sign copies for any who wish.
Lara Newton, M.A., L.P.C. is a senior diplomate Jungian Analyst in private practice in Denver. She has been a therapist since 1982. Lara is currently coordinator of admissions and co-coordinator of training for the C.G. Jung Institute of Colorado, a “branch” of the Inter-regional Society of Jungian Analysts. She is also Vice-President of that organization. She has been president of the Jung Society of Colorado for ten years. Her first book, Brothers and Sisters: discovering the psychology of companionship, will be published by Spring Journal Books in spring 2007.
Jung Society of Colorado 