Jung Downunder - Jan - Jun 2008

Creative Tensions

from the President

Images of horror and transformation, page 4

New Year greetings to you all! My hope is

with the presence of the other mind and

that your 2008 will be all the richer for your

spiritual systems resident here. In Conscious

connection to the Jung Society of Sydney.

Femininity Kath McPhillips, through the work

Our Committee is constantly working on

of Marion Woodman, contemplates both

new ways to nourish our community through

the cultural and clinical repercussions of an

publications, website and meetings. I do

unlived spiritual life, and a disconnection

hope that you will be joining us this year to

from the archetypal feminine and masculine.

partake of what is on offer.

I do hope you can join us for these talks with

A Jungian approach demands that we

Psychology Podcasts Dr Dave of Shrink-Rap Radio, page 8

Jung & Sufism, page 22

2

Alchemy and Technology, page 28

their challenging and lively questions.

encompass a multitude of polarities. In

As well as looking ahead to 2008 in Jung

Memories, Dreams and Reflections Jung wrote

Downunder we revisit our 2007 Cinema and

of the necessity of experiencing ourselves as

Psyche event, A Deep Place Touched Only by

“concurrently limited and eternal, as both one

Monsters. So much came out of this evening

and the other”. In our upcoming programme

with Anne Noonan and Barbara Creed, that

of talks there will be ample opportunity to

Louise Fanning was inspired to write about

reflect on these creative tensions.

it, expanding on the wealth of themes and

Speaking directly to our human experience

images that this event evoked. Tim Hartridge

of the eternal, Dr. Ehsan Azari will explore

gives us a guided tour of online resources of

Jungian and Sufi approaches to the sacred

interest to Jungian folk, and Marc Marusic

dimensions of psyche and imagination, while

reviews Robert Romanyshan’s book Ways of

Peter Dicker approaches human encounters

The Heart, while Jon Marshall reflects on bliss.

with the eternal through his revisioning of

My thanks to all these writers for their great

the mythic Dionysus in his talk The Undivided

contributions.

One. Jon Marshall’s attention also focuses on

I would also like to thank the team who

myth making realms in Through Alchemy to

have worked with me on this edition of Jung

Technology, as he considers the psychological

Downunder: Tim Hartridge who is so inspired

realities of technologies and the hopes and

and generous with his considerable skills

fears that they arouse. Amanda Dowd’s talk

and talent as a graphic designer, and Jon

Backgrounds of Beauty explores memories of

Marshall and Lucy Davey who have been

safety and terror to reflect on the effects of

skilled editors.

colonisation in Australia, and how we grapple

Sally Gillespie, President.

C.G.Jung Society of Sydney

News Library Report

From the Committee

further imports for 2008. Marcel

The Society maintains a small library

It has been an exciting and creative

Abarca and Monica Roman have

of books, tapes and journals available

time for the Executive Committee

worked hard to streamline our

to all current members. All items may

as it has embarked upon new

financial systems and reports, while

be borrowed for two months at a

enterprises. The transformation of our

Lucy Davey has refined library

time. The holdings consist of books

old newsletter into the sophisticated

systems and databases, as well as

by CG Jung, books about his work

Jung Downunder magazine by Tim

kept tabs on our work through her

and ideas; there are journals such as

Hartridge has delighted our members

minute- taking of our meetings.

Spring and The Journal of Analytical

and given us the ability to market

As Honorarium Lenore Kulakauskas

Psychology; and a collection of audio

ourselves much more effectively to

manages and co-ordinates all the

tapes of many of the monthly talks

the general public. Watch out for

organisational elements of the

presented at the meetings.

Tim’s redesign of our website next

Society, frequently suggesting new

with its added links to podcasts of

ways to improve systems. When it

interest to our members.

comes to technology Peter Mann

During the past year there have been discussions about the best way to preserve the older audio tapes

Louise Fanning introduced the

advises and supports us in a myriad

since they have a limited life. Any

very well-received Cinema and

of ways, including overseeing the

assistance with transferring them

Psyche symposium which this year

monthly broadcast email. June

to CD would be gratefully accepted

featured Pan’s Labyrinth. She is now

Reynolds continues her long-term

and much appreciated. One of

hard at work developing her next

work of promoting the Society

our Committee members, Monica

Cinema and Psyche event for 2008.

through her excellent networking

Roman, is listening to older tapes to

Bo Robertson organised a superb

abilities. Lesley Hamlyn turns her

check the quality and consider the

Christmas Party for 2007 and will

hands to whatever tasks are at hand at

comparative value of the contents.

next turn her talents to marketing

our monthly meetings. It’s a privilege

This ensures that talks of most

and co-ordinating advertising in Jung

and honour to be the President of

interest are transferred first.

Downunder and on our website.

such a talented, passionate and

There have been a few acquisitions

Jon Marshall has added to the

generous Executive Committee. On

for the Library in 2007, and in 2008

regular secondhand stock of our

behalf of the Jung Society I thank

we may be in a position to purchase

bookstall by importing new stock

them all for the terrific work.

new items. All suggestions from

from Spring Publications and Spring

Sally Gillespie

members are welcome.

Journal, stimulating excellent sales

Lucy Davey

which are inspiring him to make

3

WE A V I N G V O I C E S

Images of Horror and Transf If it’s true as James Hillman tells us that the essence of psyche is myth and that psychology is ultimately mythology - the study of the stories of the soul - then the cinema certainly appears to have been created to open ourselves to aspects of soul.

4

In the darkened auditorium of the

– these monsters can be given form and

cinema, the threshold of consciousness

experienced in the cinema.

is lowered, opening the way to an

In August 2007, the C. G. Jung Society

experience away from the day to day

of Sydney hosted a discussion about

world. An affect charged psychological

images of horror and transformation in

realm is created where images are

the latest film by the Mexican filmmaker

encountered and can be emotionally

Guillermo Del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth.

engaged with, which, under everyday

The film has captivated critics and

circumstances, would be rejected.

cinemagoers alike for its creative

Especially, perhaps, the psychical

aesthetics as well as its multi-layered

factors that are given no place in the

and complex themes. This discussion

day to day world. In Jung’s words, the

was inspired by a quote from the

gods that have become diseases - the

filmmaker himself: “I really think the

phobias, the obsessions, the intense

most creative, most fragile part of the

emotions, the unbearable histories, the

child that lives within me is a child that

ghosts and evils, the terrible traumas

was literally transformed by monsters.

by Louise Fanning

formation in Pan’s Labyrinth Be they on the screen, or in myth or in

matures.” This model could be applied

my own imagination.”

to the making of the film, the narrative of

The panellists were Dr. Anne Noonan, a Sydney-based psychiatrist and Jungian

the film, and the experience of watching the film in the cinema.

Analyst, and Professor Barbara Creed

“With the making of films” Anne said,

who lectures in Cinema Studies at the

“you start off with a base material, the

University of Melbourne. I had the

basic idea, and it is worked through

pleasure of organising and chairing

with a number of actions: writing the

the event and the following are some of

script, getting the costumes together,

the interesting thoughts that emerged

deciding on the setting and time, the

on the night of the discussion and

whole transferential thing of the film

afterwards.

director being moved and continually

Anne Noonan started by saying that

reworking, reworking. Del Toro seems

originally she thought she would tr y

to have a whole theory around how to

to interpret this film in an alchemical

do it, including allusions to other films,

way, that is “that the narrative is a

myths and art. It is not so much his

prima materia, a dark leaden thing

religion - he calls himself an ex-Catholic

which, through a series of processes,

- but it’s his faith-base or something,

is eventually transformed into gold.

taking the myths and art, using many

Jung took this to be a metaphor of

bodies of theory, and weaving them all

individuation or the way the mind

together.”

5

A Deep Place Tou

Ofelia enters the Labyrinth.

6

Anne then explained that as she got

archetypal thing - pulling her back, and

more involved in the story she realised

Eros is underneath burning her genitals

it also had contained a ver y strong

with a torch. That’s a process: it’s only

presence of the Eros and Psyche

by going through that kind of alchemical

story. “In Pan’s Labyrinth Ofelia starts

suf fering, Ofelia’s tests in the film,

off as a human figure and she goes

that she moves into this Psyche/Eros

through various tests. The last scene

relationship.”

in the Psyche myth is where Psyche

Filmmaking in itself can be thought

is immortalised and she goes up with

of as a monstrously difficult experience.

Eros to Olympus/Heaven. In the

Del Toro talks of having a great deal of

Psyche myth she doesn’t really die:

difficulty in the making of this film; in

she becomes unconscious when she

fact he lost a lot of weight. “That’s a

opens up the box and that gives Eros

burning off,” said Anne. “Holding the

the chance to come and be with her.

complexity of the stories, the history,

‘Psyche’ is the Greek word for ‘butterfly’

various myths and possibilities in all

and Persephone’s potion causes Psyche

the details. The transformation of

to move out of her human guise, from

natural images to technical images and

her physical level, and metamorphose

finally brought back together again as a

to a higher level.”

symbolic image.”

In a discussion later Anne spoke of

In terms of an alchemical experience

James Hillman’s interesting comments

for the film viewer, Anne thought that

about Psyche and Eros: “He says

a good film could transform or change

Psyche is actually just mind or even

mind. She said, “That was Jung’s idea

habit, more or less day to day stuff. Eros

with the difference between true and

comes along and that’s the transformer,

false imagination. The old alchemists

he burns, he pierces, he makes people

used to say the true imagination is

suffer. There is an ancient coin found

when the images move and transform

not too long ago which has on one side

whereas the false imagination is more a

Eros and Psyche in an embrace. On

repetitive day dreaming sort of thing.”

the other side poor old Psych is being

Anne thought that while certain horror

absolutely tortured. Aphrodite’s pulling

films can just have a repetitive, kind

her backwards by the hair, that’s an

of addictive thrill, in Del Toro’s film

uched Only by Monsters the imagery suggests it’s moving you

myth or of modern film symbolises

along to another place. “You’ll hear a lot

a kind of dreamlike journey in which

of artists say ‘I went to see Gilbert and

the traveller must confront, and by the

Sullivan with my aunt when I was 9 and

traveller I mean not just the protagonist

from then on I knew’.”

of the film such as Ofelia but also the

“It’s also interesting to notice,”

viewer, via the protagonist, the main

Anne went on to say, “that Joseph

character we’re asked to identify with,

Campbell, Mircea Eliade and Jung

must confront the important issues in

and also del Toro, all had moments in

life, particularly those of birth, betrayal,

their childhoods, we know not why,

loss and separation, death and rebirth.”

which became extremely significant,

For Barbara the labyrinth is essentially

moments in time that sort of held the

a place where the body becomes lost

tension between the supernatural and

and the mind embarks on a journey of

the natural: Del Toro’s monsters and

its own in order to find resolution to a

ghosts in the cupboard; Jung’s phallus

problem.

dream that always stuck in his mind;

Barbara provided an extensive

Eliade thought he was in a green grape.

etymology of the word ‘labyrinth’ and

With Campbell he says in Cowboy and

history of the evolution of the labyrinth

Indian games he thought he looked

and, of particular interest to storytellers

like the Indian, at the image level he

a description of the four primary types

identified a lot with them.”

of labyrinth that she has identified: the

The key motif for Barbara Creed in

spiral, the maze, the matrix and the

her response to Pan’s Labyrinth relates

rhizome. “Whereas the maze,” she said,

to the symbolism of the labyrinth

“offers a comparatively straightforward

throughout. And Barbara along with

journey of entrances and exits, the spiral

Anne found a strong resonance in

offers a more complex journey, spinning

the way that the key motif they each

according to it’s own laws. The post-

identified is not just a description of

modern matrix and the rhizome offer

the story’s narrative structure but also

paths ... without entrances and without

a template of the way the viewer can

exits suggesting perhaps that in the late

get involved in the film psychologically.

20th and early 21st century the journey

Barbara said: “The labyrinth of ancient

into the unconscious to discover the self

Above left & below posters from the movie.

7

A Deep Place Tou

The pale man.

8

has become increasingly complex and

this myth it is the half-animal/human

increasingly difficult.” Pan’s Labyrinth,

hybrid that is so monstrous whereas

in Barbara’s opinion, interweaves two

interestingly, in Pan’s Labyrinth the

cinematic forms of the labyrinthine

faun is the human/animal hybrid, and

journey. “In the above ground stor y

although he’s a monster he’s a ver y

the labyrinthine workings are fairly

sympathetic monster. In fact all of the

straightfor ward and operate around

monstrous creatures, except the pale

the labyrinth as a maze where there

man, are sympathetic, it’s the human

are entrances and exits in the stories

monster that is tr uly horrific. So,

surrounding the sadistic captain and

ever y seven years the Minotaur fed

the freedom fighters in the countryside

on human flesh, seven young men and

attacking the forces of Franco. The story

seven maidens sent from Athens as a

of Ofelia is much more complicated and

tribute to the Minotaur. It was the hero

resembles much more the labyrinth as

Theseus with the help of Ariadne, the

a rhizome or a place where there are no

king’s daughter, who was able to finally

clear entrances or exits at all. But the

slay the Monster with the help of her

two forms of the labyrinthine narrative

famous thread.”

and structure in the film intersect

Barbara said she feels Del Toro’s story

throughout so it becomes an incredibly

draws on a number of motifs from the

complex film in terms of the way the

ancient legend. “In a sense the mother

above ground political story relates to

has mated with the monster, the captain,

the underground fantasy story.”

but this time it is Ofelia the daughter

Barbara took us through the story of

whose task it is to leave the captain, or

the labyrinth and a description of the

father if you like, and journey into the

monster at its centre. “The classical

depths of the labyrinth using his own

labyrinth was built on the order of the

son, her brother as a lure, in the hope

Cretan king Minos, the moon king,

of bringing new life to the bloody land.”

because the king’s wife had mated

Barbara pointed out that the pattern

with a white bull and given birth to the

becomes much more complex than in

human/animal hybrid, the Minotaur

the classical story. “The Monster feasts

that possessed the body of a man but

on the blood of innocents in this film

the head of a bull. And of course, in

but it is fully human. The central change

uched Only by Monsters to the myth apar t from the familial

at the end of the film when the captain

relationships is that the dominant

staggers out of the labyrinth holding his

character is female. The hero Theseus

son and walks straight into the arms of

has been replaced by a heroine, Ofelia

the rebels. He says he wants them to

and the monster is in a sense the false

tell his son the hour of his death, just

king, the patriot and the fascist.”

as he knew his own father’s. “This,”

In the scene where Ofelia encounters

said Barbara, “is symbolically a ver y

the pale man, Barbara obser ves that

impor tant hour, the hour when the

the labyrinth is not presented as a

son becomes the new patriarch.” This,

comforting place, but “as a place of

of course, does not happen. “What

terror ruled over by the blind man

Ofelia has done is, she gives the next

who symbolically cannot see anything

generation of children a chance never

literally, morally or psychologically.

to know the fascist, sadistic form of

He’s the only underground monster

patriarchy as monster. As with many

in the film who is not sympathetic.”

horror films the only real monsters are

Barbara sees him as being linked to

human ones.”

the captain. “Vidal and the pale man are

As I peruse the comments from our

both monsters that dwell deep within

panellists I am amazed by the complex

their own labyrinths and are natural

and enigmatic images that have sprung

enemies of the worlds of children and

forth, further enriching not only our

fantasy. They are particularly linked

understanding of Guillermo del Toro’s

where they are holding their hands up.

fascinating film but the ever yday

In Vidal’s hand, his stigmata, his cross

experience of our lives.

Posters from the movie.

to bear, is his watch, which is cracked from when his father was shot. That’s his pain to bear. When the pale man lifts his hands up what we see here are eyes which is his way of seeing through the maze but he cannot see clearly.”

“So, what is it that Ofelia achieves by the end of the journey?” Barbara thought that it’s all contained in the line

Guillermo del Toro

9

iPod Psychology

Self help has long been the domain of book and magazine

Dr David Van Nyse of Shrink Rap Radio

10

Top: Maureen Murdock Below: Douglas A.Davis

Unless you have been living under

of podcasts to your computer? I had

a rock you have no doubt heard of the

no idea either until about 18 months

world’s most popular portable media

ago I navigated my way to podcast

player, the Apple iPod. This nifty

central, iTunes, typed into the search

device is used with your computer,

window “psychology” and up popped a

although new iPods are now capable

small selection of psychology-based

of connecting you wirelessly to the

programs. Thinking back, I was oddly

Internet. Once connected to the Net you

rather encouraged by this meagre result

can download the mostly free audio and

and began exploring straight away the

video broadcasts called podcasts to your

podcast Shrink Rap Radio.

iPod and play at leisure. Of course most

Shrink Rap Radio is a weekly

commercial music and movies are still

podcast hosted by the ver y likable

only available by purchase, but a lot of

and knowledgeable Dr Dave (alias, Dr

great material is free.

David Van Nuys). Dr Dave interviews

So why would you want one of these

the most interesting collection of expert

devices or to download endless hours

guests in the field of psychology, many

WEAVING VOICES

It’s All in Your Ear

by tim hartridge

e publishers, but today it’s all just a click away via your computer or iPod having published on a wide variety of

Computer-Assisted Dream Interpretation; podcast

subjects. Recent subjects and people

and Shamanic Psychology.

According to the web-based, e n c y c l o p e d i a Wi k i p e d i a :

include: The Authoritarian Personality

There are so many dif ferent and

with Robert Altemyer; Psychopathology

fascinating inter views conducted by

in The Workplace with Laurence Miller;

Dr.Dave, but a couple which stood- distributed over the Internet

Adventure-Based Psychotherapy with

out were The Heroine’s Journey with

Jason Holder; Using Hypnosis and

the articulate Maureen Murdock who for playback on portable

EMDR to Repair Broken Maternal/

studied with Joseph Campbell, and

Infant Bonds with Tony Madrid; and

the discussion on the relationship

The Psychological Impact of Materialism

between Freud and Jung based on

with Tim Kasser.

the investigative work of Douglas A.

Some of the more unusual inter-

“A podcast is a collection of digital media files which is using syndication feeds media players and personal computers.”

Davis.

views have included: Ar tificial Life

The Jung Podcast, with Jungian

and Artificial Intelligence; Two Blokes

analyst John Betts, is one of the most

in an Aussie Pub Discuss Psychology;

comprehensive programs on Jung’s

Psychological Survival in Baghdad;

Analytical Psychology. It provides

John Betts of the Jung Podcast.

11

iPod Psychology : PODCAST an introduction to the fundamentals

they are able take as long as they need

of Analytical Psychology through

to discuss the topic. Podcasts can run as

which the listener is able to develop

short announcements, as information

a thorough understanding of Jungian

pieces, or as mini inter views of 10

psychological principles.

minutes or less, to more in-depth

The Jung Podcast also applies a handsNatasha Mitchell of the ABC's All in the Mind

on approach to working with dreams.

interviews and discussions lasting over an hour.

The early episodes provide the listener

T h e Te x a s Te c h U n i v e r s i t y ’ s

with a detailed understanding of the

Department of Psychology provides

terms and application of Jungian

brief episodes of less than 10 minutes

dreamwork and then invites the

for their Psychology Podcast show

listener to do the inner work. There’s a

created by student doctors and Dr

brilliant workshop in later episodes on

Frank Durso. This surprisingly brief

the application of Fairy Tales to inner

show covers some very useful material

work using the tale of the “Nixie of the

for anyone lost in life’s struggles.

Mill-Pond”.

An Introduction to Psychology Lectures with Dana C. Leighton is at

Navigating Therapy

the other end of the spectrum with in-

Program lengths vary hugely, even with

depth podcasts running over an hour.

some well structured podcasts. Far from

These are a lecture series from classes

being a disadvantage, the wonderful

run at the Portland Community College

thing about podcast programs is that

in Oregon USA. Leighton created the

ANZAP SATURDAY MORNING SEMINARS at the Australian Museum, College Street Sydney CUT! FEBRUARY 9TH

This will be another ‘live’ presentation of a session between a real therapist and an actor/patient. Russell Meares will lead a panel in commenting on what is occurring in the therapy while it is happening.

A LENS ON EMPATHY APRIL 5TH Well-known psychotherapist, Alan Kindler, will be here from America to present a fascinating and educational seminar on empathy using video.

PSYCHOTHERAPY GOES TO THE MOVIES JUNE 14TH Psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and movie-buff, Professor Carolyn Quadrio, will take us on a journey about the presentation of therapy and therapists in film.

12

ANZAP: (02) 8399 3787 · info@anzapweb.com · www.anzapweb.com

T podcast as way of making his classroom

it automatically checks for new episodes

iPod + iTunes

lectures available to his students and

on programs I have subscribed to for

iPod is a brand of portable

has even made available some visual

free, like the Jung Podcast presented by

media player designed by Apple

notes, so that you feel like you are

John Betts.

Today when I searched on iTunes

actually in the class.

Computers. They are external data storage devices for playing audio and video.

I am happy to inform you that Aunty

for Psychology there were more than iTunes software is used to

ABC produces some of the best

150 podcasts listed. These programs transfer music to the iPod or

programs to be found anywhere on the

become a virtual audio-library on every

internet. Their psychology podcast All

conceivable subject. You don’t have to

in the Mind is recommended by the

have an iPod to listen to them, as you

astute Dr Dave. The program presenter

can listen straight off the website, its

ABC now

is Natasha Mitchell, part of the ABC’s

just more convenient that way. To

ABC NOW is a yet another

Radio National team, who has a science

get you started I have put links to all

background and list of media awards

the podcasts mentioned here on our

longer than this article.

website – www.jungdownunder.com

other MP3 device from stored audio and video libraries on the user’s computer.

innovation. It’s a small piece of software that will help you navigate the collective stream of the ABC’s titanic media

All in the Mind freely combines

Online there’s a wonderfully rich

collection, particularly their

“unexpected voices, themes and ideas” and

source to be found through podcasts,

more recent shows. Currently

“engages with both leading thinkers and

offering us unparalleled flexibility to

personal stories” and so the program’s

listen and re-listen whenever we want.

scope is considerably broader than pure

Dr Dave’s catch-phrase “Its All in Your

they do however transcribe

psychology. It is well worth the listen.

Mind” might be better said as “It’s All

programs and you can read

in Your Ear”.

them online.

A wonderful thing about iTunes is that

the ABC does not have all programs in an audio or video format for downloading, but

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On ‘Following

It is well known that towards the end of his life Joseph Campbell s

Find where it is, and don’t be afraid to follow it” and “if you do follow

all the while, waiting for you... doors will open where you didn’t kno

14

Initially this sounds attractive,

imperative. In this stor y the ser vant

but although Campbell did not intend

who fails to increase or use his talents,

it this way, it can become a destructive

but merely keeps them safe, displeases

demand, and we might wonder what

the master and is thrown outside into

happens with a life where it is not clear

the darkness where there is “weeping

what your bliss is, or that you can find

and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:

it, or that once found you could pursue

14-30 and a similar tale at Luke 19:12-

it? Perhaps other things are also

27). Those who do not use their talents

demanded; perhaps there are other

correctly are clearly damned. The

imperatives which are just as real, or

message of using talents can thus

obstacles which cannot be crossed? Is,

become a dictum to oppress and flog

for example, a life irredeemably lost if

ourselves with. The story also seems

you care for a child or a spouse who is

to make a perfectly confused emblem

incapacitated and do not follow bliss

for life in modern society; if we don’t

alone? Might you develop just as much

make money or increase our selves, by

from pain or restriction?

ourselves, then we have failed.

The implied message that if you do

Campbell also seems to be saying that

not follow your one path, your one

if you follow your bliss then problems

enjoyment, your one bliss, then your

will be cleared away. Jung suggests that

life will be wasted, is reinforced by

we should beware of philosophies that

the Christian parable of the monetary

imply that we can make our life simple,

talents, from whence we get the idea

certain and smooth. Problems, in his

of personal ‘talents’. It is not surprising

view, rather than success, force us to

that religion and myth lurk beneath an

greater consciousness and to separation

WEAVING VOICES

your Bliss’

by Jonathan Marshall

said: “My general formula for my students is ‘Follow your bliss’.

w your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there

ow they were going to be” (The Power of Myth, pp. 120, 149). from childhood. “Ever y problem...

but not necessarily that something

brings the possibility of a widening of

itself. In which case, the ambition can

consciousness”. “The serious problems

be explored like a dream, or an active

of life are never fully solved. If ever they

imagination. What does, say, “being a

should appear to be so it is a sure sign

professional writer” symbolise to you?

that something has been lost” (Jung

What does it feel like in your body?

“The Stages of Life”, CW 8). Neither is

We can make associations, we can see

it that clear that there is really only one

where the unconscious wants to go,

potential path through our lives; the Self

and perhaps face our misconceptions.

is capable of many expressions, and if

We can do the same with our reactions

one is taken then others may have to be

to our supposedly prosaic realities. In

surrendered. There is at the end of our

both cases the depth is already present

lives, only the one path we have taken. If

in our being, rather than in something

we have a fantasy of bliss which we did

we might have done or might achieve.

not fulfil, does that mean our life was

Perhaps following either track will help

misspent? Or can we use our problems

us act in a new way, perhaps different

to get somewhere?

from what we thought we wanted.

There may be two solutions to this

Perhaps it can help us be. In either case,

issue. Firstly, the mystical; our bliss is

through work and facing problems, we

within us already, and can be brought to

can move beyond a fantasy and social

whatever we do and, as a result, we do

based imperative towards something

not have to follow some path in order to

valid for the soul.

Joseph Campbell

Carl Gustav Jung

be satisfied or become whole. Secondly, our ambition is a symbol of something,

15

B O O K R E V I EW

Ways of the Hear

16

Rober t D. Romanyshyn is a

reality. The experience of television

senior faculty member at Pacifica

(the television body) is an image

Graduate Institute in the USA, and

consciousness (rather than verbocentric

founder of its doctoral programme in

and literate consciousness, both still

Depth Psychology. In this collection

dominant aspects of Western culture).

of essays, he draws upon philosophy,

For the television body, knowing is

histor y, literature, art and poetr y to

emotional, participatory and sensuous,

reanimate psychology and allow it to

rather than rational, detached and

reflect on how soul can live and thrive

logical. Waking and dreaming can blur

in the contemporar y world. Just as

each other. Although this position may

dream is the royal road to the soul,

not be without its problems, the author

Romanyshyn proposes reverie as the

affirms that television consciousness

royal road to the soul of the world.

helps us to reconnect with the imaginal

Reverie is a mode of consciousness

world, and that our situation is not

completely dif ferent from fantasy.

helped by confining television to the

Whereas fantasy has ego in its centre,

task of amusement. Similarly, virtual

reverie allows us communion with the

reality, although reinforcing the

depth of our existence, the existence of

Cartesian separation of body/dream and

the world, and the otherworldly (such

mind/reason, is helping to reintroduce

as gods, spirits, angels, the dead) – all

the body of the dream, as the user

at once. Yet this is not a book about

par ticipates in an imaginal, vir tual

psychotherapy: rather it describes a

world. However, Romanyshyn does raise

therapeutic way of living. It explores the

questions about the consequences – to

imaginal world and invites the reader to

be a presence without substance is to

do so too.

be without humanity, and if participation

Odd as it may seem, technology can

in electronic communities occurs at

help us rediscover soul in the modern

the expense of interaction in organic

world. Romanyshyn demonstrates

communities (ie in communal space)

this in essays on television and virtual

we risk losing our sense of home.

rt

by Robert D. Romanyshyn Reviewed by Marc Marusic

Essays Toward An Imaginal Psychology Ways of the Hear t is steeped in

poet, phenomenologist and depth

phenomenology. The author sees Jung

psychologist. For all three, what

as at times a radical phenomenologist.

appears, matters first before one

One instance of this lies in Jung’s

asks what it might mean. The author

work with alchemy – a way of knowing

encourages a state of being coined by

through intimacy and relation rather

Keats – “negative capability”, in which

than through separation and distance.

one is “capable of being in uncertainties,

A radical phenomenology “is devoted to

mysteries, doubts, without any irritable

those subtle bodies which are neither facts

reaching after fact and reason.” In other

nor ideas... a work of the heart which is

words, having the patience to linger in

neither that of mind nor eye, a poetics of

the moment and wait for the presence in

the soul’s landscape where a mind feels

the present to appear.

its way into those imaginal presences who

“The capacity to dream with the world”

always haunt the margins of the sensible

forms the heart of what the author is

world”.

tr ying to reawaken in this book. He

As a practising poet myself, I found

outlines some of the developments in

the author’s reflections on poetr y

Western culture that have militated

ver y enriching. Poetr y corresponds

against this capacity, such as the

with reverie, in that one is a witness

fifteenth centur y invention of linear

to what has been lost, forgotten, left

perspective in art. This has influenced

behind, or otherwise marginalised and

us to become distant spectators of

neglected. One of my poems, pertinent

the world. The appeal of this work is

in this respect, concerns my present

enriched by extracts from poets such as

fascination with the display homes that

Rilke, Blake, Keats and Tagore – each

I visited when I was very young, and the

helping “to redress the imbalance which

visions I then had in them of a possible

exists in favour of the empirical over the

future life. Indeed, the imaginal world

aesthetic.”

is poetr y itself. Romanyshyn draws many cor respondences involving

17

Talks

C.G.Jung Society of Sydney The C.G. Jung Society of Sydney was formed in 1975 to promote discussion of the ideas of the Swiss analyst and psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung. Each month the Society arranges Guest Speakers to present a diverse range of Jungian topics in the form of talks, workshops and special events, which can be found in the following pages.

The Society is open to all members of the general public and offers a rich and varied monthly programme of speakers both Australian and international.

Annual General Meeting 7pm Saturday, March 8 2008, before the talk by Dr Ehsan Azari “Jung & Sufism”

The Jung Society’s Annual General Meeting is held each March before our scheduled talk begins. The proceedings are always very brief and your attendance as a member of the Society is very much appreciated in order to achieve our necessary quorum. The main item on the agenda is to elect office bearers. We are always delighted to welcome any member who wishes to contribute to our Society by joining our Committee.

Should you be interested please contact Sally Gillespie on (02) 9552 3252 or email to: cgjung@jungdownunder.com 18

2008 Programme

February through June

Saturday, February 9

Conscious Femininity

Exploring the work of Marion Woodman Kathleen McPhillips Page 20–21 Saturday, March 8 Brief Annual General Meeting Before Talk

Jung & Sufism

The Influence of Eastern Philosophy Dr Ehsan Azari

Page 22–23

Saturday, April 12

The Undivided One

Dionysian Consciousness in the Clinic Peter Dicker Page 24–25 Saturday, May 10

Background of Beauty

Memories of Safety and/or Terror Amanda Dowd

Page 26–27

Saturday, June 14

Through Alchemy to Technology Western Dreaming & Myth Making Jonathan Marshall

Page 28–29 19

SATURDAY, 9 February 6.30pm for 7.00pm TALK Blavatsky Lodge, Level 2, 484 Kent Street, Sydney

Conscious Femi Exploring the work of Marion Guest Speaker Kathleen McPhillips

Marion Woodman

20

The contributions of Canadian

clinical and writing work, Woodman has

Jungian analyst and writer Marion

established a Foundation which runs an

Woodman towards an understanding of

international training program BodySoul

the repressed feminine in contemporary

Rhythms, where in a supportive space

Western cultures is explored in this talk.

women participate in processes which

In particular, Woodman cites addiction

encourage the emergence of their

and its behaviours as the outcome of an

authentic voice. Processes include

unlived spiritual life, and disconnection

dream work, dance, voice and art work.

from the archetypal feminine and

I will introduce Woodman’s central

masculine. This disconnection can

concepts, give a brief account of her life

result in a ‘split’ feminine which is

and how she came to do this work, and

clinically and culturally obser vable.

explain the split feminine via examples

Conscious femininity is the process

in popular Australian culture, including

of bringing this split to consciousness

the TV series Kath and Kim, and a

and returning to the body. As well her

number of films.

EVENTS PROGRAMME

ininity Woodman

Kathleen McPhillips is a senior lecturer in Humanities at the University of Western Sydney. She has been reading the work of Marion Woodman for 25 years, and recently attended a Body/Soul Rhythms workshop in Italy.

Kathleen’s field of research is in gender, culture and religion. She has published extensively in this area.

Members $5, Non-Members $20, Non-Members Concession $15

Kathleen McPhillips

21

Jung Guest Speaker Dr. Ehsan Azari

J ung’s theoretical development was influenced by his intensive reading of Eastern philosophy, in particular that of Sufism. Dr Ehsan Azari reflects on the foundation of Jung’s universal Unconscious in the mirror of the quest of Sufism.

Dr Ehsan Azari

In Sufism, human beings are likened

manifest the beauty and existence of

to thousands of different plants having

matter, the universe, and the divine.

their roots imbedded in one and the

Thus a Sufi understands the mysteries

same soil. Sufism sees in the psychic

between the spirit and its embodiments

inheritance of ever y speaking and

in the ever yday life. Jung offers us a

thinking being, a primeval desire to

prodigious insight into this complex

identify her/himself with that One. This

interaction by his notion of codification

desire is both a personal and a supra-

in the universal set of archetypes. The

personal psychic force that allows for

great Sufi poet, Rumi, saw divinity in its

the experience of divinity to occur within

earthly manifestations:

oneself. This desire, in other words, is an

In the early morning hour, just before

instrument of cognition and behaviour

dawn, lover and beloved wake and take

within the life of a Sufi. Similarly,

a drink of water. She asks, “Do you love

a spiritual motivation is of primal

me or yourself more?

importance in the Jungian unconscious,

Really, tell the absolute truth.”

and every human motivation is directed

He says, “There’s nothing left of me. I’m

by this spirituality — as a force.

like a ruby held up to the sunrise. Is it

Sufis believe that within every human hear t a primordial image or what 22

Jung calls an archetype is present to

still a stone, or a world made of redness?

It has no resistance to sunlight”.

For Sufis, as for Jung, the experience

EVENTS PROGRAMME SAT. 8 March 7.00pm Start Brief AGM 10 minutes TALK FOLLOWS Blavatsky Lodge Level 2, 484 Kent St, Sydney Sufis of Cairo

of God was a possibility. Jung defines

Such a universal psychic predisposition

the core of his depth psychology as

makes the foundation of Jung’s universal

a “self confession”, which can only be

Unconscious mirror the Sufi quest for

materialised after experience. Jung

oneness. Jung’s analytical psychology,

postulates this in his own way: “I could

especially his analytical method of

not say I believe, I know! I have had the

synchronicity, explores an alignment of

experience of being gripped by something

universal forces in the life experiences

that is stronger than myself, something

of an individual human being.

that people call God”.

In an interdisciplinar y approach, I

The Sufi doctrine of love necessitates

will examine Jung’s reading of Eastern

a reciprocal attraction between man and

philosophy and religion, especially

God, the first call to love comes from

Sufism. I will analyse Sufism and its

God and a Sufi’s heart is the mirror of

relevance to Jungian psychology and

the light of God. For Rumi the heart was

provide examples of Sufi psychology

an interpreter between God and Sufi.

from various Sufi texts.

Another Sufi philosopher said that the light of the Sun of God illuminates the

Dr Ehsan Azari is an Afghan writer

heart. Jung also says the same thing, “I

based in Sydney. His PhD thesis is

had to wrench myself free of God, so to

Lacan and the Destiny of Literature:

speak, in order to find the unity in myself

Shakespeare, Donne, Joyce, and Ashbery,

which God seeks through man. It is rather

from Macquarie University, soon to be

like the vision of Symeon, the Theologian,

published by an international academic

Members $5

who sought God in vain everywhere in the

publisher. His writings appear in both

Non-Members $20

world, until God rose like a little sun in

the Australian and international press.

his own heart”.

Concession $15 23

SATURDAY, 12 APRIL 6.30pm for 7.00pm TALK Blavatsky Lodge Level 2, 484 Kent St, Sydney

The

Undiv

Dionysian Consciousness in Guest Speaker Peter Dicker

I n this presentation Peter will contend that the subversive madness of Dionysian consciousness can, now more than ever, nourish our sanity in a modern world. Along the way it will be necessary to loosen our grip, permit the ambiguous in all things and encounter the radical bisexual nature at the heart of the God.

24

There are many obstacles to a true

bias” of conflating Dionysus with the

and sympathetic understanding of

figure of Wotan, primarily a god of

the figure of Dionysus. Culturally, our

hunting and battle.

representations have tended towards

All these portrayals have in common a

the caricature: from the truly mad and

perception of the Dionysian experience

dangerous to the perpetually drunk

as in some way “inferior” and therefore

old man, over weight and riding an

either dangerous or ridiculous. However,

unsteady unicorn, as in the buffoon of

this defensive reaction is more a

Disney films like Fantasia. Even Jung

commentary on the dominant structures

sometimes slips in to the “Germanic

that rule both our cultural/political

EVENTS PROGRAMME

vided One

n the Clinic

and psychic worlds (ie. the ego). It is

patriarchal figures and by all forms of

therefore with good reason that many

worldly establishment.

of the tales and myths show Dionysus as being rejected and persecuted by male

Peter Dicker is a former President

been exploring his interest in Jungian

of the Illawarra Jung Society. He works

and Archetypal Psychology through

as a psychologist in a public health

various creative projects – lectures,

clinic, south of Wollongong. He has

essays, poetry and musical compositions

been a frequent presenter at the Sydney

– and he continues to maintain an

Jung Society where he has also been a

ongoing passion for ideas, particularly in

member for 25 years.

relation to clinical and cultural matters.

Peter Dicker

Over the past two decades Peter has

Members $5, Non-Members $20, Non-Members Concession $15

25

memories of safety

Backgrou of

Reflections from an Australian consulting r

interrelations between experiences of space, Guest Speaker Amanda Dowd

Alexis Wright

26

Indigenous writer and activist

last year I laid out something of the

Alexis Wright, in her recent paper On

psychological terrain of trauma that

Writing Carpentaria, said this:

collapses imaginative space and hence

“The great force of history comes from

contributes to this experience of ‘loss

the fact that we carry it within us, are

of history’ and loss of psychohistorical

unconsciously controlled by it in many

memory and hence mind.

ways, and history is literally present

In this talk the themes of displacement,

in all that we do. It could scarcely be

unsettledness, alienation, belonging,

otherwise, since it is to history that

emplacement, the uncanny, identity,

we owe our frames of reference, our

fear of the unknown and the unknown

identities, and our aspirations.”

Other, are deepened into an exploration

Wright also speaks of Australia as

of the Backgrounds of Beauty – both

“the land of disappearing memory” just

awesome and terrible - that underpin

as W.E.H.Stanner before her spoke of a

our individual and hence collective

“cult of forgetfulness”. In a paper delivered

capacities to love and to dwell both in

to the Jung Society in Februar y of

body and in place. I would argue that

EVENTS PROGRAMME

and/or terror

unds Beauty

SATURDAY, 10 MAY 6.30pm for 7.00pm TALK Blavatsky Lodge Level 2, 484 Kent St,

room on the

Sydney

, place, identity and God such subtle geography informs our

Deborah Bird-Rose, Donald Meltzer,

relationships with this place in which

Winnicott, Bion and Jung we will follow

we live.

a line of thinking that asks “Where do

Drawing on the stories and

thoughts come from? Can we think of

experiences of individual patients and

country as mind?� And how does this

the writings of Wright (especially her

help us to come to terms with the

novel Carpentaria), the American

presence of the Other mind and spiritual

philosopher of place Edward Casey,

system resident here and the realities of

David Abrams, Craig San Roque,

what colonisation has done.

Carpenteria

Amanda Dowd is a Jungian Analyst and psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice in Sydney. She trained with the Australian New Zealand Society of Jungian Analysts and has been practising for 15 years. She has a special interest in the mythopoetics of relationship, and the formation of self, mind, identity and cultural identity.

Members $5, Non-Members $20, Non-Members Concession $15

27

SATURDAY, 14 JUNE 6.30pm for 7.00pm TALK Blavatsky Lodge Level 2, 484 Kent St, Sydney

Alchemy Through

Western dreaming & myth making Guest Speaker Jonathan Marshall In the west, technology is never

alienating us from the ‘natural world’,

seen neutrally, but becomes a matter

and something that we can hope will

for collective dreaming and myth

solve all our problems.

making. This can be seen in the potent

In this talk I extend the ways that Jung

images which gather around electricity,

analysed alchemy, as both a projection

nuclear power and computers; images

of, and working through, the dynamics

which give the technologies a deep

of psychic forces, to technology in

psychological life which cannot be

general. I fur ther suggest that our

simply separated from their supposed

projections then lead us to talk about

‘reality’.

ourselves in terms of technology, and

Through this process, technology becomes a living force we both fear for 28

manifest our collective waking dreams and nightmares through technology.

EVENTS PROGRAMME

myTECHNOLOGY TO

Jonathan Marshall PhD is an

online, and written about the history

anthropologist and a QEII Research

of alchemy in the United Kingdom. He

Fellow at the University of Technology

is the author of Living on Cybermind:

Sydney, studying the ways that

Categories, Communication and Control,

Information Technology increases

and Jung, Alchemy and History, and has

disorder and disruption. He has also

published numerous articles.

investigated the ways that people live

Members $5, Non-Members $20, Non-Members Concession $15

29

Noticeboard DISCLAIMER The C.G.Jung Society of Sydney does not take responsibility for services offered by individual advertisers on the N o t i c e b o a r d . We r e c e i v e advertising in good faith.

Caution and discrimination in responding is advised and is your responsibility.

COPYRIGHT Š 2008 Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use as defined in the copyright laws requires the written permission of the copyright owners.

Change of address: Jacinta Frawley Jacinta Frawley has moved her practice to: Suite 6, 334 President Ave, Gymea Reach on 0414 532 690 for Jungian Analysis, group & individual supervision.

JUNGIAN ANALYST: Psychotherapist Marcelle Lawrence, B.Ec. Ll.B (Hons.) ANZSJA, IAAP Trained at the C.G.Jung Institute of Zurich, her professional career in Australia includes 20 years working in the therapeutic community. Her interests encompass mythology, art, poetry and creativity, and the role that culture plays in shaping the bodymind of the individual. She works with sandplay, dreams and images in exploring unconscious processes.

Her private practice is in Paddington. Phone (02) 9361 3283.

Sandplay Professional Development Sarah Gibson, Jungian Analyst, & Sally Gillespie, Jungian Psychotherapist, offer small

ADVERTISING Deadline for the next newsletter will be on 21 April 2008.

professional development groups and supervision for sandplay therapy practitioners

Newsletter: 1 page $280, Half page $160, Noticeboard $10/line

For further information phone Sarah (02) 9810 1898 or Sally (02) 9552 3252.

Broadcast email: $50 non member $30 member

from beginner to advanced levels, in the tradition of Dora Kalff and C.G. Jung.

Groups commence February in Balmain.

Emotional Intelligence WRITING GROUP The healing power of stories – Talking about painful events from the past can be healing. Writing a book about how an emotional wound occurred cleanses the wound, supporting closure and healing. It also helps you to understand the

Website Column Ad: $80 non member $50 member

circumstances of past events and develop the emotional skills needed for coping and change. Books about suffering and the ways in which disastrous events result

Contact: Bo Robertson lofty.scott@australiaonline.net.au WEBSITE: www.jungdownunder.com

in survival or destruction are highly popular. Every person has at least one story in them. Have you written your story yet? For help join a monthly WRITING GROUP. Contact Bo Robertson M.Lib.Sc.,Dip.Cl.Hyp.,JP, Emotional Intelligence Trainer & Coach on 0404 565 388

Thank You The Jung Society of Sydney wishes to express its gratitude to: Alison Clark, a long term member, who made a very generous donation of books to our book stall and library in 2007.

Toxteth Hotel in Glebe who donates the use of its functions room for our Committee meetings.

McMillan Print for their expertise and generosity.

30

C.G.Jung Society

of Sydney

TM

C.G.Jung Society of Sydney New members and visitors are alway welcome. If attending a lecture for the first time please feel free to make yourself known to the Committee members, they will be happy to explain how the Society works and to answer any questions. You are also welcome to register your email address with us for our monthly broadcast of upcoming events.

History & Aims The C.G.Jung Society of Sydney was formed in 1975 to promote the ideas of the Swiss analyst and psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961). The Society is open to all members of the general public and offers a rich and varied programme of monthly talks and seminars from Australian and international guest speakers. In addition the Society provides a dedicated research and reference library.

Membership Annual Membership entitles you to: • Discounts at all our monthly Talks and Lectures • Access to borrow from our extensive Library, which includes books, journals, audio tapes, cds, dvds and videos • Generous discounted prices at our bookshop • Special member discounts for workshops and other activities • 10% discount on Jungian books from Pheonix Rising Booksellers, Glebe • You will also receive a mailed copy of our bi-annual newletter Jung Downunder and any monthly updates via email.

Applications Membership applications are available from our website – see under 'membership' for the local Sydney society. You can either pay online via PayPal or print out a PDF copy of the membership form and post to: the CG Jung Society, GPO Box 2796 Sydney NSW 2001

Full annual membership is $50.

OUROBOROS

Concession, country members or organisation membership is $25.

The symbol of C.G.Jung

Enquiries Membership enquiries directed to: Lenore Kulakauskas on tel.(02) 9365 7750 WEBSITE Membership application and event information – www.jungdownunder.com Executive Committee 2007 President: Sally Gillespie Treasurer: Monica Roman Assistant Treasurer: Marcel Abarca Minutes Secretary & Librarian: Lucy Davey Liaison Officer: June Reynolds Membership Officer: Bo Roberston

Member: Lesley Hamlyn Special Projects Officer: Louise Fanning Bookshop Officer: Jon Marshall Technical Officer: Peter Mann Honorarium: Lenore Kulakauskas Communications Officer & Graphic Design: Tim Hartridge

Society of Sydney is an ancient Gnostic glyph which the Alchemists later used to depict the nature of their transforming work.

The script in the centre of the images means self-digester or self-digesting one. The self-digesting Ouroboros slays itself and brings itself back to life.

It illustrates the principle of human creativity and the development of personality as it devours itself and generates itself.

31

Saturday, February 9

Saturday, May 10

Conscious Femininity

Background of Beauty

Exploring the work of Marion Woodman

Memories of Safety and/or Terror

Kathleen McPhillips Page 20–21

Amanda Dowd Page 26–27

Saturday, March 8

Saturday, June 14

Brief Annual General Meeting before talk

Through Alchemy to Technology

Jung & Sufism

Western Dreaming & Myth Making

The Influence of Eastern Philosophy

Jonathan Marshall Page 28–29

Dr Ehsan Azari Page 22–23

Saturday, April 12

The Undivided One Dionysian Consciousness in the Clinic Peter Dicker Page 24–25

www.jungdownunder.com