TOPIC: Carl Jung and Mythology:
The Relation between Analytical Psychology and the Mythopoetic Imagination

MYTH-TELLER: Jorge

Our monthly cafe get-together with yummy food and mythology!

This event will begin with a short presentation to the entire group, followed by a large group discussion. Then we'll break into smaller groups in order to facilitate more natural, intimate conversations with the other members.

At the start of the evening there will be "special musical performance".
The song is an appropriate hymn; a quasi-anthem for the analytical notion of reconciliation of opposites, a perennial jungian theme.
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Areas of exploration:

Who was Carl Jung?

"..... a man whose extraordinary genuis and humanity reached far beyond the sometimes exclusive realm of psychiatry into redefining the essential nature of who we are and what we hope to become" (matter of heart, dvd)

"....one of the great doctors of all time and one of the great thinkers of this century. His object always was to help men and women to know themselves, so that by self-knowledge and thoughtful self-use they could lead full, rich, and happy lives" (John Freeman, Man and his symbols)

"Jung was impatient with those who read myths literally, for they thereby mistake the symbols for the symbolized" (Segal, Encountering Jung).

website link
http://www.carl-jung....

What is mythology?

"....i have always thought of a myth as something that never was, but is always happening". (Jean Houston, The Possible Human)

".... myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifestations". (J. Campbell, Hero w/1000 Faces)

"Myth is an extremely complex cultural reality, which can be approached and interpreted from various and complementary viewpoints. ......... myths narrate a sacred history" (M. Eliade, Myth and Reality)

"...the definitive meaning of myths is the expression of archetypes" (R. Segal, Encountering Jung).

" Humans can only project onto the world gods/goddesses already in their minds,........... in fact, the whole of mythology could be taken as a sort of projection of the collective unconscious" (Segal, Encountering Jung).

Here are three (3) stories/myths i may employ during the evening:
1. Homeric Hymn to Demeter
2. Hymn of the Pearl (gnostic writings of Thomas)
3. Book of Genesis
4. Bhagavad Gita (from the Mahabharata epic)

Other key concepts/ideas to explore:
- libido (psychic energy)
- archetypes/collective unconscious/Self
- transcendent function/psychoid
- synchronicity: acausal principle
- typology: introverts/extraverts, four functions
- individuation process/wholeness
- Structures of the psyche:persona, ego, shadow, anima-animus)
- amplification
- active imagination ........

Here's a brief excerpt from a BBC interview (thought you might appreciate it):
http://www.youtube.co...
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AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE VENUE:

There is NO ADMISSION FEE for this event.

However, since the restaurant is nice enough to let our group take over their entire room for the night, we DO ask our members:

Please order food and/or drink at least once during the event, so we can be good patrons and continue our great relationship with the venue management.

Typically, our members order dinner at the start of the evening.
If ordering a meal is too cost-prohibitive for you, please at least order a beverage or a snack if you can.

Thank you-- it's much appreciated, and also what enables us to continue offering our events for free!

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This is really a great treat for our group. Bring your hearts! See you then!

-Phil (The Organizer)
http://www.PhilRobins...
"Paint the walls of your cage with a dream."

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