Digital Jung: The Symbolic Life in a Technological Age

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Living in a digital world presents unique challenges for the practice of the inner life. What can the insights of Jungian Psychology offer for dealing with these challenges? In this series, we explore Carl Jung's idea of "the symbolic life" through the lenses of depth psychology, mythology, fairy tales, poetry, religion, and more. We focus on three core questions: 1. What is the symbolic life? 2. Why do we need a symbolic life? and 3. How can we cultivate and live a symbolic life? A companion podcast to the book 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life' by Jungian analyst Jason E. Smith.

Jason E. Smith

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    • Sep 26, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 76 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Digital Jung: The Symbolic Life in a Technological Age podcast is an absolute gem in the world of podcasts. Hosted by a wise and thought-provoking individual, this show delves deep into the complexities of living in a modern, technology-driven world while maintaining a soulful and meaningful existence. The host's wisdom is truly awe-inspiring and speaks directly to the listeners, making them feel understood and validated in their own struggles and search for meaning.

    One of the best aspects of The Digital Jung podcast is the profound wisdom shared by the host. Every episode is filled with insightful thoughts and perspectives that encourage deep reflection on life's struggles, purpose, and meaning. The host's ability to articulate complex concepts in an accessible manner makes it easy for listeners to connect with the material on a personal level. Additionally, the episodes are well-researched, providing listeners with credible information to support their own spiritual and psychological journeys.

    Another highlight of this podcast is its ability to create a sense of calmness amidst the chaos of daily life. The discussions and reflections offered by the host serve as a reminder that there is more to life than just technology and superficial distractions. By exploring Jungian psychology and symbolism, The Digital Jung podcast offers guidance on how to navigate the challenges of living in a technological age while maintaining a deeper connection with oneself and others.

    However, like any podcast, there may be some aspects that could be improved upon. One possible critique of this show is that it may sometimes veer towards being overly abstract or esoteric for some listeners. While this can be intriguing for those who are drawn to deep philosophical discussions, it may alienate those who are seeking more practical advice or concrete solutions to their problems. Finding a balance between abstract theories and practical applications could make this podcast even more inclusive and relatable.

    In conclusion, The Digital Jung: The Symbolic Life in a Technological Age podcast is an absolute must-listen for anyone seeking wisdom, insight, and guidance in a rapidly changing world. The host's profound understanding of Jungian psychology and their ability to articulate complex concepts in an accessible manner make this podcast a true treasure. Whether you're searching for meaning in your life, struggling with the impact of technology, or simply looking for thought-provoking discussions, this podcast has it all. So sit back, relax, and let the wisdom of The Digital Jung nourish your soul and inspire your journey.



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    Latest episodes from Digital Jung: The Symbolic Life in a Technological Age

    In Search of a Song: Season 4 Announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 17:51


    In this episode:The podcast returns after an extended hiatus to begin a new season.Connect with me:Instagram(@digital.jung)Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Twitter(@DigitalJungPod)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.Sources for quotes and more:A Man Lost By a River, poem by Michael Blumenthal S1, Ep. 24: Wandering Off the Path'A Joseph Campbell Companion' - edited by Diane K. Osbon'Psychology and Alchemy' by C.G. Jung (CW12)‘Selected Letters' by C.G. Jung‘Man is Not Alone' by Abraham Joshua HeschelLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," and "Slow Vibing" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    The Goal of the Symbolic Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 36:39


    In this episode:I conclude this series on the fairytale The Iron Stove with a discussion of just what constitutes the goal of the symbolic life.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 Instagram(@digital.jung), Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter(@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:The Aims of Psychotherapy in ‘Modern Man in Search of a Soul' by C.G. JungThe Iron Stove, Grimm's Fairy Tales S3, Ep. 14: The Life of the Spirit -- The Iron Stove, pt. 1S3, Ep. 15: Resisting Change -- The Iron Stove, pt. 2S3, Ep. 16: Embodying the Spirit -- The Iron Stove, pt. 3‘Encountering God' by Diana Eck‘A Little Course in Dreams' by Robert Bosnak'Tao Te Ching' by Lao Tsu, translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane EnglishFrontiers of Knowledge in 'C.G. Jung Speaking' (edited by William McGuire)'The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age' by Stephen J. PattersonFor text and narration of The Iron Stove, visit: https://digitaljung.substack.com/p/the-iron-stoveLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Embodying the Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 25:38


    In this episode:In this third part of my series on the fairytale The Iron Stove, I explore the importance of bringing together the mind and the body in the work of the symbolic life.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:Man and His Environment in ‘C.G. Jung Speaking' (William McGuire, ed.) Just as the Winged Energy of Delight by Rainer Maria Rilke in ‘Selected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke' (trans. by Robert Bly)The Iron Stove, Grimm's Fairy Tales S3, Ep. 14: The Life of the Spirit -- The Iron Stove, pt. 1S3, Ep. 15: Resisting Change -- The Iron Stove, pt. 2'Selected Letters' by C.G. JungMichael Maier, Symbola aureae mensae (quoted in Mysterium Coniunctionis in 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. Jung)'Crossing the Unknown Sea' by David Whyte'Redemption Motifs in Fairytales' by Marie-Louise von Franz'God in Search of Man' by Abraham Joshua HeschelFor text and narration of The Iron Stove, visit: https://digitaljung.substack.com/p/the-iron-stoveLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Resisting Change

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 32:56


    In this episode:I continue to explore the riches of the fairytale The Iron Stove, this time looking at the ways we resist the necessity of change in our lives.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:Mysterium Coniunctionis in ‘Collected Works, vol. 14 by C.G. Jung'Heraclitus' by Philip WheelwrightThe Iron Stove, Grimm's Fairy Tales S3, Ep. 14: The Life of the Spirit: The Iron Stove, pt. 1 The Relations Between the Ego and the Unconscious in ‘Collected Works, vol. 7' by C.G. Jung'Creation Myths' by Marie-Louise von Franz Answer to Job in ‘Collected Works, vol. 11' by C.G. JungFor text and narration of The Iron Stove, visit: https://digitaljung.substack.com/p/the-iron-stoveLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    The Life of the Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 27:06


    In this episode:I begin an exploration of the fairytale 'The Iron Stove' and explore what it means to be called beyond the limitations of the ego to an experience of the spirit.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:Spirit and Life in ‘Collected Works, vol. 8' by C.G. JungThe Iron Stove, Grimm's Fairy Tales 'Rites and Symbols of Initiation' by Mircea Eliade'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life' by Jason E. Smith 'The Grail Legend' by Emma Jung & Marie-Louise von FranzCircles in ‘Essays: First Series' by Ralph Waldo EmersonSong of a Man Who Has Come Through, poem by D. H. LawrenceFor text and narration of The Iron Stove, visit: https://digitaljung.substack.com/p/the-iron-stoveEnjoy the birdsong in the background!Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    When the Soul Retreats

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 30:08


    In this episode:I look at one of the more difficult experiences of the symbolic life, an experience best known by its religious name: the "dark night of the soul."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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:'Selected Letters' by C.G. Jung'Concerning the Inner Life' by Evelyn Underhill Concerning Rebirth in 'Collected Works, vol. 9i' by C.G. Jung'Ego and Archetype' by Edward Edinger 'The Masks of God: Creative Mythology' by Joseph CampbellThe Romance of Tristan and Iseult, retold by Joseph Bédier (translated by Hilaire Belloc)Luke 17:33, NKJV Tao Te Ching, translated by Man-Ho Kwok, Martin Palmer, and Jay Ramsay'Mysticism' by Evelyn UnderhillThe Psychology of the Transference in 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. Jung'The Life of Prayer' by Baron Friedrich von Hügel 'Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology' by Marie-Louise von FranzLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Healing and the Unconscious

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 27:46


    In this episode:I explore Jung's concept of the unconscious — what it is, how it is experienced, and what it suggests about the idea of healing in analysis.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:The State of Psychotherapy Today  in 'Collected Works, vol. 10 by C.G. JungJoseph Ledoux, quoted in 'The Neurobiology of the Gods' by Erik Goodwyn A Review of the Complex Theory in 'Collected Works, vol. 8' by C.G. JungThe Meaning of Psychology for Modern Man in 'Collected Works, vol. 10' by C.G. Jung I Am Not I, poem by Juan Ramón Jiménez 'The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga' by C.G. JungPsychology and a Philosophy of Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. JungThe State of Psychotherapy Today in 'Collected Works, vol. 10' by C.G. Jung'This Is It' by Alan WattsTransformation Symbolism in the Mass in 'Collected Works, vol. 11' by C.G. JungThe Philosophical Tree in 'Collected Works, vol. 13' by C.G. Jung'The Integration of the Personality' by C.G. Jung (Trans. by Stanley Dell)Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    The Philosophers' Stone: Solid Ground of Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 29:14


    In this episode:I conclude this series on the symbolism of alchemy by looking at the all-important image of the goal of the alchemical opus: The Philosophers' Stone.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:Psychology and Religion in'Collected Works, vol.11' by C.G. JungAlchemical Studies in 'Collected Works, vol. 13 by C.G. Jung'Ego and Archetype' by Edward EdingerAion in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii' by C.G. Jung Mysterium Coniunctionis in 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. Jung 'Parzival' by Wolfram von Eschenbacch (translated by Helen Mustard and Charles Passage) 'Romance of the Grail' by Joseph Campbell'The Ox-Herder and the Good Shepherd: Finding Christ on the Buddha's Path' by Addison Hodges Hart 'The Gnostic Scriptures' translated by Bentley LaytonS3, Ep. 8: Alchemy: Mirror of the SoulS3, Ep. 9: The Heart of the Matter: Alchemy and the Prima MateriaS3, Ep. 10: The Stages of the Alchemical OpusLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0For more information about my upcoming course 'The Symbol of the Grail: Parzival and the Path of Individuation' visit: https://www.jungarchademy.com/parzivalSupport the show

    The Stages of the Alchemical Opus

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 29:51


    In this episode:I continue with the third part of a four-part series on alchemy, this time looking at the stages of the alchemical opus and their meaning for the work of the symbolic life.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:Psychology and Alchemy in 'Collected Works, vol. 12' by C.G. Jung'Alchemy' by Marie-Louise von FranzAion in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii' by C.G. JungS3, Ep. 8: Alchemy: Mirror of the Soul'C.G. Jung Speaking' edited by William McGuire & R.F.C. HullThe Psychology of the Transference in 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. JungLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    The Heart of the Matter: Alchemy and the Prima Materia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2023 30:43


    In this episode:I continue with the second part of a four-part series on alchemy, looking at the symbol and the psychological meaning of what the alchemists called the prima materia.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook(facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:Psychology and Alchemy in 'Collected Works, vol. 12' by C.G. Jung'Anatomy of the Psyche' by Edward EdingerThe Golden Tract in 'The Hermetic Museum' edited by A.E. WaiteAion in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii' by C.G. JungThe Gnome in 'Grimms' Tales for Young and Old' translated by Ralph ManheimMysterium Coniunctionis in 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. JungWho Does the Work: Cultivating an Alchemical Attitude'New Seeds of Contemplation' by Thomas MertonLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Alchemy: Mirror of the Soul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 28:21


    In this episode:I begin a series on the strange world of alchemy — exploring what it is and how it is relevant to the practice of the symbolic life.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:'Memories, Dreams, Reflections' by C.G. Jung'Alchemical Active Imagination' by Marie-Louise von Franz'Anatomy of the Psyche' by Edward EdingerRosarium Philosophorum, 16th-century alchemical text (English translation)The Practical Use of Dream-Analysis in 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. JungLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Bonus Episode: A Christmas Card

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 15:29


    In this episode:An audio Christmas card from me to you.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:'The Feast of St. Friend' by Arnold Bennett'A Joseph Campbell Companion' edited by Diane K. OsbonLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days" and "The Return" by Ketsa, and "Hibernation" by Axletree are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Learning To Say 'Yes'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 27:19


    In this episode:I discuss how times of struggle, and even suffering, can open us up to an experience that Jung calls “an affirmation of things as they are.”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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith)Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:'Memories, Dreams, Reflections' by C.G. Jung'Carl Gustav Jung: A Biography' by Frank McLynn'Ego and Archetype' by Edward Edinger'Revelations of Divine Love' by Julian of NorwichThe Gate, a poem by Marie HoweLetter by Rainer Maria Rilke, quoted in 'Duino Elegies & The Sonnets to Orpheus' edited and Translated by Stephen Mitchell The Soul and Death from 'Collected Works, vol. 8' by C.G. Jung 'Abandonment to Divine Providence' by Jean-Pierre de CaussadeLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Learning To Say 'No'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 29:54


    In this episode:I explore the idea of everyday asceticism, the art of setting limits for ourselves in order to stand more firmly and authentically in our lives. 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 Instagram (@digital.jung), Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst), or Twitter (@Jason_E_Smith) Or: 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, available from Chiron Publications.Sources for quotes and more:Americans Must Say 'No'  from 'CG Jung Speaking' edited by William McGuire S2, Ep. 17: Recovering The Spirit: The Seven Ravens, pt. 2 S3, Ep. 3: Receiving One's True Name S3, Ep. 4: Imagining Our Proper Life-Task 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life'  by Jason E. Smith 'A Dwelling Place For Wisdom' by Raimon Panikkar 'The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety' by Alan Watts The Fisherman and His Wife from 'Grimms' Tales For Young and Old' 'Mysticism' by Evelyn Underhill 'Thoughts in Solitude' by Thomas MertonLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Imagining Our Proper Life-Task

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 29:47


    In this episode:I discuss the idea of vocation -- what Jung calls “our proper life-task” -- and explore the challenges that come with taking up such a task in our own lives.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:'Letters, vol. 1' by C.G. JungMysterium Coniunctionis in 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. Jung The Holy Men of India in 'Collected Works, vol. 11' by C.G. Jung'A Life at Work' by Thomas Moore Psychology and Alchemy in 'Collected Works, vol. 12' by C.G. Jung'Memories, Dreams, Reflections' by C.G. Jung 'The Way of the Dream' by Marie-Louise von Franz The Orphan Boy and the Elk Dog in 'Favorite Folktales From Around the World' edited by Jane Yolen The Development of the Personality in 'Collected Works, vol. 17' by C.G. Jung Is Analytical Psychology a Religion? in 'C.G. Jung Speaking' edited by William McGuire The Golden Key, fairy tale by George MacDonaldLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Receiving One's True Name

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 29:03


    In this episode:We explore the symbolism of “one's true name” and the challenges that we meet in learning how to hear it.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Symbols of Transformation in 'Collected Works, vol. 5' by C.G. JungThe New Name in 'Unspoken Sermons, vol. 1' by George MacDonald Psychological Types in 'Collected Works, vol. 6' by C.G. Jung'The Way of the Dream'  by Marie-Louise von Franz The Development of the Personality in 'Collected Works, vol. 17' by C.G. JungThe Journey, poem by Mary Oliver 'Crossing the Unknown Sea' by David Whyte 'Letters to a Young Poet' by Rainer Maria Rilke The Symbolic Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 18' by C.G. Jung Homer's The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fagles 'The Hero With A Thousand Faces' by Joseph Campbell Names, poem by Rumi in 'The Soul is Here For Its Own Joy' edited by Robert BlyLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    The Temptation of Inflation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 28:50


    In this episode:We discuss one of the dangers inherent in the symbolic life — the ever-present specter of inflation.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:'Letters, vol. 1' by C.G. Jung'Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology' by Marie-Louise von Franz S3, Ep. 1: Invoking the Imagination'Ego and Archetype'  by Edward Edinger The Relations Between the Ego and the Unconscious from 'Collected Works, vol. 7' by C.G. JungThe Swan Maidens, from 'Europa's Fairy Book' by Joseph Jacobs 'The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property' by Lewis Hyde 'Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People' by Evelyn UnderhillLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Invoking the Imagination

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 27:45


    In this episode:We look at the question of how to begin -- that is, what preparations are needed to begin the work of the symbolic life?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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Individual Dream Symbolism in Relation to Alchemy from 'Collected Works, vol. 12' by C.G. Jung'The Gods of the Greeks' by Karl KerényiThe Swan, poem by Mary Oliver from 'House of Light''Biographia Literaria'  by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 'Hymn to Delos' by Callimachus The Aims of Psychotherapy from 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. JungLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserOr, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Season 3 Announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 8:50


    In this episode:I announce the start of Season 3 of Digital JungFor 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:"Already the ripening barberries" - poem by Rainer Maria Rilke (Translated by Robert Bly)The Soul and Death by C.G. Jung, from 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaser...or support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days" by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    To Become What One Is

    Play Episode Play 39 sec Highlight Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 31:03


    In this episode:We explore the work of becoming what one is and the fears we often feel when we begin it.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:'Children's Dreams: Notes from the Seminar Given in 1936 - 1940' by C.G. JungThe Houston Films from 'C.G. Jung Speaking' by C.G. JungA Talk With Students at the Institute from 'C.G. Jung Speaking' by C.G. Jung'Proverbs and Songs #29' poem by Antonio Machado The Joseph Campbell Companion'Psychoanalytic Case Formulation' by Nancy McWilliamsS2, Ep. 14: Thresholds of Creativity'The War of Art' by Steven PressfieldThe Development of the Personality from 'Collected Works, vol. 17' by C.G. Jung'The Hero With A Thousand Faces' by Joseph Campbell'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville'Living Myth: Personal Meaning as a Way of Life.' by D. Stephenson BondHave a great summer! See you in September, 2022!Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaser...or support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Living a Symbolic Life (Highlights)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022 30:00


    In this episode:I present some highlights and excerpts from a recent talk that I gave titled, Living a Symbolic Life. 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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:'Man Is Not Alone' by Abraham Joshua HeschelThe Revised English Bible (Proverbs, Wisdom of Solomon, and Ecclesiasticus or Sirach)'Tao Te Ching' Translated by Red Pine  'A Poetry Handbook' by Mary OliverPsychological Types (Definitions) from 'Collected Works, vol. 6' by C.G. Jung'Essays on a Science of Mythology' by C.G. Jung and Carl KerényiLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaser...or support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days" and "Slow Vibing" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    A Visit From The Trickster

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 27:51


    In this episode:The trickster makes an appearance to caution us against the dangers of taking ourselves too seriously.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Symbols of Transformation from 'Collected Works, vol. 5' by C.G. Jung'Comedy of Errors' by William Shakespeare'Character and Anal Erotism' by Sigmund Freud The Farting Daughter-in-Law, Encyclopedia of Korean Folk CultureTricksters: An Overview by Lawrence Sullivan from 'The Encyclopedia of Religion''The Rhythm of Being' by Raimon PanikkarMeatballs (film)Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaser...or support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Recovering the Spirit: The Seven Ravens, pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 28:55


    In this episode:We finish our reading of the tale, The Seven Ravens, and discuss the difficulties that come with the work of recovering our lost wholeness.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Spirit and Life from 'Collected Works, vol. 8' by C.G. JungThe Seven Ravens, Grimms' Fairy TalesThe Development of the Personality from 'Collected Works, vol. 17' by C.G. Jung Foreword to 'Introduction to Zen Buddhism' from 'Collected Works, vol. 11' by C.G. JungMysterium Coniunctionis from 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. Jung'Man is Not Alone' by Abraham Joshua Heschel'Ego and Archetype' by Edward Edinger'Upstream" by Mary OliverLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaser...or support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show

    Losing the Spirit: The Seven Ravens

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 28:47


    In this episode:We begin to read through the tale The Seven Ravens and to explore the challenges of reconciling the different sides of our nature.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:'Memories, Dreams, Reflections'  by C.G. Jung'Mysticism: The Preeminent Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness' by Evelyn UnderhillThe Seven Ravens, Grimms' Fairy Tales'Practical Mysticism' by Evelyn Underhill'Ego and Archetype' by Edward EdingerThe Development of the Personality from 'Collected Works, vol. 17' by C.G. Jung'Living an Examined Life' by James Hollis'I Asked For Wonder,' An Anthology of Writings from Abraham Joshua HeschelLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaser...or support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/digitaljung)

    Accepting Ourselves As We Are

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2022 29:43


    In this episode:We discuss those times in the symbolic life that call on us to bring tolerance, kindness, and patience to ourselves.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Psychotherapists and the Clergy from 'Collected Works, vol. 11'  by C.G. JungTransformation Symbolism in the Mass from 'Collected Works, vol. 11'  by C.G. Jung'Children's Dreams' by C.G. Jung'From the Life and Work of C.G. Jung' by Aniela Jaffé'Selected Letters' by C.G. Jung'Ego and Archetype' by Edward EdingerThe Hawk (Sakuṇagghi Sutta)Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaser...or support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below)Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/digitaljung)

    Thresholds of Creativity

    Play Episode Play 55 sec Highlight Listen Later Mar 24, 2022 28:15


    In this episode:We look at the mythic background of the creative life to discover both its challenges and its rewards.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Psychology and Literature from 'Collected Works, vol. 15'  by C.G. JungEpisode 13: Why Do We Need a Symbolic Life?'The Hero With A Thousand Faces' by Joseph Campbell'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield'Living Myth: Personal Meaning as a Way of Life' by D. Stephenson Bond'Creation Myths' by Marie-Louise von Franz'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking' by Susan CainThe Development of the Personality from 'Collected Works, vol. 17' by C.G. JungNeighbors, poem by David Wagoner'Upstream' by Mary OliverAnalytical Psychology and Poetry from 'Collected Works, vol. 15'  by C.G. Jung'The Heart Aroused' by David WhyteLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Why Do We Need A Symbolic Life?

    Play Episode Play 40 sec Highlight Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 28:50


    In this episode:We take a step back in order to ask the fundamental question: Why do we need a symbolic life?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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:'Memories, Dreams, Reflections' by C.G. Jung.'Ego and Archetype' by Edward Edinger'The Case For God' by Karen ArmstrongThe Legend of the White Buffalo Woman from 'The Sacred Pipe' by Joseph Epes Brown (As told by Black Elk)'I Asked For Wonder: A Spiritual Anthology' from the writings of Abraham Joshua HeschelLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Paying Attention to Symbols

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 28:41


    In this episode:We discuss the interpretation of symbols and the importance of engaging them with our full emotional presence.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:All quotes from 'Man and His Symbols' by C.G. Jung.Season 2, Episode 11: Growing Beyond OurselvesThe Old Woman in the Woods, Grimm's Fairy Tales.Season 2, Episode 5: The Nature of IndividuationLike this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Growing Beyond Ourselves

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 30:18


    In this episode:We continue to consider the importance of letting things unfold in the psyche, particularly in connection with the practice of active imagination.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Commentary on the Secret of the Golden Flower from 'Collected Works, vol. 13' by C.G. Jung.Season 2, Episode 10: Letting Ourselves Be'Inner Work' by Robert Johnson.Mysterium Coniunctionis from 'Collected Works, vol. 14' by C.G. Jung.'Encounters with the Soul' by Barbara Hannah.'Jung on Active Imagination,' edited by Joan Chodorow.'Religious but Not Religious' by Jason E. Smith.Season 2, Episode 4: The Fact of FantasyThe Practice of Psychotherapy from 'Collected Works, vol. 16' by C.G. Jung.The Old Woman in the Woods, Grimm's Fairy Tales.Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Letting Ourselves Be

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 30:02


    In this episode:We talk about the value of letting things happen and why Jung felt it was essential for the task of individuation.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:'The Integration of the Personality' by C.G. Jung.'Tao Te Ching,' Translated by Richard Wilhelm.'Some keep the Sabbath going to Church' by Emily Dickinson.'The Spiritual Life' by Evelyn Underhill. 'The Wisdom of Insecurity' by Alan Watts.'Religious but Not Religious' by Jason E. Smith.'The Cloud of Unknowing.''Lost' by David Wagoner.'Oceans' by Juan Ramón Jiménez.'Love in the Void,' a collection of writings by Simone Weil.'Encounters with the Soul' by Barbara Hannah.'Visions Seminars' by C.G. JungTransformation Symbolism in the Mass  from 'Collected Works, vol. 11' by C.G. Jung.Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:Apple PodcastsSpotifyPodchaserMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Paradox of Happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2022 25:43


    In this episode:We talk about happiness, and discover why Jung believed it was better for us not to pursue it. 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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:Except where otherwise noted, all quotes from Jung are taken from The Art of Living in 'C.G. Jung Speaking.''Tao Te Ching,' Translated by Red Pine.'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle.'A Room of One's Own' by Virginia Woolf. “The challenge I face is how to actualize the quiet eminence of our being.” ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel, 'I Asked For Wonder.'Letter to Harriet Hardy from C.G. Jung ("Carl Jung on Happiness")“...a civilization that has forgotten that man's life should be sacrificial, that is, offered up to an idea greater than himself.” ~ C.G. Jung, in 'Collected Works, vol. 11.'“Again and again I therefore admonish my students both in Europe and in America: ‘Don't aim at success..." ~ Viktor Frankl in 'Man's Search For Meaning.'Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The "Foolishness" of Dreams

    Play Episode Play 22 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 23, 2021 30:03


    In this episode:We look at how the attitude we take towards our dreams changes our experience of them, and affects our relationship with our inner lives.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 Instagram (@digital.jung), 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:"The psyche is indistinguishable from its manifestations. The psyche is the object of psychology, and — fatally enough — also its subject. There is no getting away from this fact.” ~ C.G. Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 11.'S1 Ep. 20: Taking Dreams Seriously"I share all your prejudices against dream-interpretation as the quintessence of uncertainty and arbitrariness. On the other hand, I know that if we meditate on a dream sufficiently long and thoroughly, if we carry it around with us and turn it over and over, something almost always comes of it." ~ Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 16.'"It is on the basis of theory, for instance, that I expect dreams to have a meaning. I cannot prove in every case that this is so.... But I have to make such an hypothesis in order to find courage to deal with dreams at all." ~ Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 16.' The Peddler of Swaffham from 'English Fairy and Other Folk Tales.'“I must content myself wholly with the fact that the result means something to my patient and sets his life in motion again. I may allow myself only one criterion for the result of my labours: does it work?” ~ Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 16.'“In many ways the journey seems to be a foolish gamble. And you may well make many mistakes. You are thoroughly capable of deceiving yourself.”  ~ Thomas Merton in 'New Seeds of Contemplation.'“The right way to wholeness is made up, unfortunately, of fateful detours and wrong turnings.” ~ Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 12.'“Mistakes are, after all, the foundations of truth, and if a man does not know what a thing is, it is at least an increase in knowledge if he knows what it is not. ” ~ Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 9ii.'“Our errors are surely not such awfully solemn things.... A certain lightness of heart seems healthier than this excessive nervousness on their behalf.”  ~ William James in 'The Will to Believe.'“We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us” ~ from 'The Joseph Campbell Companion.'Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Fantasy and the Art of Seeing

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 29:15


    In this episode:We return to the subject of fantasy and consider how we can ensure a healthy connection with this foundational function of the psyche.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:“The psyche creates reality every day. The only expression I can use for this activity is fantasy...." ~ C.G. Jung, from 'Collected Works, vol. 6.'S2E4: The Fact of Fantasy“Pure facts are in any case unstatable....” ~ Jürgen Moltmann from 'Jesus Christ for Today's World.'"Jungian therapy, at least as I practice it, brings about an awareness that fantasy is the dominant force in a life." ~ James Hillman in A Note on Story from 'Loose Ends.' “An external emergency, such as epidemics or famine, can suddenly ‘charge' the fantasy of a healer-savior..." ~ Marie-Louis von Franz in 'Projection and Recollection in Jungian Psychology.'“Our unwillingness to see our own faults and the projection of them is the beginning of most quarrels, and is the strongest guarantee that injustice, animosity, and persecution are not ready to die out.” ~ C.G. Jung from Depth Psychology and Self-Knowledge in 'Collected Works, vol. 18.' “Developing fantasy means perfecting our humanity. In this connection I regard religious ideas as of the utmost importance...”  ~ Three Versions of a Press Conference in Vienna from 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'"These basic tales channel fantasy...." ~ James Hillman in A Note on Story from 'Loose Ends.'The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13 - 27)“It is impossible to see the angel unless you first have a notion of it..." ~ James Hillman from 'The Soul's Code.'“It is high time we realized that it is pointless to praise the light and preach it if nobody can see it. It is much more needful to teach people the art of seeing.” ~ C. G. Jung from 'Collected Works, vol. 12.'“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson in Art from 'Essays: First Series.'Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Practice of Solitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2021 27:55


    In this episode:We discuss solitude, and the vital importance it plays in supporting our engagement with life and with the world.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:“I understand your wish very well, but must tell you at once that it does not fit in with my situation...." ~ C.G. Jung, in 'Letters, Vol II.'“It seems to me that what goes on in the human being when he is by himself is as important as what happens in his interactions with other people…. ~ Anthony Storr in 'Solitude: A Return to the Self.''Already the ripening barberries are red' -- poem by Rainer Maria Rilke“Ultimately, and precisely in the deepest and most important matters, we are unspeakably alone.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke in 'Letters to a Young Poet.'“We each inhabit our own separate world...” ~ Edward Edinger in 'Ego and Archetype.'"The development of personality from the germ-state to full consciousness is at once a charisma and a curse..." ~ C.G. Jung from The Development of the Personality, in 'Collected Works, vol. 17.''A Dwelling Place for Wisdom' by Raimon Panikkar'Forest Lake' -- poem by Edith Sӧdergran “No one yet has made a list of places where the extraordinary may happen and where it may not...." ~ Mary Oliver in 'Upstream.'“the world from which we draw our wisdom, our lucidities, our power to act, our courage, is in this other world... " ~ Anaïs Nin in 'In Favor of the Sensitive Man: And Other Essays.''Is my soul asleep' -- poem by Antonio Machado.Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Nature of Individuation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 28:03


    In this episode:We discuss the experience of nature and its connection to the important work of individuation.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:“At Bollingen I am in the midst of my true life, I am most deeply myself...." ~ C.G. Jung, in 'Memories, Dreams, Reflections.'"Individuation is a process by which a [person] becomes the definite, unique being that he [or she] in fact is." ~ C.G. Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 7.'"Individuation is an expression of that biological process ... by which every living thing becomes what it was destined to become from the beginning." ~ C.G. Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 11.'"Individuation is a natural process. It is what makes a tree turn into a tree...." ~ C.G. Jung in 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'“Dreams are impartial, spontaneous products of the unconscious psyche, outside the control of the will. They are pure nature.” ~ C.G. Jung in 'Collected Works, vol. 10.'S1 Ep. 1: What is the Symbolic Life? "My self is not confined to my body. It extends into all the things I have made and all the things around me. ..." ~ C.G. Jung in 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'"Rather than taking us out of ourselves, nature coaxes us deeper inwards, teaches us to rest in the serenity of our elemental nature...." ~ John O'Donohue in 'Beauty: The Invisible Embrace.'"The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken and in heaps is because man is disunited with himself." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson in 'Nature.'“In a standardized milieu, it is easy to lose the sense of one's own personality, of one's individuality.” ~ C.G. Jung in 'C.G. Jung Speaking.' Just Looking at Photos of Nature Could Be Enough to Lower Your Work Stress LevelsWhen I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer, poem by Walt Whitman“I come to my solitary woodland walk as the homesick go home” ~ Henry David Thoreau, quoted in The Winged Life, edited by Robert Bly. “Love the world as your own self, then you can truly care for all things.” ~ Tao Te Ching "We shall not discover the real situation we are in, collectively as well as individually, if our hearts are not pure..." ~ Raimon Panikkar in 'The Rhythm of Being.'Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Fact of Fantasy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 28:09


    In this episode:We discuss fantasy and explore the important role that it plays in our psychological life.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:“When you observe the world you see people, you see houses, you see the sky, you see tangible objects. But when you observe yourself within, you see moving images, a world of images, generally known as fantasies...." ~ C.G. Jung, from The Houston Films in 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'S2E1: The Struggle of the Creative LifeTaoist parable from the Lieh-Tzu.“Where Id was, there Ego shall be." ~ Sigmund Freud in 'New introductory lectures on psycho-analysis.' “From the psychoanalytic point of view it would seem that were reality more adequate, imagination might cease to dream.” ~ Mary Watkins in 'Invisible Guests: The Development of Imaginal Dialogues.'“It is true that there are unprofitable, futile, morbid, and unsatisfying fantasies..." ~ Jung from The Aims of Psychotherapy in 'Collected Works, vol. 16.'“In sleep, fantasy takes the form of dreams. But in waking life, too, we continue to dream beneath the threshold of consciousness..." ~ Jung from The Practice of Psychotherapy in 'Collected Works, vol. 16.'“Wakefulness may be described as a dreamlike state modulated by sensory experience.” ~ Llinas and Pare, quoted in 'The Neurobiology of the Gods' by Erik Goodwyn. The Dhammapada, translation by Gil Fronsdal“I try to funnel the fantasies of the unconscious into the conscious mind, not in order to destroy them but to develop them.” ~ Jung in Three Versions of a Press Conference in Vienna from 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'“As a ship aground is battered by the waves, so we, imprisoned in mortal life, lie open to the mercy of coming events..." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson in Intellect from 'Essays: First Series.'“We are immersed in beauty, but our eyes have no clear vision.” ~ Emerson in Art from 'Essays: First Series.'S2E2: Encountering the ArchetypeOn Angels, poem by Czeslaw Milosz“Developing fantasy means perfecting our humanity.”  ~ Three Versions of a Press Conference in Vienna from 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Transformative Power of the Symbol

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 27:13


    In this episode:We look at the value of the symbol and the transformative function that it holds for our psychological lives.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:“Symbols … are always grounded in the unconscious archetype, but their manifest forms are moulded by the ideas acquired by the conscious mind. ..." ~ C.G. Jung, from Symbols of Transformation in 'Collected Works, vol. 5.'"[Symptoms are ] an attempt of the self-regulating psychic system to restore the balance, in no way different from the function of dreams – only rather more forceful and drastic.” ~ C.G. Jung from The Tavistock Lectures in 'Collected Works, vol. 18.'Discussion of "Symbolic Attitude" from Psychological Types in 'Collected Works, vol. 6.'Shakuntala, adapted from 'The Dance of Shiva and Other Tales from India' by Oroon Ghosh.“We are amphibious creatures..." ~ Evelyn Underhill in "Mysticism: The Preeminent Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness.'“With the coming of consciousness, cultural and psychological values began to compete with the purely biological aims of unconscious functioning.” ~ M. Esther Harding in 'Psychic Energy: Its Source and Its Transformation.'“A symbol is a function of relationship between our human consciousness and that which is symbolized.” from 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.'“Strangest of all is the ease with which the vision is lost..." ~ Kathleen Raine, quoted in 'Beauty: The Invisible Embrace' by John O'Donohue.Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Encountering the Archetype

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 27:56


    In this episode:We look at Jung's concept of the archetype and the implications it holds for our inner lives.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:“The mere use of words is futile when you do not know what they stand for. This is particularly true in psychology, where we speak of archetypes like the anima and animus, the wise man, the great mother, and so on...." ~ C.G. Jung, from 'Man and His Symbols.'"[Archetypes] are typical energy configurations which are activated by situations and problems, both outer and inner, by people, emotional conflicts, maturational needs, etc...." ~ Edward Whitmont, from 'The Symbolic Quest.'The Gold-Giving Snake from 'The Panchatantra.'Discussion of "Experiential Consciousness" in 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.'“[It] confers life and effectuality upon them. Hate and love, fear and reverence, enter the scene of the confrontation and raise it to a drama...." ~ C.G. Jung from 'Memories, Dreams, Reflections.'Like this podcast?Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Struggle of the Creative Life

    Play Episode Play 28 sec Highlight Listen Later Sep 16, 2021 28:57


    In this episode:We discuss the challenges that confront us on the path of psychological growth and how we might respond to them.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:“The serious problems in life, however, are never fully solved. If ever they should appear to be so it is a sure sign that something has been lost..." ~ C.G. Jung, from The Stages of Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'S1, Ep. 30: Knowing and Not-Knowing'Longing For Paradise' by Mario JacobyHaving Too Little or Too Much Time Is Linked to Lower Subjective Well-Being in 'Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.'All of the quotes from Frances Wickes in this episode are taken from her book, 'The Inner World of Choice.'All of the quotes from Jung in this episode are taken from The Stages of Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'Ferdinand the Faithful from 'Grimms' Tales,' translated by Margaret Hunt.Discussion of "Well-being" and "Salvation" in Adolf Guggenbühl-Craig's Marriage Dead or Alive.'Our Real Work,' poem by Wendell Berry.Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review at one of the following sites:PodchaserApple PodcastsMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Season 2 Announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2021 3:22


    In this episode:I announce the start date for Season 2 of Digital JungFor 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:Symbols provide "the clues we need in order to carry on our lives in harmony with ourselves. ... Their validity is proved by their intense value for life." ~ C.G. Jung, from The Structure of the Unconscious in 'Collected Works, vol. 7.'Music:"Dreaming Days" by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Art of Being Human

    Play Episode Play 60 sec Highlight Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 26:26


    In this episode:We discuss the importance of art for human life and the central place it holds for living a symbolic life.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:“What if there were a living agency beyond our everyday human world — something even more purposeful than electrons?  ..." ~ C.G. Jung, from Psychology and Literature in 'Collected Works, vol. 15.''Homo Aestheticus' by Ellen DissanayakeDiscussion of "psychological or personalistic art" and "visionary art" in Jung's Psychology and Literature.Episode 1: What is the Symbolic Life?"Everything is banal, everything is 'nothing but'; and that is the reason why people are neurotic.” ~ C.G. Jung from The Symbolic Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 18.'“Under these conditions one tends to follow whatever gives off the strongest signal, which is usually filtered through the prism of desire...." ~ Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life."The artist appeals to that part of our being… which is a gift and not an acquisition — and, therefore, more permanently enduring...." ~ Joseph Conrad quoted in 'The Gift' by Lewis Hyde.“There are very few changes at life's heart. That is why great literature, however ancient, always moves us and is always understood. It has to do with the unchanging heart of life.”~ Evelyn Underhill from The Inside of Life in 'Collected Papers of Evelyn Underhill.' “Whoever speaks in primordial images speaks with a thousand voices...” ~ C.G. Jung from On the Relation of Analytical Psychology to Poetry in  'Collected Works, vol. 15.'Discussion of "The Vital Circle" in 'The Rhythm of Being' by Raimon Panikkar.“The meaning of life is to build a life as if it were a work of art.” ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel from 'I Asked For Wonder.'“We must not forget that only a very few people are artists in life; that the art of life is the most distinguished and rarest of all the arts. Whoever succeeded in draining the whole cup with grace?” ~ C.G. Jung from The Stages of Life in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'"[We are] perhaps laying an infinitesimal grain in the scales of humanity's soul...." ~ C.G. Jung from The Psychology of the Transference in 'Collected Works, vol. 16.'Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Dramatic Structure of Dreams

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2021 25:53


    In this episode:We discover how a recognition of the dramatic structure of dreams can help us in our understanding and interpretation of them. 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:"Coming now to the form of dreams, we find everything from lightning impressions to endlessly spun out dream-narrative. Nevertheless, there are a great many 'average' dreams in which a definite structure can be perceived, not unlike that of a drama." ~ C.G. Jung, from On the Nature of Dreams in 'Collected Works, vol. 8.'Old Sultan from 'Grimms' Tales,' translated by Margaret Hunt. Episode 32: Embracing Change, Old Sultan, pt. 1 Episode 33: Embracing Limits, Old Sultan, pt. 2'The Way of the Dream' by Marie-Louise von FranzMusic:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Embracing Limits: Old Sultan, pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 27:41


    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 mastery.” ~ Steven Pressfield in 'The War of Art.'“All your power, all your resolution is needed if you are to succeed in this adventure: there must be no frittering of energy, no mixture of motives....” ~ Evelyn Underhill in 'Practical Mysticism.'Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Embracing Change: Old Sultan, pt. 1

    Play Episode Play 27 sec Highlight Listen Later May 27, 2021 27:06


    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:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Remembering Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 31:07


    In this episode:We look at the importance of having an adequate connection with the great treasures of human wisdom.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:“It would be a ridiculous and unwarranted assumption on our part if we imagined that we were more energetic or more intelligent than the men of the past..." ~ C.G. Jung from Symbols of Transformation in 'Collected Works, vol. 5.'“Our primitive ancestors, [homo sapiens], are primitive only with regard to their tools and technology...." ~ Reza Aslan in 'God: A Human History.'Episode 30: Knowing and Not-Knowing“All the creative power that modern man pours into science and [technology] the man of antiquity devoted to his myths.” ~ C.G. Jung from Symbols of Transformation in 'Collected Works, vol. 5.'"Much learning does not teach understanding." and “Eyes and ears are bad witnesses to men having barbarian souls.” ~ Heraclitus (Philip Wheelwright translation). "We think we are able to be born today and live in no myth, without history. That is a disease, absolutely abnormal." ~ C.G. Jung from The Houston Films in 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'"The stars leading or inspiring human life cannot be the falling stars in the sky of a summer night of the latest fashion.” ~ Raimon Panikkar from 'The Rhythm of Being.' “Our task and our responsibilities are to assimilate the wisdom of bygone traditions and, having made it our own, to allow it to grow."  ~ Raimon Panikkar from 'The Rhythm of Being.' "Dream the myth onwards and give it a modern dress." ~ C.G. Jung from The Psychology of the Child Archetype in 'Collected Works, vol. 9i.' "That was the first event which broke through my isolation. I became aware of an affinity; I could establish ties with something and someone." ~ C.G. Jung from 'Memories, Dreams, Reflections.'Theogony  by Hesiod (Richard Lattimore translation).“Poetry is to religion what analysis is to science.” ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel in 'Man Is Not Alone.'"Their function was to reveal the deep meaning of existence to the new generations and to help them assume the responsibility of being truly [human] and hence of participating in culture." ~ Mircea Eliade in 'Rites and Symbols of Initiation.'Duino Elegies #9 by Rainer Maria Rilke.When Death Comes by Mary Oliver.Little Gidding by T.S. Eliot.Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Knowing and Not-Knowing

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 28:36


    In this episode:We look at the limits of a merely rational approach to life and the need to make place in our lives for mystery.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 our time, it's the intellect that is making darkness, because we've let it take too big a place...." ~ C.G. Jung from On the Frontiers of Knowledge in 'C.G. Jung Speaking.'“A mercenary of our will to power, the mind is trained to assail in order to plunder rather than to commune in order to love.” ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel in 'Man is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion.'Discussion of "instrumentally rational" in The Reenchantment of the World by Morris Berman.“The experiment presupposes a distorted image of [the human being].” ~ Raimon Panikkar in 'A Dwelling Place for Wisdom.'“There is no such thing as a baby.” ~ D.W. Winnicott from The Theory of the Parent-Infant Relationship in 'The International Journal of Psychoanalysis.' “Everything hints at something that transcends it; the detail indicates the whole, the whole, its idea, the idea, its mysterious root...." ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel in 'Man is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion.'The Cloud of Unknowing from the 'Classics of Western Spirituality' series."Understanding is a fearfully binding power, at times a veritable murder of the soul as soon as it flattens out vitally important differences...." ~ C.G. Jung from 'Selected Letters of C.G. Jung, 1909 - 1961.'“Love can survive only if wisdom has an effective voice.” ~ Gregory Bateson from Style, Grace, and Information in Primitive Art from 'The Anthropology of Art.'Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    The Art of Reflection

    Play Episode Play 15 sec Highlight Listen Later May 6, 2021 25:20


    In this episode:We explore Jung's thoughts about the capacity for reflection and why he sees it as an essential component of our humanity.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:"'Reflection' should be understood not simply as an act of thought, but rather as an attitude. It is a privilege born of human freedom in contradistinction to the compulsion of natural law...." ~ C.G. Jung from A Psychological Approach to the Dogma of the Trinity (footnote, par. 235) in 'Collected Works, vol. 11.'"It cannot be denied that our current age is a distracted one." ~ 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.'Episode 27: Working With Your DreamsDiscussion of bios and zoê in The Experience of God: Icons of the Mystery by Raimon Panikkar.Discussion of events and experiences in Healing Fiction by James Hillman.“[Human] instincts are not all harmoniously arranged, they are perpetually jostling each other out of the way. The ancients were optimistic enough to see this struggle, not as a chaotic muddle. But as aspiring to some higher order.” ~ C.G. Jung from  The Psychology of the Transference in 'Collected Works, vol. 16.' *"[It is] indeed wonderful to see how human beings, besides their life in the concrete, always live a second life in the abstract...." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer in 'The World as Will and Representation.' *"The object can only be to make the soul more creative, more effective, more useful to God..." ~ Evelyn Underhill in 'Concerning the Inner Life.'"[One] must offer a ransom in place of oneself, that is, one must bring forth values which are an equivalent substitute for one's absence in the collective personal sphere." ~ C.G. Jung from Adaptation, Individuation, Collectivity in 'Collected Works, vol. 18.' *“the profoundest night of non-being...” ~ C.G. Jung in 'Memories, Dreams, Reflections.'"The destiny of the universe passes in and through us — once the us, of course, has been purified of all that is 'our' private property. We are not isolated beings. [We] bear the burden, the responsibility, but also the joy and the beauty of the universe." ~ Raimon Panikkar in 'The Rhythm of Being.' **Some quotes have been adapted to reflect gender neutral language. There has been no change made to the essential meaning of those quotes.Music:"Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Religious but Not Religious (Highlights)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2021 27:28


    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.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:“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.'“The decisive question for man is: Is he related to something infinite or not? That is the telling question of his life. Only if we know that the thing which truly matters is the infinite can we avoid fixing our interest upon futilities, and upon all kinds of goals which are not of real importance.” ~ C.G. Jung in 'Memories, Dreams, Reflections.'Music:"Dreaming Days," and "Slow Vibing" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

    Working With Your Dreams

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 23:18


    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.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:“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.'"This feeling reflects the frustration of the rational mind, having to admit that it can’t figure things out—and thereby leaving space for nonrational faculties” ~ Robert Bosnak in 'Tracks in the Wilderness of Dreaming.'Episode 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.'“Attention consists of suspending our thought, leaving it detached, empty, and ready to be permeated by the object..." ~ Simone Weil in 'Waiting For God,'“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 4.0

    The Wisdom of Play

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 23:52


    In this episode:I discuss the importance of play and creativity in the practice of the symbolic life.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:"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 4.0

    Preparing to Work With Your Dreams

    Play Episode Play 40 sec Highlight Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 24:20


    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.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:"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,” writes Jung, “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 4.0

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