This workshop will introduce key passages from the Inferno, the Purgatorio, and the Paradiso to demonstrate Dante’s use of allegory, focusing particularly on its psychological and spiritual dimensions. Dante’s guide through hell and purgatory, the poet Virgil, tells Dante that the damned are souls who have lost “the good of the intellect.” The blessed are those who have recovered it. What is it to have, or to lack, the good of intellect? We will also consider the related concept of “contrapasso” explicitly referred to in the Inferno, but operative throughout the entire Comedy.

Finally, we will consider how it is that souls reconcile, or fail to reconcile, with themselves, with their fellow human beings, and with God. These questions are timeless but also timely.

How can our society recover the good of intellect?

Jung pictured Eros as an extroverted energy bringing what is inside into relationship with what is outside. He argued that introverts often leave inside what is meant to be outside. Since most Jungians are introverted, this seminar will focus on how to bring outside what is generally kept inside. The seminar is intended to be participatory and revelatory, not just conceptual. This requires participants to be willing to do the assignments and then share the results with all participants. As you can see, this will require a degree of extraverted sharing that may be uncomfortable. The purpose of this sharing is not for critique in any form, but for the type of “showing and telling” that constellates the spirit of Eros.

 In the first seminar, Russ will illustrate showing and telling in relation to his dream experiences. The remaining seminars will focus on everyone completing and sharing expressions of dreams in poetry, art, story and photography. Participants will share the experiences of their creations in each seminar as well as their experiences of the creations of fellow participants. The seminar will not be recorded.   

A study and discussion of various fairy tales facilitated by Suzan Willson, Jungian Analyst & Bette Joram, Ph.D.

OUR NEXT FAIRY TALE: The Story of Ciccu from Sicilianische Mahrchen. *Note: This link should take you to the Pink Fairy Book. This story is on p. 339 of the actual Pink Fairy Book.

Learning Objectives:

Phases in the Development of the Fairy Tale

Fairy Tale Discussion Learning Objectives

In the library, Lael Cassidy hosts an in-person discussion group based on Jung’s Dream Analysis: Notes on the Seminar Given in 1928-1930.