Description
A Jungian Wisdom School of the Heart Presents – Earth, Cosmos, Psyche: Navigating Planetary Initiation
Awakening to and Living from the Wild Ecological Aspect of the Psyche
“A collective problem, if not recognized as such, always appears as a personal problem, and in individual cases may give the impression that something is out of order in the realm of the personal psyche. The personal psyche is indeed disturbed, but such disturbances need not be primary; they may well be secondary, resulting from an insupportable change in the social atmosphere. The cause of the disturbance is, therefore, not to be sought in the personal surroundings, but rather in the collective situation. Psychotherapy has hitherto taken this matter far too little into account.” – C.G. Jung’s Memories, Dreams, Reflections (pp. 234-235).
In this lecture, Brian will describe the differences between ‘ego-ic/anthropo-centric consciousness’ and ‘eco-centric consciousness’. Ever since homo sapiens sapiens began its long journey of leaving hunter-gatherer modes of living in the world, we’ve been on a slow but dangerous path to a consciousness that does not fully perceive itself as a member of the Earth community. Our so-called “progress” has been, in actuality, an evolutionary “regression” of consciousness, disconnecting the Self from nature. Brian will describe how this occurred and the consequences for the Self, human societies, and the Earth. In addition, Brian will describe the concept of ‘ecological awakening’, a mystical experience where the human being experiences the sacredness of the Earth and a deep knowing that, as Dr. Bill Plotkin writes, their “primary place of belonging is the Earth community.”
Brian will share the eco-biographies of several individuals who never lost their “ecological consciousness” and of extraordinary individuals who eco-awakened through wilderness fasting and psychedelic experiences.
Brian Stafford, MD, MPH, awakened to his wild ecological consciousness after a celebrated academic career as a licensed pediatrician and as the Anschutz Family Chair in Early Childhood Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital, Colorado. He re-trained in Eco-depth psychotherapy and Soul Initiation Guiding at the Animas Valley Institute where he is now a Senior Guide, Trainer and Board Member. Brian trained in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Research at the combined CIIS/MAPS CPTR program, and practices as a preparation and integration specialist and trainer. He is now an adjunct professor at Pacifica Graduate Institute where he teaches classes on Human Development and Psychedelics. Brian is a poet and writes academic articles and essays on the topics of eco-therapy, eco-and depth psychology, and psychedelic therapy. Brian is currently completing his first book, Ecological Awakening and Ecological Consciousness: Finding Our Way Back Home and into the Future.
