Journey to the Land of Shiva through the Jungian Lens: January 9-22, 2015

Ashok Bedi , M.D.

B.J. Jakala, PH.D.

From January 9-22 2015, a group of soul seekers will travel in India to experience the land of Shiva through Jungian lens of Analytical Psychology. This experience is sponsored by the New York Jung Foundation. For the next several days, the faculty member of the group, Jungian Analyst Ashok Bedi and a Depth Psychotherapist Dr. Robert J. Jakala will compose a daily blog of their reflections about the experience. Other group participants have been invited to contribute to the blog and may join us from time to time. We are glad to share our experiences and reflections. Enjoy!

Shiva (portrait) by ChristasVengel on DeviantArt

christasvengel.deviantart.com

By B.J.Jakala

This flower teaches me patience during this adjustment to India.  Clearly there are blossoms open in full view and yet there are buds in various stages of growth. Each aspect has its own experience of the present and collectively it demonstrates life is a spectrum.  

I know I cannot open one of the buds without causing damage. I realize the importance of allowing its internal clock to manifest the best, natural way of expression.  

In contrast to my appreciation of this flower, I try to impose my will on undeveloped aspects of myself.  I dig and prod, sometimes without respect, for the life that is emerging. I feel sad about the disrespect I have given to my soul.  My ego wants to be in charge and I will do much better if I trust the inner, often preverbal wisdom of patience.  

I am here and will practice being in the present moment.  I am grateful to the flower that is the mirror.  I open my heart, let my mind rest, and realize I am enough in this moment. May I listen deeply and trust my soul as the tour guide to who I am. I have arrived in India.

BJ Jakala, PhD is a participant in this year’s Journey to the Land of Shiva through the Jungians Lens led by Dr. Bedi.

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Reflections by Ashok Bedi

When we attempt the Alchemic process of inner work, change and growth, often we undertake it as a conscious, ego enterprise. We have our rules of engagement, our timetable and expectations. While this is understandable it is not consistent with the process of transformation of our personality and the environment. Parents have expectations of their children, teachers of their students, citizens of their leaders and supplicants of their God. It is only when we suspend our expectations that the process can continue. For true change and growth, we must move from Ego time to the Soul time zone. The Soul time zone has its own rules; sometimes, things change in a BLINK and at other times it takes a lifetime or many generations. It is only when we surrender to the laws of the Transcendent that deep and enduring growth of personality emerges. The psychology of the Transcendent Function was one of Carl Jung’s enduring contributions to the understanding of the Human Psyche and its infinite potential.

Join us often to share in our experiences and images as we engage the Mystery of Shiva in India with our Jungian peers.

NAMASTE

DR. ASHOK BEDI, MD

He is a Jungian psychoanalyst and a board certified psychiatrist who is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Great Britain, a diplomat in Psychological Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is also Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, serves as president of the Carl G. Jung Institute of Chicago, and is in private practice in Milwaukee (www.tulawellnessllc.com)

In addition, Dr. Bedi is the liaison for the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) for developing Jungian training programs in India, where he travels annually to teach, train, and consult with the Jungian Developing groups at several centers including those in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bangalore. He leads the annual “A Jungian Encounter with the Soul of India” study group to several centers in India under the auspices of the New York Jung Foundation.

He is the Co-Founder of the USA India Jung Foundation (www.uijf.org). The USA India Jung Foundation promotes educational and clinical activities in India and USA based on the principals of Carl Jung’s analytical psychology and Eastern spiritual and healing wisdom and traditions. It fosters clinical, medical, and educational exchange between professionals of the United States and India. These activities include educational activities directed both to professional and lay organizations in both countries to promote mental health education and prevention activities based on principals of analytical psychology and Eastern Spirituality. To support this – A 501(c)(3) Foundation and its charitable activities, kindly make your tax deductible contribution via the website: www.uijf.org

Ashok Bedi’s fourth book, Crossing the Healing Zone: From Illness to Wellness, was published earlier this year by Ibis Press, a division of Nicolas-Hays, Inc. His previous books are Awaken the Slumbering Goddess: The Latent Code of the Hindu Goddess Archetypes (BookSurge, 2007), Retire Your Family Karma: Decode Your Family Pattern and Find Your Soul Path (Nicolas-Hays, Inc., 2003), and Path to the Soul (Samuel Weiser, Inc., 2000).

For more information, please see Dr. Bedi’s website, www.pathtothesoul.com

Robert “BJ” Jakala, PhD

Graduated from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2007 with a degree in Depth Psychology. He has been in private practice as a Marriage Family Therapist in Woodland Hills CA since 1987. He has taught courses on stress management and self-replenishment for health care professionals for over ten years at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA. This is his fifth trip to India with Mindful Journeys with Dr. Bedi.

To Support the Charitable Activities of the USA – India Jung Foundation, kindly visit our website – www.uijf.org and click under the DONATE link to make your Tax Deductible Contribution via check or PayPal

Thank you

Ashok Bedi, M.D.