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June 26, 2020

The tree appears frequently in the medieval chemical tests and in general represents the growth of the arcane substance and its transformation into the philosophical gold (or whatever the name of the goal may be). (Jung, 1967, p. 274)

When I see buds on a tree, I still have a childlike response, “How did you figure out when to show up?” (I do understand from the botanist point of view, there is a lot of plant physiology that makes it happen.) The leaf buds show up very dark, deep purple. As they grow, the shape is “pinched” in the middle, as though it is two leaves in one, then turn green. Next, the miracles of the tree trunks, branches, leaves, buds, and blossoms (and bees) are all cooperate to have the tree bear fruit. Once again, in my imagination, I wonder if the fruit appreciates the combined effort of its existence as the “gold” of the tree. It is the harvest.

In this time of the pandemic numbers climbing and the social justice movement, something will blossom and bear fruit. It will take time, effort, and societal chemistry to ensure a bountiful harvest. There is no guarantee what the outcome will be, especially since there are so many ingredients needed to bring about change. We also have working definitions of health, our constitution, moral and ethical guidelines to assist the process. We have a responsibility as citizens of this country to better/transform ourselves and nation. We will need to make harvest choices of what is the best outcome for all.

The night before I was planning to compose this Blog, I had the following dream. I offer it to my readers as a gift, […]

June 22nd, 2020

As a rule, the life of a young person is characterized by a general expansion and a striving towards concrete ends; and his neurosis seems mainly to rest on his hesitation or shrinking back from this necessity. But the life of an older person is characterized by a contraction of forces, by the affirmation of what has been achieved, and by the curtailment of further growth. His neurosis comes mainly from his clinging to a youthful attitude which is now out of season. Just as the young neurotic is afraid of life, so the older one shrinks back from death. (Jung, 1954, p. 39)

The image shows vegetation in various stages of life. The desert is an environment of extremes. You can see young plants beginning and the old drying up. It is a reminder of desert life. Environmentalists say let nature do its thing. A desert landscaper would want the dead plant removed. The action will be determined by the rules of the land.

The pandemic and justice protests provide opportunities for the competing agendas (Jung wrote in the above quote) to join forces to make life better in the moment as well as the future. There are old ideas and structures that require revision or repair. Some may even need to be removed to give space for new ideas or structures.

The protestors are of all ages that want the United States to address social justice in policing matters, health care, employment, etc. It is a unifying activity that demands the ideals of the constitution be brought forward for all. The dynamics of recent events have caused a lot of people to move out of their usual coroners of life and into the […]

June 20th, 2020

Reflection re-enacts the process of excitation and carries the stimulus over into a series of images which, if the impetus is strong enough, are reproduced in some form of expression. This may take place directly, for instance in speech, or may appear in the form of abstract thought, dramatic representation, or ethical conduct; or again in a scientific achievement or a work of art. (Jung, 1960b, p. 117)

The pandemic and the protests “insist” on reflection. They are stimulus as much, and maybe more, than the flower in the image above. The flower reflection could be about beauty, color, intensity, warmth, texture, etc., and certainly could prompt us to externalize it. Do you have the same amount of freedom regarding the pandemic or the protests? What have the images or thoughts about either the pandemic or protests stimulated in you?

Rather than post a photo of the pandemic or protest, I decided to use the flower to demonstrate a point regarding reflection, that is, some reflections are easier to express than others. For our current social circumstances, some wear masks, some do not, some take to the streets with signs while others stay at home. Each of us has our own reflection and response to what the United States is experiencing. It is during this times that we might be more activated and unable to contain our response to ourselves. The reflective energy is amped up because of intensity or duration.

All mammals have instincts – compulsive activity essential for survival. Freud emphasized Sexual instinct as the basic instinct of human nature – which if not managed optimally leads to Neurosis. Later, he added aggression or death instinct – Thanatos. Thus Sexuality and Aggression; […]

Blend in or Stand Apart
The Dog Complex and the God Complex
In the Eye of the Storm
An individual response to the Global Crisis
ISSN 1939-3407
 
 
 
June 18th, 2020
Ashok Bedi, M.D., Jungian Psychoanalyst
www.pathtotheosoul.com
www.tulawellnessllc.com
Robert BJ Jakala PH.D., Jungian Psychotherapist
In a storm, the safest place is in the eye of the storm. My colleague BJ and I will share our daily reflections on this centering process from an Analytical perspective, sharing from the repertoire of our personal and professional experience. BJ is a psychologist and a photographer and will pick an image of the day that catches him in this collective crisis. I will amplify it from a Jungian Analytical perspective. We hope that this may offer you a baby step on the path to your own unique response to this chaos.
 
The structure and physiology of the brain furnish no explanation of the psychic process. The psyche has a peculiar nature which cannot be reduced to anything else. (Jung, 1964, p. 270)

Natural camouflage is completely mind boggling to me. The ability to go unnoticed by the predators in the environment is crucial for survival of the species. The bird is barely noticeable.
Our human species has so many layers of camouflage because demographics of the United States is complex. A person can look like most in their community but have radically different politics, philosophies, etc., or they can look radically different yet fit into the cultural values of those around them. Our brains have common ground as far as what is seen by a PET Scan or MRI, but we are all individuals in so many ways.
In these moments of the pandemic and protests, alignment and rebellion are shifting radically. The neighbor you are friends with does not want to wear […]

Light and Shadow

Transformation and Assimilation of the Dark Side

In the Eye of the Storm

An individual response to the Global Crisis

ISSN 1939-3407

June 16th,
2020

Ashok Bedi, M.D., Jungian Psychoanalyst

www.pathtotheosoul.com

www.tulawellnessllc.com

Robert BJ Jakala PH.D., Jungian Psychotherapist

In a storm, the safest place is in the eye of the storm. My colleague BJ and I will share our daily reflections on this centering process from an Analytical perspective, sharing from the repertoire of our personal and professional experience. BJ is a psychologist and a photographer and will pick an image of the day that catches him in this collective crisis. I will amplify it from a Jungian Analytical perspective. We hope that this may offer you a baby step on the path to your own unique response to this chaos.

Because of its unconscious component the self can only be partially expressed by human figures; the other part of it has to be expressed by objective, abstract symbols. (Jung, 1934/1954/1968, p. 187)

 
The young man’s relationship to the elephant taught me new ways to engage the world. Each of them has their own mobility and yet significantly influence each other. The man tends the elephant including bathing, which they are about to do. He guides him into the lake and the elephant not only lies down in cooperation but seems to enjoy it. The elephant appears affectionate and agreeable during the entire process. It appears the man oversees such a giant being. However, there is one significant factor looming. The elephant does have a mind of its own, with its own instincts for survival. It has accommodated, for now, but could at any moment disobey or even crush the man easily to satisfy unknown needs.

In this time of the pandemic and racial protests, […]