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

An 11th century bronze sculpture of Ganesha is the god of new beginnings and the remover of obstacles.

It is a wonderful example of Chola artistry held in Tanjore, India. The 14th century poet, Avaiyar, expressed Ganesha’s role in the world when she wrote, “He has weeded out all difficulty and shown the path of grace.”

Days of celebration of Pongal, the new year, are evident as we travel through the cities and villages of South India.  Hope and the freedom to move towards a more improved world are written on everyone’s face as they wish a Happy Pongal. The energy of potential is palpable.

Ganesha reminds me of the importance of consciousness as I listen deeply to what is and yet to come within me.  I must remain aware of the path and those obstacles that I encounter along the way.  They will take effort to remove; effort that I cannot do by myself.  I need help to stay on the path and manifest/reveal more of who I am.  I need the grace of hope and the blessings of motivation to stay on this inward journey and not be captured by outward distractions.  

My obstacles are often attachments to beliefs that no longer serve me.  My loyalty to them can prevent me from the real freedom required for change.  Sometimes I am afraid of the new and anxiety prevents movement.  When I trust my deeper self that difficulty is weeded out, and I can proceed on the path of grace.  

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

Reflections by Ashok Bedi, M.D.

Pongal is the harvest festival in South India. Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed God of the Hindus removes the obstacles in our path and paves the way for the auspicious new beginnings. The archetype of Ganesha prescribes the necessary steps to make this beginning. His magnificent princely head was cut off and he was brought back to life by transplanting the head of the elephant on his trunk. For each one of us, to make a new beginning, we must sacrifice our old narcissistic attitude and princely ego and replace it with the wisdom of the elephant. An elephant is large but grounded, yet its trunk can reach up to the skies. Only when we sacrifice the old, find our solid ground, we cultivate the capacity to reach the skies of our potential. May Ganesha bless your new beginnings.

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.