All Programs

The Way of the Dream: A Video Series Discussion Group
2nd Saturday of the Month | 10 am to 12 pm
Free for Members and Non-Members | Zoom Link Here
Facilitated by Susan Farwell & John Philson

The Way of the Dream is based on an extraordinary series of films made by Fraser Boa, who collected first-person accounts of dreams in street interviews with ordinary men and women in various parts of the world. He then asked the eminent psychoanalyst Marie-Louise von Franz to interpret these dreams on film, just as she would in a private analytical session. The resulting test is a primer explaining and demonstrating the art and science of dream analysis for the general public. The material covered includes dreams of men, dreams of women, what dreams tell us about ourselves and our relationships, the historical significance of dreams, and dreams about death and dying. Dr. von Franz concludes that one of the healthiest things people can do is to pay attention to their dreams: “Dreams show us how to find meaning in our lives, how to fulfill our own destiny, how to realize the greater potential of life within us.”

Each of the 8 sessions will begin with a showing of – on average, 1 1/4 hours of video, followed by discussion. There is a companion book of the same name – recommended but not required – from which passages may be read for addressing questions or issues with the video content.

Death Café
Facilitated by Martha Spruce
Fridays, September 29th and December 15th | Starts at 7pm
Free to Members and Non-Members
Held Via Zoom | Zoom Link Here

“Death is psychologically as important as birth, and like it, is an integral part of life.” ~ C.G. Jung

Let’s gather together to talk about death. Not to grieve, not to seek therapeutic support, but simply to have a group-directed discussion with the broad intention to increase our awareness of death. Perhaps that greater awareness might help us to deeply appreciate our lives right now, right here. Death Cafes around the world give us all, young and old, an opportunity to talk about death without any agenda, advice, objective, or conclusion. We agree to respect each other’s viewpoints and confidentiality. Donations to the Jung Center are welcomed. You can find the Zoom link in the description above. The two discussion dates do not imply a progression of any theme and so you may attend one (or both) session(s). Covid has brought death very close to many of us. A Death Café may help us to become open to more acceptance and curiosity. Let’s refrain from trying to outsource death. It belongs to each of us, intimately.

Martha Spruce, the founder of Hearts & Hands Reiki, has been practicing and teaching Reiki in the mid-coast area for over 25 years. During that time, she has also cared for terminally ill people as a certified hospice volunteer and homecare provider. She has also volunteered as a certified pastoral chaplain at Mid Coast Hospital. Being with people who are dying has helped her to learn what death might give as well as what it takes.

Seven Spiritual Practices for a Scientific Age: A Book Discussion Group
3rd Sunday of the Month | 10 am to 12 pm
Free for Members and Non-Members| Zoom Link Here
Facilitated by Jeff Pinette

This discussion group will explore the effects of spiritual practices through Rupert Sheldrake’s companion volume to Science and Spiritual Practices entitled Ways to Go Beyond and Why They Work: Seven Spiritual Practices for a Scientific Age. In this sequel, Sheldrake looks at seven spiritual practices that are personally transformative and have scientifically measurable effects.

1. The Spiritual Side of Sports
2. Learning from Animals
3. Fasting
4. Cannabis, Psychedelics and Spiritual Openings
5. Powers of Prayer
6. Holy Days and Festivals
7. Cultivating Good Habits, Avoiding Bad Habits, and Being Kind.

Sheldrake combines the latest scientific research with his knowledge of mystical traditions around the world and explains why these seven practices work. They give a greater sense of connectedness. They make people happier and healthier. He looks at their effects inside our brains, throughout our bodies, and on our relationships. He asks whether spiritual experiences are essentially illusory, or if they give us direct connections with realms of consciousness greater than our own.

Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance. He is the author of more than eighty-five scientific papers and twelve books. He was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge University, a Frank Knox Fellow at Harvard University, and a Research Fellow of the Royal Society. From 2005 to 2010 he was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project for research on unexplained human and animal abilities, funded by Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California, and of Schumacher College in Devon, England.

In this discussion group, we’ll read the book together during each session with no reading assignments. This discussion group meets on the third Sunday of the month from 10:00 AM to Noon.

Jeffrey Pinnette is the facilitator for this discussion group. He is a long-term Jung Center member and current serves as co-chair of the Center’s Board and as the Program Committee chair. He lives in Topsham.