All Programs

Tools of Individuation
Experiences of God in the Individuation Process: A True Story (PART 2)
Diane Croft

Saturday, January 30, 2021
9:30 to 11 am
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on January 29)
Members $10, Non-Members $15
*This program will not be recorded

This presentation is a continuation of a lecture given in December (PART 1) on the presence of God in the individuation process. It explores Jung’s belief that the psyche is, by nature, religious. “Religion,” wrote Jung, “in the sense of conscientious regard for the irrational factors of the psyche and of individual fate.”

Diane Croft will share the religious symbolism that emerged, unexpectedly, during her own three-year encounter with a numinous Presence that felt both otherworldly and intimate. She will use examples from the Old and New Testaments as reflections of inner processes of transformation. “Is it not time”, wrote Jung in The Undiscovered Self, “that the Christian mythology, instead of being wiped out, was understood symbolically for once.”

Diane Croft, EdM, is a graduate of Wittenberg and Harvard University. She spent most of her career as a vice president at National Braille Press in Boston. For three years, Diane had access to an invisible, archetypal realm, which she describes in her book The Unseen Partner: Love & Longing in the Unconscious, winner of five national book awards. A review in Quadrant: Journal for Analytical Psychology described it as “an extraordinary book, comparable in many ways to the Red Book of C. G. Jung.”

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.

The Sumerian Myth of Inanna and the Feminine Principle: A Jungian Perspective
Teresa Arendell

Sundays, February 7, 14, & 21, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on February 6)
Members $50, Non-Members $60
*This program will not be recorded so please be sure to attend each session

Myths are products of unconscious fantasy – the imaginal. They reveal psychic contents and provide cultural narratives. Jung argues that “the whole of mythology can be taken as a form of the projection of the collective unconscious.” He further states, “In myths we find particular forms and images through which we can grasp the archetypal realities that underlie all psychic experience and to a large extent determine it.”

In this course, we examine the mythology of the all-encompassing Sumerian goddess Inanna (Ishtar in the related-Akadian culture), Queen of Heaven and Earth, in terms of the feminine principle. Recorded documents pertaining to Inanna are considered to be the first writing in western history, with an oral tradition most likely much older. The clay tablets written with cuneiform script by the high priestess Enheduanna are recognized as being the first existing account of an individual’s awareness of an inner life. Attributed to Inanna are civilization and royalty, ritual celebration, the sacred marriage, wisdom, and renewal of and harmony with nature. Across the numerous millennia of evolution of the image, Inanna-Ishtar actively expresses the opposites: order and conflict, creation and destruction, eros and thanatos, renewal and stagnation, women’s empowerment and diminishment, lovingness and vindictiveness. In manifesting the opposites, the goddess offers us an image of what Jung called ‘the abysmal contradictions of human nature’. She is both this and that. In all of her complexity, Inanna-Ishtar was adored and celebrated as ruler of the heavens for at least 3500 years in Mesopotamia, until, through the rise of patriarchy, she became marginalized and secondary to the masculine principle and roles of gods and men in all social, cultural, religious and thus psychological spheres. The mythology of Inanna-Ishtar reminds us of the dramatic neglect and diminishment of the feminine principle (ever-present in the deep psyches of both men and women) which has occurred over the past six millennia. In this three-week course we look specifically at Inanna’s descent into the underworld which she enters in order to meet with her sister and arguably shadow, Ereshkigal.

Recommended reading (both authors are Jungian analysts):
Perera, S. (1981). Descent to the Goddess: A Way of Initiation for Women. Inner City Books.
and/or
Meador, B. D. (1992). Uncursing the Ark: Treasures from the Underworld. Chiron. 1992.

Teresa Arendell, PhD, IAAP, is a Maine-based Jungian analyst who trained at the C. G. Jung Institute – Boston. She’s offered courses and lectures and served on committees at the Brunswick Maine Jung Center, the C. G. Jung Institute – Boston, and other Jungian associations. She was a college professor in sociology for over three decades, and held multiple postdoctoral fellowships. She’s working on a book exploring Jungian thought and practice in relation to climate devastation.

Infinite Potential: The Life and Times of David Bohm (2020) | Directed by Paul Howard
Viewing facilitated by Ann Carroll
Free for Members and Non-Members, No Pre-Registration Required
Zoom link to watch: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83391218901?pwd=TXE3Q3Q1YlBTY3J1YjJqRUZNVzNaQT09
[This film will be split into two parts, to be viewed and discussed on February 12th and February 19th respectively]

Infinite Potential takes us on a mystical and scientific journey into the nature of life and reality with David Bohm, the man Einstein called his “spiritual son” and the Dalai Lama his “science guru”. A physicist and explorer of Consciousness, Bohm turned to Eastern wisdom to develop groundbreaking insights into the profound interconnectedness of the Universe and our place within it.

Facilitated by Cybele Brandow
Second Saturday every Month (Except October 10):
Starting September 12, 2020
10 am to 12 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81898146363?pwd=WEtNQWVzVzF2aU5OMHFVMEdpRmRCdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary

A little more than thirty-two years ago, renowned scholar Joseph Campbell sat down with veteran journalist Bill Moyers for a series of interviews that became one of the most enduringly popular programs ever on PBS. In dialogues that span millennia of history and far-flung geography, the two discuss myths as metaphors for human experience and the path to transcendence, touching on topics as diverse as world religion, the virgin birth, and pop culture. Filmed at George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch and New York’s American Museum of Natural History, this series demonstrates that, despite superficial differences between cultures, all stories are humanity’s story.

In this discussion group, each day we will watch one of the six, 60-minute segments together, then spend the second hour in informal discussion concerning what arose for each of us out of the images, thoughts, and dialogues shared by Campbell and Moyers.

Cybele Brandow is a student of late ancient Christian mysticism, biblical and general hermeneutics, and tarot. They are the current Coordinator of the Maine Jung Center as well as a writer of children’s nonsense literature that engages metaphorically with dreams, schizotypy, naming, gender cosmologies, dynamic identity, myth and fairy tale, and more. Cybele lives in South Portland atop a hill and is a devout admirer of their Seussian bungalow’s resident tortie, Persephone (‘Persy’ for short).

Facilitated by Jeffrey Pinnette
Third Sunday every Month:
Starting September 20, 2020
10 am to 12 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88486208410?pwd=aldSV25kaWJkVm1OYU5SQ2Qxc2kzZz09

FREE for members; No pre-registration is necessary

Required Text: Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature (2005) by Ian McCallum

This discussion group will explore the concept of Ecological Intelligence through Ian McCallum’s book entitled Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature.

A bestseller in Africa, Ecological Intelligence addresses the interconnectedness of all living things, drawing significantly on the author’s Jungian background. McCallum has stated the intent of the book is “toward a greater awareness of the privilege of what it means to be human…it is a wild and ethical imperative – an urgent reminder that we are inextricably linked to the land; that the history of every living creature is within us; that we are above all a mindful, poetic species and that we are the “keepers of our zoo”. If we cannot accept this then we will continue to be the creatures of our own undoing.” The book reflects on the evolution of life; the development of emotions, language, and consciousness; fields of influence; and a concept of ecological intelligence that is closely linked to a spiritual and poetic approach to our place in the natural order.

Ian McCallum is a Jungian analyst, medical doctor, wilderness guide, and poet – as well as a director of the Wilderness Foundation. He is the author of two anthologies of wilderness poems: Wild Gifts (1999), Untamed (2012) and a novel Thorns to Kilimanjaro (2000).

In this discussion group, we’ll read the book together during each session with no reading assignments.

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

The Faces of Mary Magdalene
Leah Chyten

Saturday, February 27, 2021
9:30 to 11:30 am
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on February 26)
Members $15, Non-Members $20

Mary Magdalene walked this earth alongside Jesus. Burdened for so long with the shadow of the feminine, she is now emerging in robes of glory. Depicted as redeemed sinner, companion of Jesus, Apostle of the Apostles, we will explore her many faces to discover our own resonance with this enigmatic and compelling woman.

Leah Chyten is a spiritual teacher and author of several novels, including a novel about Mary Magdalene called Keeper of the Flame. She lives in Portland, Maine.

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.

What is Home?
Cheryl Fuller

Sundays, March 7, 14, & 21, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on March 6)
Members $50, Non-Members $60

What does it mean to be “at home”? Is home a place, the location of our geographical origin? The place where we eat and sleep and be with loved ones? A state of mind? A sanctuary we create? Our body? What do we lose if we leave our origins and what do we lose if we never leave? What differentiates wanderlust from exile?

We will use myths, essays, other writings, and writing exercises to explore these questions and develop greater insight into our own sense of home and our place in the world.

Cheryl Fuller, PhD, is a Jungian psychotherapist. She has her doctorate in Jungian Studies and many years of study and training at various Jung institutes and in a long Jungian analysis. She brings over forty years of clinical experience, humor and enthusiasm to the study of Jung, psychotherapy, feminism, and fat studies. She has a private practice for individuals in Maine and online. She has published essays on Medea, fat politics, and embodiment. She holds a BA in Psychology from Duke University, an MA in clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in Jungian Studies from the Union Institute.

Cheryl grew up an Army brat which led to her long-time interest in home. Having lived in many places, she happily settled in Maine in 1972 and declared herself at home and lives with her husband and three cats in Belfast, Maine.

Facilitated by Cybele Brandow
Second Saturday every Month (Except October 10):
Starting September 12, 2020
10 am to 12 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81898146363?pwd=WEtNQWVzVzF2aU5OMHFVMEdpRmRCdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary

A little more than thirty-two years ago, renowned scholar Joseph Campbell sat down with veteran journalist Bill Moyers for a series of interviews that became one of the most enduringly popular programs ever on PBS. In dialogues that span millennia of history and far-flung geography, the two discuss myths as metaphors for human experience and the path to transcendence, touching on topics as diverse as world religion, the virgin birth, and pop culture. Filmed at George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch and New York’s American Museum of Natural History, this series demonstrates that, despite superficial differences between cultures, all stories are humanity’s story.

In this discussion group, each day we will watch one of the six, 60-minute segments together, then spend the second hour in informal discussion concerning what arose for each of us out of the images, thoughts, and dialogues shared by Campbell and Moyers.

Cybele Brandow is a student of late ancient Christian mysticism, biblical and general hermeneutics, and tarot. They are the current Coordinator of the Maine Jung Center as well as a writer of children’s nonsense literature that engages metaphorically with dreams, schizotypy, naming, gender cosmologies, dynamic identity, myth and fairy tale, and more. Cybele lives in South Portland atop a hill and is a devout admirer of their Seussian bungalow’s resident tortie, Persephone (‘Persy’ for short).

Finding Joe (2011) | Directed by Patrick Takaya Solomon
Viewing facilitated by Audrey McMorrow
Free for Members and Non-Members, No Pre-Registration Required
Zoom link to watch: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87615977382?pwd=MFpzN2Q3eW9sK0p0RzVNdnF1S1FFQT09

A multidimensional film featuring commentaries from Deepak Chopra, Mick Fleetwood, Rashida Jones and others on how Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey finds expression in our lives, and on how his work continues to influence our culture. Take a journey through the human psyche and discover the pattern hidden in every story.

Facilitated by Jeffrey Pinnette
Third Sunday every Month:
Starting September 20, 2020
10 am to 12 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88486208410?pwd=aldSV25kaWJkVm1OYU5SQ2Qxc2kzZz09

FREE for members; No pre-registration is necessary

Required Text: Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature (2005) by Ian McCallum

This discussion group will explore the concept of Ecological Intelligence through Ian McCallum’s book entitled Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature.

A bestseller in Africa, Ecological Intelligence addresses the interconnectedness of all living things, drawing significantly on the author’s Jungian background. McCallum has stated the intent of the book is “toward a greater awareness of the privilege of what it means to be human…it is a wild and ethical imperative – an urgent reminder that we are inextricably linked to the land; that the history of every living creature is within us; that we are above all a mindful, poetic species and that we are the “keepers of our zoo”. If we cannot accept this then we will continue to be the creatures of our own undoing.” The book reflects on the evolution of life; the development of emotions, language, and consciousness; fields of influence; and a concept of ecological intelligence that is closely linked to a spiritual and poetic approach to our place in the natural order.

Ian McCallum is a Jungian analyst, medical doctor, wilderness guide, and poet – as well as a director of the Wilderness Foundation. He is the author of two anthologies of wilderness poems: Wild Gifts (1999), Untamed (2012) and a novel Thorns to Kilimanjaro (2000).

In this discussion group, we’ll read the book together during each session with no reading assignments.

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

Entering the Mystery of the Sacred Mandala in Vajrayana Buddhism
Venerable Tenzin Dasel

Saturday, March 27, 2021
9 to 11 am
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on March 26)
Members $15, Non-Members $20

What does it mean to be part of the circle of life? A circle is a symbol that conveys both process and form, implying there is a shared connection mysteriously linking us together, calling us to wholeness. It is fluid, soft, and imparts unbroken continuity lacking sharp edges or quick corners. In Vajrayana Buddhist tradition the mandala offers a rare opportunity: by gaining entrance into the sacred mandala through initiation, the possibility of attaining enlightenment in one lifetime presents itself. This represents an immense spiritual revolution and evolution of inner space awareness.

Venerable Tenzin Dasel is an experienced practitioner and meditation instructor, founder of Maine Mindfulness Project. Her spiritual journey evolved from a lay Buddhist practitioner who met her principal teacher in 2002, to taking monastic vows with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in 2017. She is a member of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) Female Sangha Leadership Committee. She serves as the assistant to the most Venerable Tenzin Palmo and Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in India.

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.

Core Course: Individuation and the Self
The ‘Self’: The Connection to our Divine Center
Paola Biola

Sundays, April 4, 11, & 18, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on April 3)
Members $50, Non-Members $60

The ‘Self’ is that dynamic inner core that constantly nudges us on our life’s journey. It is the central point within the psyche to which everything is related. Like the engine, the ‘Self’ in us is a source of energy, we could say — it is the driving force, as C. G. Jung says: “to become what one is”. It is surrounded by all our potentials, our total personality. The central question for us will be to examine the difference between having ‘ego’ power and being empowered by the ’Self’. The lives of Frida Kahlo and Sylvia Plath will be looked at to garner some insights into the workings of what Jung called the ‘Self’.

Paola Biola, MA, IAAP, is a Jungian analyst who trained at the C. G. Jung Institute-Zurich. Paola had a private practice in Harpswell, where individuals or couples could stay for a weekend of intensive work. She has served as a member and Co-Chair of the Board of the Maine Jung Center.

The Seventh Seal (1957) | Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Viewing facilitated by Michael Klimov
Free for Members and Non-Members, No Pre-Registration Required
Zoom link to watch: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86568772603?pwd=Tk1mb0I1TUFsMFUwME5paEJJSjQzZz09

Ingmar Bergman, named the world’s greatest filmmaker by Time magazine in 2005, is considered a cinematic master of 20^th century existential psychology. He is recognized for his tremendous impact on the history of cinema. One of his best films, The Seventh Seal is described by cinema critic Sven Mikulee as a “masterful, uncompromising exhibition of filmmaking vision and craft.” Mattia Bonasia in his article “The Seventh Seal: analysis and meanings of Ingmar Bergman’s movie” writes: “More than just a film, The Seventh Seal is a complex work that wonders about the true sense of being in the world, and does it substantially without taking positions: it paints in a gigantic fresco all the different human figures”. We can draw many parallels between our present-day society afflicted by the COVID pandemic in a time of crisis, and the atmosphere of fear and helplessness, loss of meaning of life in the plague-stricken medieval society in Bergman’s powerful, insightful, philosophical, psychological, and beautifully-designed cinematic masterpiece. Bergman claims that making The Seventh Seal cured his intense fear of death. Perhaps watching and discussing the film together will help us face and integrate our own fears and shadows.

Facilitated by Jeffrey Pinnette
Third Sunday every Month:
Starting September 20, 2020
10 am to 12 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88486208410?pwd=aldSV25kaWJkVm1OYU5SQ2Qxc2kzZz09

FREE for members; No pre-registration is necessary

Required Text: Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature (2005) by Ian McCallum

This discussion group will explore the concept of Ecological Intelligence through Ian McCallum’s book entitled Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature.

A bestseller in Africa, Ecological Intelligence addresses the interconnectedness of all living things, drawing significantly on the author’s Jungian background. McCallum has stated the intent of the book is “toward a greater awareness of the privilege of what it means to be human…it is a wild and ethical imperative – an urgent reminder that we are inextricably linked to the land; that the history of every living creature is within us; that we are above all a mindful, poetic species and that we are the “keepers of our zoo”. If we cannot accept this then we will continue to be the creatures of our own undoing.” The book reflects on the evolution of life; the development of emotions, language, and consciousness; fields of influence; and a concept of ecological intelligence that is closely linked to a spiritual and poetic approach to our place in the natural order.

Ian McCallum is a Jungian analyst, medical doctor, wilderness guide, and poet – as well as a director of the Wilderness Foundation. He is the author of two anthologies of wilderness poems: Wild Gifts (1999), Untamed (2012) and a novel Thorns to Kilimanjaro (2000).

In this discussion group, we’ll read the book together during each session with no reading assignments.

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

Mythical Consciousness and its Reflection in the Russian Folk Tale “Ryaba the Hen”
Michael Klimov

Saturday, April 24, 2021
9:30 to 11:30 am
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on April 23)
Members $15, Non-Members $20

In The Interpretation of Fairy Tales, Marie-Louise von Franz writes “our interpretations are relative and not absolute. But we interpret for the same reason as that for which fairy tales and myths were told: because it has a vivifying effect and gives satisfactory reaction and brings one into peace with one’s unconscious instinctive substratum, just as the telling of fairy tales always did.” Michael Klimov will demonstrate how mythical consciousness emerges in “Ryaba the Hen”, among the most famous Russian folk tales and among the first that children of the Russian-speaking world learn.

Michael Klimov, MA, holds a master’s degree in Foreign Languages (English and French) from Kyiv National Linguistic University, Ukraine, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Modern Languages degree in Russian and French through Middlebury College in Vermont. This presentation is related to Klimov’s dissertation research on mythical consciousness in Russian fairy tales. Michael Klimov has been a member of the Maine Jung Center for a number of years, and has always appreciated its intellectual, welcoming, inspirational, and healing atmosphere.

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.

On Divine Darkness: Pseudo-Dionysius, Jung, and the Apophatic Tradition
Cybele Brandow

Sundays, May 2 & 9, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on May 1)
Members $30, Non-Members $40

Pseudo-Dionysius, a Byzanto-Syriac mystic writing around the late 5th, early 6th centuries CE, is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the apophatic tradition (from apophasis: apo– “away/from” and –phasis “assertion/saying”, often translated as “denial” or “unsaying”). And how fitting that one who wrote so eloquently on what cannot be known, is themself yet unknown — a pseudonymous author of many plausible, though unconfirmed identities. Perhaps a Byzantine princess of the Theodosian dynasty. Perhaps a Syrian monk, pupil of the famed Neoplatonist Proclus. Pseudo-Dionysius’s works have had a profound influence on many in the western contemplative tradition, including St. Thomas Aquinas, Nicholas of Cusa, and Meister Eckhart. Jung himself referenced the works of Pseudo-Dionysius in his publications and notes, and kept two copies of the elusive writer’s collected works in his library.

In this short two-part course we will first explore the connections between Jung and Pseudo-Dionysius, both direct and indirect, as well as provide meaningful examples of apophatic elements in their writings. In the second session we will read and experience The Mystical Theology of Pseudo-Dionysius, one of the greatest and most succinctly beautiful works of western mysticism. By breathing life anew into the text, perhaps we shall find it a welcome co-conspirator and suitable respite-house to inspire our own efforts to meet the unmeetable; to shape the unshapen, but shaping; to behold with wonder and awe the vast and subtle paradox of the light which is deepest dark, and the dark which is hyper-luminescent.

Lead us up beyond unknowing and light,
up to the farthest, highest peak
of mystic scripture,
where the mysteries of God’s Word
lie simple, absolute and unchangeable
in the [hyper-luminescent] darkness of a hidden silence.
Amid the deepest shadow
they pour overwhelming light
on what is most manifest.
Amid the wholly unsensed and unseen
they completely fill our sightless minds
with treasures beyond all beauty.

~ Pseudo-Dionysius, The Mystical Theology

Cybele Brandow is a student of late antique Christian mysticism, biblical and general hermeneutics, and tarot. During their time in academia, they presented several papers on Pseudo-Dionysius, particularly around the concepts of evil and metaphor. They are the current Coordinator of the Maine Jung Center as well as a writer of children’s nonsense literature. Cybele lives in South Portland atop a hill and is a devout admirer of their Seussian bungalow’s resident tortie, Persephone (‘Persy’ for short).

Big Dreams, Visions, and Active Imagination: Encounters with the Numinous
Chris Beach

Tuesdays, May 11, 18, & 25, 2021
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Held Online via Zoom (link to go out to registrants on May 10)
Members $50, Non-Members $60

Life offers moments of what Rudolf Otto called the “numinous” — extraordinary encounters with the Holy Other. Invoking awe and dread, fascination and calling, these moments can prompt us to find new meaning and affect how we live life forward. Twelve-step programs’ reliance upon a Higher Power is but one indication of the significance of the numinous in healing.

We will examine three kinds of numinous experiences that are inner in nature: big dreams (of great importance individually or collectively), visions (as if we are dreaming while awake), and active imagination (C. G. Jung’s method of engaging the unconscious in order to learn from it). We will examine experiences from the lives of historical figures, such as Jung, Hildegard von Bingen, and Black Elk, as well as from the lives of our contemporaries and from our own lives.

Chris Beach, JD, IAAP, has a private practice in Portland, Maine. He works with individuals, facilitates dream groups, and teaches courses on dream interpretation, psychological type, Jungian psychology, active imagination, and ethics. Formerly, Chris served first as a teacher and headmaster in Kenya and later as a Maine assistant attorney general covering healthcare matters involving the law.

Facilitated by Jeffrey Pinnette
Third Sunday every Month:
Starting September 20, 2020
10 am to 12 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88486208410?pwd=aldSV25kaWJkVm1OYU5SQ2Qxc2kzZz09

FREE for members; No pre-registration is necessary

Required Text: Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature (2005) by Ian McCallum

This discussion group will explore the concept of Ecological Intelligence through Ian McCallum’s book entitled Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature.

A bestseller in Africa, Ecological Intelligence addresses the interconnectedness of all living things, drawing significantly on the author’s Jungian background. McCallum has stated the intent of the book is “toward a greater awareness of the privilege of what it means to be human…it is a wild and ethical imperative – an urgent reminder that we are inextricably linked to the land; that the history of every living creature is within us; that we are above all a mindful, poetic species and that we are the “keepers of our zoo”. If we cannot accept this then we will continue to be the creatures of our own undoing.” The book reflects on the evolution of life; the development of emotions, language, and consciousness; fields of influence; and a concept of ecological intelligence that is closely linked to a spiritual and poetic approach to our place in the natural order.

Ian McCallum is a Jungian analyst, medical doctor, wilderness guide, and poet – as well as a director of the Wilderness Foundation. He is the author of two anthologies of wilderness poems: Wild Gifts (1999), Untamed (2012) and a novel Thorns to Kilimanjaro (2000).

In this discussion group, we’ll read the book together during each session with no reading assignments.

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

Mystic Tibet: An Outer, Inner and Secret Pilgrimage (2007) | Directed by Christina Lundberg
Viewing facilitated by Andreea Paine
Free for Members and Non-Members, No Pre-Registration Required
Zoom link to watch: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83873210220?pwd=bWNKU2hOckZkRDBvOEdJYW5ab0pZZz09

In 2002, a group of exceptional people from around the world signed up to explore the country that is home of the Dalai Lamas. Guided by the renowned Tibetan Buddhist master Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the pilgrims found themselves engaged in a rare and powerful experience — one in which the realms of great yogis and saints were revealed and personal transformation beckoned closer each day on the trail. This intense journey takes one directly into the culture of Tibet and its arresting, spiritually-rich landscape in a way that is not often seen.

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.

David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2020) | Directed by Alastair Fothergill et. al.
Viewing facilitated by Jeff Pinnette
Free for Members and Non-Members, No Pre-Registration Required
Zoom link to watch: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87932701405?pwd=NEorODNUeVBXcnhOZ2lHWklHMkdvUT09

One man has seen more of the natural world than any other. This unique feature documentary is his witness statement. In his 93 years, David Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Now, for the first time he reflects upon both the defining moments of his lifetime as a naturalist and the devastating changes he has seen. Honest, revealing and urgent, David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet is a powerful first-hand account of humanity’s impact on nature and a message of hope for future generations.

Major Spring Program 2021 – Donald Kalsched
A Depth-Psychological Approach to the Current Malaise in American Social, Cultural, and Political Life

(Lecture) Friday, June 11, 2021; 7 to 9 pm
Members $15, Non-Members $20
Held Online via Zoom (link will be emailed to registrants on June 10)

(Workshop) Saturday, June 12, 2021; 9 am to 12 pm
Members $25, Non-Members $30
Held Online via Zoom (link will be emailed to registrants on June 11)

The fiery trial through which we are passing as a nation has its roots in deep traumatic injuries to our personal and collective psyches as a people. These injuries, and the fear they generate, are very difficult for us to confront and metabolize on a personal level and even more difficult to understand and heal collectively. They lead to what Robert J. Lifton called our “national reality disorder” with its distrust of scientific facts, its refusal to acknowledge the country’s underlying racism, its denial of the rapidly accelerating climate disaster — even the reality of our recent election.

Depth Psychology has much to contribute to an enhanced understanding of the painful realities that we confront and our primitive defenses against them. Through this understanding, we are also made aware of effective ways of healing the current splitting and polarization that are fragmenting our society.

Dr. Kalsched will focus on four aspects of our current polarization and fragmentation:
1. The intersection of collective and personal trauma in the Coronavirus pandemic;
2. Climate change denial and the contributions of Depth Psychology;
3. Authoritarianism and the threat to our Democracy; and
4. Love and grief as we emerge from the turmoil of our recent Election.

The workshop will provide the opportunity for more in-depth discussion by participants on each issue.

Donald Kalsched, PhD, IAAP, is a Jungian psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist. He is a senior faculty member and supervisor with the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, and teaches and leads workshops nationally and internationally. His celebrated book, The Inner World of Trauma: Archetypal Defenses of the Personal Spirit, explores the interface between contemporary psychoanalytic theory and Jungian theory as it relates to clinical work with survivors of early childhood trauma. His recent book, Trauma and the Soul: A Psycho-Spiritual Approach to Human Development and its Interruption, explores the mystical dimensions of clinical work with trauma-survivors.

Facilitated by Jeffrey Pinnette
Third Sunday every Month:
Starting September 20, 2020
10 am to 12 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88486208410?pwd=aldSV25kaWJkVm1OYU5SQ2Qxc2kzZz09

FREE for members; No pre-registration is necessary

Required Text: Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature (2005) by Ian McCallum

This discussion group will explore the concept of Ecological Intelligence through Ian McCallum’s book entitled Ecological Intelligence: Rediscovering Ourselves in Nature.

A bestseller in Africa, Ecological Intelligence addresses the interconnectedness of all living things, drawing significantly on the author’s Jungian background. McCallum has stated the intent of the book is “toward a greater awareness of the privilege of what it means to be human…it is a wild and ethical imperative – an urgent reminder that we are inextricably linked to the land; that the history of every living creature is within us; that we are above all a mindful, poetic species and that we are the “keepers of our zoo”. If we cannot accept this then we will continue to be the creatures of our own undoing.” The book reflects on the evolution of life; the development of emotions, language, and consciousness; fields of influence; and a concept of ecological intelligence that is closely linked to a spiritual and poetic approach to our place in the natural order.

Ian McCallum is a Jungian analyst, medical doctor, wilderness guide, and poet – as well as a director of the Wilderness Foundation. He is the author of two anthologies of wilderness poems: Wild Gifts (1999), Untamed (2012) and a novel Thorns to Kilimanjaro (2000).

In this discussion group, we’ll read the book together during each session with no reading assignments.

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

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.

Facilitated by Mary Kelley
Last Sunday of every Month:
Continuing January 31, 2021
2 to 4 pm
Held online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83520116849?pwd=L3kxSFVHYytZRlBTaG1VaE8zWEJxdz09

FREE for members and non-members; No pre-registration is necessary
(Donations Graciously Accepted)

We will explore fairy tales from around the world to see what we can learn about how these timeless tales illuminate psychic processes. Hearing and reading the stories can be entertaining and soothing. Interpreting them can unearth kernels of truth. Participants are encouraged to bring their love of stories.

Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist, and a former member of the Maine Jung Center Board of Directors. She recently taught a class at the Center “Understanding Ourselves Through Fairy Tales”.