All Programs

Members/Guests of Members $30
The Maine Jung Center presents: A Tribute to Esther Harding, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of her 80th birthday party.

“One thing only can stand against the power of the unconscious and this, paradoxical as it may sound, is the power of individuality.” 
– M. Esther Harding

In 1936, Esther Harding, a Jungian analyst, was one of three women (along with Kristine Mann and Eleanor Bertine) responsible for bringing Carl Jung to our very own Bailey Island to offer a six-day conference on “Dream Symbols of the Individuation Process.”

On the occasion of her 80th birthday in 1968, over 200 participants from around the world gathered in her honor for what was often referred to as “The Second Bailey Island Conference” at Bowdoin College.

This year marks not only the 50th anniversary of Esther Harding’s 80th birthday, but also the 30th anniversary of the Maine Jung Center. To honor that auspicious occasion, we welcome members and their guests for a Sunday afternoon of memories, camaraderie, refreshments, and birthday cake!

Members will receive an invitation to this event. If you’re not already a member and want to attend, please join today!

Members $40, Non-Members $50
Maximum participants: 15

In his research into the symbolic meaning of his patient’s dreams and conversations, Jung observed recurring archetypes. He proposed that these archetypes channel experiences and emotions, resulting in recognizable patterns of behavior. Jung observed a correlation between these archetypal images and the archetypes associated with the planets and sign (constellations) of the zodiac and concluded that they were originally inspired by projections of images created by the collective unconscious.

Join this small group discussion of the shadow side of the archetypes represented in our solar system. Referencing our own astrological charts as guides, we will look at how the shadow can manifest. We’ll also examine the polarities and tension of the opposites among the archetypes of the astrological signs and houses.

Prior knowledge of astrology is not a prerequisite to this class, but it is helpful. In advance of class, registrants are asked to provide their place of birth, date of birth, and exact time of their birth. Registrants will receive a copy of their natal chart in class.

Bio: Peggy Schick is a professional astrologer in Topsham. She finds natal charts to be a fascinating and highly useful tool for understanding psychological behavior and enjoys sharing this insight with others who are on a quest for deeper self- knowledge, self-love, and connection with higher consciousness. She is Co-Chair of the Board of the Maine Jung Center.

Members $25, Non-Members $35

Welcome Eros, god of relationship and life-spirit, into your home as an invisible yet inspiring guest! During this evening together, we will explore the “erotic” archetype as embodied in the divine Eros, when all the senses are fully integrated and awakened in service to the intentional cultivation of hospitality, relationship, and a celebration of beauty.

The myth of Philemon and Baucis will serve as a grounding thread for the evening, as we discuss the alchemy that exists in preparing and sharing a meal with friends, family or even strangers. We will explore how imagination, generosity, and ambience combine to transform ordinary moments into rich, sensuous opportunities to feast with the gods, when inspired by the presence of Eros and Psyche.

Bio: Julie Sgarzi, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in depth psychology, and lectures and writes on contemporary issues from a Jungian and depth-psychological perspective. She is a resident of both South Bristol, Maine and Los Angeles and a member of the Maine Jung Center and the Los Angeles Analytical Psychology Club. Julie is a past Board member of the Philemon Foundation and Opus Archives at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is also a Board member of Look What SHE Did! – a video archive of women telling the stories of amazing women who inspire them – where Julie spoke about Los Angeles Analyst Gilda Frantz (www.lookwhatshedid.com).

Facilitated by Jeff Pinnette
One Sunday per Month:
Starting October 28, 2018
10 to 12 pm

FREE for members; No pre-registration is necessary

Required Text: Psychology of the Future by Stanislav Grof

This is an accessible and comprehensive overview of the work of Stanislav Grof, one the of the founders of transpersonal psychology. It serves as a summation of Grof ‘s enormous contributions to the fields of psychiatry and psychology, especially his central concept of holotropic experience, where holotropic signifies “moving toward wholeness.” Grof maintains that the current basic assumptions and concepts of psychology and psychiatry require a radical revision based on the intensive and systematic research of holotropic experience. He suggests radical inner transformation of humanity and a rise to a higher level of consciousness might be humankind’s only real hope for the future.

Stanislav Grof heads the Grof Transpersonal Training Program. He was formerly Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Scholar-in-Residence at the Esalen Institute.

For more information and detailed syllabus, see: 

Bio: Jeff Pinnette is a long-time member of the Center who served on the Board for six years including two as Board co-chair and four as Program Committee chair.

Members $80, Non-Members $90
Four Sundays: October 28, November 4, 11, & 18
Maximum participants: 15

Answer to Job, first published in 1952, is Jung’s most extensive writing on a biblical text. One of his best known works, the small volume is considered by many to be his most important and  controversial work. Jung said both that this was the one text in which he would not have changed a word and that he had lived in a private hell after its writing. The work contains an array of challenging ideas, including: experiences of the Self, the meaning of suffering, the relationship between human consciousness and God, wisdom – the feminine side of God, and God’s continuing incarnation. How Yahweh undergoes transformation and becomes the “God of Love” is a major theme throughout the volume.

In this class, we will explore Answer to Job through a close reading and discussion of selected passages. We will look both at what Jung is doing in this text and what its relevance is to us today. Also, we will consider William Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job, published in 1825, more than a century before Jung’s volume. Blake’s twenty-two engravings provide insight into the archetypal impact of the biblical story of Job.

Bio: Teresa Arendell, Ph.D. is a practicing Jungian analyst. A college professor in sociology for many years, she has held multiple postdoctoral fellowships. She has taught and offered lectures and seminars and served on committees at the Maine Jung Center, the C.G. Jung Institute – Boston, and various Jungian associations. She enjoys teaching and living in Maine.

Members $80, Non-Members $90
Four Sundays: October 28, November 4, 11, & 18
Maximum participants: 15

Answer to Job, first published in 1952, is Jung’s most extensive writing on a biblical text. One of his best known works, the small volume is considered by many to be his most important and  controversial work. Jung said both that this was the one text in which he would not have changed a word and that he had lived in a private hell after its writing. The work contains an array of challenging ideas, including: experiences of the Self, the meaning of suffering, the relationship between human consciousness and God, wisdom – the feminine side of God, and God’s continuing incarnation. How Yahweh undergoes transformation and becomes the “God of Love” is a major theme throughout the volume.

In this class, we will explore Answer to Job through a close reading and discussion of selected passages. We will look both at what Jung is doing in this text and what its relevance is to us today. Also, we will consider William Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job, published in 1825, more than a century before Jung’s volume. Blake’s twenty-two engravings provide insight into the archetypal impact of the biblical story of Job.

Bio: Teresa Arendell, Ph.D. is a practicing Jungian analyst. A college professor in sociology for many years, she has held multiple postdoctoral fellowships. She has taught and offered lectures and seminars and served on committees at the Maine Jung Center, the C.G. Jung Institute – Boston, and various Jungian associations. She enjoys teaching and living in Maine.

FREE; Donations Accepted!

Viewing facilitated by Thankful Butler

The movie focuses on an ancient tribe in Columbia, the Kogi, who have great concern for the health of the earth. They want to give the rest of humanity a message regarding the need to change our relationship to the earth and how we must take care of this planet. This is the second time that the Kogi have allowed their secluded culture to be filmed; the first was in 1992. They had a warning message then and have an urgent message NOW. While that is the background of the film, it is beautifully filmed and the Kogi people are wise and caring and, although illiterate, have come to their awareness of the plight of the planet by watching how natural systems are changed by ‘progress’. The task of laying the sacred “gold thread” over a large section of land is especially beautiful and demonstrates their understanding and commitment to bringing their message to the industrialized world.

Core Course: Myth and Fairy Tales
Three Sundays: December 2, 9, & 16, 2018
Members $60, Non-Members $70

In his Collected Works 9:1, C. G. Jung writes, “Myths and fairy tales give expression to unconscious processes, and their retelling causes these processes to come alive again and be recollected, thereby re-establishing the connection between the conscious and the unconscious.”

In this workshop, we will read and discuss selected fairy tales to gain insights into how studying the symbols and images in these stories can illuminate our understanding of ourselves and of today’s world.

This is a core course of the Maine Jung Center, and so it is open to all who enjoy reading and discussing fairy tales, whether or not they are well-versed in the ideas of Jung.

Bio: Mary Kelley is a local psychotherapist and a former co-chair of the Maine Jung Center. In addition to studying at the Maine Jung Center, she has enjoyed travelling with other members of the center to week long seminars in Ireland and in Switzerland where among other things she learned about how fairy tales are used to deepen our understanding of ourselves and our world. She is an experienced presenter, currently exploring with other therapists the use of story in therapy work. She also finds joy in sharing fairy tales and building fairy houses with her grandchildren.

Awaken (2018) | Directed by Tom Lowe
Viewing facilitated by Audrey McMorrow

Awaken is a documentary film exploring humanity’s relationship with technology and with the natural world. Shot over a 5-year period in more than 30 countries, the film pioneers new time lapse, time-dilation, underwater, and aerial cinematography techniques to give audiences new  eyes with which to see our world. Awaken is a celebration of the spirit of life, an exploration of the Earth, and an ode to the Cosmos.