The first weekend in October, over 70 participants from diverse fields gathered for the C.G. Jung Society of St. Louis’s Jung in the Heartland Conference on Myth, Meaning, and the Infinite. This year marked the Society’s sixth biennial conference, which provided interaction with outstanding faculty and varied experiential offerings. Throughout the weekend, meaning unfolded through presentations, music, dialogue, art, dream work, poetry, massage, yoga, and ritual. Jung in the Heartland Faculty: Jungian Analyst Patricia Berry and Author Thomas Moore The…
Past Events
Donald Kalsched: Glimpses Through the Veil
Donald Kalsched, Ph.D., Jungian Analyst, and Clinical Psychologist, led a May 17-19th lecture, workshop, and colloquium during which he and attendees explored the ideas of restoring the lost soul to the body and the relationship between trauma, paranormal experiences, and synchronicity. Donald shared anecdotes from his practice, analyses of art and literature, and teachings from his book Trauma and the Soul (Routledge, 2013). Much of Saturday’s discussion centered around early childhood experiences of trauma that eclipse access to or understanding…
Answer to Joe Play Production by Rick Vaughn
The C. G. Jung Society produced its second play, Answer to Joe in March, 2019. The play is loosely based on Jung’s book Answer to Job, and deals with the same themes—the nature of God, the reality of the divine versus an individual’s image of it, and the psychological implications of an individual’s often unconscious god-image. Though these are deeply serious topics, the play presented them in modern understandable dress and treated them with considerable humor. Rick Vaughn, author of…
Sheldon Culver: Jung’s Typology, a Way to Explore Ourselves
Sheldon Culver, M. Div. and Jungian Analyst, led a February 22-23rd lecture and workshop focusing on how Jungian typology gives us a tool for understanding ourselves and others. On Saturday, Sheldon focused how our inferior function can both get in our way or give us a way to develop. This Inferior Function (a.k.a. the fourth function) is our “least gift” and causes the most trouble in our relationships. We looked at how it operates, the contexts in which it becomes…
Author’s Evening with Roberta Moore
On Friday, February 1st, 2019, Roberta Moore introduced her book: Emotion at Work: Unleashing the Secret Power of Emotional Intelligence. Roberta explored how taking emotion to work with you can not only enhance your professional life, but how it can be the make-or-break difference that takes you from being stuck in less-than-optimal performance to stellar success and professional brilliance. Using the conceptual model of emotional intelligence developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Reuven Bar-On, Roberta laid out 16 fundamental emotional skills vital for workplace (and…
Author’s Evening with Leah Friedman
The Jung Society’s latest author’s evening featured Leah Friedman, speaking about her most recent book, The Unexpected Adventure of Growing Old. More than 40 people came out in the cold to hear her. They were graced with Leah’s inspiring, compassionate presence as she shared some of the wisdom and deep understanding developed through her eighty-nine years. In the most creative introduction ever given at a Jung Society event, Leah’s longtime friend, analyst Rose Holt, communicated the results of an I Ching…
Author’s Evening with Wendy Sarno
The event was very well attended and everyone enjoyed Wendy’s presentation of her latest book and her process creating it. She shared her journey with writing, poems, photos, and stories of her travels. She magnificently described the unique nature places that spoke to her soul with many lasting gifts.
2017 Jung in the Heartland Conference: “Memories, Dreams, Sensualities”
A multisensory conference of speaker presentations, essay contest winners, discussions, music, dance, singing, along with available massages and art journaling all created meaningful experiences and a community feeling the ‘Eros of Understanding’. Many expressed their appreciation of a well organized, varied conference experience, the magnificent nature environment and the comfortable accommodations of King’s House, all part of creating a meaningful rich experience.
Lionel Corbett on Suffering
Colloquium: Suffering and Evil from a Depth Psychological Perspective Dr. Corbett presented ways to find meaning in suffering, times when suffering can be seen as an initiatory process into a new level of consciousness, and the process of radical acceptance of suffering in situations in which it cannot be changed. He also discussed some of the traditional spiritual approaches to suffering and contrasted these with a psychological approach. The Program ended with attendees’ case presentations with discussion of the vital…
Dedication of a Bench at the Library in Washington, MO, by Rod and Anne Johnson Family
Friends and family of Rod and Anne Johnson gathered on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, September 24, 2017, to dedicate a bench, designed and made by the their son, Dan, for the entrance of the public library in Washington, Missouri, where the family has lived for some years. The dedication ceremony was conducted by Holly Schmitt, daughter of Rod and Anne. Holly’s son, Tim, played guitar and sang for the occasion. Rod and Anne have been long time supporters of the…