In his classic style, calling upon mythology, poetry, and personal story, James Hollis asks us to reflect on our relationships and the fantasies we unconsciously have about our Self and the Other.<\/p>\n
Early on, he points to the overarching challenge set before us: since we can never truly know our Self, we face an impossible task if we expect that we can ever truly know the Other. So, where does that leave us? And yet, at the same time, we long to connect.<\/p>\n
In each of the six classes, he elaborates on the many ways we attempt to know and connect with the Other. Projection is a central tool in our arsenal, and with good reason. Once we experience something, we pack away the knowledge for future reference. Then, when something or someone appears to be the same, we call on our previous knowledge. It\u2019s efficient for us to learn and apply what we\u2019ve learned.<\/p>\n
However, what we project on the Other is not likely who they are and it means we have expectations of them that they can\u2019t possibly comprehend or begin to meet.<\/p>\n
How we can begin to unpack the projection is our challenge. Hollis jokes that he disappoints those who covet romantic notions of relationship. But, what he leaves us with is something even greater: an understanding of how we can nurture a relationship with both the Other and our Self.<\/p>\n
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Course Overview:<\/strong><\/p>\n Class 1: The Archaic Fantasy\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Romantic love replaced religion in popular culture. Hollis examines this statement in this first class, and shows there is a desire for connection in both romance as well as religion.<\/p>\n The words relationship and religion are etymologically connected. They both refer to a wish to re-connect to the source (after estrangement\/separation). Hollis says that our life is a continuing rhythm of attachment and loss. We set out to find the Magical Other to become whole again.<\/p>\n When we can let go of our primal fantasies, withdraw our projections, and no longer expect our \u2018other\u2019 to rescue us, we become more intimate with ourselves, and with it our relationship to the other improves.<\/p>\n Class 2: Projection and Transference<\/b><\/p>\n Following a summary of how and why we project, Hollis talks about the five stages of projection. In the final stage, you notice what you put out there and how it continues to come back to you. \u00a0 Transference is the story that goes with the projection. This is how patterns are created in our life.<\/p>\n Class 3: Projection and Transference continued<\/b><\/p>\n Ask yourself: what is leading me to all of this and how am I accountable? Awareness of projection is the key, an awareness that can be felt throughout all of your energy systems.<\/p>\n Class 4: Attachment, Loss, and Ethics<\/b><\/p>\n Our first encounter with life is through the separation of relationship as we are violently expelled into this world and set adrift.<\/p>\n But, even as you seek connection with the Other, you must be prepared to ask yourself: \u201cWhat can I reasonably ask of the other person? Who do we believe is responsible for take care of my emptiness?\u201d<\/p>\n Class 5: Strategies<\/b><\/p>\n Hollis explores relational strategies that have evolved from primal perceptions of Self and Other.<\/p>\n Ultimately, the question comes down to this: Are you larger or smaller as a result of your relationship\/affiliation\/membership?<\/p>\n Class 6: Relationship with the transcendent Other<\/b><\/p>\n As human beings that can\u2019t help but perceive all that is through our subjectivity, how can we relate to the mystery of what is within and what is beyond us and throughout the universe?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In his classic style, calling upon mythology, poetry, and personal story, James Hollis asks us to reflect on our relationships and the fantasies we unconsciously have about our Self and the Other. Early on, he points to the overarching challenge set before us: since we can never truly know our Self, we face an impossible […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":105062,"template":"","level_of_course":[982,981],"class_list":["post-105061","courses","type-courses","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","level_of_course-intermediate","level_of_course-introductory"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n