Forgiveness: A Jungian Approach

This presentation will begin with a summary of different psychological, spiritual, and philosophical theories on forgiveness, focusing on early development and the affects of attachment on one’s capacity to forgive. Theorists such as Mara Sidoli, Michale Fordham, Donald Winnicott, Esther Bick, and Melanie Klein will be discussed.

The cornerstone of the presentation will revolve around the Jungian approach to forgiveness as an important aspect of individuation, while circumambulating the idea of whether or not forgiveness is possible, and if so, to what extent?  Utilizing alchemy, fairytales and myth the presenter will amplify the archetypal experience of forgiveness. The participants will play a key role in the exploration and phenomenology of forgiveness through open general discussion with the presenter and in small breakout rooms and exercises.

In this program the attendees will:

-learn the definition of forgiveness and the difference between redemption, reconciliation and atonement, as these concepts apply to forgiveness.

-Understand the Jungian approach to forgiveness through an exploration of the alchemical concept of the coniunctio within fairytale and mythology.

-Will understand the fundamental relationship between the ego/S(s)elf and how this relationship may effect one’s capacity to forgive.