Reconsidering Individuation in the 21st Century: When Archetypal Patterns Shift

Individuation is a key concept of Jungian psychology.  In this lecture, we will look at the origins of the idea in Jung’s confrontation with the unconscious.  A contemporary reconsideration in light of the changes in our conceptions of nature and culture in the 21^st century will be examined from the perspective of complexity theory.  The disruptions and uncertainties at societal and global scales of the last several years point to a shift or transformation in the archetypal patterns emerging in the collective unconscious, as well as manifesting in our individual lives.  The figure of the hero, as the basis of ego identity, is declining while appreciation of interconnectedness as what sustains the psyche has become more manifest.  How can we best find our way through these times?  An archetypal systems approach will be offered from which we can explore a reimagining of Jung’s notion of individuation.