Soul-Making – The Intersection of Jung and Spirituality

The phrase “soul-making” comes from 19th-century poet John Keats: “call the world, if you please, the vale of soul-making. Then you will find out the use of the world.” Thus, the events of the world are vehicles for creating soul, for building our capacity for interiority, for creating meaning by looking at things symbolically. We are in soul, and it is in us.

We don’t necessarily make soul. When we take the time to be with the quality and character of our inner experience of life, we become more attuned to the symbolic nature of psyche and increase our capacity for interiority.

At some point in our individuation journey, we must step out of our personal struggles and connect with something larger.  Jung called it the Self. In spirituality wisdom traditions, it is called God.

During this workshop, we will look at life from the perspective of the soul, and see beneath the literal and the historical for the deeper process at work. Through looking at life in hindsight, we can recognize the moments where intuitive wisdom and soul light our path. These moments can become profound experiences of meaning and connection to the mysterious and spiritual nature of life. We must learn, equipped with our faithful lanterns, to watch for glimpses of the invisible.

Learning Objectives:

The program is designed so that participants will be able to:

1. Describe how analytical psychology has an inherently spiritual lens and focus.

2. Explain the influences of Gnosticism, the perennial philosophy, and the New Thought movement on Jung’s analytical psychology.

3. Identify soul and how it appears in everyday life

4. Explore their own soul-making phenomenon through exercises and breakout groups.