Symbols build the bridge between the conscious and the unconscious and are essential for a healthy psyche. They are the best, and at times, the only medium to express that which is in the unconscious and bring it into consciousness.

Our first focus is on the general understanding of what symbols are, where they come from, how they work, and why they are such a vital part of analytical psychology and analysis. We will then study specifically the symbolism of the Snake, a complex, controversial, fascinating as well as initially repelling symbol found almost everywhere, at all times, across most cultures and mythologies. C. G. Jung considered The Snake a key universal and timeless symbol, akin to the Bird, crossing easily between the boundaries of conscious and unconscious worlds.

By the end of the seminar, participants will have a good understanding of the crucial importance of working with symbols, and specifically of the Snake as a vital and recurring symbol in dreams and analysis.

Recommended References:

Jung, Carl Gustav, Man and His Symbols, New York, New York: Dell Publishing, 1968

Jung, Carl Gustav, Symbols of Transformation, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1990

Hannah, Barbara, The Archetypal Symbolism of Animals, Wilmette, Illinois: Chiron Publications, 2006

Aras, The Book of Symbols, Cologne, Germany: Taschen, 2010