This week our Events Editor, Buranee, paid a visit to The Jean Albert Library which is in it’s 88th year. The current librarian, Debra West, has been in her post since 2011. It was lovely to meet you, Debra! Founded in 1992 following the establishment of the Centre in 1991—marked by Laurens van der Post’s opening and the planting of a Ginkgo Biloba tree—SAAJA promotes Jungian psychology across Southern Africa. It offers postgraduate training for health professionals, public events like lectures and webinars, and maintains a library of Jungian literature. The Southern African Association of Jungian Analysts (SAAJA) was founded through the pioneering vision of Dr. Vera Bührmann, who sought to bridge Western psychology with traditional healing in South Africa. Key figures included Dr. Renos Papadopoulos, who was at UCT at the time, and Julian David, who became the founding analyst in 1989. David’s four-year residency and ongoing support established the training program, leading to SAAJA’s recognition as a training institute by the International Association of Analytical Psychologists in 1995. Current members of SAAJA include Ian McCallum, Renee Ramsden, Fred Borchardt, and Denise Grobbelaar, who have all spoken at their monthly Tuesday lectures, taking place amongst the shelves full of books and online. Fred Borchardt is also currently representing SAAJA on the Executive Committee of the IAAP. Pictured above you can see SAAJA’s logo consisting of four mantis heads. This symbol holds a special meaning as founder members were deeply connected to the spirit of the San and their shape-shifting creator-trickster deity, Kaggen, who manifests as a praying mantis. Tonight SAAJA will be hosting the next installment in their online Jung & Film series, Himalaya: The Rearing of a Chief. |
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