The winter solstice shrouds us in the longest night of the year, a fertile darkness which activates the psyche and its chthonic underbelly. I find it an inspiring time; last year, we ventured into the mythic descents of Persephone, Orpheus, and Psyche to celebrate. This year, I was called to offer guidance and reflections for Jung’s famed semi-autobiography, “Memories, Dreams, Reflections” — a depiction of his own descent to the unconscious and the mythic unfolding of his life.
The replay of our Solstice Gathering breaks down the major themes of the book, accessible whether you’ve read it in its entirety or are just interested in what it contains. I hope you enjoy!
~Alyssa
Jung’s writing is notoriously impenetrable and academically dense, but in Memories, Dreams, Reflections, we get a deeper sense of the man behind the theory, the psychic drives and images that fueled his tireless pursuits. It is the book I recommend all curious students begin with if they want to learn about Jungian psychology. I consider it the mythic origins of Jung, in his own words.
This month in The Artemisian’s membership, we embarked on a gentle read-along of the book. In our Solstice Gathering, I offered a breakdown of the chapters, covering the major themes of his explorations and how they tie back to core principles of Jung’s psychology and theories.
No reading is required to watch, but I do hope it inspires curiosity into the text!
This replay invites you into the field of Memories, Dreams, Reflections, supporting you in:
Understanding Jung’s relationship to dreams, fantasies and visions as formative psychological events
Recognizing the role of crisis, breakdown, and disorientation in the individuation process
Exploring how symbolic images act as mediators between consciousness and the unconscious
Situating your own inner experiences within a larger archetypal and psychological context
In this gathering, we explore:
The archetypal and psychological dimensions of Memories, Dreams, Reflections
Key themes from Jung’s early life, dream encounters, ruptures, encounters and more
An introduction to core Jungian ideas as they emerge from his personal experience
Quotations from Jung’s Life and Work, which contain the original interviews behind Memories, Dreams, Reflections
Join us inside the membership
The recording from this month’s gathering is included in your membership to The Artemisian, a monthly space for guided inner work through archetypal study and Jungian psychology.
Become a member to access the full replay, explore educational resources and engage with a like-minded community walking the path of individuation together.
