Psyche and Nature: Exploring the Roots and Healing the Splits with Chantel Thurman

  • Sat, May 13, 2017
  • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Parkdale United Church
  • 20
  • 5 registrants

Registration

  • Discount for Members and Friends of Jung Members
Registration is closed

“We are forever only more or less than we actually are. It is as if our consciousness had somehow slipped from its natural foundations and no longer knew how to get along on nature’s timing.” (Jung, CW8: par. 802)

Saturday’s workshop will dive into the work of recovering a more vibrant connection to nature in the service of healing the splits between what Jung referred to as the “modern” and “primitive” aspects of the human psyche. This work will be guided by Jung’s thoughts regarding the evolution of consciousness, and his reflections on the adverse psychological effects of modern life. We will also consider more recent calls for “psychological parity” among species (Deloria, et. al.) which speak directly towards pressing, contemporary issues and concerns.

A portion of our day will be spent outdoors where we will take these ideas and questions into the realm of embodied experience in nature. Participants will be invited to explore several practices designed to deepen and expand one’s capacity for connecting with nature. Following this work, we will gather and share these experiences in examination of the day’s themes at the level of personal consciousness. Finally, we will consider the critical importance of dreamwork at the present time to both illuminate and provide creative response to our current environmental and collective challenges.

Workshop Learning Objectives:

  • To explore Jung’s ideas regarding the phylogenetic nature and structure of psyche through theoretical overview, group discussion and experiential activities
  • To gather and support diverse experiences of psyche as nature, and nature as psyche
  • To gain knowledge regarding effective ways to repair one’s personal relationship with nature as a matter of psychological wholeness
Chantel Thurman is a Jungian oriented psychotherapist practicing in Washington state. She has presented at numerous conferences and organizations on the primary relationship between psyche, humans and the natural world. As a naturalist and environmental educator, she leads programs that mentor youth, adults and whole families in deep nature connection through exercises in sensory awareness development, primitive living skills, and the ancient sciences of animal tracking and bird language. A longtime volunteer on conservation efforts related to the successful co-existence of Gray Wolves and humans, she is also certified Level III in Wildlife Track and Sign Interpretation through CyberTracker North. She has a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute (1996).