Psyche, Libidinal Energy, and the Unconscious Jung took the basic format of the psyche from Freud and expanded on what he believed was missing.

Range of Consciousness

•

Awake & aware

•

Automatic pilot

•

Hypnotic trance

•

Daydreaming

•

Asleep Dreaming

The Psyche

• • • All psychological processes, both conscious & unconscious Freud first described the

Unconscious

, which he likened to the iceberg-

Levels of Consciousness

He also described

Libidinal Energy-

energy that drives expression of the unconscious the

Icebergs are powerful • Freud believed the Unconscious was • primarily sexual Jung believed it included any desire unchecked by moral authority

We operate from instinct to a level driven by the Spirit

Pierre Janet investigated unconscious states through trances • • • The question was, How much influence does the unconscious have on our behavior?

Janet called these unconscious states “multiple personalities” Jung even attended séances to better understand the nature of the unconscious

• • • • Jung discovered aspects of unconsciousness During trances, subjects give voice to the unconscious- without editing Split-off aspects of the unconscious could appear as

distinct personalities

Psychic energy has a

teleological

function goal direction, seeking wholeness, growth The unconscious could

compensate

for conscious attitudes- a balancing effect

Manifestations of the unconscious • • • • • Trance states due to repetitive experiences Intense emotional reactions unjustified by present circumstances Behaving in such a way we feel we aren’t ourselves Daydreaming Imagination

The Nature of the Psyche

• • •

Self-regulating system-

compensating function • Libido has

intentionality

- it knows where it should go for the health of the entire psyche The challenge for modern man is listening to this voice, which is often in conflict with the loud voices of the world

Lack of libido = depression

• Resistance to unconscious forces

The psyche moves from most conscious & aware to unconscious

The unconscious holds the instinctual forces of the psyche • • • •

Instincts

are impulses that carry out actions from necessity- having a biological quality Instincts determine

actions

, even though they act unconsciously

Archetypes

are inborn forms of intuition means of

perceiving

the world How we apprehend the world determines the direction of our instinct- fluid

Unconscious holds the

psychoid functions-

relationship between matter and Spirit • If the unconscious becomes overactive, it can come out in symptoms that

can paralyze conscious action,

especially if

unconscious factors are repressed

. They come out in 2 ways: • The subject no longer knows what s/he really wants & nothing interests him/her.

• He wants too much at once, has too many interests in impossible things.

Compensation

- maintaining psychic equilibrium • • • Dreams can give quiet voice to things the person cannot consciously own, allowing him/her to continue functioning They also voice our repressed personality Creativity

A compensating dream

Language of the psyche

• • • • • • The unconscious requires the conscious mind to

interpret

its language This allows for

balance

in the psyche

Language of symbols

Dream interpretation requires learning the symbolic language of the unconscious

Imagination

, daydreaming, planning

Mental illness

Jung took the concept farther

• • • • • • • He described the necessity of conscious and unconscious remaining

balanced

Out of balance

, neurosis

develops The

unconscious is source

creativity, rationality, feeling of all conscious thought, all The unconscious is the

Original Mind

from which our conscious developed of humankind, Consciousness arises from primal material of the unconscious-

Nature

The process is

ongoing

- more material will arise as we grow Each person is a microcosm of the universal processes of our species- There is a

universality

to the discoveries across the world

Concepts of the Unconscious

• • •

Iceberg

- Freud

Blueprint

for our lives- invisible pattern Huge field of energy- the •

ocean Broader and more dangerous than the conscious- also more potentially creative Ego

is a cork bobbing on top, driven by the forces below

Ego- “I”

• • • • • • The

conscious mind

All our conscious

awareness of self

We tend to see the unconscious as apart from our self- recognized especially when we do things out of character Ego thinks of itself as

an island

unto itself Other worlds exist that are worth exploring, but they represent risk (and potential wisdom) The quest to know the unconscious (the other worlds) is fraught with fear & excitement

How do we embark on the journey of self-knowledge?

• • • Jung says we should open ourselves to our

inner life

- and allow a flow of energy & information between the 2 levels of psyche The problem for modern man is how we have been cut off from access to the inner world: rituals, religious experiences, visions We take pride in rationality & independence from needing anything outside ourselves.

Focus on the things of the world keeps us from doing inner work • • • The world says: Money, Prestige, Partner is the secret to happiness Jung: Most neurosis today is due to the vacuum of meaning, a sense that we are missing a part of ourselves.

Jung: Only in our unconscious can we meet our individual understanding of God and fully experience a rich inner life of the spirit

If we don’t go to the Spirit, the Spirit will come to us through neurosis • • How do we “Go to the Spirit?” •

Inner Work:

•

Prayer

•

Meditation

•

Dream work

• •

Rituals and ceremonies Active imagination

This produces

Individuation

be- actualizing the blueprint.

- process of becoming the complete person we were meant to

What happens when we individuate?

• • • • • We uncover our unique structure Recognize our special traits and consciously incorporate them Face our darker side without judgment Find commonality with others and no longer judge them either Let go of the fiction that we are better (or worse) than others and we must hide our true selves

Archetypes

• • • • • Ideas and images our unconscious displays

“Instinctual images”-

assume the forms that instincts

Instincts are physiological-

symptoms

Archetypes are psychological-

perceptions revealed in fantasies, dreams, imagery Archetypes manifest: •

Personally

- complexes •

Collectively-

characteristics of a culture (to be healthy a culture must understand its archetypes and adjust them as necessary to continue developing)

Archetypes burst the bubble of ego and separation • • • • They are

universal

, present in the unconscious of each person They

combine in a unique way

person, like our bodies in each Recognizing our connection to the greater population, as well as our unique makeup allows us

to fully develop

our best nature, not imitate anyone else.

Images from the collective unconscious are seen in

mythology, literature, metaphor, legends

.

The process of inner work

• • • • Direct ways of approaching the inner world of your unconscious It is done experientially, not through cognition, to really access subtle meaning You gain insight into inner conflicts or challenges that your particular life offers The process allows you to access your special strengths

Inner Work

• • • • • • • Religious ceremonies Interpretation of dreams Spirit quests Aboriginal walkabouts Fasting and prayer Active imagination All these represent a dialogue between equal parties- conscious and unconscious

Active Imagination as Jung used it

Dream Journal

• • • • Begin keeping a journal by your bed to write your dream images down as soon as you awaken.

Also write down the experiences of the day context is everything to interpretation Write down your thoughts for the day, daydreams, and feelings Realize this is a powerful emotional experience and you will only be expected to share what you are comfortable sharing. Respect the process.