Interview begins @ 4:00

In this episode, we explore the enriching journey of Bea Gonzalez, an accomplished novelist, and facilitator of a depth-oriented women's collective. Known for her innate ability to weave stories, Bea intertwines feminine wisdom with a holistic approach to understanding the world, as demonstrated in her widely acclaimed work on sophiacycles.com. Our conversation starts with Bea's early dreams of professional writing, a passion that has blossomed into several published novels with Harper Collins and beyond. We investigate the significance of writing as active imagination, taking cues from Jung's Red Book. Bea presents the intriguing notion that everyone should write a novel, an exercise in self-exploration and a canvas to observe the interactions of our inner personalities. Drawing from Jungian psychology, Bea highlights the value of this framework as a lens to perceive reality. Its influence manifests in her personal growth and resonates powerfully within the groups she leads. As we navigate through the intricate labyrinth of Jung’s Collected Works and post-Jungian writers, Bea emphasizes writing as not merely a craft but a spiritual path. We discuss the potency of storytelling, the exploration of the self through narratives, and the harmonious dance of the masculine and feminine. Engaging with the profound insights of Iain McGilchrist, we uncover the junctures where his work converges with Jung's philosophy. The dialogue evolves to encompass topics such as the inner struggles we all face, the societal impacts of shadow projection in politics, and the significance of the multiplicity of the pantheon versus the social value of a monotheistic god. With her women's groups as a platform for meaningful conversations, Bea eloquently underscores the importance of discussing and writing about these explorations, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas that spur personal and collective growth. Tune in for a profound exploration into the heart of depth psychology.


Bio: 

Béa Gonzalez is a writer, lecturer, and educator. Her first two novels were published in Canada by HarperCollins and seven other countries [the UK, USA, Spain, Germany, Holland and Serbia]. Her second novel, The Mapmaker's Opera, was adapted into a musical by Kevin Purcell which was featured at the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival. She is also the founder of SophiaCycles, a project aimed at teaching metaphorical thinking through an examination of classical works, fairy tales and myths and can be found on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram @sophiacycles. Invocation is her third novel.

https://www.sophiacycles.com

www.esalen.org

Website for The Sacred Speaks: 

http://www.thesacredspeaks.com

WATCH:

YouTube for The Sacred Speaks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOAuksnpfht1udHWUVEO7Rg

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https://www.instagram.com/thesacredspeaks/
@thesacredspeaks
Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/thesacredspeaks
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Theme music provided by:
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99:  Béa Gonzalez – Invocation and Sophia Cycles

Embracing the Shadow: A Jungian Perspective on Self-Discovery" is inspired by Carl Jung's insightful exploration of the Shadow archetype, a fundamental aspect of his analytical psychology. This piece visualizes the introspective journey of confronting and integrating the Shadow — that hidden, unconscious part of our personality comprising repressed ideas, weaknesses, desires, and strengths not acknowledged by the conscious self.

Carl Jung posited that engaging with the Shadow is crucial for personal growth and individuation, a process leading to psychological wholeness. By facing the aspects of ourselves we have denied or ignored, we embark on a path of self-discovery, uncovering the full spectrum of our human experience.

The depiction captures a moment of confrontation, where an individual, illuminated yet standing against a backdrop of twilight and reflection, meets their Shadow. This encounter symbolizes the beginning of understanding and acceptance, leading to a more authentic and complete self-awareness.

"Embracing the Shadow" serves as a visual metaphor for the Jungian concept of self-exploration and the acknowledgment of the unconscious mind's role in shaping our identity. It invites reflection on the importance of recognizing and integrating our darker selves to achieve a balanced and profound sense of being

Embracing the Shadow: A Jungian Perspective on Self-Discovery

Dr. James Hollis is one of the world’s leading Jungian analysts. Across a career spanning decades, he has written extensively on how we confront the unconscious, navigate midlife, and live with greater courage and self-awareness. His books include: Living an Examined Life, Under Saturn's Shadow, and a Life of Meaning. 

In this conversation, we explore: 

— The extent to which Dr. Hollis believes there is a "purposeful intelligence" at work in nature.

— How we live a larger life by asking larger questions - and the questions he finds more helpful for leading his clients to a path of enlargement

— How to distinguish between ego-based desires and those coming from a deeper place

— What Dr. Hollis learned from his near death experience in 2022. 

And more. 

You can learn more about his work and books at http://jameshollis.net

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James Hollis, Ph. D., was born in Springfield, Illinois, and graduated from Manchester University in 1962 and Drew University in 1967. He taught Humanities 26 years in various colleges and universities before retraining as a Jungian analyst at the Jung Institute of Zurich, Switzerland (1977-82). He is presently a licensed Jungian analyst in private practice in Washington, D.C. He served as Executive Director of the Jung Educational Center in Houston, Texas for many years and was Executive Director of the Jung Society of Washington until 2019, and now serves on the JSW Board of Directors. He is a retired Senior Training Analyst for the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, was first Director of Training of the Philadelphia Jung Institute, and is Vice-President Emeritus of the Philemon Foundation. Additionally he is a Professor of Jungian Studies for Saybrook University of San Francisco/Houston.

He lives with his wife Jill, an artist and retired therapist, in a suburb of Washington, DC. Together they have three living children and eight grand-children.

He has written a total of twenty books, which have been translated into Swedish, Russian, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Portuguese, Turkish, Italian, Korean, Finnish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Farsi, Japanese, Greek, Chinese, Serbian, Latvian, Ukranian and Czech.

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Interview Links:

— Dr Hollis’ website - http://jameshollis.net

— Dr Hollis’ books - https://amzn.to/41xg1Co

Jung & The Purposeful Intelligence of Nature — Dr. James Hollis

Insights for Evolving Consciousness

In-depth interviews with leading thinkers at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, culture, and spirituality.

This show is for you if you’re interested in:

– Reducing suffering — in yourself and others
– Continuously upgrading your perspective
– Realising more of your potential
– Experiencing a greater sense of awe, meaning, and connection in everyday life.

New episodes every Thursday.

Join depth psychotherapist and Jungian scholar, John Price, in an exploration of extraordinary stories and phenomena that lurk beneath the surface of normal and everyday life. Listen in as John interviews experts, dilettantes, sinners, and saints to explore their professional and personal perspective on the underlying purpose of the mysteries which lurk within the seemingly mundane nature of day-to-day life. 

John received his Master’s degree in clinical psychology and his Doctorate degree in Jungian psychology. He is in private practice and is also on the faculty of The Jung Center and The University of St. Thomas, both located in Houston, Texas. He lectures and teaches classes in subjects ranging from Parenting and Consciousness to Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll. 

This podcast seeks to accept a challenge laid out by Carl Jung:  to explore the universal human feelings of emotional incompleteness, spiritual curiosity and one’s related search for wholeness and meaning. Interviews commence with the belief that, by engaging in this exploration, we can learn more about the psyche, consciousness, spirituality, philosophy and the profound, though often hidden, meaning of the day-to-day lives we lead (or which will lead us, if we aren’t watchful).

Come along as John follows people into bars, universities, places of worship, financial districts and the home. He finds each context equally able to provide a setting for this worthy search and also that, through this process, we have an opportunity to come to know each other and ourselves much more deeply.

New tracks tagged #DepthPsychology