Comments

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  Jeanne M. Schul December 12, 2010 at 8:04pm

  Ed is demonstrating the best in Southern Hospitality!
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  Bonnie Bright December 12, 2010 at 7:29pm

  Ah-hah! So the Southern Charm is not just an archetype, but an embodied entity in the form of Ed Koffenberger! You're smooth, you are. Let's talk.
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  Ed Koffenberger December 12, 2010 at 7:11pm

  Bonnie,

  You are more than kind and I'll take you up on your "ready to help however I can..." How about a speaking gig at our first conference?
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  Bonnie Bright December 12, 2010 at 7:03pm

  OK, I don't live in the South (yet!...one never knows where life will take you)--but I can't stand not taking part in the magic that this group seems to have. Ed, you are a tremendous leader and your contribution to the field of Depth Psychology will send out ripples for decades, if not generations, to come. Looking forward to see what's cooking over here, and ready to help however I can....
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  Ed Koffenberger December 7, 2010 at 9:41pm

  Happy Sacred Season to all of you. Hope the numinous will present in love, joy, and community for you all.
  We will talk about our first gathering after January 1st.
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  Catherine Alvarez, PhD November 23, 2010 at 1:58pm

  Hi Gabriela, it is a pleasure meeting you, and a beautiful name you have. Yes, we were in different programs, I in the Myth. I Love the sound of your topic! I was reading the abstracts online at the time, so I am certain that yours was one of the ones that grabbed me. Did you get yours published? I never finalized mine due to my teaching responsibilities, but plan to do so when the semester is over in a week and a half...very minor edits to complete the process. Oh, I share your burden about the lack of Jungian material in colleges. We will need to change that. I think it needs to be worked in little by little. I am going to fill out a proposal to teach a Comparative Mysticism course, in the Religious Studies Department, at the University of South Florida, next Fall. Of course, I will introduce Jung and his mystical ideas, which influence the field of Religious Studies. The point is, I see an open window there, and we may have to be creative as to how we integrate our specialties, until there is a more formal format, in this regard. A psychology department may even be more of a challenge, at a traditional university, but as you say, you can teach General Psychology and at least introduce your students to Jung, which could be a start. The is great that you are trying to integrate Interfaith Dialogue, at the church level. What church do you attend? I started such a group as an undergrad at USF, and now a student of mine has resurrected it, me being the advisor. It is exciting, although these things take time. There is much to do, so as they say at PGI, we must "Trust the Process" and I will add, "Enjoy the Ride!" Thank you so much for taking the time to share.
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  Ed Koffenberger November 21, 2010 at 7:38pm

  Gabriela,
  I have a long relationship with Goethe's Faust after reading it when I was in middle school. One of the courses I'm taking now has okayed my focusing on Faust from a depth perspective (possibly bringing in Jung's Answer to Job). I'm not asking you for your dissertation because I'm too much of a perfectionist to be deflated by seeing your work before my paper for this class. HOWEVER, after my paper is in I would REALLY like to have a copy of your dissertation.
  Most of the interfaith groups here sound similar to your experience, a lot of sharing separate information with no serious attempt to find any transcendant connections.
  Your frustration is exactly the reason why I wanted to get us together. Even the Jung group that existed here only shared cases or new books but very little attempt to talk about living a soulful life. Maybe that's why this one folded. Here's a thought. Sometimes a person from the outside can say things or present concepts that someone within a group might feel less comfortable presenting. I would love for Jung in the South to become a road show throughout the South. (Somebody pinch me if this sounds too inflated.)
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  Gabriela Luschei November 21, 2010 at 3:49pm

  Ed, I also meant to point out that another strong connection between people who are posting to this discussion has to do with a very serious study of religious themes. That is so important to me, and I have had such a hard time finding people who care to explore it in other than a conventional, Christian way. One of the strands of study which has been most meaningful for me relates to the Western mystery traditions, including Gnosticism and Kabbalah (add to that alchemy and sufism, and you've got a perfect recipe for Jung and the depth psychological tradition).
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  Gabriela Luschei November 21, 2010 at 3:43pm

  Catherine, you must have defended your dissertation around the same time I did, but we were probably in different programs at Pacifica (or possibly different tracks)? I was in the depth program and my topic was Jung's psychology of religion and the problem of evil vis-a-vis Goethe's Faust. However, absolutely none of my area colleges offer even an introductory course on Jung, so without relocating out of the area, probably the best I can aim for is a community college position teaching general psychology. Still trying to figure out how to use my degree. I have started a dialogue group at my church which is MEANT to incorporate a depth psychological angle (but doesn't, so far) and I am participating in an interfaith group which claims to be about dialogue, but really isn't (various people give presentations, followed by a short q&a period). The closest things I know of in and around Virginia are the Washington, DC Jung group and a small community of Jungians in Charlottesville and the Tidewater region (Norfolk, VA Beach, Hampton Roads). I'm not connected with any of them, but that may be my next step.
  
  Like Catherine, my spring semester will be MUCH easier, for many of the same reasons. Pretty much any weekend would do, unless it's a major holiday or April 9-10th through April 15th, which are my daughter's birthday and my husband's, respectively, in addition to Easter and the conclusion of my daughter's choir year, which involves a busy performance schedule. Otherwise, I'm open for anything! Spring and fall are especially beautiful here...
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  Catherine Alvarez, PhD November 21, 2010 at 8:23am

  Ed, thank you so much for your offer of possible assistance in the future, as well as your kind words. I'll look forward to future correspondence and appreciate the valuable time that everybody puts in here, to maintain this very unique social network. Peace.