Belonging: Embracing the Intricacy & Nuance of Our Personal and Collective Stories (In-Person)

Carl Jung understood the relative value of science and had a deep appreciation for the inner world, especially as it relates to the numinous. In his autobiography, Jung undertook the challenge of sharing his personal myth. He did not concern himself with whether or not the stories were ‘true’ – as the realm of the imagination and the mythical were as real as waking life for Jung.

Today, truth has seemingly taken on a whole new meaning. With the rise of social media and the attention economy, our minds have been hijacked and overwhelmed by algorithms and uncompromising dark players – purposefully leaving us little room for examining their truthfulness, much less our own narratives. At the same time, however, the scientists and scientific disciplines that have been open to inquiry about the neural correlates of spirituality and the scientific basis of story have made significant strides in their endeavors.

In this workshop we will explore the complexity of truth within us and between us, and examine the distinctions between cohesive and coherent narratives. While cohesive narratives hold something together tightly, these stories can result in a fundamentalist rigidity without integration of past, present, or future. Coherent narratives, on the other hand, fluidly lend themselves to adaptive change. Through examining the foundational principles of Jungian psychology and affective neuroscience, exploratory creative writing, breathwork exercises, and other grounding tools and resources, we will discover our own narratives of true integration – stories that both hold themselves together well, and facilitate connection when shared in community with others.

This program is being offered IN-PERSON, and will NOT be recorded.

All times are CT. Please contact onlinelearning@junghouston.org with any questions.

Please register early. Programs with four or fewer participants are subject to cancellation, 48 hours prior to their start.

Marjorie Joseph currently serves as the Executive Director of Houston Coalition Against Hate. A seasoned nonprofit executive, creative, organizer, and facilitator, Marjorie is an antiracist leader, visionary, and social justice advocate. Also known as “MJ” to many, she is honored to steward the Coalition’s mission to reduce hate and encourage belonging. As the originator of the #JusticeOverEquity framework (used to facilitate societal/cultural shifts and transformation) and the Coalition’s infrastructure, she has been a steadfast proponent of the continual development of nontraditional, decolonized, caring ways of existence that may be elevated as a model for effective and impactful systems and culture change.

Leanne Whitney, PhD is an independent scholar and Transformational Coach who holds a Doctoral Degree in depth psychology and specializes in the intersection of Western psychology and the liberatory and shamanic traditions. She is the author of Consciousness in Jung and Patañjali (2018) and has published in the International Journal of Jungian Studies and Psychological Perspectives: A Quarterly Journal of Jungian Thought. In addition to writing and client work, she instructs the Yoga psychology modules for several accredited Yoga Teacher Trainings. Interviews about Dr. Whitney’s work can be found on several YouTube channels including New Thinking Allowed, Buddha at the Gas Pump and Shrink Rap Radio. For more information, please visit her website.