All we can know empirically is that processes of the body and processes of the mind happen together in some way, which is mysterious to us. (Jung, C. G., Analytical Psychology - Its Theory and Practice, p. 35)

In this seminar we will explore Jung’s notion that body and psyche are one and the same thing specifically in relation to the notion of awe and the numinous. He often wrote that the relationship between body and psyche was ‘mysterious’ and more current research and practice suggests we have direct access to knowledge and understanding through our 'felt sense' of experience, which is directly experienced and already known (Geldlin, 1996). Additionally, research indicates that experiences of awe are transformational and healing (Keltner, 2023).  Because experience is key to accessing this material, the seminar will include some experiential work.  This work builds on Bacon’s research into creative processes, active imagination and the role of the numinous in healing (Keltner, Watson, Kalsched).  It will bring thinking from these fields into conversation with current research in neuroscience (McGilchrist, Damasio), trauma training (van der Kolk, Levine, Woodman) and body/movement psychotherapy(Chodorow, Adler, Woodman).

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Jane Bacon, PhD, is a Jungian Analyst, Focusing trainer,  teacher of the Discipline of Authentic Movement and Professor Emerita at the University of Chichester.  She has over 35 years experience of teaching, facilitating, and lecturing in dance and performance and over 15 years experience of working in psychotherapy, Authentic Movement and Focusing. She has published widely on her approach to developing and integrating psyche and matter, or mind, body and spirit, and this shapes her approach to the facilitation of Authentic Movement groups and her work with individuals.  A few recent publications include ‘Informed by the goddess: Explicating a processual methodology’, Spiritual Herstories: Call of the Soul in Dance Research, Bristol: Intellect,2020. pp.69-87; Reconsidering Research and Supervision as Creative Embodied Practice: Reflections from the Field (with Vida Midgelow), Artistic Doctorates in Europe, 2019;  ‘Processual Attention in Somatic Practice as Research / Artistic Research’, in Resources for the embodied researcher: Artistic Doctorates in Movement and Choreographic Practices, Conceived by Artistic Doctorates in Europe – www.artisticdoctorates.com (eds Bacon, J., Midgelow, V., Hilton, R., Kramer, P.). Helsinki, Fi: Nival. 2019. 

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(Please feel free to dip into whatever calls you rather than seeing this as a list of reading tasks to be completed)

Brinton Perera, S. (1981). Descent of the Goddess, A Way of Initiation for Women. Toronto: Inner City Books

Chodorow, J. (1978/1999). Dance Therapy and the Transcendent Function. In Authentic Movement: Vol 1. London: Jessica Kingsley. pp.236-252

Gendlin, E. (1978) Focusing, NewYork: Bantam

Jung, C. G. (1947) ‘On the Nature of the Psyche’, vol. 8, p. 159-234 -236

Jung, C.G. (1958) The Transcendent Function. The Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche.CW8: 67-91, 2^nd Edition. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University. 1969

Jung, C.G. (1966) TheTavistock Lectures: on the theory and practice of analytical psychology.CW18:5-35. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University.

Kalsched, D. (2013). Trauma and the Soul, a psycho-spiritual approach to human development and its interruption. London:Routledge.

Keltner, D. (2023). Awe, The Transformative Power of Everyday Wonder. London: Allen Books

McGilchrist, I. (2021) The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World. London:Perspectiva

Morrissey B. & Sager,P.(2023). Intimacy in Emptiness, An Evolution of Embodied Consciousness,Collected Writings of Janet Adler, Vermont: Inner Traditions

Otto, Rudolf (1923/1958). The Idea of the Holy. London: Oxford University

Van der Kolk, Bessel (2014) The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma, New York: Allen Lane

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