Is personal, intellectual, or creative growth one of your goals for this year, or for your life in general? Do you long to connect with others interested in the intersections of art, soul, and depth psychology? Let one of Pacifica’s upcoming events this spring be the catalyst for you to plug into our like-minded community, and get ready to experience and engage in deep, meaningful conversations where you are able to hold space for each other and learn new, exciting ways to explore your creative potential.
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depth psychology,
vocation,
Santa Barbara,
Pacifica Events,
Pacifica News,
creativity,
art,
Education
Last week, Pacifica president and CEO Dr. Joseph Cambray did an interview with Connecting with Coincidence with Dr. Bernard Beitman, MD on Expanding Jung's Views of Synchronicity. Dr. Cambray is one of the leading experts on this topic in the field. Click below to
listen to the interview.
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C.G. Jung,
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resources,
Pacifica News,
Pacifica Graduate Institute
"By extending the concepts of psychology and mythological studies beyond the personal, beyond the consulting room, and beyond the classroom, we see psychological life as an evolutionary development within nature, alive in all the phenomena and systems of our world. In studying and working with these multidimensional exchanges, we facilitate contributions to the contemporary concerns of our world through dialogues between the psyche of the individual, the mythologies of the culture, the collective human imagination, and the living planet."
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Education,
graduate school,
admissions,
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Santa Barbara
A guest blog post by Craig Chalquist, Ph.D., Associate Provost of Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Today is January 9th, which fans of the Great Detective have decided is his birthday. For those into astrology, this would make his natal sun sign studious, hard-working Capricorn. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels give no indication of the time of day Holmes was born, but I have a feeling, given his interests and how he pursued them, that his natal chart is nocturnal. No doubt Virgo, Mercury, Pluto, and Saturn had a lot to say to each other in it, especially in Houses 12 (secrets, mysteries) and 8 (death, rebirth, other people’s money).
I encountered Holmes as a result of committing a crime. When I was in high school, a bully made the mistake of picking on my friends and me. The school authorities did nothing, so I knocked him out at lunchtime and set his locker on fire for good measure.
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Psychology,
depth psychology,
relationships,
relationship,
jungian,
alchemist,
storytelling,
narrative,
alchemy,
C.G. Jung
“The question of vocation is crucial, and choosing the right one requires listening to the voice within. The root of the word “vocation” is Latin for voice. Learning to trust that inner voice in the face of economic and social pressures that might urge otherwise is an act of courage. Accessing that courage is key to finding the voice.”
~ Dr. Joseph Cambray, President and CEO
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Counseling Psychology,
clinical psychology
A blog post by Melissa Ruisz Nazario
In the preface to the thirtieth anniversary edition of her seminal book, Writing Down the Bones [1], first published in 1986, Natalie Goldberg explains why she thinks so many people want to write.
“I don’t think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our stories–of realizing what we think, feel, and see before we die,” she observes. “Writing is a path to meet ourselves.”
The “bones” Goldberg wants her students to write down is, in her words, “the essential, awake speech of their minds.” She acknowledges this is easier said than done: “But I also know that I can’t just say, okay, write clearly and with great honesty. In class, we try different techniques and methods. Eventually the students hit the mark, come home to what they need to say and how they need to say it.”
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archetypes,
Spiritual,
soul,
symbolism,
sacred,
Joseph Campbell
A guest blog post by Mary A. Wood, Ph.D., co-Chair of the M.A. Program in Engaged Humanities and the Creative Life at Pacifica Graduate Institute.
“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” —Emily Dickinson
There are moments in life when time seems to stand still—moments when we find ourselves transfixed, and eventually transformed. These moments can be cosmic in scale, as reflected in the awe that we feel when beholding a rare solar eclipse, or an approaching storm. These moments may also be quite intimate, but no less moving, such as when we witness an animal emerging from hiding or when we hear an exquisite song. We recognize, and always remember these moments because they are announced by bodily sensations; we gasp, our hearts beat faster, and tears often flow. Our bodies tell us that the ordinary has given way to the extraordinary. These experiences are best described as “aesthetic,” as we find ourselves living, at least for a few moments, as creatures that are gloriously and achingly alive.
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Psychology,
depth psychology,
archetypes,
Spiritual,
mythological,
soul,
transformative,
The Psyche,
symbolism,
sacred,
humanities,
symbol,
art,
C.G. Jung,
Joseph Campbell,
James Hillman
A blog post by Melissa Ruisz Nazario
At this time of year in the northern hemisphere, the earth’s axis orients away from the sun, temperatures cool, and many of us celebrate with loved ones some form of thankfulness and respite from work–modern iterations of our ancestors’ harvest festivals.
Though the concept of gratitude is also ancient, it has become a bit of a modern buzzword. So, is gratitude really as beneficial as the masses say it is? Actually, yes. Robert A. Emmons and Robin Stern, researchers known for their work in studying gratitude, reviewed studies on the subject and list several of the physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes of cultivating gratitude in “Gratitude as a Psychotherapeutic Intervention.” [1]
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Psychology,
depth psychology,
archetypes,
Spiritual,
mythological,
soul,
transformative,
The Psyche,
resources
By now, you've likely read or heard the news of the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California. Dr. Stephen Aizenstat, Founding President and Chancellor of Pacifica Graduate Institute, shared this letter regarding the tragedy with many in our community, and we wanted to share its message of hope with all of you.
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Posted in:
Psychology,
Pacifica Graduate Institute,
graduate school,
Trauma,
Pacifica Students,
relationships,
relationship,
love,
Spiritual,
collective trauma,
depth psychology,
Social Justice,
Current Affairs
A blog post by Melissa Ruisz Nazario
Called Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other countries, we originally commemorated November 11th because of the signing of the treaty that halted fighting during World War I. Today, known as Veterans Day in the U.S., the focus has shifted a bit, as we show respect and gratitude to those who previously served in our armed forces. We often associate the words “service” and “sacrifice” with being in the military because a mission’s success requires things that aren’t as common in the civilian world: working twelve-hour shifts for months while deployed thousands of miles away from loved ones, missing important birthdays and holidays, and for many, having to put one’s self in harm’s way in a combat zone, risking life and mental wellness.
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Psychology,
clinical psychology,
Psychotherapy,
Therapist,
resources,
military,
depth psychology,
archetypes
