Gatherings

The Creative Process

In this episode, we explore the creative process. Is it limited to the material work we produce, or is the true creative path the inner work we do as part of the individuation journey? What kinds of conversations should we be having? How does dream work factor into the process? And does an artist need to reveal something meaningful to the collective for their work to be considered art?
Books mentioned in this episode: 
 The Creative Act: A Way of Being (Rick Rubin) 
The Archetypal Artist: Reimagining Creativity and the Call to Create (Mary Antonia Wood) 
Carl Jung and Arnold Toynbee: The Social Meaning of Inner Work (J. Gary Sparks) 
 
Quote from Long Life: Essays and Other Writings, by Mary Oliver: 
"And that is just the point: how the world, moist and bountiful, calls to each of us to make a new and serious response. That's the big question, the one the world throws at you every morning. 'Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?'" 
 

The Wisdom of Iain McGilchrist: Reconnecting to a Larger Reality

Do you ever feel like something's off with the way we think as a society? In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking work of Iain McGilchrist, who argues that an imbalance in our brains, favoring the left hemisphere's focus on control, could be leading us down a dangerous path. The discussion delves into how McGilchrist's theories connect with Jungian psychology and the importance of a holistic view of things. Tune in to learn more about this fascinating perspective! 
Show notes:
 
Books mentioned
 
The Master and His Emissary (McGilchrist)
The Matter With Things (McGilchrist)
The Dream of the Cosmos: A Quest for the Soul (Anne Baring)
Addiction to Perfection: The Still Unravished Bride (Marion Woodman)
 
Podcast episodes mentioned
Understanding The Matter with Things Dialogues Episode 28: Ch 28 The sense of the sacred
 
A Revolution in Thought? Lecture by Dr. Ian McGilchrist
 

Navigating Life’s Depths: A Guide to James Hollis’ Wisdom

This episode takes a deep dive into the writings and influence of Jungian analyst James Hollis. We focus on four essential books to get you started: The Eden Project, Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, Under Saturn’s Shadow, and Swamplands of the Soul. Through these works, we examine powerful themes such as taking responsibility for our lives, embracing individuation, understanding relationship dynamics beyond romance, confronting the struggles men face in expressing emotions, and learning to navigate life’s darker, swampy moments. We also reflect on how Hollis’ ideas have shaped our personal journeys. Tune in as we explore the mind of one of the wisest thinkers of our time—and find out which of his books might resonate most with you.

Unveiling the Books That Captured our Attention in 2024

Join Béa and Carly as they discuss their top reads from 2024. With a focus on both fiction and nonfiction, they explore Carly Mountain's 'Descent & Rising,' Roberta B. Corson's Stepping Out of the Shadows,' J. Gary Sparks’ The Call of Destiny and Andrea Wulf's 'Magnificent Rebels,' among others. The conversation delves deep into book recommendations, literary themes, and personal reflections on the significance of these works.
The song used in this podcast is Jay Redelsperger’s  “On my Way”. You can find Jay’s music on Spotify, Apple Music and all other music platforms. He is also on YouTube Jay Mark Redelsperger - YouTube
 
For information on the SophiaCycles project: www.sophiacycles.com
 
Bea will be teaching a month-long course at the Jung Archademy on “The Archetypal Venus”. You can find information here: The Archetypal Venus LIVE-VIDEO SEMINAR SERIES with Béa Gonzalez, M.A. — JUNG Archademy
00:00 Introduction to Gatherings Podcast
00:39 Hosts' Personal Book Habits
03:03 First Book Highlight: Stepping Out of the Shadows
05:33 Exploring the Medial Woman Archetype
10:51 Second Book Highlight: Searching for Venus
14:14 Fantasy Romance Genre Insights
16:35 Third Book Highlight: The Shepard Duology
17:52 Impact of Fiction on Personal Growth
23:09 Personal Reflections and Career Doubts
24:03 The Power of Stories and Rituals
25:49 The Heroine's Journey and Self-Discovery
27:34 Exploring Jungian Concepts and Guides
31:54 Book Recommendations and Synchronicity
34:11 Alchemy and Symbolism
39:11 Historical Insights and Intellectual Movements
42:27 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects
 
 
 

Episode 21 | Venus, Inanna and Modern Perspectives

Uncover the Journey of the Feminine Archetype through Time
In this episode, Jay and Béa discuss the myth of Inanna, the two Venuses, and the evolution of the feminine archetype across various cultures and eras. They initiate the conversation with an in-depth exploration of Inanna's myth, drawing parallels with the movie Barbie while emphasizing the continual relevance and transformative power of this ancient archetype. They also explore how Venus, a symbol of beauty and love, has transformed from an androgynous warrior to an emblem of love and connection. Finally, they discuss the need to shift from the binary perception of such themes towards viewing them as ongoing, transformative stories that are accessible to all individuals, regardless of gender.
Book Discussed: Descent to the Goddess, Sylvia Brinton Perera
 

Episode 20 | The Healing Journey

In this episode, Jay and Béa explore the many dimensions healing can take. There seems to be a lot of attention placed on the notion of healing in the public sphere but what does this look like? Is it possible to ever fully heal? And if so, what modalities can help us on this journey?  Authors and books mentioned: Dr. Gabor Maté [The Myth of Normal]; Marion Woodman "Addiction to Perfection". Books we recommend: "Waking the Tiger", Peter Levine: "The Body Keeps the Score", Bessel van der Kolk. 
 
Song: "The Gathering" Jay Redelsperger
 

Episode 19 | Ways of Seeing | Conversation with Geneviève Caron

In this episode, Béa has a conversation with a member of the Sophia Collective---Geneviève Caron, photographer, documentary film maker, artist and spectacular human! Geneviève has just released an exquisite 8-minute documentary where she invites the viewer to journey with the artist Ljubodrag Andric, as he travels through Jaipur, India. We talk about her background, her involvement with the Sophia Collective, shadow work and much more.
Here is the link to her website: Geneviève Caron Photography (genevievecaron.com)
The documentary: Geneviève Caron Photography | Motion | 2 (genevievecaron.com)
Jay is busy at work on his new album, but we still get to listen to some of his gorgeous music! The song used in this episode is "In the Summertime" from his album, Harvesting James. Jay's music can be found all major streaming platforms including Apple, Spotify, Google and more.
 
 

Episode 18 | Is Doing Inner Work enough to Change Things?

Béa and Jay wrestle with the question of whether doing inner work is enough to change things in the external world as well. Does doing shadow work and wrestling with our inner demons rid the world sufficiently of the burdens we place on others---or do we have a duty to address the social problems of the day as well? If so, how does doing inner work help us in that regard? Books explored include those written by Keiron Le Grice, Richard Rohr, Dale Mathers, Herbert Barks, Robert A. Johnson and more. Musical artist Jay is listening to is Patti Smith.
The song used in this episode is Jay's "Lead me to Gardens" recorded this year.
 
 

Episode 17 | The Limits of Rational Thought

In this episode, we discuss Jeffrey Kripal's book, “The Flip” which is an exploration of what happens to people who have an experience that is life transforming but which cannot be explained in rational terms. Other thinkers mentioned include Bernardo Kastrup [More than Allegory] and Rupert Sheldrake [Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home]. Jay also talks about the song, Rain and Gold, from his album "Harvesting James".

Episode 16 | Landscape and Typology, Jung in Love

In this episode we explore how landscape might map onto Jung's typological system. What do the landscapes that attract us say about our typological orientation? We also discuss Lance Owen's book, "Jung in Love" and the Jeff Buckley biography, "Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley" by David Browne.  The song in this episode is from Jay's album, Harvesting James, "In the Summertime."