"The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it." Carl Gustav Jung
The Washington Jung Society is a non-profit educational society dedicated to the dissemination of the insights of famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung (1875-1961), one of the pioneers of modern depth psychology. Depth psychology is founded on an effort to dialogue with the unconscious
energies and agendas which course beneath all history, and through all individual biographies. From this dialogue, we believe a more evolved consciousness may emerge, and a more thoughtful presence inform our relationships, our organizations, and our daily choices. The Jung Society offers a range of courses, evenings with distinguished analysts, weekend lectures and workshops with visiting speakers, and important symposia on such subjects as dream work, finding meaning, mythology and comparative spiritual traditions, dealing with illness, personal growth, and many other topics. We are a resource for those who are 1) professional care-givers who wish to hone their skills and deepen their perspectives, 2) those who wish to discuss the thorny issues of our time, and bring a more thoughtful presence to them, 3) those who wish deeper understanding of the currents of history, as well as contemporary world events, and 4) perhaps most of all, those who wish to grow and develop as human beings, who wish to move from limiting voices and scripts to a more authentic experience of life. Jung’s concept of individuation is more than theory; it is a summons to a larger life. Yet we serve our souls, our relationships, our organizations by bringing a more evolved personhood to participation with others. From Jung we have gained such concepts as personality typology (such as introversion and extraversion), complexes, individuation, shadow, anima and animus, archetype, and many other insights which have helped shape the modern sensibility. We are an open society, welcoming thoughtful enquiry of all kinds, and invite you to find a class or program which speaks to your spirit. We also offer places for volunteers to make a contribution to their world as well as their own lives. We welcome suggestions for programs, cooperation with communal organization of similar purpose, and seek to serve the well being of our community through innovative partnerships. Most modern psychology has fractionated the person into behaviors, which we are, cognitive processes, which we perform, and biological processes, which we experience. Yet, if we add them together, we are still missing the whole person. Jung wanted us to remember that the word psyche means soul, and soul is the organ of meaning in each of us. We are the meaning seeking, meaning creating animal who suffers when our lives are not meaningful. The Washington Jung Society is a group of people like you who are determined not to forget they have a soul, however individually understood, and that together we can support each other’s personal journey. We cannot live this life for another, nor ask another to live for us, but together we can enhance and engage each other in ways which makes this life richer and more meaningful.
