INITIATIONS: Universal Processes that Spark Transformation

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The archetype of Initiation is primordial, and its force guides our transformative transitions. For Jung, this change reshapes spiritual, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, and social dynamics.
Rooted in his anthropological studies, Jung emphasized the vital role of formal ceremonies in fostering separation from parental influences and facilitating integration into adult communities. These ceremonies marked a clear transition from childhood and established an essential connection with the adult community, promoting the collaborative culture by containing unconscious forces.
Derived from the Latin "initium," Initiation carries the power of new beginnings, urging us towards greater consciousness and understanding. This journey transcends personal experience, reverberating universally through significant life milestones that act as gateways to realms of human experience, driven by archetypal activations inherent to all.
Initiation contains three universal elements: separation, liminal space, and reintegration. This process is approached through a structured and ritualistic path in modern Mystery Schools. It begins with transitioning from our outer lives, then identifying what is alien to our true nature, followed by a dedication to a greater vision.
Once ushered into a sacred space, we are helped to recognize the price of being unconscious. When our character flaws are personified and confronted, a Hierophantic figure reveals sacred objects, symbols, and teaching. These, along with various practices, seek to activate the archetype of transformation. Embraced into a community dedicated to mutual growth, Initiates re-enter their daily lives, tasked to integrate a more expansive attitude of themselves and life.
The loss of most formal initiations in modern culture leaves these archetypal forces with no aesthetic process to affect the individual. Expressed unconsciously, they emerge as fraternity hazing or surviving a violent gauntlet to gain gang membership.
Various mythopoetic movements have attempted to restore initiations for sons and daughters, bar mitzvahs carry ancient themes into contemporary life, and Freemasons strive to maintain ceremonies that make good men better. The archetype of Initiation is still alive and potent, perhaps struggling to find modern idioms and values to carry its transformative power forward.
HERE’S THE DREAM WE ANALYZE:
“Someone is telling me my therapist has passed away; I'm shocked. They showed me a very brief obituary that showed she was 44 years old. I am saddened.”
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[@Magik1369]

Amazing video. I worked with a Jungian for 7 years in my 20's. This led to a full blown kundalini awakening with a direct encounter with the Numinous Light, This initiation was an experience of complete inner Unity and Unity with the Source that is sustaining my Being. It was an intense ecstatic experience...a full and lucid mystical encounter. I had already been working on my shadow in therapy. However, the initiation accelerated the shadow work. The shadow began de-repressing and slowly integrating over a period of 23 long agonizing years. Then the anima...which I interpret as my feeling center. So yes, initiation, departure on a long night sea journey (Dark Night) and then when I reached the bottom of my unconscious, there was the wound/complex of primal alienation and the Non Being wound. Here I also became aware of the distorted false god image (negative father) After working through these issues, I am now ascending and regenerating. The Self in the center...way behind the Heart now lights up my consciousness with bliss, strength, wholeness, and every good thing. This process is baked into each and every one of us and I believe is the destiny of every human being. This is no less than the Hero's Journey and it is archetypal and unfolds on its own. This process is identical with what the Yogis call Self Realization or Soul Realization. One goes from being a broken, depressed ego/shadow to being a Whole Spiritual Person or Soul. Peace.

[@LightworkingWanderer]

Thank you so much for sharing. That last sentence allowed me to open up and just cry and sob with joy. We are not alone in what we are going through. Then we find that we were never alone, we just imagined that we were. 💚🙇🏼‍♂ Namaste.

[@eliphaslevi9589]

Thanks for sharing. It's been 11 yrs since my night of the dark soul and my inner light turning on. U say u took 23 yrs.. wow.. that's so long..but I understand.. it's such a long process and I'm gradually shedding layers, sometimes painfully..the world events of recent yrs definitely have put a strain on that process, but had I not done the early hard work I believe I'd be in a miserable state right now. Buddhists even say it can take many lifetimes. But I believe we are in a global "quickening" .. Such a wild ride..and the electricity in the air is immense.. Keeping grounded as much as I can and i love listening to everyone's individual stories of self discovery.

[@initiated1111]

We don't need magik to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.

[@nathananderson8720]

This is one of the channels that gave me the courage to start my KZbin channel 6 months ago about self development. Now I have 464 subs and > 100 hours of watch time. I know it’s not comparable with others but I’m still proud I started because I’ve been learning so many lessons that I could haven’t learned without getting started in the 1st place.

[@rachaellouise2666]

And you've inspired me too, with this comment 🎉

[@initiated1111]

I started a channel because I needed to share what i see going on in this world which is alittle strange to say the least but i cant get to 150 subs or views but i believe when the student is ready the master will appear. So the ones seeking will find.🙏🌹

[@oligreen1192]

Well done

[@bryanalltogether]

Meditation has been an amazing initiation for me.

[@gwendolynmurphy9563]

For me, it is important to listen more than once, as every time I hear something new and relevant to me: "The Empty Chair" I am going to ask my therapistS to engage me in this approach. Thanks for the reminder!

[@greencare9702]

It feels like initiations these days have a lot to do with consumption. I remember my first introduction to drinking, I was 14 and I got so drunk, I felt proud and mature, and my grandmother and father were some kind of role models for me in that regard. After a few years, my mom started me drinking coffee and in my 20s I became obsessed with weed. The most authentic initiation for me was to travel alone at 18, I did a 12-day tour of Greece and had challenges and experiences that awakened my passion for knowing myself and evolving as a person. Great podcast episode!

[@roseysoulsco]

It's a shame it's about consuming toxic substances rather than like you say travelling or going on a spiritual retreat. I think our ancestors had some really good wisdom when it comes to this

[@Mcgif21]

Very funny, my deconversion (I was a Christian on a months long mission's trip) experience happened in Athens, Greece. My profile picture was taken at the foot of the Parthenon.

[@Earth_Angel_]

Wow I’ve never seen your channel before but so glad it popped up on my feed. My mom passed in February in a slow and traumatic way. I believe this was my initiation after watching this video 💜

[@chemick606]

This-Initiation- is such a powerfully useful frame with which to understand a difficult transition in one’s life. I’m currently struggling to get back on my feet after a few curveballs were thrown at me, and your video has reminded me of the “grand adventure” this is for my psyche. My unknown future is my initiation. It is terrifying but you remind me it’s my ego that is terrified, because it knows part of it will not survive the trial in front of me. Instead I will allow those deeper layers of psyche to come forward, a truer version of myself. Thank you, as always, for showing me the psyche’s perspective. There is always a reason for hardship and always something to gain from it.

[@johnryan2193]

Very good slow speech , this is the way to deliver a lecture. Inner language is so powerful that we need to listen on a daily basis to what story is running in the background of consciousness.

[@roseysoulsco]

Another initiation is recovery from addiction. When the substance(s) or behaviour is put down and that part of your life ends. Usually grief ensues and then the new life begins. Exactly what Lisa says. Death and rebirth. Dark night of the soul of which ive had many... I could go on and on with examples. I love this episode so far❤

[@tashamendoliaakablondediab6920]

I was thinking the same thing... I've been in recovery 2 years. Getting clean was my dark night of the soul. It started with me being arrested and then completing 10 months of treatment, now I've been in sober living a little over a year so I feel like I'm still in the threshold phase, or the liminal space.

[@claudiasimoes8697]

Keep strong

[@IAMALLMUSIC]

"I put away the things of a child" 🙏

[@initiated1111]

I was initiated as an owtlaw by the sprit of Truth.

[@LizLondonWWA]

Great voice Joseph. I could listen to you for hours. ❤❤❤

[@maileswales9174]

As always, great! It's like drinking wine from a silver cup listening to you.

[@CDLuminous]

Interesting that Steiner compares the Mithraic initiation versus the Dionysian Initiation in his lecture series, "From Jesus to Christ", and then goes on to say that those formal types of initiations are no longer possible or necessary for humanity because we have evolved our thought process since those times, leaving behind the vague clairvoyance of ancient times and having entered the realm of rational thought. He goes on to say that the Christ's Teaching of Love and Compassion is the combination and evolution of those two former mystery schools and is the new initiation.

[@advandepol7537]

In addition to your last words about the shadow of initiation. Often we grant value to things in proportion to the money, effort and risks it takes, to attain them. Participants in a sect do think so, and sect leaders take advantage of that by putting great illigitimate demands on the followers.

[@lisawanderess]

My new favourite channel! I love the calm, soothing voices you all have and the high level of intelligence in the discussions... I feel truly honored to hear these messages and am learning so much about myself and the world through your videos, thank you so much. I've been a huge fan of Jung even before I'd even read anything he'd ever written because he came to me in "auditory visions," or I'm not even sure what you'd call them but he spoke to me and we engaged in deep discussions about topics I was grappling with and asking for guidance in understanding. His chuckle, his sense of humor, his twinkling eyes, in these encounters his voice was clear as day and this was long before the internet so there was no way I could have ever seen or heard him. I didn't even know who he was until he introduced himself to me! I felt very thankful of these encounters and have since read his writings and watched interviews and was amazed at how exactly the same he was in these encounters! Has anyone else had these types of encounters with Jung?

[@oligreen1192]

Amazing videos. Thank you beautiful people ❤️

[@lmf3880]

sounds like the heros journey. this is common in all cultures

[@hughwilliams4800]

I love listening to you guys share what you know about our inner world and our journey in life. Thank you for the work that you do.

[@Sam-vf2ww]

I am joining a2 day Men's Retreat next week run by a psychotherapist. The retreat will focus on the Jungian archetypes typically associated with mature masculinity and of course their shadows. Im excited and apprehensive but feel drawn to participating. I feel this episode very timely.

[@mikejames-io7rm]

this was a very helpful discussion about initiation and threshold experiences in general. thanks so much for your collective insights about how to apply this kind of wisdom to life in the here and now. The short statement about the profanity and pointlessness of hazing masquerading as an initiation was helpful. thank you.

[@PaulaDaunt]

Wow, I just discovered your podcast. Fabulous. Loads of insights. I'm envious of your hability to let the other speak and work together. I hope I'll get initiated into that. 😂

[@jujudiamond97]

so resonant and enlightening

[@papparazzicheese1326]

Perfect! Right what I was looking for right now!

[@3ri33]

I loved this! This gave me a new insight to the archetype of the “Fool” in the tarot. The fool is taking that first step, leap of faith, along the hero’s journey, and that step IS the initial process that begins his journey

[@Sunshine74444]

I’m a 44 year-old therapist- interesting the dream is about a 44 year-old therapist who dies. I wonder what to make of this synchronicity. You also speak of the archetype of death as an initiation. The ultimate trial, especially in the case of receiving a terminal diagnosis that requires prolonged preparation for death. I’ve been considering how western culture does not teach us to prepare for death or face it before it happens. It would be beneficial to our spiritual development to do so, and would empower us to face our ultimate fear as one analyst mentions. Perhaps this video is here to help me consider my own death and initiate me into greater empowerment and spiritual growth.

[@Ken-iu2zp]

This is a very thought provoking channel

[@hhwippedcream]

Thanks for sharing and discussing! Difficult stuff.Life's priorities, rendered in new contrast, take on new meanings and values to the individual's experience. For me, this has meant the impermanent seeming permanent and the permanent rendered as impermanent and anxiety-ridden fragility. The stakes grow rendering this contrast even greater.

[@bvoz17]

You guys are so good, great to see you on video

[@cc.99.]

So this has summoned my personal journey. I’m right in retrograde transit, as I’m restlessly on the edge, it’s a desperate place. I’m awaiting for the final Seventh step, to complete this cycle forever to finally feel being happy again ❤ TY for this during a moment I no Idea how my world would have been shocked my system and somatic symptoms as the physical knowledge to initiate the Yearning to Know. It’s mind blowing how many years this has keep me bound to it, but it’s unfolding the more I understand it. 1:08:52 it’s like I can’t tell who is who.

[@Adios_Ansiedad]

great podcast! Thanks

[@Ang01-25]

Wow, you guys are uploading today at 2 am ET, that’s very convenient for me as I woke up at 3:33 am with all my energy to start my day. At some point will need to go back to sleep but, before that, I want to thank you for setting boundaries. That helped me 2 days ago. That helped my ego to put a stop on grieving love, expectations etc. An initiation indeed. How convenient. Synchronicity? I can’t wait to hear about it.

[@LightworkingWanderer]

You're blessed beyond words. Feel that today. 💚🤗

[@liususan4018]

If you wake up at 3:30am naturally then you are very connected spiritually. In Yoga it is the time that the universe is connecting with you. Lots of people have to practice lots of yoga to reach that. You are very lucky. Sadhguru has talked a lot about this time called Brahma Muhurta,

[@Ang01-25]

@@liususan4018wow, I’ll take that as a compliment. It’s the most interesting I’ve heard lately. Back in the day when I was part of different practices including yoga, I got people telling me I was a medium. I don’t want any of that to be honest. I don’t feel that special but is fun to think about it 😅. I normally wake up around that time every day btw. Thanks again for your kind words!.

[@Ang01-25]

@@LightworkingWanderer 🤗 thanks. I love the message, same to you!.

[@YeeWhoEnterHere]

I feel blissful after hearing this talk thanks so much 🙏

[@Dischordian]

I'm really looking forward to catching up with this. I've been very interested in rights of passage lately and noticed that there is a class disparity in both practice and access to rites of passage in the "developed" west. In my experience this is a big predictor of and determinant of later life opportunity, success, happiness, and relational capacity.

[@pamelalaws7593]

you are the answer to so many wishes and desires and needs !!! blessings to your service

[@PoeticPaints0]

I went through 6 spiritual initiations. And the gentleman explains might wright's of passage very clearly. Thank you!

[@JennyBesserit]

This video was unbelievably good. I will definitely be giving this one a second listen

[@olgaalexander5856]

Great discussion about initiations happening through out different stages in life but what happens when the initiate is constantly thwarted??

[@janetones6221]

Excellent insights into the apriori archetypes revisted via Initiation post infinite ego detachment into that magical and eternal realm just beyond remembering, but knowing it needed the Initiation to awaken unto...

[@dmystfy]

Love hearing everyone’s point of view

[@petebaumbach7944]

much appreciation ... this learning will help me with my counselling students , Pete [from the UK]

[@eresseer6158]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@elizabethmansfield3609]

Interesting and beautifully informative and well presented.….At about 1:06:00 talking about the will to meaning needed to overcome trauma. And then about Logos, the mind, being the key, saying it is like Genesis, in the beginning was the word, the Logos. I really think this is not right. I have had a profound experience overcoming ptsd and dissociation and Logos had nothing to do with my re-genesis, no words achieved that- they can describe it, but they were not the key to it, not in the slightest. No, it was a type of Eros, with meaning expanded to that of true connection, which overcame everything. And indeed, the research says that people with strong family and social bonds are less likely to get ptsd after a natural catastrophe. So my experience is consistent with that research. By true connection, I mean the kind which dissolves un-needed barriers and allows for freedom to be yourself within a relationship to yourself, which at that point was my Parts, and others. So, through a felt, not thought meditation on this kind of Eros I have grown a new sense of self and the ptsd is gone because all that crap happened to a different person. The logic of it is incredible, it blows me away. I was led to try this idea through a vision, I am writing about it because my little experiment worked.!!!

[@metanoia2383]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@hawkgodman]

lol. Thanks for this, when he said "you can't put water in a full cup" I thought to myself, "oh yes you can". It's an initiatory process of replacing what's already there with something new. Which brings the ego failing thing into mind. I always saw that as relinquishing control at a time when I was trying to gain it. And so, always backed out of the initiation. Even though I somehow subconsciously knew better....

[@Rockonbiach358]

❤❤❤ love it

[@roseysoulsco]

Outer rituals can facilitate transformation in my experience. I feel like outer acts such as joining a circle or running in nature or burning sage can be an initiation. I felt initiated by goddess when running in nature 3 years ago. Not a widely recognised ritual but it meant a lot to me

[@ba2908]

Great content! Thank you. Very good for relaxing or helping insomnia… during more active listening I recommend 1.5x speed. 😅

[@Csio12]

Was so disappointed at my catholic 1st communion and later confirmation that i experienced nothing.

[@Liyah-encyclopedia333]

❤

[@sterlgirlceline]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@ericfullmer7170]

So what im trying to do is help get out the he true Christmas experience and how to truly awaken into true Christ consciousness and need help doing it most people don’t care just need help helping anyone do it and become it

[@papparazzicheese1326]

31:49

[@JennySieck]

A snufflupugous! 😊

[@galacticlion144]

Systems? 👁️⚔️👁️

[@eliaselbs3163]

Yeah really funny i understand i see what u mean :D just cool how even than u might tell but no out of an urge just of the joy

[@Demosophist]

Did Jung ever discuss the possibility of an actual physical/historical origin for the archetypes or was it just a refining esoteric psychology? Because... there was an actual physical origin in what is now being called the Saturn Myth, or the Shamesh Configuration. Velikovsky always maintained that the esoteric traditions were a kind of defense mechanism against the retrieval of a very real collective trauma. "IT IS AN established fact in the learning about the human mind that the most terrifying events of childhood (in some cases even of manhood) are often forgotten, their memory blotted out from consciousness and displaced into the unconscious strata of the mind, where they continue to live and to express themselves in bizarre forms of fear. Occasionally they may be converted into symptoms of compulsion neuroses and even contribute to the splitting of the personality. "One of the most terrifying events in the past of mankind was the conflagration of the world, accompanied by awful apparitions in the sky, quaking of the earth, vomiting of lava by thousands of volcanoes, melting of the ground, boiling of the sea, submersion of continents, a primeval chaos bombarded by flying hot stones, the roaring of the cleft earth, and the loud hissing of tornadoes of cinders. "There occurred more than one world conflagration; the most horrible one was in the days of the Exodus. In hundreds of passages in their Bible, the Hebrews described what happened. Returning from the Babylonian exile in the sixth and fifth centuries before this era, the Hebrews did not cease to learn and repeat the traditions, but they lost sight of the fearful reality of what they learned. Apparently, the post-Exile generations looked upon all these descriptions as the poetical utterances of religious literature." -- I. Velikovsky, *Worlds in Collision* , "A Collective Amnesia".

[@chalinofalcone871]

"The heathens paid the same attention to the symbolic signification of this color. The Egyptians, for instance, decorated the head of their principal deity, Osiris, with a white tiara, and the priests wore robes of the whitest linen. In the school of Pythagoras, the sacred hymns were chanted by the disciples clothed in garments of white. The Druids gave white vestments to those of their initiates who had arrived at the ultimate degree, or that of perfection. And this was intended, according to their ritual, to teach the aspirant that none were admitted to that honor but such as were cleansed from all impurities, both of body and mind. In all the Mysteries and religions rites of the other nations of antiquity the same use of white garments was observed." [The Symbolism of Freemasonry: Illustrating and Explaining Its Science and Philosophy, its Legends, Myths and Symbols, Albert G. Mackey, M.D., 1882, XIX. The Rite of Investiture]

[@liususan4018]

I have worked with my Jungian shadow for a while, and then a yogi master showed up and initiated me into a set of yoga, kriya, meditation, tantra and yantras. Feeling very blessed to have the spiritual seed planted in me.

[@JimmyFingers]

oh 5 days of adolescence wow so they skip the whole spartan sacrifice of the inner child ,separation from and crucifixion of the divine feminine nurturer and sustainer of compassion

[@chalinofalcone871]

"Thus, in Genesis, we see that in the beginning "the world was without form, and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep." The Chaldean cosmogony taught that in the beginning "all was darkness and water." The Phoenicians supposed that "the beginning of all things was a wind of black air, and a chaos dark as Erebus." But out of all this darkness sprang forth light, at the divine command, and the sublime phrase, "Let there be light," is repeated, in some substantially identical form, in all the ancient histories of creation. So, too, out of the mysterious darkness of Masonry comes the full blaze of masonic light. One must precede the other, as the evening preceded the morning. "So the evening and the morning were the first day." This thought is preserved in the great motto of the Order, "Lux e tenebris"-Light out of darkness. It is equivalent to this other sentence: Truth out of initiation. Lux, or light, is truth; tenebrae, or darkness, is initiation. [The Symbolism of Freemasonry: Illustrating and Explaining Its Science and Philosophy, its Legends, Myths and Symbols, Albert G. Mackey, M.D., 1882, XXIII. Symbolism of the Corner-Stone]

[@warwickbaird9843]

Normally I enjoy This Jungian Life however this session was extremely ponderous. Sorry, but the whole tone is seriously constrained. I kept waiting for a flow and relaxing of energy and not the male therapist’s ponderous way of presenting. The topic is interesting.

[@Lynnette4]

Really? I think the male therapist makes a fabulous contribution, and often brings the topic back on track to Jungian theory...which is the main purpose of this channel.