MIDLIFE CRISIS: Renewal or Stagnation

Jung was particularly interested in the second half of life, perhaps because after his own midlife crisis he found himself so surprisingly generative. We tend to spend the first half of life oriented to familial values and cultural norms for success. Education, work, partnering and child rearing are some of the mile markers for speed and distance on the road of life-until midlife strikes. We may then discover that worldly successes feel flat, or blame discontent on bad breaks. Although dramatic lifestyle changes at midlife are the stuff of story, malaise at the midpoint is psyche’s signal to attend to unlived inner life. It is time for meaningful encounter between ego and unconscious, worldly rewards and true fulfillment, obligation and freedom. Midlife crisis is a call to deepened feeling and the unique meaning of your life.
HERE'S THE DREAM WE ANALYZE:
"I am walking with a group of my "clients" (developmentally disabled people). I have to work to keep the group together as some straggle here and there. I'm responsible for their well being so onward we go. I look on the ground/sidewalk and see a small round brown object which looks like a tree nut. I pick it up and upon closer inspection realize that it is of animal nature rather than plant - and alive. As I hold it in the palm of my hand, it morphs into a tiny creature, tinier than my pinky finger. I can't just leave it there so I slip it into my pocket and keep walking, trying to keep my rag-tag group together. After a while I look into my pocket to check on it and it has grown some and looks a bit like a fetal kitten. It looks unwell and I think it might not live. We continue to walk. The third time I look into my pocket, the creature has turned into a baby bird with black, red, and white feathers. The bird is in tremendous suffering with its stomach cut open and a look of horror, pain and grief on it's face. I feel these emotions too and think, "Oh no! It's going to die.” I keep it in my pocket and try to soothe it, but still we keep on walking. Toward the end of our escapade, I look into my pocket a fourth time. This time the bird is fully grown and leaps out, startling me. Now the bird is pure white, luminous with three round feathers on slim stalks atop its head. Among its body feathers are multicolored zinnia flowers sprouting along with the feathers. It hops into a landscape planter along the sidewalk and establishes itself amid the vegetation. I back away in shock, completely amazed. I pull out my cell phone to try to take a picture of it but can't because a survey keeps popping up on the screen of my phone, preventing me from using the camera. I curse and search my bag for another phone and finally do manage to snap a pic, but I still don't know what to make of it."
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#jungian #dreamanalysis #analyticalpsychology #dreaminterpretation #jung

[@jicajacobsonkimbreaux]

I absolutely love this episode! At this particularly disorienting point in my life, one riddled with a lifetime of cptsd, academic and philosophical study, psychotherapy, early-onset (yet fully integrated) medical disability, self-amputated artistic expression, sacrificed degrees and careers, an abysmal attempt at homemaking while being the most barely adequate of stay-at-home moms (to my twins, though a much better mom of cats!), and finally, a very soon-to-be (first and only-time) divorcee, I'm fairly positive that I exist fully within each of Eric Erickson's stages of life simultaneously. (One tends to age at a shockingly progressive rate with the onset of severe, life-altering medical conditions.) Existing at the juxtaposition of burgeoning hope and utter despair, resurgence of personal expression and ego dissolution (and only occasionally giving in to mindful dissociation), raging at the system (from the bed) through my rose-colored, memento morì glasses, I continue to contain multitudes! While, yes, these multitudes are admittedly a bit more antique-shop quality than I'd previously suspected they would be, I, for one, refuse to ossify! (It is all rather exhausting, though, isn't it?)

[@Wayofthedream]

After listening to a number of these audio clips, the shadow of each of the therapists becomes apparent. Joseph seems the most balanced and humble of the trio. Its would be great if we could all hear therapists talk about dreams prior to choosing which therapist to work with. Choose wisely.

[@deathsheadtarot7875]

This started at 38 for me after being with my partner since grade 9 and following a life I thought was what was expected of me. I've been trying to figure out what I want vs. What's expected and what feels safe Thank you so much for sharing all your wisdom 🙏💜

[@angiemagic2002]

It started at 29 for me, it would be interesting to look at this from the saturn return perspective, really liked this episode, could you possibly do a show on the spirit guide in it's different manifestations, phiemon, genis, damion, power animals guides, Corbans divine double or angel's, etc)

[@deathsheadtarot7875]

@@angiemagic2002 oh THAT would be a VERY interesting show indeed!

[@saras.2173]

This guy has such a cool voice, I can’t get over it! I’d love to be hypnotized by him.

[@Carmel明慧]

@15:10 A larger potential in the personality structure, which is separate from any particular goal - Indeed, how eloquently expressed, Joseph.

[@aflightofbumblebee749]

When life gives you Philemons,you can always make Philemon-aid...!

[@jorgecabrales6748]

A wonderful series.

[@hubertporowski8967]

I really enjoyed this discussion, lots of valuable insight. Thank you!

[@racha889]

Just amazing..Thank you🤍

[@sanaetemadi2598]

great job! I need some citation for the text I'm currently writing and I want to ask you give me some references of this talk. could you please answer me as fast as possible? Thanks a bunch.

[@lizafield9002]

"Harold & Maude." "Run Granny Run." Find a copy or a stream of each, & hit "play."

[@sterlgirlceline]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🏆

[@abinraj640]

Dream :: 42:00

[@shellebel1]

Happy you finally got to gender!