The Symbolic Language of the Unconscious
Hosted on JungArchademy Jan/Feb 2025 & Sept 2023
Wisdom, according to Carl Jung, is a return to the symbols which are inborn in us from the earliest times. He was referring to the unique language of the unconscious and how essential it is that we live a sacred life in harmony with it.
In this five week course we will be diving into the watery depths of archetypal symbols and motifs. We will visit ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, immerse ourselves in mysterious alchemical imagery and familiar fairytales, reflect on what dreams and daily ritual can offer us and explore our psychic imagination.
We will also look at contemporary visual art as a powerful tool for experiencing the transformative energy of the unconscious and how it can give visible form to mystery.
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This course is for anyone looking for a greater understanding of symbolic language and is particularly suited to creatives and those new to Jungian thinking.
Course Outline
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SESSION 1 - Understanding the Language of Unconscious
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SESSION 2 - Symbols in Myths, Fairytales
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SESSION 3 - Alchemy - Images of the Soul
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SESSION 4 - Art as a Vehicle for the Symbolic Unconscious
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SESSION 5- Tools for Speaking the Symbolic Language in our Daily Lives (working with ritual, dreams, nature and the psychic imagination).
Humanity’s “ultimate concern must be expressed symbolically because symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate.”
– Paul Tillich
The Spiral
Hosted on JungArchademy June 2025
From the patterns of galaxies and plant growth to the mandalas and labyrinths of sacred traditions, the spiral is a universal motif that connects nature, psychology, and spirituality.
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In this three-week course, we will explore the spiral symbol through the lenses of Jungian psychology, mythology, alchemy, and art.
Led by artist and educator Chantal Powell, you will uncover the spiral as both a natural and psychological pattern, a path to the divine, and a symbol of transformation.
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We’ll examine its presence in nature, sacred traditions, mythology, and art, delving into its role in spiritual ascent, self-discovery, and renewal.
The course culminates with a special in-conversation event with Dr. Amy Hale and Simon Moretti, exploring the spiral’s significance in esoteric art, mystical thought, and contemporary creativity.
Course Outline
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SESSION 1: THE SPIRAL AS A NATURAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PATTERN
The Spiral as a Universal Structure
Spirals Across Nature – From Shells to Galaxies, Micro to Macro
Plant Intelligence and Indigenous Wisdom
Spirals in Myth & Symbolism – Labyrinths, Serpents, and Journeys
Spirals in Alchemy - Renewal and Psychological Transformation
SESSION 2:
WEEK 2: THE SPIRAL AS A PATHWAY TO THE DIVINE
Philosophy & Spiritualism – Symbolism in Different Religious and Mystical Traditions
Mandalas – The Spiral as a Tool for Inner Exploration
The Spiral in Art and Sacred Spaces
The Spiral’s Eye – The Psychological Journey to Our Divine Centre
SESSION 3: IN-CONVERSATION WITH DR. AMY HALE AND SIMON MORETTI
The Significance of the Spiral in Esoteric Art and Magic, with a Focus on Ithell Colquhoun’s Work by Dr. Amy Hale
The Spiral in Historical and Mystical Thought, Including Swedenborg’s Writings
Exploring the Spiral in Contemporary Artistic Practice, Including Simon Moretti’s Work
The Stone
Hosted on JungArchademy May 2024
There is so much potency in the symbol of the stone. That’s why we are drawn to hold and collect them, to use them as spiritual markers, as memorials, and to lay our myths upon them.
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In this three-week course we will embark on a rich, visual meditation on the archetypal symbol of The Stone through Jungian psychology, art, alchemy, and mythology. Guided by artist and educator, Chantal Powell, you will discover the stone as a symbol of the Self, the illustrious philosophic stone of the alchemists, and the role of Holy Stones. We will traverse the presence of stones in myths and legends, look at how they mark sacred sites and their use in ritual landscape.
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The course will also introduce you to artists who have utilized the stone as a source of inspiration and focus. The final week will be a special in-conversation event with invited guests Emma Cousin (artist) and Hettie Judah (writer/art critic/curator).
Course Outline
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SESSION 1:
The Stone as a Symbol of Self
The Philosophers Stone – alchemy’s treasure
Holy Stones - Spiritual markers & memorials; a dwelling place for gods; sympathetic magic & talismans.
Stories, Myths & Legends – from Medusa’s petrifying gaze to the Parzeval’s Grail stone
SESSION 2:
The Stone in Landscape and Ritual
Meditation – slowing with stones, zen rock gardens and suiseki
Artists working with the symbol of The Stone – from Max Ernst’s painted pebble to Ken Unsworth’s 103 suspended river stones.
SESSION 3:
Talking Stones – An exploratory “In Conversation” with art critic/writer/curator Hettie Judah and artist Emma Cousin
Emma recently experienced being activated by the symbol of the stone during an artist residency on the Jurassic coast. We will be discussing and sharing images from this experience alongside insights and stories from Hettie Judah’s book
Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones.
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NOW AVAILABLE AS A DOWNLOAD ONLINE COURSE - 5 CLASSES
A lecture /workshop based, transformative course introducing a range of ideas and practices that explore the mysterious realm of the unconscious, and its influence on visual artists, both past and present.
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5 classes available to purchase as recordings - click below for further course info and to purchase.
