Note from Robert Mathews:
“For millennia our forebears lived in an ensouled world. Spirits, fairies, gods, goddesses, even the world itself had a soul – at least until the ‘Age of Enlightenment.’ This way of meeting with life was replaced with materialism, where the world is ‘just so much stuff’ and at our mercy to control. But this view too is breaking down – we yearn for an ensouled world again. Jung’s psychology has given many of us a way back, through our dreams and fantasies we can find a vital inner life, but what of the outside world?
Here we are faced with the unanswered problem from alchemy – can psyche (soul) and matter be realized in union? It was the Nobel physicist Wolfgang Pauli who, in extensive discussion with Jung, sought to unify these two extremes. Pauli wanted an account that would unify physics with Jung’s psychology. Crucially, Pauli’s approach drew much from his dreams, in contrast to a mental solution. Fortunately many of these dreams and their interpretation by Jung are available to us from letters exchanged between Pauli and Jung. This is a path of discovery guided by the unconscious—just as the alchemists had followed. In my recent book I did my best to follow my own dreams into this problem. And it is this work that I will bring in a series of weekly conversations. I gave a recent interview on this work that is an excellent introduction to these workshops to those interested. In these 90 minute sessions we will discuss this problem of psyche and matter, together with some of Jung’s most important ideas: of mandalas, synchronicity, Jung’s reclaiming of the unus mundus idea (the cosmos above, mirrors life below) and Jung’s discussion of the UFO phenomena. I warmly welcome you to partake.”
Course Structure
Week One:
Bridging Inner and Outer
The Ancients lived in a world where heaven and earth were one. This bridge has been lost in our modern cosmology, but can Jung’s account of the mandala and synchronicity restore what was lost in a new, psychological form?
Week Two:
The creative source of inner and outer
A big dream is discussed that describes the single source behind the creation of both the outer and inner worlds. The implication being there is a single source to both the material reality around us and the spiritual life within us. This would be the unus mundus – the one world behind appearance, as also found in the centre of the mandala. The conclusion of this dream takes us to the mandala symbol of the ring i.
Week Three:
Number as the bridge between inner and outer life
Jung tiring near the end of his life, gave notes to von Franz asking her to work on investigating number as the most likely bridge of inner and inner. It is the quality of each number that carries this bridge. Here we apply von Franz’s findings to the forms of quantum physics.
Week Four:
Dreams of the Ring i
The ring i is the mathematical function at the heart of quantum physics. It carries the paradoxical union of wave and particle and forces a union of the known with the unknown, the real with the imaginary. This has a profound parallel with the paradoxical attitude required to encounter an image of God or indeed of the Self. These dreams of the ring i speak to this parallel.
Week Five:
The unification of inner and outer
Here we examine several of Pauli’s final dreams that show his unconscious was working towards a resolution of our split view of the outer physical with the inner spiritual. Their discussion with Jung was synchronistic with the latter’s writings on UFO phenomena, in which Jung understood a constellation of the Self to be active. Bringing the discussion of the course’s cosmic dreams to a conclusion as the furthering of the dreamer’s individuation process.
Robert Matthews has a PhD in theoretical physics and is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Adelaide University. He is also a Swiss trained Jungian Analyst in private practice and the current President of the CG Jung Society of South Australia. Robert’s published book “The Paradoxical Meeting of Depth Psychology and Physics: Reflections on the Unification of Psyche and Matter” (Routledge, 2022) will form the basis of this talk and the Study Course that follows (See below & JSM website for booking).
A recent interview with Laura London on “Speaking of Jung” offers an excellent introduction to Robert’s work. This is highly recommended listening for those interested in participating in the study course on Robert’s book, that he has agreed to present through the Jung Society of Melbourne.
Special Note
The JSM wishes to promote this significant work by an Australian author and professional Jungian Analyst.
In the interests of raising the profile of Dr Robert Mathews book recently published by Routlege, the course prices having been kept low to encourage maximum participation.
Please note: Due to the limited number of places available, there will be no Concession rate on this occasion.
The author’s professional background has positioned him especially well to deal with the complexities of his subject. In addition, Dr Mathews shares insights from his own creative process through an account of his dreams during the writing period; a focus that will delight those fascinated by dreams as manifestations from the unconscious.
Pricing
Flat Rate - $240
Certificates of Attendance available - more info Here
Cancellation/Refund policy - Refunds for monies paid (less $25 admin fee) will be issued upon receipt of written request 7-days prior to the commencement of the workshop, course or event. If less than 7-days notice, only 50% of the full fee will be refunded. Once the workshop, course, series or event has commenced, no refunds will be allowed.