Papers & Presentations

Academic Presentations

An Exploration of Human Connection and its Relation to Veteran Dis-ease

Upon separation from service, many military veterans experience high levels of stress as they lose their connection to the tightly bonded, and intentionally collective, military culture. This psychological stress may manifest in symptoms leading to diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety, and often includes comorbid somatic symptoms, such as chronic pain.

This research explores the connection between the experience of separation and the psychological, physiological, and somatic symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Through the process of narrative inquiry and use of a holistic mind-body lens centered in depth psychology, the lived experience of separation is explored in veterans representing each branch of the United States Military.

The findings highlight the significance of the human connections made during military service, the somatization of unacknowledged loss and grief, the importance of community support, and the role separation from significant attachments plays in regard to veteran dis-ease, both during and after their military service ends.

Exploring the Trans-Cultural State of the Veteran through the Jungian Alchemical Lens

Presented at the Joint IAAP/IAJS Conference, "Indeterminate States: Trans-Cultural; Trans-Racial; Trans-Gender", August 2018

For thousands of years individuals have gone through different rites of passage to become warriors who fight and protect those whom they love. The challenge of reintegration for many returning warriors involves the search for identity and purpose (Tick, 2005). Once separated from the group they were so closely bonded to, they experience a psychological tear in their identity, trapped in a liminal space they struggle to move through the world as an individual, no longer surrounded by the support of a group.

Jungian psychology looks to Alchemy as “a highly elaborate philosophical and psychological system” based in imagery and symbology; a unique structure through which to view individuation (Hopcke, 1999, p.162). By viewing the military initiation process through the alchemical lens we can begin to see the negative effects on the individual psyche, as is it is overcome by the strength of the group consciousness (Edinger, 1994). The interference of the military collective consciousness during the rebuild of the individual psyche creates a contaminated internal mixture, causing the individual ego to identify with the group rather than themselves.

With such a severance from self it is no wonder that so many military members are struggling upon separation, being thrust back into the alchemical process through the window of loss. Anne Baring (n.d.) describes this style of entrance into the process as a “disintegration of the foundation of one's life” often leading to depression and even suicide (Section 18, pgh.8). Through greater awareness of these psychological processes, and the risk of identification with symbol and group over individual ego, we can help our warriors see this transformation as “preparation for a new orientation” in life, rather than a loss of self.

Transformation of the Individual into the Military Body through the Jungian Alchemical Lens

Presented at "Psychology & The Other", Boston College, Cambridge MA, October 2018

For thousands of years individuals have gone through different rites of passage to become warriors who fight and protect those whom they love. In the United States, individuals who choose to become warriors join one of five branches of military service, entering into a two to three month rite of passage called boot camp. Many people are familiar with the physical demands experienced during boot camp, but as a society we are only beginning to understand the long-term psychological impact of military training.

The challenge of reintegration for many returning warriors involves the search for identity and purpose (Tick, 2005). Once separated from the group they were so closely bonded to, they experience a psychological tear in their identity, struggling to move through the world as an individual, no longer surrounded by the support of a group.

Jungian psychology looks to Alchemy as “a highly elaborate philosophical and psychological system” based in imagery and symbology; a unique structure through which to view individuation (Hopcke, 1999, p.162). Using the alchemical lens to view the initiation of an individual into the military provides clarity for a Depth Psychological understanding of the process.

Boot camp begins with a complete breakdown of the individual through Calcinatio, burning away all that has been bestowed upon them by current culture, to make room for the new form that must emerge (Edinger, 1994). Through Solutio the individual is surrounded by the collective culture of the military which swallows them up, dissolving the awareness of the opposites between themselves and the other (Edinger, 1994). Weeks of practice and refinement, move them through the phase of Coagulatio, to solidify their new personhood, and eventually they find themselves at the final alchemical stage of Coniunctio, the union of the opposites (Edinger, 1994). Upon graduation from boot camp they experience the death of the old self and beginning of the new.

By viewing this process through the alchemical lens we can begin to see the negative effects on the individual psyche, as is it is overcome by the strength of the group consciousness (Edinger, 1994). The interference of the military collective consciousness during the rebuild of the individual psyche creates a contaminated internal mixture, causing the individual ego to identify with the group rather than themselves. Following the philosophy of the alchemical process this identification with a false self leads to the death of consciousness (Edinger, 1994). With such a severance from self it is no wonder that so many military members are struggling upon separation, entering back into the alchemical process through the window of loss. Anne Baring (n.d.) describes this style of entrance into the process as a “disintegration of the foundation of one's life” often leading to depression and even suicide (Section 18, pgh.8). Through greater awareness of these processes we can help our warriors see this transformation as “preparation for a new orientation” in life, rather than a loss of self.

Bonding through the Energetic Body

Presented at "Coming Home to the Body: The Legacy of Marion Woodman", Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2016

Our existence is broken down into the physical body, which is molecular and held together by energetic bonds, and the subtle body, which is the extension of that energy beyond solid mass. This energy is known to many as life force energy. Psyche resides within this life force energy, flowing throughout every molecule of the physical body, and extending into the subtle body, and beyond. Through this energy, through psyche, we bond to each other and to nature; brought together in a way similar to the molecules of the physical body, to create new shapes, new forms. We bond to share wisdom, healing, and love, just as molecules bond to create substance, purpose, and processes, with the goal of creating and supporting life. These energetic bonds are created and maintained through community, shared space, ritual, and relationships. We nurture and grow the physical body, the subtle body, the psyche, through these energetic bonds, and these bonds expand and grow as we come together to dance, meditate, pray, and celebrate.

Exploring the Characteristics and Behaviors of the Dynamically Fluid Psyche of the Creative Genius

Presented at Jungian Society of Scholarly Studies annual conference, 2017

Creative Genius’ share a set of characteristics that make them unique when compared to the general population. These individuals are the artists, writers, inventors, and scientists who create and develop truly original ideas. They see relationships where others do not, and have the ability to tap into the unconscious with an ease that many struggle for a lifetime to develop. They live and work at the edge of reality, often not aware of the origination of their discoveries, unconsciously maintaining a relationship with that which dwells beyond the veil.

Research in the field of neuroscience has begun to discover certain commonalities among creative geniuses that illuminate the neurological reasons behind their increased level of permeability between the conscious and unconscious mind. Specifically, Nancy Andreasen’s (2006) research describes certain neurological connections as loose associative links, which are found in varying degrees among creative geniuses and are believed to support an open and flexible state of mind.

These loose associative links are what allow and encourage the multiple perspectives of psyche, bringing forward the ability to see patterns that many cannot. Like Carl Jung and James Hillman many creative geniuses readily contradict themselves and allow for different perspectives, adding a depth of illumination otherwise not achieved. Leonardo da Vinci was known to consider his first take on anything as biased, and would consciously invite new perspectives, putting aside the conscious ego and inviting in the unconscious mind.

Invitations to psyche also include working with the dynamic tension of the opposites, which Edinger (1994) explains through the alchemical process and physicist Niels Bohr describes as a swirling which suspends conscious thought allowing the mind to move to a different level, creating the conditions for a new point of view (Rothenberg, 1990).

For decades the communities of neuroscience and Jungian psychology have flirted with each other across the darkness of the unknown. As research in neuroscience stretches out into the territory of the unconscious mind, translation of Jungian theories comes within reach.