On a Saturday morning in early March, I found myself scurrying down Grafton Street. I was clutching a flyer entitled The Self, in big, bold letters, and on my way to a one-day workshop on self-realization led by Jasbinder Garnermann. Co-founder of the C.G. Jung Society with her husband in 1989, which is in Manor Street. On entering Buswell's hotel, I had no idea what to expect but in the event I was greeted warmly by Jasbinder, an Indian lady, and I was the first to arrive. 'Myself and William have been living in Armagh for a few years', she explained, 'and have just begun these sessions again, so the others could be late'. Some others arrived, and were greeted as old friends. 'We should begin...

Ignore your dreams at your peril

Dreams contain important information drawn from the everyday and the deepest psyche. As a
theory, Carl Jung's is very inviting, with it's glossary of terms, loaded with meaning :
Archetypes; Weltenschauung (habitual attitude or ego); Shadow; Compensation Dreams; Self-realisation; Personality Theory; Extraversion; Introversion; Real or Authentic Self; the Feeling-Tone of dreams; Symbols; Projection; Introjection; Participation Mystique; God-Image; Reductive and Purposive function; Maternal and Paternal Complexes; Big Dreams; Transcendance; Paradoxical Symbols; Synchronicity; Neurotic Denial; Process of Differentiation; Psychic Containers; Repression; Individuation; Collective Unconscious; Mandala.

I extracted these terms from Jasbinder's booklet: ‘Song of the Soul, the Transforming Power of Dreams. This is a short and powerful essay on dreams, describing intoxicating dream scenes and symbols, and their possible meanings. Often bizarre, these images can only have come from our deepest selves, including nightmare types, which can be desolate and bloody, signalling the loss or 'murder' of the self. At the other end are the Big Dreams, in which we are redeemed and get a glimpse of heaven. The self can be symbolized here as a numinous object: a beautiful jewel, a rare flower, gold, a royal crown, a stone, the birth of the divine child. Jung described these dreams as "the richest jewels in the treasure-house of the psyche"

The dream being discussed at the seminar that day was that of The Night Sea Journey, where you can find yourself in the belly of a whale, or, inside a barrel at sea. This is the journey to the self, and signals a time of great introspection during one's life. The others spoke of often tremendous personal isolation, and all shared the same experience. Being interested in Jung to this extent is an esoteric pursuit. It seemed to me a rich, ancient and fascinating way of seeing things that lends itself to creative and moral solutions to personal development. Jasbinder is a true expert in her field, and is full of generosity and integrity. Since the beginning, she has sparked a lot of people's interest, and has supplied the expertise. Many social and psychology professionals who perform key roles in the community have trained with her.

When I was leaving, she thanked me warmly for my interest, and the others bid me goodbye, even though I was a total interloper. There were maybe 12 of us who attended altogether, but this should increase when the word gets out that these seminars are back. Constantly bombarded with outside demands and influences, the push and pull of external forces, and subject, as we are most of the time, to received opinion, finding your authentic self is a lifetime's work.

I would highly recommend this if you wish to improve your interest, and get to grips with this somewhat unwieldy body of knowledge. It is well worth knowing about, you will get a great welcome and a chance to connect with others who are dedicated to Jung's theories.

CONTACT:
C.G.Jung Society of Ireland,
29, Manor Street, Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 442 5216 or 085 761 0345