Psyche, Libidinal Energy, and the Unconscious

1
Psyche, Libidinal Energy, and the Unconscious

• Jung took the basic format of the psyche from
  Freud and expanded on what he believed was
  missing.

2
Range of Consciousness

• Awake aware
• Automatic pilot
• Hypnotic trance
• Daydreaming
• Asleep
• Dreaming

3
The Psyche

• All psychological processes, both conscious
  unconscious
• Freud first described the Unconscious, which he
  likened to the iceberg- Levels of Consciousness
• He also described Libidinal Energy- the energy
  that drives expression of the unconscious

4
Icebergs are powerful

• Freud believed the
• Unconscious was
• primarily sexual
• Jung believed it
• included any desire
• unchecked by
• moral authority

5
We operate from instinct to a level driven by the
Spirit
6
Pierre Janet investigated unconscious states
through trances

• The question was, How much influence does the
  unconscious have on our behavior?
• Janet called these unconscious states multiple
  personalities
• Jung even attended séances to better understand
  the nature of the unconscious

7
Jung discovered aspects of unconsciousness

• During trances, subjects give voice to the
  unconscious- without editing
• Split-off aspects of the unconscious could appear
  as distinct personalities
• Psychic energy has a teleological function- goal
  direction, seeking wholeness, growth
• The unconscious could compensate for conscious
  attitudes- a balancing effect

8
Manifestations of the unconscious

• Trance states due to repetitive experiences
• Intense emotional reactions unjustified by
  present circumstances
• Behaving in such a way we feel we arent
  ourselves
• Daydreaming
• Imagination

9
The Nature of the Psyche

• Self-regulating system- compensating function
• Libido has intentionality- it knows where it
  should go for the health of the entire psyche
• The challenge for modern man is listening to this
  voice, which is often in conflict with the loud
  voices of the world
• Lack of libido depression
• Resistance to unconscious forces

10
(No Transcript)
11
The psyche moves from most conscious aware to
unconscious
12
The unconscious holds the instinctual forces of
the psyche

• Instincts are impulses that carry out actions
  from necessity- having a biological quality
• Instincts determine actions, even though they act
  unconsciously
• Archetypes are inborn forms of intuition- means
  of perceiving the world
• How we apprehend the world determines the
  direction of our instinct- fluid

13
Unconscious holds the psychoid functions-
relationship between matter and Spirit

• If the unconscious becomes overactive, it can
  come out in symptoms that can paralyze conscious
  action, especially if unconscious factors are
  repressed. They come out in 2 ways
• The subject no longer knows what s/he really
  wants nothing interests him/her.
• He wants too much at once, has too many interests
  in impossible things.

14
Compensation- maintaining psychic equilibrium

• Dreams can give quiet voice to things the person
  cannot consciously own, allowing him/her to
  continue functioning
• They also voice our repressed personality
• Creativity

15
A compensating dream
16
Language of the psyche

• The unconscious requires the conscious mind to
  interpret its language
• This allows for balance in the psyche
• Language of symbols
• Dream interpretation requires learning the
  symbolic language of the unconscious
• Imagination, daydreaming, planning
• Mental illness

17
Jung took the concept farther

• He described the necessity of conscious and
  unconscious remaining balanced
• Out of balance, neurosis develops
• The unconscious is source of all conscious
  thought, all creativity, rationality, feeling
• The unconscious is the Original Mind of
  humankind, from which our conscious developed
• Consciousness arises from primal material of the
  unconscious- Nature
• The process is ongoing- more material will arise
  as we grow
• Each person is a microcosm of the universal
  processes of our species- There is a universality
  to the discoveries across the world

18
Concepts of the Unconscious

• Iceberg- Freud
• Blueprint for our lives- invisible pattern
• Huge field of energy- the ocean
• Broader and more dangerous than the conscious-
  also more potentially creative
• Ego is a cork bobbing on top, driven by the
  forces below

19
Ego- I

• The conscious mind
• All our conscious awareness of self
• We tend to see the unconscious as apart from our
  self- recognized especially when we do things out
  of character
• Ego thinks of itself as an island unto itself
• Other worlds exist that are worth exploring, but
  they represent risk (and potential wisdom)
• The quest to know the unconscious (the other
  worlds) is fraught with fear excitement

20
How do we embark on the journey of self-knowledge?

• Jung says we should open ourselves to our inner
  life- and allow a flow of energy information
  between the 2 levels of psyche
• The problem for modern man is how we have been
  cut off from access to the inner world rituals,
  religious experiences, visions
• We take pride in rationality independence from
  needing anything outside ourselves.

21
Focus on the things of the world keeps us from
doing inner work

• The world says Money, Prestige, Partner is the
  secret to happiness
• Jung Most neurosis today is due to the vacuum of
  meaning, a sense that we are missing a part of
  ourselves.
• Jung Only in our unconscious can we meet our
  individual understanding of God and fully
  experience a rich inner life of the spirit

22
If we dont go to the Spirit, the Spirit will
come to us through neurosis

• How do we Go to the Spirit?
• Inner Work
• Prayer
• Meditation
• Dream work
• Rituals and ceremonies
• Active imagination
• This produces Individuation- process of becoming
  the complete person we were meant to be-
  actualizing the blueprint.

23
What happens when we individuate?

• We uncover our unique structure
• Recognize our special traits and
  consciously incorporate them
• Face our darker side without judgment
• Find commonality with others and no
  longer judge them either
• Let go of the fiction that we are better
  (or worse) than others and we must hide
• our true selves

24
Archetypes

• Ideas and images our unconscious displays
• Instinctual images- the forms that instincts
  assume
• Instincts are physiological- symptoms
• Archetypes are psychological- perceptions
  revealed in fantasies, dreams, imagery
• Archetypes manifest
• Personally- complexes
• Collectively- characteristics of a culture (to be
  healthy a culture must understand its archetypes
  and adjust them as necessary to continue
  developing)

25
Archetypes burst the bubble of ego and separation

• They are universal, present in the unconscious of
  each person
• They combine in a unique way in each person, like
  our bodies
• Recognizing our connection to the greater
  population, as well as our unique makeup allows
  us to fully develop our best nature, not imitate
  anyone else.
• Images from the collective unconscious are seen
  in mythology, literature, metaphor, legends.

26
The process of inner work

• Direct ways of approaching the inner world of
  your unconscious
• It is done experientially, not through cognition,
  to really access subtle meaning
• You gain insight into inner conflicts or
  challenges that your particular life offers
• The process allows you to access your special
  strengths

27
Inner Work

• Religious ceremonies
• Interpretation of dreams
• Spirit quests
• Aboriginal walkabouts
• Fasting and prayer
• Active imagination
• All these represent a dialogue between equal
  parties- conscious and unconscious

28
Active Imagination as Jung used it
29
Dream Journal

• Begin keeping a journal by your bed to write your
  dream images down as soon as you awaken.
• Also write down the experiences of the day-
  context is everything to interpretation
• Write down your thoughts for the day, daydreams,
  and feelings
• Realize this is a powerful emotional experience
  and you will only be expected to share what you
  are comfortable sharing. Respect the process.