The Psyche

Collective Unconscious: What All of Us Inherit

Carl Jung identified that one of the layers within our psyche is what he defined as Collective Unconscious. Within the Collective Unconscious are Archetypes; symbols and deeply cellular memories spanning within the psyche of all of humanity. These memories are carried from our ancestors, and their ancestors, since the beginning of evolution, of all time. This is universal and an inheritance to all, as it will be with our children and their children. These patterns form our identity, mindset, creativity, and understanding of the world.

Collective Conscious: What Our Communities Share

The Collective Conscious can be defined as a group or set of moral and cultural values, traditions, religious beliefs shared within a community or family structure. As an example, community members organize support for their fellow neighbors with food, clothing and shelter during a storm.

Personal Unconscious: What We Have Put Away

Within our personal unconscious are repressed experiences and memories which are suppressed. It contains “complexes” which are emotional clusters surrounding specific themes such as family, relationships, personal failures or successes. Complexes can shape thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without conscious awareness.

Personal Conscious: What Begins to Surface

Naturally the symbols within the Collective and Personal Unconscious are something we cannot consciously actualize yet, though there will be a shift as a catalyst. However, when one is experiencing psychological pain as an example, childhood shame and embarrassment may create adult anxiety in similar situations during one’s life. A fear of being in closed spaces, a particular smell or sound is something which evokes a visceral response within can be enough of a tug to where you may wonder-what’s going on here?

How the Work Is Done

Archetype work can help bring forth clarity and wisdom from both the Collective and Personal Unconscious as we slowly unpackage and then integrate your findings through framing and education and incorporating dream analysis, journaling, Active Imagination and other techniques into your plan of care. These and other modalities such as Patina Stonework where you will be creating a visual stone image of yourself for you to be able to “see” your patterns, as well as discussion, framing and reflection.

Individuation

This entire process serves as a guide as we bring forth the Unconscious to the Conscious surface. Then Individuation (becoming your authentic self) is achieved.