This Jungian Life
patreon
PASSING THE TEST: embracing the refiner’s fire ~ a new TJL episode
🕑 Added 2023-03-02 14:00:07 +0000 UTCLISTEN: https://thisjungianlife.com/tests/
The word test originally referred to an earthenware vessel in which metals were smelted to separate ore from dross. Like ancient vessels holding the heat of the refining fire, our task is to contain the tension of the test. Tests smelt fantasy from the ore of reality and force us to adapt. If a test feels arbitrary or unfair, we may be failing to dissolve the dross of inadequacy, limitation, or shame. Tests require us to develop the ego strength to putour courage, morals, and perseverance on the line—and withstand the ego wounding of failure. Ultimately ego itself is put to the test. Jung says, “Only if we know that the thing which truly matters is the infinite can we avoid fixing our interest upon futilities, and upon all kinds of goals which are not of real importance.” The archetype of the Self undergirds testing, first to help distinguish ego from unconscious, and then to relinquish ego’s illusion of supremacy.
HERE'S THE DREAM WE ANALYZE:
“I’m in our living room hanging up laundry, when a large bird (maybe half my height) flies through the open glass door to our terrace and perches on a cupboard. It looks into my eyes, and I look into its eyes. At this point I think, I’ve got to tell my wife about this. I run into our bedroom and tell her about the bird. She looks through the doorframe, sees the bird, and says, “Oh, that’s a type of penguin.” I had thought it must be a hawk or an eagle. (In retrospect, it looked like neither of these, but was sort of lanky and cartoonish.) I reply, “Are you sure”? She says, “Yes, do you see how its mouth is open like that”? I look at the bird and see that its mouth is indeed open, in a strained, fixed, almost comical way. For whatever reason this was proof to me that it is, in fact, a penguin.”
GIVE US A HAND!
Hey folks -- We need your help. Please BECOME OUR PATRON and keep This Jungian Life podcast up and running.
JUMP IN THE POOL - THE WATER’S FINE!
We’ve created DREAM SCHOOL to teach others how to work with their dreams. A vibrant community has constellated around this mission, and we think you’ll love it. Check it out:
SOCIAL MEDIA:
FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN, TWITTER, YOUTUBE.
RESOURCES:
Enroll in the PHILADELPHIA JUNGIAN SEMINARand start your journey to becoming an analyst.
LISTEN: https://thisjungianlife.com/tests/
Comments
I came here to say the same thing! Joseph saying "sometimes oversharing is a form of distancing" rang very true for me
Justin Wornes
I felt understood listening to the explanation of the Inner Work being unsharable.
I have worked as a college counselor for over a decade and this episode hits home. Given that so many colleges have gone test optional due to COVID, the stress that has ensued because of the disruption of traditional testing adds another interesting layer!
![Someday*[サムデイ] from fanbox](https://patrefans.com/kistorage/107168.jpg)
