We are pleased to host Dr. Jerry Ruhl, nationally-known Jungian psychologist, writer, and speaker, for two events on Fri. Nov. 8, 7pm-9pm and Saturday Nov. 9, 9am-1pm.
Location: Blakemore United Methodist Church, 3601 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN
As with all events offered by the Nashville Jung Circle, no experience with or knowledge of Jungian psychology is necessary to attend and benefit from the presentations.
Become a member and receive discounts on all paid events.
*Certificate of Attendance available for clinicians.*
Friday, Nov. 8th Lecture: “The Wisdom of Uncertainty"
7-9pm, 6:15 sign in/reception
Regardless of political affiliation, most of us would agree that we are living in chaotic, uncertain times which present daily challenges to our peace of mind and welfare. Join us to hear how we might frame our dilemmas, personal as well as societal ones, as opportunities for growth and new ways of being, finding meaning and wisdom to balance feelings of anger, fear, and confusion.
Below Dr. Ruhl's describes the subject of his Friday night lecture and discussion:
"Spiritual teachings are sometimes interpreted as advising us to let go of material things – but to advance consciousness we need to be weaned, not from material things, but from our allegiance to duality. The essence of ego-centered consciousness is to have preferences. Confusion and uncertainty are often seen as a mistake, even a madness. In truth, our potential for growth reveals itself in moments of disruption. The wisdom of confusion and uncertainty must be honored to clear a space in our lives for something new to claim us. There are times, too many to count, in which we fall back into chaotic and uncertain states: of anger, fear, confusion, ignorance, meaninglessness. It is precisely in moments of chaotic breakdown, whether individual or collective in nature, that new potentials begin to emerge.When we rush too quickly, in a panic, to make order of the chaos, we also kill the Eros, the seed of the new spirit. We will explore Jung’s admonition that the greatest and most important problems of life are fundamentally insolvable. They must be so, for they express the necessary polarity inherent in every self-regulating system. They can never be solved, but only outgrown."
Saturday, Nov. 9th Workshop: "Slender Threads and Synchronicity: Finding Meaning and Wonder in Daily Life"
9am-1pm, 8:30am sign in/light breakfast
It is an audacious notion in this age of science and willful determination that one’s existence is somehow inspired, guided, and even managed by unseen forces outside our control and conscious intention. Whether called fate, destiny, or the hand of God, slender threads are at work bringing coherence and continuity to our lives.
In this workshop Dr. Ruhl will guide us in considering the role of synchronicity as well as rational planning in shaping contemporary life. What are the slender threads that steer us in unforeseen directions? How do we recognize them? The opportunities that come our way, the unexpected appearance of a person or a communication, the painful losses that create profound suffering — over time, all these weave a remarkable tapestry that is meaningful.
Jerry M. Ruhl is a psychologist, teacher, and author. In the first half of life, Jerry was a journalist, and he managed communications for two major corporations. At mid-life he realized he had climbed up the corporate ladder but it was leaning against the wrong wall. He began studying the works of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung and observed first-hand spiritual practices in Japan, Bali, Thailand, Nepal, and India. During his time at Pacifica Graduate Institute, where he earned his Ph.D., Dr. Ruhl developed a holistic model for coping with life-changing accidents and illness. While living in Colorado, he formerly was a trustee of the C.G. Jung Society of Colorado, and more recently he served for more than six years as Executive Director of The Jung Center of Houston. A psychologist in private practice in Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Ruhl conducts dream groups and presents seminars and workshops across the nation.