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Jungian Lectures, Seminars  and Papers given by Helen Brammer-Savlov

Lecture         April 25, 2008

Persona: Profane Disguise or Sacred Mask?

The persona is the psychic territory where who we really are confronts who we are perceived to be. To dismiss it as a false self misses the important role that the persona plays in the individuation process. For many of us, true persona development can become serious and sacred work that echoes the role of the mask as an archetypal symbol of transformation.

Seminar         May 4, 2008

Sun and Moon: Myth and Image

Part 1 will consist of a presentation with colour slides exploring through myth and story the deep archetypal symbolism carried by the two primary celestial bodies of our universe. In Part 2, participants will be invited to present images of the sun and moon that carry personal meaning for them for contemplation and discussion. These images may derive from dreams, artwork, literature or experiences in the natural world.

Seminar        Sat., April 28, 2007                   10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Alchemy for Beginners, No. 1: Alchemical symbols        
This seminar will be an introduction to the Jungian view of the main symbols
of alchemical procedures that give us a marvellous way to understand the
transformative processes of the living archetypal psyche.  For Jung
discovered that “the experiences of the alchemists were, in a sense, my
experiences, and their world was my world.”

Seminar        Sat., May 5, 2007                    10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Alchemy for Beginners, No. 2 : the Alchemical Imagination

This will be a journey into the world of the alchemical imagination that can
be simultaneously an illustrated map of the Jungian individuation process.
Guided by the seminar leader, in a setting that will include informal
discussion and amplification, the group will work on an interpretation of an
alchemical picture series.

Friday, September 29, 2006       7.30-9.30 p.m.

Envy and Jealousy :  Healing Poisons 

by Helen Brammer-Savlov

Envy and jealousy can be two of the most painful shadow elements for us to
acknowledge openly and the most easy to deny through projection. And yet a Jungian attitude to psyche maintains that there is purpose even in these
deadly affects. With the aid of Greek myth and fairy tales, we will explore
how the soul makes use of those corrosive experiences, such that their venom can be transformed into poisons that heal.

Sat., May 6, 2006                            10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

"The Symbol of the Tree from Religion, Myths, Alchemy" 

The relationship between humans and trees has many facets.  We use their products, delight in their beauty, take shelter under them, watch over them and grieve their loss.  Their images play a central role in many of our dreams.  In this workshop, we’ll explore the depth symbolism carried by the tree in world religions, mythology and alchemy.

Part One  :  A presentation with colour slides will be given including myths and stories of The Cosmic Tree, The Tree of Life and Knowledge, the Christian Christmas Tree, the pines of Attis and Dionysus and the Tree of the Hesperides.  We will also study alchemical images from paintings made by Jung’s analysands and reflect on the meanings which resonate from the tree symbol, with reference to Jung¹s alchemical work, “The Philosophical Tree.”

Part Two :  Participants are asked to bring their own images of trees which carry personal meaning for them for our contemplation and discussion, whether from dreams, artwork and/or photographs.

Sat., December 3, 2005                        10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

"Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night : Reflections on Gender Roles, the Persona and Different Ways of Loving"     by  Helen Brammer-Savlov

At the centre of Twelfth Night, we find an evolving image of a young woman’s individuation journey from adolescence to full womanhood.  We will consider themes of mistaken identity and gender confusion.  And also ponder on the different forms of love which are expressed and see how the play shows us many examples of what Jung terms “persona,” those necessary masks we wear to meet the world.  

The play offers answers to today’s questions, such as :  How can a woman be both true to herself and wear a face that the world of the patriarchy will accept?  And how, too, can men find a way to bring their biological sex and gender expectations into harmony?

The workshop will include a showing of excerpts from the 1996 film of the play starring Helena Bonham-Carter and Ben Kingsley as well as dream examples of the themes to aid discussion.

Saturday May 14^th 2005

“The Ego Complex”  

An exploration through Jungian theory and archetypal imagery of what we understand by this hugely important psychic system. For it is by means of this complex that we claim our personal identity and authority and can say as Jung did, aged 12, “I am myself now, now I exist.” Slides will be used to illustrate Jung’s model of the psyche and show images from creation myths, art and religion which symbolise the birth of consciousness.  

Friday 1^st April 2005

“Images of Love and Hate: The Brother/Sister Archetype” 8.p.m. – 10 p.m. at the UU Church Parish Hall, 695, Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo NY.

Depth Psychology has concentrated on mother and father, but what about our siblings? Tonight’s lecture draws on archetypal images of brother/sister bonds from mythic poetry, fairy tale and legend, and the plays of Shakespeare. As we consider motifs of loving sibs, envious sibs, brothers and sisters who love too closely and siblings who kill, the lecture will explore the inner psychic processes carried by the imagery.  

Saturday 2^nd April 2005   “Brother/Sister Archetype Part 2: Alchemical Images of Masculine and Feminine Energies” 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. A workshop at 408, Franklin St., Buffalo NY.

An introduction to the rich imagery of the brother/sister pairs in alchemy. Jung discovered that “the  experiences of the alchemists were, in a sense, my experiences, and their world was my world.” He recognised that the energy at the core of the work, both psychological and alchemical, is the drama of the opposites. Using colour pictures to assist our exploration, we will look at images of Sol and Luna, Brother Sun and Sister Moon, and consider their meaning for us on our journey of individuation and analysis. 

Recent Papers written by Helen Brammer-Savlov

The Brother/Sister Archetype: Images from Myths, Fairy Tales, Literature & Theatre

Brother Sun and Sister Moon: Alchemical Images of Sol and Luna

Neurosis: A symbolic approach Honouring the Wisdom in the Symptom

Psychological Illness and Pathology in a Jungian Context

Past Jungian Seminars by Laurie Savlov

Friday October 12, 2007 "Active Imagination Explained"   CG Jung Foundation,  Toronto.

The truly Jungian technique of active imagination is one of the most powerful tools utilized in analysis. It is a method to raise into consciousness those contents that lie immediately below the threshold of the unconscious. This lecture will explain this practical method at both the beginner and advanced stages, and also how it can be used by people not in analysis.

Friday, April 13, 2007        "Synchronicity Explained"     CG Jung Foundation,  Toronto.             

We have probably all experienced meaningful events or coincidences that did not seem to obey the rules of causality, space or time.  Jung developed the concept of synchronicity to help us understand a connecting principle that links the material world with the psychic or psychological world.  In tonight's lecture, Jung’s ideas on synchronicity and the ways it may be of
therapeutic value will be discussed.

Friday, November 10, 2006 "Introduction to Essential Jungian Ideas"

A clear, concise introduction to the fundamental concepts that form the basis of Jungian psychology. This is an excellent opportunity for beginners and puzzled readers to learn how the ideas fit together.

Sat., January 14, 2006  "Jungian Expressive Arts Workshop"        

This day-long workshop opens with a lecture on the expressive arts.  Participants will then create their own art, pictures or sculpture.  After lunch, Jungian therapeutic approaches will be applied to the interpretation and understanding of these media.

Friday January 14, 2005   "Archetypes Explained" 

Jung’s theory of archetypes stands as one of his most basic concepts, yet it remains generally misunderstood. Tonight’s mini-lecture will explain Jung’s ideas about archetypes and archetypal images. Slides will be used to illustrate typical motifs that we find in dreams, religion, art, literature and culture.

Saturday October 16, 2004  "Art Therapy Workshop."  Sorry, closed seminar for trainees. 

Friday  October 15, 2004   "The Symbolic Attitude"   8 - 10 p.m. at Main Auditorium, Michener Institute, 222 St. Patrick St., Toronto.

Sundays  May 9 &16, 2004  "Eating Disorders and Desire: A Jungian Approach" 

Many people’s relationship with food is, quite literally, a complex one. This lecture-seminar presents some of the Jungian approaches to eating disorders. There will be a particular emphasis placed upon the role of desire in the patterns of body image disturbances, dieting, binge eating, anorexia and bulimia.

Sunday March 21, 2004 "Archetypal Psychology: Its Place in Jungian Psychology"  

Sunday January 18, 2004 "Symbolic Healing" 

Thursday January 15, 2004 "A Commentary on the Mutus Liber, the Alchemical Mute Book"  

Sunday December 14, 2003 "The Art of Weaving: Images from the Imagination" 

Friday November 28, 2003 "Introduction to Essential Jungian Ideas"  

A clear and concise introduction to fundamental concepts that form the basis of Jungian psychology. An excellent opportunity for beginners and puzzled readers to learn how the ideas fit together.

Thursday November 13, 2003 "The Medicalization of Feelings" 7.30 pm at Friends of Jung (Niagara Region), located at the St. Catherines Library (Mill Room).

A lecture and discussion about the effects upon consciousness of psychoactive prescription and non-prescription drugs.

Thursday May 15, 2003 "Colour Symbolism in Alchemy"  

Sundays Jan 19, and Feb. 23, 2003 "Projection and Reality"  

Thursdays Dec. 12, 2002 and Jan. 16, 2003 "Rites of Passage"  

Sunday November 10, 2002 "Dream Interpretation: a Jungian Approach"  

Saturday September 28, 2002 "Reading Rock Art"  

Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov 21 2002 "The Trickster in North American Native Peoples' Stories: Inuit; Algonkian & Iroquoian; N.W. Coastal "  

Saturday June 1, 2002 "Dream Interpretation: a Jungian Approach" 4.00 - 5.30 pm at The Omega Centre Bookstore, 29 Yorkville Ave., Toronto. 

Saturday February 23, 2002 "The Lady and the Unicorn: The Cluny Tapestries, Paris"  

Friday February 22, 2002 "The Unicorn"  

WHAT IS JUNGIAN ANALYSIS?    WHAT HAPPENS IN A SESSION?    DREAM STUDY GROUP    SUPERVISION

HELEN'S BIOGRAPHY    LAURIE'S BIOGRAPHY    UPCOMING SEMINARS    LINKS    HOME