An Evening With
“…it is love, warm human love, blood, warm red blood, the holy source of life, the unification of everything separated and longed for.” C.G. Jung, The Black Book, vol. 5, p. 266
In this evening’s talk, we will explore how early object relations concepts and infant attachment theory can provide a framework for understanding the root development of shadow projection. When we are triggered to project our shadow, a cascade of psychological, neurological, endocrinological, and immunological processes are transmitted through the flow of blood and energy pathways in our bodies and create an alchemical reaction. This symphony of processes is directly related to our capacity to develop adaptive immunity to disease, psychological resilience, and the trajectory of conscious and unconscious individuation throughout our life cycle.
The psychoneuroimmunology of early-life stress, internalized in the infant’s psyche and body, may predict later patterns of biological and psychological inflammation. These thermal fluctuations grow out of the infant’s conflicted feelings of attachment and separation from love objects. Autoimmune defensive adaptations to this stress can produce attachment to the bad object and seed future self-destructive codependent relationships, dissociations, and addictions.
Understanding these dynamics can help us to navigate the current personal psychic and biologic, collective and cultural dualities that may trigger intense projections. Unconscious navigation tends to create inflammation; conscious navigation tends to be anti-inflammatory. We will explore ways to support healthy outcomes given the limitations of our conditioning. Integrating projections with conscious intent can lead us to awaken the embodying experience of unification and primal wholeness in new and nourishing ways.
Please note: after the program ends at 9:00 PM there will be an extended question and answer discussion for those who would like to participate in this option.
Timothy Lyons, LCSW, is a Jungian-oriented psychotherapist in private practice for individuals, couples and families in Capitol Hill, D.C. and Takoma Park, Maryland. He has a certificate for postgraduate studies from the Philadelphia Jung Institute and is a frequent presenter at the Jung Society of Washington. His postgraduate studies also include infant observation and art therapy. Tim’s work is further enhanced by his studies of Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, yogic philosophies, Hatha yoga and Qi Gong. He has also completed teacher training in Trul Khor (Tibetan yoga). His earlier career as architect and editor includes writing for the Washington Post, and lecturing at the Smithsonian Institution.
https://timothy-lyons.com
This program will not be recorded.
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