The
mention of Assisi evokes images of a lovely medieval village overlooking
the heart of Italy's Umbrian Valley. It is also an image imbued
with the spirit of St. Francis. The town's magnificent Basilica
di San Francesco houses the paintings of Giotto and Ciambue, all
created to honor the saint.
To this day the warmth, simplicity, and beauty of Assisi convey
the teachings of its patron saint. From the rugged reaches of Mount
Subasio through gentle valleys of vineyards and farms, Francis'
reverence for the fusion of matter and spirit is itself a living
presence. Here the landscape reflects nature and matter born of
the same substance as psyche and soul. We could not have found a
better home for a program investigating the "Confluence of Matter
and Psyche."
Begun
in 1989, our conferences now attract world leaders in Jungian psychology,
science, theology, and the arts. Our interdisciplinary focus examines
the archetypal dynamics of self-organization and the connection
between Jungian psychology and the emerging paradigms of the "New
Sciences." We recognize that the combination of Jung's work and
new scientific discoveries point to a high degree of order, autonomy,
and wisdom in nature and the psyche. Archetypal influences and self-organizing
tendencies operate daily in the personal and collective psyche,
and in virtually all areas of the natural world we find the expression
of psyche in matter.
Every
year since 1989, participants and faculty alike have come away from
these conferences excited about our pioneering contributions to
a richer and deeper understanding of the psyche. Over the years,
interest in our work has expanded, leading to the development of
an innovative Two Year Certificate Program. This program provides
an opportunity for professional practitioners, students, and laypersons
to explore the interface between Jungian psychology, the world of
innate ordering processes, and self-organizing systems from their
particular areas of interest.
Our
programs continue to attract participants who bring a great deal
of humanity and concern for the psyche to their life and work. Participants
and faculty come from all parts of the world and from diverse professions.
These include psychology, traditional and complementary medicine,
the arts, organizational dynamics and social science, government,
theology, and mind-body studies. We've welcomed many interested
lay persons as well, and students ranging in age from 25 to 85.
We
trust that your own participation in our programs will be a unique
experience, and both professionally and personally meaningful.