Archetypes, Complexes, Dreams: A Deep Dive for Beginners

This course begins with an exploration of the vast, intricate landscape of the human psyche as charted by C. G. Jung. At the heart of this inner cosmos are archetypes—primordial patterns of energy that animate human consciousness. Jung understood archetypes as the wellsprings of psychic life, giving rise to everything from complexes and dreams to moods, fantasies, inspiration, creativity, and spiritual experience itself.

We start by grounding students in a deep understanding of the nature, purpose, and phenomenology of archetypes. These are not mere abstract ideas, they are living forces, the centrifugal source of psychic energy around which all consciousness revolves.

From there, taking a phenomenological lens, we turn to the study of complexes. If archetypes are the source of psychic energy, complexes are the vessels through which that energy expresses itself in the world, particularly in our relationships with ourselves and others. Jung famously noted that unconscious complexes possess a disturbing autonomy: they can distort our perceptions, twist our words, and steer our actions, often without our awareness. Left unexamined, these powerful psychic formations—especially those associated with the Shadow—lie at the heart of both personal suffering and collective conflict. Coming to terms with them is not only a psychological task, but a spiritual imperative, echoing the ancient Delphic injunction: Know Thyself.

In the final phase of the nine-week journey, we dive into the symbolic world of dreams, where archetypes and complexes come alive in image and story. Everyone dreams, though many have lost touch with this inner voice. Dreaming is the psyche’s poetic language, its attempt to reach the conscious self. But like all languages, it must be learned. To truly benefit from the rich, revelatory material of our dreams, we must learn to decipher their symbols and translate them into insight.

By the end of the course, students will have a firm grasp of the architecture and dynamics of the psyche according to Jung. They’ll be able to identify and interpret archetypes and complexes, and recognize their symbolic expression in dreams. Equipped with a profound respect for the inner world's reality, potency, and generative creativity, students will emerge with a sturdy foundation for further study, personal insight, and psychological growth.

By the end of this course, students will:

—Develop a foundational understanding of C. G. Jung’s model of the psyche, including the nature, function, and phenomenology of archetypes.

—Cultivate the ability to identify and interpret personal and collective complexes, recognizing their influence on thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

—Gain insight into the symbolic language of dreams and learn methods for translating dream imagery into meaningful self-knowledge.

—Strengthen self-awareness through the exploration of the unconscious, particularly the role of the Shadow and its impact on individual and relational dynamics.

—Establish a solid basis for ongoing personal development, research, or advanced study in Jungian psychology and related fields.