Digital Jung

Jason E. Smith
  • 4.9 (125)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Monthly

Living a Symbolic Life in a Technological Age. Our digital age presents unique challenges for the practice of the inner life. What can the insights of Jungian Psychology offer for dealing with these challenges? In this series, we explore Carl Jung's idea of "the symbolic life" through the lenses of depth psychology, mythology, fairy tales, poetry, religion, and more. We focus on three core questions: 1. What is the symbolic life? 2. Why do we need a symbolic life? and 3. How can we cultivate and live a symbolic life? This is a companion podcast to the book 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life' by Jungian analyst Jason E. Smith.

  1. Sep 24

    The Mystic Way

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I discuss the figures of Ahab, Starbuck, and Ishmael as representatives of three possible responses to the encounter with the numinous. I look at the contrast between the Iron Way of Ahab and what I call Ishmael’s Mystic Way, suggesting that Ishmael's way is a path of self-emptying that makes possible a deeper experience of life.  Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 1: Loomings; Chapter 16: The Ship; Chapter 35: The Mast-Head; Chapter 37: Sunset; Chapter 41: Moby Dick; Chapter 49: The Hyena; Chapter, 79: The Prairie; Chapter 82: The Honor and Glory of Whaling; Chapter 104: The Fossil Whale; Chapter 110: Queequeg in His Coffin; Chapter 135: The Chase – Third Day; Epilogue)S4, Ep. 6 - Moby-Dick: An American Myth, pt. 1S4, Ep. 8: A Collision Course with Life'Man and His Symbols' by C.G. Jung'Memories, Dreams, Reflections' by C.G. Jung'Two Essays on Analytical Psychology' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works vol. 7S4, Ep. 9: The Gorgon’s Eye'Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works vol. 9ii‘Freud, Goethe, Wagner’ by Thomas Mann'Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Man's Spiritual Consciousness' by Evelyn Underhill'The Soul and Death' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works vol. 8'A Dwelling Place for Wisdom' by Raimon Panikkar Music: "Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    The Mystic Way

  2. Sep 17

    Symbols of the Mystery

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I look at the image of the whale as a symbol of both Jung's notion of the Self, as well as the numinous experience of the divine mystery: the mysterium tremendum et fascinans.  Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Etymology; Extracts; Chapter 32: Cetology; Chapter 36: The Quarter-Deck; Chapter 41: Moby Dick; Chapter 42: The Whiteness of the Whale; Chapter 55: Monstrous Pictures of Whales; Chapter 85: The Fountain; Chapter 86: The Tail; Chapter 104: The Fossil Whale; Chapter 105: Does the Whale’s Magnitude Diminish? – Will He Perish?)'Melville’s Moby-Dick: A Jungian Commentary' by Edward Edinger   S4, Ep. 2: Outcasts of the Spirit'Psychology and Alchemy' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 12'Two Essays on Analytical Psychology' by C.G. Jung, in Collected Works, vol. 7'Religious but Not Religious' by Jason Smith'Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 9iiPsalm 139: 6-9, Book of Common Prayer, 1979Exodus 33:18-23, NRSVHebrews 10:31, NRSVIsaiah 55:8, NRSV'The Idea of the Holy' by Rudolf OttoS1, Ep. 22: The Idea of the HolyS1, Ep. 23: Approaching the Numinous'Anatomy of the Psyche' by Edward Edinger'Psychology and Religion' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 11Symbols in an Individual Analysis from 'Man and His Symbols' by Jolande JacobiThe Holy Longing, poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe'Psychology and Literature' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 15Music: "Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    Symbols of the Mystery

  3. Sep 10 ·  Bonus

    Long Time No See

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I announce the return of the podcast and share a little bit about where I have been and what to expect for the podcast going forward. Sources for quotes and more: Poem #22 from 'A Book for the Hours of Prayer' by Rainer Maria Rilke (Robert Bly translation)S4, Announcement: In Search of a Song'Psychology and Alchemy' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 12 Psalm 30, The Book of Common Prayer, 1979'On Psychological and Visionary Art' by C.G. JungMusic: "Dreaming Days" and "Slow Vibing" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    Long Time No See

  4. 07/31/2025

    Becoming (Merely) Human

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I return to the relationship between Ahab and Starbuck, focusing on a pivotal scene from Chapter 132, 'The Symphony'. I explore the ways our ideas of psychological change often involve a hidden quality of inflation. Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 132: The Symphony)  S4 Ep. 9: The Gorgon's Eye'The Interpretation of Fairy Tales' by Marie-Louise von FranzMatthew 18:3 (NIV)'The Psychology of Child Archetype' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 9i'The Development of the Personality' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 17'Individuation in Fairy Tales' by Marie-Louise von Franz'Ego and Archetype' by Edward Edinger'Tao Te Ching' (Translated by Red Pine)'The Dhammapada' (Translated by Gil Fronsdal)'Mysterium Coniunctionis' by C.G. Jung in Collected Works, vol. 14'The King and the Corpse' by Heinrich Zimmer'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 117: The Whale Watch)Music: "Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    Becoming (Merely) Human

  5. 06/26/2025

    The Gorgon's Eye

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I explore the tension between Captain Ahab and his first mate, Starbuck. Through this dynamic we examine themes of the relationship to nature and the nature of inner work.  Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 16: The Ship; Chapter 26: Knights and Squires; Chapter 28: Ahab; Chapter 29: Enter Ahab; To Him Stubb; Chapter 36: The Quarter-Deck; Chapter 38: Dusk; Chapter 41: Moby-Dick) S4 Ep. 8: A Collision Course With Life'After the Catastrophe' by C.G. Jung (CW10)'Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology' by Marie-Louise von Franz'The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga' by C.G. Jung'Man is Not Alone' by Abraham Joshua HeschelMusic: "Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    The Gorgon's Eye

  6. 05/11/2025

    A Collision Course With Life

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I delve into the character of Captain Ahab. Ahab is a tragic figure who draws his whole crew into the orbit of his psychological atmosphere. I go on to look at the tension between the will of the ego and the will of fate and discuss the hard work involved in becoming conscious. Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 16: The Ship; Chapter 20: All Astir; Chapter 28: Ahab; Chapter 51: The Spirit-Spout) S4, Ep. 2: Outcasts of the Spirit1 Kings 16:30 (NIV)'A Pregnant Allegory,' Review of Moby-Dick by George Ripley (Norton Edition)'The Tragedy of Macbeth' by William Shakespeare'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles'Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self' by C.G. Jung (CW9ii)S4, Ep. 6 - Moby-Dick: An American Myth, part 1'Two Essays on Analytical Psychology' by C.G. Jung (CW7)'Psychology and Alchemy' by C.G. Jung (CW12)Music: "Dreaming Days," "Slow Vibing," and "The Return" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    A Collision Course With Life

  7. 04/27/2025

    Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 2

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I explore the search for meaning, the alienation from nature, and the role of art in healing and connection. The contrasting paths of Ishmael and Ahab are presented and the need to understand the interconnectedness of all existence is discussed. Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 1: Loomings; Chapter 10: A Bosom Friend; Chapter 28: Ahab; Chapter 36: The Quarter-Deck; Chapter 72: The Monkey-rope; Chapter 135: The Chase - The Third Day) S4 Ep. 2: Outcasts of the SpiritS4 Ep. 4: Healing the Splintered Heart'On the Relation of Analytical Psychology and Poetry' by C.G. Jung (CW15)'A Dwelling Place For Wisdom' by Raimon Panikkar'Psychology and Literature' by C.G. Jung (CW15)'Psychology and Religion' by C.G. Jung (CW11)'The Psychology of the Transference' by C.G. Jung (CW16)'Paracelsus as a Spiritual Phenomenon' by C.G. Jung (CW13)Music: "Dreaming Days" and "Slow Vibing" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 2

  8. 04/13/2025

    Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 1

    Send Me a Note In this episode: I explore the creative process, the nature of art, and the psychological depths of the human experience through the lens of Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick.' Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 1: Loomings; Chapter 87: The Grand Armada; Chapter 104: The Fossil Whale) 'Melville's Moby-Dick: A Jungian Commentary' by Edward Edinger'Psychology and Literature' by C.G. Jung (CW15)'On the Relation of Analytical Psychology and Poetry' by C.G. Jung (CW15)'Mysterium Coniunctionis' by C.G. Jung (CW14)'Is Life Worth Living?' by William JamesThe Gospel of Thomas'A Dwelling Place For Wisdom' by Raimon Panikkar'Two Essays on Analytical Psychology' by C.G. Jung (CW7)'The Holy Longing,' poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, (R. Bly, Translator) Music: "Dreaming Days" and "Slow Vibing" by Ketsa are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Like this podcast? Please consider leaving a review: Apple Podcasts Spotify Or, if you are able, support the show with a donation at Buy Me a Coffee (link below) Support the show Connect with me: Instagram (@digital.jung) Facebook (facebook.com/jungiananalyst) Bluesky (@digitaljung.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Digital Jung Newsletter For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 1
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About

Living a Symbolic Life in a Technological Age. Our digital age presents unique challenges for the practice of the inner life. What can the insights of Jungian Psychology offer for dealing with these challenges? In this series, we explore Carl Jung's idea of "the symbolic life" through the lenses of depth psychology, mythology, fairy tales, poetry, religion, and more. We focus on three core questions: 1. What is the symbolic life? 2. Why do we need a symbolic life? and 3. How can we cultivate and live a symbolic life? This is a companion podcast to the book 'Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life' by Jungian analyst Jason E. Smith.

Information

  • Creator
    Jason E. Smith
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Digital Jung
  • Show Website
    Digital Jung

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