Digital Jung

Jason E. Smith
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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. Becoming (Merely) Human

    JUL 31

    Becoming (Merely) Human

    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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    44 min
  2. The Gorgon's Eye

    JUN 26

    The Gorgon's Eye

    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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    30 min
  3. A Collision Course With Life

    MAY 11

    A Collision Course With Life

    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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    33 min
  4. Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 2

    APR 27

    Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 2

    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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    34 min
  5. Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 1

    APR 13

    Moby-Dick: An American Myth, Part 1

    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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    30 min
  6. The Call of the Shoreless Sea

    FEB 9

    The Call of the Shoreless Sea

    In this episode: I explore one of the more challenging aspects of the symbolic life: the call to leave behind the comfort of the known, the safe, and the familiar. Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 3: The Spouter-Inn; Chapter 16: The Ship; Chapter 22: Merry Christmas; Chapter 23: The Lee Shore) 'The Development of the Personality' by C.G. Jung (CW17)The Bible -- Matthew 8:18 - 27'New Seeds of Contemplation' by Thomas Merton'Religious but Not Religious' by Jason E. Smith 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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    32 min
  7. Healing the Splintered Heart

    JAN 12

    Healing the Splintered Heart

    In this episode: I discuss the psychic split brought on by the experience of the modern world and the need for a connection with the soul and the mythic dimension of life. Sources for quotes and more: 'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 3: The Spouter-Inn; Chapter 10: A Bosom Friend; Chapter 12: Biographical; Chapter 110: Queequeg in His Coffin) 'The Secret of the Golden Flower' by Richard Wilhelm & C.G. Jung'Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious' by C.G. Jung (CW9i)S4, Ep. 2: Outcasts of the Spirit'A Dwelling Place For Wisdom' by Raimon Panikkar'Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life' by Herman Melville'Psychology and Alchemy' by C.G. Jung (CW12)'Man is Not Alone' by Abraham Joshua Heschel 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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    34 min
  8. Tending the Spiritual Imagination

    11/29/2024

    Tending the Spiritual Imagination

    In this episode: I explore the role of suffering and darkness as factors that awaken us to the need for what Jung calls a religious outlook. We look at ways that we can cultivate that outlook in an authentic way. Sources for quotes and more: 'Man and His Symbols' by C.G. Jung'Moby-Dick' by Herman Melville (Chapter 2: The Carpet-Bag; Chapter 3: The Spouter-Inn; Chapter 7: The Chapel; Chapter 8: The Pulpit) S3, Ep. 9: The Heart of the Matter: Alchemy and the Prima Materia'Psychotherapists or the Clergy' by C.G. Jung (CW11)'Symbols and the Interpretation of Dreams' by C.G. Jung (CW18)'Religious but Not Religious' by Jason E. Smith'Melville’s Use of the Bible' by Nathalia WrightMurray Stein quoted in 'C.G. Jung Face to Face with Christianity' by Jakob Lusensky'Psychological Types' by C.G. Jung (CW6) 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 (https://digitaljung.substack.com/) For more on living a symbolic life: Please check out my book, Religious but Not Religious: Living a Symbolic Life.

    30 min
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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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Digital Jung
  • Show Website
    Digital Jung

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