upcoming events
library socials and book sales
One Saturday a month we open our impressive library to the public and our members, to peruse books and spend quality time discussing Jung. Snacks and tea are provided, amongst a cozy seating area. Members are allowed to borrow books, and one is welcome to purchase a membership on the spot if you see a book you fancy taking home! There is also a selection of titles available for purchase, at reasonable prices of $5-$20. Upcoming autumn dates are as follows:
Where: the C.G. Jung Society Library (Room 7, Annex of the United Centennial Church, 612 David St.— side entrance in small parking lot on David St)
When: Saturdays, Sept. 13th, Oct. 11th, Nov. 8th, Dec 13th, from 1-4 pm
If you can’t make it to these open libraries but would still like to borrow a book, email us at jungsocietyvictoria@gmail.com.
essential jung: a weekend retreat
September 26th - 28th 2025, at crown isle resort in courtenay BC
This retreat, hosted by the Western Canadian Association of Jungian Analysts, will provide you with an opportunity to meet with our analysts from Alberta and B.C., as well as others who are interested in exploring Jungian psychology and its relevance to our present time and culture. The retreat was first offered in Alberta in 2024 with great success, and now comes to B.C. It is intended for anyone with an interest in Jung, regardless of previous exposure to his psychological concepts. During the weekend we will present some of the basic Jungian concepts, such as “Shadow”, “Animus and Anima”, and “Dreams”, with time for discussion as well as reflection on one’s own experience.
When: September 26-28, 2025. 4 p.m. Friday - Sunday at 3 p.m.
Where: Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community, Courtenay, B.C.
Fee: $850.00
*The fee covers conference expenses and meals but does not include the cost of accommodation. Registrants will be able to make their own accommodation arrangements with the hotel. https://crownisle.com/
Please visit the WCAJA website for more information, and to register: https://wcaja.org/
archetypal pancake brunch!
To celebrate the society’s 40th birthday, we’re gathering at member Geneva Johnson’s house to enjoy pancakes, good company, and good discussion. Bring stories you have about the past four decades of our Victoria Jungian community, and a hearty appetite! There will also be a small book sale that coincides with brunch, for which cash and e-transfer are accepted.
When: Saturday October 4th, 11-2 pm
Where: Quadra Village
RSVP to jungsocietyvictoria@gmail.com to obtain the address details.
MEMber-Led discussion groups
These groups are open to members and non-members alike. They are informally facilitated by passionate society members who have a keen interest in the topics below. If you see a group you’d like to join, send an email to the contact person listed to inquire about registration. If you have an idea for a discussion group you’d like to facilitate, our only prerequisite is that you are an active member. Get in touch with us and share your ideas via email at jungsocietyvictoria@gmail.com.
The interpretation of fairytales
The Old Woman in the Wood, Arthur Rackham, 1917
"Fairy tales are the purest and simplest expression of collective unconscious psychic processes. Therefore their value for the scientific investigation of the unconscious exceeds that of all other material." So begins Marie-Louise von Franz's 'The Interpretation of Fairy Tales' and this book will provide the basis of discussion for the Fairy Tale Discussion Group. Discussion will center on Von Franz's psychological interpretation of fairy tales in general with a focus on the tale 'The Three Feathers' in particular. Note: participants will need a copy of this book, which one can order online, or potentially borrow from the library.
When: Sundays 12 Oct, 2 Nov, 23 Nov, 14 Dec, from 10:00 am - noon
Where: in person, locations tbd
Cost: membership in the C.G. Jung Society of Victoria ($35 annually)
To register, contact Paul Ferguson via telephone at 250-475-1246
In a Dream, Jenny Holzer, 1991
Group dream interpretation
This group will follow the guidelines of group dream interpretation as recommended by This Jungian Life Dream School. These are:
Dreamer presents a dream
Questions for clarity
Sharing feelings and associations
Dreamer’s response
Questions for context
Projection interpretations
One participant will submit a dream for that month’s session. The other participants will ask questions for clarity, then share the personal feelings and associations that the dream aroused in them. The dreamer will have an opportunity to respond. Then the other participant’s will have an opportunity to ask questions for context, and finally offer a succinct projected interpretation for the dream. Christine will act as moderator for all session, ensuring all steps are covered in the two hour session.
THIS GROUP WILL HONOUR A CODE OF CONFIDENTIALITY. NOTHING DISCUSSED IN THE DREAM GROUP WILL BE DISCUSSED OUTSIDE OF THE GROUP’S SESSION. THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE GROUP IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
Christine Willes (BFA, Bed, MFA) is a member-at-large with the C.G. Jung Society of Victoria. She is a graduate of the 12 month This Jungian Life Dream School https://thisjungianlife.com/join-dream-school/. She has worked on dreams in group settings for 5 years. She has been in private analysis for 4 years. And she has worked with Embodied Dream practitioner Amanda Street of Feel Things for 2 years. https://www.feelingtone.com/
A semi-retired actor, describes herself as an enthusiastic amateur, and wants to emphasize she is not an analyst. She is very serious about the importance of dream work.
When: Saturdays Oct. 18th, Nov. 15th, Dec. 13th, 10:30-12:30 pm (Winter dates tba)
Where: the C.G. Jung Society Library (Room 7, Annex of the United Centennial Church 612 David St.— side entrance in small parking lot on David St)
Cost: $25 (covers 8 Saturday sessions)
To register, contact Christine Willes at cgwilles@gmail.com
Enrolment restricted to 6 participants on a first come first served basis.
Concerning creativity
Christine Ross, Meditations, 1991
Christine Ross, Rock Fall, 1979
A discussion group which hopes to encourage the inner necessity to reveal and share our creative selves in our attempt to form a meaningful relationship with life.
Jung believed that art itself had no inherent meaning, suggesting that perhaps it is like nature – something that simply “is”. But the creative process was something distinct, and Jung posited that works of art could be seen to arise out of much the same psychological conditions as a neurosis. Like all neuroses these conscious contents have an unconscious background which in their artistic manifestation often go beyond the individual and into something deeper and more broadly reflective of humankind.
This group is for creatives who are interested in talking about and sharing their work, exploring the urge that compels them to create. If you are interested in joining, email Christine Ross at christine_ros25@yahoo.com.
Christine Ross exhibited in Nova Scotia under the name Christine Ross Hopper. Her work then was inspired by the particularly large rock landscapes nearby, arousing early childhood memories. Influenced by her readings of the works of C. G. Jung, and of the I Ching and studies in the beginnings of abstraction, her work gradually became more abstract, yet included fragments of reality.
thE poetry of mary oliver
The Mary Oliver poetry group gathers to read poetry, experiencing the emotions and symbols it evokes in the reader. This is a multidisciplinary group that meets once a month to read, experience, and, if they choose, to write poetry themselves. While several members are devoted poets, others are content to explore Jung’s realm of the unconscious through the enchantment of words. Apart from good conversation and discerning observations, we enjoy each other's company, drink tea and nibble on cookies and pastries.
When: the 3rd Tuesday of every month, from 1:30-3:30 pm
Where: the home of Michele Turner (D-349 Foul Bay Rd.)
To register, contact Michele at mturnerca@hotmail.com.
“Nature seemed to me full of wonders, and I wanted to steep myself in them. Every stone, every plant, every single thing seemed alive and indescribably marvellous. I immersed myself in nature, crawled, as it were, into the very essence of nature and away from the whole human world.” C.G. Jung
Read some of the poetry written by group members HERE.
TAROT STUDY GROUP
The intention of this group is to explore the use of the Tarot, as a method for accessing the personal unconscious and generating insights. We will get to know the cards through focused discussions of one card per month, as well as engaging in practice readings using a Jungian framework.
We meet one Thursday a month from 4:30 - 6:30 pm at the home of Patricia Lyster in Esquimalt. Folks are welcome to come and go as needed. Please arrive with a set of tarot cards (not oracle), and some thoughts or research regarding the chosen card of study for the week.
The structure of the evenings will be as follows:
4:30-5:15 practice readings
5:15-6:00 focused discussion of one card (bring ideas + info to share)
6:00-6:30 viewing lessons from an Jungian-based Tarot course
When: Thursdays (July 3, Aug. 14, Sept 18, Oct 9, Nov 13) from 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Where: Patricia’s home in Esquimalt (alongside the 26 and 15 bus routes)
To register, email Patricia at 2plyster@gmail.com.
CAFÉ synchronicity
Hint of a quantum universe at play?
Have you ever experienced something you would call a synchronicity? Do you have stories you’d like to share? What type of universe would need to exist that allows for the experiences we call synchronicity? How would you explain it?
Let’s start a conversation, tell our stories, explore books, literature; consider our thoughts, and those of others through time about the phenomena of synchronicity. We suggest you keep track of the synchronicities you are experiencing so we can share our stories and consider the descriptors of our experiences.
When: the last Wednesday of each month, during happy hours (4-6 pm)
Where: a central cafe, pub, or lounge chosen by the group
To register, email Patricia Lyster at 2plyster@gmail.com.
Ego and archetype
This group provides a space to discuss Edinger's distillation of Jung's work on the Self, and the building of one's Ego Self-Axis. We will read through and discuss sections of Edinger’s “Ego and Archetype”, chapter by chapter. Here is the link to a digital Jungian library, that includes a pdf of this book:
https://mega.nz/folder/JChkRBZR#spQxk0-HW322xh__Y_hUGQ/folder/oLYWyJqQ
When: the second Monday evening of each month, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Where: online, over Google Meet
To register, email Thomas at thomas.goenczi@gmail.com.
the red book
This group meets monthly to read, talk, and wonder about Jung’s encounter with the unconscious, as detailed in the Red Book.
When: 28 Sept, 19 Oct, 9 Nov, 30 Nov, 21 Dec
Where: in persons, location tbd
To register, contact Paul at 250-475-1246.
NOTE: this group is currently full. If YOU have a keen interest in the Red Book, consider hosting a second discussion group around it, as there is fervent interest in this topic. Contact jungsocietyvictoria@gmail.com.
