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Probing the Psyche: Adult Workshops Explore the Ego, the Soul, the Self
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PROBING THE PSYCHE By Mario Toneguzzi Published in Calgary Herald April 22, 1995 SOUL WORK. Getting in touch with that part of ourselves which is hidden deep in our psyches. "What life's really about is soul," says Laureen Rama, a Calgary woman who leads workshops, including Care of the Soul and Awakening The Heroes Within. "The mystery, the depth, the beauty and the wonder of life comes from soul. But we can't really appreciate that if we don't have a strong ego to look after us while we're doing that." "Maybe in the first part of our life we're doing what society expects of us. And when we start doing the soul journey we come home to who we really are and what we really want to be doing. We only know that through exploring the soul." Rama's workshop is an adult development model based on Jungian psychology. Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist who lived from 1875 to 1961. He believed that members of every race share a deeper level of consciousness, which he called the collective unconsciousness. This includes patterns of human thought called archetypes, which have developed through the centuries. These archetypes enable people to react to situations in ways similar to their ancestors. Jung believed the collective unconsciousness contains wisdom that guides all humanity. The archetypes are universal characters found in all mythologies and deep within our own psyches. Rama says we can all learn to call on these archetypes when we need them and learn to foster their development within ourselves. Carol Pearson, author of Awakening the Heroes Within, developed a model of 12 archetypes based on Jungian psychology and the mythical pattern of the heroic journey. "Pearson speaks of full human development as developing our ego to get along in the world; our soul to be "authentic" and in touch with the mysteries of life; and our self to express the vision of our soul using the abilities of the ego," says Rama. Rama has more than 15 years experience in leading workshops and she is certified by Pearson to use the archetypal model. Rama says the 12 archetypes are really the story of our life journey. In the first stage of our journey, we develop the ego that teaches us how to be safe and successful in the world. The next stage involves the journey of the soul where we encounter the deep mysteries of life. And the final stage of the journey is of the self where people can express their authenticity. Rama says it is important for people first to develop their egos because these archetypes help people get by in the world. "Those are building the container for your soul and often once you've developed those quite well, say in your early '30s or mid-'30s you go, "Well is that all there is?" Then you are ready for the soul." "You have a strong enough ego that you can handle looking at some of the things that are inexplicable in life...The intuitive hunches you might have, for instance." "You can then be open to the call of the soul. And it's usually a call. The four soul archetypes are about finding your inner self. And so the seeker is about trying to find your truth, your vocation, your identity." The archetype workshops use movement, drawing, writing and other imaginative exercises so individuals can explore their own expression and development of those archetypes. They also learn how to call on and develop these archetypes. "We all have the potential to act on all of them to bring them into consciousness," says Rama. ARCHETYPES FOR TRANSFORMING THE SOUL Stage 1, Archetypes in strengthening the ego:
Source: Awakening the Heroes Within by Carol Pearson Laureen Rama is available to lead retreats and workshops for private groups. She also teaches advanced shamanic healing techniques and offers shamanic healings in person or by distance.
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Calgary Alberta Canada crediting Laureen Rama as the author. |
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