Alejandro Jodorowsky Discusses Psychomagic But He Smiles Too Much


Alejandro Jodorowsky on the Spanish program ‘Negro Sobre Blanco’ discussing his ‘phsychomagic’ ideas about how people must understand the influence of the family tree and how breaking with habits or curses from the past is essential for health and happiness. Jodorowsky has long held to the idea that art must heal human beings and society. His use for systems of magic like the Tarot are never for divination but rather for understanding one’s self and one’s place in the world. He approaches his own thoughts and theories with humor and exuberance. I find him to be very magnetic as a speaker. I also find that his good nature seems to prevent people from aggressively arguing some of his general assertions. In other words, most people who interact with Jodorowsky do so with the attitude that they are dealing with a grand old man of wisdom. In many ways I think he is just that. However, one should not have that in mind when actually talking to him. I also think he’s a nice man who genuinely works to help people feel better.

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Carl Jung’s Anima Projection


Here’s a short film made by YouTube user VioletPsychofluid. It features narration taken from an audiobook version of Carl Jung’s book, ‘Man and His Symbols,’ overlaid with various feature film and documentary clips that seem to illustrate the points made by Jung on the ‘anima,’ which is the feminine aspect of the male personality or psyche. I particularly like the inclusion of clips from Jean Cocteau’s film, ‘Orpheus,’ which is one of the greatest depictions of the underworld ever put on film. This is really magnificent work done by someone willing to upload into the wilds of YouTube, potentially unnoticed. The filmmaker is deeply connected to the subtleties of Jung’s thought and seeks out images that illustrate and compliment the very difficult to grasp ideas and theories about the anima. When I read Jung I experience great excitement about his ideas. But when I put the books down I have difficulty keeping it all straight and remembering what an anima or a projection represents. For me, it’s almost as if Jung’s work itself exists in a hazy dreamworld that only intermittently connects with logic, rationality or memory.