14. Alchemy of midlife passage: death, rebirth, and a new myth

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There Is No Spoon

Smirik

21 episodes

1 week ago

Why are we so drawn to mythological stories in movies and books? Can we truly find meaning in myths — and is that meaning even there? Where should we search for answers about life, the universe, and everything in between? And how do we navigate personal crises — and come out transformed? In this podcast, we explore these big questions and more at the crossroads of psychology, philosophy, cultural studies, and science. Join us as we dive into timeless stories and enduring truths to uncover insights for today’s world.

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Self-Improvement

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14. Alchemy of midlife passage: death, rebirth, and a new myth

There Is No Spoon

14 minutes 44 seconds

6 months ago

14. Alchemy of midlife passage: death, rebirth, and a new myth

In this episode, we return to the themes we’ve been exploring throughout the previous thirteen conversations — the midlife passage and what it asks of us. We revisit key ideas from earlier episodes and take a step further by using the symbolic language of alchemy to understand what is happening within us during this profound life transition. As Jung suggested, alchemy offers a powerful metaphor for inner transformation — one that helps illuminate the psychological processes at work when our old identity begins to dissolve and something new, yet unknown, starts to emerge.

Sources of quotes in this episode:

Carl Jung, Letters, Vol. 1, p. 483
Carl Jung, Collected Works (CW 17, §308)
James Hollis, The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings