Animals, Our Soulful Companions
Friday Lecture, March 14, 7:30 p.m.

In this time of increasing environmental awareness, many are turning to nature as a way to help restore a connection to their own soul. While some go to great lengths to visit wild and wilderness places in the outer world, we are reminded that it is possible to make a connection to that which is wild much closer to home. The Charlotte area is home to a surprisingly broad range of wild creatures including deer, fox, coyote, wild turkey and otter. And yet we also have our own dogs and cats, who though domesticated, can yet offer a connection to the wild and instinctive in the natural world. They also link us to our own animal nature and have much to tell us about the condition of our bodies and souls.

In his work as an analyst, C. G. Jung paid close attention to the animals that appeared in his patients’ dreams. A sick or injured dream animal can symbolize a physical or psychic wound, while a robust and healthy one indicates a vital connection to the instinctive ground of our being.

While we may be less familiar with wild animals, they may yet form relationships with us and can be surprisingly curious. In this lecture Susan Olson will show and discuss four film clips of encounters with wild creatures. Jane Goodall’s study of chimps in Tanzania is a factual account, while Dances with Wolves, Whale Rider, and The Queen are fictionalized stories. In these films, human beings are transformed by unexpected meetings with wild animals – and for all we know, the animals are transformed as well.

Whether wild or tame, our animal companions enliven our souls and remind us of our bond with all creatures. In this way they invite us to refine our understanding of what Jung called the Anima Mundi, the soul of the world. Following the lecture, there will be time to share stories of our own wild and domestic animal encounters and to explore the deep and abiding nature of our relationship with them.