The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz is a 28 volume Magnum Opus from one of the leading minds in Jungian Psychology.  The first volume, Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales: The Profane and Magical Worlds, released on her 106^th birthday, January 4^th, 2021 and is to be followed by 27 more volumes over the next 10 years. Volume 2 looks at the hero’s journey, while  Volume 3 explores the maiden’s quest.  Steven Buser is one of two General Editor’s in The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz.  Dr. Buser will take us through a history of the project, an overview of von Franz’s life and work, as well as a deep dive into the first 3 volumes of this foundational material.  We will further explore material from upcoming volumes including her work on the visions of Niklaus von Flue, the visions of Perpetua, and death and the afterlife.

Who is this course for?

• People interested in Marie-Louise von Franz, her work, and her extraordinary life.
• Those wishing a deeper knowledge of the secrets within fairytales, alchemy, and the mystery of death.
• Analysts, psychotherapists, and those with a hunger for the archetypal world.

Areas covered in the course will include:

• An overview of von Franz’s life and work
• A history and overview of the evolving project of her collected works.
• A deep dive into her work on fairytales, particularly her early writings.
• A method for the interpretation of fairytales.
• The four primary archetypal figures in fairytales.
• Primary male and female tetralogies.
• The hero and heroine’s journey in fairytales.
• Transcendent transformations within alchemy
• The mysteries of death, life after death, and the diamond body.

Overview of weekly topics:

1. An overview of the life of Marie-Louise von Franz and the project of bringing together her collected works. Volumes 1 and 2 in The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz will be reviewed.
2. Exploring the heroine’s path in fairytales. (Volume 3 in The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz)
3. A method for interpretation of fairytales (Volume 8 in The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz)
4. The visions of Niklaus von Flue (Volume 6 in The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz)
5. The visions of Perpetua (Volume 6 in The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz)
6. Death, dreams of those near death, and an exploration of the afterlife (Volume 21 in The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz)

Learning Objectives

As a result of attending this program, participants will:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the 4 primary archetypal figures in narratives and how a client’s unconscious interacts with such material.
• Describe the clinical effects of a smothering chthonic maternal image.
• Explain how a particular ending within a narrative correlates to the level of psychological development of individuals.
• Explain how a longed-for marriage within a narrative correlates to the transcendent function with the psyche.
• Discuss how interpretation of a narrative can aid in the individuation of a client.
• Compare different narratives and demonstrate an understanding of their core meaning.
• Discuss how historical and cultural symbols effect the unconscious process within an individual.
• List the stages of change and transformation within an individual and how they correlate to historical symbols.
• Describe how unconscious images towards the end of a client’s life assist in a sense of acceptance and reduced anxiety.
• Discuss how a belief in the afterlife assists (or hinders) clients near the end of their life.

About Marie-Louise von Franz

At the age of eighteen, while still in high school, Marie-Louise von Franz met Carl Jung at his Bolingen Tower. She later described this as the most decisive encounter of her life.  She entered analysis with him months later, completed her doctorate in classical philology and began seeing her first analysands soon after.  She was wholeheartedly dedicated to the unconscious, both in her own life and that of her analysands.  She developed a far-reaching expertise in fairytales, alchemy, synchronicity and numbers. She is estimated to have personally analyzed over 65,000 dreams.  She was a prolific writer and a highly sought-after teacher.  Listening to von Franz lecture was a numinous experience. I thought God was speaking. She seemed to know everything. In an amazing fashion and without a text, she ranged over history West and East, mythology, philosophy, anthropology, and a host of other specialized areas. Never in my training had I heard such far-reaching and profound reflections. (Murray Stein, PhD)

Books Referenced / Recommended:

• Volume 1 of the Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz: Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales: The Profane and Magical Worlds, Chiron Publications, 2021
• Volume 2 of the Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz: Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales: The Hero’s Journey, Chiron Publications, 2021
• Volume 3 of the Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz: Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales: The Maiden’s Quest, Chiron Publications, 2021
• Volume 6 of the Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz: Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales: The Maiden’s Quest, Chiron Publications, 2022

3 Clinical Goals:

• Gain an understanding of how myth and narrative relate to struggles with our inner personalities.
• Relate interpersonal growth and individuation with myth and narrative.
• Explore psychological concepts of interior shadow and anima and how they relate to improved psychological functioning.