New archived episode of Rendering Unconscious now at Substack!
RU6: STEVEN REISNER ON THE DANCE OF THE OCCULT & UNCONSCIOUS IN FREUD
Hey everyone!
As part of the transformation Rendering Unconscious Podcast is undergoing, I will be moving archived episodes to Substack as well as posting all new episodes there.
As the first new episode of RU up at Substack is NHS psychologist Stuart Whomsley talking about his interests in Freud, the occult, and Transpersonal Psychology, I decided to post an episode from the archive of Dr. Steven Reisner presenting his work on Freud's interest in the occult, specifically thought transference.
RU6: STEVEN REISNER ON THE DANCE OF THE OCCULT & UNCONSCIOUS IN FREUD
In this lecture, Dr. Reisner explores Freud's interest in the occult and its implications for psychoanalytic theory. Reisner argues that Freud's curiosity extended beyond sexuality to include phenomena beyond sensory perception. He discusses Freud's experiments with telepathy and thought transference, emphasizing the importance of integrating denied knowledge. Reisner also highlights Freud's cautious approach to disseminating such knowledge, balancing scientific rigor with public perception. Additionally, Reisner links Freud's theories to contemporary issues like resistance to knowledge and the impact of narcissistic or traumatized parents on their children's sensitivity to occult phenomena.
This talk was first presented at a conference organized by Dr. Vanessa Sinclair and Carl Abrahamsson, exploring the intersections of Psychoanalysis, Art & the Occult, held in London, May 2016. The Fenris Wolf 9 is a book of collected papers from this conference anthologized by Sinclair and Abrahamsson.
Steven Reisner, PhD is a psychoanalyst and political activist in New York. He is a founding member of the Coalition for an Ethical Psychology, Advisor on Psychology and Ethics for Physicians for Human Rights and past-President of Psychologists for Social Responsibility. Follow him at: Instagram | Facebook | X
Be sure to check out the most recent episode of Rendering Unconscious as well:
RU332: STUART WHOMSLEY ON TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY, FREUD & THE OCCULT
This conversation delves into the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and the occult, focusing on the work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Stuart Whomsley, a clinical psychologist with an interest in transpersonal psychology, discusses Freud's lesser-known research into telepathy and clairvoyance, and his use of followers to explore these phenomena. The discussion touches on the ambiguity in Freud's public stance versus his private interests, and the cultural influence of his and Jung's ideas. They also explore the relevance of these concepts in modern mental health, the impact of family dynamics on behavior, and the importance of depathologizing anomalous experiences like synchronicities and hallucinations.
Stuart Whomsley is a psychologist who makes his living as a clinician in the NHS. He is interested in psychology beyond mental health and has published papers on climate change, Nature, poetry, gardening, spirituality and religion. He is a long-term member of the Transpersonal section of the British Psychological Society and the Holistic Faculty of the DCP. In the clinical field, his specialist areas are hoarding, bipolar disorder and psychosis. Follow him at LinkedIn | Bluesky
News and updates:
Join Dr. Vanessa Sinclair and Carl Abrahamsson in London for the book launch for Meetings with Remarkable Magicians: Life in the Occult Underground by Carl Abrahamsson at Watkins Books, February 27th.
Then on February 28th, join us at Freud Museum, London for “Be Careful What You Wish For – Female & Male Existential Malaise and Hysteric Approaches in ‘The Substance’ and ‘Seconds’” presented by Carl Abrahamsson with Mary Wild as discussant.
Beginning March 23rd, join author Carl Abrahamsson and psychoanalyst Vanessa Sinclair for The Sentient Solar Cycle, a year long series of monthly workshops/ meetings via Zoom.
See you soon!
xo
Vanessa