The Individuated Bookshelf: Books for the Inner Journey
The Individuated Bookshelf is a podcast for readers who believe that the right book at the right moment can change a life. Host Béa Gonzalez explores Jungian psychology, mythology, philosophy, and esoteric traditions, examining texts that shape the inner journey. Episodes include close readings of transformative works, conversations with readers about life-changing books, and interviews with authors working at the thresholds of consciousness and meaning. This podcast is for those who read not just for information, but for transformation.
Episodes
When the Planned Life Collapses: A Journey into Individuation
In this episode I trace my journey from an intense graduate‑school community in London through academic disillusionment, anxiety, and early novel‑writing, toward Jungian analysis and the creation of Sophia Cycles as a circle for exploring inner life. I reflect on how apparent missteps and detours can become waypoints on the path of individuation, especially as we reclaim shadowed parts of ourselve
Is Romantic Love a Myth? Jungian Insights on Projection and Eros
In this episode I sit down with the actor and educator Jeff Miller to explore Robert A. Johnson’s We: Understanding the Psychology of Romantic Love through a Jungian lens, asking why romantic love has become the “single greatest energy system in the Western psyche” and how it often replaces religion as our main path to meaning, transcendence, and ecstasy. We unpack projection—how we place our own
The Wrath of Achilles, the Grief of Medea: Deconstructing Anger with Dr. Sumit Anand
In this episode I speak with psychiatrist Dr. Sumit Anand about the complex, often misunderstood nature of anger and its deep roots in personal and collective grief. Drawing on classical literature like Homer’s The Iliad and Euripides’ Medea, contemporary storytelling, and Jungian psychology, we deconstruct how the modern clinical approach has pathologized a vital signaling system of the soul. Dr.
Stirring Thought and Troubling Sleep: A Conversation on James Hollis
In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend, professional actor, and educator Jeff Miller for a deep dive into the work of Jungian psychoanalyst James Hollis. We discuss why a life focused on meaning trumps the superficial cultural chase for happiness, how to face our personal shadow, and the challenging but liberating reality of taking absolute responsibility for our own lives. From navig
The Will to Meaning: Psychiatry and the Soul
In this new incarnation of the podcast, I interview the same guest from the final episode of Gatherings, psychiatrist Dr. Sumit Anand. We explore why modern mental health must address soul, meaning, and a recognition of the human spirit.
Is there space for the notion of a "soul" in contemporary psychiatric practice? Dr. Anand makes a compelling case for why there should be.
The Messy Middle: Narrative and Connection in Psychiatry
In this episode, Béa speaks with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Sumit Anand about his journey from medical school in England to decades of work with the “criminally insane,” adolescents, and today’s so-called “worried well.” He traces how a love of story led him toward psychiatry and then back toward narrative, arguing that a patient’s story is data, not decoration. Sumit reflects on the limits of pure
Writing from the Unconscious: Jung, Story, and the Creative Act
This episode is a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, Jungian psychology, and what it takes to write from the depths. Béa reflects on her novel Invocation as a psychological culmination of years of work, one that braided together cognitive science, mythology, and inner development and ultimately prompted her to step away from her long-running group. From there, the discussion moves into the d
The Clockwork World and the Exiled Soul
In this episode, I turn to the Romantics as guides for a world coming apart, viewing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as a protest against a mechanistic worldview that devalues feeling. Some questions that emerge from this journey are: What do we do when technology outpaces our moral framework? Just because we're able to do something, should we? What responsibilities do we incur when we create a new
The Hunger of the Shadow: Vampires, Repression, and the Modern Psyche
In this episode of Gatherings, we unpack the enduring power of the vampire archetype. We trace its evolution from the gothic shadows of Dracula to today’s romanticized immortal figures, revealing how the vampire reflects the repressed, unintegrated, and wounded parts of the psyche. Drawing on insights from Marion Woodman and Michael Singer, we explore the vampire as a symbol of psychic energy turn
Re-Enchanting the Cosmos: Hermeticism, Brain Hemispheres, and the Evolution of Consciousness
What do a Renaissance magician, a modern neuroscientist, and a forgotten philosopher of language have in common? In this episode, I dive into a wild, mythically-informed rabbit hole that took me from the Corpus Hermeticum to the divided brain model of Iain McGilchrist and the linguistic revelations of Owen Barfield. Together, these three worldviews—Hermeticism, brain lateralization, and the evolut
Truth in Fiction: A Conversation with Author Shylashri Shankar
In this episode, Béa sits down with author Shylashri Shankar for a rich and layered conversation about her debut novel, Blood Caste. Set in 1895 Hyderabad and loosely inspired by the mystery of Jack the Ripper, the novel becomes a launching point for a deeper exploration of themes like prejudice, identity, and the tensions between cultures and values.
Shankar shares how writing the book was more t
Dialogues with the Unconscious — Jungian Perspectives with Roula Maria Dib
In this episode Béa interviews award-winning literary scholar, poet, and Jungian thinker Roula Maria Dib. Together, they explore Jung’s evolving place within feminist thought, the role of the feminine archetype in the psyche, and the power of poetry and art as healing practices. The conversation moves through themes of visionary art, dreams, creativity, and how artists serve as vessels for the col
The Spiral Path: Myth, Surrender, and Embodied Wisdom with Carly Mountain
In this episode of Gatherings, we welcome writer and mythic guide Carly Mountain, author of Descent and Rising. Together, we explore the ancient Sumerian myth of Inanna, a powerful narrative of descent, embodiment, and feminine transformation.
Carly shares how the myth mirrored her own personal journey and why it continues to speak to modern women facing burnout, identity shifts, or creative rebir
Romancing the Shadow: A Conversation with Connie Zweig
In this episode, Béa sits down with author and depth psychologist Connie Zweig to explore what it really means to “romance the shadow.” We speak about the lifelong task of making the unconscious conscious, the myths that still live in us, and how shadow work becomes even more essential as we age.
Drawing from her decades of writing and teaching—from Meeting the Shadow to The Inner Work of Age—Conn
The Creative Process
In this episode, we explore the creative process. Is it limited to the material work we produce, or is the true creative path the inner work we do as part of the individuation journey? What kinds of conversations should we be having? How does dream work factor into the process? And does an artist need to reveal something meaningful to the collective for their work to be considered art?
Books menti
The Wisdom of Iain McGilchrist: Reconnecting to a Larger Reality
Do you ever feel like something's off with the way we think as a society? In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking work of Iain McGilchrist, who argues that an imbalance in our brains, favoring the left hemisphere's focus on control, could be leading us down a dangerous path. The discussion delves into how McGilchrist's theories connect with Jungian psychology and the importance of a holisti
Navigating Life’s Depths: A Guide to James Hollis’ Wisdom
This episode takes a deep dive into the writings and influence of Jungian analyst James Hollis. We focus on four essential books to get you started: The Eden Project, Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, Under Saturn’s Shadow, and Swamplands of the Soul. Through these works, we examine powerful themes such as taking responsibility for our lives, embracing individuation, understanding relati
Unveiling the Books That Captured our Attention in 2024
Join Béa and Carly as they discuss their top reads from 2024. With a focus on both fiction and nonfiction, they explore Carly Mountain's 'Descent & Rising,' Roberta B. Corson's Stepping Out of the Shadows,' J. Gary Sparks’ The Call of Destiny and Andrea Wulf's 'Magnificent Rebels,' among others. The conversation delves deep into book recommendations, literary themes, and personal reflections o
Episode 21 | Venus, Inanna and Modern Perspectives
Uncover the Journey of the Feminine Archetype through Time
In this episode, Jay and Béa discuss the myth of Inanna, the two Venuses, and the evolution of the feminine archetype across various cultures and eras. They initiate the conversation with an in-depth exploration of Inanna's myth, drawing parallels with the movie Barbie while emphasizing the continual relevance and transformative power of t
Episode 20 | The Healing Journey
In this episode, Jay and Béa explore the many dimensions healing can take. There seems to be a lot of attention placed on the notion of healing in the public sphere but what does this look like? Is it possible to ever fully heal? And if so, what modalities can help us on this journey? Authors and books mentioned: Dr. Gabor Maté [The Myth of Normal]; Marion Woodman "Addiction to Perfection". Books
Episode 19 | Ways of Seeing | Conversation with Geneviève Caron
In this episode, Béa has a conversation with a member of the Sophia Collective---Geneviève Caron, photographer, documentary film maker, artist and spectacular human! Geneviève has just released an exquisite 8-minute documentary where she invites the viewer to journey with the artist Ljubodrag Andric, as he travels through Jaipur, India. We talk about her background, her involvement with the Sophia
Episode 18 | Is Doing Inner Work enough to Change Things?
Béa and Jay wrestle with the question of whether doing inner work is enough to change things in the external world as well. Does doing shadow work and wrestling with our inner demons rid the world sufficiently of the burdens we place on others---or do we have a duty to address the social problems of the day as well? If so, how does doing inner work help us in that regard? Books explored include th
Episode 17 | The Limits of Rational Thought
In this episode, we discuss Jeffrey Kripal's book, “The Flip” which is an exploration of what happens to people who have an experience that is life transforming but which cannot be explained in rational terms. Other thinkers mentioned include Bernardo Kastrup [More than Allegory] and Rupert Sheldrake [Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home]. Jay also talks about the song, Rain and Gold,
Episode 16 | Landscape and Typology, Jung in Love
In this episode we explore how landscape might map onto Jung's typological system. What do the landscapes that attract us say about our typological orientation? We also discuss Lance Owen's book, "Jung in Love" and the Jeff Buckley biography, "Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley" by David Browne. The song in this episode is from Jay's album, Harvesting James, "In the Summer
Episode 15| The Problem with the Word ”Spiritual”
Jay and Béa are back after a summer break to discuss some of the issues they have with the way the word "spiritual" is used. What does the word mean? How can we approach what it encompasses? We also discuss how the word drifts into a subject that keeps showing up---UFOs and the search for intelligent life in the universe. Is this part of an age old phenomenon appearing in a new guise? Books mentio
Episode14 | The Anti-hero
We are back after a brief hiatus with an exploration of the "anti-hero". We discuss how the film industry has changed its portrayal of the figure of the anti-hero--from "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Godfather" to "The Sopranos" and "Succession". We also look at how this has been explored in literature [Lazarillo de Tormes, The Idiot, Catcher in the Rye] and in music [the rock and roll mythos and ho
Episode 13 | The Wizard of Oz and other tales
Jay wanted to talk about "The Wizard of Oz" and so we did. This led us into a discussion about the importance of fairy tales and to my book recommendations for the month which are all by Marie-Louise von Franz. Begin with "The Interpretation of Fairy Tales" and then read all of her other books that deal with these stories. She was a great master in understanding their psychological importance. On
Episode 12 | Dreams and Dream Interpretation
In this episode, Béa and Jay explore the subject of dreams and how to approach them. The books mentioned include: "The Way of the Dream", Marie-Louise von Franz; "Dreams", CG Jung [Bollingen]; "Inner Work", Robert A. Johnson. The song featured in this episode is a new release by Jay---"Lead me to Gardens". You can find it on all music distribution platforms and on YouTube here:
Lead Me To Gardens
Episode 11 | Mystery
Books discussed in this episode: The Gnostic Gospels, Elaine Pagels; The Gnostic Jung, Stephan Hoeller; Answer to Job, CG Jung. Music: Sigur Rós, Björk, Radiohead. Béa laments the burning of the library at Alexandria and Jay explores the notion of mystery and how it applies to music. Song: This 'Ol World from Jay's album, Harvesting James. You can find Jay's music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon a
Episode 10 | Visit to the Underworld
In this episode, Béa and Jay explore the concept of the descent through the book recommended: The Descent of the Goddess by Sylvia Brinton Perera. Is the descent necessary? What does it entail? What does a descent look like when you choose to go willingly?
Gatherings Episode 9 |Books and Music you Need in your Life
In this episode, Béa and Jay discuss what they love the most--books and music. Both make recommendations for books/music you must read/listen to and why; books/music they are currently reading and listening to; and how this is all translating creatively. Themes that come up are: shadow work, the Apollonian and the Dionysian in music and how a book can change the course of your life. The song used
Gatherings | Episode 8 | The Sophia Journey
In this episode, Jay interviews Béa about the SophiaCycles project --- the group that has been running for fifteen years. They discuss how it was formed and why, the importance of dream interpretation to the group, the public program that will launch in April, and how to set up a similar group for those who may be interested. We also discuss something that has troubled us for some time---who "own
Gatherings | Episode 7 | Art and the Unconscious
In this episode, Béa and Jay explore the "anxiety of influence" by looking at those writers and musicians who have inspired them. They also discuss what works survive the test of time and why. Finally, they also explain how their own artistic work has changed over time and what recurring themes they see appearing there. The song featured in this episode is "And the Angels now are Singing" from Ja
Gatherings | Episode 6 | The Path of Individuation
Béa and Jay explore the individuation process using the film “The King of California” and the novel “Don Quijote” as examples of what this journey looks like. They also discuss Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey and how misunderstandings have been created around what that means. Other works mentioned include: “Searching for Sugarman” “Star Wars” and “The Matrix.”
Song: Hippie with a Cellphone from
Gatherings | Episode 5 | Examining the Shadow
Béa and Jay explore the concept of the shadow and how it appears in our lives. They examine the difficulties encountered by people living in a culture that does not match their orientation as extraverts/introverts. They also discuss how the shadow shows up during the mid-life transition. Other subjects: the body in exile, music as a form of catharsis and how to approach the third act. Works mentio
Gatherings | Episode 4 | Decoding the Mysteries of Romantic Love
In this episode, Jay and Béa tackle the thorny issue of romantic love and its many facets. Works mentioned include: He, She, We by Robert A Johnson and The Eden Project, James Hollis. They weave their way through notions of love as they emerged during the Middle Ages through the Celtic myths--in particular, Tristan and Isolde, and in the tradition of courtly love. Did romantic love play a role in
Gatherings | Episode 3 | The Triumph of Imagination
Béa and Jay explore the terms feminine/masculine and the reactions they generate on social media. They also look at the burdens placed on men [book mentioned: Under Saturn's Shadow, James Hollis]. Béa guides Jay through an exercise to spur the imagination and they discuss why storytelling matters. Other works mentioned: The Iliad, The Skeleton Woman, The Godfather, and the stories of Inanna and Si
Gatherings | Episode 2 | Killing the Parents
Jay and Béa discuss the metaphorical killing of the parents through an examination of work from The Doors, Richard Wagner, James Joyce, Star Wars and Pedro Almodóvar. They also discuss the inherent pitfalls in refusing the call to maturity.
Books mentioned in this episode: Now or Neverland: Peter Pan and the Myth of Eternal Youth, Ann Yeoman & The Problem of the Puer Aeternus, Marie-Louise von Fr
Gatherings | Episode 1 | Introductions
Béa and Jay introduce themselves, they recount how they each discovered Jung and they discuss how it has impacted their creative output. They also look at dreams and their importance. The music used in this episode is Jay’s Rain and Gold from his album, Harvesting James. You can find it on YouTube bit.ly/3APibAU and on all music platforms.
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