The Topic

The words used for spirit – pneuma (Greek), ruah (Hebrew), wind (English) – express a reality that is invisible but with discernible effects, as the unconscious is invisible with discernible effects. (Morgan-Jones et.al 2010 p.1).

‘My grandfather told me that a Sangoma must be able to draw knowledge from what he called ‘the hidden lake’. There is, he said, a huge unseen lake somewhere in the spirit world where all the knowledge of the universe – past, present, and future – is to be found. You must never again say that you do not know something. You must just ask the lake, the unseen lake. To provide you with the knowledge that you seek.’ (Credo Mutwa 2003).[i]

This webinar will examine the way in which the unconscious has been linked to spirit throughout its evolution as a concept. Beginning with the philosopher Schelling, through psychoanalytic thinking to an understanding of the unconscious in nature, the idea of unconscious process as collective spirit is somehow ever present. How we access this and allow it to inform rather than drive us is important for life now.

[i] Thanks to Michelle May for sending me this quote and introducing me to Zulu Credo Mutwa’s wisdom.

The Agenda

In the first half of the webinar, Susan will make her presentation and facilitate initial responses.

In the second half, we'll move into a reflection-application session:

- 'Composting': experienced peers work the material in small groups to sprout new ideas;

- 'Weaving': attendees gather to collectively reflect and question, weaving our experiences together;

- Discuss how we will apply learnings to our personal practice in Reflection Application Pairs (RAPs).

The Speaker

Professor Susan Long is PhD Co-Lead and Research Lead at NIODA and former Professor of Creative and Sustainable Organisation at RMIT University, Melbourne. She supervises doctoral candidates, teaches in global programs such as INSEAD’s Master of Coaching and Consulting (Singapore), and consults on leadership, organisational change, and executive coaching.
A trained clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Susan has a deep interest in the unconscious and its influence on individuals, groups, and organisations. She has served on advisory boards, including Comcare’s Centre of Excellence for Research into Mental Health at Work, and was the founding President of Group Relations Australia. She is also a past President of the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organisations (ISPSO), where she contributed to advancing psychoanalytic approaches to leadership and organisational life. Her latest book, The Evolution of the Unconscious: Exploring Persons, Groups, Nature and Spirit, traces the historical development of unconscious thought, from early philosophical ideas to contemporary psychoanalysis. She explores how the unconscious operates not only within individuals but also within social, ecological, and spiritual dimensions. Through this lens, she challenges reductionist views and offers a broader, interconnected understanding.

If you purchase a ticket but can't make it in real-time, a recording will be shared with you after the webinar.