Inner Voice - Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan

E389 – "Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine." In this episode, Dr. Foojan Zeine chats with Cody Peterson who has been a student of spirituality and religion since childhood. Passionate about the teachings of Carl Jung, he found a profound intersection between Jungian teachings, transformation, and AA's Twelve-Step approach. Eleven + years sober, Peterson takes his spiritual practice very seriously, believing that his recovery (and his life) depends on it. He shares his insights into modern spiritual transformation through his writings and podcast appearances, teaching his audience to make peace with those parts of themselves that they’ve spent their lives avoiding, thereby unlocking transformative power they never dreamed possible. He is an avid outdoor adventurer and owner, with his wife, of a small construction company. His new book is Shadow of a Figure of Light/ The Archetype of the Alcoholic and the Journey to Enlightenment. Learn more at Cody-Peterson.com. # 1 on the 20 Best California Mental Health Podcasts list by FeedSpot. https://podcasts.feedspot.com/california_mental_health_podcasts Check out my website: www.FoojanZeine.com, www.AwarenessIntegration.com, www.Foojan.com Summary Dr. and Cody Peterson discussed Cody's book, "The Shadow of a Figure of Light: The Archetype of the Alcoholic and the Journey to Enlightenment". Cody explained the book's cover, which was drawn by a friend, and its connection to the story of Carl Jung's quest for his myth. He also mentioned Jaime D'Angelo, a character in the book, who discovered his spiritual connection through practicing with native Americans and using psychedelic mushrooms. Dr. shared his experiences with dream work and ayahuasca trips, noting the recurring ancient symbols he encountered. Dr. and Cody discussed the connection between psychology and spirituality, with a focus on the role of the subconscious and the concept of the shadow. Cody emphasized the importance of making the darkness conscious in the process of spiritual awakening, drawing on Carl Jung's ideas. They also discussed the symbolism of dreams and the collective myth, and how these relate to the human psyche. The conversation centered around Cody's book, "The Shadow of a Figure of Light," which explores the balance between spirituality and religion, and the acceptance of one's darkness as a source of spiritual vitality. Dr. and Cody discussed the commonalities between various therapeutic approaches, including psychotherapy, dream work, psychedelic treatments, and spirituality. They agreed that the first step in healing is to confront and accept the darkness within oneself, whether it's related to trauma, addiction, or other personal issues. Dr. emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and love for all parts of oneself, while Cody shared his personal experience as an alcoholic and drug addict, noting the parallels between Carl Jung's ideas and the 12-step program. Both agreed that the transformation experienced by addicts through the 12 steps serves as a prototype for psychological transformation in general. Cody discussed his perspective on alcoholism, drawing from Carl Jung's letter to Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. He suggested that alcoholism is a universal thirst for wholeness or union with God and that alcoholics are a prototype of this struggle. Cody also explored the concept of the archetype of the alcoholic, which he found had not been extensively written about. He emphasized the transformative nature of alcoholism, likening it to the prime material in alchemy. Cody highlighted the importance of accepting our murkiness and recognizing that everyone is in the same boat, rather than striving for perfection. Dr. discussed their personal experience with addiction, comparing it to other behaviors and substances. They shared their 30-year work in addiction recovery and opened an outpatient program. Dr. emphasized that addiction stems from a deep-seated unease and anxiety, and people often use substances or behaviors to cope. They noted that falling in love or finding a spiritual connection can be key to recovery, as these connections can guide individuals toward self-discovery and oneness. Dr. also highlighted the importance of self-reflection and daily work in managing addiction. Dr. and Cody discussed the concept of compulsion and its role in human life. Dr. discussed the concept of addiction and the delusion that people often fall into. He explained that people get hooked on a path that promises them a connection and wholeness, but this path is a path of destruction. The association between the addictive behavior and the desired connection is not accurate, leading people to believe that one more use will bring them closer to their goal. Dr. also mentioned that even people who have been sober for a long time can still have this delusion, believing that they can have one more time of using before they die.