A Walk on the Beach with Jung

Abstract

ABSTRACTAuthentic Movement can transport practitioners to altered states of consciousness, known in dance/movement therapy as the quantum realm (Leventhal 1997). Quantum is directly accessed through Authentic Movement (AM), an experiential “fact” validated but not satisfactorily explained: a relationship between AM and quantum physics was previously suggested (Plevin 1999) in terms of probability. Despite Jung’s known interest in quantum physics, Jungian synchronicity has not been connected through literature or practice with the quantum or Authentic Movement. AM is itself based in Jung’s active imagination, a development of dance/movement pioneer Mary Whitehouse. This case study consists of a carefully witnessed, reflective session of AM; the experiential writing it evoked; and the serendipitous, separate events enchained. This experience generates synchronicity. Acausal synchronicity (Jung 1960) is a naturally occurring phenomenon in the quantum universe. Jungian synchronicity is also shown to be an occurrence that is continuous rather than unitary, and multiple rather than singular. It could, therefore, be argued that synchronicity in the quantum realm generates other synchronous events, in essence reproducing itself. Implications for Jungian analytic theory as well as quantum mechanics suggest causal associations.