Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association (HKSTA)

Alchemy in the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition can mean either a medieval chemical science and philosophy to achieve the transmutation of the base materials into gold or a power/process that transforms something in a mysterious and impressive way.  From the Jungian perspective, this is another lens through which we understand more the process of individuation.

Further to the November study group in which Sun a play therapist shares to us the basic concepts of alchemy, Kitty a certified counsellor in the December study group will share from her clinical experience in sandplay therapy practice how we may recognise alchemy is happening in the client’s psyche.  Though these are Kitty’s baby steps in making such observations, she is glad to share and explore with the groupmates so we may have some learning together.

Details:

Date:                December 14, 2021 (Tuesday)
Time:                7-9pm
Topic:               Alchemy in Action
Presenter:        Kitty Liu, a certified counsellor in private practice whose major clientele is working adults
Venue:                Webinar through Zoom
Language:        Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

The alchemical process is like psychoanalysis that starts from some seemingly useless things, like primitive materials, then transforms into a Philosopher’s stone. When we embark on a journey of psychoanalysis in a closed container, which is like a stable therapeutic environment, the primitive materials will gradually transform into priceless treasures.

Alchemy symbolizes the process of discovering oneself, finding the soul, and searching for treasure in the shadows. Therefore, understand the symbolic meaning of alchemy is better starting from exploring ourselves. In this study group, the speaker will share his personal experience as the way to understand the symbolic meaning in alchemy and share his understanding of the book “Anatomy of the Psyche: Alchemical symbolism in psychotherapy” and the journal article of “Symbols of the alchemical process and sandplay therapy”. (Levy, E. G. (2011). Symbols of the alchemical process and sandplay therapy. Journal of Sandplay Therapy, 20(2), 41-63.)

Details:

Study Topic: Using the personal process to understand alchemical symbolism
Presenters: Mr Poon Yat Sun (Registered Counsellor; Has been learning sandplay therapy since 2018)
Date: November 25, 2021 (Thu)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

This month we conclude our study of The Road to Enlightenment by learning from the insights of Hayao Kawai in his book Buddhism and the Art of Psychotherapy.

Kawai first learns about Psychotherapy from the West in the United States. But after returning to Japan, he continues to develop further insights into the Jungian’s theory through his understanding of Japanese Buddhism.

In this book, he touches upon the philosophy of Rosarium Philosophorum, (Rosary of the Philosophers) that has 20 pictures depicting a “spiritual journey” that the alchemist has to go through in order to achieve enlightenment. He then compares the journey of the Ten Oxen Herding pictures with this series of 20 pictures that show a similar process. Then he goes on to decipher how the East and the West defers in the finding of Self and their attainment of consciousness.   

In this study, we will introduce the concept of Rosarium Philosophorum that is the basis of alchemy where the union of animus and anima comes into being to achieve a new sense of awareness. We will see how Kawai compares this philosophy with the Ten Oxen Herding and how these concepts can be applied in the fairy tale of The Wizard of Oz to conclude our 3-part study of this series.

For those who are interested in getting to know the concept of Rosarium PHiosophorum, you can find an introduction from this link: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/library/files/special/exhibns/month/april2009.html

Details:

Study Topic: The Process of Individuation from the East and West
Presenters: Ms Jennifer Wong (A counsellor and a part-time assistant lecturerer for the Master program in counselling of the University of Hong Kong)
and Ms. Berenice Lee (A private practitioner, Certified Counsellor of HKPCA)
Date: October 27, 2021 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

For this study group, we will look at some of the characters from the fairy tale of The Wizard of Oz to understand the road of enlightenment for the character of Dorothy.  “Symbolically this fairy tale describes how a person becomes healed and whole. The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion represent unexplored, wounded and undeveloped aspects of the psyche. As the travelers evolve together, they create a sense of integration and wholeness that leads Dorothy into a more conscious awareness of herself. Through the inner development, she returns home to a place of contentment and self realization.”  (Gita Dorothy Morena from The Wisdom of Oz, Reflections of a Jungian Sandplay Therapist)

Gita Dorothy Morena is the great granddaughter of Frank Baum who is the creator and author of the original fairy tale of The Wizard of Oz. She is a Jungian Sandplay Therapist herself. I will be sharing some of her thoughts in her book of how she sees the symbolic meaning of these characters play out in sandplay and Individuation process towards enlightenment.   

Participants are encouraged to read the story of The Wizard of Oz or watch the movie (staring Judy Garland) before the study group where some references will be made.

Details:

Study Topic: The Process of Individuation from The Wizard of Oz  
Presenters: Ms. Berenice Lee (A private practitioner, Certified Counsellor of HKPCA)
Date: September 29, 2021 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.

The Ten Oxen Herding pictures from The Orient are often used to describe the road to enlightenment in the Zen tradition.  We will explore whether this series of poems and pictures can be applied and understood from the Jungian perspective of Individuation.

We will start by learning the meaning of the pictures and the poems that accompany them. We will see how they can be related to the Jungian concepts of Individuation that leads to the conscious awareness of wholeness.

This study is the 1^st of a 3-part series where we try to understand the concept of wholeness from the East and West. We will study the story of The Wizard of Oz next month and draw some comparisons between these two stories as well as using these concepts for the theme of ”Finding our Way Home” in sandplay in October.

A short you-tube clip is attached herewith at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8kAPQrjP14 to wet your appetite on how this Ten Oxen Herding story can be applied to our present lives symbolically as well.

Details:

Study Topic: The Ten Oxen Herding Pictures
Presenters: Ms Jennifer Wong (A counsellor and a part-time assistant lecturerer for the Master program in counselling of the University of Hong Kong)
and Ms. Berenice Lee (A private practitioner, Certified Counsellor of HKPCA)
Date: August 18, 2021 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (online)
Language: Cantonese

This study group is only opened to members of the Hong Kong Sandplay Therapy Association.