Career as a Journey of Soul

A unique SMALL-GROUP 10 week intensive course

May 21 to August 6, 2023

ACA Accredited — 15 OPD hours

(please contact us if you would like to be included on the waitlist for the 2024 course)

“I have absolutely loved doing the Career as a Journey of Soul course. It has been challenging, confronting, rich and stimulating. I feel like I have come home to myself, rediscovered parts of who I am; those that are in the light and also those that are in shadow.” — Heather, Secondary Art Teacher.

Are you seeking to align yourself with more authentic, sustaining and sustainable work in these uncertain and turbulent times?  Would you love to connect in a like-souled community with respectful others? Are you feeling stuck, at the end of a road, or questioning your shifting role(s) and direction in a rapidly changing world?

Perhaps you work in a professional capacity with others struggling with these questions?

Whatever your age, occupation or disciplinary background, this course will benefit you.

As more of us find ourselves disenchanted with or disenfranchised from Western capitalist notions of work and success, this much-loved graduate level course engages ideas from disciplines including Jungian and archetypal psychology and ecopsychology to re-imagine our ideas about and approaches to work, careers and calling today.

The original meaning of vocation is to be addressed by a voice. Today the phrase 'vocational education' commonly refers to learning the skills of a particular trade. However, the true meaning of vocation derives from the Latin vocatus, meaning 'calling'. 

We begin this course by reframing our thinking about work and purpose within a larger ecological context, aligned more closely with indigenous ways of knowing. Supported by this orientation, we’ll review classic approaches and techniques of career development, and consider which of these may be useful for you now.

Yet at the edges where conventional approaches to careers begin to fray, a depth psychological understanding of vocation comes into play.  This perspective values the imagination and the unconscious – the psyché, which is the Greek word for soul – as a source of wisdom and guidance.  You will be introduced to Jung’s foundational ideas of the psyché, and understand their significance for uncovering and transforming ideas and emotional patterns that may no longer serve you.  We will discuss the various ways by which individuals are called beyond existing career paths into a deeper sense of vocation, and how to read and respond to these signs.

You will begin to re-imagine notions of work and calling in a framework of career inquiry and decision-making that includes collaboration with the psyché or soul.

Each week includes a lecture/ presentation, readings from selected authors, poetry, activities and discussion, with individual attention and feedback from the instructor.   A short reading list of books will be provided on registration.  

Learning Outcomes:

1. Gain a theoretically sound introduction to depth psychology as a psychology of metaphor and symbol, which values the imagination and the psyché (soul) as a source of wisdom and guidance.   

2. Understand the key differences between work as a job, a career or a vocation (calling), from historical, etymological, depth psychological and phenomenological perspectives, and reflect on the differences in your own life.

3. Situate thinking and actions about work and purpose within a life-affirming ecological, compassionate, ethical context.

4. Understand the traditional 5-step approach to career development, and critique its benefits and limitations.  Review your skills, interests, constraints, and core values as guiding principles on your path.

5. Consider the value of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (based on CG Jung’s theory of psychological types) for vocational guidance and career decision-making, and the curious role of the ‘inferior function’ in cultivating vocational fulfilment in midlife and beyond. Identify your MBTI type and its dynamics, and the insights this offers into your career choices and callings.

6. Appreciate the importance of a symbolic perspective to awaken the imagination, identify vocational callings, and sustain a sense of meaning at work.  Identify, amplify and share your own resonant soul-symbol.

7. Learn about dreamwork as a method of vocational guidance, drawing on theoretical perspectives and real-life stories.

8. Develop an understanding of Jung’s foundational ideas of the psyche (ego, unconscious, persona, shadow, anima / animus, Self, archetype, individuation) and reflect on how these relate to your lived experiences of work and vocational callings.

9. Understand how authentic callings emerge and evolve in accordance with the developmental stages of one’s life, especially during times of darkness, difficulty, loss, grief, uncertainty, and transition.

10. Explore how childhood recollections can hold the key to connecting with the ancient Platonic idea of the daimon, or what the Romans called the genius, as a soul companion who guides an individual vocationally.

11. Produce a personal creative piece, drawing on resonant symbols, images and ideas, which is reflective of your ‘personal myth’. 

12. Re-imagine notions of work as calling in a framework of career inquiry and decision-making including collaboration with the psyché or soul.

An intimate online classroom where each week we work together

This small group intensive course is offered in a live online classroom, enabling participation wherever you live. Each week we’ll meet for a 1.5 hour live session (recorded in case you miss it, or wish to re-watch). You’ll receive readings and activities, and following a lecture component we’ll engage in discussions and written reflections in the forum.

One of the things that is special about this course is that it’s not a large webinar, and it’s not pre-recorded. This is a space in which you’ll connect directly with your teacher Dr Suzanne Cremen and have the good fortune of knowing, witnessing and being accompanied on a journey by the others in your cohort. As you feel comfortable, you’ll have opportunities to share your own stories, questions, insights, and wisdom. To facilitate participation and personal attention, the number of participants in each course is therefore limited. 

Students are frequently surprised by how conducive this moderated online space can be for personal reflection, connection with others, and soulwork: 

What participants have said about our past courses: 

“I LOVED this course. Over the past 20 years I have had many questions in relation to my vocation and various careers and for me this questioning has created its fair share of worry and concern. After completing this course I felt more at peace with my vocational exploration and discovered ways to approach my exploration in a more imaginative way, thank you so much Suzanne!" – Rochelle, Artist and Academic Researcher

“Career as a Journey of Soul provides a unique, inspiring and personalised approach to vocational calling. The lectures are beautifully presented and jam-packed with rich, thought-provoking material. Suzanne provides intuitive and beautiful commentary that invites new perspectives and shifts in self-understanding. I also really benefited from hearing other people’s journeys and could hear so many aspects of my own story reflected back. The course material and Suzanne’s commentary has really opened up new avenues of vocational exploration for me and I’m so pleased! A superb and highly recommended course.” – Alex, Psychologist

"Initially, I wondered if I would really get anything out of this course – if I may be repeating a career / vocation exploration pathway similar to things I had done in the past. But this course provided me with new information and knowledge around the concept of vocation, and the phases and pathways in life. I found great value in the reading material provided and viewing vocation from a completely different perspective. I gained much greater insight into myself and my intrinsic behaviour through the depth psychological process. I feel much more at peace, and have much more clarity about how my career can form an extension of my soul's vocation." – Josie, Learning and Development Consultant

"I have loved this course! The lectures, readings and discussions have carried me across an ocean of new understanding, and despite having not one but two dreams of being on a boat that is capsizing, I've managed to keep my head above water. Thank-you Suzanne, for bringing this course material to us all in such a dynamic and stimulating format, and for all of your thoughtful comments along the way. Thank-you, too, to the other members of the course who have witnessed the movements of my soul." – Sarah, Psychiatrist

"I found this course profound both as an introduction to depth psychology through the lens of vocation and as a powerful precursor to deep awareness and personal change in my approach to career, calling and vocation.  My whole life has changed as a result of the insights that arose out of this inquiry into vocation.  Suzanne is a wonderful teacher and guide and is bringing a much needed creative access to depth psychology in Australia. Highly recommended." – Delaney Jane, Steiner High School Director

“Dear Suzanne, just a final note of appreciation for what has been an important and very useful weekly interlude within ‘my short personal journey between 2 mysteries’.  A regular return each week to your voice provided a warm wise and welcome continuity for this course and a reassuring story-like quality to the external narrative that accompanied our exploration of our own inner lives. Thanks too for listening so carefully to our personal stories and for responding with such delicacy to our posts.” – Geoff, Medical Educator

“This course has been of great benefit as I have finally committed to my calling after fifteen long years of resistance. I always knew I had something to offer, but I was afraid to express myself. I was more than ready for this course, all it took was Suzanne to reflect back to me that I had the hallmarks of a calling. I have had others encourage me to pursue my soul’s work, but I finally listened to Suzanne because she understands my struggles of the psyche, has a depth psychology perspective, has dedicated herself to supporting people to connect with their vocation, and is a fellow woman! I can now step forward with vulnerability as a writer when it is so needed.” – Jasmine, Writer and Cultural Community Development Worker

Read more testimonials here

Will this course benefit me?

If you’ve achieved a degree of proficiency or success in your working life, but are

• feeling stuck, and wrestling with deeper questions of meaning and purpose,

• concerned for the state of our world and want your work and life to make a positive difference,

• an educator, artist or healer (in the widest sense) wishing to enhance your personal and professional development, or

• feeling a pull towards some new project, venture or career direction (especially one that’s outside the box),

then the depth psychological perspective in this program will benefit you.  You will also find this program resonant and beneficial if you

• work in the helping professions (e.g. psychologist, therapist, doctor, nurse, counsellor, secondary teacher, aged care worker, community worker, career counsellor) and would like to expand your repertoire of knowledge, perspectives and practices for the soul-care of yourself and others

• are intuitive and appreciate metaphor and imagination as modes of comprehension.

The required reading and level at which our courses are taught is designed for adults with a tertiary education (any discipline). To ensure the program is suitable for your needs, course participants are requested to complete an online application form.  

your Course instructor:

Dr Suzanne Cremen  PhD, MA Depth Psychology (Jungian & Archetypal Studies), MA Engaged Humanities & Mythological Studies (Pacifica, USA), LLB, BA (UNSW). Author of From Career to Calling: A depth psychology guide to soul-making work in darkening times (Routledge, 2020).
You can read more about Suzanne here. Please contact Suzanne if you have any questions. 

and introducing career coach Briony Stocker

Briony (Bo) Stocker is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) with qualifications including an MA in Education and Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice. Also a graduate of Life Artistry courses, Bo is available as a compassionate and experienced career coach to support you with practical implementation and next steps on your journey.

Ongoing Professional Development
A certificate of completion is provided following successful completion of the included assessment. Members of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) may receive 15 OPD (ongoing professional development) hours on completion of this course.

COURSE DATES AND TIMES

Online, May 21 – August 6, 2023

10 weeks (plus 2 x one-week breaks)

• Sundays 10.00 - 11.30am: Sydney / Brisbane / Melbourne (AEST)

• Sundays 12.00 - 1.30pm: Auckland, New Zealand (NZST)

• Saturdays, 5.00 - 6.30pm Los Angeles (PDT)

• Saturdays, 8.00 - 9.30pm New York (EDT)

to register

Please complete the online application form and make payment below. 

A short reading list of books to purchase will be provided upon registration.

The course is available globally to graduate level students with English language proficiency. Please complete the application form and select the appropriate registration option below. 

For each course one partial scholarship is made available for a person in Australia or New Zealand who would benefit from this work yet is unable to participate for financial reasons. Staged payment options are also available. If this applies to you, please indicate your situation on the application form. 

If you are one of the first 6 people to enroll for this course (Australia and New Zealand ) you’ll receive a complimentary hard copy of You’ve Got Personality: An introduction to the personality types described by Carl Jung and Isabel Myers by Mary McGuiness.

In addition, if you subscribe to the Life Artistry newsletter, you’ll receive a valuable BONUS book posted to you - please check our April newsletter for the book title to claim this special offer!

registration fees – Australia & new zealand (AUD)

AU$1880 (Credit Card or staged payments)
AU$1850 (Direct Deposit - see below; save $30)  
Member Rate: AU$ 1780 (Credit Card) or AU$1755 (Direct Deposit)

Pay by Direct Deposit (preferred method):
BSB: 313 140 (Bank Australia, Kew, Victoria) 
Account number: 14073170
Account name: eContent t/a Life Artistry

or Credit Card/ PayPal (includes merchant credit card fees):

Registration fees – Rest of World (USD)

Full Rate US$1255 (Credit Card or staged payments)
Full Rate US$1235 (SWIFT Direct Deposit - see below; save US$20)

Pay by SWIFT Direct Deposit:
BSB: 313 140 (Bank Australia, Kew, Victoria) 
Account number: 14073170
Account name: eContent t/a Life Artistry

or Credit Card/ PayPal (includes merchant credit card fees):

Cancellation policy

• AU$150 or US$100 Fee applies per cancellation

• Prorata refund per cancellation (less Fee) before week 3 of the course

• No refund available after week 3.