This course provides students with an in depth introduction to Carl Jung's study of astrology as a mythological system of symbols. For Jung, ancient astrology was a symbolic language that encoded psychological insights which developed over millennia.
Discover how Jung understood astrology as a symbolic language of the psyche
For Jung, astrological symbols preserved millennia of psychological wisdom – archetypal patterns that ancient observers encoded in celestial imagery and passed down through generations
This course explores C. G. Jung's nuanced engagement with astrology as a psychological system. Jung began studying astrology while working with Freud, initially viewing it as a chapter in the history of psychology. As he wrote, “Its value is obvious enough to the psychologist, since astrology represents the sum of all the psychological knowledge of antiquity” (Jung, CW 15, par. 81). Over time, Jung discovered that astrology held not only historical and symbolic significance but practical psychological value. He approached it not as a predictive science but as a sophisticated symbolic language – a map of archetypal patterns that ancient peoples used to understand personality structures, life phases, and universal human experiences. This course examines how astrology contributed to Jung's understanding of the collective unconscious, the architecture of the psyche, and helped him to decipher ancient alchemical texts.
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Your instructor for this course:
Senior Instructor
James R. Newell, Ph.D.
James Newell is an educator, counselor, personal coach, professional musician, and the director of the Depth Psychology Alliance. James earned his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling and Theology from Vanderbilt University Divinity School, with a focus on Jungian psychology. He earned his doctorate in History of Religions from the Vanderbilt University Graduate School of Religion. James has taught online and face to face courses for Central Michigan University, Western Kentucky University, Excelsior College, Thomas Edison State University, and other institutions.
Bonnie Bright, PhD, founder of the Depth Psychology Alliance
Dr. James Newell is a gifted teacher and scholar who has effectively organized an impressive amount of detailed research and information into a series of powerful classes and courses on Jung and Jung’s psychology, now available on Depth Psychology Academy. Students at all levels can gain a depth of understanding about how Jung’s ideas can change our lives and our world as Dr. Newell explains each topic very clearly and at exactly the right pace for students of all levels to take it in.
Dr. James Newell is highly knowledgeable in Jungian Psychology
Monica Flores, Ed.D
Dr. James Newell is highly knowledgeable in Jungian Psychology. I learned so much from him about Jung and Jungian psychology when I began taking courses in depth psychology from the Depth Psychology Alliance online courses. Dr. Newell is open-minded and consistent. He has a smooth voice that can hold anyone’s attention. I enthusiastically recommend taking these courses through the Depth Psychology Academy.
James is a knowledgeable and caring instructor with an engaging teaching style
Ann Amberg, MCS, Transpersonal Leadership Consultant
I highly recommend Dr. James Newell’s courses. Upon completion of my certificate in Depth Psychology I had gained the confidence, focus and knowledge to support my success in my current PhD program in Jungian and Archetypal Studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute. James is a knowledgeable and caring instructor with an engaging teaching style. All of the Depth Psychology Alliance courses I took: Introduction to Jungian Psychology, Active Imagination, Fairy Tales, Dreams, and many more, were phenomenal and I am most grateful for the opportunity to study with James.
The courses I have taken with Dr. Newell have perfectly prepped me for my graduate studies in psychoanalysis
Nirlap Bettenhauser, student
This is an outstanding educational program where one can learn multiple areas of Jungian Psychology. These courses are very well structured with an appropriate course load and high quality texts. Plus the price is incredibly reasonable. The courses I have taken with Dr. Newell have been intellectually engaging and have perfectly prepped me for my graduate studies in psychoanalysis. Not something I expected to receive from the academy, but very grateful I did.
Learn college-level material at a fraction of the cost!
We cover essential astrological concepts to illuminate Jung's psychological interpretation – this is not a course on astrological practice. Our focus remains on how Jung understood these ancient symbols as expressions of archetypal patterns in the psyche. Explore Jung's scholarly approach to astrology as a window into the unconscious.
M1/5: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on the assigned readings, pages 1 - 36; Part 1 in the textbook, Jung on Astrology)
M1/6: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M1/7: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M1/8: An Additional, Optional Video Resources
3
Module 2: The History of Astrology
M2/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
M2/2: Video Lesson: Wounded Healers in Western Mythology
M2/3: Video Quiz
M2/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on the assigned readings, pages 37 - 69; in the textbook, Jung on Astrology)
M2/5: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M2/6: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M2/7: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M2/8: Additional, Optional Video Resources
4
Module 3: Jung’s Encounter With Astrology
M3/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
M3/2: Video Lesson: Healing Gods of the Ancient World
M3/3: Video Lesson Quiz
M3/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on the assigned readings, pages 76 - 110; in the textbook, Jung on Astrology)
M3/5: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M3/6: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M3/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
5
Module 4: Jung’s Astrologers
M4/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
M4/2: Video Lesson: Jung's Astrologers
M4/3: Video Lesson Quiz
M4/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based on pages 111 to 140; in the textbook Jung on Astrology)
M4/5: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M4/6: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M4/7: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M4/8: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M4/9: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M4/10 An Additional, Optional Video Resource
6
Module 5: Astrology in Jung’s Writings
M5/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
M5/2 Video Lesson: Astrology in Jung's Writings
M5/3: Video Quiz
M5/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based the readings (pages 141 to 172; in the textbook Jung on Astrology).
M5/6: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M5/7: Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M5/8: Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M5/9: Additional, Optional Video Resource
7
Module 6: Archetypal Symbolism in Astrology
M6/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
M6/2: Video Lesson: Archetypal Symbolism in Astrology
M6/3: Video Lesson Quiz
M6/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based the readings (pages 173 to 184; in the textbook Jung on Astrology).
M6/5: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M6/6: An Additional, optional reading.
M6/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resource
8
Module 7: Philosophical and Scientific Questions Around Astrology
M7/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
M7/2: Video Lesson: Philosophical and Scientific Questions Around Astrology
M7/3: Video Lesson Quiz
M7/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based the readings (pages 185 to 196; in the textbook Jung on Astrology).
M7/5: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M7/6: An Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M7/7: An Additional, Optional Video Resources
9
Module 8: Jung’s Influence on Contemporary Astrology
M8/1: Learning and Assessment Activities
M8/2: Video Lesson: Jung’s Influence on Contemporary Astrology
M8/3: Video Lesson Quiz
M8/4: Readings Quiz - (All questions are based the readings (pages 197 to 213; in the textbook Jung on Astrology).
M8/5: Module Assignments and Additional Resources
M8/6: Additional, Optional Resource for Study
M8/7: Additional, Optional Video Resource
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Learn at your own pace
This course serves students of Jungian psychology, educators, helping professionals, and anyone curious about the psychological foundations of ancient symbolic systems. Jung viewed zodiacal signs, planetary influences, and astrological houses as archetypal representations – universal patterns in the human psyche that appear across cultures and throughout history. For Jung, astrology preserved practical wisdom about human nature developed over thousands of years, long before modern psychology emerged. Enroll now to explore the historical and theoretical foundations of Jung's engagement with astrological symbolism.
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