{"id":34526,"date":"2026-06-17T21:42:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T02:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jungchicago.org\/blog\/?post_type=product&p=34526"},"modified":"2026-07-04T19:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T00:52:12","slug":"the-red-book-reading-group-a-closer-look-at-the-magician-and-the-scrutinies","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/jungchicago.org\/blog\/product\/the-red-book-reading-group-a-closer-look-at-the-magician-and-the-scrutinies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Red Book Reading Group: A Closer Look at \u201cThe Magician\u201d and \u201cThe Scrutinies\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

This will be the third series of seminars on Jung\u2019s The Red Book<\/em> and will focus on the closing chapter of the Liber Secundus<\/em>, \u201cThe Magician\u201d and the final book in the Liber Novus<\/em>, \u201cThe Scrutinies.\u201d George Bright, Boris Matthews, and Daniel Ross will return for the 2026-2027 completion of our series which has been offered through the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago. The structure remains the same; each session will involve reading the Liber Novus<\/em> followed by discussion.<\/p>\n

The purpose of these seminars is to try to understand what Jung is bringing forth in this work which has been described as a poetic expression of Jung\u2019s visionary experiences though at the same time taking note of the fact that Jung refused to consider this book a work of art. It is neither art nor science nor philosophy. Sonu Shamdasani at the very beginning of The Red Book, Liber Novus<\/em> reminds us of what Jung said to Aniela Jaff\u00e9 in 1957, and included in Memories, Dreams, Reflections.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe years of which I have spoken to you, when I pursued my inner images, were the most important time of my life. Everything else is to be derived from this\u2026 My entire life consisted of elaborating what had burst forth from the unconscious and flooded me like an enigmatic stream and threatened to break me. That was the stuff and material for more than only one life. Everything later was only the outer classification, the scientific elaboration, and the integration into life. But the numinous beginning, which contained everything, was then.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Some participants describe the experience of this seminar as \u201cpsychoactive.\u201d You do not need to have participated in previous series to join this one.<\/p>\n

NOTE: The final session of the series, on May 22, will meet in-person<\/span> at the C. G. Jung Institute of Chicago, but Zoom will be available<\/span> for those who cannot meet in-person<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Reading Group Schedule<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monthly Saturdays, 9am-12pm
\nNorth American Central Time<\/b>
\n<\/b>For each session, read the corresponding pages to prepare<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oct 17<\/td>\nThe Magician Pages 395-420<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nov 21<\/td>\nThe Magician Pages 420-440<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dec 19<\/td>\nThe Magician Pages 440-458<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jan 16<\/td>\nScrutinies Pages 461-483<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Feb 27<\/td>\nScrutinies Pages 483-505<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mar 20<\/td>\nScrutinies Pages 505-528<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apr 17<\/td>\nScrutinies Pages 528-536<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May 22<\/td>\nScrutinies Pages 537-553
\nAppendix C pages 577-582<\/span>
\nThis session will meet in-person in Chicago, but Zoom will be available for those who cannot meet in-person<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Learning Objectives<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the series, attendees will be able to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Discuss Philemon’s description of what magic is.<\/li>\n
  2. Discuss what Jung means when he says “Life above love” (page 448).<\/li>\n
  3. Describe Jung’s cosmology from sermon 7.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Required Reading<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Each salon will focus on a section of Liber Novus<\/em> as outlined in our course description. We expect that you have and will be reading Liber Novus<\/em> along with us. The facsimile which includes the paintings is more expensive but not necessary for our discussion, as it is quite expensive. We will present and discuss the images from Liber Novus<\/em> during the salon sessions, so you have the option of purchasing the less expensive Reader’s Edition<\/em>.<\/p>\n