Time & Other Thieves

"The Middle Passage," by James Hollis

Sarah B. Season 7 Episode 8

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0:00 | 35:07

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In this episode I explore some of the ideas that Jungian analyst James Hollis (1993) presents in his book, The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife. In discussing what we call the midlife crisis, Hollis talks a lot about the power of the unconscious mind, which can make itself known through symptoms (physical and otherwise), projections, and various phenomena related to our "shadow." He also expounds upon the difference between a vocation (from the Latin vocatus, or calling) and a job. I talk about how grateful I am to have those two things be the same for me—to have found my passion and also get paid for it! (But that can lead to a lot of heartache when others aren't as jazzed about it as I am.) I also discuss certain tasks of the Middle Passage that I've yet to fulfill: namely, the ability to do less and simply be with myself.