Arangam: A Three-Step Embodied Ritual to Explore the Psyche (An Organic Inquiry)

Abstract

This research introduces a novel method for exploring the human psyche through a three-step embodied ritual inspired by Carl Jung’s recurring dream of a house. The Arangam, a physical structure based on this dream, integrates elements of nature and encourages active imagination and creative expression. Arangam, meaning “stage” in Tamizh, symbolizes the space for an embodied ritual. Using the organic inquiry methodology, this study emphasizes storytelling, personal insights, and the transformative potential of the unconscious. The research shares vivid dreams and encounters with ancestral symbols like Jyeshta Devi, showcasing the profound impact of embodiment in psychological exploration.

The findings highlight how embodied rituals bridge the conscious and unconscious, offering valuable insights into depth psychology and creating a model for future scholars and practitioners. The dissertation concludes with implications for personal and academic growth and proposes new avenues for research utilizing embodied and intuitive methodologies.

This research attempts to deepen Jung’s concepts of the psyche through an embodied ritualistic method. I aim to create a unique East-West psychological synthesis by bridging Eastern spiritual practices with Western analytical psychology.