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Less than one in a billion. That is the realm of probability that the two journal review editors have taken our readers into by both selecting, independently, two out of three identical journal articles from the 2015 psychoanalytic universe of journals. Jung would clearly find this not just a random flip of chance, but rather a meaningful coincidence that attests to synchronicity. It then is important to wonder: why did this come about?
Notably, these two articles - ‘Psychoanalysis in times of technoculture: some reflections on the fate of the body in virtual space’ and ‘Existential crises in two religious patients: vicissitudes of faith and the emergence of the true self’ - speak to themes that are troubling for many analytical psychologists during this time in which we now live and work. The rapid evolution of virtual technology has led to cyberspace becoming a shadowy place where crimes are committed, insults traded, people are exposed to violent imagery and alternative kinds of relationships are explored and made. Addictive tendencies in our daily reliance on cyberspace raise questions for all clinicians; how do we integrate this phenomenon into our practices and how do we make sense out of what our patients are doing there?
The role of spirituality in our world is likewise one that addresses problems of deep alienation, cultural isolation, economic displacement and fanaticism. Jungians have long explored this territory, and now other analytic traditions are recognizing its significance too. The place for soul in our work feels somewhat besieged by so many variables, including the manic pace of modern life, materialistic temptations, and the explosion of visual distractions made readily available by smartphones, social media, and the Internet.
Each reviewer offers a unique and singular perspective, which we hope our readers will appreciate. We also encourage you to wonder for yourselves what this synchronistic occurrence may mean.
Robert Tyminski and Sar