Announcing the Release of Depth Calls to Depth:  Spiritual Direction and Jungian Psychology in Dialogue 

Depth Calls to Depth: Jungian Psychology and Spiritual Direction in Dialogue draws on the author’s dual background as a certified Jungian analyst and psychologist as well as a spiritual director with a master’s degree in theology. Over the last several decades, spiritual direction has moved beyond its monastic origins to become a major force in contemporary spirituality. Its emphasis on direct spiritual experience offers a natural parallel to Jung’s model of psychospiritual healing.

This book describes how Jungian dreamwork can enhance the practice of spiritual direction. There is much interest in Jung’s thought in spiritual circles but little informed understanding of the details of his model and its application to work with individuals. In an effort to meet this need, chapters alternate between descriptions of Jung’s approach, augmented by extensive case material and accounts of spiritual direction sessions. In this way, the book combines a comprehensive summary of Jung’s main ideas and methodologies with vignettes that illustrate their practical application. Larger issues regarding the relationship between psychology and spirituality are discussed as well as Jung’s complicated relationship with the Christian tradition. 

The author’s background in Ignatian spirituality and the work of mystics like Meister Eckhart allow him to demonstrate how these approaches can bridge gaps between the Christian and Jungian models of spiritual growth. Parallels to 12-Step spirituality also are explored.

“Depth Calls to Depth is a much-needed exploration of the dynamic interplay of psychology and spirituality for spiritual directors. With years of experience as both a Jungian therapist and spiritual director, John Ensign brings layers of insight and a fresh writing style that makes the depth human journey truly accessible. His grounding in the story of one directee and their interactions across time makes the exploration concrete and eminently useful. I will recommend this gift of a book to directors-in-training as well as those currently practicing!”
-Sandra Lommasson. Bread of Life Center founder, spiritual director, and spiritual direction faculty for 30 years

“Like looking through a kaleidoscope, spiritual directors will find a generous illumination of the ever-present entanglements as spirituality and psychology play in the lives of their directees. With access to the intimate soul and dream sharing of a spiritual directee, Dr. Ensign provides layers of rich and reverent encounters that examine the stages of spiritual development from adolescence into adulthood. This intimate endeavor offers a compelling view through the lens of Carl Jung alongside threads of wisdom from Saint Ignatius, Meister Eckhart, the scriptures and other inspired writings. The depth of Ensign’s attention to bridging the ‘human and divine’ powerfully demonstrates the sacred tending of the spiritual lives with those we companion in spiritual direction.”
-Colleen Gregg, MA, Director of Mercy Center Auburn, Spiritual Director, Supervisor for Spiritual Directors

“In this thoughtfully written book, John Ensign employs Jungian and Christian-Ignatian methods of integration in his practice as a spiritual director. He has a rare ability to clarify for readers how spiritual direction and Jungian analysis can complement one another to form a guidebook for individuals who are in search of religious experience and meaning through the wisdom of dreams, meditation, and the imagination.”
-Steven Herrmann, Ph.D., MFT. Jungian analyst and author of Swami Vivekananda and C.G. Jung: Yoga in the West

“In Depth Calls to Depth, Dr. Ensign offers a refreshingly readable, lively, and pragmatic illustration of a particular approach to spirituality, individuation, and development, revealing the inexpressible aspects of spiritual reality that might emerge out of dedicated attentiveness to both spirituality and psychology. Faithful to a tradition of spiritual direction and to his vocation as a Jungian analyst, he deftly interweaves these domains, attending to one directee’s life experience and dream expressions through this dialogical approach. Dr. Ensign’s work not only reveals his solid scholarly ability and an astute clinical mind, but a deep sensibility to both models, drawing on them ‘to better understand how the divine unfolds within a human life.’ Whether one takes up this book from the spiritual direction tradition or from a more psychological footing, the dialogue will captivate attention, offer new perspectives, and enhance an appreciation of the natural harmony of both approaches.
-Susan Calfee, Ph.D. Analyst Member, C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco