ARAS has much to celebrate at the end of 2016. In the past year, we have brought two new, fine features to ARAS Online. The Concordance provides a free way to search Jung’s Collected Works by word and/or topic to find relevant references.

The new “My Lists” tool allows ARAS members to create, organize, and save files of important or relevant images. It is a perfect, complimentary tool for personal dream journals in that it provides a space  for collecting amplifying symbolic images arising out of one’s inner life. We also have our wonderful ARAS staff, led by Ami Ronnberg, to thank and celebrate for their extraordinary skill and dedication to ARAS. For this final ARAS Connections of 2016, I want to single out the recent accomplishments of two long term ARAS Board members whose creative contributions to what is best in our psychological and cultural life are unique. Both are dedicated supporters of ARAS in their understanding of the value of symbolic imagery in the development of the human psyche and culture. We are so lucky in having them bring their amazing gifts to our ARAS community.

Thomas Kirsch, who has helped steer ARAS through many stages of development in the past twenty years, has recently completed a remarkable video that features an interview with him by Murray Stein in Jung’s library at Bollingen. The DVD was directed and produced by Luis Moris of Blue Salamander films. It is being distributed by Chiron Publications and can be found at: http://chironpublications.com/stein-kirsch/

I contributed the following blurb for the DVD:  Tom Kirsch's fundamental modesty, quiet thoughtfulness, deep knowledge of the Jungian tradition, and direct, finely informed feeling shines through every moment of this extraordinary film. Murray Stein's sensitive and probing questioning allows Dr. Kirsch's exacting memory of people, places, and issues of different eras in his long life career as a Jungian to flow like the film's music - with a warmth and beauty that is both touching and enlightening. The film has a wonderful tone - in its color, in its conversation, and in its depth.

Deborah O’Grady, also a long time Board Member of ARAS, is a distinguished photographer whose most recent creative collaboration has been the making of a visual symphony of Olivier Messiaen’s Des Canyons Aux Etoiles. Messiaen was commissioned to create a symphony celebrating America’s bicentennial. In turn, Deborah was commissioned to offer a 21st century visual interpretation that accompanies the performance of the symphony. Deborah offers two wonderful short video introductions to this project at:  https://www.deborahogrady.com/from-the-canyons-to-the-stars/  Des Canyons Aux Etoiles (From the Canyons to the Stars) will be performed at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 12, 2017 at 8pm.

ARAS is most fortunate to have Deborah as a Board Member as she understands in depth through her own creative efforts the power and use of the symbolic image to reveal and explore the inner and outer life in its deepest interconnections.

Please join Tom Kirsch and Deborah O’Grady in offering your financial support to the ongoing work of ARAS which exists and thrives through the generosity of its members. Please click here to donate.