JANUARY 2026

Chasing the Numinous:
Hungry Ghosts in the Shadow of the Psychedelic Renaissance

with Helge Michael Osterhold, PhD, MFT

THURSDAY, January 22

As psychedelic medicines gain renewed scientific, public, and commercial attention, this presentation examines the shadow side of this global renaissance. Drawing from depth psychology and the archetypal image of the Hungry Ghost, Dr. Osterhold explores whether the West’s intense fascination with psychedelics—from personal healing to entheogenic tourism and corporate commodification—reflects a deeper cultural and spiritual malaise. Inspired by C.G. Jung’s insights, this talk invites critical reflection on the psychological undercurrents and ethical implications of our collective pursuit of the numinous, while acknowledging the therapeutic and spiritual promise of psychedelics.

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Chasing the Numinous:
Hungry Ghosts in the Shadow of the Psychedelic Renaissance

Helge Michael Osterhold, PhD, MFT .

THURSDAY
January 22nd
4-6pm Pacific

Live Via Zoom +
Video Recording will be available
to all guests

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COURSE OUTLINE

Session One: Exploring the Force in Jungian Terms

Session Two: Yoda: An Archetypal Amplification

Session Three: Luke Skywalker and Jung’s Transcendent Function

Session Four: Leia: Archetypal Anti-princess, Hutt-slayer, Mother

Session Five: Star Wars as Living Mythology

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Steve ellerhoff, PH. D.

S. G. Ellerhoff holds a PhD in literary studies from Trinity College Dublin and is the associate editor at Tsunami Press. He is the author of Post-Jungian Psychology and the Short Stories of Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut (2016) and Mole (2020). He also co-edited George Saunders: Critical Essays (2017) and Exploring the Horror of Supernatural Fiction: Ray Bradbury’s Elliott Family 2020). His next book is Jung and the Mythology of Star Wars. More of his work is linked at www.sgellerhoff.com.