The Christmas season can evoke many different feelings: joy, stress, nostalgia, loneliness and everything in between. For many of the women I have worked with, particularly those navigating estrangement or another dysfunctional family Christmas, December can be fraught with emotional intensity. Old self-destructive patterns surface, food often becomes the go-to way to self-soothe, and familiar aches such as longing, grief and overwhelm call for attention.
One of the resources I continually turn to, recommend to clients, and not just at Christmas, is This Jungian Life. Their depth-oriented approach is steadying, insightful and validating to those who have suffered early childhood trauma and emotional neglect. This year they have curated a December Holiday Playlist of episodes that may help you stay grounded and reflective through the complexity of the season.
These episodes work well for quiet moments, walks, or whenever you need a break from the demands of December.
The Playlist: December Guidance from This Jungian Life
Solstice: Why is the Longest Night So Magickal?
A thoughtful reflection on darkness, stillness and psychological renewal.
Not Alone: Finding the Inner Companion
An episode for anyone who grew up without reliable support. Helpful for those working through the mother wound.
Holiday Hauntings: Or Who Are These People?!?!
A look at family roles, projections and the patterns that flare up around gatherings.
The Boundary Paradox: How Limits Create Freedom
Useful if you struggle with over-functioning, caretaking or saying no.
Scrooge on the Couch: How the Numinous Transforms
A Jungian exploration of emotional constriction and what shifts it.
People Pleasing Is Making You Sick!
Direct and relevant for women who have been conditioned to manage everyone else’s emotional needs.
Mr Grinch on the Couch
A perspective on withdrawal, defensiveness and ambivalence about closeness.
Forging the Upward Thread: Why Do We Create Religions?
A discussion of meaning-making and ritual, particularly relevant in chaotic or emotionally loaded times.
Why Does Our Family Drive Us Crazy on Holidays?
A clear exploration of family complexes and repetition patterns.
Caught in the Conflict: The Tension of Opposites
For moments when you feel pulled between obligation and self-protection.
Solstice: A Meditation on Grief and Light
A short reflective piece for those sitting with grief at this time of year.
The Star: Archetype of Revelation
A hopeful episode for those reconsidering direction or identity as the year ends.
Parental Complexes: How They Shape Your Child’s Future
Illuminating for understanding both your own childhood patterns and parenting.
Hansel and Gretel: Overcoming Trauma
A mythic frame around abandonment, survival and inner resourcefulness.
Whether you look forward to December or approach it with hesitation, these episodes offer a way to awaken to, and befriend your inner life. Jungian depth work reminds us that the psyche is always seeking balance and healing, even during the busiest seasons.
