Arash Golnam, Ph.D.

I explore the synergies between Jungian psychoanalysis, plant medicine, systems thinking and art as gateways to creativity, healing and a life filled with soul and meaning.

Before discovering my passion in Jungian psychoanalysis, I took on diverse roles: university lecturer, systems scientist, consultant, mathematical modeler, and industrial engineer.

My academic journey led me to the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich after earning a Ph.D. in Systems Science from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and a Master of Science in System Dynamics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Photo caption: Teaching at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Moving to Lima, Peru offered me the invaluable chance to dive deep into plant medicine under the guidance of the Shipibo healing traditions.

This journey has connected me more than ever with my body and revealed intelligences beyond the intellect, significantly enriching my practice and perspective as a Jungian psychoanalyst.

Photo caption: Hand Stand in front of the Maloka, the temenos for the ceremonies of Ayahuasca Chakruna I've attended in the Peruvian Amazon, near the Ucayali River.

Art has been my guiding light and companion throughout my journey. Time and space blur as I craft melodies on my guitar or give life to my imagination and emotions through poetry.

I believe dreams spring from our creative depths, and engaging with them through artistic expression is deeply impactful. Art, whether as poetry, music, or visual art, acts as a bridge between our conscious and unconscious minds, enabling us to delve into and bring to life the complex narratives and visuals our dreams offer.

Photo caption: Live performance at the Rose Garden in CG Jung Institute

Thanks to my father, a dedicated Persian literature teacher, I was immersed in Persian poetry and mythology from a young age. This rich heritage of mystic poetry and mythology opened my first door to the soul.

I am currently immersed in the study of Persian mystic poetry, in particular the psychological, symbolic, and archetypal layers of Hafez's poetry. I presented my preliminary findings in a thesis at the CG Jung Institute and am now in the process of adapting it for publication as a book.

Photo caption: The ceiling of Hafez’s Tomb in Shiraz, Iran

Photo Credit: "آرامگاه خواجه شمس الدین محمد حافظ" by Ariafar Khosravi, taken on April 15, 2011.