First Semester at ISAP Zurich

Overall Semester Experiences

Just weeks ago, my first spring semester came to a close—and what a journey it has been. From alchemy to psychiatry, soul, nature, and art, we sailed together on a tight ship across the ocean of the unconscious. Of course, the journey didn’t end with the semester—it simply changed shape. I’m already looking forward to reconnecting with my fellow sailors on this long, mysterious, and wonderfully transformative voyage.

The final day of the semester was rich with emotion. So many connections made, so many shared and personal experiences lived. From profound seminars and lectures to raising wine glasses and shared activities, insights and feelings followed in waves. Many tears were shed in the face of growth and transformation. There was discomfort too—especially when confronting one’s own shadow—which we have been called to do on multiple occasions. Somehow, this short semester felt like a full year at a Hogwarts for modern shamans.

ISAP feels like home, and the people here, like family. And like any family, there’s no shortage of frustration—that’s just part of the deal. But what I appreciate deeply is our shared commitment to working through interpersonal challenges. We’re on the same ship; there’s nowhere to run. So we face the discomfort, shaped by our different backgrounds, attitudes, and conditioning. And these tensions, I believe, are catalysts for psychological maturity—vital steps on the path of individuation.

During this journey I’m beginning to appreciate the saying: “The gold is in the shit.” It feels true to me. Every conflict, every shadowy encounter that first feels terrifying often leads to a surprising sense of relief, lightness, and catharsis—as if old chains are falling away. But to find that gold, we have to be willing to look, and dig deep into the "shit". That takes courage and humbleness.

Of course, one's individual journey is another major part of the training. For me, solitude and nature have been sacred spaces—places where I meet the big existential questions that propel me forward. I have many of those. Analytical psychology seems like the perfect home for such inquiry—no wonder it’s called depth psychology.

My dreams, too, have been powerful guides—perhaps the most powerful. Their numinousity often leaves me in awe. I’ve been tracking them for years now, and I’m still amazed at how alive, charged, and incredible they are—an adventure that I go to every night. There's so much ancient wisdom in the unconscious, shared with us through dreams. It feels like a gift from God—or whatever name you give to the numinous force that holds the cosmos together.

Activities

Some of the things we did this semester that I really enjoyed:

• Poetry night (with singing and acting)

• Cold dips in the river

• Dances

• Movie nights (part of seminar)—Billy Elliot was a highlight; I think it’s fair to say most of us cried during it

• BBQs

• Active imagination seminars with art

• Deep, spontaneous chats in the student rooms and out in nature

• Group hikes

Listing these makes me want to go back already! And since I’m the student social coordinator, I’ve got some new activities lined up for next semester—but I’ll keep those a surprise for now.

What’s Next?

After the semester ended, I packed my things and headed back to Lithuania, where I’ll be doing my psychiatric internship. I’ll share more once I begin, but for now, I’m enjoying the early summer back home, looking forward to lake swims—and to whatever personal journey this internship brings. It’s something I’ve wanted to do ASAP, and it’s a key step in fulfilling ISAP’s training requirements.

To make it happen, I had to leave my café job in Zurich, so I’ll be on the lookout for a new position when I return in the autumn. (If a future Zurich employer is reading this— I'll be available in September)

Also, there’s a major IAAP congress happening in Zurich at the end of August. It’s shaping up to be an incredible gathering of analysts sharing insights and experiences. I’m especially excited to meet some of the Lithuanian Jungians from the LAPA organization—I hear they’re coming!