51社区

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to give voice to a population that is rarely heard from, they are, the Jamaican elders. This research further set out to record the lived experiences of the elders during the colonialism (1928-1962) period and determine how the role of spirituality, religion, and the numinous shaped their lives. The ecosystem is scrutinized, for it provides the reciprocal tending of souls鈥攖he earth鈥檚 soul and the human soul. Jung (1933/2001) proposed that during the second half of one鈥檚 life, one need not 鈥渆ducate鈥� one鈥檚 鈥渃onscious will鈥� but rather understand the meaning and purpose of one鈥檚 life and 鈥渓earn to experience 鈥� [one鈥檚] inner being鈥� (p. 72). He stated that at this stage of life, social desirability is no longer a goal; instead, one looks at life as a 鈥渨ay of working out one鈥檚 development and thus befitting鈥� oneself (p. 72), hence, reaching the state of individuation. Through the narratives of the Jamaican elders, this study highlights the depth psychological threads of the dreams, psych, religion, synchronicity, archetypes, and the numinous, to name a few, that provide resiliency, strength, purpose, and well-being throughout the elders鈥� lives.