'Border' psyche invites re-visioning: A depth psychological exploration of three contemporary borders---intimate erotic relationships, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, and the San Diego/Tijuana border (California, Mexico)

This dissertation explores three contemporary borders and takes depth psychology out of the clinical setting and into the multidimensional context of “body,” of habitat, and of a sense of place. The work of soul calls us to witness, to explore, and to discover fellow participants in the landscape where events reflect the larger story.; The research employs tools inherited from depth psychology, the paradigm offered by Process Thought, and understandings from ecology. These tools and understandings offer a perspective for the process of exploring particular border landscapes as a participant. Re-visioning border psyche requires deep listening, unveiling, and mining subterranean levels of the dynamic web of border psyche.; Both conscious and unconscious assumptions are explored and unveiled. Images, stories, and events became increasingly animated during the researcher's participation in the particular border landscapes. The research followed cues from the heuristic method, grounded theory, and hermeneutics in its exploration of the three contemporary landscapes.; The soul work of re-visioning border psyche called for archetypal activism as described by Hillman (1997) and Aizenstat (1995). The researcher weaves in actual experiences and research as a participant in the three contemporary landscapes. Dream work, interviews, experiences, and theoretical research are integral aspects of the dissertation.; An example of what became visible during the research was the illusion and desire for control. The image of flow as well as the natural energy of flow was discovered early in the research as a contrast to actual and psychological walls created by human beings participating in the three border landscapes.; It appears that human beings respond to the “other,” such as at the Tijuana/San Diego Border and at the edge of a cliff where the sea meets the cliffs with responses that reflect styles of relating in intimate erotic relationships and intimate erotic relationships challenge couples to intentionally create relationships that are dynamic and that reflect each unique differentiating style and voice.; Two theories emerged during the research—the embodying process and embodied borders. The two theories offer possibilities for perceiving animated and enchanted aspects of particular border, landscapes. Erotic nature is embraced and soul is experienced.; Three illustrations of embodied borders are described in the final chapter. Dynamic life energy cried out for recognition and honor as fellow participants appeared. A way of perceiving beyond dualisms, beyond humano-centrism, and beyond a Euro centric perspective became evident. Embodied borders are profoundly relational, dynamic, and filled with interacting participants. Multiplicities and mysteries abound.