Honouring the memory of J. Gary Sparks, 1948-2025
“I can’t imagine life without the greening growth of the soul”
J. Gary Sparks was a Jungian analyst with a private practice in Indianapolis, United States (1983-2025). He graduated with a diploma in analytical psychology in 1982 from the C. G. Jung Institute in Zürich, Switzerland. Gary’s training analysts were Dr. phil. Elisabeth Rüf, Dr. phil. Adolf Ammann, Dr. med. Dieter Baumann, Dr. med. C.A. Meier, and his thesis advisor was Dr. phil. Marie-Louise von Franz. The theme of his thesis was "The Wounded Finger: Anchorage for Soul and Sense inTechnology", and dealt with the psychology of creativity in science: the bearing of scientific creativity on unconscious processes and on soul and spirit. Prior to his training as a Jungian analyst, Gary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Arts degree in pastoral counselling..
Gary gave lectures and led workshops and seminars around the world. His group seminar in Indianapolis was very special to him, as were the friendships he forged there. (see The Jewel World— Art of Carol Spicuzza)
On a personal level, Gary was not only a mentor, but a dear friend (Karass), who recognized the value of my creative work and what I had to offer and kept me focused on what mattered when I needed it most. His strength of character and immense energy always amazed me… “there is so much I could say and it would never be enough about J. Gary Sparks and the impact he has had on my life and creative work, as it is through my invaluable friendship with him that I can say I was able to truly dive in and face the most disturbing moments, pain, sacrifices and challenges of a path that helped me mature and experience the growth of the soul’s flower. I would not be who I am today without him.” On the journey… Art of the Human Soul - ICB blog Jung at Heart.
Gary loved his vocation and had a profound respect and appreciation for his mentors. In recent years he wanted to explore the theme of time from an archetypal perspective and was interested in sharing his work with younger generations, as he saw them gravitating toward analytical psychology. He worked until the end to preserve and make C. G. Jung’s work accessible to everyone.
He was generous and humble with his knowledge and left books and tons of material available that’ll continue to support soul development for many generations to come.
You can find all of his work in his two websites: jgsparks.net - jungandpauli.net
See official Obituary.
“The karass is pre-existent in the cosmos and fulfills itself in the mysterious of ways in time and space. Also, persons in the same karass have often met others in the karass without knowing the karass is at work. ”
Books authored by Gary
J. Gary Sparks. At the Heart of Matter: Synchronicity and Jung’s Spiritual Testament.
Toronto: Inner City Books, 2007.
J. Gary Sparks. Valley of Diamonds: Adventures in Number and Time with Marie-
Louise von Franz. Toronto: Inner City Books, 2010.
J. Gary Sparks, Carl Jung and Arnold Toynbee: The Social Meaning of Inner Work.
Toronto: Inner City Books, 2017.
J. Gary Sparks, The Call of Destiny: An Introduction to Carl Jung’s Major Works.
Toronto: Inner City Books, 2023.
Books edited by Gary
Edward F. Edinger. J. Gary Sparks, ed. Ego and Self: The Old Testament Prophets from Isaiah to Malachi.
Toronto: Inner City Books, 2000.
Edward F. Edinger. Daryl Sharp and J. Gary Sparks, eds. Science of the Soul.
Toronto: Inner City Books, 2002.
All books are available on the Inner City Books website.
See Inner City Books , In Memoriam – J. Gary Sparks 1948-2025
Other Publications
J. Gary Sparks, “A Personal Remembrance of Daryl Sharp,” Psychological Perspectives, vol. 63, no. 1 (2020), 142 – 144.
J. Gary Sparks, “An Introduction to Marie-Louise von Franz’s Number and Time,” Psychological Perspectives, vol. 61, no. 4 (May 2019), 448 – 470.
J. Gary Sparks, “Abraxas: Then and Now,” Jung’s Red Book for Our Time, Vol. 2, ed. Murray Stein and Thomas Arzt. Asheville: Chiron, 2018.
J. Gary Sparks. "Tied Up With Machines." The Salt Journal, vol. 2, no. 5 (July/August 2000), 12 – 13.
J. Gary Sparks. "Edward F. Edinger's Commentaries on Jung's Later Works." Book review. Quadrant, vol. 30, no. 2 (Summer 2000), 81 – 96.
J. Gary Sparks. "Tataya Mato. The Black Madonna Within." Book review. Journal of the San Francisco Jung Institute Library, vol. 17, no. 2 (1998), 71 – 72.
J. Gary Sparks. "Saffron and Sacrifice: A Girl's Initiation in Ancient Thera." The Round Table Review, vol. iv, no. 5 (May/June 1997), 10 – 15.
*Wisdom Nuggets:
The Vocation of Meaning - Foreword to my book Art of the Human Soul, 2024. (Click to read).
Getting Started - Reading list compiled by Gary for The Connecticut Association for Jungian Psychology.
The Liminal Project - Nietzsche, Jung and Liminality - Gary Sparks, 2019. Blog Guest.
Jung at Heart - The Kallichoron Well by J. Gary Sparks for Daryl Sharp, 2016. Inner City Books Blog.
Jung at Heart - Review of Daryl Sharp’s Badger Trilogy by Gary Sparks, 2015. Inner City Books Blog.
Good Reads - Ask the author: J. Gary Sparks.
Teaching Experience
Indianapolis, 1983 – 2024. Presentation of a range of courses, workshops and lectures at all levels in Jungian psychology from introductory material to the detailed study of Jung's most difficult works.
C.G. Jung Institute, Los Angeles, 2019 – 2025. Lectures and workshops in the public programs
Research- and Training Centre for Depth Psychology According to C.G. Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz, Zürich, Switzerland, 2013. Lecture series in the training program for Jungian analysts
C.G. Jung Foundation of Ontario, 2000 – 2010. Lecture and seminar presentations in the public and Jungian analyst training programs.
Jung Societies in the US , Canada, and abroad: Indianapolis, Hartford, San Diego, Sarasota, Calgary, Detroit, Louisville, Chapel Hill, Kansas City, Port Townsend, Seattle, Boise, Dayton, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Saint Louis, Bozeman, Houston, Cambridge (UK)—by Zoom, Asheville Jung Center—by Zoom, Portland, Omaha—by Zoom, London (UK)—by Zoom: Lectures and workshops on a variety of material.
Journey into Wholeness, 2003. Lectures and workshops on the apocalyptic theme as well as the relation between matter and spirit.
Video - Audio - Image.
Speaking of Jung Podcast: episodes 119, 114, 35, 28, 2. Interviews.
Jung Archademy - Where do we go from here? A conversation with J. Gary Sparks, 2024. Interview.
The Sacred Speaks Podcast - Matter and Psyche. A conversation with J. Gary Sparks. Interview.
Oregon Friends of Jung - The self in Jung’s ultimate view: The mythology of numbers in dreams, 2021. Lecture.
Carl Jung Depth Psychology reading group - On Dr. Jung’s First Mandala, 2021. Presentation.
Asheville Jung Center/ Chiron Publications. Abraxas Then and Now Trailer, 2019.
Candid videos from Laura London, host of the Speaking of Jung Podcast: J. Gary Sparks Brings Jung & Freud to Life, How Daryl Sharp Saved J. Gary Sparks.
C. G. Jung Society of St. Louis - J.Gary Sparks on Synchronicity, 2013. Lecture photos.
Mandala Art made for Gary 2018 - 2023.
Throughout our friendship, I painted various mandalas for Gary. The images emerged spontaneously at different key moments in his life. In this sequence, we can appreciate the evolution of the image (“the forward striving function of the unconscious”), and the sacredness of Gary's innermost being in the later years of his life.
“Marie-Louise von Franz in Number and Time, page 214, has thoughtfully offered us a definition of spirit: “That factor that creates images in the inner field of vision [in other words, creates dreams and fantasies] and organizes [that’s the key word here] them into a meaningful order.” Why, when we understand a dream or fantasy, is the next image that appears to us a step ahead of the previous one? There is a factor in us purposefully arranging our psychological material toward the fulfillment of our life goals. That is spirit.”
“How many of your conversations in a day are real?
My mandala art time with Betty reminded me of what authentic words are about. She felt into her experience of me and fashioned an image from that experience which reflected who I am and what I value. You might call it mirroring from inside the heart. Discussing the image she drew and painted, based on her interior impressions of me, grounded us in a rich dialogue about where my life is at the moment and where it is going. The soul is nourished by a slice of real in a time of thin, multitasking mania. Betty is a honest, solid, insightful, and inspiring original. Thank you, Betty.”