C. G. Jung Society of Sarasota
Being Our Authentic SELF During Changing Times

"In 1991, Joy, with her husband, George, and I joined a group of “Jungians,” Dan Kuna, Dick Benner, and Allan Bond, who had been meeting at Marion Hoppins’ home on Longboat Key for a couple of years for the single purpose of studying and sharing thoughts regarding Carl Jung’s life and his theories.

By 1994, the group had enlarged by half dozen or so people, including Susan Albrecht, Joanne Anderson, and June Gordon. They, with Joy, Allan, Dick and myself agreed to become a Board of Directors. We got our non-profit status, I gave a course, open to the public, teaching basic concepts of Jung, which provided us with a few dollars to pay our few expenses, and we were on our way.

Joy was the rock on which our Society was built. She gave unstintingly of her time, energy, and considerable computer skills. As I recall, through the years, I believe she served on every committee, including being president, as well as providing us with the remarkable QUARTERLY for several years. She did all this despite numerous flare-ups of pain from multiple sclerosis, various church commitments, and her on-going engagement in producing paintings, later to become “Digital” art, which she continued to show and sell in various local and national galleries, and.

I consider it a privilege as well as a pleasure to have shared with Joy the efforts to build and maintain our Jung Society. And, not only did we work hand in hand, but we became close friends, sharing even our dreams in order to discover hidden meanings."

Nancy Anderson

"Joy Erickson meant so much to me since the inception of the Carl Jung Society of Sarasota. Her zest for life was well reflected in her enthusiasm, wisdom, and energy that she contributed to the development of the Society during those early years when we sought to become firmly established in the life of this community. It is not difficult to speculate that without her contribution the Society may never have progressed to what it is today, a fellowship of over a hundred members who are seeking a larger humanity in the depth of their unconscious psyche. One thing is clear: Joy Erickson was in touch with the depth of her psyche which guided her in her art, led her through difficult times, and gave her the openness to receive and befriend many of different persuasions and points of view. And with this expansiveness in her personality she was able to be a leader and guiding star for many in her lifetime among us. Faith tells me that her psyche (soul) is still expanding in the cosmic life beyond."

Allan Bond

The poet thought he recognized her,
when she first stepped into Eternity,
Then she cried out, "Good Morning, Herr Schiller,"
with a glorious chuckle in her voice,
and he knew for sure it was she.
He'd written about her long before,
and his words that declared her to be
a spark of the Immortal Flame
had been set to music by Beethoven
who'd put them into a symphony.
He sank to his knees in gratitude
that she'd made it here at last,
but felt a passing sympathy
for the souls she'd left behind
who must somehow try to find
within themselves or in each other
the joy that once so freely flowed
from this Daughter of Elysium.

Ellen Cone

"Joy, best of best friends--we talked every day those last months. I brought books on death but we never read them. We preferred sharing our imaginings of how this impermanent life could recycle. We talked of our paintings that we felt were spirit led. Joy's large mural speaking to rebirth and the one I'd done of clouds that spoke to my feeling of being born from clouds. Joy had similar fleeting experiences of feeling part of the atmosphere. I find it comforting to look at vaporous clouds and think that from them rain can fall to earth, form rivers, merge to seas, and nourish flora and fauna and all creatures. Each drop dies and undergoes a new expression of its former self. Scientists say each cell in our body is part ocean, part dinosaur and we're made of star stuff. I like thinking of us recycling- I envision Joy's spirit cycling around us now and off with her favorite butterflies to the next mystery."

Kay Fedel

"It is directly due to Joy Erickson's dedication to the Jung Society of Sarasota and to her immense generosity of time and materials that this web site exists.  When I was asked to create a web page for the Society, I had some small skill in simple web development and none whatsoever in digital imagery.  Joy, as publisher of the "Q" at the time, became my liaison for web content and my mentor in digital imaging.  She invested hundreds of hours over the years in working to disseminate information about the Society and its seasonal events, and in sharing with me her remarkable photo imaging expertise and aesthetic sensibilities.  Her criticisms were honest and gentle, her praise heart-felt, her enthusiasm and curiosity without measure, her friendship a treasure that death cannot interrupt.  In every aspect of her life, Joy  truly kindled that light of meaning in the darkness of mere being."

Mary Riemenschneider

View Joy's remarkable digital photography here.