John A. Sanford
Encyclopedia
John A. "Jack" Sanford was a Jungian psychoanalyst and Episcopal priest
.
Sanford was the son of Edgar L. Sanford
, also an Episcopal priest, as was his own father and grandfather, the author of God's Healing Power and of Agnes Sanford
(1897–1982), the founder of the Inner Healing Movement
.
Sanford was born in Moorestown, New Jersey, July 26, 1929. His parents were both leaders in the spiritual healing movement. In his early 20s, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and two great-grandfathers, and entered the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Mass., to prepare to be an Episcopal priest. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy, graduating Phi Beta Kappa
at Kenyon College
in Gambier, Ohio
. Later on, he obtained an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Kenyon, based on his work in the fields of religion and psychology.
In 1955, he was ordained a priest at the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Mass. Later he was deeply influenced by his mentor, Fritz Kunkel
, himself a disciple of Carl G. Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, of whom Sanford was also a devoted student.
Sanford studied and mastered Greek mythology, Greek language, and American Indian history,
His first ordained ministry position was as assistant priest at St. Luke's Parish in Monrovia in 1955. He became rector at Trinity Church in Los Angeles in 1958.
Sanford and his wife Adaline, whom he married in 1954, grew weary of the downtown Los Angeles environment and its declining air quality. When he was offered a position at St. Paul's Cathedral near Balboa Park in 1965 he welcomed the move to San Diego.
Sanford worked as a parish priest for 19 years. In 1974, he left parochial ministry for full-time work as a Jungian analyst and psychotherapist, lecturing and authoring a series of books, most of them regarding religion
, psychology
, Greek mythology
, and American Indian
history.
Since those years, Sanford enyoyed his private practice as a psychoanalyst focusing on psychology
, religion
and inner growth and he found some time everyday for writing his books. He was a mentor
for Journey into Wholeness since its beginning in 1977.
Sanford was pioneer of authoring books on serious dream study and interpretation, combining both spirituality and science.
On the lighter side, Sanford also wrote novels, reflecting his interest in American Indian history, lore and legend. He also wrote a piece in an entirely different area: "Running with your dogs", in which he reflected an extension of his passion for long-distance running. He ran consistently into his early 70s and completed the Mission Bay Marathon in the 1970s. He was also an avid hiker, backpacking in the Sierras for many years.
Jack's children are: Kathryn and John Stuart Sanford.
During the years of 2002 to 2003, Sanford started showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
, which became worse with time, so the family decided to move him to a retirement house by the name of Silverado Senior Living in Escondido, California, where he lived his final years, and where he died on October 17, 2005, from Alzheimer's complications.
Sanford's books include:
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
.
Sanford was the son of Edgar L. Sanford
Edgar L. Sanford
Edgar L. "Ted" Sanford was an American Episcopal priest and the author of God's Healing Power.Sandford was the son and grandson of Episcopal priests. His own son, the Reverend John A. Sanford, was also an Episcopal priest and author of numerous books. Sandord entered the priesthood late in life...
, also an Episcopal priest, as was his own father and grandfather, the author of God's Healing Power and of Agnes Sanford
Agnes Sanford
Agnes Mary White Sanford is considered to be one of the principal founders of the Inner Healing Movement. She was the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary in China and the wife of the Episcopal priest Edgar L. Sanford. Her first book, The Healing Light, is often considered a classic in its...
(1897–1982), the founder of the Inner Healing Movement
Inner Healing Movement
The Inner Healing Movement refers to a grassroots counseling movement among Christians of various denominations. Its methods are largely based around the calling up of suppressed or hurtful memories in order to deal with them. Practitioners in the movement may not always have formal training in...
.
Sanford was born in Moorestown, New Jersey, July 26, 1929. His parents were both leaders in the spiritual healing movement. In his early 20s, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and two great-grandfathers, and entered the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Mass., to prepare to be an Episcopal priest. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy, graduating Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
at Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
in Gambier, Ohio
Gambier, Ohio
Gambier is a village in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,871 at the 2000 census.Gambier is the home of Kenyon College and was named after one of Kenyon College's early benefactors, Lord Gambier....
. Later on, he obtained an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Kenyon, based on his work in the fields of religion and psychology.
In 1955, he was ordained a priest at the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Mass. Later he was deeply influenced by his mentor, Fritz Kunkel
Fritz Künkel
Fritz Künkel was known both as a German psychiatrist and an American psychologist. He might best be understood as a social scientist who sought to integrate psychology , sociology and religion into a unified theory of human being...
, himself a disciple of Carl G. Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, of whom Sanford was also a devoted student.
Sanford studied and mastered Greek mythology, Greek language, and American Indian history,
His first ordained ministry position was as assistant priest at St. Luke's Parish in Monrovia in 1955. He became rector at Trinity Church in Los Angeles in 1958.
Sanford and his wife Adaline, whom he married in 1954, grew weary of the downtown Los Angeles environment and its declining air quality. When he was offered a position at St. Paul's Cathedral near Balboa Park in 1965 he welcomed the move to San Diego.
Sanford worked as a parish priest for 19 years. In 1974, he left parochial ministry for full-time work as a Jungian analyst and psychotherapist, lecturing and authoring a series of books, most of them regarding religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, and American Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
history.
Since those years, Sanford enyoyed his private practice as a psychoanalyst focusing on psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and inner growth and he found some time everyday for writing his books. He was a mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
for Journey into Wholeness since its beginning in 1977.
Sanford was pioneer of authoring books on serious dream study and interpretation, combining both spirituality and science.
On the lighter side, Sanford also wrote novels, reflecting his interest in American Indian history, lore and legend. He also wrote a piece in an entirely different area: "Running with your dogs", in which he reflected an extension of his passion for long-distance running. He ran consistently into his early 70s and completed the Mission Bay Marathon in the 1970s. He was also an avid hiker, backpacking in the Sierras for many years.
Jack's children are: Kathryn and John Stuart Sanford.
During the years of 2002 to 2003, Sanford started showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, which became worse with time, so the family decided to move him to a retirement house by the name of Silverado Senior Living in Escondido, California, where he lived his final years, and where he died on October 17, 2005, from Alzheimer's complications.
Sanford's books include:
- Between People: Communicating One-To-One"
- Dreams: God's Forgotten Language
- Dreams and Healing
- Evil: The Shadow Side of Reality
- Fate, Love, and Ecstasy: Wisdom from the Lesser-Known Goddesses of the Greeks
- Healing and Wholeness
- Healing Body and Soul
- The Invisible Partners: How the Male and Female in Each of Us Affects Our Relationships
- King Saul, the Tragic Hero: A Study in Individuation
- The Kingdom Within: The Inner Meaning of Jesus' Sayings
- The Man Who Lost His Shadow
- The Man Who Wrestled with God: Light from the Old Testament on the Psychology of Individuation
- Ministry Burnout
- Mystical Christianity: A Psychological Commentary on the Gospel of John
- The Song of the Meadowlark: The Story of an American Indian and the Nez Perce War
- Soul Journey: A Jungian Analyst Looks at Reincarnation
- The Strange Trial of Mr Hyde: A New Look at the Nature of Human Evil
- What Men are Like
External links
- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/obituaries/20051020-9999-1m20sanford.html (online obituary with biographical notes)
- John A. Sanford tapes at Journey into Wholeness (includes biographical material)
- Profiles in Jungian-Christian Dialogue: Sanford video interview
- http://innerexplorations.org/movie/PSan%20-001-01.mp4 Video interview with Sanford
- http://www.silveradosenior.com/ Web page for Silverado Senior Living, where Sanford lived until his death.
- OPUS Archives and Research Center Website Archival collection of Sanford's published work housed at OPUS Archives and Research CenterOPUS Archives and Research CenterOPUS Archives and Research Center holds the archival collections of scholars in the fields of mythology, depth psychology and archetypal psychology. The archival collections housed at OPUS include: Joseph Campbell, Marija Gimbutas, James Hillman, Jane Hollister Wheelwright and Joseph Wheelwright,...
in Santa Barbara, California.