AION 406 Course Evaluation

Course Description

This course invites participants into the inner world of Sufism, the esoteric and mystical dimension of Islam that emphasizes direct experience of the divine through longing, devotion, and the purification of the heart. We will explore the poetic and symbolic universe of Sufi cosmology, the pathways of gnosis (ma‘rifa), and its relationship to fitrah, and the literature of mystics such as Rumi, Hafiz, Al-Ghazali and Ibn Arabi, whose writings illuminate the soul’s longing for union with the Beloved. Emphasis will be placed on amplifying Sufi ideals through a Western psychological lens, engaging in a dialogue between depth psychology and the mystical vision of Sufism. Participants will gain an appreciation for Sufism as both spiritual practice and profound psychology—an inward path of remembering and returning to the divine.

Curricular Notes

AION 406 occupies a distinctive place within the 400-level curriculum as a course devoted to mystical psychology outside the Western canon, offering participants an encounter with a tradition in which psychology, ethics, and spirituality are inseparable. By engaging Sufism as both lived practice and symbolic cosmology, the course expands clinicians’ cultural and imaginal range while reinforcing a central AION commitment: that depth psychology must remain in dialogue with humanity’s enduring contemplative traditions.

This seminar deepens clinicians’ capacity to recognize longing, devotion, and remembrance not as regressions or defenses, but as organizing forces of meaning and ethical orientation, returning advanced practitioners—once again—to philosophy, now refracted through poetry, prayer, and love.

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CE Value

This event spans 6 clock hours and awards 6 hours of Continuing Education.

Fees

$420 for CE credit
$380 for non CE / auditing
$320 for pre-licensed students

course status

This course is a live webinar. It counts as Elective credit towards any of Aion's certificate programs.

faculty

Khaled Jeiroudi, MA

Prerequisites

None

Discord Link

Discord Link

If you’re curious about this course, or enrolled in it, please join our Discord Channel dedicated to it.

Event
details

Upon completion of this seminar, participants will be able to:
  1. Describe core principles of Sufi cosmology and practice—including ma‘rifa (gnosis), fitrah (primordial nature), longing, remembrance (dhikr), and purification of the heart—and articulate their psychological significance within a depth-oriented framework.
  2. Analyze Sufi poetry and symbolic language as expressions of inner psychological transformation, identifying parallels between mystical experience and psychodynamic processes such as longing, surrender, ego dissolution, and integration.
  3. Differentiate mystical experience from psychopathology by applying a culturally informed psychological lens, enhancing clinicians’ capacity to work respectfully and competently with spiritual material in clinical contexts.
  4. Apply insights from Sufi thought to contemporary psychotherapeutic practice, particularly in relation to meaning-making, ethical orientation, and the therapeutic cultivation of presence, humility, and remembrance.

Rumi. (2004). The soul of Rumi (C. Barks, Trans.). HarperOne.

Hafiz. (1999). The gift: Poems by Hafiz (D. Ladinsky, Trans.). Penguin Compass.

Al-Ghazali. (2000). The alchemy of happiness (C. Field, Trans.). Islamic Texts Society. (Original work published ca. 1100)

Ibn Arabi. (2002). The bezels of wisdom (R. W. J. Austin, Trans.). Paulist Press. (Original work published ca. 1229)

Corbin, H. (1969). Creative imagination in the Sufism of Ibn ‘Arabi (R. Manheim, Trans.). Princeton University Press.

Hillman, J. (1975). Re-visioning psychology. Harper & Row.

Aion Institute courses are open to all licensed mental health professionals, residents, interns, and graduate students in training, as well as members of the lay public who have an interest in psychodynamic psychology. Please use the following descriptions of our instructional level to gauge your own comfort level with the content.

✅ Introductory Level For those beginning the path or seeking reorientation. Courses at this level provide foundational knowledge in psychodynamic and integrative frameworks. No prior specialization is required—only a readiness to engage with depth-oriented psychological thought. These classes introduce core concepts, language, and philosophical underpinnings essential to the Aion curriculum.
Intermediate Level For those building structure upon the foundation. Intermediate courses deepen theoretical understanding and clinical application. Participants are expected to have prior exposure to psychoanalytic or Jungian concepts. These courses explore the evolution of major schools of thought, integrative approaches, and the emergence of relational and neurobiological paradigms, inviting greater complexity and case-based reflection.
Advanced Level For those prepared to engage with nuance, synthesis, and transformation. Advanced courses assume substantial familiarity with depth psychological theory and practice. Here, we move toward integrative models, complex case formulation, and contemporary theoretical frontiers. The focus is on synthesis, symbolic analysis, and the practitioner’s evolving stance as both healer and theoretician.
Hard Mode For those willing to be changed. Hard Mode courses are not merely advanced—they are initiatory. Designed for highly motivated participants, these offerings require deep reading, active participation, and a willingness to engage psychologically, imaginatively, and ethically. They are immersive, demanding, and transformational. These courses may involve longer sessions, seminar-style discussion, original writing or creative response, and the expectation that participants contribute to a shared field of inquiry. They are suited for those who seek to embody the work, not merely study it.

The Aion Institute reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any event, for which registrants will receive a full refund or credit. Refunds for payment processed online via electronic means will be refunded back to the credit card within 2 weeks after the cancellation.

Participants who wish to cancel their registration and paid registration fees online may be eligible for refund.

Participants may cancel their registration through the self-serve page accessed via the link included in the confirmation email sent after registration.

Please keep in mind that canceling a registration on the self-serve page does not automatically process a refund. Aion will refund cancellations made at least 24 hours prior to the start of this event.

The Aion Institute is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants.

This event is conducted online using a virtual meeting platform (Zoom). We encourage all attendees to ensure that their technological setup—audio, video, internet connection, and device settings—meets their individual accessibility needs prior to the event.

If you require any additional support, accommodations, or accessibility considerations in order to participate fully, please don’t hesitate to contact us through one of the contact forms on this website. We will make every reasonable effort to ensure your learning experience is welcoming, respectful, and attuned to your needs.

There is no commercial support for this Aion Institute program, nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Approvals

The Aion Institute is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. The Aion Institute (AIO279) maintains responsibility for this program and its content.