On “Beginning” in Analysis

While we speak casually about <i>the</i> beginning of an analysis, we are also aware that there are different senses of <i>beginning</i> in the context of an analysis. Certain differences surrounding the nature of beginning reflect technical-theoretical debates within the field. But in addition and more broadly, the various senses of <i>beginning</i> represent different <i>dimensions</i> of our understanding and experience of analysis. In this essay, I explore some of these dimensions and consider the significance and challenges of <i>beginnings</i> throughout the course of analytic work.