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Inwardness: the inner path in the work of Carl Jung
It has been 101 years since Carl Jung wrote Symbols of Transformation. This work is now in the US Public Domain, and available on-line for all to read freely. It … Continue reading →
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Zombie Apocalypse: a symbol of collective transformation
Given a plethora of television shows and films about zombies, what is a Jungian to see but a collective attempt to dream the unsayable. Carl Jung showed that what cannot … Continue reading →
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Heaven above, Heaven below: what the soul foretells
In reading Jung’s text Symbols of Transformation, I am interpreting the text from a spiritual perspective, attempting to ‘speak for the soul.’ In the beginning of the text, Jung is in … Continue reading →
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Via Dolorosa: the soul’s spiritual riddle
Yesterday, I spoke of the soul’s capacity to create symbols of transformation. Today, on the Winter Solstice, I will write of Via Dolorosa, “the way of suffering.” Suffering is an … Continue reading →
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The Gift of Love
Life energy moves through all living things. A seed sprouts, growing and becoming a tree, blossoming and bearing fruit. As long as the tree is healthy and without disease its … Continue reading →
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Limning the Path of Soul in the Work of Carl Jung
I apologize for not blogging sooner. It has been almost a month since I have written on this blog. My aim is to stay more closely in touch, but I … Continue reading →
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Creative Power of the Soul
Thank your for your patience with me over the past month. I feel as though I created a sweet little theoretical nest in which I can hatch some ideas. I … Continue reading →
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The mystics find ‘in their heart’ the image of the sun
In the second section of Symbols of Transformation, Carl Jung is taking us into the life of the mystic: a path of soul and of divine heart. Jung speaks of … Continue reading →
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Cosmic Man
In the Introduction to the Second Section of Symbols of Transformation, Carl Jung addresses the nature of ‘creative divinity’ (para 183), elucidating its various archetypal forms. One such form is …...
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Agni: archetypal image of the creative force
In the above image we see the Hindu deity Agni and his consort Svaha. Agni appears in his dual nature, with two heads he faces both God and man. In … Continue reading →
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Priapus: phallus uncontained
Priapus is the son of Dionysus and Aphrodite. Ancient historian Diodorus Siculus, who wrote between 60 and 30 BC, speaks of Priapus: “Now the ancients record in their myths that Priapos … Continue...
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Struggle & the Elixir of Immortality
To live is to struggle. Whether we are rich or poor, beautiful or plain, famous or more humble, we will struggle. For struggle arises from within, a struggle of the … Continue reading →
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Dreams of a vehicle…
A vehicle can represent “a mode of traveling the road of life.” “Vehicles of often certain folk tradition to symbolize an attitude to life. Thus, the two major groups within … Continue reading →
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Persian constellation gemeaux (Gemini)
Gemini constellation. This image is by ‘Abd al Rahman ibn ‘Umar al-Sufi’. He was a Persian astronomer and published his Book of Fixed Stars in 964.
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The Persian crab constellation (Cancer)
The Crab Constellation, otherwise known as Cancer. This image is by ‘Abd al Rahman ibn ‘Umar al-Sufi’. He was a Persian astronomer and published his Book of Fixed Stars in … Continue reading →
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Carl Jung: the wide range of representations of ‘spirit’
The concept of ‘spirit’ has deep roots in the human psyche. Carl Jung’s investigation into the nature of spirit is a complex investigation which takes us through many layers of … Continue reading →
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Jakob Böhme & the dynamic unity of light and dark
Jakob Böhme (1575 – 1624) was a German mystic. He wrote several mystical treatises which influenced G.W.F. Hegel, Carl Jung, and other German thinkers. Carl Jung speaks of Böhme’s work. He says: “A...
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Jakob Böhme & the split within God
Yesterday I wrote a post in which I discussed Carl Jung’s comments on Böhme. Today I want to include a second image to illustrate the notion further. In this image … Continue reading →
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Archetypal Dialectics
I have heard many people complain about the division between spirit and matter. Often they blame Descartes. For example in Marigold’s book titled A Guiding Hand, she says: “If we hadn’t given …...
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Shiva Lingam: image of the creative force
What follows is a wonderful story from the Linga Purana which illustrates quite nicely why the linga is an image of libido, as well as the creative force: The sages … Continue reading →
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Divine Union: creative force & origin
In Symbols of Transformation, Carl Jung explores the dynamic relation between the masculine and feminine as archetypal images of sacred cohabitation. One such image is the Shiva Lingam and Yoni …...
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Mother World: splitting, integration & evolution in the mother archetype
Recently, I have been writing on the aims and instincts of the human soul. Carl Jung speaks of the human soul’s “longing to attain rebirth through a return to the … Continue reading →
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Paradox of the Tree of Death and Life
The image above by Berthold Furtmeyer (1481) is titled the Tree of Death and Life. This image illustrates the paradox and ambi-valence in the mother archetype. Anne Baring describes the scene …...
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Archetype of Self: Child of Mankind
According to Jungian analyst Edward Edinger the “son of man” or the “child of mankind” is an important archetypal figure representing the realized Self or the child of the ego … Continue reading →
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Is ‘God’ Dead?
“Let us pray to God to be free of ‘God’.” –Meister Eckhart. We exist in a shifting ground, and outworn symbolic notions need to be re-imagined. Outer, worldly, changes provoke … Continue reading →
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Carl Jung: the divine image is the inner most possession of the soul
“Too few people have experienced the divine image as the inner most possession of their souls. Christ only meets them from without, never from within the soul.” — Carl Jung … Continue reading →
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God in the Darkness
The people stood far off, while Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:18-21) Saint Gregory of Nyssa draws upon Exodus 20:21 to show that God … Continue reading →
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The hero’s journey: beyond ego adaptation
“The ego is the subject of all successful attempts at adaptation so far as these are achieved by the will.” Carl Jung, CW 9ii, para 11 For Carl Jung, the … Continue reading →
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The Womb of Creation (of the Self)
From infancy, human consciousness must perform the triumphant feat of individuating. We blossom into our unique individuality out of a primal unity and oneness (Newman 1954, Jung 1956, Edinger 1972). …...
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Carl Jung: pan and panic
Pan-like figures are found in cultures around the world. Carl Jung tells a story of the “nocturnal God” he heard of in Kenya. He says: “The elders of the Elgonyi … Continue reading →
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Carl Jung: the anima wants life
“Because the anima wants life, she wants both good and bad.” (Carl Jung, 9i, para. 59)
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Carl Jung: Sophia
“man identifies with the son-lover on whom the grace of Sophia has descended, with a puer aeternus [eternal youth] a filius saPientiae [child of wisdom].” (Carl Jung, 9i, para. 194)
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Carl Jung: Fish as nourishing influence of unconscious
“The fish symbol… the “nourishing” influence of unconscious contents, which maintain the vitality of consciousness by a continual influx of energy.” (Carl Jung, CW 9I, para 248)
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Khidr: angel of the mystics
Khidr is known as the “green prophet” or the ‘green one.” Khiḍr is said to appear to individuals and initiate them into the mystical path. Most people seek to learn … Continue reading →
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Immanence: God Within
The image above, titled ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus,’ is based on Psalm 64:6: “They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of … Continue reading →
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Carl Jung: Khidr as symbol of the self
Over the last couple of days we have been discussing images of the self. I would like to continue exploring this idea. Carl Jung says that Khidr may be an … Continue reading →
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Pomegranates: symbolism in mysticism and dreams
Last night I dreamed of pomegranates… Carl Jung saw a garden of pomegranates when he was near to death: “I myself was, so it seemed, in the Pardes Rimmonim, the … Continue reading →
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Carl Jung: ‘religion is a vital link with psychic processes’
“religion is a vital link with psychic processes independent of and beyond consciousness, in the dark hinterland of the psyche…” (Carl Jung, CW 9I, para. 262) Reference: Carl Jung, Archetypes …...
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Enveloping, embracing, devouring
“Had we not long since known it from the symbolism of dreams, this hint from the Orient would put us on the right track: the enveloping, embracing, and devouring element … Continue reading →
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Our battle with sacred mother
For Carl Jung, the archetypal theme of the hero’s journey represents the transcendence of consciousness. He says: “The hero’s main feat is to overcome the monster of darkness: it is … Continue reading →
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Fires of knowledge: Ashes of wisdom
Ash is a product of fire. When fire burns, things perish. Ash remains. As a symbol of purification, ash is the essence that remains when all else burns away. Carl … Continue reading →
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Shiva Speaks: words of the supreme Self
Both the work of Carl Jung (CW 9ii) and Vedanta (Adi Shankara and the Upanishads) agree: the deity image represents the Self beyond self. In Vedanta, the deity image represents … Continue reading →
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Syzygy: from duality to divine union
As a basic principle, archetypes are not realized in static form but present in dynamic form, expressing transformations in consciousness. Archetypal images transform as awareness transforms. Or said...
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