ROBIN JAQUA answers "WHY JUNG?"
I was first exposed to Dr. Jung’s Archetypal Psychology of the SELF as a student at Pomona College in 1941. I was invited to participate in a special seminar comparing the psychologies of Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler and Carl Jung. The seminar was led by a psychology professor and a philosophy professor. Hearing the theories of these three pioneering psychologists presented together helped me to understand the difference between Freud’s focus on the ego, Adler’s focus on social psychology and Jung’s focus on Archetypal Psychology. It was during the discussions with my professors that I became aware of Jung’s discovery of the collective or archetypal unconscious. The Greek word "Archetype" suggests universal aspects of the human unconscious that tap into a primordial source ("Arche") with many manifestations of energy expression ("Typos"). Jung’s discovery and articulation of the Archetypal Unconscious eventually led him to formulate his own psychology regarding the WHOLENESS OF THE SELF.
In addition to discovering the creative Archetypal Unconscious, Jung’s openness to the totality of the human psyche led him to explore primitive, cultural and social anthropology. He gained tremendous knowledge about the role of philosophy and aesthetics in the development of human consciousness. His explorations into world religions, alchemy, myth and fairy tales validated his own conclusions about the Archetypal Unconscious as a primordial SOURCE and FORCE underlying all human development - both individual and collective.
In Jung’s work with dreams, fantasies and active imagination, he found what he described as "The Autonomous Archetypal Symbol Formation Process." This activity perpetually creates symbolic images that emerge spontaneously in dreams, fantasies, visions and active imagination in meaningful and impactful ways. It is through this process that the "Transcendent Function" can be consciously developed in the mature psyche. It is this "Transcendent Function" that facilitates the unification of the opposing elements of one’s Body/Psyche/Soul SELF WHOLENESS.
Jung found that a one-sided ego orientation blocks the enormous creative potentialities of a human being. He allowed himself a non-judging attitude as he delved ever deeper into the treasure house of creativity that underlies the ego’s more limited orientations. Jung encouraged himself and his analysands to trust the interplay of ego consciousness and the Archetypal Self as they searched out the universal Archetypal values, meanings and purposes of human existence. It is the Autonomous Archetypal Unconscious that holds center stage for Jung and his appreciation of the Life Spirit Drama of humankind.
Primary in Jung’s experience with symbols was the image of a mandala - or a circle with the center implied or indicated. The mandala is an Archetypal Image found in all cultures through time. It has the universal symbolic meanings of containment, completion, unity and wholeness. Jung drew hundreds of mandalas during his deep adventure into the unconscious after his traumatic break with Freud. It was during this experience that Jung discovered that the mandala has a power to bring order to the psyche and to prevent overwhelming disorientation. The spherical image of the mandala provided a container for the flood of images that emerged as Jung plunged into a deep confrontation with the Archetypal Unconscious.
Other elements of Jung's Archetypal Psychology of the Self include Archetypal Symbolism in fairy tales, myths, and every expression of art. Symbolic imagery provides the key that can help unlock the mysteries of the creative unconscious to anyone. Symbols from this source emerge into dreams, active imagination and intuitive insights in ways that can energize and heal both body and psyche. If these gifts are utilized by the conscious mind, they can inspire and direct one’s spiritual growth toward an enlightened experience of wholeness.
I strongly believe each person can benefit from a better understanding of Jung's Archetypal Psychology and the role it plays in the maturation of the psyche, ONE'S LIFE SPIRIT DRAMA.
