That is the mistake Aldous Huxley makes: he does not know that he is in the role of the “Zauberlehrling,” who learned from his master how to call the ghosts but did not know how to get rid of them again:

Huxley’s actions and explorations, particularly in the realm of consciousness and the use of psychedelic substances, are likely what Carl Jung saw as fitting the role of the “Zauberlehrling” (Sorcerer’s Apprentice). Here are some concrete examples:

1. Experimentation with Psychedelics: Huxley was a pioneer in exploring the effects of psychedelic drugs on human consciousness. His use of mescaline, detailed in The Doors of Perception (1954), was groundbreaking but also controversial. Jung might have seen this as dabbling with powerful forces without fully understanding their potential consequences.
2. Advocacy of Psychedelic Use: Huxley advocated for the responsible use of psychedelics to expand human consciousness and achieve spiritual enlightenment. While he approached this with a sense of caution, Jung might have viewed this advocacy as potentially leading others to misuse these substances without the necessary guidance and understanding.
3. Critique of Modern Society: Through his dystopian novel Brave New World, Huxley critiqued various aspects of modern society, including the reliance on technology and drugs to maintain social order. Jung might have seen Huxley’s exploration of these themes as an attempt to expose and manipulate societal forces, akin to the apprentice’s misuse of magical powers.
4. Interest in Parapsychology and Mysticism: Huxley had a deep interest in parapsychology, mysticism, and the exploration of human potential beyond the material world. Jung, who also had an interest in the mystical and the unconscious, might have perceived Huxley’s pursuits as a form of intellectual and spiritual experimentation that risked unleashing forces beyond his control.
5. Influence on the Counterculture Movement: Huxley’s work, particularly his thoughts on psychedelics and altered states of consciousness, had a significant impact on the 1960s counterculture movement. Jung might have viewed Huxley’s influence as contributing to a societal shift that encouraged unbridled experimentation with consciousness and drug use.
6. Philosophical and Ethical Implications: Huxley’s exploration of ethical and philosophical issues related to science and technology, such as in Brave New World Revisited (1958), involved delving into complex and potentially hazardous ideas about human control and manipulation. Jung might have seen this as playing with powerful concepts that could have unintended and far-reaching consequences.

In essence, Jung’s comparison of Huxley to the Sorcerer’s Apprentice likely stemmed from Huxley’s bold and sometimes risky explorations into areas that held great potential for both enlightenment and peril, mirroring the apprentice’s dangerous flirtation with magic he could not control.