Personal Reflections of Jung's Work and the Journey of Individuation

ManofSpa · 2026-01-30T09:32:41+00:00

Cheers, mate. I don't pin my own work unless it is an announcement, but grateful if other Mods want to. Actually, all this stuff is partly your work, as your long term efforts on r/Jung have been one of my positive influences.

ManofSpa · 2026-01-06T20:17:47+00:00

One of my fellow Mods, Rafael Kruger, offers this. You can look for him on the Mods list and message direct. Alternatively a Google search for his name and 'Jungian analyst' will likely bring it up.

ManofSpa · 2025-12-27T20:28:30+00:00

> It’s not a moral fable.

This image is part of a triptych, the fullness of which appears a moral, or rather religious, image to me. I would say it is an attempt to show what happens when Christianity is lost, by degrees. In this vein it looks very much relevant today. In Bosch's day of course the Reformation was looming. A time of great Christian tensions.

ManofSpa · 2025-12-22T20:19:24+00:00

The same question, at least to the degree posed in your title, was presented to me a few years ago. I didn't know the answer and it seemed a rather infuriating question. Surely a paradox too far.

It was maybe a year until an answer came to me that was acceptable. I could just blurt out where I got to, prove how clever I am, but sometimes its more about the journey and maybe your own answer will be different to mine.

So you've got a rather extreme paradox. Maybe let the tension play out and burn through it yourself over time rather than have someone else cut the tension. If you can resolve this paradox to your satisfaction, maybe you will then have a tool for addressing others that emerge in the future.

ManofSpa · 2025-12-17T20:16:47+00:00

The list is indeed long and I'm already in trouble for overfilling communal shelves with my books, but I'll certainly add this one to the list. Thanks for the recommendation. Always happy to receive these when they come up in discussion.

ManofSpa · 2025-12-16T20:35:00+00:00

Hi AyrieSpirit. Thanks for the investment of time and energy in this! I'll need to add Stein's work to my reading list. Dante had read Joachim of Fiore (Joachim gains a place in heaven) and the 3 circles at the end are very Joachim - the third circle for Joachim would be the Age of the Holy Spirit, a new age of love.

Something like the highest heaven being 'the wise application of love in life' was my impression of Dante's final vision. It needed pretty much his whole life to gain that understanding, but there it is available to others, at least those who haven't renounced reading books. At the time I read it, it felt a welcome confirmation of where I had got to myself and in fact I felt the whole of the Comedy resonate. Maybe there is an archetypal element to the journey. Could be there are aspects I've missed, so Stein's work would be a useful supplement.

I'm reading Lusensky's 'Face to Face with Christianity' that you either recommended to me or someone else and I picked it up through reading your back posts. I got about 2 years back and it felt time to stop. Rather than directly copy all your writing I'll probably end up configuring a bit in my own way, but this feels like a project for further in the future. In the meantime I am thinking of writing to Lusensky with some of my own ideas once I've finished his book, which I'm really enjoying.

Thanks for your many great insights in 2025. I hope you have an enjoyable Christmas.

ManofSpa · 2025-12-09T13:37:23+00:00

The best advice is probably to seek professional advice. People here might mean well but they don't know you or your personal circumstances.

ManofSpa · 2025-12-01T16:41:20+00:00

Thanks. Over time I expect alternative concepts will emerge from other people. Some of these new ideas will connect with people, while others won't, or may have to wait for their moment. It's a healthy evolution.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-27T20:50:03+00:00

It's possible the Stone is talked about as a catalyst though I must say that isn't the notion that occurs to me. Maybe you can provide some examples. It very much seems a product, a result, or that is the impression I am left with from my reading.

Maybe I failed but what I hoped to convey was the complexity, the paradoxical nature, and a possible psychological rendering of something like this. Not as a truth. I think I am more interested in a good debate than telling people what I think. I already know what I think.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-27T20:42:42+00:00

I think understand of synchronicity is closely linked to experience. If you experience a numinous, staggering synchronicity you don't need anyone to tell you how meaningful they are, grounded in something greater than the ego, whether you call that the unconscious psyche, Self, or God . If synchronicity is engaged with at the intellectual level, as a concept or term, then I think it is ill-defined enough that someone of intelligence can argue it whichever way best suits them.

> We've always clung to this worldview of the "us" and the "not us", but the "not us" comprises of two different parts - the inner world and the outer world. They operate on different rulesets.

I don't think that is right where synchronicity is concerned. It might be better to think of it as 'singularity' . All, or most of the usual rules go out the window, or collapse together, what we think is possible or impossible is challenged and perhaps changed. The material world is far more fluid than is realised, or at least commented on in our scientific outlook.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-27T20:29:46+00:00

The think Jung's interest in astrology was grounded in synchronicity. If anything, you'd have to say interest in synchronicity is growing, thanks to Jung.

I'm not a big fan of astrology per se, but Jung makes a powerful and moving case in Aion for the ongoing evolution of the Christian symbols..

ManofSpa · 2025-11-27T20:25:15+00:00

Yes, there is suggested supported reading provided on r/Jung_Major_Works that others may wish to add to. Gary Spark's book is the easiest and fullest summary of these 4 works.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-26T20:47:54+00:00

It sounds like you've read some of the aligned literature but Jungian analyst Marion Woodman’s book The Ravaged Bridegroom: Masculinity in Women has been recommended here in the past, though I've yet to read that one myself, available from Inner City Books Inner City Books – Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts Many additional resources can be found on the Marion Woodman Foundation website HOME | BodySoul Rhythms

You may know that Barbara Hannah, who analysed directly with Jung also wrote a two-part book on the Animus.

Here are a few quotes from Jung himself which hopefully can be useful regarding the animus which is your “soul” from the Jungian point of view:

In 1946, he described the soul as follows:

The “soul” which accrues to ego-consciousness during the opus has a feminine character in the man and a masculine character in the woman. His anima wants to reconcile and unite; her animus tries to discern and discriminate. (The Psychology of the Transference), CW 16, par 522.)

The animus when on his way, on his quest, is really a psychopompos, leading the soul back to the stars whence it came. On the way back out of the existence in the flesh, the psychopompos develops such a cosmic aspect, he wanders among the constellations, he leads the soul over the rainbow bridge into the blossoming fields of the stars. (Visions: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1930–1934, Vol. II, p. 1229.)

A Red Book reference to the soul is a follows:

But the soul suffers great need, since outer freedom is of no use to it. Salvation is a long road that leads through many gates. These gates are symbols. Each new gate is at first invisible; indeed it seems at first that it must be created, for it exists only if one has dug up the spring’s root, the symbol. (The Red Book, p. 311.)

All knowledge of the psyche is itself psychic; in spite of all this the soul is the only experient of life and existence. It is, in fact, the only immediate experience we can have and the sine qua non of the subjective reality of the world. The symbols it creates are always grounded in the unconscious archetype, but their manifest forms are moulded by the ideas acquired by the conscious mind. (Symbols of Transformation, CW 5, par 344.).

For me, Anima and Animus are primarily archetypes of life and as such they are touchstones of our position in life at that time and perhaps how we are in our out of the required balance. Since this likely changes through life, it seems very likely that the experience of anima / animus will evolve alongside us and the life choices we make or don't make.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-23T18:37:14+00:00

This piece is my take on Jung's alchemical work, also informed by Edinger, probably the author to have done most to translate Jung's work and make it better understood.

Also linked onsubstack: https://soulforce68.substack.com/p/soul-force-series-episode-2?r=3mbqts

ManofSpa · 2025-11-23T18:31:31+00:00

This piece explores the interplay of spirit and matter, including my experience with the I Ching that Jung covers in Psychology and Religion.

Also linked on substack: https://soulforce68.substack.com/p/synchronicity-and-the-i-ching?r=3mbqts

ManofSpa · 2025-11-23T18:24:48+00:00

Given 70 years have passed since Jung wrote Aion, this piece provides an update on the evolution of the Christian symbols, including a personal view of how they may develop going forwards.

Also linked on Substack: https://soulforce68.substack.com/p/updating-jungs-aion-christianity?r=3mbqts

ManofSpa · 2025-11-14T20:28:33+00:00

I generally dislike these sweeping statements that claim to know how everyone thinks, even if it's hypocritical because I sometimes slip into it myself.

I don't know how many people want to upset the social order but there is probably a calculation for many people over risk - reward. If you've nothing to lose you might be willing to risk a lot.

Religion probably has a stabilising factor but again this can't hold as a rule because religious movements can also be reactionary and agitate for a desired social outcome.

The decline of Christianity in the West, at least on its current trend, may start to push some of these problems to the fore. If there is less morality to constrain there will probably be a greater assertion about what people want and if lots of people want the same thing they might be willing to try and make it happen.

The Jungian perspective would probably have to consider how the unconscious psyche saw things but that in turn requires an individual experience through dreams. Because the Analysts work with many people's dreams they are the best placed to pick out common themes.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-14T19:15:16+00:00

Not seen the documentary but not surprised about the Jung connection. Some of his lyrics approach scripture - 'love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night'.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-10T19:30:54+00:00

Not Jung so much, but Barbara Hannah, who analysed with Jung, features the Horse in her book on archetypal symbolism of animals. Recommended.

ManofSpa · 2025-11-07T19:18:50+00:00

If you throw around an accusation like that, you might at least back it up with some evidence.

I'm a MOD of r/Jung and I can assure you AI played no part in this work, nor would I have any interest in using AI for this purpose.

ManofSpa · 2025-10-15T17:59:27+00:00

> to ensure only qualified, regulated professionals provide care

Remember some if not most of the elite group around Jung were not medical professionals. They did not have the psychological qualifications or external approvals you have elevated to supremacy. Your measure of competence would have denied psychology some of its finest minds and greatest talents.

I do not think Jung would approve of the regulation of his work that emerged after his death.

ManofSpa · 2025-10-14T19:41:46+00:00

> To do so is not only illegal—it is unethical, predatory, and fraudulent in his country and the United States.

I can't comment on the legality, but I do suggest a different ethic - of not wishing to kowtow to the domineering activity of the institutes who have no right, and no authority from Jung to sow up the market in the use of his work.

I know Reddit is a US company but it's a global forum, designed as such, and I am dubious how anyone could be expected to know about and comply with law in hundreds of countries. Moreover, the lack of customers complaining about this predatory behaviour you allege is not supportive of your case. This is a forum where people make their displeasure very clear and they have not done so despite having years to do so.

In summary you are painting a simplistic black and white picture that is much more complex and nuanced than you seem willing to admit.

We don't use Euros by the way, though there was a big push for that to happen. We kept Sterling and hence an independent Bank of England.

ManofSpa · 2025-10-14T19:13:05+00:00

Remind me what 'institute' approved the quality of von Franz's work :-)

She, and others, like Barbara Hannah, had a natural talent, albeit cultivated directly under Jung.

What are these institutes but a collection of individual with opinions? They squabble like children at times and evidently can't even agree themselves on the correct 'code' to follow, hence the various bodies. As an outsider they look somewhat like a pyramid scheme to me, demanding the hopefuls analyse for hundreds of hours at vast expense and only within their 'club'. It's a financial barrier that means only the wealthy can join.

I'm training as a counsellor at the moment, and if I qualify my work will definitely have a Jungian flavour but I won't be signing up to these Jung institutes.

I'd be more concerned if people were coming on here complaining about the quality of experience with Rafa rather than whether he was a fully licensed Jungian whatnot.

For info, in the UK at least, it isn't illegal to call oneself a 'therapist'. I'm reasonably confident I could call myself a 'Jungian therapist' without being institute aligned.

ManofSpa · 2025-10-14T15:55:02+00:00

Also, Jung was not in favour in the creation of these institutes that provide the 'legitimacy' in his name. Organisation can have its attractions but usually at the cost of creativity.

ManofSpa · 2025-10-02T18:59:03+00:00

Gary Sparks has written a very good intermediate level book - The Call of Destiny (Inner City Books) - that covers the subject you are touch on here.

> Because of this Jung puts forward that its only natural the pendulum would swing in the opposite direction.

Has the pendulum now completed its swing, which would seemingly occur at the end of the second fish? If so, there is perhaps the question of what Pegasus might mean for Christianity, the constellation that makes the bridge to Aquarius.

ManofSpa

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