It’s a great premise, the title of this shorter book by Jung: The Undiscovered Self. In many ways it sums up the whole of Jungian psychology. The challenge to us: step out of that comfort zone sometimes called the little self, what we often identify as “me,” and set out on a journey of discovery. This shift, really sought by the collective, seeks to break free from the shackles of ego-centrism.
The implication is that each of us has vast areas within the psyche awaiting discovery, areas that lie beyond the boundaries and awareness of our egos. The “Self” (note the capitol “S”) is like a continent in which you are the sole explorer.
As Wikipedia notes,
In Jungian theory, the Self is one of the archetypes. It signifies the coherent whole, unified consciousness and unconscious of a person. The Self, according to Jung, is realised as the product of individuation, which in Jungian view is the process of integrating one’s personality. For Jung, the self is symbolised by the circle (especially when divided in four quadrants), the square, or the mandala.
What distinguishes Jungian psychology is the idea that there are two centers of the personality. The ego is the center of consciousness, whereas the Self is the center of the total personality, which includes consciousness, the unconscious, and the ego. The Self is both the whole and the center. While the ego is a self-contained little circle off the center contained within the whole, the Self can be understood as the greater circle.
Slowly but surely, when the scope of this reality begins to emerge, a shift in perception begins to take place. The ego no longer reckons itself as the center of the personality. It moves and understands its identity in relationship to this other newly discovered center. Yet this center is not just an idea or a theory. It is an experience. It is an encounter.
Now doesn’t that sound refreshing?
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