Comments on: Soul and God : Carl Jung’s Red Book

By: ccseed

ccseed — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:09:55 +0000

I'd counter that he 'experieced' the link at times…how psyche and
matter are related.

By: jamenta

jamenta — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:36:03 +0000

Interesting analogy between journey in outer world to inner. And much like an outer journey, one can prepare and not go alone, use safety precautions, etc.

But autonomous elements present in both!

And even more curious – is these “autonomous” elements are meaningfully related to us, none accidental – and what continues to astonish me more – Jung felt it true for the outer world. Speaking for myself, a bit of a stretch to believe in at times …

By: ccseed

ccseed — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:25:29 +0000

It's true that the inner journey is frought with danger. Sometimes
it's called psychosis, sometimes possession…much has to do with the
appropriate attitude toward the unconscious. I'd submit that the
outer world is frought with a similar aspect. Certain places in any
city are not safe at certain times, etc.
None the less, some, though not all, feel called to the journey. As
if they've received a handwritten invitation…

By: jamenta

jamenta — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:17:22 +0000

edit: change “Jung assists” to “Jung insists”. doh.

By: jamenta

jamenta — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:12:47 +0000

“whereby the conscious mind loosens it’s grip enough to allow the unfolding of a waken dream.”

Interesting. I have read different descriptions on Active Imagination and I like how you explain it Richard. I have not done much work with active imagination and it seems like it might be a curious inner journey.

Learning how to “Loosening up” so to speak until the moment where you receive dream like imagery/sound – would be the first big step. That alone might be daunting. I suppose those who practice meditation regularly could probably reach the border from conscious to active awake dreaming more readily. Also “artists” who regularly imagine for their art – writing, painting, music.

It seems to me Jung is not talking about just a cursorial dip into imagination – but one where his conscious mind loosens itself up enough where the imaginal contents become “autonomous” – and personalities within speak and images come without conscious impetus.

To reach this point could be dangerous for some if one doesn't have a fairly strong ego. I believe Jung gives warning about this in his writings. As your identity recedes (conscious identity) and you open up into that curious vista of dream life – who are you? who speaks to you? and what impact might it create on you the current conscious self?

I believe it has been written – there were a few times where Jung stayed up late in the middle of the night (during his own personal active imagination journey) scribbling furious on sheets of paper. His wife Emma, waking, disturbed by his frantic writings – went to Jung only to discover in horror that what Jung was writing was complete jibberish. It did cause much tension between them (not to mention the affair Jung was purported to be having at the time with his secretary). So the journey might be fraught with some very odd places for the psyche.

Jung assists however the journey is worth it. That meaning is present – renewal, strength, expansion. Hard to argue with that.