Inspiration
“I can no longer be sure whether the psyche is in me or whether I’m in the psyche…”
― James Hillman
Out of this situation the “child” emerges as a symbolic content… this new birth, although it is the most precious fruit of Mother Nature herself, the most pregnant with the future, this signifies a higher stage of Self Realization
Carl Gustav Jung
The Depth Psychology Perspective
James Hillman and Carl Jung were brilliant practitioners. They remind us here that the dual nature of psyche is ever present, and moves us towards the emergent person we are to one day become.
Hillman defines psyche as an entity separate from us, but one that we intimately operate within. This poses a paradox for the mind to solve, a big question that may just simply have numerous uncomplicated answers.
What is my purpose?
This simple, yet profound question has been the subject matter studied by every philosopher, scientist, and great person in the history of human kind. Unfortunately, or quite possibly a bearer of great fortune, this question has as many answers as there have been human beings to ponder its grandeur. As Dostoyevsky once stated:
“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
This leads us to the rebirth motif proposed by Carl Jung. Although Hillman’s predecessor, Jung shows the profound growth that occurs when one moves away from the ego ideals that psyche grasps onto, embraces its inner infancy, and is thus allowed to grow from a new perspective.
The new configuration is a nascent whole; it is on the way to wholeness, at least in so far as it excels in “wholeness” the conscious mind when torn by opposites and surpasses it in completeness…
Carl Gustav Jung
Believe… Achieve… Advance Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams
©2020 by Dr. Thomas Maples