The Psychology of The Child Archetype (P3)

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“What the Water Gave Me”. Painting by Frida Kahlo

I have already written two sections about this topic, p1/p2, and I was unsure if I would write another part. It seems like I have to emphasize the importance of children in our lives. They are not only one of the most vital aspects but also one of the most vulnerable groups, especially during the ongoing wars that are devastating so many parts of the world. We must be mindful of the traumatic experiences that children face during these conflicts, which can affect them psychologically for a long time.

I don’t know whether Dr Jung would try to work on this dilemma again or forego it entirely! What humans do to their children is indescribable.

Photo by UNICEF

“If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could be better changed in ourselves. “Children are educated by what the grown-up is and not by his talk.” Carl Jung, ‘On the Becoming of Personality’ (1932)

It tears my heart apart when I see these children suffer by doing the foolishness of the grown-ups, no matter from which side of any conflict. As a child, they will never know why, and that stays in their soul forever: trauma!

Image by Petra Glimmdall 🙏💖

Anyway, let’s try to keep learning from Dr Jung, who understood children well and believed that intuition is a gift that exists from childhood and is essential.

Image by Petra Glimmdall 🙏💖

Jung was fascinated by intuition as an exceptional gift or function in the traditional sense. This was evident in his 1896-1899 Zofingia Lectures and 1902 On the Psychology and Pathology of So-called Occult Phenomena: A Psychiatric Study. As seen in his Red Book, a significant shift occurred in 1913 when he began using esotericist intuitions for psychological purposes. His personal and private use of intuition, which was remarkable, led Jung to place intuition at the core of his psychology. It became a necessary intuitive form of empathy in his practice and, as we will see, at the heart of his theory. In 1921, Jung wrote Psychological Types, where intuition became one of the four fundamental functions and types of the psyche, alongside thinking, feeling, and sensation. In doing so, Jung proved to the world that intuition was no longer a psychologist’s hobby for table-turning but the most significant function of the psyche.

Image by Petra Glimmdall 🙏💖

As Christmas approaches, we begin the period of anticipation for the birth of the Christ child, a symbolic representation of the birth into divinity. Despite our beliefs or disbelief, we may try our best to save the child’s soul from the pain and trauma it may encounter.

Thank you for reading.🙏💖

26 thoughts on “The Psychology of The Child Archetype (P3)”

  4. What a truly fantastic post, thank you so much for sharing this one Aladin! All the quotes you’ve shared here are excellent and emphasise the beauty, wonder and sacredness of childhood. My own favourite has to be Jung’s quote on the unlived lives of the parents and how children bear this.

    You cover it all with your references to the ongoing war and trauma millions of children are suffering. Several years ago at my Jungian Dream group we spent three years reading and studying Jung’s book on children’s dreams. So insightful, helped me enormously! Love and light, Deborah.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parents.” This is profound. Seems true in many different ways! In the literal sense, if a parent dies the child carries that grief forever. Perhaps even haunted by, possessed by the dead parent. The child’s life path is forever changed.

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  7. A timely article Aladin – it is so true that the unlived lives of the parents is one of the greatest burdens of a child…it’s carried into adulthood and for those that are aware much hard work is needed to free themselves to live a truly fulfilling life. To add more pain for the children today are the wars that traumatise them, leaving wounds that are even harder to free themselves from…there are no words.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. elainemansfield

    My heart breaks over the suffering of the children in a world of violence and starvation. I gladly help support a group called Educate the Children, a nonprofit supporting impoverished women and children in Nepal. It helps me feel less helpless in the face of violence everywhere.
    I am by nature a feeling-sensation type. My husband was the intuitive thinker and both our adult sons have strong and trusted intuition. I’m grateful to have loving relationships with them and the wisdom of their intuition. Thank you for this powerful post. May there be peace, especially for the children and the mothers who care for them..

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Beautiful article to read at the closing of the year and as you mention thinking about Christ being born (even for non Christians) and also the vulnerability of all children in our world. I cry for the children of Palestine and of Ukraine…I really do. Will now read parts one and two….fascinating stuff thank you 😊

    Liked by 1 person

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