The Odyssey of Carl Jung

Standard

Or a Sequel to THE WAY OF WHAT IS TO COME.

I am an orphan, alone; nevertheless, I am found everywhere. I am one but opposed to myself. I am a youth and an old man at one and the same time. I have known neither father nor mother because I have had to be fetched out of the deep like a fish or fell like a white stone from heaven. In woods and mountains, I roam, but I am hidden in the innermost soul of man. I am mortal for everyone, yet I am not touched by the cycle of aeons.

Illustrated by Petra Glimmdall 💖🙏

C. G. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, p.227. (Bollingen Tower)

I made this part separately to show how instructive Dr Jung is, even though he didn’t want to teach! After describing his dreams, with the last one ending full of hope with him standing in front of a tree bearing leaves but no fruit, which then transforms into sweet grapes full of healing juice, Dr Jung, although humble, shares his wisdom and knowledge from his vast experience. Despite his insistence that he never intends to teach or give lessons, we can appreciate the profound wisdom contained within his words.

Title image:  “Bleeding Light” By Jeffrey Smith.

Drawings by Jane Adams

Liber Primus fol.i(v)

In reality, now, it was so: At the time when the great war broke out between the peoples of Europe, I found myself in Scotland, compiled by the war to choose the fastest ship and shortest road home. I encountered the colossal cold that froze everything; I met up with the flood, the sea of blood, and found my barren tree whose leaves the frost had transformed into a remedy. And I plucked the ripe fruit and gave it to you, and I do not know what I poured out for you, what bittersweet intoxicating drink left an aftertaste of blood on your tongues.

Believe me (my friends): It is no teaching and no instruction that I give you. On what basis should I presume to teach you? I provide you with news of this man’s way but not of your own way. My path is not your path; therefore, I / cannot teach you! (CF. the contrast to John 14:6: “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me.) The way is within us, but not in Gods, nor in teachings, nor in laws. Within us is the way, the truth, and the life.

Woe betide those who live by way of examples! Life is not with them. If you live according to an example, you thus live the life of that example, but who should live your own life if not yourself? So live yourselves. (This is not a law, but notice of the fact that the time of example and law, and of the straight line drawn in advance, has become overripe”p.10)

The signposts have fallen; unblazed trails lie before us. (My tongue shall wither if I serve up laws if I prattle to you about teaching. Those who seek such will leave my table hungry!) Do not be greedy to gobble up the fruits of foreign fields. Do you not know that you yourselves are the fertile acre which bears everything that avails you?

Salvador_dali-self-portrait_1954

Yet, who today knows this? Who knows the way to eternally fruitful climes of the soul? You seek the way through mere appearances, you study books and give an ear to all kinds of opinions. What good is all that?
There is only one way, and that is your way. (only one law exists, and that is your law. Only one truth exists, and that is your truth”p.10)

May each go their own way!

I will be no saviour, no lawgiver, no master teacher unto you. You are no longer little children. (One should not turn people into sheep, but sheep into people. The spirit of the depth demands this, who is beyond present and past. Speak and write for those who want to listen and read. But do not run after someone so you do not soil the dignity of humanity- it is a rare good. A sad demise in dignity is better than an undignified healing. Whoever wants to be a doctor of the soul sees people as being sick. He offends human dignity. It is presumptuous to say that man is sick. Whoever wants to be the soul’s shepherd treats people like sheep. He violates human dignity. It is insolent to say that people are like sheep. Who gives you the right to say that man is sick and a sheep? Give them human dignity so they may find their ascendancy or downfall, their way”p. 11)

Art by Josephine Wall

Giving laws, bettering, making things easier, has all become wrong and evil. May each one seek out their own way. This way leads to mutual love in the community. Men will come to see and feel the similarity and community of their ways.
Laws and teachings held in common compel people to solitude so that they may escape the pressure of undesirable contact, but solitude makes people hostile and venomous.

Therefore, give people dignity and let each of them stand apart so that each may find their own fellowship and love it.
Power stands against power, contempt against contempt, love against love. Give humanity dignity and trust that life will find a better way.
The one eye of the Godhead is blind, the one ear of the Godhead is deaf, and the order of its being is crossed by chaos. So be patient with the crippleness of the world and do not overvalue its consummate beauty. (This is all, my dear friends, that I can tell you about the grounds and aims of my message, which I am burdened with like the patient donkey with a heavy load. He is glad to put it down!”p.12)

🙏💖🌟

33 thoughts on “The Odyssey of Carl Jung”

  2. “The signposts have fallen; unblazed trails lie before us…” A major theme of this post is The Socratic Method. Birthing truth Within the individual, not from without. This particular quote sparks curiosity and determination within me!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Thank you so much for sharing this deep, rich post by Jung, Aladin. I shall read it again and again for one cannot digest his richness in one sitting alone. Thankfully, sixteen years ago I was fortunate to discover Jung myself and join a local Jungian Dream Group for ten years. It was an incredible time of learning and soul whispering! Thanks for today’s inspiration! Love and light, Deborah.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Hello Alaedin,

    I have read this while tired, time for bed.

    Still, I have been made to think, been reminded of and interpreted much in/of my life, and life in general.

    Love the people/sheep – sheep/people thought a lot.

    Sheeple I say sometimes.

    Thank you for this post! My best to you!

    💐❤️✨

    Liked by 2 people

    • Honestly, it makes me proud to know you were tired, but still, you kept an eye on my littleness. And yes, the word sheep or doing as a sheep has become an important issue today! Love to you, my dear, wise lady.🙏💖🌹

      Like

  10. These are incredibly powerful words from Dr Jung, I especially loved this opening paragraph dear Aladin it stopped me in my tracks, there is a deep poetry and power in his words…thank you for bringing Jung into my life, big hugs from Athena

    Liked by 2 people

  11. elainemansfield

    I’m grateful for others who have been lights on the path, such as Marion Woodman and my root teacher Anthony Damiani. Without them, it would have been hard to find a clear path in the forest. I knew Anthony set me free to find my own path when he died in 1984 and it made me feel absolutely helpless, but I still had our community of students and his books and so many memories, along with Vic. I still had Vic in my world then. Teachers help us along the way whether they mean to or not. Thank you, Aladin.

    Liked by 2 people

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.