Roberto Assagioli - Jung and Psychosynthesis

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ecture

mong psyc ot erap sts, ung s one o t e c osest an most a n to t e concept ons an pract ce o

psyc osynt es s. ut t e o y o s wor s so arge, s range covers so many erent e s, t at a comp ete

examination of it would require a sizable book. I shall thus have to limit myself to a comparative survey ofsome o t e e s t at are more rect y concerne w t psyc osynt es s; t at s , e structure o t e psyc e o

t e uman eing; t e ynamics o t e psyc ic energies; t e met o s o psyc o ogica t erapy an e ucation.

The comparative procedure is very productive, because it contrasts the respective positions as to their points of

agreement an vergence. ut compar son oes not mp y u gment or cr t c sm; an w attempt to e as

o ect ve as poss e, to st c to acts, eav ng t e rea er to raw s own conc us ons.

ar ustav ung was a een nvest gator an an a e t erap st o t e uman e ng, w o carr e s wor or-

ward with a mind free from preconceptions and academic fetters. His life lacked any outstanding and dramatic

event; orn n w tzer an , e ve w t s am y ma n y at us ac t, n a com orta e ut not uxur ousouse agreea y s tuate -on t e s ore o t e a e o ur c . n t e secon part o s e, owever, e trave e

an spent cons era e per o s a roa n n a, r ca an mer ca stu y ng t e customs o t e peop e an t e

characteristics of ancient civilizations. He had a kindly welcome for the stream of visitors from all countries,

an ave v v memor es o p easant an an mate conversat ons w t m n s oo ne stu y u o cur -

ous exot c o ects.

e a great an vers e g ts: e possesse eep uman ee ng, an nsat a e t rst or now e ge, an a m -

rable integrity and intellectual modesty, coupled with a sincere recognition of his own limitations and those of

ot ers as we . n s e syc o ogy o t e nconscious e oes not es tate to a m t:

“ e wor n t s e s wor or p oneers. ave o ten gone astray an many t mes ave a to go ac anlearn from the beginning. But I am aware of it and for this reason am resigned to having to admit that, as the day

emerges rom t e n g t, so trut s orn o error.

ut ave never een r g tene y error, nor ave regrette t ser ous y. c ent c nvest gat on was never or

me t e cow t at gave m , an not even a means o acqu r ng prest ge, ut an o ten tter con rontat on w t

rea ty orce on me y my a y psyc o og ca exper ence among t e s c . or t s reason not a present s

wr tten w t t e ra n ut not a tt e w t t e eart, an t e we - spose rea er s as e not to orget t w en,

as e o ows t e ma n course o t e nte ectua argument, e comes across rea s t at are not sat s actor y re-

pa re . armon ous ow n t e presentat on can on y e oo e or w en one wr tes o t ngs a rea y nown.

When, instead, prodded by the necessity of helping and curing, one seeks new means, one is forced to speak

a out matters t at are not nown.

s con ess on o ung s s ou e great y apprec ate . s un erstan ng o t e re at v ty o our now e ge

an t e recogn t on o t e unavo a e su ect ve e ement n every researc er ma e m s un a systemat c

ormu at ons an categor ca statements. e too up a rm pos t on on t e groun o psyc o og ca exper ence

an t e emp r ca met o , t us emonstrat ng a true sc ent c sp r t. t t, owever, e com ne some ac

o prec s on n t n ng an wr t ng an an unw ngness to a m t a su stant a rea ty transcen ng t e str ct y

psyc o og ca sp ere. ut t s m tat on o s s ows ow un ust was t e accusat on o “myst c sm eve e at

him many times. Such a charge reects a lack of comprehension both of Jung and of mysticism. In reality the

two stan po nts are not on y erent ut qu te oppos te. e myst c e eves rm y n t e ex stence o o ,



o a n versa p r t; e s conv nce o e ng, or o av ng een, n a state o un on w t t at transcen enta

ea ty. ung, on t e contrary, assumes an agnost c att tu e towar s t; e a m ts t e su ect ve, “psyc o og ca

rea ty o t e exper ence, ut ma nta ns t at ts essent a , transcen enta rea ty cannot e regar e as emon-

strate . s can e cons ere a mer t or a m tat on, accor ng to t e po nt o v ew. n any case t a so ves

ung o t e c arge o myst c sm-a ser ous one n t e op n on o some peop e.

et us turn now to t e un amenta pro em o psyc o ogy: e structure o t e psyc e. ung as a een sense o

t e comp ex ty o t e uman psyc e. o quote s own wor s “ ur psyc c nature s o an un mag na e com-

plexity and diversity.” He has pointed out the relative autonomy of the various psychic contents and the exis-tence, o ten qu te ncompat e, o erent su -persona t es or, as e ca s t em, personae n t e at n sense

o “mas s .

He makes a distinction, however, between these personae—which also correspond to social, interpersonal roles

an unct ons—an t e “ nner persona ty . n s v ew, “ e nner persona ty s t e manner o one s e av or

towar s t e nner psyc c processes. term t e outer att tu e, or outer c aracter, t e persona, t e nner att tu e

term t e an ma, or sou . syc o ogica ypes, p.

oncern ng t e psyc ic unctions, Jung, as is well known, differentiates between four fundamental ones: ensa-

tion, ee ing, t oug t an intuition. n t s e ers rom a most a ot er psyc o og sts y s acceptance o t eex stence o t e ntu t on as a norma psyc o og ca unct on o t e uman e ng. syc osynt es s assumes t e

same pos t on an ays muc emp as s upon t e mportance an va ue o t e ntu t on an upon t e necess ty

of developing it. According to Jung, it is the psychological function that permits perceptions to arise from the

unconsc ous an causes t e r contents to emerge as comp ete w o es. e cont nues: “ ntu t ve cogn t on, t ere-

ore, possesses an ntr ns c c aracter o certa nty an conv ct on w c ena e p noza to up o t e ̒ sc ent a

ntu t va as t e g est orm o cogn t on.

Among the moderns, the greatest advocate of the intuition has been, not a psychologist, but a philosopher, Henri

ergson. uc as t ere s to e sa a out t e ntu t on, w ment on on y t at t ere are var ous types or eve s

o t: t e ergson an ntu t on, w c occurs pre om nant y at t e norma persona ty eve s, s very er-

ent rom t at o ot nus, w c s pure y sp r tua . ung asserts t at t e ntu t on ex sts at ot t ese eve s, onwhich it assumes different aspects but is fundamentally the same.

n mportant erence rom psyc osynt es s ex sts n connect on w t t e psyc o og ca unct ons.

syc osynt es s ma nta ns t at ung s our un amenta unct ons o not prov e or a comp ete escr pt on o

t e psyc o og ca e; ut t at t ere are ot er unct ons as un amenta , w c mer t nc us on as we . e rst

s t e imagination. ung s ac o recogn t on o t e mag nat ve unct on appears strange n v ew o s attr ut-

ng suc great mportance to mages an sym o s. e exp anat on es n s e e t at mag nat ve act v ty can

ev ence tse n a t e our ot er unct ons. ut e asserts t s w t out emonstrat ng t or ea ng w t t. t

seems mposs e to a m t t at antasy or mag nat on can e man este n t e unct on o sensat on, w c s a

perception, by means of the senses, of the so-called external reality; that is, of impacts coming from the external

wor . n t e ot er an , ot er psyc o og sts correct y g ve t e mag nat on a un amenta p ace n psyc o og -

ca e.

not er group o unct ons t at must e accor e a s m ar cons erat on are t e ynamic or ormic unc-

t ons rom t e ree wor “orme mean ng ten ency or mpu se . s group nc u es t e nst ncts, ten en-

c es, mpu ses, es res an asp rat ons, n act a t at mpe s to act on. es re as een nc u e among t ese

orm c act v t es, t oug es re s genera y conce ve n terms o on y, or at east pr nc pa y, ts su ect ve

aspect- es re as somet ng one ee s, an emot on one as. ut t s s so e y ts su ect ve aspect; n rea ty es re

is or has a dynamic energy that impels to action. It has been said of it that it is a primordial tendency, the attrac-

t ve mpu se towar s t e not-se . e ictionary o syc o ogica an syc oana ytica erms y . an .



ng s ew or , ongmans reen, , an exce ent comp at on o mar e o ect v ty, e nes es re as

somet ng act ve to w c t e terms “want , “nee , “crav ng to possess somet ng are app e . e exique

e i osop ie y . ertran comments: “ ccor ng to p noza, es re s t e un amenta ten ency to pers st

n e ng.

t may seem surpr s ng t at, among t ese act ve ten enc es, t e w as not een nc u e . ut a un amenta

erence ex sts etween t e r ves, mpu ses an es res, on t e one an , an t e w on t e ot er. e can

a ver y t e erence, even t e oppos t on etween t em; an one m g t say t at t e “ uman con t on s a

constant conict between drives, impulses and desires and the will.

n a certa n sense t e w s somet ng o a mystery, an aca em c psyc o og sts ave neg ecte es re, t ey

ave or t e most part gnore t e ex stence o t e w . s a quote n t s connect on t e ictionary o sy-

chological and Psychoanalytical Terms already referred to. Under the item “Will” and “Voluntary action” it

says: “ c ent c psyc o ogy as not yet reac e t e po nt w ere t s poss e to e ne ow t ese terms s ou

e use ; an yet t oes not seem poss e to o w t out t e concept o a prax s o e av or patterns t at s ou

e terme vo untary an w c er rom ot er patterns n var ous - e ne ways. ague as t s may e, one

can etect a rat er t g t- ppe a m ss on t at t ere ex sts t s stur ng somet ng n psyc o ogy w c s t e

will.

ne o t e reasons or t s mystery a out t e w es n ts nt mate assoc at on w t t e “ , t e su ect, t e

center o consc ousness. n rea ty, a unct ons are unct ons o a iving, se -conscious eing an t us o an “

It is the “I” that feels and thinks, that imagines, desires and wills above all that ills—and therefore as one has

n genera a vague an m sense o one s se , o se -consc ousness, t s not surpr s ng t at one s sense o ts

un amenta unct on—t e w s equa y con use an a nt. e agram e ow, t oug on y approx mate, s

nten e to n cate t s structure o t e psyc e.

. ensat on; . mot on- ee ng; . mag nat on; . mpu se- es re; . oug t; . ntu t on; . ; . entra

po nt: “ or go.



e tr ang es start ng rom t e centra c rc e represent t e psyc c unct ons: sensat on; emot on; mag nat on;

mpu se an es re; t oug t; an ntu t on. e w occup es a pos t on apart rom t e ot ers, a centra pos t on

n cate y t e c rcu ar area surroun ng t e po nt o se -consc ousness, t e “ or go.

e now come to t e irection o t e vita interest , an so pass rom t e escr pt ve to t e ynam c aspect.

ne o ung s most va ua e contr ut ons was t e scovery an escr pt on o two un amenta psyc o og -

ca types ase on w et er t e v ta nterest s recte outwar s or nwar s, an t us xtraverte or ntro-

verte . s ou ment on at once t at t s ess a matter o “types n a prec se an stat c sense, an more o t e

prevailing direction of the vital interest, and thus of the consequent evaluations, chokes, decisions and actions.s pre om nat ng ten ency can e strong or nstance, n cat ng t s ntens ty n percentages—n nety per

cent or wea s xty per cent, or say orty per cent . ere s tt e nee to escr e t e c aracter st cs o t e ex-

travert an ntrovert; y now t ey are a matter o common now e ge. t s wort remem er ng t at t s preva -

ing tendency is subject to extreme, even pathological, variations. In its almost pure form, extraversion is to be

o serve n man c states, ntrovers on n me anc o a an epress on.

s rect on o t e v ta nterest s suscept e to a ternat ons an osc at ons rang ng rom t e norma an

mo erate to t e extreme an pat o og ca . e extremes n a ternat on are to e oun n cyc ot m a an

manic-depressive psychoses, which may or may not be intercalated by periods of equilibrium. In addition, the

a ternat on can e rap or s ow, t e cyc es ong or s ort. t s nterest ng to o serve ow a norma a ternat onoccurs n re at on to t e var ous ages rom rt to o age. e n ant s tota y ntroverte , tota y a sor e n

s organ c sensat ons. s c oo progresses, e ecomes ncreas ng y extraverte an rects s nterest

towards the external world. The adolescent reverts to introversion when the awakening of energies, feelings, and

emot ons creates pro ems an cr ses t at ocus s nterest upon mse . s genera y g ves p ace aga n to

extravers on as t e young man an a u t ecome nvo ve n re at ons ps w t ot ers nterpersona an soc a

an n pro ess ona act v t es. atur ty an espec a y o age pro uce a return to ntrovers on, accompan e y

etac ment an wan ng nterest n t e externa wor , an y a ten ency towar s t e nner e, contemp at on

an spass onate o servat on.

y com n ng t e ten ency to extravers on or ntrovers on w t t e our psyc o og ca unct ons e postu ates,

ung arr ves at a c ass cat on o e g t types: t e extraverte sensory, t e extraverte emot ona , t e extravertemental, the extraverted intuitive, and four corresponding introverted types. But this and other classications

expose t ose w o a opt t em to t e angers o sc emat c sm an p geon- o ng, o y e ng to t e so com ort-

a e ten ency to “ a e uman e ngs. e must e on our guar aga nst over oo ng t e mu t ar ous an

comp ex acets o uman rea ty. t s a too easy to regar ot ers as “o ects nstea o “su ects . n t s

a e ng, w t ts assoc ate att tu es o u g ng, or more o ten o eprec at on, o ten provo es ost e react ons,

somet mes o an ntense n , w c are t oroug y ust e .

ut to t e e g t types recogn ze y ung, ot ers must e a e . ppos te nterest- rect ons can e assoc -

ate imu taneous y w t erent eve s n t e same persona ty. or nstance, a man may e pre om nant y

extraverted physically, introverted emotionally and again extraverted mentally. His will can also be extraverted

or ntroverte . urt ermore, anot er st nct on must e ma e: t e rect on o t e v ta nterest s su ect to

two separate mo a ities or attitu es: t e active an t e passive. ung ment ons t s, ut oes not eve op t e

po nt, w c , n my op n on, as a un amenta mportance. pass ve extravert, en owe w t excess ve sens -

t v ty, w o succum s to every externa n uence an s om nate y t e

w o ot ers, s very erent rom an act ve extravert w o ten s to om nate t ngs an peop e, to en t em

to s w . n t s sense, t ey are oppos te types.

o t s must e a e t e act t at t ere are two ot er nterest- rect ons to e recogn ze an g ven t e utmost

consideration; the direction downwards towards the low, which may be called subversion, and that pwards

towar s t e ig , or supra-version. u vers on s t e ten ency to p um t e unconsc ous n ts ower aspects;



an t can e sa to e t e prov nce o “ ept psyc o ogy n ts more restr cte sense t e “ escent nto e

an can e compare to su -aquat c sport. reu an psyc oana ys s sp ays an a most exc us ve nterest n t e

ower aspects o uman nature.

n supra-vers on, on t e ot er an , t e v ta nterest an searc are recte towar s t e g er aspects o t e

psyc e, towar s t e superconsc ous, towar s sp r tua exper ences. s, n contrast to su -aquat c sport, can

e compare to mounta n-c m ng. o ung must e g ven t e cre t o av ng recogn ze an emonstrate

t e ex stence n t e uman e ng o t e natura ten ency towar s t e g , o a genu ne nee , w c e ca e

instinctive, for spiritual satisfaction. He gave prominence to the fact that the neglect or repression of this needcan create ser ous neuro-psyc c an psyc osomat c stur ances.

not er, an mportant, erence s one o ua ity w c s erent rom irection. ere can e a supra-ver-

sion of an inferior kind: the dreamer, the passive idealist, the sterile theoretician, the utopian are examples of

supra-vers on o a negat ve type. ere s aga n a su vers on o a super or n , suc as t e sc ent c nvest ga-

t on an exp orat on o t e ower aspects o t e unconsc ous, w at cou e terme psyc o og ca geo ogy an

arc aeo ogy.

Although I cannot now discuss the pschosynthetic tasks connected with the various directions of the vital inter-

est, s ou ment on t at t ere are a so ot er psyc o og ca types er v ng rom t e erences n t e persona -ty “structure . ere are n v ua s w o are re at ve y co erent, we “s ape , even r g . n t e ot er an

t ere are ot ers w o are use, cont nua y c angea e. t ers, aga n, are a tua y contra ctory or am va-

lent.

t s s ows t e great comp ex ty o t e uman psyc e an t e mposs ty o ram ng or p geon- o ng t n

some es gnat on or escr pt on arr ve at rom a s ng e v ewpo nt. n y t e sum o t e var ous po nts o v ew,

o t e erent approac es or “ rames o re erence , can g ve a ess mper ect concept on o t e psyc e o t at

strange creature, a mem er o t e ourt ng om o nature—t e uman e ng.

p to t s po nt ave scarce y ment one t e unconsc ous. ts ex stence s y now genera y a m tte , except

y a ew psyc atr sts an psyc o og sts oun y o concept ons w c can e cons ere out ate . ccor -ing to Jung, the unconscious is an exclusively psychological concept and includes all the psychic elements,

contents an processes not assoc ate w t t e “ or go n a consc ous way. ere ore, ung ma nta ns, t e

unconsc ous as no “persona centre . s s n agreement w t psyc osynt es s, w c warns aga nst t e

ten ency to ma e an “ent ty o t e unconsc ous, a most a persona ty, more or ess n accor or n contrast w t

t e consc ous. “ nconsc ous , as ave stresse e sew ere, s ou e cons ere an a jective, not a noun, an

t n cates a temporary con t on o t e “psyc c contents , many o w c may ave een consc ous an may

ecome so aga n.

ung s most mportant contr ut on to t e psyc o ogy o t e unconsc ous s represente y s extens ve stu -

ies of the collective unconscious Before him, psychoanalysis had concerned itself almost exclusively with the

stu y o t e persona unconsc ous. ung t en s owe t e great extent o co ect ve psyc c e ements an orces,

w c exerc se a power u e ect on t e uman persona ty. n my agram o t e const tut on o t e psyc e,

t e co ect ve unconsc ous s represente as y ng outs e t e n v ua psyc e. e emarcat on ne s otte ,

to suggest t e cont nuous exc anges go ng on etween t e co ect ve an t e persona unconsc ous. e uncon-

sc ous ex sts at a eve s, n ot t e persona ty an t e co ect ve psyc e.

e co ect ve unconsc ous s a vast wor stretc ng rom t e o og ca to t e sp r tua eve , n w c t ere-

ore st nct ons o or g n, nature, qua ty an va ue must e ma e. t s ou e note t at ung o ten sregar s

these distinctions: he speaks of the collective unconscious en bloc and is inclined to confuse what he terms

“arc a c , t at s, w at or g nates n t e anc ent co ect ve uman exper ence, w t w at s g er we wou say



superconsc ous an n t e sp r tua sp ere. us ung spea s or “arc etypes as “ mages ; ut at t mes e e-

scr es t em as arc a c, rac a mages, c arge w t a strong emot ona tone accumu ate ur ng t e centur es,

an on ot er occas ons e treats t em as pr nc p es, as “ eas ; an e mse suggests t e r a n ty w t t e

aton c eas. n rea ty, t ere ex sts not on y a erence ut an actua antagon sm etween t ese two concep-

t ons o “arc etypes , an rom t s con us on etween t em ar se var ous e ata e consequences, e ata e at

t e t eoret ca eve an a e to e arm u n t erapy, as s a ave occas on to ment on n spea ng o ung-

an t erapy. n my op n on, t can e sa w t out srespect t at ung mse as een om nate y t e potent

asc nat on o t e co ect ve unconsc ous, aga nst w c e puts s pat ents on guar .

ung r g t y attac es great mportance to sym o s an sym o sm, to w c e evote muc stu y. e recog-

n ze t e p ura ty o mean ngs assoc ate w t one an t e same sym o , n contrast to t e a too requent ten-

ency to nterpret a sym o n on y one way an on t e as s o t e preconce ve t eor es o w oever nterprets

it. Jung showed that the same symbol can have different meanings, not only in various individual cases, but also

n t e same person. e s owe , urt ermore, t at t ere are regress ve an progress ve sym o s, sym o s t at re-

ate to t e arc a c sym o sm o t e co ect ve unconsc ous an sym o s t at n cate t e attempts, t e e orts to

reso ve certa n pro ems, to r ng a out certa n eve opments. ung says t at some sym o s are messages rom

t e unconsc ous we wou say o t e superconsc ous to t e consc ous persona ty, an e requent y ut zes

these progressive symbols in his method of treatment.

e come now to an mportant su ect: spiritua ity an re igion. ung possesse t e great mer t o recogn z ng

an proc a m ng a ong w t very ew mo em psyc o og sts t e rea ty an mportance o sp r tua nee s. e

maintained that man has the need to reach an understanding of the meaning of life, to believe it has a value and

purpose o a sp r tua nature. e ascerta ne t at many neuro-psyc c stur ances are roote n t e ac o sat-

s act on o t s nee , n ts repress on. o quote s own wor s: …t e ac o mean ng n e s a sou -s c ness

w ose u extent an u mport our t me as not yet compre en e . ung, “ e ou an eat , n pring,

, p. e t ere ore u y a m ts t e mportance o t e sp r tua actor, an o t e re g ons n so ar as

they reect spiritual values and further the satisfaction of spiritual needs.

n t e ot er an , a t oug ung a psyc c exper ences o a g or er, t ere s no ev ence t at e a t e

rect exper ence o a sp r tua , metap ys ca ea ity. s can e surm se rom s ec arat ons o agnost c sm.He insists on a distinction between spiritual consciousness as a subjective state and a presumed metaphysical,

transcen enta rea ty; an w e e a rms t e ex stence an va ue o t e ormer, e oes not pronounce on t e

atter. e goes as ar as to say t at o s a “psyc o og ca unct on o t e n v ua . e oes not categor -

ca y eny t e poss ty o o s ex stence, ut says ts o ect ve rea ty cannot e emonstrate .

ung can e coup e n t s respect w t t e great mer can psyc o og st am ames, w o n s ectures on

e arieties o e igious xperience, g ven at t e eg nn ng o t s century w t cons era e courage, a -

ances t e poss ty an mportance o a sc ent c psyc o og ca stu y o re g ous experience ames not

ave—an e says so—a rect re g ous exper ence; an t s ac n t e case o ot ames an ung ma es

their recognition of the reality and value of the spiritual experience all the more signicant. Here is evidence of

t e true sc ent c sp r t w c ea s to t e a m ss on o t e ex stence o certa n rea t es, t ey ave een ascer-

ta ne an ocumente , even one as not ver e t em persona y.

not er su ect o mportance, t at o t e ego an t e e , w e ea t w t n t e o ow ng sect ons on t e

t erapeut c an e ucat ona app cat ons.

ung s cons ere a researc er, an exp orer o t e vast an tt e nown terr tory o t e psyc e, ut we can a

t at e was a courageous an r ant p oneer w o opene up new pat s an gave new mens ons to t e uman

mind. He contributed greatly to the freeing of psychology from the narrow trammels of a purely descriptive ob-

ect v sm an expan e mmense y ts e y emonstrat ng t e ex stence an t e va ue o t e g er psyc c



unct ons, o sp r tua eve s an nee s.

oreover, as we s a see su sequent y, e po nts t e way to erat on rom t e con t on ng pressures on t e

persona ty an rom t e power u n uences exerte y t e mages an structures o t e co ect ve unconsc ous

n t s way e gave e ect ve a n urt er ng t e “ n v uat on process, t e scovery an eve opment o

one s true e ng, one s e .

ecture - erapy

comparat ve survey o ung s t erapeut c met o an t at, or more prec se y t ose, use n psyc osynt es s

discloses a substantial agreement in respect of the goals aimed at; but also some marked differences in the

means an tec n ques t ey a opt. ne o ung s greatest mer ts as een s oppos t on to t e “pat o og sm

w c st o s a most un spute sway over o c a me c ne, nc u ng psyc ot erapy. ttent on s c e y

recte to mor man estat ons, n part cu ar to t e nvest gat on o symptoms an t e r quant t ve eva uat on

y means o numerous exam nat ons an ana yses. e a m s to arr ve at t e ormu at on o a agnos s, t at s,

iving the illness a “name”. This accomplished, one proceeds to “ght” the disease, often by bringing medicinal

“ g guns to ear on t, w t tt e concern or poss e amage to ea t y t ssues an organs. ecent y, ow-ever, a react on aga nst excesses o t s n s ecom ng ev ent n t e ran s o o c a me ca c rc es. oo s

an art c es ave appeare recent y t at out ne p ys ca an psyc o og ca stur ances an nesses pro uce

by the inappropriate use of medication.

step n t e r g t rect on s e ng ta en y a num er o octors, en owe w t a umane approac an a

sense o re at v ty, n a rm ng t at, n rea ty, t ere are no “ seases ut on y “ sease n v ua s , n eac

o w om t e same n o mor state assumes erent c aracter st cs an ta es a erent course. ut up to

now only a small minority take this point of view and give it sufcient importance. This represents, moreover,

ut an n t a step, w c n tse rema ns na equate: we are st n t e “pat o og ca e . e urt er an

ec s ve a vance-w c may seem revo ut onary- s to start rom t e “ ea t con t on an regar man as a

un amenta y ea t y e ng, n w om some organ may e more or ess temporar y amage or ma unct on-ing, but whose biological forces are always tending to re-establish harmony, the healthy state. Many symptoms

t en cease to e t oug t o as rect express ons o t e ness, ut are seen as e ense react ons o t e ea t y

organ sm aga nst mor agents. typ ca examp e o suc a e ens ve react on s ever; an t s t ere ore o ten

m sgu e an even arm u to g t ever w t e r uga reme es.

s “pat o og sm o o c a me c ne as een countere y a react on n avor o t e use o “nature cures

on t e part o some octors an many non-me ca ea ers. n ortunate y t s react on not n requent y assumes

excess ve, somet mes anat ca proport ons. c a t erapy as a great an un en a e success an save

many ves, an a t e goo t conta ns cannot an must not e scar e . nt ot cs a or a goo examp e o

this situation: their moderate use in appropriate cases can be of great therapeutic benet, although their abuse

can o a great ea o arm.

ere too t e pr nc p e o synt es s s ou e app e . rreconc a e oppos tes o not ex st; oppos ng att tu es

an met o s can e un te n a construct ve synt es s. e matter cou e ormu ate a so n t s way: t s not

“t s r t at ut “t s an t at ; t s a quest on o n ng n every case t e r g t a ustment, t e appropr ate

ntegrat on, t e synt esis w at seems oppose an s nstea omp ementary.

t s s true a so n t e e o neuro-psyc c stur ances an p ys ca s o psyc o og ca or g n psy-

chosomatic disturbances). Here too, and indeed particularly in this area, the diagnostic label often has a very

re at ve mportance. om nat ons o symptoms are oun w c o not en t emse ves to e ng p geon- o e



accor ng to t e “ seases escr e n psyc atr c treat ses. ere a so t ere are “ e ens ve structures erecte

y t e psyc e o t e pat ent w c must e recogn ze an not emo s e unt t s scovere ow to rep ace

t em w t ot er an etter patterns. ract ce o psyc ot erapy s o ten recte to “ g t ng symptoms an

sor ers an neg ects w at s ea t y an somet mes o g er qua ty n t e pat ent.

s ave ment one , ung reacte v gorous y aga nst suc “pat o og sm an ec are : “ pre er to un erstan

man n t e perspect ve o s ea t . a en, a uérison syc o ogique, ra r e e n vers té, eorg et

e, eneva, p. . ung s pos t on ere s n comp ete agreement w t t e as c pr nc p e o psyc osynt es s.

et us now exam ne n more eta t e t erapy use y ung. s survey, owever, presents cu t es or

ar ous reasons. rst o a , ung open y ac now e ge t e n n te var ety o uman e ngs an con t ons, an

t ere ore t e necess ty o us ng erent psyc ot erapeut c met o s a apte to t e const tut on an spec c

situation of each patient. Here is how he puts it: “Seeing that anything in this world, if carried beyond a certain

m t, can e pus e to t e a sur , t e pro em o t e neuroses an t e means o cur ng t em ecomes a orm -

a e matter. am a ways enterta ne w en c n c ans w o con uct t e r a a rs a m ra y, c a m to cure y s

met o , or s or s, or even s. uc t ngs o not ex st an cannot ex st, an t ey o occur are we on

t e way to a ure. treat r. , am orce to app y t e met o , an w t rs. , t e met o ; an t s

means that the ways and means of treatment are predominantly determined by the nature of the patient.” Here

too t ere s a c ose agreement w t t e p ura ty o psyc ot erapeut c tec n ques a opte y psyc osynt es s.

not er cu ty ar ses rom t e act t at t e met o s use y ung were eve ope an expan e ur ng t e

many decades of his medical activities, parallel with his increasingly wide and deep experience and with the

new eas an ntu t ons t at presente t emse ves to s a ert an open m n . or t ese reasons—as we as

ecause o t e grow ng preva ence n s ast years o s cogn t ve nterests an psyc o og ca nvest gat ons

over pure y t erapeut c quest ons— ung never wante to set ort s met o s o treatment n any systemat ze

an comp ete manner.

o t s gap to some extent, one o ung s pup s, r. o an a en, as, w t great pat ence an s , ex-

tracte rom t e mass o ung s wr t ngs t e passages an c apters ea ng w t t erapy an comp e t em n

a uérison syc o ogique see a ove . s wor was rev se an approve y ung mse an t us const -tutes an authorized exposition.

pre m nary o servat on o a genera nature concerns t e actua name o ung an t erapy. e ept to t e ast

t e es gnat on “ na yt ca syc o ogy , w c e a opte to n cate ts er vat on rom an connect on w t

psyc oana ys s. n rea ty, owever, t s name oes not o ust ce to t e ntegrat ve an synt et c ten ency

w c ncreas ng y nsp re ung an t erapy. n act t s a ms at pro uc ng a pro oun trans ormat on o t e

persona ty an ts ntegrat on y means o w at ung ca e t e “process o n v uat on .

ut e ore exp a n ng an exam n ng ung s spec c met o , t s ou e ma e c ear t at, as e sa mse ,

this method must not be used with all patients. There are many, specially among the young, whose disturbances

ave een pro uce y psyc c traumas, y con cts roote n t e persona unconsc ous, or y str e etween

t e n v ua an ot er peop e, a ove a mem ers o t e am y an t e soc a env ronment. ung ma nta ns

t at n t ese cases, treatment ma n y psyc oana yt ca an certa n met o s t at e nc u e n w at e ca e

“ tt e t erapy may su ce see a uérison syc o ogique p. . owever, t ese cases o ten requ re a so

t e app cat on o act ve tec n ques t at ung neg ects.

n t e ot er an , t ere s a roa group o pat ents w ose stur ances are t e pro uct o cr ses an eep

con cts o an “ex stent a n , w c nvo ve un amenta uman pro ems a out t e mean ng an purpose

of life in general and about the individualʼs own life. It is to be remarked that not infrequently the patient is not

aware o t ese eep-seate causes o s ness, an t s t e treatment t at ren ers m consc ous o t em an



t en e ps m to e m nate t em.

e pr nc pa a m o ung s met o , as e a orate y m ur ng t e ast per o o s act ve wor , s t e -

erat on o t e n v ua rom t e n uences o s persona unconsc ous an o t e co ect ve unconsc ous, y

means o a process t e p ases o w c can e n cate as o ows:

. ear vision, or t e a ove-ment one recogn t on o t e nature an causes o t e ness.

. onscious assimi ation o t e contents o t e unconscious

. e iscovery o t e e .

. e trans ormation o t e persona ity.

. ts integration an synt esis.

From this it is evident how closely what could be called Jungʼs “therapeutic program” is akin to that of psycho-

synt et c t erapy.

t s not my ntent on to escr e ung s proce ures; t ey can e oun amp y ea t w t n s oo s an n

t ose o s pup s. e eve ope a ser es o pro oun concepts, somet mes somew at o scure, a out t e “s a -

ow”, about certain parts of the unconscious both antithetical and complementary to the conscious personality,

w c e ca e “an ma n t e man an “an mus n t e woman. t s, repeat, can e oun n t e oo s oung an s co a orators. w touc on y on some po nts to emp as ze t e s m ar t es an erences e-

tween t ese concepts an t e tec n ques o psyc osynt es s.

. ari cation. ung osters t e pat ent s awareness o t e contents o t e unconsc ous an t e r ass m at on n

s consc ous persona ty y means o ream ana ys s an ree raw ng. e ana ys s o reams s t e as s o

psyc oana yt c t erapy, ut t s mp es t e r nterpretat on n ere ar ses a su stant a erence etween or-

t o ox psyc oana ys s an ung an “ana ys s . n psyc oana ys s t e nterpretat on ten s to “re uce everyt ng

to infantile impressions and traumas, and to instinctive urges. Jung instead, although admitting the existence

o reams o t s type, says t at t ere are reams o very erent n s, part cu ar y t ose e ca s “prospec-

t ve or construct ve, .e., reams conta n ng true messages rom t e unconsc ous wou say rom ts g er

eve , t e superconsc ous , w c n cate to t e consc ous persona ty o t e pat ent certa n s tuat ons, certa nfacts, of which he was not aware, and point to the solution of his conicts and the way leading to integration. In

s wor , ung g ves many examp es o reams o t s type an t e r nterpretat on, con rme y t e pat ents

recogn t on an y t e curat ve e ects. n rea ty, reams a nto many erent categor es, an one must e on

one s guar aga nst stereotype nterpretat ons o t e “ ream oo var ety. ut too o ten t erap sts succum to

t s ac e proce ure, gnor ng t e act t at t e same sym o can ave as many mean ngs some o t em contra-

ctory as t ere are pat ents. t s ung was we aware.

ree raw ng prov es an exce ent means o promot ng t e emergence o t e unconsc ous an encourag ng

messages rom t e superconsc ous. n t s connect on, t s ou e po nte out t at t e use u ness o ree raw-

ing is independent of the artistic value, or lack of it, of the drawing itself. Free drawing is an expression of the

unconsc ous an may e o a ru mentary c aracter; n ee t s eas er or t e unconsc ous to ̒ g ve messages

to someone w o as never rawn t an to a person w t some tra n ng an s n raw ng. n t e atter case, a

concern a out orm may nter ere w t an m n s t e spontane ty o t e unconsc ous.

t oug psyc osynt es s ma es w e use o t ese pro ta e met o s, t ava s tse a so o ot ers t at encour-

age t e emergence o t e contents o t e unconsc ous. rom nent among t em s t e presentat on o “evocat ve

p ctures , ca e “ . . . emat c ppercept on est muc n use n t e n te tates. t cons sts o twenty

stan ar es gns; ut o not restr ct myse to t ese n us ng t e test, pr nc pa y ecause t ey are negat ve n

character, tending to evoke only complexes and conicts and not promote the emergence of the higher aspects.

oreover, n v ew o t e great var ety o pat ents, pre er to use erent p ctures, a apte to eac part cu ar



case. atura y, t s prec u es t e poss ty o comp ng t e stat st cs e ove o exper menta psyc o o-

sts—w c are so o ten use ess.

ere s, es es, eso e s proce ure, t e êve évei e wa ng ream , w c , s u y use , s very re-

war ng, not on y n st mu at ng t e man estat on o t e contents o t e unconsc ous, ut a so n promot ng t e

t erapeut c ntegrat on o t e persona ty. met o a n to t s s t e “ n t ate ym o ro ect on o euner.

n a t on to t e mages n use y t ese an ot er met o s, ava myse o a w e var ety o sym o s c osen

or t e r appropr ateness to t e type o pat ent concerne . ee syc osynt esis- anua o rincip es an

ec niques pp. 177-191.) Listening to suitable passages of music also yields very good results, because the re-act ons o t e unconsc ous to mus c are ve y an spontaneous. . e ntry, not n requent y a ver ta e irrup-

tion, o unconscious e ements an ten encies, n part cu ar o t e co ect ve unconsc ous, may pro uce trou es

an somet mes e angerous, as ung c ear y recogn ze . ere ore n t e pract ce o psyc osynt es s—par-

allel with the evocation of the “daemons” of the unconscious, and at times even before—active methods are

emp oye to re n orce se -consc ousness, t e consc ousness o t e “ or go, an to eve op ts power o

om nat ng t e e ements a rea y present an act ve n t e consc ous persona ty. s so mportant part o

psyc ot erapy s genera y neg ecte . e scovery o t e unconsc ous, t e nterest n nvest gat on ave o ten

e ecte t erap sts rom t e cons erat on, o rst mportance, o t e consc ous persona ty an ts center, t e

“I” or Ego. A typical admission of this omission was made-by Emil Gutherl at the American Psychoanalytic

onvent on at as ngton n . ere are s wor s: ̒ e s ou recogn ze t at t e ego s ar more mportantt an as t erto een ac now e ge , ut we now a most not ng a out t .

Among the many existing techniques for strengthening the Ego, the development and training of the will is ac-

cor e an mportant p ace n psyc osynt es s. e w , as ave sa e sew ere, can e terme “t e un nown

actor n mo ern psyc o ogy. n a t on, spec c tec n ques are use or t e act vat on an “ escent nto

consc ousness o t e contents an act v t es o t e g er part o t e unconsc ous, t e superconsc ous.

3. We come now to the really central point—the iscovery o t e e Here we must make clear how Jungʼs con-

cept on o t e e ers rom t at o psyc osynt es s. or ung t s an “ nterme ate po nt n w c t e con-

sc ous an t e unconsc ous meet. ee aco : e syc o ogy o ar . ung. e cons ers t an “arc etypa

gure an states: “ rom t e nte ectua po nt o v ew, t e e s none ot er t an a psyc o og ca concept, aconstruction aimed at expressing an essence, imperceptible and inconceivable as such, because it surpasses our

compre ens on. n ater e says: “ e ea o a e s n tse a transcen ent postu ate ust a e so e y

rom t e psyc o og ca po nt o v ew an w t out poss ty o sc ent c proo . uote rom ept syc o -

ogy y . arau an . a ens. p. .

syc osynt es s, on t e ot er an , regar s t e e as a ea ity, rat er as a iving ntity, rect an certa n

now e ge or awareness o w c can e a . n ot er wor s, t can e e ne as one o t ose “ mme ate ata

o consc ousness to use ergson s express on w c ave no nee o emonstrat on ut ear w t t em t e r

own ev ence—as appens n t e case o et ca consc ence, aest et c exper ence an t e exper ence o t e w

There is a considerable body of testimony in support of this. Here, out of many, is the signicant contribution of

at er ratry:

“ e possess an ̒ nner sense w c at spec a t mes w en we succee n nterrupt ng t e a tua ow o s-

tract ons an pass ons g ves us rect an c ear now e ge o our ou … use to exper ence an nner orm, u

o strengt , eauty an oy, a orm o g t an re w c susta ne my ent re e ng; sta e, a ways t e same,

o ten recapture ur ng my e; orgotten at nterva s, ut a ways recogn ze w t n n te e g t an t e exc a-

mat on, ̒ ere s my rea e ng .

a onnaissance e me

t ers emp as ze n t e r test mony t e un versa aspect o t e consc ousness o t e e . ermann eyser ng,



or nstance, wr tes: “ at w c s eeper, more su stant a t an t e n v ua s never t e ̒ genera , ut t e

ʻun versa : an t e ̒ un versa expresses tse prec se y t roug t e n v ua , an t e atter ecomes more

un versa n t e measure n w c e ecomes eeper. ro ems o ersona i e, p. . e ave ere an ex-

amp e o t e “co nc ent a oppos torum , o t e act t at terms w c rat ona y, accor ng to r stote an og c,

appear to e oppos tes are not mutua y exc us ve. e s a cont nua synt es s o oppos tes; even o og ca e

ncorporates a e cate equ r um omeostas s etween antagon st c systems.

e two o aspect, n v ua an un versa , o t e e s n cate n t e agram e ow o man s psyc c

structure by the position of the “star”, which is partially outside the periphery of the individual psyche and par-t a y w t n t. e ormer n cates t e un on o t e e w t transcen ent or onto og ca ea ty, t e un versa

e ; t e atter t e re at ons p w t t e n v ua superconsc ous. e go, or consc ous “ , s an emanat on

rom or pro ect on o t e e an can ecome aware o t n var ous ways an egrees, can ent y tse more

or less completely and temporarily with the Self.

ere s, repeat, no con ct etween t ese two aspects o t e e : ar rom oppos ng eac ot er, t ey ntegrate

w t eac ot er. s an r enta wr ter as uc y put t: “ o ent ty .e., se -awareness can ex st w t out

un versa ty, an t ere s no consc ousness o t e un versa w t out n v ua rea zat on. oets somet mes

have intuitions that reach beyond intellectual concepts. An Italian poet, Carducci, had a vivid experience of this

us on an expresse t a m ra y n a stanza o s antico e more ong o ove :

“ s t w o em race t e wor , or rom w t ne n verse t at rea sor s me n tse

, t was a note o t e eterna poem ear

n soug t to ec o n t s tt e verse.

e poet s not aware ow t as appene , w et er t e “ as ecome expan e nto t e un verse or t e

un versa e as ncorporate m n tse . urt ermore, e s aware o t e cu ty o express ng t s exper -

ence, t s state o consc ousness, an o t e na equacy o any ver a ormu at on “t s tt e verse .

n exam nat on o t e vary ng proport ons o t e n v ua an un versa aspects n t ese exper ences wou

prove very nterest ng. ere w ment on on y t at n exper ences o a myst ca , ntu t ve type, t e un ver-



sa aspect s pre om nant, t at s, t e nvas on o t e consc ousness y a w er ea ty. n t e ot er an , n

exper ences ga ne t roug psyc o-sp r tua tra n ng, n w c t e consc ousness see s to r se to t e e an

ac eves a momentary un on w t t, t e sense o se -consc ousness rema ns uppermost. e n v ua cont n-

ues to ee “present an act ve, w e part c pat ng n a ar w er type o consc ousness.

. et us now exam ne t e p ases o t e rans ormation o t e persona ity an its integration. ccor ng to

ung, t ey const tute an essent a y spontaneous process, w c , owever, can e ostere y t e “cata yt c

presence o t e t erap st an t e uman re at ons p w t m. ung accor s spec a mportance to t s re at on-

s p, w c e ca s “trans erence . e ung an concept o t e trans erence s ne t er c ear nor unequ voca ,

and it altered in the course of the years. He himself states in the “Conclusion” of his book e syc o ogy o

t e rans erence “ e pro emat c c aracter o t e trans erence s so comp ex an many-s e t at ac t e

categor es nee e to o er a systemat c expos t on o t. p. e as t us pre erre to ea w t t t roug

a commentary an nterpretat on o an a c em ca text, t e osarium i osop orum, t e sym o sm o w c

appears extremely complicated and obscure, and in which Jung himself nds contradictions.

n psvc osynt es s t e pro em o u ng goo re at ons etween pat ent an t erap st s ren ere eas er—or

s a we say ess cu t— y t e t erap st s not on y po nt ng out an suggest ng to t e pat ent, as ung oes,

t e goa o s “ n v uat on , ut encourag ng an e ucat ng m rom t e outset to pract ce act ve met o s o

acquiring an increasingly clear self-consciousness, the development of a strong will and the mastery and right

use o s mpu s ve emot ona , mag nat ve an menta energ es, an to ava mse o a means o ga n ngn epen ence o t e t erap st.

In spite of the variety and complexity of relationships created between patient and therapist, in the practice of

psyc osynt es s one can st ngu s our pr nc pa ones; an eac s ut ze , recte an regu ate w t t e

cure an we - e ng o t e pat ent n v ew:

a. e trans erence— n t e str ct sense or g na y attr ute to t y reu , .e., t e “pro ect on onto t e octor

o t e pat ent s mpu ses, attac ments an emot ons e t n c oo towar s s parents. ese att tu es can e

positive (loving) or negative (hostile). The projections have to be analyzed and dissolved. Here there is agree-

ment etween ung an t erapy, psyc oana ys s an psyc osynt es s.

. e speci c re at ons p create y w at may e terme t e t erapeut c s tuat on. n t t e t erap st rep-

resents an exerc ses an essent a y “paterna unct on. e must, to some extent, ta e on t e ro e an tasof protector, counselor and guide. In dream symbolism, says Jung, he frequently appears under the as-

pect o t e “w se o man an correspon s to w at t e n ans ca “guru . s re at ons p s very -

erent rom t e unconsc ous pro ect on t at appens n t e trans erence. t s consc ous, actua , rea .

. onsc ous se or “ . xterna un y ng center

. g er e



t s n cate n t e agram y t e star outs e t e psyc e o t e su ect, w c acts as a n or r ge etween

s ego an s e . en t e ego a s to reac consc ousness o t e e rect y, “vert ca y , t can e e ec-

t ve y e pe y t e t erap st w o represents or t e pat ent some. one n touc w t s own e an t ere ore

ecomes a “mo e , or even a “cata yst .

c. uman re ations ip w c s eve ope as t e treatment procee s an creates psyc o og ca react ons at

ar ous eve s an o erent n s. eta e exam nat on o t s cannot e entere nto on t s occas on;

may say on y t at t e t erap st s e cate an cu t tas s to ma nta n t s re at ons p w t n proper m ts

an , one m g t say, “at a g eve , assent ng to ts pos t ve or construct ve aspects, ut res st ng t e attac -

ments, demands, pretences and attempts to monopolize on the part of the patient. It can be done with rmnesscoup e w t tact an n ness, an t e pat ent ma e to un erstan ow t ese att tu es, w e t ey may prov e

temporary grat cat on, are n rea ty arm u to m.

The transition from the second to the third type of relationship is valuable, even indispensable, for a variety of

reasons; a ove a to promote t e pat ent s grow ng autonomy, t en to e m nate t e ten ency, roote n mora

az ness, to ean on someone e se, un oa s own respons t es an get mse e y t e an ; urt er, to

prevent t e cr s s o t e pat ent s scover ng uman mper ect ons n s mentor an e per— t appens eas y,

one m g t say nev ta y —an sappo nte y sw tc ng rom excess ve a m rat on an o e ence to cr t c sm

and hostility equally excessive. d. e reso ution o t e re ations ip at the conclusion of the treatment. This is a

cr t ca po nt an nee s to e an e w t w s om. ave sa “reso ut on an not term nat on o t e re at on-s p, ecause t e conc us on o t e treatment can requent y appen very gra ua y an a most mpercept y,

an a so ecause t e pos t ve re at ons p can cont nue a terwar s n some orm, e t er as a r en s p or co a -

oration, or both. Often the cured patient is able to understand and help other ill people better than the so-called

ea t y. n t s way t e mprove pat ent can, even e ore e ng comp ete y cure , co a orate an ma nta n a

construct ve assoc at on w t s octor.

ese pat ent re at ons ps, an n genera t e w o e t erapeut c process, eman a equate tra n ng on t e part

of the therapist, not merely scientic and technical, but above all humane and spiritual. Jung was well aware of

t s nee an expresse t exp c t y. ere s a statement o s on t s po nt: “ e recent eve opment o ana-

yt ca psyc o ogy…g ves a prom nent p ace to t e persona ty o t e octor mse as a curat ve or arm u

actor, an eman s t e nner per ect ng o t e octor, t e se -e ucat on o t e e ucator.

ung t ere ore strong y ns sts on t e necess ty o a i actic ana ysis; n ot er wor s, w oever nten s to prac-

t ce psyc ot erapy must su m t mse to a psyc o og ca ana ys s y anot er psyc ot erap st. n act, says

ung, “t e octor w not spot n t e pat ent w at e oes not see n mse , or w e un u y n uence y t.

a uérison syc o ogique, p. . syc osynt es s s u y n agreement on t s po nt. wo t ngs are wort

not ng: t e rst, t at w en t e act c psyc osynt es s cannot e manage , t e t erap st s ou put mse

t roug an “autopsyc osynt es s . t may e reca e t at a non- ort o ox , psyc oana yst, aren omey, s

n agreement ere, as ev ence y er oo e -ana ysis . .: orton, . ut s e restr cts erse to t e

m ts mpose y psyc oana ys s an oes not enter t e e o psyc osynt es s or ta e nto account t e g er

elements of the psyche.

n psyc osynt es s, on t e ot er an , t e t erap st can ava mse o a greater num er o a s, n t e orm o

act ve tec n ques, w c e can app y to mse an exper ment w t . wou say t at every one o us, ut n

part cu ar every t erap st an every e ucator, can e cons ere a “ v ng a oratory , n w c t e “occupant

s “exper ment ng or twenty- our ours a ay as t s nc u es reams . oreover, t s not n spensa e t at

e t er act c psyc osynt es s or autopsyc osynt es s e conc u e e ore eg nn ng psyc o-t erapeut c prac-

t ce. e nee n t s e s so urgent an w e t at anyone w ng to evote mse to t s ou o so as soon

as s tra n ng perm ts, even ac ng n some aspects. s equ pment must, owever, nc u e a cr t ca sense

and humility sufcient to recognize his own deciencies, and the goodwill to eliminate them. In fact, autopsy-

c osynt es s, e e ucat on, s ou e a et me occupat on.



ecture - erapy an ucat on

e trans ormat on o t e persona ty an ts ntegrat on or psyc osynt es s—apart rom t e trans erence pro-

cess—o ten occur spontaneous y, or, as ung ma nta ns, as a resu t o t e creat ve an synt es z ng act on t e

sym o s t at emerge rom t e unconsc ous. ung oes not a v se t e act ve ntervent on n t s process e t er o

t e t erap st or o t e w o t e go, t e consc ous “ .

syc osynt et c t erapy—w e u y recogn z ng t e mportance o t e spontaneous processes o se - ea ng

an t e ntegrat ve unct on o sym o s—proves t at t ese processes can e promote an e ect ve y ass ste

y t e co-operat on o t e consc ous persona ty. s act on s per orme y w at const tutes t e center, t e

dynamic element, that is, the conscious and active subject, using his will

e necess ty or suc act ve co-operat on s ase on two reasons. e rst, a rea y ment one , s to conta n

an contro t e energ es erupt ng rom t e unconsc ous, an t en to promote t e r transmutat on, su ma-

t on an construct ve app cat on. s part cu ar y app es to sexua , emot ona an aggress ve ten enc es an

energies, which lead to the intensication of those already present in the conscious personality. The importance

o t s part o t e treatment s ev ent, as s t at o t e now e ge an use o t e act ve met o s or ts mp e-mentat on. ese met o s can e w e y app e n e ucat on an autopsyc osynt es s as we , an s ou e

enera y ma e nown an pract ce .

e secon reason or act ve co-operat on n ac ev ng t e ntegrat on, t e synt es s, o t e persona ty es n

t e a vantage, somet mes n ee t e necess ty, o eve op ng, y means o act ve tra n ng, t e psyc c unct ons

t at ave rema ne at pr m t ve, n ant e eve s, para yze y eva uat on or n te y repress on. n mo ern

man, engrosse n s nterests an pract ca concerns—o ten w t a one-s e eve opment o t e nte ectua

function—the higher feelings, aesthetic sensitivity, the capacity to commune with nature and the ability to estab-

s uman ommun cat on w t ot ers are o ten ac ng or ave atrop e . n ot er peop e, nstea , emot ona

an mag nat ve exu erance re egates to an n er or pos t on menta , an somet mes a so pract ca , act v ty.

ere are st ot er cases, to w c ung raws attent on, n w c t e g er asp rat ons an nee s are gnore ,underestimated or feared, and thus neglected or repressed. One of Jungʼs most valuable contributions is his hav-

ng ca e t e attent on o psyc ot erap sts to t ese cases an encourage n s me ca wor t e express on

an sat s act on o t ese sp r tua nee s.

ut urt er a vance can e ma e a ong t e roa opene y m. e rrupt on o t e superconsc ous sp r tua

contents an energ es can e act ve y ass ste . s ment one a ove, n many cases- n ee e eve n most o

t em—an act ve tra n ng s requ re to e m nate, or at east attenuate, t e ac o a ance n t e eve opment o

t e var ous psyc o og ca unct ons. s ass stance s o part cu ar mportance n ena ng t e consc ous “ to

conta n an ass m ate t e rrupt ng superconsc ous energ es an to ntegrate t em armon ous y nto t e tota ty

of the psychic life.

e use o t e act ve tec n ques can an s ou e promote y t e t erap st. ave sa “promote , s nce t s

not ncum ent upon m to teac an app y t em persona y. e can ava mse o t e serv ces o competent

ass stants, entrust ng t e pat ent to t e r respect ve competenc es, ut a ways contro ng an gu ng t e treat-

ment accor ng to a we - e ne program, an encourag ng t e pat ent to earn to carry t on y mse as soon

as poss e.

e tec n ques amount to some ozens, an w enumerate on y t e pr nc pa groups:

. Psycho-physical techniques

. xerc ses n re axat on.



. oncentrat on on an awareness o p ys ca sensat ons, nc u ng t e muscu ar met o s o ttoz,

c u tz, etc. .

. xerc ses n neuro-muscu ar co-or nat on— yt m c movements an anc ng.

. ys ca act v t es o var ous n s.

. an cra ts.

. raw ng, pa nt ng an mo e ng.

. ay ng mus ca nstruments.

. ct on— ec tat on- ng ng.

. syc o ogica tec niques. servat on.

. sua zat on.

. vocat on o au tory, tact e, o actory, etc., “ mages .

4. Mental exercises—Meditation, etc.

. syc o-spiritua tec niques

ese a nto two groups:

. ose w c promote t e e evat on o t e “ or go, t e center o se -consc ousness, to eve s usu-

a y superconsc ous an towar s un on w t t e sp r tua e .

. ose w c promote t e open ng o t e consc ousness to t e “ escen ng n ow o t e contents an

energ es o t e superconsc ous.

e c o ce o t e tec n ques to e use n t erapy must e eterm ne y t e requ rements o eac n v ua

case. They should be combined and alternated according to a plan or program that is intended to promote the

ra ua an armon ous ntegrat on o t e persona ty. s program g ves psyc osynt et c t erapy an e uca-

t on ts spec c c aracter. ave nc u e psyc osynt et c e ucat on, ecause t e greater part o t e tec n ques

enumerate can, w t appropr ate a aptat ons an mo cat ons, e app e e ect ve y n e ucat ona pract ce,

n t e am y as we as n sc oo .

s r ngs us to t e cons erat on o ung s eas on e ucat on. oug e not concern mse rect y an

act ve y w t t e e ucat ona app cat on o s concept ons, s wr t ngs on t e su ect conta n muc nter-

est an va ue. s ar ac as ung pu s e an essay on on icts o t e n anti e in , n w c —on t ebasis of a series of accurate observations on the psychological development of a 4-5-year old child—he ably ex-

am ne var ous pro ems t at ar se n t e n ant e m n an must t ere ore e tac e y parents. ese pro -

ems concern t e rt o c ren, t e contrast etween mag nat on an t oug t, t e e ect ve re at ons w t

parents, etc. e var ous re aces to t e success ve e t ons an t e ppen ix conta n some w se o servat ons

on t e re at ve an comp ementary eatures o var ous po nts o v ew an nterpretat ons n psyc o ogy. ese

are supp emente y use u a v ce on ow to teac an exp a n to c ren t e acts a out sexua ty. ater ung

e a orate s e ucat ona eas an exper ences w t n t e genera ramewor o s psyc o og ca concept ons

n a ser es o ectures, w c ave een pu s e un er t e t t e na ytica syc o ogy an ucation in t e

vo ume ontri utions to na ytica syc o ogy on on: arcourt race, . ung summar zes s eas n

the following statement:

“ e erence etween t s an any ormer psyc o ogy es n t e act t at ana yt ca psyc o ogy oes not

avo ea ng w t a m tte y comp ex menta p enomena, suc as t e our ma n unct ons o or entat on:

t n ng, ee ng, ntu t on, an sensat on. e a m t t at we o not now w at t ese unct ons rea y are. e

s ou e very muc to now nto w at pr m t ve e ements ee ng, or nstance, cou e reso ve . ut e-

sp te our gnorance o u t mate pr nc p es, we ea w t t ese unct ons as t ey were c ear y e na e organs

o t e m n . not er erence s t e met o o nvest gat on. e ave no aca em c a oratory. ur a ora-

tory s t e wor . ur tests are rea events o a y uman e an t e persons we test are our pat ents, re at ves,

r en s, an — ast ut not east—ourse ves. ere are no nee e pr c s, art c a s oc s, surpr se- g ts, or any

of the manifold paraphernalia of laboratory experiment; but there are the pains and joys, the terrors and achieve-

ments o rea e t at prov e us w t our mater a . ur met o s t e un erstan ng o e as represente n t e



psyc e o men. ontri utions to na ytica syc o ogy p.

ung, as we ave seen, not on y attac es great mportance to t e uman re at ons p etween pat ent an t era-

p st, ut a so cons ers t e psyc o og ca rapport etween parents an c ren an etween teac ers an pup s

as av ng ec s ve s gn cance. or t s reason t e e ucator must acqu re a c ear awareness t at s psyc o og -

ca gnorance an e c enc es, s own comp exes an con cts, inevita y pro uce n ur ous repercuss ons

upon t ose e w s es to e ucate. e s ou t ere ore recogn ze t e eavy respons ty e ears an s uty to

tra n mse or s no e ut ar uous tas y means o an a equate e -e ucation oun e upon t e scover-

ies and methods of the new dynamic psychology.

n t s po nt, ung as expresse mse t us: “ t s o course qu te mposs e t at parents s ou ave no

comp exes at a : t at wou e super uman. ut t ey s ou ea w t t em consc ous y, t ey s ou ma e t

a duty to work them out for the sake of their children. They should not evade their troubles, and try to repress

t em n or er to avo pa n u scuss ons. ., p.

e spec c app cat ons o ung s eas an met o o e ucat on o not en t emse ves to e ng summar ze .

e way e puts t em nto pract ce n t e cases on w c e reports s ou e stu e , an t s can e one

in the above-mentioned book. Furthermore, one of Jungʼs pupils, Dr. Frances Wickes, has written an excel-

ent oo on c psyc o ogy, or w c ung mse prov e an extens ve ntro uct on. ts t t e s e nneror o i oo ew or : pp eton- entury- ro t; an t conta ns muc va ua e a v ce on t e

e ucat on o c ren, n part cu ar on t e ro ems o arenta in uence on t e c i n a c apter o spec a

interest and originality, the author deals with an aspect of the psychic life of the child that is little known—his

creat on o imaginary companions.

t a con erence on e ucat on n ase n , ung e vere a ecture on e i te i ts su ect s o

muc mportance an present nterest n v ew o t e grow ng cons erat on e ng g ven to t e recogn t on an

education of gifted and particularly gifted children. The value of Jungʼs essay is enhanced by the description of

s own persona exper ences an ar s ps as a “ oy o ta ent , an t ere ore eserves e ng quote at some

engt . ere s ung s ve y an amus ng y wr tten account o s sc o ast c v c ss tu es:

“ en was a sc oo oy o ten, not ee at a s eepy or stup . was o ten excee ng y ore w en t emaster used to take particular pains with pupils unable to follow. But the boredom was by no means the worst

part. mong our many compos t on t emes, w c were ar y nsp r ng, we were once g ven one t at nter-

este me. set to w t ent us asm an po s e my sentences w t t e utmost care. n t e oyous ant c pat on o

av ng wr tten t e est compos t on, or at east one o t e est, an e t to t e teac er. ter g v ng ac t e

compos t ons, t was s custom to scuss rst t e est, an t en t e ot ers n or er o mer t. ne was not t e

rst, nor t e secon , an not even t e t r . t e ot ers prece e m ne, an w en e a n s e scuss ng

t e ast e ort, t e wea est o t em a , t e teac er n ate mse n a t reaten ng an om nous manner an

e vere s ver ct: ̒ ung s compos t on s y ar t e est ut e as ru ne t y tr v a ty an ac o t oug t.

or t s reason t oes not mer t a p ace n t e st. ʻ t s not true, nterrupte t e teac er, ̒ ve never wor e

so hard on a composition as I did on this.ʼ ʻItʼs a lie,ʼ he shouted. ʻLook at X (X was the pupil who had produced

t e worst compos t on ; e as rea y ta en trou e. e get a ea n e, ut you no, ecause one oesn t suc-

cee w t a ty an tr c s sa not ng, an rom t at moment on no more wor n my erman c ass.

“ s exper ence, t s true, ates rom more t an a a -century ago, an o not ou t t at n t e meant me

sc oo con t ons ave great y c ange an mprove . ut t at ep so e gave me muc to t n a out an e t

me w t a sense o tterness, w c , owever, w t roa er exper ence o e as g ven p ace to a more a -

ance assessment. un erstoo ow, eep own, t e master s att tu e a een prompte y t e no e pr nc p e

o e p ng t e wea an era cat ng t e a . omet mes, owever, t un ortunate y appens t at t ese pr nc p es

et turne nto mec an ca ru es, w c , n t e r turn, get accepte w t out urt er cons erat on an g ve rt

to deplorable caricatures of the good of this sort. The weak are helped and the bad is fought in this way, it is

true, ut at t e same t me t e anger o neg ect ng t e more g te n v ua s expose . t s as emergence



rom t e ran s were n tse an aw war an trou esome a a r. ere s not ng to e one a out t; t e aver-

age man strusts an s susp c ous o a s nte gence cannot grasp. ̒ est trop nte gent —a p rase t at

ust es t e rest susp c ons pp. -

ung r g t y ep ores t s pseu o- uman tar an concept an a se concept on o emocracy. “ e es re to r ng

a peop e to t e same eve an re uce t em to t e status o s eep y suppress ng t e natura ar stocrat c or

erarc ca structure n t e psyc o-sp r tua sense, e t we note ea s n a y, sooner or ater, to a catas-

trop e. pp. -

ung t en a s some va ua e o servat ons on t e cu t es o recogn z ng an e ucat ng ta ente c ren.

“ e pro em o t e g te c , e wr tes, “ s n no way a s mp e matter, s nce e s not recogn za e mere y

y t e act o s e ng a goo sc o ar. n certa n cases n ee e s t e very reverse. e may even e aggravat-

ingly distinguishable by his special brand of absent-mindedness, with his head full of nonsense, by his laziness,

neg gence, ac attent on, ru eness, o st nacy an y g v ng t e mpress on o e ng on y a awa e. u g-

ng on y y super c a o servat on, t s o ten ar to te a ta ente c apart rom a wea -m n e one. ore-

over, t must not e orgotten t at g te c ren are not a ways precoc ous ut apt to eve op s ow y, so t at

t e r g ts may rema n atent or a ong t me. pp. -

ung raws attent on to an s ows t e mportance o w at e ca s t e g ts o t e eart: “ n a t on to t e g tso t e ea , t ere ex st a so t ose o t e eart, w c are no ess mportant, ut o w c t s easy to e un-

aware, ecause o ten n t ese cases t e ea s wea er t an t e eart. n yet peop e o t s sort are requent y

more useful and valuable to the well-being of society than those with different gifts.” (p. 141)

“ te c ren come up aga nst comp cat ons not on y n t e nte ectua ut a so n t e mora e , .e., n t e

sp ere o ee ngs. u ts w o requent y stort t e trut , te es an comm t nnumera e ot er s ns o mora

neg gence can create pro ems n a mora y g te c t at upset m a great ea . n prec se y t e same way

that one fails to notice or undervalues intellectual sensitivity and precocity, one adopts similar attitudes towards

a ta ente c s cr t c sm n mora an emot ona s tuat ons. ten t e g ts o t e eart are ess ev ent an

str ng t an t e nte ectua an tec n ca ones; an ust as t e atter ave t e r g t to exact spec a un erstan -

ng rom t e e ucator, so t e ormer a so ca or t e est o w c e s capa e; n ot er wor s, t ey emanthat he himself be educated.” (p. 140)

na y, ung ca s attent on to t e ac o a ance an to t e contra ct ons ex st ng n g te c ren an to

t e angers o t e r g ts e ng use n ant soc a an estruct ve ways. e wr tes: “ ere are not a ew ta ente

n v ua s w ose use u ness s para yze , even perverte o ten, y t e r uman s ortcom ngs n a ot er e s.

a ent as no rea va ue o tse ; t on y as t t e rest o t e persona ty s capa e o o ow ng ts ea to t e

po nt w ere t can e app e to a vantage. n ortunate y, creat ve a ty can ex t tse equa y e ect ve y

n a estruct ve rect on as we . et er t s recte towar s t e goo or t e a s ec e so e y y t e

mora att tu e o t e persona ty. p.

n connect on w t t e e ucat on o t ese c ren, ung ra ses t e pro em w et er t ey s ou e roug t

toget er n spec a sc oo s or e t n norma ones. e avors t e secon a ternat ve, ut oes not go nto t e var -

ous aspects o t e pro em. ave scusse t s su ect n a pamp et e ucation o i te an uper-gi te

i ren ew or : syc osynt es s esearc oun at on .

ucat on s a orm o nter n v ua re at ons p; et us t ere ore exam ne t e pro ems an met o s o n-

ter n v ua an soc a re at ons ps, rom ung s stan po nt an t at o psyc osynt es s. n pract ce, t e goa

or u t mate p ase o ung an t erapy s n ivi uation say “ n pract ce , ecause ung a m ts t at to quote

his own words) “the actual process of individuation carries with it an awareness of what the human community

s… n v uat on presupposes a un cat on w t onese an t ere ore w t uman ty, o w c everyone carr es



a part c e w t n m. a uérison syc o ogique p. “ e s ng e n v ua , re terates ung, “ oes not

ve s e to t e u an a s to grasp ts purpose, e s ncapa e o putt ng s ̒ at t e serv ce o a sp r -

tua an super uman or er. p.

ung, owever, m ts mse to t ese a us ons w c n cate an asp rat on more t an an e ect ve move n t at

rect on. s met o s not es gne to act ve y e p t e pat ent to n t ate an to “ ve t at commun on w t

ot er uman e ngs. at er e ns sts strong y on t e oppos t on, n ee t e con ct, etween t e n v ua an

t e mass, etween t e persona e an t e co ect ve pressure exerc se y mo ern soc a e. s s mec a-

nized and regimented, not solely materially but also psychologically, as evidenced by the mass ideologies, thepressure to con orm, t e suggest on an “persuas on o a vert s ng an var ous orms o propagan a. ung

s ares t s pos t on w t a num er o ot er cr t cs o mo ern e: p osop ers, soc o og sts an psyc o og sts,

among w om r c romm s outstan ng.

ere s, un ortunate y, a great ea o trut n a t s, ut t at r g an extreme oppos t on appears to e one-

s e an too a so ute. e must recogn ze t at t e n v ua an t e mass are nc u e n t e extens ve sp ere

o uman re at ons, orm ng part o t e norma e o man, w o s, n s nner nature as we as rom externa

necess ty, a e ng ot soc a an soc a e. t s n ee true t at t ese uman re at ons ps are ar rom e ng

easy, harmonious and constructive. We can observe this all the time. Apart from mass pressures, human relation-

s ps come up aga nst many cu t es. ose w o are pre om nant y ntroverte n t cu t to create psy-c o og ca re at ons w t ot ers, to commun cate “ uman y. e pre om nant y extraverte , on t e ot er an ,

esta s a w e networ o re at ons ps, ut t ese are super c a , nc enta , so t at n rea ty t e n v ua

remains psychologically and spiritually isolated.

e cu t es an con cts n uman re at ons are ue n arge measure to an excess ve ten ency to se -as-

sert on an over-va uat on o success n t e externa wor . s ea s to t e eprec at on or repress on o t e

g er ee ngs, an t e capac ty or ov ng un erstan ng, compass on, a tru st c ove. e reva uat on an

active development of these feelings thus become a necessity. There are, as I have said previously, effective

met o s o o ng t s, an t e t erap st an e ucator s ou cons er one o t e r most mportant tas s to e t e

oster ng o t e awa en ng an express on o t ose ee ngs.

The rst step is the recognition and proper appreciation of the human and higher values. One effective practice

to t s en s t e stu y o t e nsp r ng ves o t ose w o ave exemp e t ese va ues—t e eroes, t e sa nts,

t e great uman tar ans. ut many o t em, ar more t an one m g t suppose, are to e oun among s mp e an

um e peop e, as t e “awar s or n ness w c s ou e great y exten e ave emonstrate .

e secon step s to arouse an oster goo w . ere are severa ways o o ng so; an a part cu ar y e ect ve

one s rect contact w t uman su er ng, an t s can e o ta ne y v s ts to, an , etter st , act ve e p n

osp ta s, pr sons, c ty s ums, an v s t ng an e p ng one y n v ua s—part cu ar y o peop e. so t ere s

co-operat on n creat ve an soc a y use u act v t es, n w c t e group sp r t an so ar ty are eve ope , an

understanding and friendships established.

ere s a ser es o met o s w t w c cannot ea now; w mere y enumerate t em:

. re iminary met o s m nat on o o stac es: egocentr c ty; separat ve se -assert on; ost ty an com at-

veness; pre u ces an preconcept ons.

. ositive met o s: n erstan ng; generos ty; goo w ; a tru st c ove.

e p n ac ev ng nterpersona an group psyc osynt es s a so ca e nter n v ua an soc a

psyc osynt es s orms an mportant, n ee an n spensa e part o psyc osynt et c t erapy an e ucat on. t

can be justly maintained that our civilization is neurotic and ill-balanced, and that there exist real group neu-

roses an psyc oses; or nstance, nat ona g or cat on an eo og ca anat c sm. ere ore psyc ot erapy



s ou nc u e an un erta e t ese more compre ens ve tas s, or w c t s we equ ppe . very s c n -

idual who is helped to establish right human relations becomes an element of balance and health in his com-

mun ty; an nverse y, every e ort a me at a ust ng un a ance an co ect ve psyc oses ma es t eas er or t e

s ng e n v ua to reac an ma nta n s persona ea t .

us t e tas s an act v ty o t erap sts, e ucators an a w o, n erent e s an ways, evote t emse ves

to the healing of social ills converge and unite in a double purpose. The rst and urgent one is to safeguard

uman ty rom t e angers ts n ness an o y ave create or tse . e secon , to promote t e com ng o

a new an etter c v zat on, n w c t e n v ua can, n ree om an or t e goo o a , g ve express on to

an ma e t e most o t e won er u potent a t es n erent n eac uman e ng.

Roberto Assagioli - Jung and Psychosynthesis

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