Symbols of Transformation

“The time is a critical one, for it marks the beginning of the second half of life, when a metanoia, a mental transformation, not infrequently occurs.

(on being 36 yrs old)” - Carl Jung

In 1911 Carl Jung Wrote the book “Symbole der Wandlung” or “Symbols of Transformation”. At the age of 36 he writes about this important phase in his life. The start of the second half of life. In my practice I see a lot of people wanting to go into analysis around this age. Looking for a deeper meaning in life. We have the desire to become a more collective creature. A part of a tribe. Our psyche has a forward energy. The psyche wants you to become whole. It drives you forward. It speaks to you in dreams and through your body. We often neglect both. This book is about the symbols within our psyche that contribute to the transformation that is so intensely experienced by many of us. Entering this new phase of life.
We are glad we see people reach out to us for support during this time. It is also a time many of us are the most successful in our business and the time we expand or start a family.
We have finished the construction of the personality. Our primary function is formed. For example: I have developed my thinking function and I am functioning within a company. I have a family and everything is going well. But then suddenly the unconscious starts to speak (or speaks louder). Maybe through somatic experiences. Maybe because you feel a stronger urge to find meaning or you suddenly become bored out. Things that were of great importance to you, do not matter anymore. A crisis can also happen. A loss of job or a loved one.
James Hillman calls this the betrayal of life that brings us in contact with the Anima. Our soul. The psyche wants to deepen our personality.

The unconscious is not just some container to put all your unwanted behavior and feelings in. It is a stewarding force.

Forming the primary function and the resistance to the unconscious.

In the first 35 years we work on becoming someone in the world. We develop a compass, a function to adapt and move around in the outer world. Carl Jung called this the superior function. There are 4 types. Thinking, Feeling, Sensation and Intuition. A lot of men become thinking types, extraverted thinking is the dominant energy in the world. As Robert A Johnson states in his book: ‘HE’, there is a wounded introverted feeling function within men. So, imagine I am a thinking type, my life is probably nice and orderly. I move through the world using my logic. Rational thinking is my primary way to navigate the world. Abstract symbols of transformation show up in my dreams, and I have no idea what to do with them. There can be a lot of resistance towards the chaos of the unconscious. It is far less structured. It is also a critique of many thinking types about the way Carl Jung writes. Many associations are being made and they do not always seem to make ‘sense’. The way Carl Jung writes and explores the unconscious is therefor not for everyone. It might even irritate you. But this resistance could be a good sign. Becoming whole comes with resistance. Developing your inferior functions is hard. Most men project their inferior ‘wounded’ function onto women. The woman does the feeling, the man does the thinking.

About the book

"Symbols of Transformation" is a book by Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung, originally published in German in 1911 as "Psychologische Typen." The book is a compilation of Jung's work on the psychology of the unconscious, with a particular focus on the analysis of symbols.

In the book, Jung examines the role of symbols in the human psyche, exploring their archetypal nature and their manifestation in dreams and other forms of expression. He argues that symbols are an essential part of human experience, representing the collective unconscious and providing a means for individuals to connect with a greater sense of meaning and purpose.

Jung also explores the concept of individuation, which he describes as a process of psychological integration and self-realization. According to Jung, individuation involves the integration of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche, leading to a greater sense of wholeness and fulfillment.

Throughout the book, Jung draws on examples from mythology, religion, and culture to illustrate his ideas, and provides numerous case studies from his own clinical practice. "Symbols of Transformation" is considered a landmark work in the field of psychology, and is regarded as one of Jung's most important contributions to the development of modern psychoanalysis.