I am currently reading Carl Jung's long-withheld diary, The Red Book, and it is a fascinating and frightening journey into madness by one of psychology's greatest stars. From what I can gather from the introduction, he did not want it published in his time because it might be "misunderstood" - which is clearly a euphemism for "I might be misunderstood as a madman." Clearly, Jung was conscious of his legacy; and just as clearly, his unconscious couldn't care less, sending his mind into schizophrenic-like fantasies and hallucinations in which he talked to gods, to long-dead philosophers, to the spirit of Europe, to the future - and on and on. A biographer commented that, with most others, this madness would have been debilitating and perhaps permanent - but Jung was able to turn it into meaning and thus save himself. As Jung said of this time, he was on the brink of madness, yes, but this madness later formed a bridge to a larger dimension of understanding. Indeed, such was this madness (which lasted through a large portion of his midlife) that it gave him all the ideas that would later form his career. The madness, in the end, was his savior, his greatest charm for later fame. As Jung himself would readily admit, he had been taken on the shamanic journey, and had returned with the 'knowledge of the gods."
It, this journey into madness, is a horrifying one that has been depicted in mythical epics across the world - generally, in fighting with dragons and monsters of all kinds to reach a jewel or pearl or chalice that would give great wisdom. At arms length, it seems exciting; when personally experienced, it is hell on earth. I know something about this, as do more people than would like to admit.
In its most common version, it is known to us as the "midlife crisis," something we laugh about with balding men who get a sports car when they hit fifty. Perhaps it hits harder, causing a change in career or location or even a spouse. In any event, we still treat it somewhat lightly, while it is not a light thing at all. This "crisis" occurs when a person has learned and taken upon the adult role, only to find that it is not enough; that something else is calling. Often times, this calling is not whimsical, but threatening, even to the point of madness. Many begin to drink too much, or go on anti-depressants. Careers and families suffer. But it is the call, following Jung, of the unconscious, which MUST have its due. This portion of us is the mindset of the Old Testament god, one who is demanding and terrifying, and often deadly. He is no joke.
What we make of it comes to define much of the latter parts of our lives. In my case, it happened after I was forced to relocate and give up what I had hoped to be a budding career and involvement in the community. I talk of it in the foreword of my book Dream Weaver, but I did not do it full justice. It was a horrible time that seemed to approach madness. I did begin drinking too much, and then gave it up all together, as even alcohol could not stop the constant raging of the inner psyche. And then, somehow, I began to write; I began to seriously study the guitar, learning to read music and play classics; and I became, once again (following my youthful practices) religious. Apparently, this unconscious had gotten its way, for it then gradually receded. At times I almost miss it, for then everything was portentous, if not terrible. There was never a dull moment. But really, I hope it never pops its head so far above the conscious horizon again. It was, in all, that intolerable.
So intolerable that it caused me - and many others - to change a comfortable or even uncomfortable but routine way of life. In the end, it is often the only thing that will MAKE us change.
I have seen it in young people - how they often might shy away from the prescribed path, inadvertently sabotaging their futures in poor grades or performance. They often go through psychological hell, and even join outlandish religious groups. Something similar happened to me as well in youth, which led to my hitchhiking journey. This youthful rebellion, too, we have sloughed off, calling it "immaturity" or "sowing one's wild oats," but again, it is a call from the unconscious to take another path. If refused, it WILL have its pound of flesh - in neurosis, in poor health, in addictions, as well as in overall unhappiness. The trick is to find a path that assuages this inner call while not destroying the outer life. For some, like Thomas Merton, this is not possible and they must truly forsake the world to find their places in it. For most, it settles us in a way of life that few had predicted, and many had not wanted or planned for.
More on the Red Book later, as I continue to read, for it drives again and again at the questions most asked in this website: What it god?; what has our culture to do with it?; our personalities?; and what, as close as we can get, IS it? Jung came to know these answers as far as the questions could be taken. He then found that he had to form a bridge to another dimension of understanding through this madness. In reading The Red Book, we might not cross the bridge with him, but we might get a better look at what is within us all from the fairer side. FK
It, this journey into madness, is a horrifying one that has been depicted in mythical epics across the world - generally, in fighting with dragons and monsters of all kinds to reach a jewel or pearl or chalice that would give great wisdom. At arms length, it seems exciting; when personally experienced, it is hell on earth. I know something about this, as do more people than would like to admit.
In its most common version, it is known to us as the "midlife crisis," something we laugh about with balding men who get a sports car when they hit fifty. Perhaps it hits harder, causing a change in career or location or even a spouse. In any event, we still treat it somewhat lightly, while it is not a light thing at all. This "crisis" occurs when a person has learned and taken upon the adult role, only to find that it is not enough; that something else is calling. Often times, this calling is not whimsical, but threatening, even to the point of madness. Many begin to drink too much, or go on anti-depressants. Careers and families suffer. But it is the call, following Jung, of the unconscious, which MUST have its due. This portion of us is the mindset of the Old Testament god, one who is demanding and terrifying, and often deadly. He is no joke.
What we make of it comes to define much of the latter parts of our lives. In my case, it happened after I was forced to relocate and give up what I had hoped to be a budding career and involvement in the community. I talk of it in the foreword of my book Dream Weaver, but I did not do it full justice. It was a horrible time that seemed to approach madness. I did begin drinking too much, and then gave it up all together, as even alcohol could not stop the constant raging of the inner psyche. And then, somehow, I began to write; I began to seriously study the guitar, learning to read music and play classics; and I became, once again (following my youthful practices) religious. Apparently, this unconscious had gotten its way, for it then gradually receded. At times I almost miss it, for then everything was portentous, if not terrible. There was never a dull moment. But really, I hope it never pops its head so far above the conscious horizon again. It was, in all, that intolerable.
So intolerable that it caused me - and many others - to change a comfortable or even uncomfortable but routine way of life. In the end, it is often the only thing that will MAKE us change.
I have seen it in young people - how they often might shy away from the prescribed path, inadvertently sabotaging their futures in poor grades or performance. They often go through psychological hell, and even join outlandish religious groups. Something similar happened to me as well in youth, which led to my hitchhiking journey. This youthful rebellion, too, we have sloughed off, calling it "immaturity" or "sowing one's wild oats," but again, it is a call from the unconscious to take another path. If refused, it WILL have its pound of flesh - in neurosis, in poor health, in addictions, as well as in overall unhappiness. The trick is to find a path that assuages this inner call while not destroying the outer life. For some, like Thomas Merton, this is not possible and they must truly forsake the world to find their places in it. For most, it settles us in a way of life that few had predicted, and many had not wanted or planned for.
More on the Red Book later, as I continue to read, for it drives again and again at the questions most asked in this website: What it god?; what has our culture to do with it?; our personalities?; and what, as close as we can get, IS it? Jung came to know these answers as far as the questions could be taken. He then found that he had to form a bridge to another dimension of understanding through this madness. In reading The Red Book, we might not cross the bridge with him, but we might get a better look at what is within us all from the fairer side. FK
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