Tools to Change Society

Interview with C. Victor Posing on Jungian Archetype

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1) How were you first introduced to the work of Carl Jung?

I wandered through most of the religious traditions never being satisfied completely.  Finally with that behind me, I thought, “the empty and shallow path of  so-called “spirituality”.  But, I was on an unconscious search for the real thing.  I looked into many metaphysical (New Age) ideologies and made electronic brain entrainment devices to enhance my meditative abilities.  After reading many books, a copy of C. G. Jung's Modern Man in Search of a Soul caught my attention.  This was the turning point that changed my life.

2) How has Jungian Psychology affected your life?

From that point on I read everything that I could find on C.G. Jung and started to understand the core of our being that Jung called the "Self" which is a Spark of the Divine within our soul.  Many unconscious components that he termed "archetypes" are similar to instincts.  These archetypes actually determine our perception of reality, and all of a sudden the realization that I was not alone within myself overwhelmed me.  Then came further understanding, which would benefit my life in ways I never dreamed off.

3) What are the benefits of understanding archetypal concepts for artists, musicians & activists?

Understanding of the archetypes has given me confidence and knowledge of the psyche, and it's empowerment in all of my endeavors of art, music, and especially activism by writing about my spiritual experience and sharing with others.  One cannot really help others until there is an overflow, which means having a spiritual abundance.  The more that we unite our unconscious aspects with our consciousness, and reach our "Self", a Jungian term for our core of being, also termed the spark of the Divine, spiritual abundance will be the result.

4) What do you mean by the "three part soul"?

No one knows exactly the makeup of the soul, but throughout history it has been thought of as being divided up into three

major divisions, an eternal part that is Divine, called the Self by Jung, and the core of being by many philosophers.  This is the part that has the connection with our Source, and the model for us to strive to achieve.

Another part of the soul is a kind of collection point and part of our everyday life, sometimes called our subconscious.  This part interacts with many of our actions and thoughts, striving and thriving in our world.  This would be the probable area for archetypes or ancestral energy traits, which interact with us, though I'm sure that the archetypes are not compartmentalized.  If  they are repressed trouble can arise, but if acknowledged they can be a source of empowerment.

The next is called the "unfoldment" part, sort of like the caterpillar to butterfly stage.  This builds throughout life as we learn, and from what has been added by a Divine source.  As we move towards the "Individuation" process as described by Jung, we equalize the ego and the self and become whole (all working together).  We could also call this working from the heart.

5)  What do you mean by "awakening the heart"? What is the process?

The heart is awakened through the process of "individuation" which will give us a greater compassion and emotional stance.  This is why I continually state that we desperately need a return of feminine energy into our world, which by nature contains the needed traits of compassion, feelings, kindness, and many more beneficial qualities.  The masculine consciousness has created the mess that the world is now experiencing.  This can easily start arguments, but I believe that this would solve much of the crisis.  Women have been treated as second rate for too long and their time is now to equalize, and it is my opinion that the feminine gender is more than equal.

6) Do societies have "souls" in your sense of the word?

I usually don't think in terms of soul of a society unless it is metaphorical.  I try and keep soul in a more intimate way, and think of society as the mass consciousness, or metaphorically, the "world soul." I believe it takes our individual soul to make change in the world, however I believe that societies have an overall imposed understanding, or belief system.  These terms are at times difficult to express, but necessary.

7) Can we provide therapy for societies through Jungian archetype?

To change a society is an undertaking of immense proportions and an archetypal understanding would be a force for change, but this process has to happen to oneself, and then by example change others.  Jungian concepts are very therapeutic.

8) What are examples of how Jungian concepts have been used for "good" and "evil" in world history?

I can only see good coming from Jungian thought because it is a means of transformation of oneself to balance the ego with the "self", or Divine core of being.

Any evil that would occur would be from one's "shadow", a Jungian term for repressing the darkness within. The repression of our archetypes is what causes problems in life.  The archetypes will express in ways that can be harming, and that is the reason for one to come to terms with their unconscious traits, which will be beneficial and give one balance.

9) If more people use Jungian archetype in creative work, are we unleashing untold numbers of "Sorcerers' Apprentices"? What risks?

Creativity can be enhanced by archetypal understanding and it will act as a muse, and idea flow will feel as though someone else is taking over the process.  This happens to me quite often when I paint or play music.  I receive images and ideas without effort and in my artwork many of them find their way into the finished design. Music seems to play itself at times as if someone else is using my fingers, feeling strange.

10) How does society protect itself from too many creative people opening these Pandora's boxes?

C. G. Jung didn't want his work to be used as a religion, but a means of understanding and possibly enlightenment.  To sum up the practical use of the Jungian Archetypes, the application of the philosophy would be very activistic, and what we need desperately are activists who are balanced in their spirituality and not dogmatists beating their drum.

C. Victor Posing is an Artist, Musician, and Mystic, who also studies Jungian Psychology, Philosophy, and Spirituality. He says he studies constantly, and publishes meaningful thoughts on his blog.

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