Carl Jung’s Words of Advice for the Depressed

Carl Jung was a prolific letter writer. Much of Jung’s writings can be very difficult reading, particularly when he digs deep into complex subjects like alchemy. But his letters are often poetic and reveal his humanity and his passionate engagement with the struggles of living an authentic and meaningful life. The following letter, to an […]

The Best of Jungian Psychology: May 2014

Jungian Psychology Blogs There are a lot of excellent blogs being written in the world of Jungian Psychology and I want to use this space to bring attention to some of what is out there. This is just a sampling of some of the posts that have caught my attention this month. My hope is […]

How to Answer the Question “Am I Depressed?”

First of all, let me acknowledge that this is a complicated topic that does not allow for a simple answer. This post is not intended to be a comprehensive view of depression. Rather, I want to suggest a few things to consider if you find yourself grappling with the question, “Am I depressed?” In particular, […]

The authentic life shines as a light within

Carl Jung on Living an Authentic Life

Individuation and Authenticity It could be argued that at the heart of Jungian therapy is the aim of experiencing and living an authentic life.  That is not the language that Carl Jung used, but it does express a central idea of his psychology, which he called ‘individuation.’ Put very simply, individuation is the process by […]

Is ‘What Should I Do With My Life?’ The Right Question?

Asking Questions “The mere formulation of a problem,” said Einstein, “is far more often essential than its solution.”  In other words, when a scientist thinks about an issue, it is the kinds of questions that she asks that are most important. This idea is no less true in everyday life than it is in the […]

A Fool Such As I

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”  (1 Cor. 1:25) Two years ago, at just about this time of year, I was preparing to take the Propaedeuticum — or Stage 1 exams — at the Jung Institute of Boston. This set of exams […]