I'd like to say something very practical about Jungian depth psychology. And how it has much to offer psychologically/spiritually in explaining and navigating our chaotic and urgent times.
Carl Jung, Swiss M.D., research/theoretical psychotherapist, suggested a hundred years ago that we are moving from a prolonged age when the 'masculine principle' has been dominant; that of conquering, penetrating, breaking down, differentiating and analyzing everything. Reason more than feeling and intuition being of high value for example.
This was needed for that age of development in Western Civilization: colonization, industrial revolution, scientific medicine, modern technology and two fateful world wars are some of the outcomes, both positive and negative. Now the 'feminine principle' is seeking to correct that long, but in an evolutionary sense necessary, over abundance of the 'masculine principle' energy.
Both principles are part of every man and woman's deep psyche. A woman can have an over balance of the masculine attitude as likely as a man for example. Jung would suggest there has been an excess of 'masculine principle' energy in most every aspect of social expectations, religion, economics and politics.
It is more natural, thus easier by her nature, for a woman to be in touch with the 'feminine principle' than it is consciously for a man. But both, from cultural and sometimes religious influence, can miss developing it to the degree needed for adaptation today. In general all persons stand in need to further recognize and integrate in our age the 'feminine principle' and the attitudes and behaviors that flow from it. The 'feminine principle' has to do with healing, uniting and smoothing the way, of accepting and valuing differences in people, of not seeing difference as an alert to violence or to fight or flight. But to stand in the middle so to speak, to be a bridge and not a wall in human commnication and relationships.
Carl Jung, Swiss M.D., research/theoretical psychotherapist, suggested a hundred years ago that we are moving from a prolonged age when the 'masculine principle' has been dominant; that of conquering, penetrating, breaking down, differentiating and analyzing everything. Reason more than feeling and intuition being of high value for example.
This was needed for that age of development in Western Civilization: colonization, industrial revolution, scientific medicine, modern technology and two fateful world wars are some of the outcomes, both positive and negative. Now the 'feminine principle' is seeking to correct that long, but in an evolutionary sense necessary, over abundance of the 'masculine principle' energy.
Both principles are part of every man and woman's deep psyche. A woman can have an over balance of the masculine attitude as likely as a man for example. Jung would suggest there has been an excess of 'masculine principle' energy in most every aspect of social expectations, religion, economics and politics.
It is more natural, thus easier by her nature, for a woman to be in touch with the 'feminine principle' than it is consciously for a man. But both, from cultural and sometimes religious influence, can miss developing it to the degree needed for adaptation today. In general all persons stand in need to further recognize and integrate in our age the 'feminine principle' and the attitudes and behaviors that flow from it. The 'feminine principle' has to do with healing, uniting and smoothing the way, of accepting and valuing differences in people, of not seeing difference as an alert to violence or to fight or flight. But to stand in the middle so to speak, to be a bridge and not a wall in human commnication and relationships.
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| Bridges Are Symbolic Of The 'Connecting Work' of the Feminine Principle |
Ironically I see the 16 other GOP candidates' incapacity to stand up to D. Trump's outrageous hateful statements and extreme flip -flops an indication of these competitors not having yet a well developed feminine side (This may be typical of a majority of men at the present time). We would have seen a very different story. They did not exhibit the skill of engaging in a 'feminine principle' way. Instead they experienced him as an overwhelming, threatening masculine force and meekly allowed him to take over the discussion with
his contradictory and divisive message. This is a serious development in any democracy which depends on open, honest and safe communications. A strong dose of the 'feminine principle' at work, as I will explain, was needed on that debate stage where the masculine was overpowering.
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| Walls Of Division Are Symbolic Of The ' Masculine Principle' At Work |
Ideally if the others had been more 'in touch' with the feminine principle they would have in a clear and absolute way called him out from the start. Because part of the feminine principle is like if a mother's child is about to be harmed or kidnapped, she will retaliate quick and absolutely to put an end to it. This is seen in a mother bear regarding her cubs. Mess with her cubs and you will hear from her, not tomorrow but right now. The true feminine principle is not anything to mess around with. It will intervene promptly against any damaging falsehood and intimidation of every kind. In this sense it has 'fire in its eye' and tolerates no slick effort to scam and mislead regarding human well being.
We lack this America. We let the bully, intimidator and the boisterous have their way with the community. We stand aside for the most economically leveraged to be 'in charge' as if they know best for what is needed for everyone. These are the disastrous short comings of the male principle gone too far.
We lack a full measure of well developed feminine principle but it is gaining strength; not to conquer the necessary male principle but to bring it to a healthy balance with the feminine. This feminine 'end the nonsense' attitude is in contrast to male planning, strategizing and conquering behavior toward others so effective in the past age What did not happen on the GOP debate stage during this primary is one indication of the deficiency of 'feminine protective principle' at work psychologically in our culture.
From the psychological perspective both men and women of our culture in general stand in need of, and evolution is pushing us, discovering and implementing the feminine principle, to bring about a new personal and collective balance of mind and heart in our culture. (BTW, the Christian gospels can be interpreted as strong feminine principle teachings but they have instead traditionally been used to reinforce the 'male principle' attitudes of Western Civilization.)
We lack this America. We let the bully, intimidator and the boisterous have their way with the community. We stand aside for the most economically leveraged to be 'in charge' as if they know best for what is needed for everyone. These are the disastrous short comings of the male principle gone too far.
We lack a full measure of well developed feminine principle but it is gaining strength; not to conquer the necessary male principle but to bring it to a healthy balance with the feminine. This feminine 'end the nonsense' attitude is in contrast to male planning, strategizing and conquering behavior toward others so effective in the past age What did not happen on the GOP debate stage during this primary is one indication of the deficiency of 'feminine protective principle' at work psychologically in our culture.
From the psychological perspective both men and women of our culture in general stand in need of, and evolution is pushing us, discovering and implementing the feminine principle, to bring about a new personal and collective balance of mind and heart in our culture. (BTW, the Christian gospels can be interpreted as strong feminine principle teachings but they have instead traditionally been used to reinforce the 'male principle' attitudes of Western Civilization.)
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| Donald Trump |
Another practical observance of depth psychology is that of the naturally occurring 'woman's movement' of the past five decades involving women finding and integrating their 'inner masculine' selves, just as men have been pushed to discover the 'feminine within'. This has been showing that women can be just as strong objective thinkers, planners, leaders and conquerors as any man. A Hillary Clinton is an 'in our face' example and symbol of this capacity in woman. Naturally the emerging 'feminine principle' will be the target of much resentment and attack no matter who the personal woman is that carries its psychological energy.
Humanity does not make great social/psychological/spiritual changes without an internal fight. Also such cultural changes are far greater than any of the individuals involved. There is a 'greater than us mind' of evolutional type reality that pushes and invites us to higher levels of consciousness. No actual man or woman is perfectly developed and balanced in this ideal way. We can only be moving toward it, cooperating with it, not resisting it. And I sense hopeful signs that many persons are doing just that.
Humanity does not make great social/psychological/spiritual changes without an internal fight. Also such cultural changes are far greater than any of the individuals involved. There is a 'greater than us mind' of evolutional type reality that pushes and invites us to higher levels of consciousness. No actual man or woman is perfectly developed and balanced in this ideal way. We can only be moving toward it, cooperating with it, not resisting it. And I sense hopeful signs that many persons are doing just that.
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| Hillary Clinton |
The key according to Jungian thought is for there to be a steady move toward the proper balance of 'male and female psychological/spiritual energy principles' in women and men personally and in the collective consciousness. This is the way that men stay and become 'really' men and women are 'really' women. Men and women remain truly different but each can and is now called to develop those psychological awarenesses and attitudes of the contrasting principle as needed. Only through this kind of inner development are men and women together, in complementary fashion, being enabled to engage the new needs and problems of our post modern age.
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