Jungians should stop damaging the reputation of Jungian Psychology.
Jungian psychoanalyst and coach Thom Cavalli's recent course on Jung Archademy is titled The Alchemical Shadow. The description of his video seminar says:
in this seminar, we broaden the boundaries of shadow, envisioning it as the borderline region between the known and unknown world. Here is where psychology touches on the forbidden world of the occult. And here is precisely where alchemical psychology provides us with the psychological and spiritual tools needed to transmute shadow into a more refined version of ourselves with the ultimate task of discovering the golden philosopher’s stone!
This kind of description has an enormous detrimental effect on the perception of Jungian psychology in the population. Because of such links between psychology and the occult, Analytical Psychology is not perceived as a science and people are confirmed in their idea that Jungian psychology is a pseudo-science akin to astrology, palm reading and tarot.
Organizations and peer-reviewers who let this happen are doing irreparable harm to the legacy of Carl Jung for the sake of making a few dollars. To those who are proud of the immense contribution of Carl Jung's books and who understand most of it, it is a slap in the face.
The second problem with this kind of promotion is that it does not conformed with Jung's teachings on the subject of alchemy. Although Cavalli's bio says that he has dedicated his life’s work to revising ancient alchemy and applying its wisdom to inform modern science and deepen global consciousness, his work shows the obvious characteristics of those who do not understand Jung's teachings about alchemy.
In Mysterium Conjunctionis, Jung wrote
“For thirty years I have studied these psychic processes under all possible conditions and have assured myself that the alchemists as well as the great philosophies of the East are referring to just such experiences, and that it is chiefly our ignorance of the psyche if these experiences appear ‘mystic.’” (CW 14, ¶ 762)
To Jung, alchemy was about mystical or transcendent experiences. That was the chief reason of his extensive study of alchemical grimoires. Alchemy has very little to do with the shadow. It is about the development of consciousness through cognitive functions (the four elements or the four temperaments). The philosopher's stone is a transcendent experience, a symbol of conjunction of opposites that enter consciousness for a short moment. Cavalli's misunderstanding of Jung's teachings is staggering for a man who has dedicated his life to revising ancient alchemy.
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| The Four Temperaments in Alchemy |
What is degrading in teaching concepts and techniques related to the shadow using simple psychological terminology?
Why is it necessary to dress shadow integration techniques with New Age lore?
Is Jungian Psychology a science or the new toy of some deluded New Agers?
If Jungian psychology is a science, its proponents should stop depicting it as a third-order field full of mystery and secrecy. We all owe it to C. G. Jung. It is more than time that Jungian contributors stop making Deepak Chopras of themselves and start being more Albert Einsteins.
Read also,
.Jung's understanding of the philosopher's stone