Lately i'v not been good. Last 3-4 months were living hell and i caught myself living in a constant loop of nostalgia and fear of the future, so i started digging up how prayer works. I intuitively knew how to do it since i was a kid but i never called it a prayer, but this time i managed to muster a bit of my old self to perform some weird shit. So one day on my very weird depressings walks every afternoon, i decided to visit the place me and my ex used to hang out at for hours 7 years ago, i really loved her and i thought that i needed to charge myself with very powerful emotions before performing the prayer for it to work, so i tried making myself very sad and nostalgic. I began my walk towards the place we hanged out, it was a very sad and gloomy afternoon with shit weather and that already put me in the mood i wanted to be in, i approach the abandoned playground (what we used to hang out to) and i sat down on the exact spot she'd sit, i close my eyes and start almost hallucinating, i deeply imagined all our past memories and moments, how we felt, the raw feelings of love and regret, and i eventually began wanting to cry but i didn't. I hadnt felt emotions so strong for a very long time, i didnt wanna continue because suicide was a very sweet release at the moment but i kept on pushing and as i reached the peak of my despair i wished to myself and to the universe that my life stops being what it is and transforms to something that i look forward to waking up to, basically begging the world to end my suffering. It's been a month and a half since i did that and i can honestly say that i don't even remember what my life was like before the prayer. As if my unconscious saw how disgusted i was at my life and decided to let the old me go, nothing is like it was. My sleep is better, i bare no anxiety anymore, i have no nostalgia at any point of day, and i also cannot relate to my old self, i feel like a crab who shed its shell. Reminds me of a quote "no tree can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell" and i can very much say that i reached hell

Met this girl through a social circle. To me, she was extraordinarily beautiful—radiant, captivating. We went on four dates. She seemed somewhat interested, but it was hard to tell. More than likely, she either wasn’t very invested, was cautiously feeling things out, or was seeing other guys at the same time and weighing her options.

She was a beacon of feminine chaos. Wild. Impulsive. She said whatever she wanted, with no filter whatsoever—openly telling people to “fuck off” without hesitation. I’d say something, and she’d bluntly respond, “I don’t really give a shit.” It was shocking—and intoxicating.

But beneath that, she could be incredibly sweet, tender, almost childlike. In those moments, my heart would melt. Everything else faded into the background. Being around her was like standing too close to a fire: dangerous, unpredictable, but impossible to turn away from.

And yet, I constantly felt uneasy. I’d get waves of anxiety just before meeting up with her, or even just thinking about seeing her. I still do. We’re part of the same social scenes, so I see her regularly. I always make sure I look good, wear the right outfit.

Ironically, I was the one who ended things. I saw that nothing meaningful would come from the relationship. When I told her I thought it would be better if we stayed friends, I went home and cried. I wanted it to work out so badly. I wanted her so badly. She still feels like the most beautiful girl in the world to me. Ending it felt like letting go of something I may never have the chance to hold again.

Since then, I’ve tried convincing myself it was the right call. I made a list of everything I liked about her personality and could only come up with two things. But she refuses to leave my mind. And I’m starting to realize: maybe the traits I told myself I disliked—her impulsiveness, her lack of filter—were actually what drew me in the most.

There’s a part of me I’ve kept buried. I’m a people pleaser, or at least I care deeply about being perceived as a “good person.” I try not to stir conflict. I’ll stand up when it matters, but it doesn’t come naturally. Maybe I was pulled to her because she was my opposite. She was bold, raw, and free in a way I’ve never allowed myself to be. Her wildness tore through boundaries.

There was also something about her being in the seat of judgment. She had high standards for a partner. On paper, I met them—but internally, I constantly wondered, “Am I good enough for her?” Not even for her, really—for the beauty she possessed. That’s what I was worshiping.

I’m religious. I only worship God. But the truth is, my actions betrayed that. I wrote about it in my journal—I knew I had placed her beauty above everything. She became an idol. All idols fall. All gods have clay feet. But passions don’t listen to reason. I was so deeply drawn to her beauty, I forgot my God.

And somewhere deep inside, I believed that if I could be chosen by that chaotic force, if I could be approved, then maybe I would finally be worthy. If I could tame the wild, I would prove myself.

Now, she tries to get my attention. She flirts, she signals interest. But I can’t go back. I know who she is. She’s cheated in the past. She can’t hold a relationship. My rational mind knows nothing good will come of it.

But I still desire her. When she isn’t where I expected her to be, I scream internally. I beg God to make her appear. It’s like my soul is still entangled with hers. A cosmic battle rages inside me—between choosing the good and surrendering to the forbidden. Forces beyond my control seem to be at war within me.

It’s been months. I want it to end. But part of me doesn’t. Part of me enjoys this strange shift in power. Now she tries to earn my attention. Now she has to prove herself to me. And I’m terrified of doing something that might make her lose interest again. I felt so powerless with her before. Now that I have some control, I don’t want to let it go.

But it’s tearing my mind apart. I don’t know how to end it.

Something I’ve been slowly realizing (and honestly struggling with) is how much of shadow work—especially for those of us with childhood trauma—is not just about confronting the “dark” or “repressed” parts of ourselves, but about coming face to face with a child who never got to grow up emotionally. A part of us that froze in time.

That frozen part shows up with raw, immature emotions that don’t always “match” the adult body or life we’re in. Sometimes I feel this flood of jealousy, or fear, anger, or even joy—and it’s not like the adult version of those feelings. It’s literally like being a kid again. But this time, trapped in an adult body.

And honestly, I used to think the whole “inner child” idea was just a metaphor. Something symbolic or philosophical. But no—it’s real. It’s visceral. You feel it in your body. You feel how young and unprocessed some of your reactions are, how certain moments hit you way harder than they should, or leave you feeling small, desperate, or euphoric in a way that doesn’t match your current reality.

And I believe: as I allow my emotional inner child to come forward, that’s the only way my emotions can actually mature. There’s no shortcut. No intellectual bypass. It feels like the only way out is through—and “through” means letting those overwhelming, childlike waves come up and move through my adult nervous system. It’s humbling, and sometimes exhausting, but I feel like there’s no other way around it.

Welcoming that inner child again is messy. It’s not always peaceful or “healing” in the soft, cozy way people imagine. It’s wild. It’s confusing. It’s raw. But also, it’s where the real work begins.

Some professionals say that before we can truly individuate—before we can really become who we are—we have to go back and meet that child, and hold space for the pain and unmet needs. Only then can we integrate. Only then can we really move forward.

Shadow work isn’t abstract for me anymore. It’s personal. It’s me, sitting with that younger self who’s not only been waiting to be seen, but it was forgotten.

Anyone else going through something similar?

so hey all. i just want to share my personal (under caffeine effect) view of myself. since i was a kid, i like building lego (and ofc bionicle) and the similar toys. when i was a teen i like to repair broken toys, servicing my own bicycle, troubleshoot PC (computer) problems, modding games, pirate shits and the like. oh also i'm super into janky junky built of something. like steampunk, dieselpunk aesthetic.

now a little bit of fast forward. i have job, thus i can build my own pc, and bought motorbike. then it occurs to me again. i bought used PC components that may or may not working and bought bike that has some problems with it.

the current me (approaching 30s soon) is a jack of all trades guy. i like to help my parents to do housework, like washing dishes, yard work, gardening, i meant all around it. they said i am reliable, creative, and a hardworker. and somehow good at mediating. that one time in middle school, i was gonna see some guys swinging punches. one guy said "thank god you came, now you can talk some sense to them". well piss, i don't see any back school UFC that afternoon lmao.

just yesterday i realized after watching junk build PC and thought to myself "why i like broken shits". you might know where this is going.... . yes i've dated "broken" girls, 3 in a row. oh man i've done it again. tbh the current GF is not terrible, as she's already going through consultations and therapy. i introduce her about jungian stuff (hopefully she's finds it helpful). the current GF is what i can guess, a puella.

now i'm wondering W H Y. like damn, i was not expecting they having all the traumas and family drama pajamas!. reflecting back, they all look modest, not super hot. hot dang they all giving me the headache. and thus, i am "fixing" something again... . there is something not yet integrated here, am i right fams?

all right jungian fams, thank you for reading. i need to figure this out. and maybe if you want to gives an input please go ahead.

For example whenever I go to this acting class, especially if I’m talking in front of the class, I just start spitting without even thinking. I am extremely funny, interesting, charismatic. I can see people being entertained by me, the women attracted to me. It’s effortless. Another time I was at the gym and I was accused by a guy at the front desk of doing something that I didn’t do. He was with all of his friends but by myself I defended myself valiantly. I actually really enjoyed debunking him and then flipping him off. But around most other people/ places, even those I know well, I feel deep shame and anxiety. Nothing I say comes out right. I just know I am being perceived as weak, boring, insecure and that makes it even worse. It’s excruciating. I am effectively a completely different person depending on who I’m talking to and where. I seemingly cannot control it. I am an ENFP personality if that helps.

I don't know what's jungian term for this but I feel psychological conflict I have 2 nature's I have the caveman beast like temperament but I also like to study psychology occult and esoteric I have a cerebral side so I have a struggle with my "I am" with my Identity its like my Identity is not whole I have lot of opposite traits so how do I combine them and fix my identity issue?

New research just published explores something many of us in Jungian circles have intuited for decades: that psychedelics may be catalysts for deep personal transformation—not just for healing pathology, but for enhancing the wholeness of the Self.

This systematic review examines 19 studies (n = 949) involving psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and 5-MeO-DMT, exploring how these substances affect psychological well-being in healthy individuals. Using the PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment)—a modern psychological framework that mirrors elements of individuation—the findings point to 67 positive changes that endured for up to 14 months post-experience.

Highlights include:

🔹 Greater openness to experience (the gateway to transformation)
🔹 Increased meaning and spiritual depth
🔹 Enhanced emotional empathy and non-judgment
🔹 Improved self-efficacy, authenticity, and life satisfaction
🔹 Encounters with mystical experience and death transcendence

No studies met criteria for mescaline, iboga, or DMT freebase—but the mythopoetic resonance of the data is powerful.

Could these substances be modern-day elixirs in the alchemical journey of the psyche? Are we witnessing the return of the sacred in psychological science?

📖 Full text (Open Access):
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02791072.2025.2484380#abstract

🜁 Questions for fellow Jungians:

• Have psychedelics ever felt like a symbolic descent into the underworld—or a meeting with the Self?
• How might psychedelics assist in navigating the shadow or catalyzing individuation?
• Do you view these experiences as archetypal initiations, or as artificial intrusions into the unconscious?
• Is there a responsible way to weave entheogenic experience into the spiritual life of the modern person—especially those walking the Jungian path?

Eager to hear your stories, insights, and critiques.

Hi, I am in a stage of my life where I am lost and trying to fulfill my purpose. I want to develop and self improve myself but I was in such a disaster since last year that derailed my whole progress in personal development so I think that it's best to embody and get help in my path even though it's very difficult. It is just something that I am interested in. Any advice?

A young man with an iron shield comes out of the sea and wears a red mantle. Above his head is the infinity symbol. What does it represent?

A quote that comes to mind is "...thank God I am Jung and not a Jungian"

It makes sense to venerate prolific thinkers like himself. Obviously, he gathered quite a following during his life.

But I feel he would be generally skeptical of how people are using his ideas in our modern age.

I feel like he would critique a lot of what is promulgated on this forum.

What do you think?

I (20M) am proposing a Jungian theory to explain Broca's aphasia and its direct relation to the collective unconscious.

See, there is a patient, called "Tan", in which the only complex phoneme he produces is the phoneme "T+a+n". This patient is diagnosed with Broca's aphasia, but I believe the collective unconscious can be behind this phenomenon.

"Tan" might be the only sound he produces, which can be described inconsciously by a repertoire of sounds that we all share and wish to vocalize, but they all remain in our shadow. Additionally, Broca's aphasia is driven by direct brain damage and, consequently, damage to the cognitive function of language. This might affect our Self, which controls the way we produce language, and might lead us to project this aspect of our shadow to vocalize what we, collectively, learned from our ancestors, sounds of which might be even primitive forms of ancient languages.

I propose an explanation based on Jung's which can explain this effect. What do you think?

This began as a free flowing thought in my journal, influenced by an earlier conversation I have witnessed in a state of mindfulness.

Sometimes I think people don't share words, they share feelings encrypted within words. Information gathered from such an exchange is on a level below where the head is attached to the body. Yet the head registers something, probing-like in a low key fashion. Something scattered, but more encompassing. The information within the moment, without thought, interpreted by something lower and more settled than the intellect.

Here a feeling has a front seat, it probes the other, it synchronises, and in such an exchange the thought does not drown the other frequencies, the feeling, the intuition, and the sensation.

And yet without thinking function life was too fragile, and the thinking function has emerged as an answer, the last function, so far. The last inferior function.

Being inferior collective function eventually it had to undergo integration, as well as inevitable inflation. This is where I think we are now, and this inflation could last for a very long time, thousands of years.

I wonder if this is the ordeal Gilgamesh was beset with in his lament.

I don't know if there is jungian perspective on this but how do I fix this

The Secret of the Golden Flower is a Chinese Taoist book on neidan (or inner alchemy) meditation, which also mixes Buddhist teachings with some Confucian thoughts. It was written by means of the spirit-writing technique, through two groups, in 1688 and 1692. After the publication of the translation by Richard Wilhelm, with commentary by Carl Gustav Jung, it became modernly popularized among Westerners as a Chinese "religious classic", and is read in psychological circles for analytical and transpersonal psychology considerations of Taoist meditations.

I’m in a long-term, loving relationship. My partner is emotionally supportive, kind, and I truly love him, we're even talking about marriage. Our sex life is good by most standards. There’s nothing “wrong.” BUT I feel this persistent...hunger I can’t shake.

It’s not about wanting to cheat, and it’s not about being unsatisfied in any obvious way. It’s deeper. My mind has been hauting me with the memory of my childhood crush (whom I reconnected with super briefly last christmas). I dont even know him that much anymore, he is not in my life at all but for some reason I cannot shake him off. I don't think its really about him as a person, but as a symbol of unresolved sexual tension, of unfamiliarity, of drama I guess.

I’ve realized that this isn’t just a fantasy. It’s my Shadow, or at least some repressed archetypal part of me that craves aliveness, unpredictability and erotic power. I’ve tried to contain it (through writing, journaling, even fantasies) but it doesn’t go away. If anything, it screams louder.

I love my partner and I don’t want to lose him. But I also don’t want to go through life starving a part of me that clearly needs to be acknowledged.

My question is: How do you work with the sexual or erotic Shadow in a way that honors it, without letting it blow up your life? How do you let that energy be seen, fed, and integrated, while still being loyal to a relationship built on safety and care?

Thanks!

How important is it to work with a certified (Diplomate) Jungian analyst, as opposed to a psychologist who incorporates a Jungian approach? I've been working with the latter, but as I learn more about analytic psychology, I'm suspecting it may be best to work with someone who really knows this territory, through both extensive study and practical (and in-depth) experience. But at the same time, it feels awkward to just stop and switch. Curious to hear from those who have experience with either, but particularly if anyone has had experience with both, and can comment on the difference.

I've thought of her before fleetingly, very once in a while but this time it was a strong feeling, I didn't know about this sub and am about to dive deeper, because i don't have anyone to share this with so i googled the word for this which was synchronicity... this time it was a strong feeling like, she's going to text me now, and I envisioned it, almost like it was by accident? Like this thought came to me out of absolute nowhere and I just felt like she was about to reach out to me.

and after over 2 years she texted me the next hour. I couldn't believe it. I didn't even want her to text me or anything, it was just a past friendship that ended from fizzling out and nothing crazy. I just got the strong feeling she would text me to reach out. She texted me an update out of nowhere after over 2 years to catch up and visit. That's why i am posting here. what the fuck.

I had a long nap (I usually nap for 2-3 hours and wake up energized) and in that nap I had what felt like dream reflecting deep unconscious aspects. I felt like I could've been successful and happy in life but wasn't due to having to provide to those closest to me. It was portrayed to me as me being some sort of leader in a squad during the 2nd world war. I was tired and traumatized but had to keep fighting because my men relied on me. If it weren't for them, the hassle wouldn't have been as painful. But before that I was a soul and my "soul" was seen spectating and discussing with some grey aliens about my path and life on earth and the stress that was going to be expected? Odd, but then I felt like there was going to be a collective shift and the world was gonna morph itself and change in some sort of way. All these weird scenarios popped up but my dream ended with me eating pizza alone all traumatized and torn by the war... Any ideas?

I've only recently started reading Jung-related content, and I was wondering if doing a deep dive into it could help me, or if it's meant to help in other cases. I feel like I'm going through some kind of deep personal crisis and could really use help or insight from anyone who's been through something similar. And sorry in advance if I'm using any Jungian term incorrectly.

I’m 32 and honestly feel like I’ve missed out on a lot of what people usually build by this age. I have only one close friend, and it’s a long-distance relationship, so I spend most of my time at home, either alone or with my girlfriend when she's there. I live with her, but the relationship feels psychologically abusive. We barely connect anymore, physically or emotionally—we average about two times a month, while I long for something more intimate and consistent, and in truth, I don't know if the relationship mirrors something broken within me or if it’s simply another mask I’ve outgrown.

Both my family systems are deeply dysfunctional—more shadow than structure. My parents split when I was born, so I never had a real image of the paternal or maternal archetype working in harmony. I rarely see them, or my extended families. I was "hiding" most of my young adult years, barely partied or met people, didn't network at all, and I took 11 years to finish a 6-year engineering program, so I’ve only been working for 3 years, and the professional world feels like a place where my true self can't breathe. I feel like I'm way behind where I “should” be in my career.

I’m in middle management—a position I resent. As an introverted thinker, I imagined engineering as a space of rationality and precision. Instead, it’s endless interpersonal coordination, politics, and noise. I dream of working from home, of having solitude, of creating something meaningful from the depths, but I feel chained to mundanity.

My body even reflects this inner tension—skinnyfat, constantly sore, and dramatically aching when I try to change it by exercising hard. My psyche is fragmented, and my body won't carry the burden anymore without protest. It feels like my entire system—mental, emotional, physical—is out of alignment.

There’s a heavy shadow over everything lately. I’m not suicidal, but I’m genuinely wondering how long I can keep going like this. It feels like I’m at the midpoint of life, staring into the abyss, and I don’t know what’s on the other side, or why bother to even look.

If anyone here has gone through this kind of dark night and found a path forward—or even just a flicker of light—I’d be really grateful to hear from you. Is this an "individuation crisis"?

Jungian certainly isn’t that mainstream anymore but wondering if there are any depth certificates for people with a masters or straight out of bachelors that are depth and Ivy League/ fancy?

An image that came up in my mind while doing an active imagination exercise. Created in PicsArt.

So I've heard this term being thrown around in context of Jungian psychology/philosophy. Whenever some women, that I always viewed as innocent, act slutty, say slutty things or sexual jokes, even when just joking around, it makes me really uncomfortable. A girl I am limerent about, keeps liking reels on IG which are describing sexual things, in a graphic way. It clues me in that she is sexually active with someone else but that's besides the point. The uncomfortable feeling manifests in a burning feeling in the middle of my stomach - it's almost like a mixture of jealousy, fear, disappointment. Funnily enough, for some reason when women that openly admit to being sluts or sleeping around (based on whose appearance I could kind of tell) I enjoy our interaction and have a few honest laughs, even though I see no future with them. I want to get rid of this, so I won't just shut down whenever women act like this, because I realize it's unfair and fairly unreasonable. Any tips?

The years don’t come alone, but Carl Jung spoke of life as having two major stages.

In the first half — youth and early adulthood — we focus on building an identity: finding a role, success, security, a sense of belonging. This is the stage of the ego, of adapting to the outer world.

But in the second half of life, as we begin to age, the external is no longer enough. An inner calling begins to awaken — the need to truly know ourselves, to integrate our light and shadow, and to discover who we are beyond what we do or what we own.

We can see the passing years as a journey toward authenticity, toward the Self in Jungian terms — the wholeness of who we really are.

So aging isn’t a loss, it’s an opportunity to bloom from within.

It’s when we stop performing to please others and begin living in alignment with our truth.
The masks, or "personas" as Jung called them, fall away, and what is essential finally rises to the surface.

Let’s embrace our struggles and our failures, together with everything beautiful in life, and romanticize our dance around the sun — using this moment to gently come home to ourselves.