Man and His Symbols

Summary

Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung is a fascinating exploration of the world of symbols and their role in the human unconscious. Symbols come up everywhere, in dreams, in culture, in art, in thoughts, in conversations, in the ways that we live our lives. They are pervasive to a degree that is uncanny. Jung believed that they reveal deeper insights into the workings of the human psyche.

To Jung, symbols are the ways that the unconscious is communicating with us. We are not aware of that part of our brains usually, but it is there, and the "language" that it speaks is symbolic in nature. Symbols represent complex ideas, feelings, or aspects of the psyche that cannot be expressed in rational or literal language. Symbols can vary over time, they change from culture to culture and even a single person can perceive symbols in different ways.

However, some symbols are more universal than others, with a few symbols so pervasive that they become something different: archetypes. Examples include the hero, the caring mother, or the wise old man. These are found in almost every culture, because they show abstract ideas about what it means to be human.

Because symbols often express themselves in dreams, Jung argues that it is important to understand what our dreams mean. Decoding the symbols within our dreams was a big part of his practice and he used it as a way to learn about the unconscious of a person. Dreams give a glimpse, a window into parts of a person that are normally inaccessible and if understood correctly can be used for personal development. Understanding our dreams means understanding ourselves.

Myths are the cultural analog to dreams. They show what a whole culture cares about subconsciously.

The idea of symbols ties into another concept of Jung's psychological ideas: individuation.

Individuation is the lifelong process of becoming fully conscious of oneself. It is about integrating the various aspects of the personality into a whole. The aspects of personality are:

• the shadow (the darker, unconscious side of the personality)
• the anima/animus (the feminine/masculine counterpart aspects within an individual)

The Self is the ultimate goal of individuation. It represents wholeness and unity, where both the conscious and unconscious aspects of the personality are harmonized. The journey toward the Self often involves confronting and integrating the shadow and other unconscious elements, which is often depicted in symbolic terms, such as the hero's journey in myths.

Jordan Peterson is a great fan of Jungs work in this regard.

The reason why we do art, Jung argues, is to connect with these symbols and myths and utilize them to share personal development and make the process of individuation easier for others. Instead of us having to go through the same trauma, the same problems, we can read stories and myths and learn from the mistakes of others.

Key Takeaways:

Symbols are essential for understanding the unconscious and achieving self-awareness. They carry meanings that cannot be fully expressed through rational thought alone. In that regard they have something in common with Zen Koans.

Myths and art are rich in symbolism and provide a way for individuals to connect with the collective unconscious and navigate psychological growth.

Dreams are windows in the subconscious that provide insight into the process of individuation, showing possible shortcomings and things that still need to be worked on. This makes them an important tool in self-development.