How people view Jungian spiritual realm theories today
Individuals still find Jung’s work on spirituality relevant due to its ability to explain how the human psyche works. Jung acknowledged that it was not enough to focus on one’s ego conscious; knowing the unconscious was crucial to understanding oneself, and spirituality formed an important part of this.
In modern times, people also think that this scholar’s teachings are relevant because he found a way of relating the level of one’s spirituality with one’s psychological state. Jung asserted that it is possible to get rid of insecurities, anxiety and loss if one had a solid spiritual experience.
Finally, many people believe in existentialist thought today. They focus on being present in the moment rather than spiritualizing everything. Jung was an existentialist because he believed in focusing fully on the divine rather than worrying about the future.
If a person were fully present in the spiritual realm, then one could free oneself from fear and anxiety. Likewise, modern-day existentialists assert that dwelling on one’s spirituality can protect one from the reality of never really knowing about one’s future. Jung’s spiritual realm theories still interest many individuals today since their principles can be applied to daily life.
Truths in Anima, Animus, Shadow and Person
Jung’s four archetypes are also quite relevant in the field of psychology presently. The scholar explained that human beings have two opposing personifications: the anima and animus. In women, the animus personifies masculine tendencies and is aggressive or hostile.
Conversely, the anima personifies feminine tendencies in women. Some truths exist in these archetypes as seen through interactions between men and women in relationships. Men and women sometimes project their expectations about the opposite gender on their spouses.
They distort the image of what their partner truly is with their projection of these expectations. One may compare these projections with the anima and animus. Individuals may become disappointed by their partner when they expect their partner to complete them. These expectations may be likened to unrealized potential in the woman’s anima or the man’s animus (Jacques, 1994).
Jung explained that the persona is how one presents oneself to the world. Such appearances often differ when an individual confronts different situations. The archetype has some truths because one may be an entertainer at a social gathering, a caring mother at home, and a tough boss in the office.
It is the sum of all these personas that make up one’s personality. Jung also explained that people have shadow archetype, which consists of all shortcomings, longings, and repressed ideas.
It is true that individuals possess this archetype; a person’s dark side often comes out when they deal with a very stressful situation or are subjected to long periods of deprivation. Jung was right in stating that the shadow represents the unknown; humans contain many unknown character facets, so the theory was insightful.
How Jung and Freud’s archetypes relate
Jung’s shadow is similar to Freud’s Id. He affirmed that people had basic impulses, which could become chaotic if left uncontrolled. Likewise, Jung believed that human beings had a dark and wild side known as the shadow, and one could never know when that side would come out.
One may also understand relationship failures using both Freud and Jung’s teachings. Freud explained that people projected their fears onto others as a way of coping with their faults. The Superego usually mediates in situations where the Id is getting out of hand. Likewise, Jung believed that projections of the anima or animus onto others create complications in relations.
References
Jacques, L. (1994). The four fundamental concepts of psycho-analysis. London: McMillan.