I’ve been researching the posthumously-published aspects of the work of C.G. Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher of mysticism. In particular, the late chapters and appendices of his memoirs, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, which show how far he had progressed beyond the orthodox science of his day.

It’s always interesting to view the private jottings of public people. The enormous lengths they go to in trying to hide their real views from critical gaze is fascinating. In Jung’s case, his belief in the purpose of “Individuation” contrasted starkly with the nihilism of many of his colleagues.

Here’s his personal view of Individuation:

“When the summit of life is reached, when the bud unfolds and from the lesser the greater emerges … and the greater figure, which one always was but which remained invisible, appears to the lesser personality with the force of a revelation, he who is inwardly great will know that the long expected friend of his soul, the immortal one, has now really come.”

C.G. Jung