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000vitae

C.G. Jung Letters, Vol. 1: 1906-1950

To Paul Schmitt

Dear Dr. Schmitt, 20 December 1945

I see from your letter, for which best thanks, that you are laid up in a clinic again.

I had thought your malaria had come to a standstill, but this is obviously not so.

I find it very regrettable that you must plague yourself with so many bodily disturbances.

It almost seems as if the ignis vitae of which you write were coming out at the wrong place as fire.

In alchemy there is an Anazopyrosis, by which is presumably meant a transformation of the destructive fiery spirit into a spiritus vitae.

You are in the midst of an inner confrontation with yourself which is of the highest general importance.

We all have to contribute our mite to this problem.

Occasionally we must also inquire whether something that wants to go upwards has not taken a false route downwards into the body.

With kindest regards,

Yours sincerely,

C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. 1, Page 403.

1 Anazopyrosis, quickening by fire, an expression to be found in the “Book of Komarios,” which according to Jung dates from the 1st cent. A.D. Cf. von Franz, Aurora Consurgens, p. 368.