I fled into solitude and danced all day until I dropped.
Carl Jung Depth Psychology Facebook Group
“Be silent, old fool,” the Red One interrupted him [Monk].
If I had not been present, you would have become an outright pig.
When you saw me, you finally pulled yourself together, cursed the drinking and the women, and returned to the monastery.
Now hear my story, damned pagan hobgoblin.
I fell into your snare, and your pagan arts enticed me.
After the conversation at that time, where you caught me in the fox trap with your remark about dancing, I became serious, so serious that I went into the monastery, prayed, fasted, and converted myself.
In my blindness I wanted to reform the Church liturgy, and with the bishop’s approval I introduced dancing.
I had become Abbot and, as such, alone had the sole right to dance before the altar, like David before the Ark of the Covenant.
But little by little, the brothers also began to dance; indeed, even the congregation and finally the whole city danced.
It was terrible.
I fled into solitude and danced all day until I dropped.
I sought to escape from myself, and wandered around at night, in the daytime I kept myself secluded and danced alone in the forests and deserted mountains.
And thus gradually I wandered through the whole of Italy, until I reached the South.
There I attracted less attention than in the north and could mingle with the crowds.
In Naples m I somewhat found my way again, and there I also found this ragged man of God.
His appearance gave me strength.
Through him I could regain my health.
You’ve heard how he he took heart from me, too, and found his way again. ~The Red One,The Black Books, Vol. III, Page 118
Solitude is a Source of Healing
Dear Schmaltz,
I understand your wish very well, but must tell you at once that it does not fit in with my situation.
I am now getting on for 82 and feel not only the weight of my years and the tiredness this brings, but even more strongly, the need to live in harmony with the inner demands of my old age.
Solitude is for me a fount of healing which makes my life worth living. Talking is often are a torment for me, and I need many days of silence to recover from the futility of words.
I have got my marching orders and only look back when there’s nothing else to do.
This journey is a great adventure in itself, but not one that can be talked about at great length.
What you think of as a few days of spiritual communion would be unendurable for me with anyone, even with my closest friends.
The rest is silence!
This realization becomes clearer every day as the need to communicate dwindles.
Naturally I should be glad to see you one afternoon for about two hours, preferable in Kusnacht, my door to the world. Around August 5th would suit me best, as I shall be at home then in any case.
Meanwhile with best greetings,
Yours ever, Jung. [Letter written May 30, 1957]
Note: Schmaltz an old acquaintance of Jung’s asked if he could spend a few days with him at Bollingen for an exchange of ideas.
