Carl Jung: Something else, too, came to me from my illness.
Something else, too, came to me from my illness.
I might formulate it as an affirmation of things as they are: an unconditional “yes” to that which is, without subjective protests acceptance of the conditions of existence as I see them and understand them, acceptance of my own nature, as I happen to be.
At the beginning of the illness I had the feeling that there was something wrong with my attitude, and that I was to some extent responsible for the mishap.
But when one follows the path of individuation, when one lives one’s own life, one must take mistakes into the bargain; life would not be complete without them.
There is no guarantee not for a single moment that we will not fall into error or stumble into deadly peril.
We may think there is a sure road.
But that would be the road of death.
Then nothing happens any longer at any rate, not the right things.
Anyone who takes the sure road is as good as dead. ~Carl Jung, MDR, Page 297
Jung-White Correspondence during Jung’s Illness.
Dear Dr. Jung, Dec. 11, 1946
I am extremely thankful to hear from Miss Schmid that you are now able to read.
I venture therefore to send you a few lines but refrain from saying all that I should like to do.
I need hardly tell you that you are very much in my thoughts and prayers at present, and, as I know, in those of very many other people in England too. . . .
Ever yours sincerely,
Victor White, O.P. ~Victor White, Jung-White Letters, Page 57.
Jung responded: on Dec. 18th, 1946:
Dear Father White,
Thank you for your dear letter.
It is a great consolation to know that one is included in the prayers of fellow beings.
The aspectus mortis (aspect of death) is a mighty lonely thing, when you are stripped of everything in the presence of God. . . .
I am very weak.
The situation dubious.
Death does not seem imminent, although an embolism can occur any time again.
I confess to be afraid of a long drawn-out suffering.
It seems to me as if I were ready to die, although—as it looks to me—some powerful thoughts are still flickering like lightnings in a summer night.
Yet they are not mine, they belong to God, as everything else which bears mentioning.
Please write again to me.
You have a purity of purpose which is beneficial. . . .
I don’t know whether I can answer your next letter again.
But let us hope—
Gratefully yours,
C. G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Jung-White Letters, Pages 59-60
After the illness a fruitful period of work began for me.
Memories Dreams Reflections A Biography by Aniela Jaffe
In his autobiography Jung would speak of the importance of this experience:
After the illness a fruitful period of work began for me.
A good many of my principal works were written only then.
The insight I had, or the vision of the end of all things, gave me the courage to undertake new formulations.
I no longer attempted to put across my own opinion, but surrendered myself to the current of my thoughts [ . . . ].
Something else, too, came to me from my illness. I might formulate it as an affirmation of things as they are: an unconditional ‘yes’ to that which is, without subjective protests—acceptance of the conditions of existence as I see them and understand them, acceptance of my own nature, as I happen to be [ . . . ].
It was only after the illness that I understood how important it is to affirm one’s own destiny.
In this way we forge an ego that does not break when incomprehensible things happen; an ego that endures, that endures the truth, and that is capable of coping with the world and with fate.
Then, to experience defeat is also to experience victory.
Nothing is disturbed – neither inwardly or outwardly, for one’s own continuity has withstood the current of life and of time’ ~Carl Jung, MDR, Page 297.
