The House that Jung Built: Inner & Outer Structures: 2/4/11 web seminar

The following is a paraphrased summary of the two speakers (Murray Stein and Andreas Jung) from the 2-4-11 web seminar titled The House that Jung Built: Inner & Outer Structures with Grandson Andreas Jung. Sponsored by the Asheville Jung Center.

Murray Stein gave a historical overview of Jung’s development of Analytic Psychology. Jung’s professional life revolved around his search for the connection between history and science.

I. At the Burgholzli Cantonal Mental Hospital in Zurich from 1900-1013, Jung worked on his theory of the complex, which was the “groundwork for his later work.” Jung’s work on word association experiments yielded a breakthrough regarding evidence of “unconscious active energy of irrational factors effecting responses to a list of test words.” Delayed responses, lack of responses, or strange responses indicated “clusters of feeling-toned associations and images showing disturbances in consciousness which Jung named ‘complexes, the first step in his theoretical foundation.” In 1906, Jung visited Freud in Vienna; by 1910, Jung was president of the Psychoanalytic Congress. Conversations with Freud and others in the newly-formed psychoanalytic community informed mutual exploration and formulations.

II. Jung developed the unique concepts about persona and shadow. Acknowledging “self-contradictions and discrepancies between the public and private self” (the shadow) is the first step toward individuation. As Jung continued to study other theories and texts, he “put his own spin on interpreting others’ ideas.” Jung crafted the concepts of complex, shadow, and persona.

III. The Red Book years (starting in 1913): years of substantial creativity. In his exploration of his own psyche, Jung arrived at the concepts of archetypes and the collective unconscious. The Red Book is a first-hand experience with archetypal images, which Jung painted, described, and with which he participated in dialog; Jung later translated these experiences into theoretical constructs. In 1921, Jung developed the theory of psychological types, “the compass and orientation to consciousness.”  In 1930, Jung began to explore alchemy and synchronicity. Jung’s work is not a final product, leaving room for “elasticity, openness, and continued development.”

Andreas Jung and his family currently reside in the Kusnacht family residence. In addition to Jung’s drawings and sculpture, the residence reflects Jung’s literal and metaphorical artistic expression. Mr. Jung described his grandfather’s houses as follows: “the inner and outer world of C. G. Jung are interconnected and form a single system.” In 1909, Jung dreamed of a house which became the template for his initial drawings of the family residence. Andreas Jung organized his comments via the following topics: childhood; private house; building patterns; The Red Book; The Tower; Encounters; The Stone; I Ching. Mr. Jung described Jung’s childhood experiences and dreams that informed Jung’s focus of attention and eventual vocation. Jung’s dream imagery included specific architectural designs and lakeside locations. The design of the Kusnacht home fit well with both nature and neighboring homes and buildings. The value of “normal life” with family and home supported Jung’s delving into the depth of human experience. In The Red Book, Jung “released his fantasies of an alien world which led to concrete consultations from unconscious material.” Jung often explored two worlds: above/below; actual/numinous. Jung’s dialog with an inner figure, Philemon, resulted in a realization of the autonomous psyche. Jung wanted a second dwelling in which to privately explore other aspects of himself; in 1923, Jung began to build a residence at Bollingen in the shape of a tower. As he worked on himself and worked on the tower, he expanded the building both horizontally and vertically; the simple structure had no electricity or plumbing. Jung also carved a garden stone on which he depicted many concepts and principles of his theoretical perspective of human existence.

Mr. Jung’s presentation was touching and intimate. Jung’s descendants have continuously lived in the family residence in Kusnacht. Mr. Jung offers small scheduled tours of the family home. Mr. Jung published a book chronicling the history and restoration of the family home. Several foundations handle current and future management of the home and of Jung’s library.

The following sources and resources were mentioned in the 2-4-11 Asheville Jung Center web seminar with Andreas Jung and Murray Stein.

Stein, M. (Ed.). (2010). Jungian psychoanalysis: Working in the spirit of Carl Jung. Peru, IL: Carus.

Stein, M. (1998). Jung’s map of the soul: An introduction. Chicago, IL: Carus.

Jung, A. (date unknown). The house of C. G. Jung: The history and restoration of the residence of Emma and C. G. Jung-Raushenbach. (location and publisher unknown).

The Red Book and other Jungian material are currently on display (through March, 2011) at the Reitberg Museum in Zurich.

Archived Jungian materials are currently available at the following address: http://e-rara.ch/

Symbolic and archetypal images are available at Aras.org