Page1

TheCat

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MarieLouisevonFranz,HonoraryPatron
StudiesinJungianPsychology
byJungianAnalysts
DarylSharp,GeneralEditor

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TheCat
ATaleofFeminineRedemption
MarieLouiseVonFranz

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AlsobyMarieLouisevonFranzinthisSeries:
RedemptionMotifsinFairyTales
OnDivinationandSynchronicity
Alchemy:AnIntroduction
ArchetypalPatternsinFairyTales
C.G.Jung:HisMythinOurTime
CanadianCataloguinginPublicationData
Franz,MarieLouisevon,19151998
Thecat:ataleoffeminineredemption
(StudiesinJungianpsychologybyJungiananalysts83)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN0919123848
1.FairytalesRomaniaHistoryandcriticism.2.Redemptioninliterature.
3.WomenFolklore.4.Psychoanalysisandliterature.
I.Title.II.Series.
GR257.F721999398.20949809C989321576
Copyright1999byMarieLouisevonFranz.
Allrightsreserved.
INNERCITYBOOKS
Box1271,StationQ,Toronto,CanadaM4T2P4
Telephone(416)9270355
Fax(416)9241814
Email:icb@inforamp.net/Website:www.inforamp.net/~icb
HonoraryPatron:
MarieLouisevonFranz.
PublisherandGeneralEditor:DarylSharp.
SeniorEditor:VictoriaCowan.
INNERCITYBOOKSwasfoundedin1980topromotetheunderstandingandpracticalapplicationoftheworkofC.G.Jung.
Cover:"TheEmpress,"acrylicandsandoncanvas,byVickiCowan,1998.
IndexbyDarylSharp.
PrintedandboundinCanadabyUniversityofTorontoPressIncorporated

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Contents
MarieLouisevonFranzandC.G.Jung 6
Preface 7
MarieLouisevonFranzatBollingen 8
1
Introduction
9
2
TheTaleoftheCat
15
3
TheJourneytotheVirginMary
33
4
TheCatinMythology
55
5
TheKingdoms
65
6
ThePalaceoftheCat
83
7
TheReturn
103
Index 122
SeefinalpagesfordescriptionsofotherInnerCityBooks

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MarieLouisevonFranzandC.G.Jung,about1960

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Preface
Nowadaysfairytalesarestudiedfrommanyangles:fromthestandpointofthehistoryofliterature,fromthestudyoffolklore,fromethnology,sociologyandlastbut
notleastintermsofdepthpsychology.Thelatteristheviewpointofthisbook,whichisintendedtoteachhowtorecognizearchetypalmaterialandhowtohandleit
fromthestandpointofJungianpsychology.
IwanttothankMrs.AlisonKappesfortypingtheoriginaltranscriptfromthetapesoftheseminar.MymainandheartiestthanksgotoDr.VivenneMackrellwithout
whosehelpthebookwouldneverhavebeencompleted,forshedidmorethanediting.

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MarieLouisevonFranzatBollingen

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1
Introduction
Whenyouhaveanalysands,youwillnoticetheyoftenhaveimportantarchetypaldreamswhichtheydon'trecognizeassuch.Sometimespeoplewakeupfroman
archetypaldreamdeeplyshakenandyouneedn'tsayanythingaboutit.Theythemselvesfeelandknowthatsomethingessentialhashappened.Thewholetransforming
emotionhascomethrough.Butothertimesyougetdreamswherepeoplehaveveryimportantarchetypalmotifsandtellthemtoyouinacompletelyflippantvoice.
Theydon'trealizeinanywaythatthereissomethingmorethantheusualinthem.Theonlyreactiontheyhave,perhaps,isthatinsteadofbeingshakentheyareabit
puzzled.Theylaughabitandsay,"Ihadafunnydreamlastnightthekindthatdoesn'tconnecttoanythingIknow."
Inthatcase,ifyoudon'trealizeitisanarchetypaldream,ifyoudon'tnoticethedepthofit,youmissanenormouschancebecause,asJungpointedout,anarchetypal
experienceistheonlyhealingfactorintherapy.Allthetechniquesweusehelppeopletoopenuptothearchetypalexperience.Butonlytheunconscioussendsan
archetypalexperienceandthatisanactofgracewhichwecannotforcewecanonlywaitandprepareforitandhopeitwillhappen.Ifitdoesn'thappen,youcan'tdo
much.Youmightseesomeimprovementwithgoodcounselingandsoon,buttherewillbenorealcure,norealhelp.Sometimesthishelpfularchetypalthinghappens
inconspicuously,sotospeak.There'sasneakylittledreampeopletellwithafunnylittlegrinandthenyouask,"Anyassociations?"andtheysay,"No,"ortellyou
somethingtheyalreadyknew,longago...that'ssomethingyoumustbeawareof.
MoreandmoreIseethatpeoplehavenotlearnedhowtofishfortherightassociations.Manypatientstendtojumpataninterpretationinsteadofgivingan
association.Theyhaveadreamandsay,"Oh,it'sthenegativemothergettingmeagain,"orsomethingsimilar.Youmustjustbrushthataside.Itisaconsciousopinion
itmightberightbutninetyfiveper

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centofthetimeitcanbewrong.Anditisgenerallyevenawardingoffgestureofconsciousness''Oh,Iknowallaboutthat''inordertoputitinthewastebasket.
Soyouhavetosay,"No,no,come.Lookatit.Whatdoyouassociateto..."whateverisinthedream,andthenyouwillfindthatwitharchetypaldreams,ifpeople
arenotshakenbythem,theygenerallyhaveveryfewassociationsorveryflatorpoorones."Fire?"youask."Fireburns,"theysay,or"Ioncesawafire,"something
triviallikethat.Inotherwords,theexperiencedoesn'tcomethrough,andinthatcaseyouhavetoknowthedepthandtheemotionalweightofwhatishappening,and
youhavetoexpressitinsomeform.
Now,itisnousetofloodpeopleintherapywithmythologicalassociations.Youmustknowthemyourself,butyoumustnotfirethematyourpatientlikeamachine
gun.Youhavetoknowtheminordertobeamazedandshakenyourself,movedbythemotif,andthensomehowyouwillfindtherightwordsortherightcontextto
conveywhatyoufeel.Thatcanonlybedoneonthespurofthemoment.Youcannotlearnitaheadoftime.Butyoucanlearnhowtodealwitharchetypalmaterial,to
recognizeit,toknowitsdepth,andthroughthatbereadyfortherightreaction.Andthatiswhywepracticefairytaleinterpretation.
Fairytalesaremuchmoredifficulttodealwiththanlocalsagas,wheretheheroorheroineofthestoryisanordinaryhumanbeing.Inasaga,amangoesintoa
destroyedcastleatnight,say,andsuddenlyasnaketurnsupwithagoldencrown,askstobekissedandturnsintoabeautifulmaidenandsoon.Themanwho
experiencesthatisanordinaryhumanbeing.Heisyouorme.Andthestorytellsallhisreactions,forinstancethathethinks,"No,Idon'twanttokisssuchadisgusting
coldanimal,"andheisshiveringwithfearandthenhethinks,"Oh,afterall,thepoorthing,"orwhateverelsehefeels.Allthatisdescribed.Hehashumanreactions.
ThefolkloristMaxLthihaswrittenabookonthedifferencesbetweenafairytaleandasagathathehasworkedoutveryclearly.
1
Youcansaythatasagaisthetale
ofaconscioushumanbeingwhohasanuminousexperienceoftheunconscious.Andthenuminousexperience
1
VolksmrchenundVolkssagen,2nd.ed.(BernandMunich:FranckVerlag,1966).

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meetingasnakewithagoldencrown,sayisdescribedasifitwerealsoreality,butthatisbecauseallmythologydealswithgodsandghostsanddemonsasifthey
wereasrealasweare.Thereisalwaysthisdescriptionofcomingtoathreshold,anegothatmeetssomethingshocking,unusual,exciting,dramatic,andthenthere'sa
happyending,orafailureand/oradangerousthreattheherohastoescapeandreturnhome.
Iwouldsaythatthesesagascloselyparallelwhatstillhappenstoday.Inprimitiveandagriculturalsocieties,peoplestillhavenuminousexperiences.Insocalled
civilizedlifewechaseawaythenightwithelectriclightsandthinkweare"enlightened,"inwardlyandoutwardlyprotectedagainstsuchthings,butassoonasyoulivein
thecountrywhereyouhavealongwalkhomeinthedark,andthetreesarerustlinganditiscompletelypitchblack,andyouhavedrunkaglassortwotoomany,then
everythingcanstillhappen!Justasitalwaysdidinthepast.Andsoinsagasyouhaveencounterswiththeunconsciousthataretoldexactlyastheyhappened.Ifthey
areexcitingandinterestingthenthepeopletellthemoverandover."Therewasonceamaninourvillageandhewentupinthenight,uptheretothatoldderelictmill,
andwhenheapproachedittherewerelightsandheheardanoiseandhewentin,"andsoon.
Fairytales,ontheotherhand,areanabstraction,asLthicallsthem.Thatmeansyoudon'thaveahumanegoencounteringtheworldoftheunconscious.Youhave
fantasystoriesinwhichfantasybeingsorarchetypalimagesoftheunconsciousdealwitheachother.That'sonewaytoputit.Inasagathereisourworldlightof
consciousnessandthehero,whogoessomewhereandmeetsanarchetypeorseveralarchetypes.Inasagathereisalwaysthisgoingoverthethresholdand
sometimesthefearfulrunningback.
Nowinafairytale,youhaveastorytellerthat'sanegowhotellsaboutthedanceofarchetypeshappeningintheunconscious.Theheroinfairytalesisnota
normalhumanbeingandhasnohumanreaction.Heisnotfrightenedwhenhemeetsthedragon.Hedoesn'trunawaywhenasnakebeginstotalktohim.Hedoesn't
getthejitterswhentheprincessturnsupatnightbyhisbedandtortureshim,orwhateverhappens.HeiseitherintelligentoraDummlingastupid,dumbperson.
He'scourageous,quickwittedorclever,orsomethingofthekindinaverysche

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maticway.Andhejustactsthroughthestorybang,bang,bang,accordingtohisnature.Ifheiscourageoushefightseverything.Ifheiswittyhealwaysmakesa
trickoutofeverything.Hehasabsolutelynopsychology,sotospeak.Heisaschematicfigure.Andifwelookathimclosely,weseeapurelyarchetypalfigure.
Theonlyegoinfairytalesisthestoryteller,whoturnsupsometimesatthebeginningandsometimesattheend,butnotinallstories.Incertaincountries,forinstancein
Romania,thestorytellermightbegin,"Ionce...,"akindofconventionalformula,or,"Attheendoftheworld,wherethereisnotimeandnospace,behindtheseven
mountainsandtheblinddog,wheretheworldisclutteredupwithboards,therewasonceaking...,"etcetera.Andthestorytellerrecitesthatsamelittleversebefore
everystory:"Attheendoftheworld,wheretheworldisclutteredupwithboards..."That'sasortoflittleverse.Hemakesakindofrited'entre,andattheend
youhavearitedesortie,like''IwasattheweddingandIwasinthekitchenandIstolesomeofthemeatandthewinebutthecookgavemeakickinthearseand
that'swhyI'venowflownhereandtoldyouthestory."Or,forinstance,thegypsiessay,"TherewasabeautifulweddingandtheyateanddrankinhappinessandIam
thepoordevilwhohasnothingtoeat,"andthengoaroundwithahatcollectingmoney.Thatisaritedesortie.Thestorytellershowsfirstthatwearenowgoinginto
anotherworldandattheenddescribescomingoutofit,generallyinaslightlyjokingway.Andinbetweenwehearaboutsomethingthathappenedintheotherworld.
Soespeciallywiththesestoriesyoumustnotprojectyourownpersonalpsychologyandexperienceintothem.Youreallyhavetogoatthemlikeanaturalistwho
observesfishesortreesasobjectivelyaspossible.
Itisveryimportanttolearnthisbecausewhenconfrontedwithadream,there'salwaysthedangerthattheanalystwillprojecthisorheropinion.Forinstance,in
comesamosteffeminateyoungmanwhoisnotmarriedandstilllivesathomewithmama,andthenyoujumptotheconclusion,perhapseventherightconclusion,
"Oh,heisamama'sboy."Andthenhedreamsaboutbeingeatenbyabigsnakeandyouthink,"Hehasamothercomplex."Butthat'snotaninterpretation.Thatis
reallyjustprojectingwhatyouthinkintotheunconsciousimage.Itmaybe

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rightifyouhavegoodintuition,butitisaverydangerousprocedurebecausetheunconscious,thehealingprocessoftheunconscious,nevergoesinastraightway.It
alwaysmakesthemostamazingdetours.
Youthink,forinstance,"Hereissomebodywhoshoulddetachfrommama,"butthenperhapstherecomesawholeseriesofdreamspushinghimtoimprovehis
relationshiptohismother.Andyoumustbeagileenough,andatthesametimeobjectiveenough,tosay,"Thisisstrange.Thisdoesn'tsuitmeatall.Butthatiswhere
theunconsciousisleadingsolet'sgowithit."Andyoucanonlydothatifyoudon'tprojectyourownopinion.Thenintheendtherecomesaverycleverturnofthe
unconscious,andyouseethatallthetimeitwasleadinguptodetachingtheyoungmanfromhismother,butbyanunexpecteddetourwhichyouwouldneverhave
beencleverenoughtothinkofyourself.That'swhyyouhavetotrytobeobjectiveandnotjumptoconclusions.Youcanlearnthatlessonbestfromfairytales.You
canreadallaboutpsychologybutthenyoujusthavetolookatwhatisthere.Whatdoesthestorytellapartfrommyopinion?That'sthecrucialthingtopracticeandto
learn.
Ioncehadapatientwhohadanegativemothercomplex.Hecamewithmanydreams,andwasveryofteninadepressive,negativemood.He,asaperson,wasn't
likethatbutwhenhewasintheanimahewasalwayspessimistic.Hewouldcometothehourwithsuchafaceandsay,"Theunconscioushascriticizedmeagain."
AndIwouldsay,"Well,let'shearit!"Andthenhe'dtellmeaverygooddreambutwithsomenegativemotifs.Hejustpickedonthenegativeones."There,itsays
againI'mnothing.I'mlost,Iamonthewrongtrack,"andonandon.Ialwaysjusthadtobrushthatasideandsay,''Comenow,let'sbeginatthebeginning.Let'slook
atitobjectively.Don'thaveyourawfulblackanimapouringherblackstuffonitagainbeforeyou'veevenlookedatit."
Soeventhepatientmaywanttoseduceyoutotwistthematerialaccordingtoyourownopinions.Ultimately,ofcourse,objectivityisonlyanapproximation.Weare
boundtoprojectourpersonalityintoafairytaleweseethethingsthatappealtousandweoverlookthingsthatarenotinourmakeup.Soevenasocalledobjective
interpretationisfarfromcompletelyobjective,butatleastonecanfightthoseveryprimitivewaysofprojectingandmakeanattemptinthatdirection.

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SacredEgyptianCat,30B.C.
(BritishMuseum,No.64391)

Page15
2
TheTaleoftheCat
IhavechosenaRomanianfairytale,"TheCat,"
2
togiveyousomeideaofwhatwecanlearnaboutindividualpsychologyfromarchetypalmotifswhenwetrytolook
atthemobjectively.
Therewasonceanemperorandthisemperorhadsomuchmoneythathedidn'tknowwhattodowithit.Buthewas,allthesame,veryunhappybecausehehadnochildren.He
saidtohiswife,"Whyareyousodepressed?"Shesaid,"Mydearhusband,Iwouldliketotakethecarriageandgooutforawalk.""Wait,"hesaid,"Iwillbuildashipforyou."
Andheorderedabeautifulshiptobebuilt,themostbeautifulonearth.Onecouldratherlookintothesunwithoutbeingblindedthanlookatthisship.Andwhenhehadfinished
it,hesaidtohiswife,''Mydear,tomorrowyoucanleave.Theshipisready."Butthenhesaid,''Ifyoudon'tcomebackpregnant,youcan'tstaywithmeandmustneverappear
beforemeagain."
Soshewentintotheshipwithtwofemaleservants,andtherewasalong,longseajourneyduringwhichtheycouldn'tseeanybodyatallontheseaoranislandoranything.Then
onenighttherewasaterrificmistfollowedbyastormthatshooktheship,andinthemorning,whenthemistandthestormhaddisappeared,theempresswokeupandsawfar
awayabigpalacestandingonthesea.Thetwoservantscameupandtheyalllookedatitwithamazement,andastheyhadnotmuchmoretoeat,theystoppedatthepalace.She
senttheservantstogothere,andwhentheycamebacksheasked,"Wholivesthere?"TheysaidsomeonehadtoldthemtheMotherofGodlivedthere,andwhentheyheardthat,
theydidn'tdaretogoin.
Sotheempresspushedthemasideandwentinherself.Inthecourtyardshesawabeautifulappletreewithgoldenapplesandshehadasuddendesiretoeatone.Shesaidtothe
servants,"IfIdon'thaveoneofthoseapples,I'lldie."Theservantstriedtogetclosetothetreebuttheycouldn't.
2
MDW,ZigeunerMrchen,No.41(DsseldorfKln:EugenDiederichsVerlag,1962).[MDWrefersthroughouttoDieMrchenderWeltliteratur(FairyTalesofWorld
Literature)]

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Theempressbecameveryill,soagaintheservantswenttotheappletreeandthistimetheysucceededinstealinganapplewhichtheybroughttoherasquicklyastheycould.
Theempressatetheapple,vomited,andsuddenlyshefeltasifshewerealreadysixmonths'pregnant.Shewasincrediblyhappy.Shesaid,"Let'sgohomeatonce,fornowmy
desirehasbeenfulfilled."
ButtheMotherofGodgotupatthatmomentandnoticedthatthemostbeautifulappleonhertreewasmissing."Whohasstolenit?"sheasked.Thenshespokeacurse:"Ifagirl
isbornfromthisapple,sheshallbeasbeautifulasthesun.Onewillbeabletolookinthesunwithoutbeingblindedbutonewillnotbeabletolookather.Butinherseventeenth
yearsheshallbecomeacat.Godmadeherdothat.Andwithallthoseinherpalacesheshallbecurseduntilanemperor'ssoncomesandcutstheheadoffthecat.Thentheywill
allbecomehumanagain.Butuntilthen,shemustremainacat."
Whentheempressarrivedhomepregnant,herhusbandwasabsolutelydelighted.Whenthetimecame,shegavebirthtoabeautifullittlegirlandeverybodywasoverjoyed.She
grewuplikeanordinaryhumanbeingbutonthedayshewasseventeenyearsold,atthetableatmidday,shesuddenlyturnedintoacatanddisappearedwithallherservants.
Now,inafarawaycountrytherewasanemperorwiththreesons.Hiswifehaddiedandhehadbeguntodrink.Ashewantedtogetridofhischildren,hecalledallthreesonsto
himandsaid,"Iwillgiveyousomeorders.Whoeveriscapableshouldbringmelinenmaterialthatissothinonecanblowthroughitandpullitthroughaneedle.Everyoneofyou
shallbringmesomethingandmakemeapresentandthenIshallseewhoisthebiggesthero."Theysaid,"Yes,father,"andwenttoabigcastleintheforestwheretheyfeasted
andweretogetherforthelasttime.Threetimesinthreenightstheydrankandate.Thentheyseparatedandeachchosethewayhewantedtogo,promisingtomeetagainina
year.
Theeldestchoseawaywherehewouldsufferhungerbuthishorsewouldhavefood.Theonlythinghemetwasabeautifullittledog.Hewasawayfortwomonths.
Thesecondbrotherwentonawaywherehehadsomethingtoeatbuthishorsehadnothing.Hefoundalittlebitofcoarselinenthatonecouldpullthroughtheopeningofabig
needleifoneabsolutelywantedtodoit.Onehadtopullveryhardtogetitthrough.

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Theyoungestbrothertraveledthroughadarkforest,andsuddenlytherecamesuchaheavyrainthathecouldn'tseeanything.Hewasdesperate.Forthreedaysandthreenights
itrainedwithoutceasingandwascompletelydark.Onthemorningofthethirddaytherewaslightning,andinthelightofthelightninghesawapalacebeforehim.Hesaid,"Iwill
gostraighttothatpalace.Ican'tgoonanymore,whateverhappens."Butthedoorwasclosedandarounditwasahighwallgoingrightuptoheaven."I'mdyingfromhunger,"he
saidinhisloneliness,butnobodyheardhim.Suddenlyatthedoorhesawapieceofmeathangingandthought,"I'llgetthatpieceofmeat.Iamsohungry.I'veeatennothing."
Butinrealitythatpieceofmeatwasnotmeatbutwasmadeofpreciousstonesandonlyhadtheformofmeat.Heclimbedupthewalltogetit,andwhenhetouchedthisbitof
meatwithhisfoothecouldn'tgetawayfromit.
Suddenlyheheardabellringandlethimselffalldowninhisterror.Whenhefell,thedooropenedbuthesawnobody,onlyahandthatopenedthedoor.Sohewentinandsaid,
"Well,Iwillgoinwhateverwillhappen."Helookedaroundandsawnotasinglehumanbeing.Inoneroom,finally,hesawatablewithacandleandabed,andsaid,"Ohwell,I'll
gointhereandrestbecauseIamwetfromtherain."Then,assoonashewantedtositdownonthebed,tenhandsappearedbutwithnohumanbeingsattachedtothem.They
beattheheroandpulledalltheclothesfromhisbody,buthesawnobody.Inhisdespairhesaid,"OhGod,whoisbeatingmelikethis?"Theyonlystoppedbeatinghimwhenhe
wascompletelynaked.Thenhesuddenlysawfoodonthetableandbeautifulclothestoputon,sohebegantoeatandputonthoseclothes.
Nowhefeltbetteragainandontheseconddayhewenttoanotherroom.Hewantedtoseewhatwouldhappenandeverythinghappenedasbefore.Againthosehandspulledthe
clothesfromhisbodyandbeathimandthenhegotsomefood.Thethirddaytheempressorderedhermencatstoleadtheyoungherointothebigroomwhereeverythingwas
madeofpuregold,andtheybroughthimclothesofpuregold.Whenhewentin,onehundredcatssangandmademusic.Theyputtheheroontoathroneofpuregoldandhe
thought,"Idon'treallyknowwhoruleshere,"butthenhediscoveredabeautifullittlecatlyinginagoldenbasket.
Theempressofthecatspleasedtheyoungmanuntilonceatmidnight,afterafestival,shegotupfromherbasketandsaid,"FromnowonIamnolongertherulerofthispalace.
Thisyoungmanisyourmaster."Andall

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thecatsgreetedhimastheirruler.Theempressofthecatstooktheherobythehandandembracedhim,saying,"Mydearhero,whyhaveyoucomehere?"Andhesaid,"My
dearcat,Godleadspeopleondifferentwaysandmyfatherhassentmetofindsomelinenwhichshouldbesothinthatonecouldblowthroughitandputitthroughaneedle,and
Ihavecometofindthat."
Histwoolderbrotherswerealreadyhomeagain.Theyhadwaitedfortheirbrotherbutwhentheysawhewasn'tcoming,theywenthome.Theeldestbroughtthelittledogwith
himandthatpleasedthefatherverymuch.Themiddlebrotherbroughthisbitofcoarselinenthatwentthroughabigneedle.Andthefatherasked,"Whereistheyoungestone?"
Andthemiddlebrothersays,"Father,Ihaven'tseenhimsinceweseparatedfromeachother.He'llprobablynotcomeback."Sotheyallthoughthehaddiedandtheycriedand
wereverysorry.
Nowafterawhile,thecatsaidonedaytothehero,"Mydear,don'tyouwanttogohome?Theyearisoverwhenyouweretomeetagain."Hereplied,"No,no,Idon'twanttogo
home.WhatshouldIdoathome?I'mhappyhere.I'llstayhereuntilmyend.""No,youmaynot,"shesaid.''Ifyouwanttostayhere,youmustfirstgobackhomeandyoumust
bringyourfatherwhatyoupromised."Hesaid,"ButhowcanIfindsuchthinlinenwithfinethreads?"Shereplied,''Oh,that'snoproblem."Theheroasked,"Tellme,mydearcat,
isittruethatthreedayswithyouareasmuchasayear?""Yes.Evenmore.Sinceyouleftwhereyoucamefrom,nineyearshavepassed."Theyoungherocouldn'tbelieveitand
said,"Howcanoneyearbenineyears?AndthenhowcanIgoback?Itwilltakemenineyearstogobacktomyfather."Thecatsaid,"Givemethatwhiphangingonthewall.The
firewhip."Shemadeasoundwiththewhipinthreedirectionsandalightningcarcame.[It'snotexplainedwhatalightningcaris.It'sjustacarriagealightningcarriage.And
laterit'scalledafirecarriage.]
Theywentintothelightningcarriageandsheagainmadeasoundwithherwhipandthecarriagewentdownandthenshesaid,"Now,areyouready?Youcangohome."Then
theywerealreadyattheplace,nowshesaid,"Takethisnutwithyou,butdon'topenittillyourfatherasksyoutogivehimthelinen."
Whenthefierycarriagecamedownfromthesky,hisbrothersandfatherwerequiteterrified.Thefathersaid,"Haveyoubroughtmesome

Page19
thing,son?Haveyoubroughtthelinen?"andhesaid,"Yes,father."Withthosewordshebrokethenut,andinthenuthefoundacornofmaize.Hebrokethatopenandfounda
cornofwheat.Thenhegotangryandthought,"Thedamncathascheatedme,"andsaid,"Tothedevilwiththecat.Shehascheatedme.''Butassoonashesaidthat,hefelt
invisibleclawsscratchinghishandsandtheywerecoveredwithblood.Soheopenedthecornofwheatandhefoundinittheseedofaweedwhichgrowsalongthepath.When
heopenedthatseed,hegotoutofitonehundredmetersofthin,finelinen,andgavethattohisfatherwhosaid,"Myson,youmusthavethecrownbecauseyouhavefoundthe
mostbeautifullinen."Theherosaid,''Nofather,Iamrichenough.IalreadyhaveanempirewhereIcanliveandIwanttogobackthere."Butthefathersaid"No,youcan'tgoback
there.FirsteachofyoumustfindawifebecauseImustcontrolwhomyoumarry.Afterthat,wewilldecide.""Allright,"saidthebrothers,andtheywent.
Theyoungestbrothergotintothefirecarriagewiththecatandtheywentback.Whentheyarrived,thecatasked,"Now,whathaveyoudone?"andhetoldhereverything.But
nowhedidn'tknowhowtofindawife.Thecatlistenedverycarefullyandsaidnotaword.Thenhelivedwithheranothermonthuntilonedayshesaid,"Don'tyouwanttogo
home?""Oh,Idon'twanttogohome.Ihavenoreason."
Intimetheybegantobeinlovewitheachother.Thentheyoungherosaidonedaytothecat,"Whyareyouacat?"Andshesaid,"Don'taskmeyet.Askmesomeothertime.I
hatetoliveintheworld.Let'sgotogethertoyourfather."Againshetookherwhipandmadeasoundwiththewhipinallthreedirectionsandthefierycarriagecame,sothey
arrivedathishomeinit.
Whenthefathersawthem,hesaid,"Haveyounowife?Youarenotmarried?Whereisyourwife?"Theyoungheroshowedthecatandsaid,"Heresheis.Thiscathere."Andthe
catsatinitsgoldenbasket."OhLord,whatdoyouwantwithacat?Youcan'teventalkwithher."Thecatbecameveryangry.Shejumpedoutofthebasketandwentintoanother
room.Thereshedidasomersaultandchangedintoabeautifulgirl.
Whenshecameback,theyoungherowenttowardherandembracedher.Hisfatherandbrotherswereabsolutelypetrified.Thefatherwassodelightedwiththebeautifulgirlthat
hesaid,"Trulyyouhavethemostbeautifulwife.Youmustbecomemysuccessorandhavemywholeem

Page20
pire."Butthegirlcouldn'tstaylonginherhumanstate.Theherosaidtothefather,"No,father.Thatwon'tdo.Ialreadyhaveanempireandacrown.Sogiveittomyoldest
brother."Andwhilehesaidthat,thecatmadeanothersomersault,becameacatagainandlayinhergoldenbasket.
Sotheemperorgavethecrowntotheeldestson.Theyoungheroleftwiththecat,buthewasangrywithherbecauseshewasstillacat.Shesaid,"Mydear,Iwillexplaintoyou
laterwhyIhavetobeacat.There'sacurseonme."Thenagaintheylivedintheircatempireasbefore.
OnedaythecatsharpenedthreeTurkishsabers[atypeofswordcalledaYatagan].Whentheherocamehomefromhunting,theytalkedalittleandthecatpretendedtobesick.
"Mydear,what'sthematterwithyou?"heasked."Oh,I'mverysick.Ifyoulovemeandwanttodosomethinggoodforme,thencutoffmytail.It'stoobigandtooheavy.Ican't
carryitanymore."Theyoungherowasdesperateandsaid,''No,youmustn'tdie,Iwouldratherdiemyself.Ihaveacream,Iwillhealyouwiththat."Butassheinsistedmoreand
morethatheshouldcutoffhertail,hefinallydidit.Whathappenedtoher?Shechangedintoagirl.Butonlyhalf.Tothehipsshewasagirlandtheotherhalfwasstillacat.
Whentheherosawthishewasdelighted,butthecatdidn'tstop.Shesaid,"Ihatelife.Idon'twanttogoonliving.Pleasecutmyheadoff.Youcanhavemywholeempire.""How
canyouaskmetocutyourheadoff?""Ifyoulovemeandwanttodosomethinggoodforme,thencutmyheadoff."Finallyhecouldn'tresist,sohetookoneoftheYatagansand
cutherheadoff.Inthatmomentshebecametotallyabeautifulgirl,allthecatswhowereinthepalacebecamehumanbeingsandthewholetownwasredeemedasshewasand
everybodywasdelighted.Theyembracedeachotheringreathappinessandthenshesaid,"Fromnowonyouaremyhusband.IwascursedbytheMotherofGoduntilan
emperor'ssonwouldcutoffmyhead.Nowlet'sgotoyourfather,butbecarefulofyourbrothers.Theywanttokillyou."
Sotheywentbacktohisfatherwhodidn'tknowhowtoshowhisdelight.Buthefellinlovewiththewifeofhisson,thecatlady,sohetriedtokillhisownsontogettheyoung
girl.Oncehesaidtohim,"Gohunting.Iwantsomegame."Whenthebeautifulwifewasalone,hewenttoherroom,butonthewaytherewassuddenlyacatinhispath.Thenhe
toldhisdaughterinlawthatsheshouldlovehim,butshehithiminthefaceandsaid,"Whatdoyouwant,youoldhorror!"

Page21
Whenherhusbandcamehome,shetoldhimwhathisfatherhaddone."Wemustleavehereatonce.Let'sgohome."Thesonpretendedtobefriendlytohisfatherandnotto
haveheardanything."It'sniceofyoutotalktomywife,"hesaid.Butthefatherwantedtoforcehimandsaid,"Ifyoudon'tletmehaveyourwife,I'llhangyou.""IfIshoulddie
thisevening,''thesonanswered,"youmustknowmywifewillneverletmedie.''Sothefatherorderedthatheshouldbeimprisonedwithhiswife.Whenthetwoheardthat,they
escaped,andtheherosaidtohisfather,"Youknow,father,youhaveonlytowaitashorttime,andmywifewillpunishyou."Whentheygotbacktotheirkingdomtheymustered
anenormousarmyanddeclaredwaronthefather.Whatcouldtheoldemperordo?Hehadtohaveabattlewiththeemperorofthecats.
Inthreedays,hehadhisownarmytherebutthesondestroyedthearmyofhisfather.Onlythefatherremainedalive.Whenhesawthathewaslostandhadnomorestrength,he
saidtohisson,"Pleasepardonme.Ihavedonenothingwronginmywholelife.Judgerightlyandyouwillrulemyempirewithjustice."
AndwhereIhavecomefrom,thatIhavetoldyou.
Let'slookfirstatthedanceofthearchetypes.Inoneplaceyouhaveanemperorandanempress,andtheyarebarrentheyhavenochildren.Andthensomewhere
elsewehaveanotheremperorandthreesons.Hiswifehasdiedandthat'swhyhebeginstodrink.Thentheyoungestson,attheend,marriesthecat.Wedon'thear
anymoreaboutthecat'sparents.Attheendthealcoholicemperorisdefeatedbytheheroandasksformercywhenhiswholearmyisovercome.Andwecanassume
thattheherosays"Gotohell"anddoesn'tkillhim.Theeldestsonbecomesanemperor.Thefateofthiswholecountryisaquestionmarkattheend.It'snotclear
whathappenstoit,whetheritisincorporatedintothecatempireorleftwiththeeldestsonwhowasdesignedtohavethecrown.Whatbecomesofthemiddlesonis
notknown.Thatwholesituationremainscompletelyunsatisfactory.So,attheendwehaveonlytheherowiththecatinherpalace.Theconiunctioisthemainfinal
motif.
Ifyouhavehadsomeexperiencewithfairytales,youknowthatdifferentcountriessometimeshaveaverydefinitefate.Oneisbarrenandisrenewedoroneisall
feminineandanotheronlymasculineandtheyare

Page22
united,orsomethingofthekind,sothatonecangenerallymakeoutwhatthesecountriesmeanandwhattheirfateis.Thisisanatypicalfairytaleinthatitisnotclear
whatwillhappenwiththesecountries.Thereisakindofblissfultwoness,happinessinthecatempireintheend.Acompletelynewempire.Theothersseemtofade
outofthepicture.
Wefirsthavetodiscusswhatanemperorandanempressare,andalsowhatthesetwoempiresmean,whattheyhavetodo,andwhat'sthemattertherewhythere
isthisstrangemechanism.
UntiltheendoftheFirstWorldWarRomaniabelongedtotheHabsburgEmpire,theAustroHungarianEmpire.InRomanianfairytales,thereisalwaysanemperor,
neveraking.Theirconceptofakingisanemperorsotheyalwayscallakingtheemperor.Butwecansimplyreplaceitbytheusualfairytaleking.It'sonlyfromthis
Romanianspecialtythatit'sanemperor.Andwehavetwoempiresonewherethefeminineisbarrenandtheotherwherethefemininehasdiedaway.
Nowwehavetogointothesymbolismofthekingoremperor.Junggivesasummaryofthemeaningoftheking,especiallyinEgyptandwithitthekinginalchemy.
3

Butthatisonlyinspecialrealmswherethesamemeaningcomesthrougheverywhere.Ifyouwanttolookfirstatmoresimpleandprimitivematerial,readJ.G.Frazer's
TheGoldenBough.
4
Thereyouwillfindanendlesscollectionofstoriesoftheholy,sacredroleofthechiefinprimitivetribes,themagicmeaningoftheking.Incertain
tribeshemaynottouchtheground.Heisalwayscarriedaboutsoasnottodefilehimselfbytouchingtheground.Inothers,whenhehaseaten,everythingis
destroyed.Theplateshehaseatenfromaredestroyedsothattheyarenotmadeprofanebybeingusedbyotherpeople.Ortheyhavespecialfood,specialclothesor
havetoobservespecifictaboosandsoon.
Thewellbeingandpsychologicalfunctioningofthechief,aswellashisphysiologicalfunctioning(forinstance,hispotencyisveryimportant
3
MysteriumConiunctionis,CW14,chapterIV.[CWrefersthroughouttoTheCollectedWorksofC.G.Jung(BollingenSeriesXX).20vols.Trans.R.F.C.Hull.Ed.H.Read,M.
Fordham,G.Adler,Wm.McGuire.Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,19531979]
4
NewYork:St.Martin'sPress,1966.

Page23
inmanytribes),guaranteethewellbeingofthetribe.Andthereforeanybreakingofthetaboos,orillnessormisbehaviorofthechief,isanillomenforthewholetribe.
Heistheoneindividualinthetribe,itslifecenter.Incertaintribes,whenhefallsillheiseliminated,generallysacrificedandreplacedbyanother.Inothersitissimplya
termafterayear,orfiveyearsorten,heissacrificed.Thesechiefsknowwhentheybecomechiefthattheywillbekilled,sometimesinaverycruelmanner,walled
intoahutandstarvedtodeathorsacrificedinsomeway.
TheideaisobviouslythatthechiefrepresentswhatwewouldpsychologicallycalltheSelf,thelifecenterornucleusofthecollectivepsyche.Heisasymbolofthe
Self.ThatremainedsowiththekinginEgypt,andyoucanalsofindbeautifulmaterialinNeedham
5
orinMarcelGranet
6
wheretheemperorinChinahadthissame
role,onlythereitwasmuchmorespiritualized.Itwasnotsomuchhispotencyorphysicalwellbeingthatdecidedthefateoftheempire,buthisbeinginTao.Ifthe
emperorwasoutofhimself,orifhedidsomethingwrong,losthisinnerbalance,thentheoldChinesebelievedthatthewholeChineseEmpirewasindisorder.When
thereweredroughtsorcatastrophesortheYangtzeRiverfloodedorsomethinglikethat,theemperoralwayshadtodosomesoulsearchingtofindoutwherehewas
wrong,andhethenhadtofastanddopenitencetoputtheempirerightagain.
WhatisstrikinginthisChinesevariationisthatitiscompletelypsychological.It'snotthephysicalwellbeingoftheemperororwhathedoes.Physically,hehadno
duties.TheemperorinChinawasnotsupposedtogovern,togiveordersordoanything.Hehadtospeakalittleandtokeepalltherulesbuttospeakaslittleas
possibleandmainlyattendtohisowninnerbalance.Inthatwayhewasmuchmoreapriestking,orapriestemperor,becausehisbeingincontactwiththeTaowas
theessentialfactorthatguaranteedthewellbeingofChina.ThereyouseeclearlythatherepresentstheSelf.
Now,allovertheworldyoufindthismotif,thatthekingemperorhas
5
JosephNeedham,ScienceandCivilizationinChina(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress,1954).
6
MarcelGranet,LaPenseChinoise(Paris:AlbinMichel,1968).

Page24
tobesacrificedorexiledafterawhile.InlaterEgyptitwashumanized.Theking,whorepresentedthesungod,wasnolongersacrificed,buthewentthroughtheSed
festivaleveryfiveyears,afestivalinwhichhewassymbolicallysacrificedandrenewed.Intheliturgyitwassaid,"Youarenewagain,youarerenewed,youareagain
theyoungking,"andsoon.Soitwastransformedintoapsychologicaldeathandrebirthritualinsteadoftheactualkillingoftheking.Butthefeaturethateitherhehas
tobeactuallykilledordeposedorgothrougharenewal,thisyoufindallovertheworld,inthemostprimitivedocumentsaswellasinsuchcomplexcivilizationsas
ChinaorEgypt.
Thatshows,asJungexplained,thatsymbolsoftheSelf,collectivesymbolsoftheSelf,wearout.Religions,convictions,truths,theyallage.Everythingthathasbeen
talkedabouttoomuchandwhichhasforawhileruledhumansocietyisdeficientinthesensethatitages.Itbecomesmechanical,toowellknown,apossessionof
consciousness.Peoplefeelthatbyknowingaboutittheyhaveit.Andthisaffectsthehighestvaluesmostbecausesmallerthingsdovaryafterawhileanditdoesn't
matter.Butifthehighestvalueswearout,iftheylosetheirshatteringnuminousquality,thennaturallythereisagreatdanger.Andthat'swhy,forinstance,keeping
taboosdegeneratesintosimplykeepingformalitieswithoutseeinganymeaninginthem.Oneisnolongermovedbythemythwhichisbehindeverytaboo."Oh,that
damnoldstoryagain,I'veheardittwentytimes.Sowhat!"Thatagaincomesfromthisnegativequalityofhumanconsciousnessinthatitbecomesblasitbecomes
theowneroftruth,andifyoucanownatruth,ifthetruthdoesnotownyoubutyouownthetruth,thenthesituationisthewrongwayround.Thatispartlyadeficiency
ofhumanconsciousnessandanotherpartisnaturallythathumansituationschange.Thatistheinnerreasonfortherenewalofthekingdom,oftheneedfortherenewal
ofthekingship.
Generally,therearealsoouterreasons.Thelivesofpeopleortherequirementswhichatribeorawholeempirehastomeetchangetherearemodernizations,outside
influencesfromotherangles.Now,forinstance,theWesternworldisenormouslyinfluencedbyEasternspirituality.TheEast,ontheotherhand,isinfluencedbyour
Westernindustrialgoals,andinsuchmomentsthereisaneedforreadaptation.Youcannotgoon

Page25
intheoldways.Yourwholeuniversehaschangedandwithityouhavetoanswerwithanewtruth.Soouterreasonsalsocontributetothefactthatkingdomsand
rulersage,andwiththatwhattheystandfor,namelyareligioustruth,whichpresupposesalsoacertainpoliticaloutlook,acertainjudicialoutlook,certainsocial
customsandprejudices.Everygreatcivilizationisablockunitedbyonespirit,andthatonespiritistheking.Thatfallsapartandthereyouhavethereasonforthe
severalkingdomsinmanyfairytales.
Herewehavetwokingdoms,thecatdaughterkingdomandthedrunkenfatherkingdom.InGrimm's"TheGoldenBird,"
7
thereareevenfourkingdomsthehero
goesfromonekingdomtotheotherandunitesthemallintheend.So,firstofallwehavetoaskwhatthosemanykingdomsare?Thathappensonlyifsomethingis
wronginakingdom.Inonekingdomthereareonlydaugthersandinanotheronlysonsthat'sthemostcommonfactorandtheymustmarrybecausebothare
incomplete.Ingeneral,onekingdomhasattributescompensatorytothoseintheother.Butthatalreadysketchesasituationwhereacivilizationisnolongerunited,
wheretherulingprinciple,whichJungcalls"thedominantofcollectiveconsciousness,"hasfallenintocompartments.
Forinstance,fortwothousandyearsinWesternculturethedominantofcollectiveconsciousnesshasbeenthefigureofChrist.Mostoftherulersofthisculturehave
beenrepresentativesofChristiancivilization.TheyhadtoseethatintheirempireorkingdomtheChristianruleswerekept.Theystoodforthat,sotospeak.(Wehad
unfortunatelyinEuropeintheMiddleAgesthisbattlebetweenPopeandkingswhichwasSacerdotiumversusImperiumthathasneverbeenquitedecidedwhois
ontopandwhoinstallskingsordoesn'tbutthat'saspecialsituation.)
Nowadays,withtheChristiankingdomcertainlyinverybadshape,badlyinneedofsacrificeandrenewal,youcanseethatitisfallingapart,intocompartments,inthe
sensethatcertainareasoflifearenolongerruledbyanyreligiousspirit.Theyarelookedataspurelytechnical.Forinstance,ourlawsarestillmostlybasedon
Christianideasbuteventhatisnowchanging.PeoplewanttoreplacecertainChristianprinciplesby
7
TheCompleteGrimm'sFairyTales(NewYork:PantheonBooks,1944),p.272.

Page26
ideasofjusticewhicharenotbasedonChristianideasofjusticebutonamoremodern,enlightenedideaofjustice.Educationhasnearlycompletelyslippedoutofthe
Christiangrip.Forinstance,inourstateschoolsyouarenolongertaughttheChristianreligion.Onlyinprivateschoolsdotheystillhaveprayersatthebeginningofthe
morningandsuchthings.Inthestateschools,therearechildrenfromdifferentreligionsandbackgrounds,soyoucan'thavethatanymore.
Thereyouseehowcertainareasofcollectivelifearenolongerinthatempire.Thesearelittleempiresthatbuildwithinthelargerone.Therearesubempires
everywhere.ThatisadangeroussituationwhichalwaysmeanssomethingiswrongwiththemainsymboloftheSelf.Somethingiswrongwiththecentralreligiousideas
ofthiscivilizationbecausetheynolongerhavethepowertokeepthewholethingunified.AsymboloftheSelfalsomeansoneness.Andtheideaofakingoran
emperorisalwaystounite.YoustillhavethatabitintheUnitedKingdomwherethemembersoftheCommonwealthareindependentbutthekingandthequeen,as
symbols,stillholdthemtogether.That'stheonenessitkeepstheCommonwealthtogethersymbolicallyalthoughtheindividualcountriesareindependent.Theywould
neversubmittotheEnglishparliament,butthekingandthequeenaresymbols,andtoasymbolpeoplesubmit.That'stheimportanceofasymbol:itstandsfor
somethingmorethanjustpoliticalrightsandconsiderations.ItstandsforanarchetypalideaoftheSelf,ofoneness.Andthemostamusingthingisthatwhenyou
analyzetheSwiss,theyconstantlyhavedreamsabouttheEnglishqueen.Theunconsciouslongssodesperatelyforasymbolthatitborrowsaqueenfromanother
country.Thatshowsthepowerofasymbol.
So,thesetwoempiresinourstoryshowthatthereisacompartmentalizationofcollectivelife.Wemustnowlookattheirdifferentcharacteristics.Onehasnochildren
andtheotherhasnowife.Letusgofirsttotheonethathasnochildren.
Beforeaherochildisbornyouoftenhaveaperiodofbarrennessorsomedifficultyingettingchildren.Youhavethisbeginninginfairytalesahundredtimes.For
instance,inanAustriantale,"TheBlackPrincess,"
8
8
MDW,DeutscheMrchenausdemDonaulande(Jena:EugenDiederichs,1926),p.
(footnotecontinuedonthenextpage)

Page27
akingandqueenhavenochildrenandthequeengoesoverabridgeandpraystothestatueofChrist.Thatdoesn'thelp,soshethinks,"Ohwell,"andshepraystothe
statueofthedevilinsteadandthenshepromptlybecomespregnant.Butlaterthereisacurseonthechild.It'saparalleltoourstorybecausealsowhentheprincessis
sixteen,shesuddenlysays,"Fatherandmother,Ihavespokenuntilnow,butIwillneverspeakagain.Burymeinacathedralinacoffin,"andthenshebecomesa
blackdemoninthechurch.Theyhavemenstandingguardbythecoffinandshetearsintothem,beatsthemeverynight,untilaherocomesandredeemsherfromthat
awfulstate.Theretooyouhavethethemethattheparentshavenochildrenforalongtime.Andthedevilisthegodfatherofthatblackprincess.
ThereisalsoaNorwegianfairytaleaboutaqueenwhocan'thavechildren.
9
Awiseoldwomantellshertowashandthentopourthedirtywashwaterunderthebed,
wheretwoflowerswillgrow,adarkandalightone.Sheshouldeatonlythelightone.Butthequeenisgreedyandeatsboth,andthennaturallyshehastwochildren
insteadofone,alightchildandadarkone.Andsoitgoes.
Thus,thesentenceinafairytalesayingthequeencan'thaveanychildrenalwaysleadsuptothespecialherochild.Nowwhatwouldthatmeanpsychologically?Why
istheresuchalongbarrennessbeforetheherochildisborn?
Generally,firstthereisthisperiodofdepression,ofemptiness,ofnothinggoingon,andthelongerthislasts,themoreyoucanreckonthatanenormousamountof
energyaccumulatesintheunconscious.Forsomethingimportanttocomeup,youneedthisperiodofnothinghappening,sotospeak,inconsciousness.Inoticethisfor
instancewhenIwriteanarticle.IfIjustthink,"Oh,that'sinteresting,"andgoandwriteit,thenitissuperficialblather.ButwhenIfirstfallintoadepressionandcan't
doanythingforalongtime,thelongerthatlasts,themoresomethingwillcomeoutthatisabitbetter.SoIevendistrustwhatIwrite
(footnotecontinuedfromthepreviouspage)
150.
9
MDW,NorwegischeVolksmrchen,No.32,"Zottelhaube"(DsseldorfKln:EugenDiederichsVerlag,1967).

Page28
whenIdon'thaveadepressionbefore.Iknowthatit'sjustcheapstuff,nottrulyfromthebelly,sotospeakforsomethinggoodyoufirsthavetogodownforalong
period.Thiscaneithertaketheformofadepressionorjustthatnothinghappens.Lifegoesononeeatsone'sbreakfast,doesone'swork,hasnointerestingdreams
andit'sjustutterboredom.Barrenness.Nothingisgoingon.
OnceIhadsuchaperiodandbecameveryimpatientandthought,"Well,thisistheend.I'mgettingsenile.I'mfinished,"andsoon.TheninadreamIsawacut
throughtheearthandabovestoodanexplanation,averyscientificexplanation,abouthowaspringcomesintolife.Therewasfirstgrass,thenearth,thenground,and
thensomesolidclay.Therewerebigdropsofrainfalling.Andthensomebodyexplainedtherainfall:itcomesthroughhere,accumulatesthere,andthenafteratime,
suddenly,asourcewillgushoutasaspring.Thatwastheexplanationinthedream.Ithought,"Ohwell.NowIknowwhyIhavetowaitfortherain,"sotospeak.It
wasawonderfulexperience.Ihadgonetobedandsaidtotheunconscious,''Ihavenodreams,nothingishappening.Lifeisabore.Please,givemeadreamto
explainthesituation.''
AnothertimeIdreamtthatIwenttothemaintrainstationandtheretheywereshunting,andamanwitharedcapwasjustgoingunderandhookingtwowagons
together.Thenhecameout,grinnedatmeandsaid,"Italwaystakesalongtimetillanewcompositioncangooutofthestation."Yousee,theunconsciouscannotjust
produceoncommand.Thereisalongprocessgoingonintheunconscious,asifitiscollectingandbalancingitsforces.Ifyouthinkofthepsycheasaselfregulating
system,itseemsthattheenergiesmustallbeintherightplacebeforesomethingnewcanemerge.
Now,inourfairytaletheempressisunhappy.Shewantstogoforawalkbuttheemperorsaysno,sheshouldn'ttakeawalk,sheshouldtakeaship.Andthenhe
says,"Ifyoudon'tcomebackpregnant,youcan'tstaywithme."
Obviously,somethingisnotquiterightinthemarriage.Iwouldguesssheisbored,orelsewhydoesn'tshestaywithhim?He'snottoohappywithhereither,sincehe
sayshewon'ttakeherbackifshedoesn'tbecomepregnant.Sothereisthisallusionthatthemaritalsituationbetween

Page29
emperorandempress,themaleandthefemaleprincipleinthisstory,thoughnotinabattle,arenotinharmonyeither.Thatalsohastodowiththebarrenness.There's
akindoftruceprobablythey'repolitetoeachotherbutthere'snorealerosbetweenthetwo.Thataddstothebarrenness.Andthenshewantstowalk,whichis
unusualinsuchtales.Generallyshejustsitsinherpalaceandwaitsforafrogoranoldwisewomanorsomethingtocomeandgivehergoodadvice.Itisanunusualor
abnormalmotif,thatshewantstoroamandleavethepalace.Soonehastoaskwhatiswrongwiththefeminineprinciple.Well,itseemstheempressfeelsconfined,
whichwouldmeanthatinthiskingdomthefeminineprinciplecannotmovearoundintherightway,andthereforeitbecomesrestless.Shewantstotakeacarriage,but
theemperorsays,"No,Iwillbuildyouaship."
Nowwewillgototheinitialsituationintheotherkingdom,namelythatthereisanemperorwiththreesonswhohaslosthiswifeandtakentodrink.Whatiswrongin
thatcompartment?WecanassumethatthesearecompartmentsofChristiancivilizationinRomaniabutwedon'tknowthedate.Ithinkit'snotaveryoldstory,
perhapsthefourteenthorfifteenthcentury,somethinglikethat.Thefemininehasdiedinthesecondempire.Sowemustconsiderhowacivilizationlookswhenthe
femininehasdied.
Ifonevisitsplaceswheretherearepuremalesocieties,freemasonsorthearmy,onecanseehowtheworldlookswhenmenareonlyamongthemselves.Inboys'
schools,forexample,thereisacertaintendencytowardahierarchy.Itisveryoftenpurelyintellectual.Inarmiesit'snotsomuchintellectualbutveryobjective.There
arenosubjectiveconsiderationstherulesmustbekeptaccordingtotherules.Theyareneverrelatedtotheperson,andthemenpridethemselvesonthis.Women
tendtobemoresubjectiveiftheylikeamantheylethimthroughtherules,butiftheydon't,therulesarefirm.Justbecauseyouhavesuchaniceface,therulesdon't
applytoyou.Awoman'sworldisusuallyflexible,whileaman'sworldismorerigid.
Khomeiniwasagoodexampleofwantingtorestoreapurelymaleworld.Thereyouseewhatcanhappen.Butbothhavetheiradvantages.Thinkofwhatit'slike
whenwomenaregroupedtogetherwithoutmen.

Page30
Agirls'school,anunnery,ahospitalfulloffemalenurses,orhereinSwitzerlandwehadagirls'schoolcalled"TheApeBox."Insteadofahierarchyandaggressive
fighting,youhaveamaliciousplayingoftricks,whisperingagainsteachother,playingspidertricksoneachother,exchanginglovelettersandgiggling.Naturallythe
powerthinggoeson,butit'splayedwithaweaponofpoison,notwithbrutalityoraggression.It'sdonewithneedlingandlittlejealousiesandsoon.Positively,thereis
acertainrealism.Forinstance,ifyoulookatamaledoctors'societytalkingaboutapatientandafemalenursegrouptalkingaboutapatient,thedoctorgroupislikely
tosay,"That'saninterestingcancer.I'veneverseensuchathingbefore."Andthenurseswillsay,"Idon'tlikethatman,butIthinkheisunhappyathome.Isawhis
wifevisitinghimandIdidn'tfeelthey....''So,thewomenareinterestedinmakingadiagnosisonthepersonallevel,whichisjustasjustified,andthementendto
makeitontheobjectivelevel.Toomuchofoneortoomuchoftheotheris,tomymind,detrimental.Theyaretwocomplementaryworldswhicharemeanttobelong
together.
Now,inourempirethefemininehasdiedawaysowecansaytheremustbetoomuchmasculinityofsomekind.Andherethereisaspecialhint,namelythatthe
emperortooktodrinkwhenhelosthiswife.I'veneverfoundakingwhodrinks.It'sauniquestory.
Alcoholismisafamousabandonmentsyndrome.Manycasesofalcoholismareduetoeitherimaginedorrealabandonment.Everyalcoholicwilltalkaboutfeeling
unloved,alone,andsoon,butsometimesit'snottrue.Sometimestherearepeoplewhocareforthembuttheystillfeelthatway.Othersreallyareabandonedand
drinkforthatreason.Abandonmentisanelementthatalwayscomeswithalcoholism,soyouhavetolookforit.ThatiswhyAlcoholicsAnonymousissosuccessful.
Theintensepersonalcareisabsolutelynecessarytogetoverthisabandonmentsyndrome.Toensurethepersonreallyfeelscaredfor,somebodymustcaredaily,soto
speak.Otherwiseonecan'tpullpeopleoutofit.
Iwouldsaythatlargelyitisaloveproblem,apartnerproblem,anerosproblem.Withwomenalcoholicsitisgenerallyamanproblem.Inmenitnaturallytakesthe
formofananimaproblem,theirerosproblem,awomanproblem.Somethingdoesn'tfunctionwiththeiranimathey

Page31
don'thavetherightcontactwithher.Andviceversaforwomen,contactwiththeanimusispoor.Thewaytotheunconsciousisblocked.Sothereisalongingforan
ecstaticreligiousexperience.Andthatleadstoalcoholismorotherdrugs.Addictioningeneral,youcansay,isalongingforanecstaticreligiousstatebecauselifeis
dreary,meaninglessandboring.One'sworkhasnomeaning,orthehomelifeiscoldandunsympathetic.Thenthereisthislongingforanecstaticstate.Thedrynessis
notalwaysinoutercircumstances.Sometimesthedrynessisalsointheindividual.Ihaveknowncaseswherethepersoncouldn'ttouchtheirownemotion.Itwas
blocked,sotospeak,imprisonedinarationalattitudeandcouldnotcomeout.Andinonecase,anormallyveryshywomandrankbecausethenshecouldbe
outgoing,andsheenjoyedit,beingemotionalandtalkingtopeople,soshedrankallthetimetobeabletodoso.Itwasameanstomakethebridgetothe
unconscious.
Soweseetheemperorisnotonlycutofffromthefeminine,butalsofromtheunconscious.Wecansaythatisadriedoutsituation,whichwouldmeanthatrulingin
thiscountryisoneareaofChristiancivilizationthathaslostitsinspiration,itsinspiredfeeling,andhasprobablyjustbecomeakindofroutineduty.Thusthereisa
compensatorylongingforanecstaticexperience.Intheotherempire,it'sjustplainnomoreloveandnofertilityandtherefore,inthefemininerealm,akindofrestless
roamingabouttofindasolution.
Allthemovementinthisstoryhappensthroughthefeminine.Theempressgoesoverthesea.Thenthecattakestheinitiative.Thecattellstheherotogohomeorback
again.Thecattellstheherohowtoredeemher.Thecatrulesthewholestory.So,alltheactionisinitiatedbythefeminine.Thestoryshowshowthefeminineprinciple
bringsupahealingcompensationbybecomingactive.Themenjustfollowtheordersofthewomen.Thatisclearlycompensatingatoopatriarchalconscioussituation.
Onemustunderstandthatsuchfairytalesemergetocompensatetherulingattitude.

Page32
TheBlackMadonnaofEinsiedeln,Switzerland
(Seebelow,pages4041)

Page33
3
TheJourneytotheVirginMary
Toreturntoourstory,atthebeginningtheemperorandtheempresshavenochildrenandthewifewantstoroamabout.Theemperorbuildsherashiptodoso,such
abeautifulshipthatthereisnothingelseonearthofthekind:"Onecouldratherlookintothesunwithoutbeingblindedthanlookatthisship."Whenitisfinished,he
says,"Tomorrowyoucanleave,butifyoudon'tcomebackpregnant,youcan'tstaywithmeandmustneverappearbeforemeagain."Andwiththatshipshegoes
overtheseaandcomestothepalaceoftheVirginMary.
Firstofall,theshipisafemininevessel,universallyreferredtoas"she."Theshipisveryoftenassociatedwiththemoonandmoongoddesses,andalsosometimeswith
thesun,forinstanceinEgypt,asthebargethatcarriesthesunacrossthesky.Itfacilitatescommunication,commerceandculturaldiffusion.Hereagainitseemstobe
feminineinthatitmakesconnectionsandbringspeopletogether.Theshipisasymbolbasedontheideaofahumanconstruction,foritisahumaninventiontogo
whereonenormallycannotgobyfoot,togooverthewater.Thatisthebasicfactandmiracleoftheship,sotospeak,whichisthenassociatedwithallthese
archetypalsymbols,thefeminineandthemoonandfertilityandthewomblikequalityoftheship.
So,Ithinkthereforethatthemeaningoftheshipasaninstitution,forinstanceastheBuddhistlaw,theDharma,ortorepresenttheChurchortheArkofSalvation,
Noah'sArkandsoon,isthebasic,mostimportantmeaning,becausethesealsoarehumanconstructions.Buttheyarenotconstructionsinourmoderntechnological
senseoftheword.Allthesearchaicinventionsofmanthecarriage,theship,implementsforagriculture,theplow,allthesefirstinventionsalwayshadamiraculous
meaningforman.Theirinventorsalwaysfelttheywerebasedonrevelation.Theydidn'tfeelasamoderninventorfeels:"I,withmycleverwits,haveinventedanew
machine."Theancientinventoralwaysfeltthatagodheadhadrevealedorhadprovidedsomethingmiraculous.Therefore

Page34
thesefirsttechnicalinventions,bridges,ships,carriages,alwayshadasacredmeaningfirst.Theywerebelievedtohavebeengiventomanbythegods.
AmostbeautifulstoryofinventionisfoundamongtheAustralianaborigineswhotellhowtheyfoundthebowandthearrow.TheysaytheRainbowMan,oneofthe
originalarchetypalbeingsoftheDreamTime,camedowntoearthandhiswifeembracedhim,hangingaroundhisneck.Thatwasthestring,andtheRainbowMan
togetherwiththeembraceofthewifewerethebowandthestring.Bycomingdownandshowingthemselvesinthatposition,theyenabledtheAustralianstoinventthe
bow.TheRainbowManandhiswifedisappearedintotheearthandfromthenonAustraliansusedthebowandarrow.
10
Thatisabeautifulillustrationofhowearly
manfeltaboutaninvention.Itwasalwaysmagic.Themeltingofiron,themakingofswords,wasalsosurroundedbyenormousmagicritualsandwasalwayslooked
onasasacred,divinething,amiracle.
11
Sotheshiphasthisqualityofbeingamiraculoushumaninvention,butonewhichstemsfromthegodsandactuallyisarevelationofaformofagoddess,whichman
hasthenimitatedwithhismind.Thereforeitstillcarriesthisnuminousquality.Theshipgoesoverthewatersoftheunconscious.Weknowthatwatergenerallyisa
symbolofthecollectiveunconscious,thereforetheshiphasalwayshadthemeaningofbeingsomethingthatkeepsyouafloatandmakesitpossibleforyounotto
drownintheunconscious.Anyphilosophy,religiousteachingorculturaltraditionissuchathing,likeashipthatprotectsus.Ifweweretogointotheunconscious
unprepared,wewoulddrown.
Jungianpsychologyisanothersuchship.Jungmadeashipbycreatingcertainhypothesestowhichonecanclingwhenonedoesn'tknowupfromdown.Whenoneis
indangerofdrowningintheunconscious,ofhavingahugeinflationorsomethingofthekind,fallingintoapossessionorbeingoverwhelmedbyanaffect,thensuch
psychologicalcon
10
InformationfromalecturegivenbyJohnLayard.
11
SeeMirceaEliade,TheForgeandtheCrucible,chapters1and2(trans.StephenCorbinChicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1978).

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ceptsasJung'scanhelp.Theanalystcantellyou,forinstance,"Nowyouhavefallenintoaninflation,"orbyusingdreaminterpretationwetrytokeepourselvesand
thepatientafloat.Allteachingsandtraditionshavesomevalueinpreventingonefromcompletedisorientation,whichisatypicaleffectwhenonetouchesthe
unconsciousonebecomesdisorientedandthat'sthedrowning.
Now,ourempressfirstwantedtogowithacarriage,whichisasimilarsymbol.Thecarriagealsohasafemininemeaningitisassociatedwiththesunandthemoon,
andtherearemanytraditionswherethesunandthemoonandthestarsgoincarriagesorboatsacrossthesky.InancientGreeceyouhavetheshipcarriage.The
ThospiscarriageinwhichDionysusrevealedhimselfinAthenswasaboat,aboatwithwheelsthatwasbroughtintothetown.Theinterestingthingisthattheempress
wantstogooverlandwithacarriage,buttheemperorsaysnoandhasaspecialboatbuiltforher.Wesaidearlierthattheempresswasstrangelyrestless.Generally,
whenawomanbecomespregnantshewantstostayput,butinsteadofthattheempresswantstoroam.Wehavesaidthatsheprobablyfeelsconfinedandhasto
searchforsomething.Onecansay,it'slikeanunconsciousdrivetogoonaquest.Actuallyshegoesonthenightseajourney.
12
Butshewantstogooverlandandthe
emperorsaysno,shemustgoinaship.Whatdoesthatmean?
Ifshegoesoverland,sheremainsonthefieldofconsciousness,forlandisgenerallywhatwecanstandupon,knownterritory.So,ifshewantstogoaroundthepark
inacarriage,itmeansshewantstoremainintheknownterritoryofconsciousness.Buttheemperorhasbetterintuition.Heknowsthatsomethingmoremusthappen,
thatsomethingfromtheunconscioushastocomein.Thisisastrangeideabecauseitismuchmoredangeroustosendhiswifeovertheseainaship.Buthewantsthe
biggerrisk.Heevensaysshemustcomebackpregnant!Wehavespokenaboutthatperhapshewantedtogetridofher.Attheveryleastitshows
12
[Jungwrites:"ThenightseajourneyisakindofdescensusadinferosadescentintoHadesandajourneytothelandofghostssomewherebeyondthisworld,beyond
consciousness,henceanimmersionintheunconscious."("ThePsychologyoftheTransference,"ThePracticeofPsychotherapy,CW16,par.455)SeealsoSymbolsof
Transformation,CW5,pars.308ff.Ed.]

Page36
anambivalentattitudetowardher.Buthecertainlyhastherightinsight,thatstrongermedicineisneeded,anightseajourney,somethingoftheunconscious.Theseais
fullofmonstersandgodsandleadstounknownmythicshores,unknownislandswheregodsordemonslive.Soheseemstohavehadahunch.Weneedanexcursion
intothatareaofreality,intothenuminous,theunknown,ifwewanttobecomefertile,toberenewed,becausethechildofthekingalwaysrepresentsthepossibilityof
renewal.
Beforewegofurtherintotheship,Iwanttolinkitupwiththenextsymbol,thepalaceoftheVirginMary.Atthetimewhenthegospelhistorybegins,shehadher
homeinGalilee,inNazareth.Ofherparentagenothingisrecordedinanyextenthistoricaldocumentofthefirstcentury.InearlylifeshebecamethewifeofJosephand
themotherofJesusChristthatshelaterhadotherchildrenisanaturalinferencefromMatthew1:25.TheScripturesregardinghershowthatshefollowedourLord.
ShewaspresentattheCrucifixion,whereshewascommendedbyJesustothecareoftheapostleJohn(John19:2627),Josephhavingapparentlydiedbeforethis
time.MaryismentionedinActs1:14ashavingbeenamongthosewhocontinuedinprayerwiththeapostlesatJerusalemduringtheintervalbetweentheAscension
andPentecost.ThereisnoallusionintheNewTestamenttothetimeorplaceofherdeath.
ThedoctrineofMary'sPerpetualVirginitywas,tosaytheleast,ofnoimportanceintheeyesoftheevangelists,andthereisnoevidenceofitshavingbeenanywhere
taughtwithinthepaleoftheCatholicChurchofthefirstthreecenturies.Onthecontrary,toTertullianthefactofMary'smarriageafterthebirthofChristisauseful
argumentfortherealityoftheIncarnationagainstGnosticnotions,andOrigenreliesuponthereferencestotheLord'sbrethrenasdisprovingDocetismwithwhichhe
hadtocontend.Thedoctrineofperpetualvirginity,thoughveryancient,isinrealityofnonCatholicorigin.TheProtevangeliumJacobiwaswritten,itisgenerally
admitted,withinthesecondcentury.Accordingtothisveryearlysource,whichseemstohaveformedthebasisofthelaterLiberdeMariaeetChristisalvatorisand
EvangeliumdenativitateMariae,thenameofMary'sfatherwasJoachim.Fromherthirdtohertwelfthyear,"MarywasintheTempleasifshewereadovethat
dweltthere,andshereceivedfoodfromthehandofanangel."Whenshebecameofnubile

Page37
agethepriestssoughtaguardianforheramongthewidowersofIsrael,"lestsheshoulddefilethesanctuaryoftheLord":
13
andJoseph,anelderlymanwithafamily,
wasindicatedforthischargebyamiraculoustoken.SometimeafterwardtheAnnunciationtookplace.
WhentheVirgin'spregnancywasdiscovered,Josephandshewerebroughtbeforethehighpriest,andthoughassertingtheirinnocenceinallsincerity,wereacquitted
onlyaftertheyhadbeentriedwith"thewateroftheordealoftheLord"(Num.5:2).ThephysicalvirginityofMarybecameimportanttotheleadersoftheChurchonly
inthefourthcentury,asforexampletoAmbrose,whoseesinEzekiel44:13apropheticindicationofsogreatamystery.
14
Whilemuchoftheapocryphalliteratureoftheearlysects,inwhichsheisrepeatedlyspokenofas"undefiledbeforeGod,"wouldseemtoencouragesuchadoctrineof
herabsolutesinlessness,manypassagesfromtheacknowledgedChurchFatherscouldbecitedtoshowthatitwasoriginallyquiteunknowntoCatholicism.
Inthefourthcentury,Mary'speculiarrelationtotheGodhead,whichspeciallyfitsherforsuccessfulintercessiononbehalfofmankind,ismetwithfrequently,for
instanceinEusebius,Athanasius,DidymusandGregoryofNazianzus.Ifitsusewasfirstrecommendedbyadesiretobringintoprominencethedivinityofthe
IncarnateWord,therecanbenodoubtthatlatertheexpressioncametobevaluedasdirectlyhonorabletoMaryherself.
OnecanrefertothefirstsermonofProclus,preachedatConstantinopleabouttheyear430,ortothatofCyrilofAlexandriadeliveredintheChurchoftheVirgin
MaryattheopeningoftheCouncilofEphesusin431.Intheformer,theoratorspeaksof"theholyVirginandMotherofGod"as"thespotlesstreasurehouseof
virginity,thespiritualparadiseofthesecondAdamtheworkshopinwhichtwonatureswereweldedto
13
BookofJames,p.42,viii,1and2,inM.R.James,trans.,TheApocryphalNewTestament(Oxford:ClarendonPress,1945).
14
DeInst.Virg.,"quaeesthaecportanisiMaria?...perquamChristusintravitinhuncmundum,quandovirginalifususestpartuetgenitaliavirginitatisclaustranonsolvit."("What
isthisgateifnotMary?...throughwhichChristenteredthisworldwhenhecameforthfromavirginalbirthanddidbreaktheclosedgenitalsofvirginity.")

Page38
gether....theonebridgebetweenGodandmen.''
15
Inthelattersheissalutedasthe
motherandvirgin...throughwhomtheTrinityisglorifiedandworshipped,thecrossoftheSaviourexaltedandhonored,throughwhomheaventriumphs,theangelsaremade
glad,devilsdrivenforth,thetempterovercome,andthefallencreatureraisedupeventoheaven.
AfterthedecisionoftheCouncilofEphesus,whichdeclaredhertobeTheotokos,MotherofGod,hercultspreadlikewildfire.Justinianinoneofhislawsbespeaks
heradvocacyfortheempire,andheinscribesthehighaltarinthenewChurchofSt.Sophiawithhername.Narseslookstoherfordirectionsonthefieldofbattle.
TheemperorHeracliusbearsherimageonhisbanner.JohnofDamascusspeaksofherasthesovereignladytowhomallcreationhasbeenmadesubjectbyherson.
PeterDamianrecognizesherasthemostexaltedofallcreatures,andapostrophizesherasdeifiedandendowedwithallpowerinheavenandinearth,yetnotforgetful
ofourrace.Inaword,populardevotiongraduallydevelopedtheentiresystemofdoctrineandpractice.
WhatyouseehereisastrikingdivergencefromtheBible,wheretheVirginMaryappearsinonlyaveryfewplaces,toanenormousspiritualdevelopmentlater,slowly
increasinginimportance.FirstthedeclarationthatshewasTheotokos,MotherofGod,thenthedogmaoftheImmaculateConception,andthenthenewestdogmaof
theAssumption.ThoughtheAssumptionhasbeengenerallybelievedsinceabouttheeleventhortwelfthcentury,itwasonlyfinallyconfirmedin1950byPiusXII.
ThisisanamazingdevelopmentifyouthinkofthestrictlypatriarchalcharacteroftheoriginalChristianteachings.Afterall,thedoveofMaryisthebirdofthegoddess
Venus.Ofcoursetherewerehesitations.ThereweresectsthatbelievedtheHolyGhostwasfeminine,andthatthereforeanaturalfamily,father,motherandson,
residedinheaven.ThesebeliefswererepressedveryearlyandChurchcouncilsdecidedthattheHolyGhostshouldbeconsideredmasculine.AndasJungpointsout
inhises
15
Labb,Conc.iii.51.ConsiderableextractsaregivenbyAugusti(Denkw.Iii)seealsoMilman(Lat.Christ.I.185),whocharacterizesmuchofitasa"wildlabyrinthof
untranslatablemetaphor."

Page39
sayontheTrinity,
16
thisperspectivevaluesreflectionoverexperience.Itisnotanaturalfamilyinheavenfather,mother,sonbutanintellectualconstruction:father,
sonandthemysteriousforcethatunitesthem.So,ononesidewehaveadevelopmentwhichinsistedonthemasculineandtheviewoftheTrinityasamasculinetriad,
andontheothersideweseeanincreasingdevelopmentofthecultoftheVirgin.Asyouknow,inmanyLatincountries,inthedaytodaylifeofthepeople,theVirgin
MaryactuallyplaysamuchgreaterrolethaneventheGodheadHimself.
TheearlyChristiansrarelyinventednewartmotifs.Aswasusualintheartofantiquity,onealwayscopiedandrecopiedcertaintypes.Forinstance,angelsinpictorial
orsculpturalformwereborrowedfromthestatuesofNike,GoddessofVictory.AndonearlyChristiancoffins,yousometimesfindwingedbeingsgivingacrowntoa
humaninthemiddle.Thatisthedeadpersonreceivingthecrownofvictoryoverdeath.ButitiscompletelyrepresentedorcopiedfromtheschemaofNike,who
crownedcombatantsintheOlympianGames.Andso,inthatway,allthedifferentChristianthemeshavebeentranslated,sotospeak,fromtypicalclichsofantiquity.
Now,theVirginMary'searliestfoundrepresentationissimplyacopyofIsisandherchildHorus.ThearchaeologistshadgreattroubledecidingifitwasnotjustanIsis
statue,andpossiblyitis,whichwasthenusedinaChristianchurchtorepresenttheVirginMary.AndsotheVirginMaryinart,andevendeeperthanonlyart,really
inheritedallthemaintraitsoftheEgyptiangoddessIsis,whointheLateRomanEmpireplayedanenormousrole.TheIsismysterieswerelinkedupwiththeMithraic
mysteries.TherearemanyMithraicsanctuariesthathavebothMithraicimageryandimageryfromtheIsismysteries.YoufindthesamethinginApuleius'sGolden
Ass,
17
whereLuciusisinitiatedintotheIsismysteriestheymeltcompletelyintoonemysteryinitiationform.
Isiswasspeciallyassociatedwithboatsandseafaring.InTheGolden
16
"APsychologicalApproachtotheDogmaoftheTrinity,"PsychologyandReligion,CW11.
17
SeevonFranz,TheGoldenAssofApuleius(Boston:ShambhalaPublications,1992),chapter12.

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Ass,thereisalsothespringfestivalwhereoneputstheboatsintotheseaagainafterhavingbeenonlandoverthewinter.Isis,astheprotectressofseafarersandships,
wasworshippedatthisfestival,atwhichLuciuswasinitiatedafterthegreatIsisprocession.TheVirginMaryhasinherited,absolutelywholesale,allthissymbolism.
That'swhyinfolkloreandalsointheLiturgyinsomeplacessheiscalledStellaMaris,StaroftheSea,andthereshetooistheprotectressofshipsandsailors.
Whenyouthinkoftheofficialimage,youseethatwhatisstressedaboutMaryisherspiritualaspecttheImmaculateConception,theAssumptionintoheaven,into
theheavenlyThalamosorbridalchamberbutIsishadamuchrichertheme.Isiswasrepresentedasthehighestdivinespirituality,butshewasalsoworshippedasthe
underworldgoddess,rulerofthedead,ofghostsandthenightspooksandevil.Isiswasablackgoddess,notonlyblackinthesenseofevilbutalsointhesenseof
nocturnal,earthy.IsisinthelateEgyptiantraditionwasmixedupwithboththeliongoddessSekmetandthecatgoddessBastet.Shewasamothergoddesswho
comprised,orcontainedinherimage,thehighestspiritualitysheistheMotherofGod,thenewsungodHorus,andwifeoftherebornOsirisandalsothedarker
chthonicaspectsoftheGreatMother.Sheunifiedthemall.SheinheritedorattractedtoherselfallthetraitsofmanyotherMediterraneanmothergoddesses,like
DercetoAtargatisandAnat.Shemeldedthemintoonegreatlateantiquemothergoddess.TheVirginMaryinheritedthosetraits,butintheofficialteachingshe
inheritedonlythesublimeandspiritual,theattributesofpurityandsoon.Theotheraspects,ofearthfertilityandthedarkside,wereneverofficiallyrecognized.
However,amongthepeasantpopulationinagriculturalcountries,youseethatallthosetraitsthathavenotbeenrecognizedofficiallybyChurchdogmaarecompletely
aliveintheworshipoftheVirginMary.WhenpeoplearehealedbyasaintorbytheVirgin,there'sthehabitofmakinglittleexvotos,amodelofyourbrokenlegor
yourbrokenarmorwhatever,andyouhangituptogivethanksforhavingbeencured.ThereisevenaVirginMarytoadinBavariawherethetoadwasbelievedto
representthewomb.Thewomenwhoborechildrencouldn'tverywellhangupawombitwasintoobadtaste,tohanguplittlewombsofwax.So

Page41
theyputlittletoadsofwaxaroundthestatueoftheVirginMary.Butthatsimplymeantthanksgivingforhavinghadachild.Especiallytheblackmadonnas,likethe
oneshereinEinsiedelnorinRiederninUri,werebelievedtohelpinchildbirthandtohelpsterilewomenhaveachild.It'sstillpracticedtodayandbelievedtowork.
SotheVirginMaryinsuchlocalcultsinpeasantcountriesreacquiredorkept(wedon'tknowwhich)allthetraitsofthechthonicgoddess,offertility,oftheearth
goddess,ofthedarkgoddess.Andifyoureadtheexcusesforblackmadonnas,it'smostamusing.InEinsiedeln,theysaythatoncethemonasteryburntdownand
sincethenshehasbeenblack,butifyoulookatthestatuethatisobviouslynotthecaseatall.Therearenotracesofburning.Thatstoryisjustacoverupofthefact
thatsheisablackmadonnaandwassofromthebeginning.MostlikelyshejustinheritedorreplacedinancienttimeanIsisstatue,becausegenerally,inplaceswhere
therewasasanctuaryofIsis,theearlyChristiansthenbuiltasanctuaryoftheVirginMary.Andobviously,inEinsiedeln,itwasthoughtthattokeepthecontinuityshe
wasblackandhasremainedblack.WherevertheRomanEmpirespread,theretheIsiscultrooted.Thereyoufindblackmadonnas.Theyoccurmoreorlessexactly
inthoseareas.Onedoesn'tmakeacaseoutofit.Onejusttoleratesitorinventsalittlestory.Shebecameblackbecausethemonasteryburntdownorsomethinglike
that,awaytomakeitharmlessandtolerated.Thereareinterestingparallels,forinstanceinSouthAmericawhereyouhavetheMadonnaofGuadaloupe,whohas
veryclearlyinheritedalltheattributesoftheIndianmotherfertilitygoddesses.
WhereverthecultoftheVirginMaryandtheCatholicmissionhasspread,theVirginMaryhasalwayspickedup,ortakenon,thelocalcharacteristicsofthegreat
fertilitygoddesses.Therefore,ontheleveloffolklore,sheisnotonlyimmaculateandspiritualizedandcarriedawaytoheaven,sheisalsothegreatmotheroftheearth,
theprotectressofnature.
Thenshehasstillanotherwayofrelatingtothedarkside,forsheprotectssinners.InmanyCatholiccountriesinEurope,youfindastatueoftheVirginMarywhere
sheholdsouthercloak,andunderitarealotoflittlepeoplethesinnersprayingandaboveisGodtheFatherwithanangryfaceandabowandarrowaimingat
them.Thatwouldmean

Page42
thatGodwoulddestroytheminhiswrath,butMaryintercedes.SheputshercloakoverthemandsaystoHim,''Comenow,don'tbesoangry.Theyaren'tsobad,
afterall."Shemediates.That'swhyshe'sthemediatrixandwhypeopleprayforherintercession.She'sbelievedtobemorebenevolenttowardtheshortcomingsof
mankind.Thisistypicallyfemininejustasinafamily,veryoftenthefatherthundersaroundandthemotherintercedes.It'sthesamepattern.
NowinourstorytheMotherofGodalsohasanambiguouscharacter,forshecursesthefuturechildofthequeen.Ifyoulookforparallels,theonlypeoplewhodo
thatinotherfairytalesarewitches.Ifyoulookforagoddesscursingafemalechildyouwillfindonlyexamplesofwitchesorevilfairies.SoheretheVirginMarytakes
ontheroleofanevilfairyorwitch.TheofficialChurchimageoftheVirginisincomplete,yousee,andthereforethepeopleprovidethenecessarycompensation.That
isonereasonwhyitissoimportanttoknowfolkloreandfairytales,becauseitislikeknowingthecompensatingdreamlifeofacivilization.Inthestudyofany
civilization,youcanstudyeithertheirsacredbooksortheirsacredteachings,whichgiveyoutheirconscioustradition.Butyoumustalwaysask,"Andwhatistheir
folklore?"Thenyougettheunconsciouscompensationforthecollectivetradition.Imeancompensationnotjustinthesenseofsayingthecontrary,forcompensationis
alsoveryoftencomplementation,fillinginthegapstobringupwhatislackingintheofficialteaching.Andincertaincivilizationsthereisatremendousgapbetweenthe
officialteachingandthefolklore.
Forinstance,inancientGreecetherewastheofficialteachingabouttheOlympicgods,whichwasfarfromwhatthepeasantrybelieved.Theyhadamoreanimistic,
primitivenaturecult,fardistantfromwhatyoulearninschooltobeGreekreligion,whichwasonlythereligionofthepriestcasteandtheelitetownspeople.Youfind
thishierarchyineverycivilization,anelitewhocarryaspiritualtraditiontheteachingtaughtinschoolsandinstitutionsinsometraditionalformtheconscious
structure,sotospeakandthenyouhaveanundercurrentofunconsciouscomplementaryfantasies.Weseetheminthedreamsofthepeople,butalsowhenyou
studycivilizationsandaskwhatthesimplepersoninthestreetbelievesandthinksandworships.Thesimplepersoninthestreet

Page43
givesventtofantasiesuninhibitedly.
YouknowalltheCatholicteachingaboutsexuality,thatyoushouldhavenosexualintercoursebeforemarriageandsoon.Well,Iwasoncemostamusedbyavery
widespreadlittleBavariansongwhichgoes,"IwenttoMamaandsaidmayIkissthegirl,andMamasaid,No,ifyoukissthegirlthatisasin.SoIwenttothepriest
andsaid,mayIkissthegirl,andthepriestsaid,ifyoukissthegirl,youwillendinHell.SoIwenttoGodhimselfandsaid,mayIkissthegirl,andGodroaredwith
laughterandsaid,'Obviously.It'sforboysthatImadethegirls!'"Fullofimpertinence,theyoungpeasantboyssingtheseoldsongs.TheyaregoodCatholicsandgo
toMasseverySunday,buttheysingthatsongandtheypracticewhatitsays,nottheother.Thereyoucanseecompensatory,correctingattitudesofsimplepeople,
whicharealsoinfairytales.InfairytalespeopleletthemselvestellstoriesabouttheVirginMarywhichwouldshockthepriestwhotookthemseriously.Andthatis
oneofthegreatvaluesofsuchstories.
Wecannowinterprettheshipabitbetterbecausetheshipwasconstructedbytheemperor.Thatmeanshehadanideathatthetranscendentalrealm,beyondthe
watersoftheunconscious,theunknown,shouldcomeinthatsomethingsupernaturalormiraculouswasneededtohelpthissterilesituation.Hehadbetterintuition
thanhiswife.Heentrustedhertoastructure,toasystem,afemininevesselthatcarriedheronanightseajourneyoverthewatersoftheunconscioustothepalaceof
theVirginMary.Andnowwecometosomeverystrangegeography.
TheVirginMarydoesn'tliveassheoughtto,inheaven.Althoughsheofficiallywenttoheavenonlyin1950,shereallywasbelievedtolivetheresinceaboutthe
eleventhortwelfthcentury,andevenbefore.Butinourstoryshedoesn'tliveinheaven.Shelivesinapalacethatstandsonthewaterofthesea.She'snotonlandor
onearth,andsheisnotwheretheTrinityis.Sowhatdoesitmeanthatshelivesinapalace?Aristocratsruleorliveinsuchplaces.Infairytalelanguage,thekingor
queen,rulersorhigharistocrats,liveinapalace,butnotGod.Soherethepalaceagainstressesadifferentquality.ThisisnottheChurch'sVirginMary.Shewould
liveinachapelorinachurch,butthisonelivesinapalace.
OnemustputoneselfinthesituationofasimpleRomanianpeasant.

Page44
Forsuchaperson,theemperorsofAustria,theHabsburgs,livedinapalaceor,inItaly,theBorrominilivedinapalace.Theyarethehighest,towhomonebowsand
thinkstheyarethegreatones,thosewhohavesomethingtosayandruleworldlyaffairs.Iwanttostressthatitisnotachurch.SoinourtaletheVirginistakenoutof
herimmediatereligiouscontext.Sheismorearuler,aqueenofanunknownrealm.She'snotthequeenoftheearthandnot,assheisofficially,queenofheaven.Sheis
aqueenonthesurfaceofthesea,whichmeansintheunknownoftheunconsciousarulingprinciplethathasnofootinginhumanconsciousreality,orinthearea
wherethesepeopleprojectedtheirreligiousideas.Sheisprojected,sotospeak,intoanunknownthird.Andthatseemstomeinterestingbecauseitalsoshowsthat
heretheVirginMary,thearchetypeoftheVirginMary,isstilldeveloping.
Youknow,archetypeshavehistoriesoverthecenturies.JungtriedtowritesomeofthearchetypalhistoryofChristianityinhisessayonJob,
18
andthereyouseethat
archetypesconstellatethemselves,develop,age,bringuptheiroppositethereisawholeplaythatgoesonoverhundredsandhundredsofyears.Andyoucansay
therearecertainarchetypesthatrecede.Theyhaveplayedagreatrolebutthentheyfade.Peopleloseinterestinthem.Theyarenolongerconstellated,nolonger
activeinthecollectiveunconscious.Theybecomeforgotten.Andthereareotherarchetypesthatarecoming,inthemaking,onthewayup,sotospeak,torealization.
Theycauseexcitement,newideas.Aslongaspopularfantasiesamplifyanarchetypalimage,thenitisstillinthemaking.Aspontaneousprocessofamplification
revealsnewtraitsallthetime,whereasifanarchetypeisfadingorreceding,thenoneonlygoesonteachingwhatoneknowsuntilnowaboutit.It'snolongerfertileit
doesn'tinspirepeopletohavenewideas.
Now,thefactthattheVirginMaryinourstoryisso"outthere"inthecollectiveunconscious,inapalaceandrepresentedasaruler,assomethingdominatingthat
inspiresrespectandalsouncannyfeelings,meansthatthisarchetypeisstillontherise,comingupoverthehorizonofthecollectiveunconscious.Forinstance,itis
interestingtonotethatafterthe
18
"AnswertoJob,"PsychologyandReligion,CW11.

Page45
PopedeclaredtheAssumptionoftheVirginMary,therewasawaveofCatholicpriestswantingtomarry,andwomenwantingtobeallowedtobepriestesses.The
funnythingis,innotoneofthosemovementsdidtheyrefertotheDeclarationoftheAssumption,thoughforapsychologistitistheobviousconsequence.
Whydothepriestsnotsay,"SincetheVirginMaryenteredthebridalchamber,thereforethereisamarriageinheaven.Well,youdon'tgointothebridalchamberand
donothingthere."Thepriestswanttomarry.Itisinaccordancewiththearchetype.Andthewomensay,"Nowwewanttobepriestesses.Wewanttobeadmittedto
theholyofholies."It'sanobviouspsychologicalconnectionandnobodymentionsit,butthereyouseehowanarchetypeisactiveevenifpeopledon'tknowit.They
don'tknowwhytheysuddenlywanttomarryorwhytheysuddenlywanttobepriestesses.Itisreallythearchetypeofthefemininethatisrisinginthecollective
unconscious,stillonthewayup.Andsuddenlytherearestrangemovementsamongpeoplewhodon'trealizewhatthey'redoing.
Ifyouwatchfromafaryouseetheyareincompleteaccordwithwhat'shappeninginthecollectiveunconscious.Thefeministmovementstoo.Thatallhangstogether,
althoughamongeachothertheymayhavelittleincommon.Butagain,yousee,ifyoustudythesedeeperprocessesgoingoninthecollectiveunconscious,youhavein
anutshellwhatisessentiallyhappeningunderneathandthenyouarenotcaughtinthesurfacewavesofallthesepolemics,like,"Shouldwomenbepriestesses?Should
priestsmarry?"That'sallsurfacewavesfromsomethinghappeningdeepdownintheoceanofthecollectiveunconscious.Theimportantthingisthatthisfeminine
imagewantstocomeup.Andifyoulookintofairytales,youcanreadwhatisreallybehindit.
SoherewehavetheVirginMaryinapalace,whichshowsthatthisfairytaledoesn'tgofurtherbackthanChristiantimes,probablynotfurtherthantheMiddleAges,
andthatitispickingupaprocessinthecollectiveunconsciousstillvalidtoday.
TheempresscomestothepalaceandsomeonetellsherservantsthattheMotherofGodlivesthere.Theservantsdarenotgoinsotheempressgoesherselfandsees
anappletreewithgoldenapples,andsheabsolutelyhastohaveone.Shesays,"IfIdon'thaveoneofthoseapples,I'll

Page46
die."Theservantstrytostealone,buttheycan't.Thentheempressbecomesseriouslyillbecausesheisnowsopassionateaboutgettingoneofthoseapples.The
servantstryharderandfinallystealanappleandbringittoher.Sheeatsitandvomits.Thenshesuddenlyfeelsasifshewerealreadysixmonths'pregnant.
That'sauniquemotif.Normallyinfairytales,whenyoueatsuchasacredappleyougetpregnant.Butinourstoryshedoesn'tgetpregnantfromthegoldenapple.She
onlydiscovers,orrealizes,thatsheispregnant,andalreadyforsixmonths.Sothechildhasmostlikelycomefromtheemperorandisquiteallrightasfarasbeing
legitimate.Buttheempresshadnotrealizedit.Shewaspregnantandnotpregnant.Onlywhensheatetheappleandvomiteddidsherealizeit,sothegreaterpartof
thepregnancywasalreadyover.ButbeforewegointothatstrangeanduniquemotifIhaveneverfoundaparallelforitIwanttodiscusstheappletree.
ThemostobviousassociationinourmythologyistheTreeofKnowledgeofGoodandEvilinParadise,whichwasn'tspecificallycalledanappletree,butChristian
mythologysaysitwas.Evestoleanapple,andtherebybroughttomankindthepossibilityofconsciousnessandthecertaintyofdeath.Lifebecomesrealonlywhenit
isdelineatedbydeath.
AnothermajorappletreeisthatoftheGoldenApplesoftheHesperides.Thesealsohavetobestolen.TheHesperideslieinthewestwherethesunsets,inthe
directionofdeathandentryintotheunconscious.Thoseapples,unlikethefruitinParadise,aregoldenliketheappleinourstory.Insomeversionsthetreewasgiven
toHerabyMotherEarthasaweddingpresent.GettingthegoldenapplesoftheHesperideswasHercules'eleventhlaborandtheonlyoneinwhichhehadtousehis
witshehadtooutwitAtlasinordertogettheapples.Thisbringsasenseofconsciousnessandknowledgethroughdeathandrebirth.
InNorsemythologyIdunahasgoldenapplesthatrejuvenatethegodsandthusconfereternallife.Avalon,whichisalsotheislandofapples(thewordappleisderived
fromtheBretonaval),iswhereKingArthurgoesattheendofhisliferatherthantheplacewhereonecomesfrom.AnditwaswiththeappleofthiscourtthatIfirst
understoodthevalueofconflict,theconflictofdeathasthebringingofconsciousness.Thegod

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dessofdiscordandstrife,Eris,wasnotinvitedtoamarriagefeastonOlympus.Soshethrewinagoldenapple,whichsaidonit,"Forthefairest."Thefinalchoicelay
betweenHera,AthenaandAphrodite.ZeuswashedhishandsofthewholematterandpasseditontoParis,Priam'sson,whohadbeensenttotakecareofsheep
becausePriamhadbeentoldhewasgoingtocausetroubleforTroy.Heraofferedpower,AthenamilitaryvictoryandAphroditeofferedthemostbeautifulwomenin
theworld.HechoseAphrodite,whothenhelpedhimtostealMenelaus'swife,Helen,andofcoursetheTrojanwarensued.Inthatstory,differentqualitiesof
femininitybecomedifferentiatedthroughthefightand,throughtheapple,consciousnessbecomesalittlemoreclear.
WhatIwouldliketopickuponfirstisthisstrangerelationshipoftheappletothelandofdeath,becausewehadthatalreadywiththeboat,withboatburials.Butnow
itbecomesclearerthattheboathasastrongdeathqualityinitselfandsodoestheapple.Thisisclearlyaproblemoffertility,ofhavingachildawomanwantingto
haveachildandnowdeathislurking.
Whenyouanalyzepregnantwomen,youfindthatmanyofthemhavedeathfantasiesandagreatfearofdeath.Naturally,youmustnotforgetthatuntilthebeginningof
thenineteenthcenturyalargepercentageofwomendiedinchildbirth,andifyoureadbiographiesofmenofthesixteenth,seventeenthandeighteenthcenturies,they
alwayshaveaboutfifteenchildrenandthreewivesbecausetheyhadnocontraceptivepill.Thewomenhadchildrenallthetimeandoftendiedinchildbirth,orbecame
wornoutbyconstantchildbearing.Sogivingbirthanddeathwereforthemarchetypaleventsandalsoquiteconcreteproblems.Istillnoticethatmanymodern
women,especiallywiththeirfirstchild,oftendevelopquiteafearofthebirthandfantasiesofdeath.Butthatagainisonlythesurfaceripplingsofsomethingmuch
deeper.Evenifthebirthgoesperfectly,iftherehasbeennodangerandtheycomethroughitabsolutelyokay,stilltherearestrangedeathmotifsintheirdreams.Itis
asifthevirginhastodieortheunmarried,theunboundwoman,hastodieaformofthewomanhastodie,andforawomanbirthisalsoarebirthofherself.Sheis
differentafterward.Sheisnotthesamewoman.She'stransformed.Shegoesthroughadeathandrebirthprocess,symbolically,

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andalsotheactualdangerofdeath.
ThenthereisathirdmotifwhichissomysticalthatyoumightlaughandthinkIamamystic,butIhavetomentionit.Pregnantwomenveryoftendreamthatinthe
realmofthedead,thingsguardthem.Forinstance,threadsormaterialsareguardedandenterthemandmakethechild.Now,ifyouwantarational,reductive
interpretation,youcansay,''Yes,obviously.That'sthegeneticsubstancefromthedeadancestors,fromthegreatgreatgrandfather,andinthewomanitisnow
weavingachild.Thatgeneticsubstance,theDNA,isweavinganewchildinherbodyfromthebodiesofmillionsofdeadancestors.Thosecellshavesurviveddeath."
That'sifyoutakeitpurelyreductively,biologically.
Butthereseemstometobesomethingpsychologicallyequivalent.ForIndianpeoplewhobelieveinreincarnationit'sveryeasy.Outofthelandofthedead,outofthe
Bardowheretheyhavegone,theyarereincarnated.Ihavenotmadeupmymindaboutreincarnation,ifithappensornot.IcanonlysaythatIhavebeenamazedby
suchdreamsofpregnantwomen,thatachildisconceivedorfabricatedmotifsofweaving,ofmanufacturingsomethingintherealmofthedead,therealmofthe
ancestors,andwhichisnow,throughthewombofthiswoman,goingtoenterlife.Itisasifthewomanwereinstrumentalinbringingsomethingoutofthelandofthe
deadbackintolife,inawidersensethanjustthebiologicalexplanation.
Forinstance,theEskimos,whenachildisborn,assemblethegrandparents,iftheyarestillalive,andwatchtoseewhothechildsmilesat,andthentheygivethechild
thesamename.Andifthegrandparentsaredead,theygivethechildthenameofoneofthegrandparents.Ifthechilddoesn'tblossomandwhinesalot,theysay,
"That'swrong,"andgiveitthenameofanotherancestoruntiltheyfeelitfits.That'stheonewhoisreborninthatchild.Eveniftheotherisn'tdead,thatchildisthe
grandparent'scontinuation.Sotheretooisthisideathatfromthepastsomethingflowsintothechild.Thepregnantwomanisthevesselforthatmysteriousprocess
shecarriesthatmysteryinher.Thereforeinherfantasiesandalsoincertainmoodsorfeelingsshecomesveryclosetodeath.WhenIfirstanalyzedpregnantwomenI
sometimesbecamequitefrightened.Ithoughtsomethingwouldgowrong,somecomplication.

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ButnowIhavenoticeditsooften,andwithabsolutelyhealthybirths,soIsay,"No,thisclosenesstodeathhassomeothermeaning."Itisaclosenesstothebeyond,
tothatunknownsourcefromwhichlifecomesandtowhichlifereturnsafterdeath,toputitpoetically.
Thisdualfunctionoftheapple,tocreatestrifeandconflict,isalsoinourstorybecausethewholetragedy,theoverallproblem,isthatthegirlisturnedintoacatand
hastoberedeemed,andthiswouldn'thavehappenedwithouttheepisodewiththeapple.Sohere,too,acatastrophehappened.Butnaturally,theclosestparallelis
thestoryoftheGardenofEden.GodaloneknowsgoodandevilbutbyeatingtheappleyouwillbelikeGodyoutoowillknowgoodandevil.Sothereisthe
elementofbecomingconsciousoftheconflict,consciousoftheoppositesintheGodhead.Wecanonlygodeeperintothatwhenwehavediscussedthecat,because
wewillseethatthecat(Ianticipateabithere)isthedarksideoftheMotherofGod.
SojustasEveandAdambecameawarethatGodhasalightanddarkside,thatthereisaconflictintheGodheadbetweengoodandevil,soheretoothisconflict
betweenlightanddarkbecomesapparentbytheempresseatingtheapple.ThedarksideoftheVirginMarysuddenlymanifests,thedarksideofthefeminine,withall
theconflictthatresultsfromthat.Sothereisanimmediateparallelbetweenthetwomotifs.
Junghaswrittenaboutthephilosophicaltreeofthealchemist,whichbearssilverandgoldenapples,andveryoftenonlygoldenapples.
19
Themakingofgoldin
alchemywassometimesrepresentedasplantingatreeandattendingtoit,whichthenslowlygrowsgoldenapplesandthesegoldenapplesaretheequivalentofthe
Philosophers'Stone.Sogoldinthatconnectionmeansimmortality.Rejuvenationisanotherformofbeingimmortalorkeepingone'simmortality,andsoitisassociated
witheternity,theeternal,theincorruptible.Inalchemygoldmainlyrepresentstheincorruptiblesubstance.
Itisastrangethingthatbyeatingthatincorruptiblesubstance,deathandconflictcomeintotheworld.Conflict,deathandtheincorruptibleareimmediatelyconnected.
Theybelongtogether.Thatisthepainful
19
"ThePhilosophicalTree,"AlchemicalStudies,CW13.

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psychologicaltruthwehavetoswallow.Andthatthetreeinourstoryisatreeofknowledge,ofbecomingmoreconscious,isevenexpressedinwords,becausenow
theempressbecomesconsciousthatsheispregnant.Shedoesnotbecomepregnant.Shebecomesconsciousthatsheispregnant.Sotheapplereallyhasthefunction
ofconveyingconsciousness.
There'sanotherinterestingmotifthestrangecravingoftheempress,whobecomesquiteillandclaimsshecan'tgoonlivingwithoutoneofthoseapples.Thisforces
theservantstostealoneforher.ThereisaparallelinafamousGrimmstorycalled"Rapunzel."
20
Amanandawomanliveinahousebehindwhichthereisagarden
belongingtoawitch,andinitgrowsRapunseln.That'sakindoflettuce,aplantwithfourstars,greenleavesarrangedinaquaternity.Thepregnantwomansaysshe
musthavesomeofthatlettuceandshe'sgoingtodieifshecan'thaveit.Nowitiswellknown,andanactualfact,notmythological,thatpregnantwomensometimes
havesuchfunnydesires.Itiswellknowninpopulartraditiontoothattheydevelopadesireforsomethingtheyhavetoeatinlargequantities.It'sprobably
physiologicallyconditionedtherereallyissomethinglackingthattheyinstinctivelylookfor.Butithasalsobecomeafolkloretraditionthatpregnantwomenhavesuch
cravings,andbythattheyattractfate.In"Rapunzel,"forinstance,thehusbandgoesandstealsthelettuce.Thenthewitchwhoownsthegardentakesthechildaway
whensheistwelveyearsold,andimprisonsherinatower.Later,aprincehastocometoredeemheranddeliverheroutoftheclutchesofthewitch.
Thereisacloseparallelinthesetwostories.OnlyintheRomanianstorythereisthisstrangetwistthattheVirginMaryplaystheroleofthewitch.Butalsofateis
attractedbytheempress'sgreed.HereitattractsthecurseoftheVirginMary.Iftheempresshadbecomepregnantbyeatingtheapple,therewouldbeanynumberof
folkloreparallels.Therearemanywherethereisakingwithaninfertilequeen,andthenshehastoeatsomethingspecial,forinstancetwoflowersthatgrowunderher
bedoutofherwashwater.Orafrogtellsherwhattoeatandsoon.Andonlythenthequeenbecomespregnant.
20
TheCompleteGrimm'sFairyTales,p.73.

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So,thereisthemotifofthesupernaturalfertilizationofthewoman,thesupernaturalbirthwhich,withduerespect,canbecomparedwiththebirthofChrist.Thechild
isofdivineorigin,likemostheroesinfairytales.Butourchildisaveryspecialchildbecausesheisnotsupernatural.Sheisclearlythechildofhumanparents,the
emperorandempress,andthesupernaturalelementcomesinonlyasanaddition.Shedoesnothave,likeChrist,ahumanmotherandadivinefather.Or,likemany
fairytaleheroinesandheroeswhohaveanonhumanparent,halfhumanandhalfafrog,oratreeorafruit,whichmeanssomethingnonhuman.She'sessentiallyand
normallyhuman.Thehumanaspectprevailsandthesuperhumanordivineaspectisonlyaddedtoherpersonality.Butshecouldneverbeseen,asChristisinour
tradition,asbeingtrulyGodandtrulyman.She'sreallytrulyhuman,butahumanwhohastocarryadivinefate.Theproblemofadivineshapehasbeenimposed
uponher,andthatmakesherdifferentfromanyotherfairytaleheroine.Sheisessentiallyhumanandthatisdifferentfromthemanymaleheroesinfairytaleswhere
generallythesuperhumanside,andthesuperhumanbirth,arestressed.Andsuchbeingsaremuchmoreghostlikeorarchetypal.Ourcatgirlisnotveryghostlikeor
archetypal.Sheisevenadomesticatedanimalandherbehaviorreflectsthis.
Inthetotalcontextofastory,ifittellsaboutahumanbeing,itmeanstheproblemisnotveryfarfromconsciousness.Ifaheroorheroineisalreadyhuman,itmeans
thatitisalreadyclosetoconsciousness.Itisthesamewithdreammotifs.Ifyourshadowappearsasapanther,thenitmeansit'sratherfarfromconsciousness.Butif
yourshadowappearsasMrs.SoandSo,thenyoucanbeprettysureyououghttoknowwhatthatis.Whentheshadoworanimusappearsinhumanform,thenI
usuallyinsist,"Yououghttoknowthat,"or"Don'tyouknowwherethatisinyou?"becauseIthinktherethepossibilityisgiven.It'salreadyintherealmofhuman
realization.Aslongasitappearsinotherforms,itmeansitisfarawayandneedscertaintheoreticalexercises,sotospeak,togetatitortofindwhereitiswithin
oneself.Nowifthepatientsays,"Yourinterpretationisveryinterestingbutitdoesn'tclickwithme.Idon'tseeit,"then,ifitisnotahumanmotif,youmustnotinsist.
Waittillitcomescloser.Soinourstoryitmeansthattheproblemisnotveryfarfromcon

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sciousness.ItisasomethingtheRomanianpeoplemustevenhavehadahunchabout.
Wehavedweltmainlyontheempresstranscendingthetaboooftheappletreeandhowshe,likeAdamandEve,committedthesinofbecomingconscious.Shetakes
asteptowardbecomingmoreconscious,andspecificallymoreconsciousofthefeminine,inafeminineway,andofthefemininerealmoflife.So,thefirstresultisthat
theempressbecomesconsciousthatshehasbeenpregnantforawhile.
Ifyoustudyprimitivesocieties,youseethathavingachildbelongstothereligiousmysteriesofthetribeintowhichthegirlsareinitiated.Generally,attheirfirst
menstruation,theygothroughcertaininitiationriteslikethemen,buttheyaremainlyinitiatedintothemysteriesofchildbirth,whichgiveschildbearingareligiousframe.
Childbirthisnotsomethingordinary,biologicallyoutsidereligion,asitisinChristianity.InChristianity,forinstanceintheCatholicChurch,sexualityisnotbanishedor
consideredevil.Butitislookedonashavingtogivenatureitsdueonehastogivethebodyandthenaturallifeitsdue.Thereforesexualityshouldonlybelivedinan
orderlywaywithinamaritalsituation,ifpossibleonlyforhavingachild,andhavingachildiswonderfulandallright,andthereisnothingsinfulaboutitifit'swithinthe
institution,butithasnoreligiousmeaning.Andthehigheststateofaffairsistobecomeanunandhavenochildren.Thatisseenasabetterkindoflife.
Becausetheseexperiencesarebanishedfromthereligiousrealm,thereare,forinstance,nosacramentsfortheblessingofchildbirth,noritualstosupportawomanin
childbirth.IfshediesshegetstheLastRights,butotherwisethereisnoritual.Thatshowsthatitisnottheaffairofreligion.It'sconsideredtobeprofane,outside
religion.Thatrobsthispartoffemininelifeofallitspsychologicaldepthandimportance.It'sseenasabanal,biologicalaffairandevenenlightenedwomentodaystill
lookatitthatway.Ihavemetwomenwhowereproudofthefactthattheycarriedontheirprofessionandhadachildontheside,astheysay,andwithoutfuss.And
itevenfunctioned.Thechildwasbornnormally,butthesewomenrobbedthemselvesofatremendousamountofdeeprealizations,religious,sacred,archetypal
realizations.Theynevercameup.Thechildremainedakindofdesirablebanaladditiontotheirlife.

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Iamsurethatitisnotgoodforachildtobebornundersuchconditions.Itisnotreceivedproperlyintotheworld.Atleast,ifyouanalyzepregnantwomen,yousee
thattheirunconsciousmakesabig,archetypal,andIwouldcallitnuminous,affairofhavingachild.Andpregnantwomen,asIhavetoldyou,havethiswhole
proximitytodeath,proximitytothearchetypalworld,mysteriousdreamsabouttheoriginofmanandsuggestionsthatancestralspiritsarebeingreincarnated.Allthose
dreamsshowthattherearemysteries,psychologicalmysteries,andpossiblearchetypal,innerrealizationsconnectedwithchildbirth,whichmanywomenmissoutonin
ourculture.Thatisduetothepatriarchaltraditionandtothefactthattheimageofwomanisrobbed,sotospeak,ofherbiological,naturalunderhalf.
TheempressnowbecomesconsciousbutthatisimpingingonthesacredrealmoftheVirginMary,andthereforetheMotherofGodisfuriousandshecursesthe
unbornchild.Ifyoulookforparallels,Ihavenot,inmyknowledgeoffairytales,everfoundasingleonewheretheVirginMarycursesachild.Youhavefairytales
wheretheMotherofGodactsrathercoollyandsoon,naturallycompensatorytoherwhollymercifulroleaccordingtotheofficialteaching.ButIhaveneverfoundthis
one.Youfindtheveryfrequentmotif,themostfamousbeinginGrimm's''Rapunzel,"whereapregnantmotherhasacravingsuchasourempresshasandwantssome
specialfoodandthenattractsthecurseofawitchlikebeing.Buthere,suddenly,theMotherofGodactslikeawitch.Itisasifherwitchsidecomestotheforeground
andshedeliversthatcurse.

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Bastet,thecatgoddess
(Bronze,ProlemaicperiodBritishMuseum,No.25565)

Page55
4
TheCatinMythology
Nowweshouldconsiderthecatanditsamplificationsbothmythologicallyandmaterially.Oneofthemoststrikingthingsaboutthecatasasymbolisitsambivalence.
Liketheserpent,itsimageoscillatesbetweenbeneficenceandmalevolence.
Historically,thecatwasfirstendowedwitharchetypalpoweratthetimewheninEgyptitcametoberegardedasasacredanimal.Itssanctificationmeantthatitwas
virtuallypurifiedofthedarkaspectsofitsnature,andwasconnectedwithman'sspirituallife.InEgypt,fromveryearlyon,thecatwasconsideredtobesacredtoIsis.
ButitwasasthedaughterofIsisandherhusbandOsiristhatthegreatcatgoddessBastetemergedinthetwentyseconddynastyandtookprecedenceoverallother
goddesses.ShewasknownastheLadyofBubastisandhertemplestoodatthecenterofthecity,surroundedbywater.
Althoughconceivedasafemale,Bastetwasoftenidentifiedwithherfather,Ra.HereOsiris,RaandHorusveryoftenmerge,asthegodsdoinEgypt.Inher
identificationwithRa,godoflife,thesuncatwasbelievedtoengageeverynightinastruggleofcosmicproportionswithApophis,theserpentofdarkness.Thusthe
cattakesitsplaceamongthesolarheroesofallmythologywhofightwiththedevilinvariousforms.
Thecatwasalsoworshippedaslunar.Itwasbelievedthatduringthehoursofdarkness,whentheraysofthesunwereinvisibletohumans,theywerereflectedinthe
phosphorescenteyesofthecat,asthelightofthesunisreflectedinthemoon.Soherewehavethekindoffeminineconsciousnessaboutwhichwehavespoken
already.
DuringthelateperiodinEgypt,BastetwasidentifiedwithArtemisthehuntress,virgingoddessofnature,linkedwithfertilityandthefemininepresidingoverchildbirth.
Accordingtoonemyth,whentheGreekgodsfledtoEgyptpursuedbyTyphon,Artemistransformedherselfintoacatandinthisformtookrefugeinthemoon.And
Hecatealsoturnedherselfintoacat.TogetherwithFreya,theTeutonicfertilitygoddessmarriedto

Page56
thesun,whosecarriagewasdrawnbytwocats,Hecatealsorepresentstheevilsideofthefeminine,thewitch,theTerribleMother,responsibleformadnessand
obsession.
Finally,intheMiddleAges,thecatcametobepredominantlyendowedwiththepowerofthedevil.Somewomen,itwassaid,hadthepowertoputtheirsoulsinto
blackcats.Thesewerewitches,dedicatednotanymoretothelightpowersbuttothedarkpowers,tothedevil.TheCatholicdissociationfromtheinstincts,sexuality
andgenerallyspeakingfromthefemininenaturalelement,probablyhasmuchtodowiththisdevelopmentofthecatasadestructive,instinctualfemininesymbol.In
fact,theblackcatmaybeseenastheshadowsideoftheVirginMary,aprojectedunconsciousdesireforrevengeagainsttheChurch.Sowesee,veryschematically,
howthepolarityofthecatarchetypewasestablished.Now,briefly,letuslookatsomecharacteristicsassociatedwithboththelightandthedarkaspectsofthecat.
Thecatiscloselylinkedwithconsciousnessandallcreativeprocesses.ThesexualorgiesofBastetwerebelievedtoincreasevegetable,animalandhumanfertility.On
theotherhand,theblackcat'sorgies,practicedonmoonlessnights,werevirtuallysterilityrites.Intercoursewiththedevil,whooftentooktheformofacat,boreno
fruit,producedhail,rainandstorms,destructionofcrops,deathofanimalsandsterilityorimpotenceinhumans.Thewhitecatwasahealerandanurse.She
destroyedpoison,counteractedirritationandstrengthenedpeople'spowersofrecuperation.Hertailwaswidelyusedtocureblindnessand,generallyspeaking,the
cat'spowerappearedtobelocatedinthetailwhichisalsobelievedtobeanorganofbalance.Ontheotherhand,theblackwitchcatpoisonedpeople'sminds,
infectedtheirbodieswithdiseaseandinflictedthemwithblindness.Thedevilusedthetailofhisincarnationtobewitchpeopleandbindthemtohiswill.
Infolkloreandfairytales,thewhitecatistheliberatoroftheoppressed,andhelperofimpoverishedorunderprivilegedyoungmen.Itusesitscunningand
resourcefulnesstooverthrowthepowersofdarknessandbringswealth,powerandhonor.Theblackcatisoftenanomenofmisfortune,bringingpovertyand
frustration.Itoppressesandtortures.Itisatraitorandathief.Thesolarcat,thelightoftheworld,istobeseen

Page57
atthefootofChrist,whilethedemoniccatsitsatthefootofJudas.Onthepositiveside,thecatisassociated,liketheserpent,withimmortality.Itcurlsupinacircle
andissaidtopossessninelives.Onthenegativeside,itsuggeststhe"viciouscircle."Becauseofitsunblinkingeyes,andduetothefactthatitseesinthedark,thecat
isalsoaseer.Itpossessesforesightandinsight.Onthenegativeside,thecat'seyessuggestthepoweroffascination.Theycanparalyzetheirvictims.Becauseofits
independenceandfreedom,thecathasbeenlinkedtotheVirgin,butalso,aswehaveseen,tothewitch.Thecatisahealerandaservanttomenitprotectstheir
housesandcropsfromrodentsandsnakes,andhasalsobeenseenasacurser,abewitcherandavampire.
Wenowhavetoconsideranotheraspectofthecatwhichplacesitbetweentheextremepolaritieswhichhavebeenseensofarthecatasmedium.Accordingtoa
Gnosticbelief,therewasacatintheGardenofEden,guardingthetreeoflifewithitsknowledgeofgoodandevil.Inthesameway,theEgyptiansolarcatwas
associatedwiththePerseatree,whichwasalsoatreeoflifeandconsciousness.ThereisalsoaCelticlegendthattellshowanoracularshrine,locatedinacertain
cave,wasfoundoccupiedbyaslendercatrecliningonasilvercouch.Thecatwasthusseenasamedium.Itformedabridgebetweengoodandevil,withknowledge
ofboth.Itactedasamediatorbetweenthemaswellasbetweeninteriorandexteriorlife,godandsupernaturalforcesandman.Becauseithasaccessto,andisat
homein,bothspheres,ithasmuchpropheticwisdomtoimpartandcanteachushowtoholdconflictingvaluesinbalance.Asasymbolofconsciousness,itisa
psychicentitythatknowsthewayprovidedwelearntotrustit,honoring,obeyingandfollowingwhereveritleads.
Andtoendup,abriefremarkaboutcatsacrifice.Themeaningofcatsacrificeappearstohavebeenthedestructionofhumanprojectionsontotheanimal,whether
theywereofdarkorlightpsychicexperience.Catsacrificewasanecessarycompensationforgreatunconsciousness.Itconstitutedanactofrecoveryfromanyform
ofarchetypalpossession.ThuswefindritesofcatsacrificeinRomanCatholicFranceaswellasinEnglandandelsewhere,andwealsofindthewhitecatatthefootof
thecrosswhere,asasymboloflight,healingandsalvation,itrepresented

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Christhimself,andlikehimhadtobesacrificedinordertobereborn.Inconnectionwiththesun,thecatisatomcat.Alsothecatthathelpstheheroinfairytales,as
in''PussinBoots,"isamalecatandhas,ifwewanttocircumscribeit,mercurialqualities.Insuchfairytalesheistheknoweroftheway,thesoulguide.Heis
associatedwiththesun,andlikeMercuriusisalwayshelpingwiththesun,whichisratherdifferentfromtheshecat.Theshecatisonthelineofthemoon,Bastet
fertilityandsoon.
CatsoriginatedinEgypt.AllcatsareultimatelyofEgyptiandescent.Therewerenocatsbefore.InEgyptitwasasacredanimal,andseemsstilltobeconsidered
beneficent.There'sanamusingautobiographicalnovelbyAgathaChristie,whosesecondhusbandwasanarchaeologistwhotookhertodoexcavationsinEgypt.
21

Theylivedinasmallhutandtheplagueofmiceandratswassoterriblethattheyseriouslythoughtofleaving.Theyputdownpoisonandtriedeverythingbutthey
couldn'tgetridofthem.FinallytheycomplainedtotheirArabSheik,whosaid,"Oh,that'sverysimple."Thenexteveninghearrivedwithanenormouscatandsaid,
"Thatwillsettleit."Thewholenighttheyheardthumpsandsqueaksandwithinthreedaystherewerenomoremice.AgathaChristiewasabsolutelyoverwhelmedby
whatthecathasreallydoneforman,andthatmakesusunderstandthissacredanimal.Sheisarealprotectorandhelper,inthedarkandatnightwhenonefeels
helpless.So,forourconnections,Iwouldratherstresstheplaceofthefemalecat,themoonquality,theprotectress.
Bastet,inEgypt,hasnowitchtraitsatall.Herdarksidehastodowiththelandofthedeadandofthemoon(whichisalsothelandofthedead).Butshehasno
devilishqualities.She'sanextremelypositivearchetypalfigure.Shehastodowithfertility,withfolkfestivals,andalsowithmusic.Thesistrum,musicalinstrumentof
Isis,wasalwaysassociatedwiththecatandexcavationsinEgypthavediscoveredmanycatswithasistrum.Thatisbecauseofthosebeautifulloveso=ngstheysingin
thenight,thoughthey'renotquiteforourears.
Bastetwasalwayssupposedtobeverymusical.Forinstance,atherfestival,thepeoplewentonbargesdowntheNileandthewomenturned
21
AnAutobiography(London:Collins,1977).

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theirbacks,liftedtheirskirtsandshowedtheirbehindstotheapplaudingmassesontheshore.ThatwasthekindoffuntheyhadinhonorofBastet.Fertility,sexual
rites,evenlasciviousnessandsoonwerepartofit,butallonthepositiveside.Shehadnodarkwitchtraits.InGermanicmythology,asmentioned,thecatis
associatedwiththegoddessFreya,whowasanextremelypositivegoddess.
Thewholedevilishaspectofthecat,itswitchaspect,hasonlycomeintotheforegroundsincethetimeofChristianity.Thathastodowiththepatriarchalbanishingof
thefeminineshadow.Thenyouhavethecatasawitch'sanimal,adevil'sanimaloravampire.Therewereritualsofevilcathangings,similartowitchpersecutions.
Onethoughtnaturallytheyhadthemeansofgettingridofevil,butfirstoneprojectedevilontothecatandthenhungit.Also,catsareexceedinglytough.Theysurvive
themostamazingaccidents,veryoftenunharmed.Theycanfallfromhighplacesandalwayslandontheirfeet.Theyareveryvitalanimals.Igrewupwithbothcats
anddogswithadogwewereoftenatthevet's,butwithacat,never.Theyalwayssurvivedthemostterriblethings.
Somethingelseoneshouldmentionaboutthecatisitsindependence.Thedoghasbecomeatouching,sentimentalfriendofhumans,andveryloyal.Mostdogs,ifyou
drivethemoutinthewild,willperishoratleastbecomevery,veryunhappyandmiserable,whileacatcanmoreeasilyresumeawildlifeawayfromhumans.Thecat
hasneverassociatedwithmanascloselyasthedoghas.Iwasalwaysamusedinmyyouthhowthecatwasaflatterer.Forinstancewhenitaskedforfoodorwhenit
wantedtobestroked,itjustcameandrubbeditselfthiswayandthatwithitstailup,andsometimesifIdidn'thavetime,Isaid,"Goaway.Ihavetoread."Thenthe
catsaid,"Okay,"andbegantorubitselfagainstthechair,asiftosay,"Ifyoudon'tstrokeme,Istrokemyself.""That'sokaytoo."Adogwouldbehurtinhisdeepest
heartandlookatyoureproachfullyyoucouldn'tdosuchathingtoadog.Butacat,''Oh,nevermind.''Itnevergivesitssoulintoourhands.It'sfriendlyandmakes
useofus,butremainsindependent.
Youoftenseecatdreamsinwomenwhohavenoindependence,whoaretoodoggishlyattachedtotheirhusbandandchildren,andthenIalwaysstresswhatacat
does.Acatgoesitsownway.Itknowswhatit

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wantsandgoesitsownway.Acatcomesforcertainfeedingtimes,andthenit'sreallyfriendly.Butwhenitwantstoleave,"Meeow,"youhavetoletitout.It'svery
crueltoimprisonacat.Youcankeepadoginaflatbuttokeepacatinsideaflatandneverletitoutisreallycruel,becauseitneedstheindependenceitneedsto
roamaboutandhaveitsownlife.Thiscanbeanuisanceiftheyrunwildandoverbreed.Thenthereareplaguesofcats.Theybecomedestructivebecausethereare
toomany.Sothisnegativesideofthecatgoesverymuchwiththewitchpersecution.
Wethereforehavetoaskourselves,"WhathastheVirginMarytodowiththewitchpersecutions?"JunghasexplainedthatinPsychologicalTypes.
22
Beforetherise
andspreadofthecultoftheVirginMary,therewasthephenomenonofcourtlylove,thesocalledlovecourts.Inthelovecourtsmenbegantodeveloparelationship
towomenandwomentomenthatwasthestartofindividualloverelationshipswiththeothersex.Asyouknow,theknightchosealadyanddidallhisgreatdeedsfor
her.Thischosenladywasprobablygenerallyananimatypeofwomanweknowsomeofthesefamousladies.Andnaturally,thiscourtlylovewasn'talwaysplatonic.
Sointhosehigharistocraticcirclesalotofillegitimatechildrenwereborn.TheywerethechildrenofCountSoandSoandPrincessSoandSo.Andthatnaturally
createdalotofdifficulties.SotheChurchthendecreed,asaconsciouspolicy,thatthemenshouldnotchooseanindividualladyfortheirlove,buttheyshould
dedicatetheirarmsandtheirheroicdeedstotheVirginMary.
ThatwaspropagatedandaltogethertheChurchfoughtcourtlylove,becausethingsbegantoslipoutofitshands.Andatthemomentoftheabolishingofcourtlylove
andtheriseofthecultoftheVirginMarytoreplaceit,thewitchhuntsbegan.Jungsaysthatisbecauseincourtlylove,theanimaofmanandtheindividualityof
womanwererecognized.Itwasanindividualthing.Itwasthisknightandthislady.Hecouldlearnsomethingabouthisanimasincetheladywasofhisownchoice,
andthewomancouldalsodevelopherindividuality.Sobyreplacingindividualchoicewithacollectivearchetypalsymbol,theVirginMary,thepersonalelementwas
lost.Onlythecollectivefeminineimagewaspreserved.
22
CW6,par.399.

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ThatwasstillbetterthanProtestantism,wherethereisnotevenacollectivefeminineimage,butitwasasuppressionoffeminineindividuality.Thenthewitch
persecutionsbegan,andifyoureadaccountsofthesetrialsyouseethatgenerallywomenwhohadacertainoriginalitywereaccusedofbeingwitches.Somewere
poorcrazycreatures.ThelastwitchesinSwitzerland,forinstance,wereobviouslyschizoid,funnyoldwomenwhoalwaysmutteredtothemselvesandwereabitoff
thebeatentrack,andthuscaughttheprojectionaswitches.Butinformertimes,beautifulwomenwerealsopersecuted,orwomenwhowereotherwiseveryattractive
tomen.Naturallythejealousyofotherwomenandthefearsofthemenweremobilized,andsuchawomanwasthenpersecuted.Sowomenwhohadacertain
outstandingindividuality,whowereabitdifferentfromtheaverage,generallycarriedthewitchprojectionandthenweredestroyed.
Overtimethepersecutionofwitchesbecamecoupledwithpersecutingtheindividualelementinwomen.Andpersecutingalsothefactthatthemancouldrealizethe
individualqualityofhisanima,notonlyasanarchetypalschemasuchashecouldrealizethroughtheVirginMary.Thatledtothepersecutions,andwithitwent,
historically,absolutelysimultaneously,thevilificationofthecatcallingitawitchanimal,destructive,abringerofbadluckandsoon.Theprojectionfellespecially
ontotheblackcat,whichisstillfelttobringbadluckwhenitcrossesone'spath.Thusthecathasalsoverymuchtodowiththeindependentindividualityofthe
feminine.
SonowweseethatthecatisashadowoftheVirginMary.ItisthatpartoffemininenaturethattheVirginMarydidnotrepresentbutwhichwouldbelongtoa
completeimageofthefeminine.ThereforeyoucouldsaythattheVirginMaryherselfhasacatshadow,andinourstory,ineatingtheapplestheempresspenetrates
intothemysteryofgoodandevilwithinthefeminine.Thetensionisnotsomuchthetensionbetweengoodandevil,butbetweentheimpersonal,collectivesublimeand
whatispersonal,individual,vitalandnatural.It'sanotherpolaritywhichistypicalofthefemininerealm.AndMarythereforecursestheunborngirlandsaysshehasto
becomeacat.
InfairytalestheestablishedpowersGod,theTrinity,theVirgin

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MaryandverymuchalsotheDevilinHellalwaysactagainstchildren.Thatmeanstheywanttoblockfuturedevelopment,andthatinertiaistypical.Established
godimages,establishedreligiousarchetypalsystemsandimages,areliabletopreventfurtherdevelopmentandthat'swhythecurseoftheVirginMarydoesnotfallon
theempress.Shecouldhavecursedtheempressforhavingstolentheapples,butinsteadofthatshecursesherchild.Thatmeansshedoesnotwantanewformof
femininitytodevelop.Andsothegirlbecomesacat,whichisjustthenewformoffemininity.
Alongwiththecurse,theVirgindecreesthatthechildwillbebewitchedwithallherservantsandnottakepartinhumanlifeuntilaprincecomesandcutsoffherhead
andhertail.Wewillcomebacktothetaillateronwhenthelady'stailiscutoff.Ithinkthatisveryinteresting,thatthetailhastherealpower,sotospeak.Itis
naturallynotveryindividualforinstance,thefox'stailandthewolf'stailarealsoconsideredpowerfulmagic.Thetailofmanyanimalsisthesourceofmagicpower.
Now,inspiteofthecurse,ourcatgirlisnotunhappy.Sheisnotforcedintoamiserablelife.Shehasallherservantsinapalaceinthewoodsshehaslife,butsheis
banishedfromherhumanshape,cutofffromhumancontact,dehumanized.She'sbanishedintonature.Andthatwecannowunderstandmorefully.Itistypicalof
whathappenedinthetwelfthandthirteenthcenturies:theindividualfeminineelementwasbanishedfromtheofficialformsofhumanlifeandwentunderground.
So,theempresscomeshomeandtheemperorisdelightedtofindherpregnant.Shegivesbirthtosuchabeautifulgirlandeverybodyisglad.Youcouldlookinthe
sunwithoutbeingblinded,butwhenyoulookedatthegirl,youwereblindedbyherbeauty.Shegrowsupquitenormally,butwhensheisseventeenyearsold,
suddenly,sittingwithherfatheratthemiddaymeal,sheturnsintoacatanddisappearswithallherservants.
Therearemanyparallelsinfairytales.SomeyearsagoIstudiedaGreekfairytalewhereaprincesswassimilarlycursed,sothatwhenshewassixteenshewouldbe
carriedawayintothedesert.Thathappensandthenallhersufferingbeginsandfinallyherredemption,butbeforethatagethingswereallright.Thatwouldbetheage,
atthattime,whenonebegantomakemarriageplansforagirl.Thenatthatmomentsheturns

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intoacat.Ifshehasanindependenterospersonality,thenatthemomentwhensheshouldmarrytheconflictbecomesvisible,andifsheismeanttobeacat,that
wouldmeansheismeanttobeanindividuatedwoman,apersonalityinherownright.
Anemperor'sdaughternaturallyhadnochancetomarryaccordingtoherownchoiceitwasafamilyarrangementinthosehighupcirclesatthattime.Soshefinds
herselfinaconflictandthereforeshedisappears.Shecannotbepressedintothemarriageschemeofherparents,becausesheismeanttohavesomethingtodowith
theindividuationprocessofthefemininewhichcannotbeforcedintothoseconventionalpatterns.Naturally,italsohastodowiththeproblemofsex.Andinaway,
byturningintoacatitmeansnothingotherthanthatshewouldbe,ifweimaginehernowasarealhumanbeing,anunsophisticated,naturallyindividualandnaturally
femininegirlwhogrowsupinaconventionalenvironmentandisgenerallylikeduntiltheloveproblemarises,Thensherealizesthatloveissomethingindividual.
Loveisaquestionofone'spersonalfate,forgoodorill.Onecanalsomakebadchoices,butloveisapersonalfate.Itisnotacollectivearrangementandthencomes
theconflict.Sotheprincessisrepresentedasasymbolicfemininefigure,onewho,likehercat,followsorisforcedtofollow,herownindividualinclination,and
thereforedisappearsfromthehumanrealm.Aswesee,shethenlivesinapalaceinthemidstofaforest.Shedisappearsintotheunconscious.
Theforestisespeciallyassociatedwiththebodilyunconscious.AccordingtoJungin"TheSpiritMercurius,"ithastodowiththepsychosomaticrealmofthepsyche.
23

Infairytalesonehastobecarefulbecauseifsomebodydisappearsintothesea,theydisappearintothecollectiveunconscious.Iftheydisappearintothesky,theyalso
disappearintotheunconscious.Iftheydrowninariver,againtheydisappearintotheunconscious.Sowehavetotakeitspecificallyandsay,"Whataspectofthe
unconsciousdoesshedisappearinto?"
Now,theforestingeneralhastodowithvegetation.AsJungpointsoutinthatessayonMercurius,vegetationisthatlifewhichspringsim
23
AlchemicalStudies,CW13.

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mediatelyfrominorganicmatterandfeedsonit.It'sthefirstformoflife,andthereforeitgenerallysymbolizesthevegetativerealmsofthepsychewhereitmeltswith
thematerialprocessesofthebodywhatwenowcallpsychosomatic,wherewecannolongersaysomethingispurelypsychic,norcanwesayitispurelyphysical.
Thereisaninbetweenrealmwhichisstillverylittleexplored.Yousinkintoyourbodyandonlyvegetate.Ifshewerearealhumanbeingbutsheisn't,she'san
archetypeshewouldsinkintoakindofinaccessible,depressedapathy.Butassheisanarchetype,itmeansthatthearchetypedisappearsintoavegetativestate.It
goesunderground,sinksintothebodyofpeople,orthenearlybody,andlivesthereunredeemed.

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5
TheKingdoms
Atthemomentwhenthegirlturnsintoacatanddisappearswithallherservants,thefairytaleabruptlystopsandgoestothemasculinekingdom,andanewthemeis
introduced:
Now,inafarawaycountrytherewasanemperorwiththreesons.Hiswifehaddiedandhehadbeguntodrink.Ashewantedtogetridofhischildren,hecalledallthreesonsto
himandsaid,"Iwillgiveyousomeorders.Whoeveriscapableshouldbringmelinenmaterialthatissothinonecanblowthroughitandpullitthroughaneedle.Everyoneofyou
shallbringmesomethingandmakemeapresentandthenIshallseewhoisthebiggesthero."
Thatsetsthethreesonsoffontheiradventures.Nowwehavetoanalyzewhatthatotherrealmwouldmean,amalequaternitywherethewifehasdiedandthefather
hastakentodrink.Ingeneraltheemperorwouldbearulingcollectiveprinciple,adominantofcollectivelife.Nowherethereisanotherdominant.Ishowedearlier
thatsometimesinastoryyouhavedifferentkingdoms,whichmeansthatacivilizationhasalreadyfallenapartandtherearedifferentrealmsthathavedifferent
dominants.Soyoucansimplysay,atthetimethefairytaleoriginated,thereisanotherdominantofcollectivelifewherethere'snotasterilefeminineprincipleasinthe
firstpart,butratheralackofthefeminine.
Theempresshasdied.Whatcouldthatmean?TheVirginMaryclearlymakesitafairytaleoftheChristianage.ItcouldbetheProtestantChurchbutinRomaniathat
playsnorole.Inthosecountries,Protestantismhasneverreallybeentakenin.Youhaveontheonesideasterilizationofthefeminineandontheotheraneliminationof
thefeminine.IwouldsaythatwouldbeadevelopmentwithintheChurchthatwashostiletowardthefeminineevenintheformofthecultoftheVirgin.Therewasa
tremendousuproarincertainChurchcirclesmanythoughttherewasalreadytoomuchfussmadeoftheVirginMary,and

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oneshouldnotencourageMariologyintheChurch.Forinstance,manyofthescholasticteachers,suchastheJesuits,didnotencouragethecultoftheVirgin.There
weretwoquitedifferentdirections,soinourstoryIwouldtakethesecondkingdomratherasadominantmalereligiousconsciousnesswithintheChurch,butone
whichmovedevenfurtherawayfromthefeminine.
Youseethatforinstanceinscholasticphilosophy,whichispurelymale.There'snofeminineerosinitandthenitisapowerorganizationlikecertainorders,theorder
forthepersecutionofthehereticsandsoon.Theyreallygaveuperos.Evenmore,theywentrightintopurelymalepowerpolitics,orintointellectualism.Withinthe
Churchtherewerethosetwostreams.EvenwhenthePopedeclaredtheAssumptiontherewasquitearevoltamongcertaincardinalsandbishops.Theyturned
againstthePopeandexpressedtheirregretsthatsuchathinghadbeendone.Theirattitudewasstern,"That'snotwhatweneednowintheChurch.Thatsoften'sour
position.Wemustbelikeagraniteblockstandingfortheconfession,"andsoon.
Sothesecondkingdomwouldbeaworldwherethefemininehasbecomelostandtheemperordrinks.IntheInquisition,forinstance,themenwhopersecuted
hereticsandwitchesweredrunkwithawrongspirituality.Ifyoureadthereportsofthattime,thosemenweremostselfrighteous.Theywereconvincedtheywere
cleansingtheworldofsomethingterrible.Sothiswrongspiritualityandalcoholismmostlyhastodowithhavinglostaconnectionwiththerealspirit,andtherefore
grabbingdesperatelyatasurrogatespiritofsomekindistheoperativeimage:adrunkennessthathastodowithpowerandwiththedeteriorationoftheanima.
Inthelatestagesofdrinking,youhaveprobablyseensuchtragiccases:menbecomesentimental,effeminate,fullofresentments,complaining,makingpoisonous
remarks,mentallydissolved.Theypresentapictureofanimapossession,completelyatthemercyoftheirmoods,andwhentheyarenotdrinkingtheyaredepressed
andresentful.Thenalsotheabandonmentcomplex:nobodylovesme,Idrinkbecausenobodylovedme,IdrinkbecauseIamsosadthatIdrinkallakindof
perverseanimastuff.Ofcoursethat'sonlyintragic,extremecases,butyousee

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howtheanimadeteriorates,sotospeak,throughthedrinking.Butwithouttheanimatheycan'trelate,andsotheylosealltheirrelationships.Onedoesn'tknowifthe
deteriorationoftheanimacausesthedrinkingoriscausedbydrinking,butwhichevercomesfirsttheyalwaysgotogether.Sothisemperorwantstogetridofhis
children.
Veryoftenakingoremperorgivestaskstohissonsbutgenerallyhedoesitbecausehedoesn'tknowtowhomheshouldleavehiskingdom.Hesetssuchtasksto
settlethedecisionofwhoshallbehissuccessor.Ouremperoralsodoesthatlater,butherehedoesn't.Heisprobablysodrunkthathehasn'tevenapurposeinmind.
Soitissaidhejustgivesthemthetasktogetridofthem.He'snolongerahusband,andhe'salsonolongerarealfather.Probablythesonshavesometimessaid,
"Comefather,don'tdrinksomuch,"andtakenthebottleaway,andsohewantstogetridofthem.Thatwouldagainbethisoldprinciple,beingstuck,andnolonger
wantingtocooperatewiththepossibilityofthefuture,wantingtoblockit,wantingtosuppressanythingthatleadstowardorintothefuture.Buthestillhasanoriginal
fantasy,namelythattheyshouldbringhimsomeveryfinelinen.
Linenisapurevegetablefiberandwasthereforeusedforthegarmentsofpriestsandmagiciansinantiquity.ItwasalsousedinGermaniccourts,forinstancein
NorwayandinGaeliccountries,asanapotropaicsubstance.Itwassaidthatghosts,especiallywaterspirits,werewashingandbleachinglinen.Insometaleslinen
dressesarewornbydwarfsandforestmaidens,andsometimeslinenisapreciousgiftfromthem,orlinenpatchestransformintogoldpieces.Iflinenisagiftofa
femalewaterspirit,thenitdoesn'tendwhenused,butonlyoneyardisleft,becausealittlespiritinfrogshapeissittinginit.Veryoftenlinenisasymbolofalightcloud
whichalsoshowsaspiritualquality.Linenhashealingpower,forinstanceinIrelandwhereparticularremedieshavetobewrappedinpurelinenbeforeusing.Linen
piecesalsoservedirectlyasaremedyorasameanstotransferillness.Onepasseslinenoverwartsorsomeotherdiseasedspotofthebody,andthenputsthelinen
intoacoffin.InBrandenburg,anewbornchildhastobewrappedinpurelinenandnootherclothbecauseotherwiseitmightrunaftertheothersexlateron!
AmongtheCzechsthechildiswrappedinlinenandthenputunder

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thetablesothatitwillbeintelligent.InnorthernGermany,someonetakeswhitelinen,whichisofteninheritedorisasheetofthedead,toinvestigatethefutureonNew
Year'snight.Dreamsofwhitethingsandthereforealsooflinen,pointtodeath.InRomaniantradition,adreamoflinenreferstoajourneywhereinitisimportant
whetherthelinenisseenspreadoutorrolledup.
So,referringtoourfairytale,wemightsaythatthewhitelinenisatextilebelongingtotherealmofspirits,relatedtothespiritualworld.Thisisalsoshownbythe
emphasisonitstransparencyanddelicacy.Inaddition,thereisanaccentuationofthefemininespiritswhoareconnectedwithlinen,sothatwecanalsolookatitas
therequisiteofthemothergoddess.OnehasonlytothinkofspinningandweavingasaspecialfeatureoftheGreatMother,forinstancethethreeNornsorParcewho
weavethefates.Sothelineninourstorypointstoaspecialfatealso,afatewoveninthespiritualrealmwithaspiritualgoal,whichintheformoffinelinencancurethe
illnessofthetimes.
ThereisaGrimmfairytale,"TheThreeFeathers,"
24
wherethekinggiveshissonsthegettingoflinenasataskandtheonewhobringsthefinestwillhavethekingdom.
Butthenwhentheybringthelinenhesaysthatwasonlyabeginning,andnowtheymustbringthemostbeautifulbride.So,thelineninthatstoryisjusttheinitial
connectionwiththefeminine.Itisonlyathread,whichthenleadstothefemininefigure.Well,hereitgetsinterrupted,thatmotifdoesn'treallycomethrough.
Howwouldweinterpretthefactthatthisdrunkenemperorwhonolongerhasawifewantslinen?Linenhastodowithfate,withdestiny,withthefeminineitis
vegetativeincontrasttowoolwhichisananimalproduct.Thatpointstoitspurity.ThePythagoreans,forinstance,dressedonlyinlinenclothes,nothingfromsheep,
andthenitalsohastodowithpermeability.Youcantransferillnessesoryoucanexorcisewithit.Thatalwaysmeansthatthingswhichareverypurearealsovery
easilycontaminated.Youhavethesameideainthefolkbeliefthattheinnocentyoungsheeparethemosteasilybewitched,andsoon.Themostfrequentlybewitched
thinginagriculturalcountriesismilk,whichisasym
24
TheCompleteGrimm'sFairyTales,p.319.

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bolofinnocenceandinnocentthinking.
So,thelinenhasontheonesidetheideaofinnocenceandastrangeconnectionwiththepossibilityofbeingcontaminatedorbewitched.Thustheanimafantasyofour
drunkenemperor,whichconfirmswhatwethoughtabouthim,ismainlytoopure.Itistoofarfromreality,toofine,tooideal,toobeautiful,notcontaminatedwithevil,
andthatfitswiththeInquisitionandthepersecutionofthewitchesandsoon.Ifyoucouldhavetalkedtothepersecutors,theywouldhavesaidawomanmustbe
pure,awomanmustbechaste,awomanmustobeyherhusbandsomeabsolutelydemanding,inhumanidealoffemininity,andanywomanwhodoesn'tfitintothatis
awitch.Thatalsoshowsthatthemoreonehassuchafantasy,awrongfantasyofpurity,themorecanthedevilanddeathandevilgetintoit.Youhavethatnotonlyin
themedievalchurchyoucouldsaythesameforinstanceaboutthenineteenthcenturyinhigherEnglishandAngloSaxoncircles.Itistheidealofthelady.Alady
doesn'tcurseorgetangryandaladydoesn'tevenknowthatshehasabellyandgenitals.Onedoesn'tspeakaboutsuchthingstheword''belly''isforbidden.Alady
doesn'tusethatwordandonandonandon.That'slinen.That'sananimafantasyofmen,andmostpainfulforwomeniftheyhavetoperformaccordingtosucha
pattern.Butmanyofusperhapswillalsostillhavebeentaughtthatweoughttobeladies.Amostdepressingaffair.
Andbehinditisalecherousoldman,anevildrunkard,who,whenhehasabeautifuldaughterinlaw,knowsnothingmoreintelligentthantojustgoandstretchhis
pawsoutafterher.Thatfitstheladyfantasyofsuchgentlemen.Theyarefullofdirtthemselvesand,asyousee,attheendofthestoryhebehavesabsolutelylikea
dirtyoldman,buthehasthesesentimentalladyfantasies.Ithinkthatneedsnocomment.Thepure,idealladyfantasypredominatedduringlateChristiandevelopment.
Atthesametime,therewasawholeundergroundcultureofprostitutionwherethosemenlivedtheothersideoftheiranima.Theymarriedaladyandthentheywentto
abrothel!Becausewithaladyitwasobviouslynotinteresting.Sothereisthisabsolutesplitofthefeminineimageinourcivilizationandinaman'sanima.Itsplitsthe
animainmenandsplitsthewomenbecausethewomencannotbethemselves.Theyhavetoper

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formaccordingtosuchcollectiveideas.
Initselfanythingwovencanbeapattern.InGermanwehavetheexpression,"awovenwayoflife."Wesay"thethreadofdestiny,thethreadoflife,"butwhatisthat
inpsychologicalterms?Erosweavesconnectionsbetweenusandothersbuttheconnectionscanalsobeinternal.Connectionisagoodwordforit.Forinstance,we
speakofawebofassociations,wherealltheamplificationsofanarchetypeformaweb.Theyalllinkupwitheachotherandareinterwoven.ThatiswhyJungsaysthe
archetypesarecontaminated.ContaminareinLatinmeansinterwoven.So,ourmentalprocessesarelikeaweb,awebofassociations.Ourfeelingprocessesarelike
aweb.Wemakeconnections,butmainlywithourfantasy.Mostlyweavinghastodowithfantasywork,whichisalsoaformofassociationandmakingconnections.
Creativefantasyisaweb.Ifyoudoanactiveimaginationyouweaveaclothandthatiswhyithastodowiththeideaofdestiny,becausetheunconsciousfantasiesof
peoplearetheirdestiny.
Thewebofdestinyreallyisthefabricofone'sunconsciousfantasies.Youseethatforinstancewhenpeopleinanalysiscomplainofbadluckallthetime.Theyfindthe
wrongpartner,theygetintothewrongposition,theymakewrongchoices,andthenwhenyougointoitdeeperyoufindthattheysaytothemselves,"Ialwaysknewit
wouldgowrong,Iknewthat."Theiranimus,oranima,hadalreadywoventhefantasythattheywereunluckyandalwayswouldbe.Thatislikeacurse,adestinythat
makesthemdoallthewrongthings.Whentheygofromonebadsituationtoanother,theyalwayshavethatfeelinginside,"Iknewitwouldallturnoutwrong.Withme
itcouldnotbeotherwise.Withmeitwillgowrongagain."Ifyoucanfishupsuchadestructivefantasyfromthebackoftheirmind,makeitconscious,thenyoucan
sometimesbreakthespellandstopthatrunofbadluck.Soweavinghastodowithunconsciousassociations,unconsciousfantasiesthathaveasuggestiveinfluence.
AndyoucanapplythattoalltheamplificationsIhavemade.
Now,inourstorythethreesonsgoaway,butfirsttheyhaveafeasttosaygoodbyeandtobetogether,andtheneachchooseshisownway.Thefirstgoeswherehe
hastobehungryandgetsnothingtoeat,buthehasahorseandwiththathegotalong.Thereareparallels.Inone,aRus

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sianfairytale,
25
thethreesonsoftheCzargooutandcometoanoticewhichsays,"Hewhoridestotherightsidewillremainhungry,buthishorsewillhaveenoughto
eat.Hewhogoestotheleftsidewillhaveenoughtoeatbuthishorsewillbehungry.Hewhogoesstraightaheadwillsufferdeath."Theeldestgoestotherightand
bringsacoppersnakebacktohisfatherandgetschasedaway.Thesecondeldestgoestotheleftandfallsintoabrothel,getscaughtbyaprostituteandnevercomes
homeagain.Theyoungest,whoridesstraightahead,goesthroughterribledifficultiesandfinallybecomestheczarandheistheheroofthestory.Thedeathhegoes
throughisnaturallyasymbolicdeath,heisnotactuallykilled.
ThismotifinourstoryisreallythesameasinthatRussianfairytale,butisnotveryclear.Theoldestwentonewaywherehewenthungrybecausehehadnothingto
eat,buthehadahorseandthehorsecouldeat.Thereforehewenton,andheonlyfoundthelittledog.Thesecondbrotherhadsomethingtoeatbuthishorsewas
hungry,andhefindsalittlebitoflinenthatcouldgothroughaneedleifonetriedreallyhard.Thethirdgetslostinaterriblerainstormintheforest.Thisthirdson
wouldcorrespondtotheRussianherowhoalsogetsintotroublebutfindstheprincess,thebeautifulMaria.Theoneontherighthasnothingtoeatbuthishorseisfed,
andhefindsnotmuch.Theothergoestotheleftandhasfood,buthishorsehasnothingtoeatandhedoesn'tfindmucheither.
Riderandhorsesymbolizeapersoncarriedbyinstinctualvitalforces.Oursubstructure,ourbody,isananimal.Thehorsehastodowiththevitalityofthis
substructure.Veryoftenafterpeopledreamthathorsesarehurtorinbadshape,theyfallillsomethingisthematterwiththeirbodies,becausesymbolicallyitisthe
horsebodythatcarriesthesoul.Italsohastodowithvitality.Westillmeasuretheforceofourcarsbyhorsepower,soveryofteninmoderndreamsthecartakes
overtheroleofthecarryingsubstructure.OnceIdreamt,attheendofasemesterwhenIwasverytired,thatIsawmyoldcarrolling,withsomebodyelsedrivingit,
25
MDW,RussischeVolksmrchen,No.41(DsseldorfKln:EugenDiederichsVerlag,1959).

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andtherewereblackcloudscomingoutoftheback,andIthought,"Oh,thepoorthingmustgoinagarageandberepaired."ThenIknewthatwasthemomentfora
holiday.IfIwentonworking,thenIwouldgetthefluorsomething.Sotheunconscioushadjustchosenthecartoillustratethehorse.
Now,ifyougototheright,itmeansyoufollowconsciousness.Theeldestbrotherhasnothingtoeatbuthishorseeats.Heconsciouslystarveshimselfandkeepshis
horsegoing.Ithinkthechoosingoftheway,incidentally,meansthechoosingofawayoflifehowtogoonfromnowandsincehechoosesnottoeatbuttohave
hishorsewellfed,Iwouldsayhechoosesamaterialisticway.Heseesthathehasmoneyandhealthandthathishorseiswellfedhisbody,hisphysicalbeing,iswell
fed,buthestarveshisspiritualside.Thatwouldmeanubibenibipatriawhereitisgood,thereIhavetolive.Thatisthemainthingandspiritualthingsare
unimportant.Andaccordingly,thisbrotherfindsonlyalittledog.Thatfitsthepicture.
Thesecondbrotherhassomethingtoeatbutthehorsehasnothinghewouldbetheaesthete.Hewouldsaythattheimportantthingsarespiritualvaluesandhuman
relationships,andneglecthisphysicalandmaterialneeds.Hefindssomelinen,butitisrathercoarse.Thatconfirmsthatthelinenhastodowithahighup,aristocratic
animaideal,anaestheticandasceticanimaideal,theladyidealofthefeminine.Whenamanismarriedtoalady,hishorsemayhavenothingtoeat,butit'sstillvery
nicetopresenthertoothersinadrawingroom.Sohehassomethingforthissideofhispersonality,eventhoughhishorsegoeshungry.
Thencomestheyoungestandhegoesthemiddlewayhejustgoesahead,soheremainsbetweentheopposites.Hedoesn'tlethimselfbeseducedintofallingintothe
onesidednessofeitherthephysicalorthespiritual,neitherthewhitenortheblack.Hejustcontinuesstraightonhisway,betweentheopposites.Atoncethistakes
himintoadarkforest,andthatiswherehewillfindthecatpalace.Hegoesdeepintotheunconscious,thevegetativerealmoftheunconscious,andthereheistaken
bysurprisebyaterrificrain,sothathecan'tevenseehisownfingers.Heisdesperate.Itrainsforthreedaysandthreenightsandallthetimeitispitchblack.Onthe
thirdmorninglightninglightsupthewholearea,re

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vealingapalace.Hesays,"Iwillgostraighttothatpalace.Ican'tgoonanymore,whateverhappens."
Nowwecometothesymbolismoftherain.ThemostfamousterriblerainmostofusknowisthegreatflooddescribedintheBible,causedbythewrathofGod,who
wantedtodestroymankind.Ifsomebodydreamsthereisaflood,atfirstyoumayconcludethatGodisangry,butwhatdoesthatmeaninpsychologicalterms?What
happensifsomebodydreamsGodisangry?First,wecalltheGodimagetheSelf.Iwouldsaythatthewholecollectiveunconsciousisinanupheaval,thatthereis
disharmonyintheconsciousbehaviorofthecollectiveandthattheunconsciousisbroodingondestruction.Thatisoursituationnow.Theunconscioustoyswiththe
ideaofdestroyingus,whichiswhy,forinstance,ifyouanalyzemanypeopleyouseeanenormousamountofterriblydestructivedreams,ofatombombexplosions
andtheendoftheearth.
Suchdreamshavetobetakenseriouslybecauseeithertheymightbepropheticandmeanthattheendiscomingor,atleast,ifweescapeoncemore,thenitcould
meanthatthecollectiveunconscioushasbeensobadlytreatedbyournotunderstandingitthatithasturneddestructiveagainstus,againstthecollective.Because
nobodyheedsthecollectiveunconscious,theunconsciousisangry.That'stheangerofGod,thekindofangerthateruptedtocausetheflood,becausetheJewish
peopledidn'tkeepHiscommandments.Ifwetranslatethisideaintoourmodernidiom,itwouldmeanthattheyhadn'tfollowedthemeaningfultrendsofthe
unconscious.Theydidnotfollowtheenergiesofthecollectiveunconscious.Theyhadsinnedagainsttheunconscious,sotheywerefloodedbyit.Ifyousinagainstthe
unconscious,theunconsciouspossessesyou.Whensomebodydreamsofaflood,itmeanseitherthatthatpersonwillfallintoadepressionoradisorientation,a
drowningbutquiteasoftenintoapossession,anideologicalobsession,forinstance,an"ism."Thatisalsoadrowning.Khomeiniwasadrownedman,amanwho
hadhisheadunderwater.
Iwantedfirsttoshowthenegativesideofrain,buttherearealsopositiveassociationsintheideaofsolutio,offertilization.Thentherainisinterpretedmoreasa
fertilization,liketheNilewhichfloodseachyearandsupportsabundantcrops.TheGreeksinterpretedtherainasaloving

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embraceofZeusandDemeter,theskygodandtheearth,aunitingoftheopposites.AndintheIChing,forinstance,youhavemanyoracleswhereitsays,"Whenthe
rainfalls,goodluck,"soliterally,whentherainfalls,thereisasolution.Solutionintheplayofthewords,thealchemicalsolution,thedissolutionwhichisalsothe
solutionofaproblemthemeltingoftheoppositeswhichhavehardenedagainsteachother,andhavebuiltuptension.Itisthereleaseofatension.That'swhyone
feelssowonderfulafterathunderstorm.Whenyouwalkoutinnatureafterathunderstormyoufeelphysicallyrelieved.Ialwaysthinkofhow,beforeastorm,youfeel
nervous,thedogisrestless,youhaveaheadacheandsoon,andthencomestherain,andafterward,aftertherain,yougooutintothesunshineit'sjustlikearebirth
ofeverything.Youfeelitandthewholecountryseemstobereborn.Thestorminourstoryhasthunderandlightning,soherewehaveanevengreaterreleaseof
tension.Theoppositescometogether,createasolution,andthetensiondissolves.
Seeingaflashoflightmeanstohaveaninsight.ItcanbeintothewholestructureoftheuniverseorthestructureoftheGodheadinaflashoflightningyouseeitall.
JakobBoehmehadsuchalightningexperienceandittookhimyearsandyearstowriteoutinhisworkswhatheactuallysaw,condensedinonemoment,inaflash.
26

Soithastodowithrevelation,asuddeninsightfromtheunconscious.That'swhyshamansarealwaysconnectedwiththeideaoflightning.Forinstance,incertain
Eskimotribes,ifsomebodyishitbylightningandsurvives,orifsomebodyisverynearlyhitbylightning,ifitstrikesjustbesidehim,thatisasignheiscalledtobea
shaman.
Sotobestruckbylightningorhavelightningcomingquiteclosetoyoumeansthatthespirits,theghostsorthegodsaimatyou.ZeusandJupiterwerealways
throwinglightningbolts.Itisasign,anactionfromthehighestGod,andmanystillseeitso.ThereisthefamousstorythatwhenJungwasawayonholidaysinSarnen
intheBernerOberland,lightningstruckthechurchthereandthentheywentaroundandbeggedformoneytopayforanewchurchandonepeasantsaid,"I'mnot
going
26
See"AStudyintheProcssofIndividuation,"TheArchetypesandtheCollectiveUnconscious,CW9I,pars.534f.

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topayHimforanewchurchifHesetsfiretoHisownhouse!"SothereisstilltheideathatitisamanifestationfromGod,asignofHiswrathorblessing,orelectingor
enlighteningsomebody.
Inourstoryitclearlyhasthequalityofenlightenmentbecausetheyoungmansuddenlyseesthecatpalace.Lateryouseethatthecatarrivesinlightningatthecourt
shealwayscomesinathunderstorm.Inathunderstormacat'sskinbecomeselectric.Theyweretheanimalsofsailorswhoapparentlybroughtcatsontotheirships,
andwhensomethingwentwrongtherewasabigstormwhichwasbroughtaboutbycats.Peopledreamofthunderstormsandwesayonegoes"thunderingthrough
thehouse"orfather"thundered"atthetable,andsoon.Athunderstormisanoutbreakofaffect.Thatgoestogetherwithbeingenlightened.Generally,whenoneisina
terrificemotionalupheaval,thenonehassuddeninsights.Theygotogether.Howisthecat,thedarkfeminine,connectedwiththat?Whatmustwomendotohelpmen
develop?
ThereisafavoritestoryoftheHopi,whooncelivedundertheearthandtherewasanoverpopulationproblem.TheHopimendidnothingaboutitbutthenthewomen
becamesointolerablethattheHopismadeuptheirmindtoclimbalevelhigher.Thentheysettledagainandeverythingwentright,andthenagaintherewas
overpopulation,andthemendidnothing.Theywouldhavegoneonlikethatforeverifthewomenhadn'tbecomesoimpossible,makingscenesfrommorningtillnight.
Thenthemengotgoing.Thatisstilltrue.Andthatiswhythedoctrineofalady,whoshouldneverraisehervoiceandalwaysbeliketheVirginMary,reallycausesher
husbandtoremainsleepabouthisanimaproblem.Ifshedoesn'tmakeathunderstormfromtimetotime,hegenerallydoesn'twakeup,hejustdoesn'tsee.
So,ourherosuddenlyseesthepalaceofthecatinthethunderstorm,intheupheaval,andrealizesheabsolutelymustgotoit.Therehefindsaverystrangething,a
pieceofmeat,likethelegofadeerorsomething,andit'shangingonawall.Inrealityit'snotmeatbutconsistsofemeraldsandotherpreciousstones.Heclimbsupto
getthemeatandhegetscaughtbyhisfoot,itactslikeatrap.Atthatmomenthehearsabellandheisafraidhewillfalldown.Thedooropensandsomebodycomes
andsoon.Sohewasreallyattractedbyafalsepieceofmeat,madeofpre

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ciousstones.Butheishungry.Hethinkshewantstohavemeat,buthegetsholdofpreciousstones.Hegetscaughtwithhisfootinthosepreciousstonesandthenhe
entersthecatpalace.
Wehavenotyetputtheearlierpartintoperspective,whatitreallymeans.Onecaninterpretmotifsinmidair,sotospeak,andgetalltheconnectionsbetweenthem
anditlooksasifyouarefollowingthecontextofthestory,butthenyoumustaskyourself,"Nowwhatdoesthatmeaninpracticallife?Whatisitthatactually
happened?"ButfirstIwilldiscussthisstrangemotifofachunkofmeatwhichislikeabaitthatcapturesourherowhenhecomestothepalace,andthengobackand
lookatwhatleadsuptothisstrangeanduniquemotifthatIhaveneverfoundinanyotherfairytale.Soheisterriblyhungryandheclimbsuptogettoitandwhenhe
comesnearheseesthatitisn'tmeat,itisachunkofpreciousstones,buthehastoucheditwithhisfootandgetscaughtinit,andthereheishanging,caughtlikeafish.
Thenhefalls,adooropensbelowthewallandheispulledintothecatpalace.
ItisunfortunatethatinEnglishonemakesadistinctionbetweenfleshandmeat.InGermanthereisonlyoneword,Fleisch,soit'squiteclearwhatitisbecausethe
Biblespeaksaboutitallthetimefleshlydesires,livinginthefleshandsoon.AngloSaxonscallapigapigbutwhenyoueatittheycallitpork,andtheycallsheep
sheepandthenwhentheyeatittheycallitmutton.Ithinkthat'shypocrisybecausetheyarejusttryingtoconcealthefactthattheyarereallyeatingpigsandsheep.But
mutton,that'sdead,objective,there'snomurderinit.TheFrenchalsohavethatdifference,viandeformeatandchairforflesh.ButinGermanitisthesameand
actuallyinfactitisthesame.Itisabitofflesh,ananimal'sflesh,fleshfromwhichwelive.It'soneofourbasicnourishments.Atsometimeourancestorsontheape
levelchangedfrombeingvegetarianstobeingomnivorous,eatingeverything,andwehavekepttothat.
Ifyouthinkoftheamplificationsofflesh,thenIthinkweneedn'tsaymuchmoreaboutit,thoughyouwillseethatthefleshcontainsamystery.Itisn'tsosimple,butif
youtakeitatfacevalue,itissimplythephysical,fleshlyreality,ourbodyreality.Andourprinceistremendouslyhungryforthat.Nowifyouthinkourstoryisabout
havingtoredeemthefeminine,mainlythefeminineshadowoftheVirginMary,thenitbe

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comesmoreinterestingthatfleshisusedasbait.TheVirginMaryhasnocontactwiththeflesh.Sheisneverrepresentednakedinsacredpictures.Sheisalwayswell
veiledandherbodyisnotvisible.Herfleshisdiscreetlyhidden.SothatisonepartoftheunredeemedshadowsideofthefemininefromaChristianstandpoint.Our
heroisquitenaivelyandnaturallyhungryforthatfleshandsofarthatwouldbeeasy.Youcouldsaythecatcatcheshimbyhisphysicaldesiresandthat,inaway,ifwe
takeitfromaman'sstandpoint,isnaturalbecausegenerallytheanimafirstappearsinamanasphysicaldesire,forinstanceasexualfantasy.Then,whenhegoesafter
it,hefindsitisn'tfleshbutonlyamirageoffleshandisactuallyalotofpreciousstones.
ItisatantalizingsituationandI'lljumpaheadnowtosaythatweknowthestoryfromtheman'sstandpointisabouttheassimilationoftheanima,herredemption,and
fromawoman'sstandpointredemptionofthefeminine.Thedeadfleshisonlyatease,amirage,whichtheunconscioususesasbaitbutthentakesaway.Wehaveto
puttheaccentonthedeadaspect.Theanimaandthefemininebodyisofnovalueifthemanlooksatitasbeingdeadmeathecaneat.Ifamantreatsawomanasa
goodbeefsteaktoeat,thenhemissestheanima.Asourheroismeanttoredeemtheanima,theunconsciousquiterightlytakesitawayfromhim,attractshimwithit
butthentakesitaway.Itteaseshiminordertomakehimrealizethatitlookslikewhathewantsbutitisn't.Theunconscioussays,"Look,therealthingisaprecious
stone,"butinthemoodheisin,hungryandwantingtoeat,hejustfeelsirritated.Thencomesthestrangedetailthathisfootiscaughtonthosejewels.Naturallyone
wouldimaginehesays,"Ohdamn.That'snousetomeinmysituation.Goodbye."Butthenheismagicallycaughtandcan'tgetaway,likeafishonabaitedhook.
Nowwehavetoamplifythat.
ThereisaGrimmfairytalewhereaDummlingreceivesagoldengoose.
27
Hewalksthroughavillageandeverybodywantstotouchthegoosetoseeifitisaliveornot
theyareattractedbythegold.Firsttheinnkeeper'sdaughtercomesandtouchesthegoose,thenhersistersfollowandthentheparsoncomesandtouchesthelastgirl,
thenotherscome
27
"TheGoldenGoose,"TheCompleteGrimm'sFairyTales,p.322.

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andtheyallbecomestucktoeachother.Sotheymarchoneaftertheotherallmagicallyattachedtothegoldengoose.Thestoryisaboutakingwhosedaughteris
alwayssad,sohesetsacompetitionandwhoevercanmakehisdaughtersmilewillinheritthekingdom.AndwhentheDummlingarriveswiththatqueueofpeopleall
attachedtothegoldengoose,theprincesshowlswithlaughterandisredeemed.It'safunny,notsosignificantfairytale.Itisimportantinourpresentconnection
becausethereisthisideaofthemagicattachment.
Psychologicallytheattachmentisanunconsciousfascination,bywhichonelosesone'sfreedomofchoice,becomingattachedtothemostcrazythingsundercertain
circumstances,andthereyouseealreadythedeepermeaningofwhattheanimacando.TheanimaisthegoddessMaya,illusion,andnowshecatcheshimwithan
unconsciousfascination.Hecan'tgetaway.Hisfootisnotfree.Thoughhehasfoundwhathedoesnotwant,hecan'tpullaway.SoheisasintheTarotCard,the
hungupFoolthatmeansalsohisstrongpointis,"IhavemyfeetontheearthandwantnowagoodchunkofmeatbecauseIamhungry."Thentheyareprecious
stones,andsuddenlyheisturnedoverinthewrongdirection,whichhedoesn'tlike,buthe'scaught.
Atthatmomenthehearsabellandheletshimselffalldownadooropensandahandpullshimin,sohesays,"WellIwillgoinwhateverwillhappen."Hegoes
aroundandseesonlyatablewithonecandleandabed.Andhesays,"Ohwell,I'llgointhereandrestbecauseIamwetfromtherain."Thencomealltheseinitiation
tortureswherehecomesclosertothecatlady.
Sonowthatwehavethisbitofthestory,Iwouldliketogobackandsaywhatitallis.Wesawthattheemperorwhodrinkssaysthathissonsshouldbringhimabit
oflinenwhichissofineandsosubtlethatitgoesthroughaneedle.Andwehadcomesofarastosaysuchabitoftextilehastodowithunconsciousfantasy,the
creativeunconsciousfantasywhichisthewebofdestiny,whichisreallyfantasizedbyourowninnerlife.Now,thisdrunkenoldemperorhasaverysublimefantasya
bitoflinensofinethatitcangothroughtheeyeofaneedlewouldbeasublime,verysubtlefantasy.Linenisafemininesymbol,sothiswebofassociations,acreative
fantasyweb,isafemininesymbolsuchastheweb

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ofMayainHinduphilosophy.Goingback,werememberthattheoldemperordoesnothavethefantasy,heonlywishesforithewishesfortherightfantasy.
However,asweknowfromtheendofthestory,hebehavesverybadlyandhastobedefeatedandispossiblyevenkilled,orifnot,atleastreducedto
powerlessness.So,itisinsufficienttohavethatpositivefantasy.Butitsetsthesonsgoing.
Howdoesoneinterprettheoldprinciple,thekingbeingtheoldprincipleofconsciousness,havingarightkindofwishfulfantasybutbeingreducedtonotgettingit,and
failinghistaskallthesame?It'sclearwhatitmeans,buthowwoulditlookindailylifeiftherulingprinciplehastherightkindofdesire,butwhenthefantasyfulfills
itself,sotospeak,thenhemisbehaves?Well,onecouldsaythatwearenowinsuchasituation.
Ithinkalltheleadingpowersintheworldwouldagreethatwhatweneedisgreaterprotectionofnature,moreloveamongpeople,alltheseideals,abetterrelationship
tonatureandwemustn'texploitourplanet,andonandonandon.Ourtechnologyistooinhuman.Youreadineverynewspaperthatweshouldgobacktoamore
austerelife.Weshouldreevaluatehumanrelationship,reevaluatecreativeindividualfantasyandweshouldhavemoreindividualfreedom.TheStateshouldnotbeso
overpowering.It'sabsolutelynoachievementtohavethosewishfulfantasies.Everybodyhasthem,eventheoldsystemhasthemit'snotjusttheyoungwhohave
thoseidealisticdemands.Youcananalyzepeopleofeightyandtheywillallsaythosethingstoo.Theoldaregenerallyfullofreasonablewishfulfantasies,butthey
don'tknowhowtogoaboutit.Thediseaseoftheoldemperoristhatwhenhecomestofacts,hedoesn'tknowhowtogoaboutitbecausehiswifeisdead.
Nowwhatdoesitmeanthathiswifeisdead?Whatisthefeminine?Ifwetakeitthathisanimaisdead,thenthatwouldbeamalesocietyandthefemininewouldbe
theanimaquality.MainlyIwouldsaythattheanimainamanandthefeminineinawomaniswhatbringsthingsintoreality.Ifamanhasnowife,thenitmeansthathe
mayhavethemostmarvelousfantasiesbutwhenitcomestorealizingthem,heislost.Thefeminineiswhatcarriesthemout,justasamangeneratesachildbutthe
womanbringsittobirth,intolife.Soifaman'sanimaisdead,ifhehasnorelationshiptohisinnerfemininity,thenhemightbethegreatestide

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alistintheworldandhavemarvelousplanstoreformtheworldsituation,butwhenitcomestoputtingthemintoreality,hewillbeataloss.
Thatistypicaloftheoldemperor,whodespairsathavinglosthiswifeandbeginstodrink.Likeadisappointedidealist,sotospeak.Ifamanhasdevelopedhisanima,
heseesopportunitieswherehecanputhisidealsintorealitybecauseheispersonallyrelated.Heseesnotonlycommittees,healsoseespeople.Youcanonlyrealize
thingsthroughindividuals,notthroughcommitteesandnewspaperarticles.Thatisdevelopingthefeminineprincipleandthenthemanhastherightfantasy.Heseesthe
opportunitiesinrealitywhichevolveintopersonalrelationships.
Youcanhavethebestsystemfortheworldbutifthepeoplearenotrelatedinit,ifyouhaveforinstanceamarvelousteamofscientistsandtheyallhateeachother,
theywillneverproduceanything.Iftheanimaisdeficient,thereisalwayssterility.Thinkofthefairytalementionedearlier,''TheThreeFeathers,''wherethekingfirst
giveshisthreesonsthetaskoffindingsuchveryfinelinen,andwhentheybringit,hesays,"NowIwanteachonetobringthefinestbride."Sothere,theoldkingleads
onfromthefantasyintoreality,asifhewouldsay,"Firstwemusthaveaweb,acreativefantasy,butthenwemustalsoputitintoreality."Thereitendsharmoniously
whileinourstoryitdoesnot,becauseassoonastheemperorseesthebeautifulwomanhewantsherforhimselfandruinsthewholesituation.Butwewillcometothat
later.
Ifwelookatthiswebtheoldemperorwantsasanidealfantasywhichisontherighttrack,butbecauseoflosinghiswifehelacksthepossibilityofrealizingit,then
youcanunderstandwhathappenstotheeldestsonwhofindsacoarseweb,acoarsebitoftextile,andthemiddleonewhofindsadog.Thesetwobrothersdonot
playmuchofarolelater.Whydoesonefindacoarsebitoflinen,whichmeanssomethinglikewhatthefatherwantsbutnotasgood,andwhydoestheotherfinda
dog?
Rememberthatthedirectionofthestory,thegoal,istheredemptionofthefeminine.Iwouldsaythatthiscoarsebitoflinen,ifyoucompareitwiththeideallinenthe
emperorhadinmind,isonlykeepingtothecoarseoutlinesoflife.Forinstance,apoliticianwhohasamarvelous,beautifulfantasyofhowthingsshouldbe,andthen
says,"Ohwell,inpoliticsonehastoberealisticlet'sjustdothebestwecan."Thenit's

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kindofcoarselyapplied,andlosesitstruevaluebecausethereisnosoulinit.It'sdead.Anordinarybitoflinen.That'sjusttrivialanditendsintriviality.Youcould
say,forinstance,hefindssomethingthatisapproximatelywhathehopedforbutheputsupwithitandthinks,"Well,that'sprobablyhowrealityis.Youcan'taskfor
somethingbetter."
Companionshipthroughadogwouldbeakindofblinduncriticalfaithfulness.Jungalwayssaidit'sthemenwhobelieveintheinstitutionofmarriage,notthewomen.
Womendoubtmarriageallthetimebecausetheyarereallyonlypassionateaboutrelationships,that'swhattheywant.Butamanoftenhasaverysentimentalideahe
reallydoesn'tgetalongwithhiswifeatall,butsheishiswife.I'veseenthatinthosetragedieswhereamanhasreallymarriedthewrongwoman,andthenfallsinlove
withonemoresuitable.Butthenhehasthissentimentalfeeling,"Mywifeismywife,Ican'tdivorceher."Eveniftherearenochildren.Hehasakindofdog'sloyalty,
fromhabit.
Iknewofamanwhowenttentimestoalawyeranddiscussedthewholedivorceandthengotthejitterswhenhehadtotellhiswife.Hewaveredtoandfrolikethat
forfifteenyears.Therewasabsolutelynoloveleft.Itwasnotthathesecretlystilllovedher.Itwasjustthedogattachmentandasentimentalfeeling."Divorce,thatisa
socialshame,it'snotwhatonedoes."It'salsoanattachmenttotheoldconventionalprinciple.Womenareinthatwaymoreadventurous.Theymaylovetheinstitution
ofmarriage,butonlyiftheyarehappywiththemaninit.Iftheyarenothappywiththeman,theyquicklybegintohaveunconventionalfantasies.Theythrowover
personaconsiderationsmoreeasily.
So,youcansay,bothways,totherightandleft,wouldbetriviality,resignation,beingloyal,replacingrealrelatednessbythinking,"Oh,wegetalong."Thecoarse
linenwouldbe,"Oh,wegetonapproximatelyallright.Itisn'ttherealloveIdreamtaboutinmyyouth,butwearegettingon."Suchamanburies,sotospeak,his
animaidealorwhathisanimaisreallyseekinginhim.Hegivesup.Orthencomesthedog.

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TheCat,etchingbyEdvardMunch(AchenbachFoundation
forGraphicArts,CaliforniaPalaceoftheLegionofHonor)

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6
ThePalaceoftheCat
Ouryoungestprince,theonetrappedbythemeatjewels,firstcomesintoathunderstorm,whichwehaveinterpretedasaclashofoppositesthatleadstoasolution,
therainbeingthedissolvingeventandthelightningbeingtheclashofopposites.Nowwecanbemorespecificandnametheopposites.Thelinenfantasyhecarries
andforwhichheisgoingontheway,andtherealitywhichdoesn'tlooklikethatatall,clashinhim.Therehesees,"ButI'mchasingmyfather'sidealfantasyandwhere
doesitgetme?Lost."Wanderinginthevegetativerealmofthepsyche,heexperiencestheclashoftheopposites,andthenhecomestothisproblemoftheflesh.But
atthemomenthe'scaught,abellringsandthatmakeshimdroptothefloor,likewakinghimuportakinghimawayfromthebait,andthenheisgrabbedandtaken
intothepalace.
Bellsareusedinmanyreligiousceremonies.TherearethechurchbellsinChristianity,thelittlebellusedintheMass,bellsintheTibetanreligion,inBuddhismandso
on.Ineveryreligiontherearespecificconnotations,butthegeneralmeaningyoufindeverywhereiskeepingdemonsaway.Thedevilhatestheringingofabell,he
can'tstandit.Anotheraspectisthatitconcentratesattentiononanimportantevent.IntheMassitmarksatransitionpoint.Itmarksthepointwhenthe
transubstantiationisimmanent,ratherlikeanalarmthatsays,"Nowwatchout,thetranscendentaleventiscoming."That'swhyIcallitaconcentrating,orsummoning,
oftheattention.
Bellsonthechurchtowerthatringeveryhourmarkoffdivisionsintemporaltime,whichhastodowiththedesacralizationoftime.Whenclockswerefirstinvented
andcameintogeneraluseinthefifteenth,sixteenthandseventeenthcenturies,youactuallyhadthemonlyinmonasteriesandchurches.IfyoureadNicolausCusanus,
forinstance,youwillseethattheretheclockwasthoughttobeanimageofthecosmosandevenofGodbecauseit'samandala,atimemandala.Theideawasthatit
marksthesacredtimes.That'swhythereweresacredhoursofthe

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dayandsacredevents,funeralsandbirthsandsoon.
Thenslowly,butonlyafterDescartes,cametheimageoftheclockuniverseasamachinewhichjustrunsitscoursemechanically,andthat'swhatEinsteinwas
defendingagainstwithquantumphysics.God'sfreedomisnowhereinaclockworkuniversewhereeverythingispredestined.DescartesstillhadGodinitbuthesaid,
"GodmadethoserulesandHe'snotgoingtobreakthemanymore."SoGodhasoncemadeamechanismandnowHehascaughtHimselfinit.Hecan'tchangeit.But
intheMiddleAgesGodcouldconstantlyinterferewithclocks.IntheBible,Joshuamadethesunstandstill,andwhenHezekiahwasill,Joshuastoppedtheclockfor
fifteenhours,andsoon.Godorthedivinemiraclecouldalwaysinterferewithtime.Timewasnotamechanicalticktocktick,justmarkingtimeintoeternity.Sothere's
alongdevelopmentofmodernclocktimewhichisadesacralizingprocess.Invillagesthebellinitsoriginalmeaningtollsdeath,marriage,birth,allthearchetypal
situations,indicatingthatnowsomethingfrometernity,somethingarchetypal,ishappening.Theideawasthateverybodyatthatmomentshouldstopworkandsaya
shortprayer,thinkofthedeadorthinkofthewomanwhoisnowgivingbirthorwhateveritcalledtheirattention.
It'sdifficulttocircumscribeinpsychologicallanguage.Youcouldsayitisanexteriorizationofaninnervoiceoraninnersignal.Youknowsometimesyouhavethe
experiencethatyougothroughlifeandallthedailyeventsaretrivialandthenthetelephoneringsandsuddenlysomethingsaystoyou,"Nowwatchout!Somethingis
goingtohappen!"Andthenifyoudon'tansweryoumisssomethingreallyimportant.Youhaveabellinsidethatkindofringsandsays,"Somethingimportantisabout
tohappen."IwouldcallitthevoiceoftheSelf,asignalwhichsays,"Don'tmissthefactthatthisisanarchetypalevent."Onecaneasilymissarchetypalevents.
Especiallyifonehasahecticdayandalottodo,thenonlylater,whenonegoestobed,onethinks,''Whathappenedtoday?Ah,thismorningatnineo'clock,thatwas
important!"Butyoumissedit.
Itislikethatwhensomeonedies.Thatlifetimestopsandveryoftenclocksactuallydostop.Itisaparapsychologicalthing.Abestfriendofmyfather,averysober,
militarymanwhodidn'tbelieveinmiracles,witnessedithimselfwhenhiswifedied.Theyhadabigclockinthe

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roomwhereshewasdying.Shewasinasemicomaandbegantofantasizeafaceontothefaceoftheclock,talkingtoit,andatthemomentshedied,therewasa
terriblenoiseintheclock,andtheclockstoodstill.Aftersomemonthshetooktheclocktoaclockmakerwhosaid,"Butwhat'shappened?There'snotonepartinthe
clockthat'swhole.Ican'trepairit.Itisasifsomebodytookahammerandsmashedupalltheworks."Hesaidsorry,hecouldn'tfixit.Myfather'sfriendjusttookhis
pipeoutandsaid,"Ican'texplainit,butthat'showithappened."
Suchstoriesarequitefrequent.Aclockhasthismagicalaspect.Manypeoplehavesuchaconnectionwiththeirclock.Iexperiencedthisseveraltimeswhen
somethingarchetypalorveryimportanthappenedtomeandafewhourslaterIsawthatmywatchhadstoppedexactlywhenithappened.ThatwaswhatJung
describedasinfinityoreternitycomingintoclocktime,sotospeak.Eternityinterrupts.Itisasifthereisaplanewherethereisclocktimeandtheneternityputsits
handinforaminuteandyouhaveanarchetypalexperience.YouhaveafeelingofwhatJungsaidwas"theinfinite,"andthenveryoftenthewatchreactstothat.
Tocomebacktoitsmeaninginourstory.Thebellunitestheopposites.It'sasymbolfortotalitybecauseitunitesmasculineclapperandfemininebell.It'sliketheyoni
andlingaminIndia.TosaythisisanapproachoftheunityofmasculineandfemininegoesabitfarbutIthinkitislegitimate.Onecansaythat.Andalsothatitisthe
momentofeternity,whensomethingimportantishappening.Whatisinterestingisthatitloosensthefascination.Hefallsdownfromthechunkofjewels,or
meatjewels,towhichhewasattached,sothebellfreeshim.Hefallsdownandthenistakenintothepalace.Ifwetakethebelltomeanwechaseawaydemonic
fascination,itwouldmeanthatwhenhehangstherebyhisfoot,he'sfascinatedinaratherdemonicway.He'scaught,whichisanegativestateofbeing,andthebell
freeshimasiftosay,"Thisisonlyaprelude,nowtheimportantthingishappening."Andsohewakesup,hebecomesmoreconscious.
Throughthatheisfreedfromhisfascinationandfallsintowherehereallybelongs.Namely,hehastogointothepalace.Therehecomestoaroomwithatableanda
candleandabed,andhethinks,"I'mgoingtoresthere."Whenhegoestositonthebed,suddenlyhandsappearwith

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outbodies,onlythehandstheygrabhimandbeathimandtearallhisclothesoff.Hedoesn'tknowwherethehandscomefrom.Heseesnobody,onlythehands,and
inhisdespairhecriesout,"OhGod,whoisbeatingmelikethis?"Thebeatingstopsandthehandsdisappearonlywhenheiscompletelynaked,notonebitofclothing
onhisbody.Thenthereissuddenlyalotoffoodonthetableandbeautifulclotheswhichheputson.Aftereatingthefoodhefeelsbetterandforgetsaboutthebeating.
Thenextdayhegoesintoanotherroomandthewholethingisrepeated.Onthethirdday,somethingelsehappens.Twiceheisbeatenbyinvisiblehands.Apparently
itisthecat'sservantswhoaredoingit,becauseonthethirddayitissaidthatthecatempressordersthemtotaketheyoungherointoabigroomwhereeverything
wasmadeofpuregold.
TheclosestparallelIcouldfindtothisisintheGraillegend,inChrtiendeTroyesandinRobertdeBoron,wherethereisthemotifoftheterriblebed.SirGawainsat
onthatbedandrightawayalotofbellsbegantoringandthenalioncameintotheroomandattacked.Gawainnaturallyovercamethelionandthentheladiesfrom
thepalacecameandthankedhimforfreeingthemandhewasagreathero.
28
Thenthereare,forinstance,magicianswhohavebedswhenyoulieinthebedit
suddenlyfliesawaywithyouorgoesintohellorunderthesea.Theyaredemonicbeds.
Weshouldconsiderthesymbolicmeaningofabed.WehaveproverbsinGerman.Wesay,forinstance,howyouarrangeyourbed,that'showyoulieafterward,and
inEnglish,"Youmadeyourbed,nowyouhavetolieinit,"whichmeanseverybodygetswhathedeserves.Youmakeloveinbed,yousleep,yourelax.Formany
peopleit'saplacewhereyouletyourselfgointofantasies,hypnogogicvisionsandsoon,throughtherelaxing.It'saplaceofabaissementdeniveaumental,where
youconnectwithyourunconscious,withyourinstinctsandwithyourbody.
NaturallythosemiraculousbedsintheGraillegendhavemainlytodowiththeloveproblem.Iftheknightsitsonabedandalionattackshim,thatwouldmeanthatthe
momenthetouchesthebedthereisasexprob
28
SeeEmmaJungandMarieLouisevonFranz,TheGrailLegend(trans.AndreaDykesLondon:HodderandStoughton,1971),p.230.

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lem.He'soverwhelmedbyhisgreed,byanimalgreed,overwhelmedbyhisinstincts.Helosescontrol,andthatwouldbethelion.Thebediswhereallourinstinctual
lifefulfillsitselfbirth,death,lovemaking,wherewegetintouchwithourinstinctsandwiththeunconscious.Underthebed,aplacewhereoneneverlikestosweep,
ifpeoplearenotverycleantherearealwayscloudsofdust.Sotheplaceunderthebedisgenerallytheplacewheredemonsofthepersonalunconsciouslive.I've
oftenfoundindreamsthatdevilsliveunderthebedandlizardstoo,spidersandmiceandsoon,andtheyhavealwaystodowiththepersonalunconscious,whatis
rightunderthesurface.Assoonasyourelax,themiceunderthebedbegintoscratch.Thatmeansallyourobsessivecomplexesbegintobotheryou.
Thetablewiththecandleindicatesthebeginningofsomelightonthesituation.Therearemanyotherfairytaleswheretheheroistorturedindarknessinorderto
redeemtheanima,butthisisnotoneofthem.Thereissomelight.So,thatisagainteasinghim,aswiththemeatandthepreciousjewels.Becauseheneedslighthe
getsit,butheneedsmeatandthathedoesnotget.It'sagaingivinghimthesublimewhenheisreallyindireneedofsatisfyinghisphysicalneeds.
Thathappensofteninreality.Irememberacaseofayoungmanwhowantedtohaveanaffairandhealwayspickedverypious,welleducatedgirlswhowereafraid
ofmamaandteasedhim.Theywerealwaysveryniceandwentoutwithhim,wenttodinnerandsoon,butwhenhewantedtobringuphisdireneeds,thentheytook
off.Ithappenedfivetimes,withfivedifferentgirls,andIfinallysaid,"Whydoyoupicksuchgirls?Imean,theremustbesomethingbehindthatbecausethereare
enoughothersnowadays."
Thepoormanfeltabsolutelyasiftheunconsciouswasteasinghimmostcruelly.Whenonedoesn'tunderstandamotif,onealwayshastoaskwhatistheconscious
attitudeofthepersontheunconsciousteasesinsuchaway,andjustwhatdoesitcompensate?Hewascertainlyambivalentandneurotic.Hedespisedtheflesh.He
wantedthefleshlywoman,butduetohiseducationhedespisedit.Hehadasplitanima.Hehadananimawhowaspartlyromanticandwasthereforeattractedto
unawakened,goodygoodygirlsbecausehehimselfwasagoodygoody

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littleboy.
Ofcourse,hehadurgentfleshlyneeds,buthedisapprovedofthem.Hewouldbethekindofmanwhowhenheseducedagirlwoulddespiseherforit.Manymendo
that.Theyhavetheirwaywithawomanandthenthink,"Oh,she'sonlyawhore."Soinawayhedidnotvaluethefleshintherightway.Hewanteditbuthedidnot
valueit.Hedidnothavetherightattitudetowardit.HewasstillcaughtintheChristianprejudiceagainsttheflesh.Itisnotenoughforamantosay,"I'mnotgoingto
believeinthatChristianidealisticthing.I'mgoingtohavearealwoman,aconcretewoman,inbed,"forifhesecretlystilldespisesherbody,herphysicalbeing,thenhe
iscaughtintheoldprejudice.Then,ifheisnotmeanttomakethatmistake,theunconsciousjustteaseshimallthetimeuntilherealizeswhatheisdoing,thatheis
behavinginasplitmanner.Hewantsitbutdespiseshimselfforthat,orafterhavinghadthewoman,hatesherandbeginstodoubther."Shemustbeaprostitute,
probablyshegoeswithothermentoo,''andonandon,allthisaftermath.Withsuchasplitattitude,henaturallyfallsinwithsplitwomentheygotogetherlike
clockwork.
Soinourstorythesplitisn'tyethealedandthat'swhythisteasinggoeson.Andtheteasingispartlythatheisbeatenup,butwhatisemphasizedmoreisthatallhis
clothesaretornawayuntilheisabsolutelynaked.Thenakednessisagainauniquemotif,otherwisethebeatingupisverywidespread.It'scalledthe"threetorture
nights."Inmanysagasandfairytales,inordertoredeemaprincesswhoisasnakeoratoadorsomethinglikethat,thereisaherowhohastosuffer,tobetorturedby
evilghostsorblackmenorblackcatsforthreenightsinordertoredeemtheprincessorladyfromheranimalform.Thatisthemotifofthethreetorturenights.Itis
alwaysamanwhohastoendurethat.Womenarealsotortured,butinotherways,notphysically.Itisalwaysmaleheroesinfairytaleswhoarephysicallytortured
and,asfarasIknow,alwaysintheserviceofredeemingthefeminine.
Yousee,thiscompensatesmasculineconsciousnesswhichbelievesinaction.Themanhastosuffer,whichmeanshehastotakeapassivefeminineattitude,juststand
andsufferandnotburstintoaction.Foravirilemanitisverydifficulttopassivelysuffer,simplytoendure,be

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causehisnaturaltemperamentsays,"Imustdosomethingaboutit.Imustbreakoutofthissituation.I'llfight.Whereismyenemy?Letmefighttheenemy."Inotice
thiswhenIhavetosaytomen,"Well,youcan'tdoanything.Youjusthavetosuffertheconflict,"there'salwaysthequestion,"Yes,butcan'tIdosomething?''Isay,
"Youcandonothing.Justnothing."That'sterriblyhard.Butthatishowthefemininesideinamanisredeemedandthefeminineprincipleingeneralaswell.
Thesameistrueifawomanhasforsomereasontoredeemherownfemininity.Thenheranimus,hermasculineside,willsay,"WhatcanIdo?WhatshallIdo?"
insteadofredeemingthefemininethroughsuffering.Jungoncewentsofarastosay,"Ifawomanasks,'WhatcanIdo?'sheisalreadyintheanimusandIwon't
answer."That'smaybegoingabitfar,butthereissomethingtoit.Awomancaughtinamasculineattitudewantstotakeactionshewantstofight,todosomething,
andinthatsheismovingawayfromherfemininity.Soifitisaquestionofredeemingherfemininity,shehastolearntosufferwithoutalwaysthinking,"WhatcanIdo?"
or"WhatmustIdo?"
NaturallythatalsocompensatesthemainlyWesternpatriarchalactiveoutlookwehaveonlife.That'sworseforinstanceinanalysismanypeoplecan'tunderstandit.
That'swhytheysometimesleaveaJungianandgotoapsychiatristwhogivesthemapill.Ifyouaskwhy,theysay,"Atleasthedoessomething!YoutellmeonlythatI
shouldsuffer.ButIthinksomethingshouldhappen.Somethingmustbedone!"Now,ofcourse,likeallpsychologicaltruths,therearealwayshalftruths.Thereare
manysituationswhereonehastodosomething.Butthereareothersituationswheretherealdeed,thereallyheroicdeed,istostandthesufferingandnotdoanything.
Thencomesthisadditionalmotifwhichisnotfrequent,namelythatthehandsbeathimandtakeawayallhisclothessothathestandsnaked.Afterwardheisgiven
foodandclothing.Clothesrepresentaculturalattitude,andnakednessalwayshasthemeaningofthenakedtruth.Inmanyprimitiveritualspeoplehavetobenaked.In
theancientmysteriesandcertainbaptismalcults,peoplehadtoenterthewaternakedandcomenakedfromthefontagain.Theideaisalwaystogetridofallcultural
oreducatedoracquiredattitudes,tobeone'sownnakedtruth.Any

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outlookonehasacquiredthroughcultureistakenaway.Ourherohastocometoapointwhereheisjusthimselfandnothingelse.Andthere,inhisdespair,hefinally
says,''Whoisitwhobeatsme?"Heasksthepersonalquestion,"Whoisit?"thenthehandsgiveupandsuddenlyheseesfoodandnewclothes,butthatlastsonlyfor
onedayandthenthewholethingbeginsagain,moreteasing.
Thesescenesremindoneoftypicalinitiationrituals.Weknowverylittleaboutantiqueinitiationritualsandmysteries,butforinstancethosewhohavebeeninPompeii
intheVillaofMysterieshaveseenthatpeoplewerebeatenandhadtoappearnaked.Sotherewasphysicaltortureaspartoftheinitiation,andprobablyinthe
Mithraicmysteriesthereweretoo.It'sbasicallythesameasthetorturesyoustillhaveinprimitivesocieties,wheretheyoungmen,whentheyareinitiated,arevery
oftenbeatenormutilatedtheyhavetostandgreatsufferingandoftengonakedintoalargeanimalskintobereborn.
Sotherenakednesshasalsotodowithrebirth,withbeingreducedtothestateinwhichonewasborn."Nakedasonewasborn,"wesayinGerman.InGermanythey
hadtheseritesinstudentorganizationstheybeatoneanothertoo,whichisalsoamaleinitiationritual.Wedonothaveitofficially,butwehaveitintheBoyScouts.In
manyBoyScoutgroupstheeldersusedtoterrorizetheyoungstersinthenight,notsomuchbybeatingbutbymakingthemjumpintocoldwater,orsuddenly
appearinginabedroomtopullthemoutandthrowthemintoacoldlake,allsortsofsuchmasculineinitiations.Parentsneverhearaboutthat,oronlywithhorrorten
yearslater.Butitseemstobesuchaninstinctualarchetypalpatternthatitalwaysrevivesitselfingroups.Incertainschoolstoo,sometimestheydothatandinperverse
ways.
Onthethirdday,ourheroreceiveswhatheneeds.Atlasthecaneat.Atfirstheisjustteased,butthenhegetstoeat.Earlierwesaidhishungerwasforthefleshhe
hadfleshlydesires,andatfirstheisteasedaboutthatbutnowhereceivesitbecauseheispurified,probablythroughhisnewclothes.Theyhavetakenaway,for
instance,hispatriarchaldespisingoftheflesh,acultural,habitual,collectiveattitude.Onecanevenexperienceit,thoughIthinkitissymbolichere.Probablyhe
receiveswhathereallyneedsforhisbodyalsonotonlyontheorallevel,butitisarare

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experienceforthoseofuswhoalwayshaveenoughfood.
Weknowfromethnologythatinallprimitivecivilizationstheplantsandanimalsthatarethemainfoodofatribeareconsidereddivine.Theyaresacred.Thecaribou
fortheEskimo,orthewheatforfarmers,isagod,andsoon.Ihadlearnedthat,butIhadneverexperiencedituntilonce,whenIwasyoungandhadnomoney,I
wentforlongdaysmarchinginthemountains,sleepinginthehayandbathingincoldrivers,eatingonlyonceadayinordertosavemoney.Oneevening,afterthethird
day,IwassohungryandmiserablethatfinallyIwenttoaninnandorderedaplateofspaghetti.Ididthatwithsomefriends.AndthenIpassedout.Ihadablackout,
andwhenIcamebacktoconsciousnessIhadafeelingofwarmthandecstasy.WhenIkindofreopenedmyeyes,theotherslookedatmeandsaid,"Well,well,"
becauseIhadjusteatenthatspaghettilikeananimal,absolutelyunconsciousinamentalblackout.Iwokeupasfromadream,andIfeltthiswarmfoodgoingdown
inmybodyandIfelt,"I'maliveagain.I'vediedandnowI'maliveagain."
Tome,andIstillfeelit,itwasreallylikearitualdeathandrebirth,andsincethenIknowwhatitistobehungryandtoexperiencethegodwhogivesyoubacklifeby
lettinghimselfbeeatenbyyou.Primitivepopulationsalwaysliveonthebrinkofstarvation,andonefeelsdeathinone'sbones,sotospeak,whenoneisthathungry.
Onefeels,nowIcan'tdragmyselfaroundanymore,Ican'twalk,Ihavebecomesoweak.Andthen,whensuddenlythisenormousfloodoflifecomesbackintoyou,
youfeelthatagodhasgivenyoubacklife.Icouldhaveworshippedthatspaghetti,orratherthewheatgodwhomadethespaghetti.Icanworshiphimnow.Itislife.
Itisthemysteryoflife.AndthatmademeunderstandwhatJungoncesaid:"Freudiswrong.Idon'tbelievethatsexisthestrongestdriveinmankind.Hungeris.
Hungerisproblemnumberone,andsexcomesonlyafterhungerissatisfied."
Onthethirddaytheempressnowsuddenlythecatladyiscalledtheempressordershercatservantstoleadtheyoungherointoabighalldecoratedalloverwith
gold.Everythinginitismadefrompuregold.Tenhandscomeandbringhimagarmentofpuregold.Theyputitaroundhim,andthenheseesahundredcatswho
makemusicandsingbeautifully.Heisledontoathroneofpurestgoldandhethinks,"Idon't

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reallyknowwhoruleshere."Thenheseesbeforehimabeautifullittlecatinagoldenbasket.Thisempressofthecatspleaseshimverywell,untilafterafestival,at
midnight,thecatgetsoutofthebasketandsaystothewholeassembly,"FromnowonIamnolongertherulerofthispalace.Thisyoungmanisyourmaster."The
catsallcomeandkisshishandsandgreethimastheirruler.Soinotherwordshebecomesemperororkingofthecatkingdom.
Wehavehadtheimportantmotifofthecat,andnowweshouldlookattheroundgoldenbasket.It'samandala,asymbolfortheSelfanditshowsthatthecatisa
unityoftheSelfandtheanima.InPsychologyandAlchemy,Junggivesdreamsofananimafigurewhoseheadshineslikethesun,andtherehesaysthatatthatstage
theanimaandtheSelfarecontaminatedtheyarestillone.
29
SoherewehaveasymbolthatunitesthesymboloftheSelf,thetotality,withthehighestformofthe
anima,ifwetakeitfromthepointofviewofaman'spsychology.Ifwelookatitfromawoman'ssituation,thenitwouldmeanthathercataspect,thecataspectof
thefeminineprinciple,istherealtotalaspect.TheVirginMarydoesnothavethatbasket,thecathasit.Shereallyisthepotentialtotality,andinthat,greaterthan
everythingelse.
Afterabigfestivaltheyoungmanbecomesthelordormasterofthecatkingdomandindirectly,naturally,thebridegroomofthecatlady.Thisisaconiunctiothe
femininehasnowmaderoomforthemasculine.Also,yousee,itshowsthatthedarkorinstinctualsideofthefeminineisinnowayhostileornegativetothemasculine
principle.Oneshouldtellthattoanybodywhojoinsfeministmovements,thatwhenthefeminineisliberated,whenthecatprincipleisliberated,itunitesinpeaceand
lovewiththemasculineandisnothostile.Theideaisthatthecatistheloveprinciple,whichacceptstheheroinhismasculineformandhe,beingtheprince,represents
acomingnewformofmasculineconsciousnesswhichisnowacceptedandembracedbythefeminine.Inotherwords,thegreathostilitybetweenthemasculineand
thefeminineprinciplesisovercome.
Jungsaidoncethatmostnovelsandfilms,excepttheverymodernones,haveahappyending,andmostfairytalesdotoo,becauselifeisnot
29
CW12,pars.107f.

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likethat.Inactuallifemenandwomenareaterriblyconflictingpairofopposites,sotheirunion,thepeacefullovingunionofmasculineandfeminine,isanachievement.
Itisanachievementofindividuation,ofconsciousness.Marriagesinpastsocietiesusuallyhadnothingtodowithlove.Theywerefamilyandclanarrangementssothat
whenonewantedthemaleandthefemaletogeton,ortocooperateforthesakeofhavingchildrenandsoon,oneexcludedthefactoroflove.Oneputtwopeople
together,thismanandthiswoman,accordingtoclanrulesandtaboos,andhowtheygotalongwastheirbusiness.Marriagewastoagreatextentnotanaffairof
romanticlove,butamatterofreasonablyputtingupwitheachother.That'swhy,inmanyprimitivesocieties,menandwomenhardlytalkatall.Themengoabouttheir
businesswar,cattleherdingandhuntingandthewomensitathome,bringupthebabies,talkwiththeotherwomenandkeeporderinthehouse.Fromtimeto
timethemangoeshome,rests,makesababyandleavesagain,buttheyrarelytalktoeachother.
IfyoulookatAfricanfairytales,therearemanystorieswhereayoungmanandayounggirlloveeachotheranditdoesn'tsuittheclan.It'stheRomeoandJuliet
problem.Theydon'tloveaccordingtotheclanrules.Theylovesomebodyfromanotherclanwhichistaboo,andthesestoriesalwaysendtragically.Forinstance,the
twodrownandfromthenon,sometimesonshinymoonlitnights,youseetheirghostsoverthewater.It'salwaysatragic,unhappylove.Deep,romantic,personal
feelingisdiscouragedbysuchstoriesitisasifpeoplewhowanttoliveinthatwaywantsomethingimpossible,asiftosay,"Youaretrespassingintherealmofthe
gods.Lovefulfillmentisforthegods.Onearthyouhavetokeeptheclanrules,justputupwithyourhusbandorwife,howevertheyare."
Sowhatwearetryingtodonow,seekingtoestablishapersonalfeelingrelationshipbetweenmenandwomen,isanewsituation.ItbeganintheMiddleAgeswith
courtlylove.Thatwasthefirstattempt.Thenitwasdiscouragedbysociety,sowecansaythatwearereallytreadingonabsolutelynewgrounds,groundsthatpoetry
andreligiousrulesuntilnowhavecalledtragicandimpossible,somethingthatneverendswell.Itisreallyanewtaskforbothsexes.OneshouldnotforgetthatJung
was

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thefirsttoshowawayandtopromoteit,longbeforetherewasWomen'sLibandsuchthingsshowingthatwenowhavetotry,forthefirsttimeinhistory,to
establisharealrelationshipbetweenmenandwomenbeyondtheblindattractionthroughtheprojectionofanimusandanima.Ofcoursethatattractionisalwaysatfirst
mixedupwithitinsomeway.Nobodyhasreallyintegratedanimaoranimustoadegreethatthatdoesn'tcomein.Buttobeabletoholdonandgobeyonditintoa
realloverelationship,whateverthatis,that'sthegreatmysteryanticipatedinthisstory,inthismeeting.
Thefestivalcomestoanendandeverybodygoeshome.Theempressofthecatsledtheyoungmantohisbedroom,embracedhimandasked,"Mydearhero,why
haveyoucomehere?"Andheanswers,"Mydearcat,Godleadspeopleondifferentwaysandmyfatherhassentmetofindsomelinenwhichshouldbesothinthat
onecouldblowthroughitandputitthroughaneedle,andIhavecometofindthat."
Onemightexpectanotheranswer,orhopeforabetterconiunctio,butatthispointheisstilltoomasculine,sohejustgivesanobjectiveanswertoherseductive
question.Oneseesheisstillabittiedtohisfather,totheoldworld,thathestillhasthispurposeinmind,thisidealofhisfather.Aswehaveshown,theidealanima
fantasythefatherislongingforisnotwrong,soinawayitisnotwrongeitherthattheyoungmanremembersorcarriesit,butwhathedoesnotseeisthatrightinfront
ofhimisthecatwhocanfulfillit.Hedoesn'tmaketheconnection.
Thestoryskipsheretoanotherpart,acontinuation.Histwobrothershavegonehome.Theyhadwaitedforhimuntiltheyearhadpassed,butwhentheythoughthe
wasn'tcoming,theywentbacktothefather.Theoldestbroughtthelittledogandthefatherwasquitepleased.Themiddleonebroughtthelinenthatwentthrougha
thickneedle,butthefatheraskedwheretheyoungestwas.Sothefatherismoderatelypleasedbutstilldoesn'thavewhathewants.Heobviouslyhopesforsomething
betterbecauseheasks,"Whereistheyoungestone?"Andonebrotheranswers,"Father,Ihaven'tseenhimsinceweseparatedfromeachother.He'sgone.He'll
probablynotcomeback."Andtheyallthoughthehaddied,sotheycriedandwereverysorry.Thereyouhaveagainahintthatthisfatherwasnotaltogetherevilhe
reallycaresalittleforhisson,but

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heisweak.Heislikealcoholicsare.Theycryveryeasily.
Theyoungestbrother,meanwhile,isstilllivingwiththecatandonedayshesays,"Mydear,don'tyouwanttogohome?Theyearisoverwhenyouweretomeet
again.""No,no.Idon'twanttogohome.WhatshouldIdoathome?I'mhappyhere.I'llstayhereuntilmyend."Thecatsays,''No,youmaynot.Ifyouwanttostay
here,youmustfirstgobackhomeandyoumustbringyourfatherwhatyoupromised."Andhesays,"ButhowcanIfindsuchthinlinenwithfinethreads?"Thecattells
himthat'snoproblem,she'llseetoit.Thentheherosays,''Tellme,mydearcat,isittruethatthreedayswithyouareasmuchasayear?"Andshesays,"Yes.Even
more.Sinceyouleftwhereyoucamefrom,nineyearshavepassed."Theherocan'tbelievehisears."Howcanoneyearbenineyears?AndthenhowcanIgoback?
Itwilltakemenineyearstogobacktomyfather."Inotherwords,hetakestimeasdistance,asifitwouldtakehimnineyearstowalkback.Thecatsays,"Giveme
thatwhip,"andwiththatmagicwhipshesummonsthecarriagethatovercomesthistime/spaceproblem.
Nowherewehavetwomotifstolookat.First,hewantstostaythereandneverreturnhome.Whatwouldthatmeanpsychologically?Youknow,ifyouremember
thebeginningofthestory,wehavetheemperorandtheempressandtheyproduceagirlwhobecomesacat,andthecatgoesintotheforest.Thenwehavethe
emperorwithhisthreesonsandtheyoungestgoestothecatintheforest.Whathappensintheendisthattheydoremainthere.Thatisthenewkingdom.Nothingis
broughtbackintoeitheroftheinitialsituations,whichjustfadeaway.Therefore,thiscatkingdomisthenewkingdom,thenewplacetostay.Itisthedefinitesolution,
whateverthatmeans.Butwhatwoulditmeanifhehadstayedtherewithoutgoinghome?
Thewholethingisveryambiguous.Onecaninterpretittwoways.Thispalaceintheforestseemstohintatthefactthatitisinthecollectiveunconsciousandtherefore,
iftheystaythereattheendofthestory,itwouldmeantheyreallydisappearinthecollectiveunconscious.Butsincehedoesgohome,andforotherreasons,itisn't
quitelikethat.Thegoinghome,yousee,isveryimportant.Inmostfairytalestheherohastogohome,andveryoftenonthewayhomeherunsintoatremendous

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amountofnewdifficulties.Hereherunsintoonekindofdifficulty,butthereareotherswhere,forinstance,thebrothersarejealousandattacktheherotheytake
awayhistreasuresandpretendtheyhavefoundthemthemselves.That'sveryfrequent.Orhekisseshismotherandforgetshisbride,orallsortsofcatastrophes
happenalongtheway.
Afterhavinggoneintothedepthsonehastoreconnectwiththeoldreality,withconsciousreality,otherwiseitremainsakindoftimelessdreamintheunconscious.
Onehastobringone'snewawarenessintodailylife.Forinstance,ifyoureadJung'sbiography,youknowthatafterhisseparationfromFreudhewentdeepintothe
unconsciousandhedidtheseverylongactiveimaginationswhichhewrotedowninwhathecalledtheRedBook.
30
Heknewhecouldnotpublishthem,andeven
todaytheRedBookisnotpublished.Thencamethenextthing:"NowIshouldbringhumanitywhatIhavefound.Ihavetofindaforminwhichtotakeittoothers."
ThereJungranintogreatdifficultybecauseheknewhecouldn'tpublishhisactiveimaginationsastheywere.Healwayslookedforsomeforminwhichtoconveyhis
experiences,searchingforavesseltoconveythemanditwasonlywhenhediscoveredalchemythathefoundit."Alchemy.That'sthevesselinwhichIcanconvey
them.Icanpourmypersonalinnerexperiencesintothelanguageofalchemybecausetherethesameproblemsarediscussed.Thereitisinanobjective,historicaland
collectiveform,withthousandsoftexts.Icaninthatwaymakeotherpeoplepartakeofmyexperiences."ThatwouldbeJung's"bringinghome"andforseveralyears
helivedingreatagony,afterhavingbroughthisactiveimaginationstoasatisfactoryend,notknowinghowtobringthemhome,toreconnectthemwithlife.Hecould
dothisquitenaturallyinhispractice.Hesimplytoldhispatientsabouthisexperiences,buthecouldn'tpublishthem.Heknewthatifhetoldofthemasnakedasthey
areintheRedBook,hewouldhavebeencalledaconfusedmystic,crazyandsoon.Hesawquiteclearlythatthatwouldn'tdo.Hecouldn'texposethetreasurehe
hadfoundinthedepthsofthepsychetoanunprepared
30
Memories,Dreams,Reflections(ed.AnielaJaff,transl.RichardandClaraWinstonNewYork:VintageBooks,1989),chapter6.

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world.Hehadtofindaformtoconveyittothecollective.
Thatisalwaysthedifficultyinbringingthingsback.Wheneveronehasfoundatreasureinthedepths,anexperienceoftheSelf,thereseemstobeaneedtoconveyit
insomewaytoothers.Idon'tknowwhythatisso,butyoufindittooinshamanstorieswhentheshamanhasmadehisgreatjourneytothePolarStar,ortothe
Underworld,whenhecomesbackhemustshamanize.Thatmeanshemustbringsomethingtohistribe.Thereisonestorywhereashamanisareindeerhunterandhe
doesn'tliketoshamanize,sohealwaysslipsawaytojusthuntreindeerbecauseit'shisfavoriteoccupation.Buteverytimehedoesthathefallsill.Hefinallygivesin
andsays,"No,Ihavetoservemypeople.Withmyinnerexperiences,Ihavetoservemypeople.Ican'tliveaprivatelifeasahappyreindeerhunteranymore."
Thisnecessityalsoarisesinourstory,becausetheprinceiscalledupontochangetheexistingcollectiveorderandthereforehehastobringhisexperienceback.Soit
isinterestingthatthecatinsistsheshouldgohomeandtakethatlinentohisfather,thathecouldonlylegitimatelystaywithherafterhavingreconnectedwiththeworld
ofcollectiveconsciousnesshecamefrom.
Thencomesthisfunnydiscussion,wheretheheroasks,"Isittruethatthreedayswithyouareasmuchasayear?"Andthecatsays,"Yes.Evenmore.Sinceyouleft
whereyoucamefrom,nineyearshavepassed."Thereyouhaveanexampleoftherelativityofspace/timeinthecollectiveunconscious.Youcankeepthatinmind
wheneveryouhavetoprovetosomebodywhatJung,forinstance,inhispaperonsynchronicity,
31
justpresupposesormentions,thatinthedeeperlayersofthe
unconsciousspaceandtimebecomecompletelyrelative.Youseehereabeautifulexampleandtherearethousandsofsuchstories,wherealwayswhenyouareinthe
magicrealm,inthedepths,timebecomesdistorted.Itgetslongerorshorter,generallylonger.
ThereisthefamousstoryofRipvanWinklewhoplaysskittleswithsomegiantsoneevening,andthenwhenhecomesbackhisvillagehas
31
"Synchronicity:AnAcausalConnectingPrinciple,"TheStructureandDynamicsofthePsyche,CW8.

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disappearedandhediscoversthatheisadecaying,whitehairedoldman.Nobodyremembershimanymore.Hethinkshehasonlybeenawayoneeveningbuthehas
beenawayahundredyears.AndtherearemanystorieswheresomebodygoestoParadiseforoneday,andwhenhecomesbacknobodyremembershim,thevillage
hasgone,andthensomebodysays,"Yes,yes.Thereisarumorthatthreehundredyearsagotherewasonceamanandhedisappeared,"andwhenhehearsthathe
fallstoashesanddust.Hesuddenlydissolves.SoParadiseistimeless.InIrelanditisgenerallythefairyhillssomebodygoesintoahillforwhathethinksisafew
hoursoraneveningfeast,andwhenhecomesbackeverythingisgoneandhundredsofyearshavepassed.
Thisrelativityofspace/timeintheunconsciousaccountsforwhy,intherealmofthearchetypes,ourordinaryclocktimeisnotvalid.Sowhenonegoesintothedeeper
layersoftheunconscious,onesometimeshastelepathicdreamswecanseethefutureorwedreamaboutthepast,orweseeinadreamsomethingthatactually
happensfaraway.Fairytalesoftenspeakofsuchparapsychologicalphenomena.Inthiscaseitalsoshowsthatourherohasnotfallenintotheanimallevel,inthe
ordinarysenseoftheword,butintoasupernatural,archetypalrealmofthepsychewhichisconnectedwiththeinstinctbuthasarealspiritualaspect.
Thenthecattakesawhip,snapsitinthreedirections,andalightningcarriagecomesaBlitzwagen,afunnywordinGerman.Atsomelatertimeshedoesthat
againwhereitiscalledFeuerwagensothefirecarriagecomesandinittheygotothehero'shomeinnotime.Itdoesn'ttakenineyears.
Now,weshouldamplifythelightningorfirecarriageofthecatlady.ThesungodHelios,inGreekmythology,hasafierycarriageandwhenPhaeton,hisson,stealsit
fromhimhecrashesbecauseitisreservedforthegods.InGermanicmythology,DonarorThorhasacarriagedrawnbytwohegoatsandwhenherunsoverthesky
inthatcarriageitcausesthunderandlightning.Ingeneralwecansaythatinallmythologiessuchacarriageisreservedforthegods,miraculouscarriagesoflightningor
fire,solarcarriagesandsoon.InIndia,thegodsareveryoftenmovedthroughthetowninprocessionsoncarriages,sotherethecarriageisalsoasymbolofwhat
carriesthegod.InMysteriumConiunctionis,Jung

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quotesabeautifulcommentonthisfromanalchemicaltext:
Taketheserpent,andplaceitinthechariotwithfourwheels,andletitbeturnedaboutontheearthuntilitisimmersedinthedepthsofthesea....Andthereletthechariotwith
thewheelsremain,untilsomanyfumesriseupfromtheserpentthatthewholesurface...becomesdry.
32
Whatissoimportantaboutthecarriageisthefourwheels.Thecarriageisamandalawithfourwheelsaroundit,andthatcanbecomparedtothechariotvisionof
Ezekiel.Youcansaythatthetotalstructureofconsciousnessisthecarriage,becauseitismanmade.Itdoesn'thavemuchtodowithinstinct.Asthestructureof
consciousnessthecarriageservesthegods.Throughthevehicleofegoconsciousnessthegodsareincarnatedoractualized.Theycannotmoveafingerifhuman
consciousnessdoesnotcarrythem.That,forinstance,isthedeeperreasonfortheseprocessionswherethegodsaremovedthroughthecrowdsoncarriagesitisto
remindpeoplethatthegodisinawaybanishedinhistemple,andhecan'tdoanythingifhedoesn'tmove.Hehastobecarriedbytheconsciousnessofthepeople.
That'swhyinIndia,stilltoday,sometimespeoplethrowthemselvesunderthecarriage.Thatwouldbeanunconsciousgesture,asiftosay,"Isacrificemylifetoserve
aconsciousnessthatpromotesthelifeofthegods."That'smoreorlesswhatthatgesturemeans."Ihavetogiveupmyego.Isacrificemyselfsothatthegodscan
move,cangoonliving."
Inmanyreligionsyoufindthatrealization.Peopleknowthatagodinwhomnobodybelievesanymore,andofwhomnobodyisconscious,isadeadgod.Agod
nobodybelievesin,orpraystoorthinksaboutisnothing,nonexistent.Forinstance,theEgyptiansalwaystooktheirgodstatuestotheNileandwashedthem,put
creamoverthemandthencarriedthembackintothetemple.Thatwastheirwayofsaying,"Ifwedon'tdosomething,ifthegodsarenotrenewedbyouractivity,then
theywouldjustrotawayinacornerofthetemple.Theywouldbenothing."It'sourconsciousnessthatisnecessary.That'swhyitissoimportanttobeconsciousof
thelifeofthearchetypes,becauseifwearenotconsciousofthe
32
CW14,par.260.

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autonomouslifeofthearchetypesinthepsyche,thentheyareseeminglynonexistentand,infact,evendestructive.Thatiswhyinasocietywherethearchetypesareno
longerhonoredinanyway,believedinortakencareofconsciously,youhavesurrogates,morbidpoliticalideas,ismsofallkinds,ordrugs.Youhaveallthe
destructivepowersovertakingpeople,becausethegodscannotmovewithouthumans.Theyareparalyzedifwedon'tcarrythem.
So,tocomealongwaybacktoher,ifourcatiscapableofcallingupafireorlightningcarriagewiththecrackofawhip,sherevealsinthatmomentthatshe'sa
goddessandnotjustacat.SheisagoddessandsheistheVirginMary'sshadow,notawoman.Andnowyouseemorewhatthejewelsbehindthemeatare.Our
herowantedthefleshandinsteadhefellintothejewels,theeternalorthedivine.Hehastorealizethedivineaspectoftheflesh.Itisnotenoughforinstance,fora
Christianwhohasupuntilnowdespisedtheflesh,tosay,"NowI'mgoingtothrowmyprudishprejudicesoverboard.I'mgoingtohavejuicysexandenjoyit."That
wouldbeeatingtheflesh.That'snothing.Ifhedoesthathedoesn'tmoveoneinchoutoftheoldkingdom,he'sstillcaughtinit.Heonlyaddsthedimensionofso
calledsintoit.Butnothinghashappened.Hehastorealizethatthefleshisaformofthedivine,adivinerevelation,andthatsexualityissomethingdivine.
That'swhatJungfoughtwithFreudabout.HeagreedcompletelywithFreudthatsexshouldbeliberatedandshouldbelived,nottreatedwithprudishrepression,but
hewantedtosaythatsexisareligiousexperienceasinTantra.Andifyouliveit,therefore,onlywiththeidea,"That'sveryhealthyformyhormonesandmakesme
physicallyfeelbetter,"thenyouhavemissedthewholepoint.Thenyouhaveeatendeadmeat,rottenmeat.Theredemptionofthefemininemeansnottheredemption
ofthefleshitmeanstheredemptionofthedivinityoftheflesh,ofthedivine,archetypal,godlikeaspectoftheflesh,andtheimplicationsofthatareverydifficultand
complicatedtoexplaininpracticallanguage.
Ininterpretingsuchafairytale,youseehowimportantitistoamplifyindetail.Onecouldveryeasilysay,"Oh,thiscatstoryisjusttheChristianprejudiceagainstthe
feminineandagainsttheanimalbodilyside,andherewehavethecompensatorystorycomingupandit'sanintegra

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tionofthedarkfeminine."Ifyoudidthat,youwouldn'tbecompletelywrong,onlyapproximatelyright.Butyouwouldhavemissedthepointofthewholestory,which
youcanonlygetifyoureallygointoeverybitofthedetailwhythemeatisturnedintojewels,whythecathasadivinecarriagethatnormallyonlygodsuse,andso
on.Onlybylookingatthosedetailsabsolutelyaccuratelyandamplifyingthemcanyougettherealstorybehindit.Otherwiseyoujusthaveanintuitiveoverview,akind
ofoutlineofsomethingyouknowalreadythatpatriarchalChristianityiswrongaboutthefeminineandthephysicalinstincts.That'strivial.Youdon'tneedafairytale
tofindthatout,everybodyknowsit.Butthisstorywaswonderfuldetailsthathelpustoseemuchdeeper.

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Disenchantment:Cuttingoffthecat'sheadandtail
(FromTheWhiteCat,byMme.D'Aulnoy,Edinburgh,1847)

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7
TheReturn
Ontheirwaytothehero'shome,thecatsaystohim,"Takethisnutwithyou,butdon'topenittillyourfatherasksyoutogivehimthelinen."Whenhecomestowhere
hisfatherandhistwootherbrothersarehejustdescendsfromheaveninthisfierycar.Thefatherandthebrothersareterrifiedbyhisarrivalbuthegreetsthempolitely
andthenthefatherasks,"Haveyoubroughtmesomething,son?"Theboysays,"Yes,father,"andwiththesewordshebreaksthenutthecathadgivenhimandfinds
insideitacornofmaize,andwithinthecornofmaizethereisacornofwheat,andwhenheseesthathebecomesreallyangryandthinksthecathascheatedhim."To
thedevilwiththecat,''hesays,andsuddenlyfeelsinvisibleclawsscratchinghimandseesbloodrunningdownhishand.Thenhesquashesthecornofwheatandfinds
theseedofaweed.Andwhenhebreaksthatopen,finallyoutcomesahundredmetersofthinfinelinen,whichhegivestohisfather.
Soherethecatgiveshimwhathehastobringtothefatherinaverystrangeform.Firstanut,thenamaizecorn,thenawheatcorn,thenaweedseed,andfinallythe
linen.Fourformsandthenasaquintessencecomesthelinen.Nowwehavetoamplifytheproblemofwhatanutingeneralrepresents.
Nutsfrequentlyappearinmythologicalliterature.Theyarefamousforthefactthattheyareoutwardlyhardandinedibleandifyoudon'tknowhowtopenetratetheir
thickshellyoucanstarve,butfinallywithinthereisasweetkernelrichinvitaminandfatandverynourishing.Itisoneofthefoodspeoplecankeepforarelativelylong
timeandevenpreservethemforthewinter.Youcancollectthemintheautumnandeatthemallwinterlong.It'soneofthoseveryoriginalfoodsofmankind.In
medievalmythologythenutwascalledasymbolofChrist,ofHisTeaching,becauseitisoutwardlyhardanddifficulttopenetrate,butifonegetsintoitthenitissweet
andnourishing.That'showtheChurchFathersintheMiddleAgesinterpretedthenut.Thesamearchetypalideaappliesto

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anythingthatfromoutsideappearsimpenetrable,butinsideisofpositivevalue.Iwillleaveitatthatforthemomentandgotothenextbit,thecornofmaize.
Cornisaproductoftheearthmotherandsoisassociatedwithfertility.Butithasthecolorofthesun,soit'slikeaunionofopposites.Ithasasolarquality,butit
growsoutoftheearthandbelongstothegreatearthmotherandfertility,likewheat.MaizeinNorthAmericanIndianmythologyhasverymuchthesameroleas
wheat,thefoodofDemeter,inGreekmythology.OnlyIhaven'tfoundinAmericanIndianmaterialtheadditionalqualitywheathasattributedtoit,whichisthatwheat
isalwaysassociatedwithdeathandresurrection.YouevenhaveintheBible,"Ifthatcornofwheatdoesn'tdie...."
33
andsoon.ThatalludestotheEleusinian
mysterieswherethedeadwerebelievedtogobackintothewombofmotherearth,justlikecornisplantedintheearth,andthereforeithasameaningofresurrection.
TheGreekskeptpotsintheirhouseholdscontainingakindofhoneyjamwithwheatcornsinit.Thosepotswereakindofsymbolichomesymmetry,asymbolofthe
underworldandthedeadinit.AtafeastsimilartowhatisnowourFastnachtinSwitzerland,theGreeksopenedthosepotsandassumedthatthentheghosts,asthe
underworldwasopened,cameback,roamingaroundandmakingcontactwiththelivingforthosethreedays.Afterward,onecleansedthehousewithsacredtwigs
andsoon,andsaidtothedead,"Returntotheunderworld,"andclosedthepotsagain.
Sothepotswiththosewheatcornswerereallytheunderworldwiththedeadrestingwithinthewombofmotherearth.Theywereasymbolofthat.Andthedead
werealsocalledDemetrioi,thepeopleofDemeterorthosewhobelongtoDemeter.Thespiritualsymbolicaspectofthewheatismoredevelopedthanthatofthe
maizebutbasicallytheyhavethesamemeaning,ofbelongingtotheGreatMother,beingthebasicfoodofman,thefertilityoftheearthandthelifeofman,soto
speak.Onlythewheathasthistranscendentresurrectionmeaningaswell.
Ourherothinksthecathascheatedhim,butIwilladdressthisinter
33
[John12:24:"Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,Exceptacornofwheatfallintothegroundanddie,itabidethalonebutifitdie,itbringethforthmuchfruit."(KingJames)Ed.]

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mezzoafterward.Thenexttime,whenhecrushesthewheatcorn,hefindstheseedofaweed,somethingcompletelyuseless.Ihavenotfoundanyamplificationofthat
weedsoIcanonlyassumefromthehero'sangerthatitisasymbolofcompleteuselessness,ofsomethingonewantstopulloutatallcosts,asheernuisance.Afterhe
opensthathefindsthelinen,thethinghewaslookingfor,thethinghehadtobringtohisfather,whichweamplifiedalready.
Nowwhatdoesthatmean?Thatcangiveoneaheadache.Whydoesthecatgivehimthatsequenceofsymbols:nut,maize,wheat,weedandthenthetreasureofa
quintessence?
ThenutcanbeassociatedwiththeSelfinsomeways,oranaspectoftheSelf,oranaspectofthetotalityoftheunconscious.NowinGermanandEnglishtoowe
speakofcrackingnutsassolvingproblems.''Adifficultnuttocrack,"wesay,aticklishproblem,somethingdifficulttohandle,somethingthatresistsasolution.One
hastocrushitorbitethrough.Allcontainers,anythingthatservesasacontainer,haveafeminineconnotation.Butthatwouldbethenutshell.Thenutasawholeisnot
justthefeminine.Itisasymboloftotality,afemininecontainerwithnourishingcontent.Thenyouhavethemaize,whichwouldbebasichumanfood,thenourishment
ofmotherearthandallwehavesaidaboutnourishmentandwhatthatmeans,andthenwehavethewheatwhichisagainabasicnourishmentbutwithaspiritualand
transcendentconnotation,andthenthere'ssomethingcompletelyuselessthefourthnaturallyistheuselessone,thatmustbesoandthencomesthequintessence,
thesearchedformaterial.
WhatIthinkisthatthosefourstepsarelikethestagesoftheprocessofindividuation,leadingtothetranscendentfunction.Whenwefirstapproachtheunconscious,it
isahardnutforustocrack.Wecan'tpenetrateit,wedon'tunderstandourdreamsandsoonwehavetobitethroughtounderstanddreamsandwearerepelleduntil
wegetintothemandfindthereisamessagewithin,somethingthatnourishes.Youoftenseethatinanalysis.Peoplewhohaveaheavydepressionorsomeother
problem,generally,iftheyhavehadothertypesofanalysisbefore,orneverhadanyanalysis,atfirstarebewilderedbyourJungianmethods.Wesay,"Anydreams?"
andthenwebegintonutcrackdreamsymbols,

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andtheywonderwhatthathastodowiththeirmaritalproblemordepressionuntiltheydiscoverforthemselvesthatyes,theirdreamshavealifegivingmessage,and
thentheybegintorealizethenourishingaspectsoftheunconscious.Forinstance,theyleavetheanalytichourfeelingbettertheycameintothehourdepressedand
theyhaven'tunderstoodmuchyet,buttheyfeelbetter,morehopeful.Theycomeincontactwiththenourishingaspectoftheunconscious,thenutandthemaize,and
thisbeginstogivesomevitalitytoconsciousness,toimpartsomehope.Wheatwouldbethenextstage.Whenpeoplebegintonoticethatintheunconsciousthereisa
numinousspirituality,thatthedreamsarenotonlygoodadvisersformarital,professionalorsexproblems,thatwouldbetheresurrectionaspectofthewheat,its
spiritual,transformativeaspect.
Andthensuddenlycomestheweed.Itisanenantiodromia.Firstit'salwayssomethingbetter,thensuddenlycomessomethinguseless.Theweediscertainlyinthe
samerowastheotherthings,asifthereisalwayssomethingmorepreciousandthenthereissomethingthatisnotpreciousbutwhichmusttherefore,atleasttomy
feeling,bepreciousthroughitsnotbeingprecious.IfyouthinkoftheRomanianpopulation,thenthatweedissimplywhatisuseless,buttheuselessmustbeprecious.
Nowinwhatwayistheuselessnessoftheunconsciousprecious?
Firsttheunconsciousisdifficulttopenetrate,togetatitscore,thenyouarenourishedbyit,thenyouprofitfromthespiritualenlightenmenttheunconsciouscangive,
andthatbringsacertainspiritualresurrection.Thenyouproceedtouselessness,whichmeansthatonehastogiveuptheideaofusingitforegopurposes.Itisthe
sacrificeofrelatingtotheunconsciousforprofit.Thatcomesrelativelylateinanalysisbecause,naturally,everyanalysandfirstlearnstorelatetotheunconsciousin
ordertoprofitfromit,tohavehisorherneurosiscured,togetadviceforunsolvedproblemsandsoon.Butafterlongcontactwiththeunconscious,thedaycomes
whenonehastogivethisup,stoptreatingtheunconsciousasamotherwhoadvisesonewhattodo.Ifyoualwaysthink,"Ican'tmakeupmymind,Ihavetoaskthe
unconscious,"thentheunconsciousgivesambiguousadvice,andthat'swhenpeoplesay,"Theunconscioushascheatedme,theunconscioushasdeceivedme."
Jungalwayssaidthatthelongeroneanalyzes,overtenorfifteen

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years,say,andifyougoonwiththeanalysis,thenthedreamsbecomemuchmuchmoredifficultandcomplicated.Forinstance,manyoldtimecolleaguescometome
fromtimetotimeandIlovetoseethem,butIhateitbecausetheybringsuchcomplicateddreams(naturallytheywouldinterprettheothersthemselves).Theyknow
themselveswhattheycouldmean,andtheyaresoticklishandifIdidn'thavethiscomfortingexpression,"Well,youknow,whenyouhaveanalyzedforsuchalong
timeitgetssocomplicated,youcan'treallyuseit,"itcouldbedifficult.Ithinkpartofthetrickofthatisthattheunconsciouswantstoweantheanalysandfromthis
childmotherorchildparentattitudetowardtheunconscious,wantingtomakeuseofitsadvice.Itbecomeslikeacrypticriddle.Thenifyoucanpenetratethose
seeminglyuselessdreams,theyhavemuchmoretodonotwithinsightbutwithsimplybeing,teachingpeopletobe,teachingpeoplenottohaveinsightortorealize
things,butteachingthemjusthowtobe.
ThebestparallelorillustrationIknowisinZenBuddhismwhere,afterthegreatenlightenment,inthefamousseriesoftheTenOxherdingPicturesyouhavefinallythe
pictureofsatoritheimageoftheoldmanwithabeggar'sbowlgoingaboutthemarketandthedescription,"Hehasforgottenthegods,hehasforgottenthe
enlightenment,hehasforgotteneverything,butwhereverhewalks,thecherrytreeblossoms."
34
Thatmeanshe'sbecomecompletelyunconsciousagain.AnotherZen
Masteroncesaid,"Aftertheenlightenment,youcanjustaswellgointoaninnandgetdrunkandcarousearoundandjustliveanordinarylife.Forgetallaboutit
again."Butnaturallythisforgettingisnotaregression.Itisnotsimplyareturntothepreviousunconsciousness.It'sstillprogress.It'saprogressionintoTaoist
uselessness,tojustbeing.Andthewholeintellectualaspectoftheanalysis,thatonealwayssearchesforinsightandforinstructionfromtheunconscious,toagreat
extentgoesaway.Thatwouldbethehigheraim,thereforeIthinkitisrightthatitis
34
J.MarvinSpiegelmanandMikusenMiyuki,BuddhismandJungianPsychology(Phoenix,AZ:FalconPress,1985),p.113.[TheillustrationalsoappearsinvonFranz,Alchemy:
AnIntroductiontotheSymbolismandthePsychology(Toronto:InnerCityBooks,1980),p.161.Ed.]

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uselessbutatthesametimeitisauselessnessthatisahigherachievementthanthestagesbefore.
Aftertheherofindsthelinentheemperorsaysthatwhicheverofhisthreesonschoosesthemostbeautifulgirl,thatoneshallbeemperor.Thebrothersagreeandthe
youngestjustsitsinhisfierycarandgoesbackwiththecat.
Now,theincidentIpostponeddiscussingearlieriswhenhegetsangryopeningthenut.Hefindsthemaizeandthewheatandsays."Thedamncathascheatedme."
Thenhe'sscratchedbyinvisibleclawsandsuddenlydiscoversthathishandisbleeding.Thecatisobviouslyinvisiblypresent.Shehascomewithhimbutnotinvisible
formandthatproves,likethefierycarriage,thatsheisdivine.Shehastheinvisibleomnipresenceofadivinefactor.She'snotanordinarycat.Itallunderlinesthatshe
isreallyadivinecat.Bastetcoulddothat,agoddesscoulddothat,butanordinarycatcouldnot.
Whentheyarrivebackthecataskshim,"Now,whathaveyoudone?"Hetellshereverythingandthatheshouldnowhaveagirlbecausethesonwhobringsthemost
beautifulbrideshallhavetheempire.Thecatlistensverycarefullybutsaysnotaword.So,heliveswiththecatagainforawholemonthuntilonedayshesays,"Don't
youwanttogohome?""Oh,Idon'twanttogohome.Ihavenoreason,"hereplies.Graduallytheyhadfalleninlove.Thenonedaytheyoungheroasksthecat,"Why
areyouacat?''Sheanswers,''Don'taskmeyet.Askmesomeothertime.Ihatetoliveintheworld.Let'sgotogethertoyourfather."Shetakesthewhipagainand
makesasoundwithitinthreedirectionsthefierycarriageappearsandtheybothgotohishome.
Hereagainthecatispromotingtheprocess.Themanisquitesatisfiedwiththesituationasitisbutsheisn't,because,asweseefromthisallusion,sheisreallyunhappy
tobeacat.Shesuffersinhercatstateandnowshebetraysit.Beforesheseemedtobequitecheerfulandallrightinhercatstate,butnowshesaysshe'sunhappy
andhateslivinginthisworld.Thatgoestogetherwiththefactthat,forthefirsttime,itissaid,"Intimetheybegantobeinlovewitheachother."Before,thecatwas
livinginthewoods,seeminglyhappilysheacceptshimandshemakeshimtheemperorandherlord.Theylivetogetherbutnowthecatissud

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denlynotcontent.Theyaredevelopingahumanfeelingit'sbeginningtobecomeahumanattachment,ahumanrelationship,andthatcreatesaproblemforthecat.
Beforeitseemedthecathadn'tknowntherewassuchathingorhadn'tmissedit,butnow,byfallinginlovewiththeheroandhewithher,shebeginstolongto
becomehuman.
Itistheimpulseofthedivinetobeincarnated,andthatwouldmean,iftheman'sanimaisstillinadeeroracat,orsomeotheranimal,itismorepowerfulandmore
magicalbutitlackshumanqualities.Amanwhohasadivinecatanima,orforthatmatteradivinebearordeeranima,isinlovewithafantasy,withafascination.
Theseanimalsarefascinating.Whensomethingisdivineitisnuminous,andthenuminosumisalwaysfascinating.Thatwouldmeanheisoverwhelmed,fascinatedby,
thefeminine,buthecannotrelatehumanlytoit.Heis,inaway,toooverwhelmedandtoofascinatedtohavearealrelationship.Headoresthewomanorherunsafter
herhehuntsherlikeadeer,likeananimalofprey,buthehasnotyetanyunderstandingofherasahumanbeing.Now,therefore,andquiterightly,thearchetypal
figurewantstobecomelessdivineandmorehuman,wantstoincarnateinhumanformtoestablishahumanrelationship.
So,forthesecondtime,theygohometotheoldemperorandthistimewhentheyarrivetheemperorsays,"Haveyounowife?Youarenotmarried?Whereisyour
wife?"Andtheyoungheroshowsthecatinhergoldenbasketandsays,"Heresheis."Theemperorsays,"OhLord,whatdoyouwantwithacat?Youcan'teven
talkwithher."Thecatisangeredbythesewordssoshejumpsoutofthebasketandescapesintoanotherroom.Thereshedoesasomersaultandturnsintothe
beautifulgirlshewasbefore,sobeautifulthatyoucouldlookintothesun,butyoucouldn'tlookatherwithoutbeingblindedbyherbeauty.
Thatseemstobeastandardfairytaledescriptionofsomethingsupernaturallybeautiful.It'sawonderfulwaytodescribethenuminosumonejusthastoshutone's
eyesbecauseitistoooverwhelming.Itshowsagainthatevennow,whenshetakesonhumanform,sheisstilloverwhelminglydivine,divinelybeautiful.Herethe
emperormakesasillyremark,shegetsannoyedandthatmakesherdohersomersault,andatleasttemporarilybecomehuman.

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Theemperor,aswehaveseen,representstheconventionalChristianprincipleofconsciousness,whichtowardtheanimalhastheattitudethatsheisnothingbutacat.
Thatisacollisionbetweentheherothenewformofconsciousnesswhoisexperiencingthedivinityofhisanimalside,themysteriousspiritualdivinityofanimal
instinct,andtheoldemperorwhodoesnotseethedivinityoftheinstinct.Heistheoldprinciplewiththeoldprejudice:"Nothingbutacat.Youcan'ttalktoacat!"
InItaly,forinstance,ifonescoldspeoplewhentheytortureanimals,beattheirdonkeysorkickthecat,theyveryoftenanswer,"Nonchristiano,"it'snotChristian.
ThatshowstherealscornacertainChristianteachinghastaughtus.Thatscorndevelopedbecauseinearliertimesanimalswereseenasdivineandthereforetheyhad
tobedepreciated.Theywerepagangodsandhadtobeputdown.ItwasnothatredofanimalsthatmadetheearlyChurchFatherstalksoscornfullyaboutthem,but
becausetheyhadwitnessedanimalworshiptheyhadtoputitdown.Thatiswhathasbredacertainscornfortheanimal.Itwasallastrongasceticspiritualreaction
againstthetoounconscious,tooindulgentlifeofthelatepaganworld,whichhadalreadylostitsspiritualityandwasadecayingcivilization.Soincompensationthere
wasthisstressingofthespiritual,whichdidharmtotheinstinctual,animalworld.
Ouremperor,beingblindtothedivinityofthecat,nowshowsthisscorn,whichirritatesherandpromptshertoturnintoahumanbeing.heteasesherintoshowingher
power.Soonecouldsaythatthisscornfulremarkisnotaltogethernegativebecauseitbringsouttheotherside.Byinsultingthecat,bydespisingher,heforcesher
out."I'llshowyou,"shesay,andoutshecomes.ItshowsthatthisChristiandevelopmentofgoingagainsttheanimalgodshadacertainmeaning:itcreatedatension
outofwhichagreaterhumanizationcouldthenemerge.Hersomersaultisacompleteoverturningofthestandpoint.Theheadgoesdown,thefeetgoup,andthenyou
comeback.
Ionceheardofamanwithacompulsionneurosis,atheologian'sson,whohadbeenbroughtupvery,verystrictlyChristianinarepressiveandnegativeway.Hehad
allsortsofobsessionsandneuroticsymptomsandcouldn'tfallsleep.Thenhedevelopedaritualwhenhecouldn'tsleepatnight.Inbedafterhisprayer,whenthelight
hadbeenputout,hefirst

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madeasomersaultonewayandthenasomersaulttheother.Withoutthatritualhecouldn'tfallasleep.InaFestschriftforC.A.Meier,you'llfindanarticlebyDr.
SonjaMarjaschonthesomersault,
35
withalotofamplificationsandseethatbasicallyitisthisturningupsidedown.Thisman'scompulsionsaid,ineffect,heshould
giveuphispresentstandpoint,turnitcompletelyaround,thenreverseitagain,andthenhe'dbecured.
Everycompulsion,thoughitisdestructiveandnegativeinitsconcreteform,hasasymbolicmessage.Ifsomebodyhastowashtheirhandsnervously,theyreallyshould
cleanuptheiract,butpsychologically,notbywashingtheirhandstwothousandtimesuntiltheskinisoff.Sothatsomersaultisofcourseabsolutelyjustastupidritual
andaverysickritual,butitexpresseswhatshouldbedonepsychologically.Heshouldcompletelychangehisstandpoint,twice,beforehewouldbecapableofliving.
Forinstance,heshouldgocompletelyagainsthisparents'strictChristianupbringingandthenreacquireitonalivinglevel,onhisownpersonallevel,reacquirethe
samestandpointbutdifferently.Thenhewouldbecured.Withcompulsivesymptomsyoumustalwaysaskwhatthesymptomreallysays.Andthat'sexactlywhat
shouldhappen.
Veryofteninfairytales,asomersaultisawaytotransform.Itisalsoaritualofresurrection,forinstanceattheEgyptianfunerals.Youfindinthetombspaintingsof
dwarfsturningsomersaults,doingallsortsofgymnasticsbutespeciallysomersaults,andthatwastohelptheresurrectionoftheking.Theideaisthatresurrectionisa
kindofsomersault.Yougodownandthenyoucomeupagaininanewform.Itmightalsohavetodowiththefactthat,asyouknow,thebabyinthemother'swomb,
ifitisbornnormally,oftenmakesasomersaultbeforebirthandcomesoutheadfirst.Sothesomersaultcandenoteabirthprocess,andpossiblytheobservationof
thisfactledtheEgyptianstohaveclownsandclowningdwarfsprobablytheywerebushmenprisonersreallydosomersaultsalongtherouteofthefuneral
processionoftheking,whichaccordingtothetextswasmeanttosupporttheking'sresurrectionprocess.
Sothecatenactsthisrebirthortransformationritualandappearsasa
35
"EineFreundesgabe,"inDerPurzelbaumSpectrumPsychologiae(Zurich:RascherVerlag,1965),pp.9196.

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beautifulgirl.Thenshecomesoutoftheroomandgoesrighttoourhero,theyoungestson,andembraceshim.Whenthefatherandthetwobrothersseethattheyare
absolutelypetrified.Thenthefatherbecomesveryenthusiasticandsaystohisson,"Trulyyouhavethemostbeautifulwifeandyoumusthavemywholeempire."But
thegirlcan'tstaylonginthisstateandwhiletheherosays,"No,father.Ialreadyhaveanempireandacrown,"sheagaindoesasomersaultandreturnstohercatstate
andtoherlittlegoldenbasket.Thentheemperortakesthecrownandputsitontheheadofhisoldestson.
Theyoungheroleaveswiththecatandtheyreturntotheirownhome.Butonthewayhescoldsherfornotremainingabeautifulwoman,forreturningtoacatstate.
Nowwhydoyouthinkshecan'tstaylonginthestateofabeautifulwoman?Shehastoreturntohercatstatebecausetheyoungsonhasn'tdoneanythingyetforher
transformation.Theoldemperorhasteasedherintoatransformation,byopposition,buttheherohasn'tyetdoneanythingforherredemption.Onthecontrary,he
wantstoreturnwithhertothecatkingdom.Wecansayhesuffersfrominertia.Hereproachesherfornotstayingabeautifulgirl,butsofarhehasn'ttakenanysteps
andsheneedshiscooperationtotransformpermanently.Butnowheisteasedenoughandshesays,"IwillexplaintoyoulaterwhyIhavetobeacat.There'sacurse
onme."Sotheyreturnhomeandliveagainasbefore.
Oneday,whiletheheroisouthunting,thecatsharpensthreesabersandwhenhecomesback,aftertheyhavetalkedalittle,shepretendstobeill.Andthen,asyou
remember,sheasksthathecutoffhertailandcutoffherheadandthatisthefinaltransformation.So,youseethecatgoesaboutitveryslowly,becauseevenwhen
theycomehomeshedoesn'ttellhimimmediatelyhowshecanberedeemed,butonlyaftertheylivetogetheragainforawhile.Thenshecarefullypreparesthesword
andpretendstobeillinordertomaketheherodosomethingaboutit.Onlythendoessheaskhimtocutoffhertailandherhead.
Whydoesshegoaboutthissocarefully?Wellwemustimaginethesituationoftheyounghero,notforgettingthatthecatisakindofpsychologistandthatshehasto
preparehimpsychologically.Heisnotevencapableofsharpeningthesword.Shehastopreparethesituationbecause

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hewon'tdoit.Ifsheaskedhimstraightouttocutoffhertailhejustwouldn't,andifsheaskedhimtobeheadher,hewouldneverdothateither.Heloveshermuch
toomuchinhercatstate,soshereallyhastopreparehimpsychologically,preparetheweaponsandthenmakehimsufferbyherillness,tillshethinksnowmaybehe
isdesperateenoughtodowhatsheasks.Soyouseehowthecatissuperior.Butwecanonlyunderstandwhythatpreparationissolongifwegointotheproblemof
whatthebeheadingandcuttingoffofthecat'stailandheadmeans.
Thecatpretendstobeillandheasks,"Mydear,what'sthematterwithyou,"andshesays,"Oh,I'mverysickIfyoulovemeandwanttodosomethinggoodforme,
thencutoffmytail.It'stoobigandtooheavy.Ican'tcarryitanymore."Andtheyoungherobeginstocomplain,"No,youmustn'tdie,Iwouldratherdiemyself.I
haveacream,Iwillhealyouwiththat."Andwhensheinsiststhatheshouldcutoffhertail,hefinallydoesandwhathappens?Shechangesintoagirlbutonlyhalfway,
tothehips,whiletheotherhalfremainsacat.Andthenhemakesthesameobjectionwhenshewantsherheadcutoff.So,let'sfirstlookatthecat'stail.
Dogstoo,butcatsespecially,expressmoodswiththeirtail.Mostanimalshaveafaceatthefront,thehead,andbehindisanotherface,thetail.KonradLorenzwrites
alotaboutthat"hindface"ofanimals,thetail,withwhichtheyexpresstheirmoods,andthisisespeciallytrueofcats.
36
Theyaremarvelous.Whentheyarehappy
theyputtheirtailupwithalittlecurlontop,andthentheyliedownandwhentheygetirritated,theybeatalittlewiththetailandthensuddenlywhenthey'vehad
enoughtheyattack.Youneedneverbeclawedbyacat.Shealwayswarnswithhertailfirst,withthiskindofnervousbanging.So,sheexpresseshermoods,her
emotions,herlove,heraggression,irritation,friendliness,withhertail.Now,ifhertailiscutoff,whatwouldthatmeanpsychologically?
Herewehaveadivinecatanima,agoddess,andinordertobecomehumanhertailmustbecutoff.Onecansay,ingeneral,thatifsomethingturnshumanthenone
canintegrateit.Ifinadreamsomethingappearsin
36
ManMeetsDog(trans.M.K.WilsonHarmondsworth,UK:PenguinBooks,1969).

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ahumanpersonification,thenyoucantelltheanalysandthatheshouldbeabletointegrateit,butaslongasitappearsinanonhumanform,thenyoucan'texpectthat.
Hejustcan'tyet.Hehastoseeitandtobecomeawareofit,buthecan'tyetintegrateit.Sobecominghumanmeansthepossibilityofintegratingtheanima.Butshe
mustfirstbecomehuman.Ifthetailistheexpressionofunconsciousemotions,thencuttingoffthetailwouldmeananalyzing,discriminatinganddifferentiatingto
dissolveitintobits,whichwouldmeanamanhasfirsttoseparatehisemotions,theanimalemotionsinhim,andthenisolatethemsotospeak,saytohimself,"Now,
whatisthatabout?"
Take,forinstance,amanwhosuddenlyfeelsirritatedwithhisgirlfriend.Ifhedoesn'tcutthetailoffhiscathewilljusttakethatmoodoutonhisgirlfriend.Ifheholds
theirritationbackandcontinuestotalkonahumanlevel,askinghimself,"WhyamIsoirritated?WhydoIfeelthisway?"that'scuttingoffthetail,isolatingone's
irritationandthenanalyzingit."Whydoesitgetmygoatwhenshedoesthisorthat?"That'showamanwouldanalyzehisownanimatail.Byaskinghimselfwhyhis
animasuddenlygoesthump,thump!whyhegetssuchfeelings.
Yougenerallyfindquitedeep,complexproblemsbehindtheirritation.Foraman,thebestwaytocatchhisanima,sotospeak,andtobegintointegrateit,isto
questionhismoods,hisautonomousmoods.Forinstance,"WhydidIwakeupilltemperedthismorning?"Youwakeupandyouarejustinafoulmood.Already
breakfastiscoldandyoucouldshoutateverybodybutthen,ifyouanalyzethat"WhydidIwakelikethat?Wheredidthatcomefrom?Whendiditbegin?What
doesitreallyexpress?"youcancometowhatishappeninginside.
Ourcatgoddessbecomeshumannowuptothehips,butaboveshestillremainsacat.SonowshelookslikesomedepictionsofthegoddessBastet.Shenolonger
lookslikeananimal,butlikeagoddess.Sothetailobviouslyhastodonotwiththegoddessaspectbutwiththeanimalaspect.Thatwouldbethephysical,the
instinctual,alltheanimalreactions.Thetailisthehindend,theanimalendofher,andtheheadwouldbethedivineend.Firsthehastocutoffthetailend.Thatwould
meanhehastoanalyzehisphysicalandemotionalreactions,includingnaturallyhissexualreactionseverythingthatcomesfromhisanimalnature.Whenhis

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animawagshertailinallherdifferentways,that'swhathehastoanalyze,andthenshe'shumanized.
That'saninterestingthinginthisstory.Ihavenevermetitbefore.Sheishumanizedfrombelowupward.She'snothumanizedfromabovedownward,butfromthetail
up.Thatwouldmeanifamanwantstomakehiscatanimaconscious,hehastobeginwiththetail,withallhisanimalreactions.Iwouldnotconfineittosexitincludes
anyanimalreaction,whichmeansphysicalinstinctualreactionssuchasaggression,sexfantasies,irritations,fascinations,everythingthatcomesupfromthebodyas
wellassensationsandmoodshehasduringsexualintercourse.Thatisbecomingawareoftheanimaandallthefantasiesthatgowithher.Butthensheisonlyhalf
humanized.SheisdeanimalizedbutsheisstilldivinebecausenowshelookslikethegoddessBastet,portrayedbytheEgyptiansasahumanbeingwithacathead.
Nowourcatgoddesscomplainsagainandasksthatherheadbecutoff,andthenshebecomestotallyhuman.Soletuslookatwhatthatmeanspsychologically.
Weprojectintotheheadtheseatofintelligence,ofsight,ofinsight,ofawareness.Inananimalitwouldn'tbescientificthinking,butthereareallthesenses,smell,the
eyesandears,theseatofawarenessoftheworld.Wedon'tmakecontactbylookingandsniffingatthebehindofananimal.Wemakecontactbylookingattheface.
Contactwiththepsycheofhumanbeingsandanimalsisgenerallybylookingintotheeyesorbylookingatthefacialexpression.So,whatwouldthatbeifnowhehas
tocutoffthecatface?
Yousee,thatisthegreatmystery.Whatisanimalinushasadivineandaninstinctualaspect.Bycuttingoffthetail,amanbecomesawareoftheinstinctualaspect.But
thenhemustbecomeawareofthedivineaspectofcatthinking.Nevermindwhatreallygoesoninanordinarycat'shead,butwhatdoweprojectintoadivinecat's
head,intoBastet'shead?DoesBastetthink?RememberwhatwesaidaboutBastet,thatshethinksoffestivity,fertility,music,magic.Magicisveryimportantbecause
itisaspiritualactivitypleasure,thepleasureprinciple,communioninthevillagecommunityandsoon.ThosearethethoughtsofBastet,thespiritualcontentof
Bastet.Perhapsyoucouldsumitupbysayingthat

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themagicofliferesidesinBastet'shead.
Now,inaman,thepositiveanimaisthemagicoflife.That'swhyamanwhoisnotincontactwithhisanimaisdry,dull,intellectualandratherlifeless.Ihave
sometimesevendefinedtheanimaasthestimulustolife.Everythingthatstimulatesamanorfascinateshimcomesfromthepositiveanima.That'swhyifamanhasa
negativerelationshiptohisanimahebecomesdepressed,findsnopleasureinanythingandcriticizeseverything.Youknowthosegentlemenwhocometothetableand
criticizetheirwivesthesoupisn'tsaltyenough,themeatisstringyandsoon,andtheyjusttakeuptheirpaper.That'sthenegativeanima.Theyhavenocontactwith
theircat.
Sothepositiveanima,thedivineBastetanima,wouldbethestimulus,themagicoflife.Inordertohumanizetheanima,amanhastocutthatoffandanalyzeit.Why?
Becauseotherwiseheprojectsitontowomenandalwaysexpectsthemtoproducethestimulusandmagicoflife,justbecausehecan'tdoithimself.Therearemen
whocanonlybehappyifawarm,friendly,beautifulwomanlooksafterthem,andassoonasthewomanisaway,orhassomethingelsetodo,orhastheflu,theyfall
intoadarkhole.Theyhaveaninfantiledependenceontheprojectedanima.Soinordertohumanizetheiranimatheymustnotexpectthemagicoflifefromtheir
partner.Theymustfinditinthemselvesandknowthatthisisthedivineaspectoftheinneranima.Theymustseparateitfromthehumananimawithwhichherelatesto
thewoman.Thenheiscapableofrelatingtothewomanassheisandnolongerpossessedbyasubhumanorsuperhumananima.Bycuttingofftheheadandthetail,
hecutsoff,sotospeak,thesubhumanandsuperhumanaspectsoftheanima.Hebringshertohumansizeandthenhecanintegratehisfeelingsandexpressthemin
relationshipwithhispartner.
Theherotakesthesecondswordandcutsoffthecat'shead,andabeautifulgirlappears.Alltheothercatsinthepalacebecomehumanagainandthewholetown
looksasithadbefore.Everybodyhailstheempressandhetakesthatbeautifulgirlinhisarms,kissesherandishappy.Shesaystohim,"Fromnowonyouaremy
husband.IwascursedbytheMotherofGoduntilanemperor'ssonwouldcutoffmyhead.Nowlet'sgotoyourfather,butbecarefulofyourbrothers.Theywantto

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killyou."Sothentheygobacktothefather.
That'sveryodd.Why,sincesheknowshisbrotherswanttokillhim,dotheygoback?Hisfatherisabsolutelybesidehimselfwithdelightandfallsinlovewithhisson's
beautifulwife.Hethinksofkillinghissoninordertohavethegirlforhimself.Hesaystohisson,"Gohunting.Iwantsomegame."Whenheisgone,theemperorgoes
tothecatlady'sroom,butonhiswaythereacatappearsinhispath.Hesaystohisdaughterinlawthatsheshouldlovehim,butshejustgiveshimaslapontheface
andsays,"Whatdoyouwant,youoldhorror!"Whenherhusbandcomeshomeshetellshimwhatherfatherinlawhasdoneandsays,"Wemustleavehereatonce.
Let'sgohome."
Obviouslythecathasstillnotquitelostherdivine,magicqualities,becausesheknewaheadoftimethatthesituationwouldbedangerous,andagainaftertheoldman
hasattackedhershesays,"Wemustleaveatonce."So,shestillfunctionswiththerightinstinct,themagicknowledgeofwhatshouldbedone,butapparentlyshesays
onethinganddoesanother.Sheknowsit'sdangerous,thattheymustwatchout,buttheygotothecourtoftheoldmananyway,andsheletsherhusbandgohunting
thoughshesurelyknowsthattheoldemperorwantstosexuallyattackher.Howcanoneunderstandthisstrangekindofaction?
Ihavethefeelingshewantstochallengetheoldprincipleinordertohaveajustificationforovercomingit.Iftheyjustlivedhappilyeverafterintheirredeemedcat
palaceinthewoods,thentheoldemperorwithhistwoeldestsonswouldcontinuetoruleintheotherkingdom.Asaresultofwhathappens,heisdestroyed.SoI
thinkitistypicalcatmentality.Somethingmusthaveteasedherintosaying,"It'sverydangerous,"andintogoingtheretoprovokeortoseekaconfrontation.That's
alsowhysheslapstheoldemperorintheface.Nowwhatwouldthatmean,iftheoldemperorwantstohavehisdaughterinlawforhimself?
Thereareparallelsbutnotastoughasthisone.Thereis,forinstance,aGrimmfairytalecalled"FerdinandtheFaithfulandFerdinandtheUnfaithful."
37
Theretheking
sendsaherotofindabeautifulprincessforhimandwhentheherobringsthebeautifulprincessintothecourt,quite
37
TheCompleteGrimm'sFairyTales,p.566.

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willingtohandhertotheking,theprincesssays,''No,Idon'twanttomarrythatoldgentleman.Iwanttomarrythemanwhoconqueredme.''Andthenwithatrick
shekillstheoldkingandmarriesthehero.Thereisalsoakindofrivalrybetweentheoldking,whowantstheanima,thebeautifulnewwoman,forhimself,andthe
hero.It'snotsobadbecause,afterall,theherohadfetchedherintheserviceoftheking.Butherethecatladyisthelegitimatewifeoftheson,andtheoldemperor
triestojustjumpinandtakeher.
TheoldemperoristheoldconsciousChristianattitude.Andiftheoldconsciousattitudenowwantstohavethatnewlyredeemedfeminineforhimself,thatwouldlook
likeSusannahandtheelders,thelecherousoldmenthat'sacommonthemeofartandliterature.Concretelyitexists.Weallknowitexists.Ifyoutakeitassymbolic,
it'sthenewwineinoldbottles.Theemperorsymbolizestheoldprincipleofconsciousnessthatwantstointegrateortoprofitfromtherenewaloflifethathascome
forthinanotherdomain.Hewantstoassimilateitandwouldkillitifhecould.Thatpoorcatladywouldbelikeanunhappyoldhagwithinayearifshemarriedtheold
man.
Onesometimesseespeopleoffiftyandsixtywhodresslikehippiesandgoondrugtrips,doingallthosethingsthattherevolutionofthe60sand70sbroughtin.One
hasasensethattheyaretheoldkingstryinginanaivekindofwaytoliveitout,andtomethatjustlooksridiculous.Buttherearemoretrickyways.Forinstance,I
havesometimesbeeninvitedbyChristianacademiesofdrytheologianswhohadnosuccesswiththeircongregations,askingmetolectureonJungianpsychologyto
bringpeopleback,tofillthepewsagain.Thenwhenthechurchisfull,theypushmeaside,attackJungianpsychology,andgivealongsermonintheoldfashion,asif
theywouldtrytousethenewlifetorefilltheiremptytemples.Theydeliverthesameoldstufftheyhavealwaysdelivered,whichnocatwouldevertolerate.
AnoldprofessoroftheologyoncewenttoJungandaskedforaprivateinterview.Jungreceivedhimandthetheologiansaid,"Nowcome.Allthewomenadmireyou.
Tellmethetrick.Iwanttoknowaboutit."Jungsaid,"It'sjustmuchknowledgeandmuchhardwork.Goodbyeprofessor!"Butthemandidn'tgiveup.Hethought
Junghadatrick,so

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thenheinvitedattractivefemalestudentstohisstudio,andalwaysappearedwithhispantsnearlyopenorbarefeetorsomething,thinking,"Oh,perhapsit'sthat."
That'stheoldemperor.
Firsttheemperorwantstohavethecatlady,butsheresists,sohethrowsthecoupleintoprison.Buttheyescapeandputtogetheralargearmyanddeclarewaron
thefather.Weknowthecatshavenowturnedintohumanbeings,buttheyarestillcalledcats,probablyjusttodenotethearmyofthosewhohadoncebeencats.The
sonovercomesthefather,destroyshiswholearmy,andthefatheralonesurvives.Whenheseesthatheiscompletelylost,andhasnomorestrength,hesaystohis
son,"Pleasepardonme.Ihavedonenothingwronginmywholelife.Judgerightlyandyouwillrulemyempirewithjustice."Thenthereisthatlastline,"AndwhereI
havecomefrom,thatIhavetoldyou."Itistheritedesortieofthestoryteller,whichhasnothingtodowiththestoryanymore.
Thecatisstillverywiseandhasmagicpowerandthesonisstillabitweak.Heisnotyetacompleteman,andthat'swhyshestillhasthatmagicpoweroverhimand
whysheslyly,inacatwayreally,arrangesandprovokesthisconfrontationbetweenfatherandson.Shehastheintentionofmakinghimamanandforcinghimtotake
anabsolutestandagainsttheoldemperor,notjusttogoawayfromitbuttoreallysaywhatiswhat.ThatisabsolutelyonthemarkofwhatIfeeltoo,namelythat
somethingnewmustnotbepeacefullyinsertedintotheoldhabits.Therearecertainnewthingsthatonemusthavethehonestytocallnewandtostandupfor,because
otherwisethenewenergyislost.
JungoncesaidsomethingtomeafterIhadbeentovisitalotofoldrelativesandhadacatastrophicdreamthatnight.NowconsciouslyIthoughttheywereallold
horrorsandImadefunofthemandwenthome,butthatwasn'tenough.Theunconscioussaid,"No,thisisreallydangerous,"andJungsaid,"Yes.Ifonedoesnot
constantlywalkforward,thepastsucksoneback.Thepastislikeanenormoussuckingwindthatsucksonebackallthetime.Ifyoudon'tgoforwardyouregress.
Youhaveconstantlytocarrythetorchofthenewlightforward,sotospeak,historicallyandalsoinyourownlife.Assoonasyoubegintolookbackwardsadly,or
evenscornfully,ithasyouagain.Thepastisatremendouspower."Sotheovercomingoftheoldemperormeanstobeab

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solutelyinexorable,ruthlessaboutwhatisdifferentandnew.
That'swhatIfeelwehavetosayaboutJungianpsychology.That'swhy,tothegreatannoyanceofcertainofmycolleagues,Iamagainstmakingacocktailofabitof
Jungandbitsofotherthings,wateringthewholeofJungianpsychologydownuntilitisagainnineteenthcenturyphilosophy,andnolongertheshockingnewnesswhich
IfeelJungianpsychologyis.Itisreallyshockinglynew.Butonecanalsosuckitbackintotheoldsystemandsay,"Oh,that..."Jungianpsychologyhasahistory,it
hasnotfallenfromheaven,sotospeak,andofcourseJunghadalotofhistoricalforerunners.Buthiswayoflookingattheunconscious,andevenmore,thepractical
wayoflivingwithit,inthewayhetaughtit,iscompletelydifferentfromanyotherschool.It'ssomethingcompletelynew,anditshouldnotbewatereddownintopast
things.
Butthatcanhappenwithanythingnew.TheearlyChristians,forinstance,hadthesametrouble.Verysooncertainpaganmysterycultssaid,"Oh,JesusChrist.He's
thesameasOrpheusandDionysus."Theyhaveevenexcavatedamysterycultgrottowherethereisamosaiconthegroundwithgrapesinthemosaicandan
inscription"JesusDionysius."Therewasatremendoustendencytoreunitethewholethingwiththepast,toretranslatethenewmessageintothepastmessageandnot
viceversa.Sothenewmessageandthepastmessageareverysimilarandthenthequestionis,shallwetranslateitthatwayorthisway?TheearlyFatherstherefore
alwaysinsistedonsaying,''AlthoughChristissimilartoDionysus,Orpheusandsoon,heisdifferent.Itissomethingnew.Itisanotherwayoflife.Itisnotjusta
variationofwhatisalreadyknown."Andthatisimportantbecauseotherwisethelifegoesoutofitagainit'sjusttheoldstuffandthenbecomesatireddullthing.
That'swhattheoldemperoralwaystriestodowiththenewpossibilitiesoflife.
Nowonapersonallevelitisthesame.Peopleregress.Childrenwhohavelefthome,whentheyvisitagain,gobacktotheirhometownortotheiroldprofessionand
oldsurroundings,theyexperiencetheseregressions.Thepastcatchesthemandmanyhavenotthehardnessorthegutstomakeabreak.Incertainsituationsonehas
tomakeacutwiththepastandsay,"It'sfinished,done."Inmyownlife,forinstance,themostpainfulthingwasthatafterIhadbeeninanalysiswithJungforawhile,I

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outgrewalotofmyformerfriends.Theyweren'treallygreatfriends,butacquaintanceswithwhomIwentoutandenjoyedgoingoutandsoon.Andsuddenlythey
boredmetotears.Ihadgonebeyondthem.Icouldn'tcommunicatebuttheywantedtogooninthesameoldway,thesamesuperficialwayithadbeen.There,to
havethefirmnesstojustgetridofthatpastcanseemverycruelandunfeeling.Ihadatremendousconflictincertaincases.Someofmyoldfriends,naturally,who
wererealfriends,Ihavekept.That'sobvious.ButthereweremanypeoplewithwhomIhadjustdonethesillyoldfashionedthings,andtherewasnolifeinit
anymore.
Thereisasenseinthisfairytalethatshe,thecat,isthelinenwhichtheoldemperorhadyearnedforandsenthissonsouttofind.Theoldorderknowsinsome
unconsciousorfantasywaywhatitlacks,andwhenitcomesintoviewitwantstotakeitoverandclaimitforitsown,eventhoughagenerationhascomebetween.
Thereonehastoleavetheoldemperoralone.Onehastoleavethepasttoitself."Letthedeadburytheirdead,"asChristsaid.
38
38
Luke9:60(KingJames).

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Index
A
abandonment,3031,6667
aborigines,Australian,34
activeimagination,70,9697
Adam,andEve,52
addiction(s),3031.Seealsoalcoholism
affect,75
alchemy,22,49,74,9697,99
AlcoholicsAnonymous,30
alcoholism,21,3031,6569,7879
analysis,Jungian,910,12,3435,70,89,105107,120
Anat,40
anima,13,30,60,6667,6970,72,7581,88,92,94,109,113116
animism,42
animus,31,51,70,89,94
Annunciation,37
Aphrodite,47
Apophis,55
apple(s),4553,62
Apuleius:TheGoldenAss,39
archetype(s)/archetypal,1012,21,26,3334,4447,5253,5658,64,85,98,100,103104,109
Artemis,55
Arthur,King,46
associations,webof,70
Assumption,38,40,4445,66
Athena,47
Atlas,46
Australianaborigines,34
Avalon,46
B
Bardo,48
barrenness,2627,29
basket,92
Bastet,40,54,5559,114116
beating,8890
bed,8687
beheading,113116
bell(s),8385
bewitchment,5657,62,6869.Seealsowitch(es)
birth,supernatural,5051
"BlackPrincess,The"(fairytale),2627
blackmadonnas,32,4041
boat(s).Seeship(s)
Boehme,Jakob,74
BoyScouts,90
Buddhism,33,83,107
C
carriage,35,98101
cat(s).
Seealsofeminine/femininity
indreams,5960
headcutoff,16,20,62,102,112116
inmythology,5564
originof,inEgypt,58
palaceof,83101
redemptionof,108121
asshadowofVirginMary,61,100
tailcutoff,16,20,62,102,112116
andwitches,5662
Catholicism,3645,56,5962,6566.SeealsoChrist/Christianity
child,divine,51
childbirth,4753
Christ/Christianity,2527,29,31,3645,5053,56,5962,6566,69,77,83,100101,103104,110111,118,120121
Christie,Agatha:AnAutobiography,58
clock(s),8385
collectiveconsciousness,2526
dominantof,25,6566
Commonwealth,26
compensation,25,31,4243,53,5758,8789,110
complex(es),1213,66,87,114
compulsions,110111
conflict,4647,4950,63,83,89.Seealsoopposites
coniunctio,21,92
corn,103106

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courtlylove,60,93
craving,50
creativity,2728,70,7881
Crucifixion,36
Cusanus,Nicolaus,83
CyrilofAlexandria,37
D
Damian,Peter,38
deBoron,Robert,86
deTroyes,Chrtien,86
death,fantasiesof,4748
Demeter,74,104
Demetrioi,104
depression,2728,73,105106,116
DercetoAtargatis,40
Descartes,Ren,84
destiny,70,7880.Seealsofate
Dharma,33
Dionysus,120
divinechild,51
Docetism,36
dog(s),16,18,5960,7172,74,8081,113
Donar,98
dove,38
dream(s),13,26,28,35,42,51,105106
ofanimafigure,92
archetypal,910
ofcars,7172
ofcats,5960
ofdestruction,73,119
offlood,73
oflinen,68
telepathic,98
ofthunderstorm,75
DreamTime,34
drowning,3435,73
Dummling,11,78
dwarfs,111
E
Eden,Gardenof,46,49,57
Egypt/Egyptian,14,2224,33,3940,5559,99,111,115
Einsiedeln,4041
Einstein,Albert,84
Eleusinianmysteries,104
Eliade,Mircea:TheForgeandtheCrucible,34n
emperor/empress,2126,33,6568,109110.Seealsoking/kingdom
enantiodromia,106
Ephesus,Councilof,38
Eris,46
eros,30,63,66,70
Eskimos,48,74,91
eternity,85
EvangeliumdenativitateMariae,36
Eve,49,52
exvotos,40
F
fairytales,1013,2122,2531,4245,53,5657,6162,7071,93,96,98,109
Byname:
"TheBlackPrincess,"2627
"FerdinandtheFaithfulandFerdinandtheUnfaithful,"117118
"TheGoldenBird,"25
"TheGoldenGoose,"7778
"PussinBoots,"58
"Rapunzel,"50,53
"TheThreeFeathers,"68,80
fantasy(ies),11,4244,67,6970,94
creative,70,7881
ofdeath,4748
ofideallady,70,75
sexual,77
fate,68,70.Seealsodestiny
feminine/femininity,2931,3336,4153,5567,7581,83101,105121.
Seealsocat(s)
andmasculine,85,9294
redemptionof,4950,7681,8889,100101,112121
feminism,45,92,94
"FerdinandtheFaithfulandFerdinandtheUnfaithful"(fairytale),117118
firecarriage,98101,108
flesh,7577,83,91
food,103106.
Seealsocornfleshmaizemeatwheat
assacred,91

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Frazer,J.G.:TheGoldenBough,2223
Freud,Sigmund,91,96,100
Freya,5556,59
G
Gnosticism,36,57
God/Godhead,3745,49,51,53,61,7375,8384,94,116.SeealsoSelf
GoldenApplesoftheHesperides,46
"GoldenBird,The"(fairytale),25
"GoldenGoose,The"(fairytale),7778
goodandevil,49
Graillegend,8687
Granet,Marcel:LaPenseChinoise,23
GreatMother,40,68,104
Greekreligion,42,5556,104
GregoryofNazianzus,37
Gwain,Sir,86
H
HapsburgEmpire,22,43
head,112116
cuttingoff,16,20,62,102,112116
Hecate,5556
Helios,98
Hera,47
Heraclius,38
Hercules,46
hero/heroine,asnotego,1112
HolyGhost,38
Hopi,75
horse,andrider,7172
Horus,3940,55
hunger,91
I
IChing,74
idealladyfantasy,6970,75
idealism,6970,73,75,8081,88,94
Iduna,46
ImmaculateConception,38,40
Incarnation,36
individuation,63,93,105
inflation,3435
initiationrites,52,90
Inquisition,66,69
intuition,13,3536,43,101
inventions,3334
Isis,3940,55,58
isms,73.Seealsoidealism
J
jewels,77,83,85,87,100101
Job,44
JohntheApostle,36
Joshua,84
Judas,57
Jung,C.G.,2425,34,35n,3839,44,60,63,70,85,89,91,9394,9697,99,100,106,118120
Jungianpsychology,3435,89,105106,118,120
Jupiter,74
Justinian,38
K
Khomeini,29,73
king/kingdom,2226,6581.Seealsoemperor/empress
kiss/kissing,10,43,92,96,116
L
LastRights,52
Layard,John,34n
LiberdeMariaeetChristisalvatoris,36
lightning,7475,83
carriage,98101
linen,6770,7881,83,97,103,105,121
lingam,85
Lorenz,Konrad:ManMeetsDog,113
love,6063,81,9394
courtly,60,93
Lthi,Max:VolksmrchenundVolkssagen,1011
M
madonnas,black,4041
magic/magical,22,34,62,7778,8586,95,97,109,115117,119
maize,103106,108
mandala,84,92,99
Mariology,66
Marhasch,Sonja,111
marriage,institutionof,81,93
masculine,andfeminine,85,9294
Mass,83
Maya(illusion),78

Page125
meat,7577.Seealsoflesh
Meier,C.A.,111
Mercurius,58,63
milk,6869
Mithraicmysteries,39,90
Miyuki,Mikusen:BuddhismandJungianPsychology,107n
mood(s),13,48,77,113115
MotherofGod,1516,20
asVirginMary,3742,45,49,53,116
mothercomplex,1213
Munch,Edvard:TheCat,82
N
nakedness,8890
Needham,Joseph:ScienceandCivilizationinChina,23
nightseajourney,3536
Nike,39
Noah'sArk,33
numinosity/numinosum/numinous,1011,24,34,36,53,106,109
nut,103106
O
objectivity,1213
obsessions,56,73,87,110
Olympus/Olympic,39,42,47
opposites,44,49,72,74,83,85,93,104.Seealsoconflict
Origen,36
Orpheus,120
Osiris,40,55
P
palace,4344,6263
ofthecat,83101
panther,asshadow,51
Paradise,98
Paris,47
patriarchy/patriarchal,31,38,53,59,8990,101
perpetualvirginity,doctrineof,3637
persona,81
Phaeton,98
Philosophers'Stone,49
philosophicaltree,49
Pompeii,90
possession,34,5758,73
powerprinciple,30,66
pregnancy,2728,33,35,37,4653
Priam,47
primitive(s),2223,34,42,52,9091,93
Proclus,37
projection,1213,44,5659,61,94,116
Protestantism,61,65
ProtevangeliumJacobi,36
"PussinBoots"(fairytale),58
Pythagoreans,68
R
Ra,55
rain,7375,83
RainbowMan,34
"Rapunzel"(fairytale),50,53
RedBook(Jung's),9697
redemption,ofthefeminine,4950,7681,8889,100101,102,112121
throughsuffering,89
regression,119121
reincarnation,48
relationship,13.60,67,72,7981,9394,109,116
S
sacrifice,2325,5758,99
sagas,versusfairytales,1011
satori,107
Sedfestival,24
Sekmet,40
Self,23,26,73,84,92,97,105.SeealsoGod/Godhead
selfregulationofthepsyche,28
sentimentality,81
serpent,55,57,99.Seealsosnake(s)
sex/sexuality,4243,52,56,5960,77,8788,91,100101,106,115,117
shadow,51,59,61,77
ofVirginMary,61,100
shamanism,74,97
ship(s),3336,4344
sistrum,58
snake(s),1011,88.Seealsoserpent
solutio,73
somersault,109112

Page126
space/time,relativityof,85,98
Spiegelman,J.Marvin:BuddhismandJungianPsychology,107n
spinning.Seeweaving
StellaMaris,40
storytelling,1213
suffering,89
symbols/symbolic,2426,34,105106,118
synchronicity,9798
T
taboos,23,52,93
tail,cuttingoff,62,102,112116
Tantra,100
Tao,23,107
TenOxherdingPictures,107
TerribleMother,56.Seealsowitch(es)
Tertullian,36
Thalamos,40
Theotokos,38
Thor,98
"ThreeFeathers,The"(fairytale),68,80
"threetorturenights,"8890
thunderstorm,7475,83
time,8485,98
toad,40,88
torture,8890
transcendentfunction,105
TreeofKnowledgeofGoodandEvil,46
Trinity,3839,43,61
Trojanwar,47
Typhon,55
V
vanWinkle,Rip,98
Venus,38
VillaofMysteries,90
VirginMary,33,3653,56,6062,6566,7577.
Seealsoblackmadonnas
catasshadowof,61,100
asMotherofGod,3738,40,42,45,49,53,116
virginity,3637
vonFranz,MarieLouise:
Alchemy,107n
TheGoldenAssofApuleius,39n
W
weaving,48,6870
web,ofdestiny,70,7880
weed(s),103106
wheat,19,91,103106
wheels,99
witch(es),42,50,53,5662,6869
persecutionof,61,69
Y
yoni,85
Z
ZenBuddhism,107
Zeus,47,74

Page127
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