Tag Archives: depth psychology

Color Symbolism: Purple

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Symbol Reader

In Woody Allen’s movie “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” Mia Farrow’s character, frustrated by her marital woes, falls in love with a character in a movie. The movie character also becomes attracted to her, and exits the screen to profess … Continue reading →

Posted in The Color Purple | Tagged archetypes, C.G. Jung, color, crown chakra, depth psychology, immanence, individuation, purple, seventh chakra, Soul, spirit, symbolism, symbols, transcendence, transformation, violet | 30 Comments

Jung on Alchemy (3): Meditation and Imagination

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Symbol Reader

Alchemy speaks a secret language, which, provided there is a basic soul readiness, can be learnt through a slow and arduous process, yet abounding in moments of rapture and revelation. Its method of explanation was best summarized by a Latin … Continue reading →

Posted in Alchemy | Tagged alchemy, archetypes, C.G. Jung, depth psychology, hermeneutics, images, imagination, meditation, psychology, Psychology and Alchemy, symbolism, symbols, vessel | 28 Comments

Two Different Kinds of Soul

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Symbol Reader

I. “The dual fate of Heracles after death, dwelling simultaneously on high with the gods and below in Hades, reflects the Greek notion that we have two different kinds of soul. Thymos is warm, emotional and red-blooded; while psyche is … Continue reading →

Posted in Psyche | Tagged Ancient Greece, archetypes, death, depth psychology, Dionysus, Greek myth, Greek mythology, Hades, life, Pluto, psukhe, psyche, reality, Soul, symbols, thumos | 13 Comments

Jung on Alchemy (2): The Mandala

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Symbol Reader

“People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls. They will practice Indian yoga and all its exercises, observe a strict regimen or diet, learn theosophy by heart, or mechanically repeat mystic texts from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alchemy, The Mandala | Tagged alchemy, archetypes, Buddhism, C.G. Jung, centre, Chaos, circle, depth psychology, four, individuation, jewel, lotus, mandala, order, Padma, quaternity, Soul, symbolism, symbols, womb, Womb World mandala | 31 Comments

Soaring High on the Wings of Ambition

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Symbol Reader

“As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his … Continue reading →

Posted in Ambition | Tagged ambition, archetypes, Birdman, C.G. Jung, depth psychology, film, film review, hero, movies, symbols, Whiplash | 14 Comments

Jung on Alchemy (1): The Moist and Earthly Foundation

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Symbol Reader

My upcoming series of posts is going to be based on three works of C.G. Jung: 1) Psychology and Alchemy, volume 12 of the Collected Works 2) Alchemical Studies, volume 13 of the Collected Works 3) Mysterium Coniunctionis, volume 14 of the Collected … Continue reading →

Posted in Alchemy | Tagged alchemy, archetypes, Carl Jung, change, coarse wood debris, death, depth psychology, growth, Psychology and Alchemy, rebirth, regeneration, symbolism, symbols, the unconscious, transformation, water of life | 21 Comments

The Guilt of Prometheus and Pandora’s Gifts

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Symbol Reader

Prometheus was one of the Titans – the gods who descended from primordial deities, and preceded Olympian gods and goddesses. His name meant “forethought;” he proved he deserved it by showing a gift of premonition and prophecy when he sided … Continue reading →

Posted in Prometheus | Tagged afterthought, Athena, C.G. Jung, Chiron, depth psychology, fire, forethought, Franz Kafka, Greek myth, Greek mythology, guilt, Heracles, Hesiod, individuation, Pandora, Pandora's box, Pandora's jar, pithos, Prometheus, redemption, suffering, Titans, Zeus | 39 Comments

Peacock’s Cry of Soul’s Splendour

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Symbol Reader

I.“A Sufi legend, likely of Persian origin, suggests that god created spirit in the form of a peacock. Shown its own divine image in a mirror, the peacock was seized with awe and drops of sweat fell from which all … Continue reading →

Posted in The Peacock | Tagged alchemy, archetypes, Carl Gustav Jung, cauda pavonis, depth psychology, peacock, peacock's cry, peacock’s tail, Soul, symbolism, symbols, Venus, Wallace Stevens | 42 Comments

Phaethon’s Gorgeous Death: Geminid Meteor Shower

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Symbol Reader

“Phaethon [struck by Zeus from the chariot of the Sun], flames ravaging his auburn hair, falls headlong down, a streaming trail of light, as sometimes through the cloudless vault of night a star, though never falling, seems to fall.” Ovid, … Continue reading →

Posted in Phaethon, The Geminids | Tagged Atlantis, C.G. Jung, comet, depth psychology, ego inflation, geminid meteor shower, Greek myth, Greek mythology, Phaethon, Sri Aurobindo, the Self | 5 Comments

A Thunderous Epiphany: How Symbols Are Created

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Symbol Reader

“Symbols throw us across a spiritual abyss. When contemplating a sacred work of art, it may feel as if a great divide separated us from the Holy hidden in images. Then, our vision expands, and the image becomes transparent to … Continue reading →