How Jungian Individuation Parallels a Mystic’s Journey of Death and Rebirth
Jungian individuation is a blueprint for psychological transformation that mimics the path trodden by mystics in countless traditions.
It involves a painful process of self-realisation, the death of an old self, and the rebirth of an identity more closely aligned with the inner Self – the divine in each individual.
In this article, I’ll outline how Jungian analyst Bud Harris compares individuation with an archetypical mystical journey.
Individuation as a mystical journey
Harris compares the journey into individual consciousness to a spiritual journey undertaken by many mystics. For instance:
Mystics are subject to a psychological process that aims to purify and regenerate their personality
Their aim is a profound transformation of their identity
The process aims to divest them of their everyday wants and needs as they transition towards a purer state, no longer governed by personal desires or the conventions of their culture
Their initiation is a painful process of self-examination and self-denial, and summons the potential of each initiate’s best characteristics
It strengthens the individual and opens up a relationship with the divine – or the inner Self in Jungian discourse – transforming the character as a result
The psychology of the mystical journey
Self-examination is the first step of the mystical journey.
This is a process of purifying oneself from the effects of one’s personal history, family, and culture, ultimately choosing the divine as the centre of one’s being.
Mystics meditate on the transformative process until it’s internalised and ultimately becomes their lived experience rather than just an abstract idea.
Read psychologically, the journey involves a series of steps through suffering, where old ways of life or identities ‘die’ before being transformed, and a new way of life is reborn.
Self-examination and reflection as mystical practices
Self-examination and reflection help you grow in self-knowledge, and awaken you to the strength of your denied or undiscovered emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and potentials.
As long as these forces remain unconscious, they bind your current identity and way of life.
It takes recognising these forces and realising how they’ve shaped your life to awaken to what you really think and feel and act genuinely in the world.
This requires paying attention to all aspects of your life, surrendering the attempt to control everything in favour of developing self-knowledge
In Jungian discourse, the realisation of your authenticity allows you to recognise the sanctity of yourself and others as people.
Summary
Just as the mystic’s journey towards the divine begins with a painful process of self-realisation, Jungian individuation initiates transformation through self-knowledge gained through examination and reflection.
As we grow in consciousness, we peel away the external layers of our identity, gradually divesting ourselves of our adopted or ingrained characteristics so we live more from the Self – the centre of our personalities.
Read Harris’s book, Sacred Selfishness: A Guide to Living a Life of Substance, if you want to learn more.
And read more of my articles on Jungian individuation.