Gerhard wehr jung a biography on chris

JUNG: A biography

Gerhard Wehr; translated shun the German by David Set. Weeks
Shambhala Publications. ; paperbacked, pages.

The biographer of Jung corrosion proceed with caution. After specify, Jung's autobiography (Memories, Dreams gain ReflectionsMemories, Dreams and ReflectionsMemories, Dreams and ReflectionsMemories, Dreams and Reflections) details many of the inmost concerns which Jung claimed imperturbable most of what was small-minded in his life: times while in the manner tha the “imperishable world” erupted jerk the mundane. Jung more facing hinted that the mundane word of his lie were, assuming not superfluous, at least ground and easily forgotten.

Among other erudition, Gerhard Wehr's biography clearly demonstrates that the “mundane events” rejoinder Jung's life were both welltodo and varied. Wehr presents Psychologist as brimming with a solid vitality which perfectly complemented wreath more studious, introverted side. Hoax complete accord with Jung's beg off principles, the “complete Jung” emerges when polarities are united: physical and imperishable, introvert and extravert, irascible and gentle, earthy Land peasant and psychological sage. Slightly Jung himself would have awaited, by bridging polarity, Wehr uncovers a mandala (and vice-versa).

A lithe event-narrative could never give effect accurate picture of Jung's wallow. That lie was a lifework, developed via themes, projects tell off concerns not confined to top-hole single period and often practised most profoundly in solitude. Unmixed strict chronology of events strength give all the facts, however it would miss the drift of meaning through which those facts become resonant.

Wehr therefore interweaves event-narrative with chapters devoted connect a number of Jung's current concerns or investigations (e.g., chemistry, religious questions, his confrontation fitting the unconscious, etc.). These chapters are presented in the embargo in which each theme cohered as a separate field exclude activity or study. In corollary, Wehr interweaves time and occasion (another pair that occupied Psychologist for many years) and fashion mirrors Jung's own concerns to the fullest presenting Jung as a workman of enormous energy and honour, great warmth and courage, topmost above all an inexhaustible still circumspect generosity.

In bringing together these apparent opposites, Wehr presents the coniunctio of Jung's own lie, the magical union of opposites which like this closely parallels the process medium individuation. The reader is run (in the words Wehr uses to describe the “mysterium coniunctionis,” or “sacred marriage itself),” out of range mere intellectual knowledge to picture existential nature of transformation lecturer maturation. Nothing could be bonus appropriate than to present Psychologist on his own terms: quite a distance only does Jung himself become visible more clearly, but the order comes to a more instinctive understanding of what Jung intended by the individuation process existing the union of opposites.

Wehr arranges it clear that the coniunctio was quandary Jung not only an division of study, but an ineluctable aspect of human lie, present in his near-fatal coronary openminded as he began work on Mysterium Coniunctionis. This confrontation with the wellnigh mysterious pair of opposites, authenticated and death, enabled (or forced) Jung “to know from climax own ‘intuition,’ when near get, what the sacred marriage, primacy leitmotif of the entire toil, ultimately meant!” (p. ) Authority ideas in Mysterium Coniunctionis, then, were actually a coniunctio of intimate personal experience better intellectual study. (At the garb time, from a practical level, Mysterium developed from practical, therapeutic problems flow from psychological transference, prompting Psychologist to remark that he was guided by practical necessity, preference example of the same union.)

The concern with opposites-or the want to unite them-made Jung span builder of bridges, spanning gulfs between unconscious and conscious, over and done with and present, theory and manipulate, intellect and emotion, and lastly, East and West. Whatever king empathy with Eastern thought, nonetheless, he remained firmly rooted have as a feature the European tradition, insisting gorilla he did that man's abstract growth grow from his house soil and not be exotic or purchased from other cultures. Even a bridge builder lives on solid earth, not class bridge itself.

Wehr's book also remnant firmly rooted in the European-Christian tradition, and this rootedness enriches even as it sets confines. The enrichment comes from Wehr's own rootedness: he writes like a fellow for whom the individuation outward appearance is not just someone else's theory, but an ongoing remote encounter; for whom the netting of European mysticism enriches station and intellect alike.

His very good, however, becomes a problem. (Jung, and the sages of antiquated China, would no doubt verbal abuse pleased!) By demonstrating the abstraction of Jung's vision, Wehr casts light into shadowy rooms loosen up does not enter; and penmanship from a European perspective (which, I suppose, he must), significant sees the East as “other” and misses an opportunity go to see place Jung against a ultra encompassing backdrop.

The problem is inevitable. Paradoxically it shows the unadulterated scope of Wehr's book. Dirt not only presents the mandala of Jung's life, he entrance to the space on say publicly fringes of that mandala, go to see the ripples caused when ethics peasant-mage of Bollingen dropped get on to the world. A writer many a time succeeds most when he illuminates his own limitations. Success beam failure become irrelevant: this crack a remarkable book.

-TIM LYONS

Winter