HEALING the RIFT: Anima Mundi in a Disenchanted World

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Is it possible that all objects are alive? Are the wind, the oceans, the mountains ensouled, and if so, does humanity participate? Jung sensed the truth in this and embraced the concept of Anima Mundi, or world soul.

This soul was meant to be the intermediary between the realm of ideal forms and the physical world. Through centuries and countless cultures, philosophers were drawn to find the all-encompassing theory that explained the structures and principles of the physical world. Finally, in the 19th century, rationalism replaced intuitive inner impressions.

Born in 1875 to a pastor father and a spiritualist mother, Jung was raised in a world of spiritual forces and religious concepts. When he graduated with his medical degree in 1902, his doctoral dissertation, ‘On the Psychology and Pathology of So-Called Occult Phenomena,’ strove to find the intersection of science, psychology, and esoteric beliefs. This interest accompanied Jung throughout his life. Over time he came to feel the over-development of intellect had deprived humanity of fundamental meaning.

While he acknowledged that the modern psyche would not likely accept ancient religious beliefs and practices, he knew the human imagination produced dreams and fantasies that could reanimate modern people’s inner and outer worlds. He came to call this reviving spirit the Anima Mundi.

The search to discover the soul in matter fueled the alchemist’s imagination and experiments. For Paracelsus, it was “the spirit of the quintessence that sets everything in motion, and that is the secret hidden from the beginning of time.” Jung internalized the alchemical processes and understood that when the ego marries the imaginal spirit, or anima/us, and we accept and live in both the material world and our mythic imagination, a new kind of personality is created. The alchemists called it the Lapis. In modern neuroscience, psychiatrist and author Ian McGilchrist calls it “the unity of the hemispheres” in his book ‘The Master and His Emissary.’

To reimagine that we are part of a responsive web of life, is to resist the mechanistic worldview that treats nature as a lifeless object to be controlled and exploited. It reawakens a parallel universe where our material actions simultaneously appear in our inner world, not as photographs of our acts but as symbols that reveal the secret relationship between ourselves and those we influence.

The soul of the world is not something to believe in. It is a natural condition of autonomous inner response that has been interfered with. It is not suddenly calling to us; it has always been speaking. It makes no demands; it does not seek to control; it is not a risk to prosperity or flourishing. It is simply, and always, the inner correlate of our outer life filled with uncanny images and swells of feeling that naturally give us pause before we act because every action we take abides in us even as it changes those we act upon.

LOOK & GROW
STAY INSPIRED EVERY DAY!

[emilyhermann]

A video full of joy and beauty. I loved it immensely.

Deb's remark at 11:48 - 12:06, the connection Joseph made at 15:07 - 15:42 and then Lisa's framing at 43:57 - 44:56 are key points for me.

Thank you, This Jungian Life.
🐾

[timothylee]

It's interesting you mentioned Marie Kondo in the context of ensoulment. The shinto religion is the only animistic religion still common in a large, industrial culture and still permeates the japanese psyche. One reason japan has such a culture of quality, of taking care of objects, of restoring rather than buying new, is the influence of animism and treating everything as worthy of respect as an ensouled entity.

[chrisr]

It’s so refreshing to see you all on video recording! The facial reactions bring this whole thing texture ❤️🫶🏽🔥 . Much love and support from Seattle!

[EcoMythos]

22:50 Deb you made me tear up here! yes indeed we do miss something, deeply ...

[lola]

Super nice to see your faces in action. I've been a fan and listener and patreon for many years.

[Wheezey]

What you speak of today, simply put, recalls Dr Jung’s fundamental understanding passed on to “Bill” regarding alcoholism, was recovery wasn’t possible until a significant spiritual awakening is experienced! I would say at 74, with 45 yrs of devoted recovery, now based on “willingness to grow along spiritual lines” that humanity’s present creation is suffering from a similar loss of soul connection!
Thank you for bringing Dr Jung’s visions to LIGHT!👣

[afraglynn]

I've joined your patreon few weeks ago and haven't even checked it out, the reason of joining just to say thank you for your great work and to help keeping this channel. You are changing our lives ❤

[neilkiots]

the topics have been so good lately! i'm a gardener and loved the references- i always thought you could get a decent feel for someone based on their garden aesthetic

[psyfiles]

I really appreciate the insights from this conversation and your gentle voices

[ARUZ]

I am in love with this episode. Been following you for years form Malaysia. I thank my home all the time for its wonderful protection and comfort. It is so fulfilling and sacred.

[lindagirl]

I love listening to your talks. I keep imagining you three being students together, really into what you are studying, and loving to get together and talk about it all. It’s SO lovely that you have maintained and are willing to share your intimate connection, knowledge with all of us. (I just became a Patreon.) Anyway, regarding chipmunks speaking english, I’ve had some interesting experiences that have lead me to the study of Animal Communication (that I initially thought was ridiculous!). But these experiences intrigued me so I studied it. When you think about, so much of our person-to -person communication is non-verbal. Rupert Sheldrake speaks to the scientific validity of telepathy. Anyways, they might not speak English, but they do “ speak”

[simplifyandslowdown]

True wisdom! Much love from Transilvania (România)!

[cefrench]

I have been listening to you three on your podcast for quite some time. So weird to see the faces attached to the voice, but a good weird. Your insights, fairytale storytelling, archetypal imagery, dreams and of course Dr. Jung's wonderful work infused into your program, are perfectly targeted for the current times. Thank you.

[moringaottawa]

I first heard of this from Sharon Blackie

[brettgordhamer]

That was is so helpful on so many levels..my soul needed that desperately..thank you so much!

[tarang]

You guys are ao wholesome and so wonderful, love you ❤

[advandepol]

After he had withdrawn all his projections from the outer world, Jung must have felt that emptiness was not everything, so he gave some back.😀
As a matter of fact, this was a point of disappointment I had with the individuation process, which I am glad you clarified in this episode. It's not a matter of empty withdrawal, but enlivining yourself together with the external world. As within, so without.

The concept of pantheism appeals a lot to me, and I am also open to the idea that everything is One in principle. However, it seems reasonable to me to discern between the content of Anima Mundi in e.g. a clean and clear ocean and a garbage patch. Possibly this is another tension of opposites that we have to hold.

[camilaleon]

So lovely to see you in video, sending you light from Santiago de Chile, I love the podcast 💗

[goldbrick]

You guys are awesome, look great on camera, been listening to your voices so long

[marianaintouch]

I think that imagínalo reverie is often where I find myself as a psychotherapist in sessions. It's beautiful.