Through a Jungian Lens

Yesterday afternoon, while walking along and in the estuary taking photos of birds, this tree sat waiting for me to notice it, to take note of it.  And so, I listened and added this picture to my collection.  This tree has a look and feel that suggests the lonely journey we each take.  Regardless of those we surround ourselves, we ultimately are individuals, alone in our own skins, separated by both conscious and unconscious aspects of self and community.  We struggle to recognize ourselves let alone our “self” in relation to “other”.  Individuation, the work of alchemy and conscious intention.

What is individuation?  In a simplified form, it is about developing conscious awareness of one’s shadow, one’s soul (anima/animus), the archetypes that are active in one’s unconscious contents – contents accessed through dreams and projections, and the unifying aspect of which each of us is an integral part.  Becoming aware.  That just about says it all.  And in becoming aware, more aware of “self”, we find our uniqueness.