Blog-geist

When I began reading C. G. Jung's The Undiscovered Self: The Dilemma of the Individual In Modern Society, I did so hoping to gain more insight into my own inner workings, and a better understanding of my role, or place within this; my life, society, and the world. What I did not expect was to come away with a better understanding of what is necessary for me to do as a writer, or rather, a communicator of ideas. Excerpted from the final chapter: The Meaning Of Self-Knowledge, I'd like to share with you a passage that struck me as quite brilliant in the context of blogging to achieve change.

Everyone knows the futility of preaching about things that are desirable, yet the general helplessness in this situation is so great, and the need so dire, that one prefers to repeat the old mistake instead of racking one's brains over a subjective problem. Besides, it is always a question of treating one single individual only and not ten thousand, where the trouble one takes would ostensibly have more impressive results, though one knows well enough that nothing has happened at all unless the individual changes.

The effect of all individuals, which one would like to see realized, may not set in for hundreds of years, for the spiritual transformation of mankind follows the slow tread of the centuries and cannot be hurried or held up by any rational process of reflection, let alone brought to fruition in one generation. What does lie within our reach, however, is the change in individuals who have, or create, an opportunity to influence others of like mind in their circle of acquaintance. I do not mean by persuading or preaching -- I am thinking, rather, of the well-known fact that anyone who has insight into his own action, and has thus found access to the unconscious, involuntarily exercises an influence on his environment.

Jung goes on to speak of the unconscious zeitgeist, and how modern art forms are an excellent example of how the time in which we are now living, is the right time for a 'metamorphosis of the gods.' He speaks to the need for humanity to evolve their thinking in the coming age, beyond the ancient principles and symbols that confront us with 'a moral backwardness which has failed to keep pace with our scientific, technical and social developments.' A lot of the dots are connected through this work, and it is my recommendation that anyone who is interested in increasing their own understanding of self consider giving this a read.