Carl Jung and the New Age Movement

A god for the new age

This is a preface to a book on shadow work that I’m reviewing later in the month. It’s impossible to have a meaningful conversation about shadow work and the New Age Movement without mentioning Carl Jung.

Image by Gem Blackthorn

Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, has had a profound impact on the world of psychology and spirituality. His ideas and theories on the psyche, the collective unconscious, and the use of techniques such as dream analysis and active imagination have captivated the minds of many, particularly those within the New Age movement.

Jung believed that there is a shared unconscious among all human beings that contains archetypes, or universal symbols and themes. These archetypes, which can manifest as images, emotions, or even entire stories, are thought to be inherited from our ancestors and are present in the mythology, religion, and art of all cultures. For example, the archetype of the mother, the mentor, the hero, the shadow, etc.

Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious resonates with many New Age practitioners because it acknowledges the interconnectedness of all things and the idea that we all share a common spiritual heritage. The recognition of the presence of these universal symbols and themes in the human psyche is seen as a key to understanding…