A Word About Journaling and Images

May 28

“I should advise you to put it all down as beautifully as you can — in some beautifully bound book,” Jung instructed… Then when these things are in some precious book you can go to the book & turn over the pages & for you it will be your church — your cathedral — the silent places of your spirit where you will find renewal. If anyone tells you that it is morbid or neurotic and you listen to them — then you will lose your soul — for in that book is your soul.” -C. G. Jung, quoted in CORBET, S., Sept. 16, 2009. NY Times Magazine: “The Holy Grail of the Unconscious”

In creating The Red Book, C. G. Jung made his processes, dreams, images, and life’s work available to the masses. Writing a stream of consciousness, without care for syntax or even with concern about the outcome, is a vital component in using the journaling process for expression of the wholeness of the Self. Just write what pops into your mind, without regard for what, why, or even if it makes sense. Assuming this nonjudgmental attitude will liberate your psyche to express important realizations, over time. When we care too much about outcomes, we become frozen in our creative attempts, often giving up before we even get started.