Dr Seuss Inspired Guide to Applied Jung

The life work of Carl Gustav Jung has inspired me for so many years to a life of adventure, a call to the hero’s journey and the discovery of the depths and treasures of my psyche. This exciting journey has been made possible by the wonderful teaching of my friend Stephen Farah at The Centre of Applied Jungian Studies, who strives every day to make Jung’s work accessible to all and to find practical application for Jung’s work in our daily lives. For those of you, like so many of my family and friends, who still find Jung’s ideas and writing difficult to understand, I have taken inspiration from Dr Seuss to share with you a brief outline of Jung’s key concepts and ideas. As Dr Seuss said:

Now there’s a Jung fellow, most interesting indeed – who told me there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some from behind. I’m sorry to say so, but sadly, it’s true – Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you. And when you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

With Jung you can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is Jung’s book. And the more Jung you read, the more things you will know, the more Jung you learn, the more places you’ll go. And if things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.

Oh the stuff you can learn, the most wonderous of Jung stuff –
Jung calls it individuation, but you already know:

You are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. And you are the guy to decide where to go. But not if you’re mixed up, as you already know. Not if you’re headed, I fear, towards a most useless place – the waiting place.

Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And then there’re places where the streets are not marked, where some windows are lighted, but mostly they’re dark. From here to there, from there to here, funny things are everywhere – projections, transference and counter transference you’ll find, are the forces that direct your life from behind. But with Jung on your side, you’ll move these mountains aside.

Lurking in the Shadows pulling your strings are complexes and neurosis and many hidden things, tugging and pulling and keeping you trapped. You’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some places, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on. Places where you could sprain both your elbow and chin. So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a great balancing act.

Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win? Oh, the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind.

Think and Wonder. Wonder and Think. If you never did you should, these things are fun and fun is good. Think left and think right, think low and think high, oh the things you can think of if you only try. Oh, the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind and remember to keep your eyes wide open and not wide shut.

Join the adventure it’s just twelve steps away, a new path awaits you, so get on your way:

Step one find the symbol and you’re ready to play. You’ll need to be dexterous and deft for step two. Discover that life’s a great balancing act and holding the paradoxes is required of you. Step three finds the patterns – you’ll love what they say. Now be sure when you step, step with care and great tact, step four holds the key to what’s holding you back.  Look into the mirror and step five is complete. In step six you’ll meet your shadow; its gold and its black.  Step seven, finds your ying and your yang. And it’s onto step eight –  the magical other. Oh the things you can find if you don’t stay behind – step nine holds the key to life’s meaning for you. And it’s onto step ten, where you’re youer than you. Step eleven’s all symbols at play, directing your life in any direction you choose. Step twelve and your journey’s complete – you’re off to great places, today is your day. You’re off to grand places, you’re off and away!

See you on the other side,

Tasha