fei75766_ch04_107-148.indd 136  02/19/20 09:00 AM
Part II    Psychodynamic Theories136
Asavariation toactive imagination, Jungsometimes asked patients whowere
soinclined todraw, paint, orexpress insome other nonverbal manner theprogression 
oftheirfantasies. Jungrelied onthistechnique during hisownself-analysis, andmany 
ofthese reproductions, richinuniversal symbolism andoften exhibiting themandala, 
arescattered throughout hisbooks Man and His Symbols (1964), Word and Image 
(1979), Psychology and Alchemy (1952/1968), andClaire Dunne’s (2000) illustrated 
biography, Carl Jung: Wounded Healer of the Soul, areespecially prolific sources for
these drawings andphotographs.
In1961, Jungwrote about hisexperiences withactive imagination during his
midlife confrontation withtheunconscious:
When Ilookbackupon italltoday andconsider what happened tomeduring the
period ofmywork onthefantasies, itseems asthough amessage hadcome tome
withoverwhelming force. There werethings intheimages which concerned not
onlymyself butmany others also.ItwasthenthatIceased tobelong tomyself 
alone, ceased tohavetherighttodoso.From thenon,mylifebelonged tothe
generality. ...ItwasthenthatIdedicated myself toservice ofthepsyche: Iloved 
itandhated it,butitwasmygreatest wealth. Mydelivering myself overtoit,asit
were, wastheonlywaybywhich Icould endure myexistence andliveitasfullyas
possible. (p.192)
CarlJung, thewiseoldmanofKüsnacht. 
Dmitri Kessel/The LIFE Picture Collection viaGetty Images/Getty ImagesFinal PDF to printer