Archetypal Psychology: The Journey to One's Soul Self

For many years, the only recourse available to those interested in exploring the inner depths of their psyches was lengthy (and costly) psychoanalysis based on the principles of psychology that were set forth by Sigmund Freud. Though Freud deserves credit for his pioneering work - particularly, for opening the doors to the Unconscious - his approach admittedly had its limitations. The goal of moving from "neurotic misery to general unhappiness" over the course of twelve years or so of analysis is not a very inspiring or encouraging one. What Freud meant by general unhappiness is the level of dissatisfaction that is essentially accepted by society. In short, his theories of psychology failed to find a frame of reference beyond the general consensus. They lacked a conception of or feeling for the human soul. It was not until the advent of Archetypal psychology that the soul would find its hallowed place in the field of psychology.

One milestone along the way was the visionary work of Swedish psychologist Carl Jung. Jung built upon Freud's theories; but whereas Freud viewed the unconscious mind as a mere repository for repressed material, Jung's vision embraced the unconscious as a source of wisdom and direction in the lives of human beings. He was the first to coin the term "archetype", which he defined as a kind of blueprint for the potentialities of the human mind and spirit. Jung believed that the unconscious had two aspects, a personal and a collective one. The archetypes belong to the latter realm. By treating dreams as messages from the unconscious and working through them, Jung believed, one could establish a relationship with the archetypes and achieve psychological wholeness as a result.

The evolution of Archetypal psychology was then hastened by the writings of James Hillman (who was also the one to coin the term). Hillman made it his highest priority, in his work as a psychologist, to place the life of the soul at the heart of his practice. To this end, dreams, and even the myriad fantasies of patients, were utilized in an attempt to understand the inner world and how one can live in accord with it.