Carl Jung - How To Listen To Your Subconscious Mind (Jungian Philosophy)

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst,  believed that our subconscious mind is like a hidden treasure chest, full of valuable  information and insights that can help us understand ourselves better and become more  whole. Inside, it holds our deepest thoughts, fears, desires, and memories - many of which we  might not even be aware of. By exploring this hidden part of our mind, we can understand why  we act the way we do and heal from past wounds.

Moreover, our subconscious mind can reveal  talents and potential we never knew we had, opening up new possibilities for  personal and professional growth. Jung divided the unconscious  mind into two parts: the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious. The personal unconscious is made up of all the things specific to an individual that they are not  aware of or deny, like hidden emotions, desires, and memories.

Jung called this the shadow. The collective unconscious, on the other hand, is a deeper layer that includes feelings,  thoughts, and instincts shared by all humans. Jung believed that we all inherit certain traits and  tendencies, which he called "archetypes.

" These archetypes are universal symbols and themes that  have been part of human history and can be seen in myths, fairy tales, and religious stories. Jung’s teachings highlight the importance of exploring the subconscious to achieve  individuation, which means becoming your true, complete self by unlocking the hidden potential we  all have within us. He wrote several influential books, including Psychology of the Unconscious,  Man and His Symbols, The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious, Modern Man in Search  of a Soul, The Psychology of the Transference, Memories, Drams, Reflections, and The Relations  Between the Ego and the Unconscious.

In this video, we'll talk about how to listen to your  subconscious mind to become whole from the philosophy of Carl Jung Listen to your shadow Carl Jung says “Shadow work is  the path of the heart warrior”. Carl Jung's concept of the shadow is a pivotal  aspect of his theories on the unconscious mind. The shadow is essentially the dark side  of our personality that we keep hidden.

This includes our repressed weaknesses,  desires, and instincts—the things we might be ashamed of or uncomfortable with. The  shadow forms as we grow up and learn what behaviors are acceptable and those that aren’t. For example, imagine a child who gets scolded for being too aggressive.

To avoid trouble and  gain approval, the child might suppress their assertiveness. This trait doesn't disappear; it  just goes underground into the shadow. Later in life, this hidden assertiveness could come out  in passive-aggressive ways or sudden outbursts.

Everyone has a shadow, we all have traits  like anger, jealousy, greed, laziness, and selfishness—things we deny because they're  seen as bad. But our shadow doesn’t stay quiet; it keeps trying to communicate with us,  demanding our attention. We need to listen to it and the process of uncovering these hidden  aspects of ourselves is called shadow work.

To begin shadow work, the first step is to  identify your shadow. Pay close attention to what annoys or irritates you in others. These  reactions often point to parts of yourself that you haven't acknowledged.

For instance, imagine  you're at work and feel a surge of annoyance every time a coworker brags about their accomplishments.  "They're so arrogant! " you think to yourself.

But then you pause and reflect: Is there a part of you  that also craves recognition for your achievements but perhaps isn't expressing it? Maybe you  downplay your successes to appear humble, yet deep down, you desire acknowledgment and  validation. This unexpressed desire might be the very thing you're projecting onto your coworker. 

By recognizing this, you can understand that your irritation is less about their behavior and more  about an aspect of yourself that you haven't fully acknowledged. To explore this further, make a  list of traits you dislike in others and consider how they might relate to you. This exercise  helps in uncovering hidden parts of yourself.

Now let's move towards the next step of  acknowledging and accepting these traits. This means seeing them without judgment. Think  about how these traits show up in your life.

For example, you can accept your need for  recognition and see it without judgment. Acknowledge that wanting validation is  natural and doesn't make you arrogant. Observe your thoughts and feelings without trying  to change them.

Notice when you downplay your successes or crave acknowledgment. Approach  yourself with kindness and understanding, remembering that everyone has a shadow. Once you've acknowledged your shadow traits, delve deeper into their origins and impacts. 

Understand how they appear in your life, like feeling unappreciated at work or  frustrated when others don't recognize your efforts. Journaling is a powerful tool for  this exploration—write about your shadow traits, describe situations where these traits have  appeared, and explore the feelings associated with them. Seeking therapy or counseling can provide  additional guidance and support, helping you uncover deeper layers of your unconscious mind.

Integration is the next step. This means accepting these traits and balancing them with your  conscious self. Embrace the fact that you're a mix of good and bad traits.

Notice how your  shadow traits influence your behavior and try to change unhelpful patterns. For example, instead of  downplaying your successes or feeling resentful, practice expressing your achievements in a  healthy, balanced way. Share your accomplishments without boasting or seeking excessive validation. 

When you achieve something significant at work, it’s okay to mention it during team  meetings or casual conversations with colleagues in a straightforward, humble manner. Creative expression through art, writing, or other outlets can also help integrate  these aspects into your conscious life, allowing you to express your shadow in a  healthy way. By doing this, you are embracing the complexity of your nature and fostering  a more honest relationship with yourself.

Jung believed that achieving wholeness, a  process he termed "individuation," requires integrating all parts of the psyche, including the  shadow. This journey leads us toward becoming who we truly are, beyond the masks and roles  imposed by society. Through shadow work, you uncover and integrate hidden parts of  yourself and live a more whole and authentic life.

2. Get to know your archetypes Jung once wrote “Archetypes are images in the  soul that represent the course of one’s life”. Archetypes, as defined by Carl Jung,  are the universal symbols and themes that exist in what he called the collective  unconscious.

This collective unconscious is a part of the human mind that everyone  shares, filled with memories, experiences, and symbols that are common across cultures and  throughout history. Think of it like a giant library of human experiences that all people  can access, regardless of where they come from. Take the Hero archetype: This is often seen in  stories where a character goes on an adventure, faces tough challenges, and ultimately grows as a  person.

A great illustration of this is the story of Perseus from Greek mythology. He is a young  hero given the difficult task of slaying Medusa, a monster whose gaze can turn people to  stone. This story embodies the Hero archetype, representing our inner desire to confront and  overcome our fears.

On his journey, Perseus gets help from the other gods: Athena gives him  a shiny shield to reflect Medusa's gaze, Hermes provides him with winged sandals to fly, and  Hades lends him a helmet that makes him invisible. These godly figures are examples  of the Wise Elder archetype, symbolizing the guidance and support we look  for when facing tough times in our lives. Seeing these archetypes in myths helps us  understand our own subconscious minds because they reflect common human experiences and struggles. 

Stories like that of Perseus and Medusa capture deep emotions, fears, and desires that  people from all cultures can relate to. Other examples of Hero archetypes include  King Arthur, who searches for the Holy Grail, and Thor, who fights giants to protect humanity  with his magical hammer, Mjölnir. Each hero goes through a journey filled with challenges  that lead to personal growth.

Likewise, the Wise Elder archetype appears in characters  like Merlin from Arthurian legend and Krishna from Hindu mythology, offering wisdom and guidance. Jung identified twelve primary archetypes that reside within each of us and are universally  found across cultures and myths. They are Ruler, Creator, Sage, Innocent, Explorer,  Rebel, Hero, Wizard, Jester, Everyman, Lover, and Caregiver.

Usually, one of these  archetypes stands out more in each person, shaping who they are and what motivates them. By recognizing these archetypes, we can gain a clearer understanding of our thoughts, feelings,  and behaviors. They help us make sense of our experiences and how we connect with others.

For  example, if you resonate with the Hero archetype, you might feel a strong desire to tackle  obstacles in your life, whether it's going after a new job or standing up for what you  believe in. In dreams, archetypes can appear as symbols that send important messages from our  subconscious. Draming of a wise old person might indicate that you have inner wisdom or guidance  available to you during tough times and that you need to look inside for answers.

Understanding  these archetypes is crucial because they provide deeper insights into who we are and where we fit  into the world. By exploring these archetypes, we can identify patterns in our lives, heal  emotional wounds, and grow as individuals. 3.

Analyze your dreams In the words of Jung “Drams are the  facts from which we must proceed”. Jung believed that dreams are not  just random or absurd occurrences; instead, they are meaningful messages from the  subconscious. Through symbols and images, we can get to know about our unresolved inner conflicts,  hidden desires, and universal themes that shape our lives.

And so, for Jung, dream analysis  became a powerful tool for self-discovery. He identified several types of dreams, each  revealing different aspects of the subconscious: First, we have compensatory Drams: These  dreams balance out our conscious thoughts and behavior. If someone is overly logical in  daily life, for example, they might dream of a situation where they break down crying at  a family gathering.

This emotional outburst could signal the need to explore feelings they've  been avoiding or suppressing in their waking life. Then there are Prospective Drams: These dreams  look ahead, offering guidance about our future or showing what’s unfolding in our personal growth.  For example, a dream of climbing a mountain may symbolize an internal or external challenge the  dreamer is about to face, such as a significant life change, a personal goal, or a difficult  decision.

The act of climbing in the dream represents the dreamer's subconscious preparing  for the effort needed to overcome the challenge, reflecting their drive, determination, or  perhaps anxiety about the journey ahead. Next we have Archetypal Drams: These  contain universal symbols like the Hero, or Wise Elder. They tap into the collective  unconscious, representing shared human experiences.

Draming of a wise old man offering  advice for example, represents the archetype of wisdom and guidance, symbolizing the dreamer’s  search for deeper knowledge or direction. Then there are Shadow Drams: These dreams show  us the darker parts of ourselves — the traits we repress or deny. By confronting these aspects, we can better understand and accept ourselves. 

Someone who avoids anger, for example, might dream of violently confronting someone, revealing  their suppressed aggression or fear of conflict. We can also have Recurring Drams: These  repeat the same theme or situation, often because we haven’t addressed an  underlying issue in our lives. For example, dreaming over and over about  failing an exam may reflect ongoing anxiety or self-doubt about  one’s abilities or performance in life.

Finally, like it or not, we have Nightmares:  Though often scary, nightmares signal unresolved fears or conflicts in our subconscious,  urging us to face them. For example, a recurring dream of being chased by a monster  could point to a deep-rooted fear or unresolved trauma that needs attention in waking life. Each type of dream gives us valuable insight into different areas of our subconscious  mind.

To uncover this insight and effectively tap into your subconscious through dreams, Jung  recommended a process of careful documentation, interpretation, and amplification. Documentation can be done by keeping a dream journal. This means writing down your  dreams as soon as you wake up.

It’s important to do this quickly because dreams fade from  memory fast. The more detail you can capture, the better for later analysis. Focus on any  symbols, emotions, or characters that stood out in the dream.

If you record your dreams  consistently, patterns or recurring themes may begin to emerge, offering deeper insights  into your subconscious. By tracking your dreams, you create a map of your unconscious mind,  showing what it is trying to communicate. The next step in working with your dreams is  to interpret their symbols.

According to Jung, these symbols aren’t meant to be taken literally;  they represent deeper psychological forces at play within you. While some symbols, like  a snake, may have universal meanings, their significance can vary depending on  your personal experiences. For one person, a snake might evoke fear and danger, while for  another, it could represent transformation and renewal.

Jung emphasized that it’s important  to look beyond the surface and explore what the symbol represents on a psychological level. Once you've identified the symbols, Jung suggested amplifying them to gain deeper insight. This means  expanding on the symbol by connecting it to myths, stories, or personal memories.

For example,  if you dream of a snake, you might explore how snakes appear in mythology, such as the  serpent in the Garden of Eden, symbolizing temptation and knowledge, or the ouroboros,  a snake eating its own tail, representing cycles and eternity. Making these connections  helps you see your dream as part of a larger, universal narrative that ties into your own life. Amplification also involves reflecting on your personal memories related to the symbol.

Maybe you  had a childhood fear of snakes, an encounter that left a lasting impression, or perhaps you simply  saw a snake on TV in the last day or so and it’s still in short-term memory. By examining these  links, you can gain a richer understanding of how the symbol reflects your inner state and how it  influences your thoughts, feelings, and actions. By journaling, interpreting, and amplifying your  dreams in this way, you open a doorway into the hidden parts of yourself, using your dreams as a  tool for self-growth and greater self-awareness.

4. Practice Active imagination According to Jung “Active imagination requires a state of reverie,  half-way between sleep and waking”. Active imagination is a technique created by  Carl Jung to connect with your unconscious mind.

It involves getting into a calm,  meditative state where images, thoughts, or feelings naturally come up from deep inside  you. Unlike dreaming, where things just happen, in active imagination, you stay aware and  guide the process without forcing anything. As you relax, you might picture different  scenes, have conversations with imagined people, or explore places in your mind.

These images come  from your subconscious and can help you understand hidden emotions or unresolved feelings.  By engaging with them, you can learn more about yourself and grow emotionally and mentally. Imagine you’ve had a recurring dream about a dark, shadowy figure that frightens you, and the  image stays with you even when you're awake.

Through active imagination, you would close your  eyes, relax, and let the image of the shadowy figure come back to your mind. But this time.  instead of feeling afraid or trying to escape, you mentally approach the figure and start a  conversation.

You might ask it; "Why do you keep appearing in my dreams? " or "What do you want to  tell me? " The figure might not respond right away, but over time, you’ll notice it changing or giving  clues about its meaning.

Perhaps it represents a part of you that feels ignored or an emotion,  like anger or sadness, that you’ve been avoiding. By speaking to it and allowing it to evolve in  your mind, you can start to understand what the figure symbolizes and how it relates to your life. In another example, if you often dream about being in a dark forest, you could return to that  forest during active imagination.

You would imagine yourself walking through it, noticing how  it makes you feel. Maybe you come across obstacles like a locked door, or meet animals that represent  different parts of your emotions. Each element of the dream could be a symbol that your subconscious  mind is trying to communicate.

As you explore, you begin to understand more about your  fears, unresolved issues, or desires. To practice active imagination, find a quiet  space where you won’t be disturbed and sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes,  relax, and let your mind wander freely.

The goal is to enter a meditative, semi-conscious  state where you are open to whatever images, thoughts, or feelings arise from your unconscious  mind. Start by focusing on a particular image, feeling, or dream that has been on your mind, and  allow it to unfold naturally in your imagination. For example, if you’ve had a recurring dream  or troubling image, bring it to life in your mind’s eye without trying to control  it.

As the image or scenario develops, engage with it consciously. You might  ask a figure in the scene questions or explore the environment as if you are part of the  experience. The key is to remain curious and open, allowing the unconscious content to reveal  itself without forcing it.

Journaling afterward can help you process what you experienced,  connecting the unconscious material to your conscious life. By repeating this practice  regularly, you create a dialogue between your conscious and unconscious minds, leading  to greater self-awareness and personal growth. 5.

Observe Synchronicities In our final quote from Jung for this video, he says “Synchronicity is an ever  present reality for those who have eyes to see”. Have you ever gone to call someone only for  your phone to ring as soon as you pick it up, and they’re calling you? Or maybe you've  dreamed about something special and then got it a few days later?

Carl Jung called  these moments "synchronicity," which means meaningful coincidences that don't have a  direct cause but feel significant to us. According to Jung, these events show us  what's happening deep inside our minds. For example, if you bump into a childhood friend  you haven’t seen in years and suddenly remember an old argument, it might be your unconscious  mind's way of pushing you to deal with those unresolved feelings.

Maybe it's time to reach  out to that friend and find some closure. Meeting an old friend can also highlight a need  for connection. If you've been feeling lonely, this encounter might be a sign from your  unconscious mind that you crave closer relationships.

Think about a time when you  felt isolated at work and then ran into an old buddy. That meeting might remind you of  your need for friendship, encouraging you to make new friends or reconnect with old ones. Such encounters can also bring up feelings of nostalgia and reunion, reflecting on what's  happening in your life now.

For instance, reconnecting with a college roommate might  remind you of hobbies or passions you used to love but have since neglected. This could  inspire you to revisit those activities, adding more joy and continuity to your life. Sometimes, seeing an old friend can symbolize personal growth or change.

Your unconscious  mind might be acknowledging how far you've come since you last saw this person, showing  that you're ready to take on new challenges. Synchronicities often remind us to accept and  integrate all parts of ourselves. For example, if you unexpectedly run into a high  school teacher who once mentored you, it could trigger memories of the values and  lessons you learned from them.

Reflecting on these experiences can help you recognize how they  have shaped your identity and personal growth. By acknowledging these influences  and understanding their impact, you can better integrate them into your current  life. This process helps you move forward with a more complete and self-aware perspective, as  you appreciate the different parts of your past that contribute to who you are today.

Here are some common types of Jungian synchronicities: 1. Inner-Outer Synchronicity: This type occurs when an inner experience,  a thought, a feeling, or a dream coincides with an outer event. For example, thinking  about a specific person and then bumping into them later that day.

2. Symbolic Synchronicity: These synchronicities involve symbols or  archetypes that appear in both inner and outer experiences. For instance, repeatedly  seeing images of butterflies during a time of personal transformation.

3. Event Synchronicity: This type happens when unrelated events  occur simultaneously or in a close sequence, creating a meaningful connection. For example,  meeting someone who provides crucial information just when you need it.

4. Person Synchronicity: This occurs when meeting someone who plays a  significant role in your life at a crucial moment, such as a mentor appearing just when  you're seeking guidance. And finally 5.

Temporal Synchronicity These are significant events or changes that happen at critical times in your life. For  example receiving an important job offer on your birthday or during a major life transition. To better observe these synchronicities, it's essential to enhance your awareness and  understanding.

Start by staying present and being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and  surroundings. This heightened awareness makes it easier to notice synchronicities as they  occur. Additionally, keep a detailed journal of your dreams, thoughts, emotions, and daily  events.

Reviewing your journal can reveal patterns and connections that indicate synchronicities. Next, spend time reflecting on significant events and relationships in your life. Consider  how these might be connected.

Trust your intuition about certain events or people, as  synchronicities are often accompanied by a sense of meaningfulness or "knowing. " Finally,  share your experiences with trusted friends, mentors, or therapists. Others can provide  additional perspectives and help you recognise synchronicities you might have missed.

By  integrating these practices into your daily life, you can become more attuned to the meaningful  coincidences that reflect your unconscious mind. If you enjoyed this video, please make  sure to check out our full philosophies for life playlist and for more videos to  help you find success and happiness using beautiful philosophical wisdom, don’t forget  to subscribe. Thanks so much for watching.