Grounded in the natural philosophy of the Middle Ages, alchemy formed a bridge: on the one hand into the past, to Gnosticism, and on the other into the future, to the modern psychology of the unconscious.
Magic is the science of the jungle.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that what we perceive as magical is rooted in a deeper scientific understanding, particularly in the complexities of nature and the human psyche.
Carl Jung's quote, 'Magic is the science of the jungle,' captures the idea that the extraordinary phenomena often associated with magic are intimately connected to scientific truths and natural laws, particularly those hidden in the wild and primal aspects of our existence. It emphasizes the importance of exploring the deeper layers of reality, suggesting that there is a profound knowledge that can be gained from understanding the natural world and the unconscious aspects of ourselves, akin to the mysterious forces of the jungle.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a talk about the importance of understanding nature, you might say, 'As Carl Jung said, magic is the science of the jungle, reminding us to explore the mysteries around us.'
More from Carl Jung
All quotes βThe majority of my patients consisted not of believers but of those who had lost their faith.
Complexes are psychic contents which are outside the control of the conscious mind. They have been split off from consciousness and lead a separate existence in the unconscious, being at all times ready to hinder or to reinforce the conscious intentions.
We are in a far better position to observe instincts in animals or in primitives than in ourselves. This is due to the fact that we have grown accustomed to scrutinizing our own actions and to seeking rational explanations for them.
From the viewpoint of analytic psychology, the theatre, aside from any aesthetic value, may be considered as an institution for the treatment of the mass complex.
I have treated many hundreds of patients. Among those in the second half of life - that is to say, over 35 - there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life.
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