Jung and Kabbalah: imaginal and noetic aspects.
The Journal of analytical psychology June 1, 2007 Steven M Joseph 3 citations
Carl Jung incorporated kabbalistic images and motifs into his writings on alchemy, Aion, and Mysterium Coniunctionis, and recorded a dream with kabbalistic symbolism after his heart attack. This paper examines Jung's ideas in relation to Kabbalah by distinguishing his imaginal approach from the Kabbalah's own noetic intention, presenting examples of how Jung understood or misunderstood kabbalistic material, surveying the Kabbalah as an imaginal noetic system focused on inner self-work to 'sweeten the harsh judgments of existence,' and differentiating Jung's psychical living symbol from the kabbalistic mystical symbol. A Hasidic teaching on verbal contemplative prayer illustrates the difference.