Archeology of Collective Unconscious: Layers of Archetypes
Beneath my unconscious flows a vast ocean common to all humanity. The ontology and power of 'Archetypes' that appearing repeatedly in myths, dreams, and religions.
Introduction: We Are Not Islands But A Continent
While Freud saw the unconscious as a "trash can of individual repressed desires," Jung saw it as a "treasure house where humanity's wisdom is stored." Islands floating on the sea look separated, but their bottoms are connected as one vast continent. This continent is the Collective Unconscious.
Core Concept: Geological Layers of Unconscious
The structure of our mind is like geological strata.
1. Consciousness
- The very surface. The area we recognize as 'I'. (Current thoughts, senses)
2. Personal Unconscious
- Just below consciousness. Personal experiences I forgot or repressed.
- Where Complexes reside.
3. Collective Unconscious
- The deepest layer. Innate psychological blueprints we bring from birth.
- Irrelevant to individual experience. Instinctual patterns inherited from all humanity and even animal ancestors.
- Where Archetypes reside.
Deep Dive: What is an Archetype?
Archetype is not Content but Form. Like a dry riverbed retains the 'form of a river' so it becomes a river again when water flows, Archetypes are 'self-portraits of instinct' that make us react in specific ways in specific situations.
Universality of Major Archetypes
There are characters that appear commonly in myths and folktales worldwide, regardless of time and place.
- Great Mother: Goddess of earth, duality of abundance and destruction. (Gaia, Kali, Virgin Mary)
- Hero: One who overcomes trials, defeats monsters, and finds treasure. (Hercules, Gilgamesh, Jumong)
- Wise Old Man: Elderly sage helping the hero. (Gandalf, Mountain Spirit, Yoda)
- Trickster: Being that disturbs order and plays pranks but brings change. (Loki, Goblin, Monkey King)
Why Are Archetypes Important?
The reason we are enthusiastic about movies like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings is that those stories constellate the Archetypes within us. When an Archetype is activated, we feel tremendous energy (Numinosity) and sense the meaning of life.
Practical Application: Living an Archetypal Life
Healing begins when we know that the pain I suffer is not 'mine alone'.
- Pain of heartbreak: Not just "I broke up with John," but undergoing the universal human drama of 'Love and Loss'.
- Conflict at work: Not a fight with Manager Kim, but enacting the mythical battle of 'Tyrant King vs Resisting Hero'.
When viewing my life from an 'Archetypal perspective' (Amplification), trivial daily life becomes Myth. I am no longer an isolated individual but a protagonist participating in humanity's grand epic.
Conclusion: The Ancient Within You
Modern people worship reason and have lost myths. Jung diagnosed this as the cause of modern man's soul sickness. But gods did not die. They reappear in our lives wearing masks of diseases, symptoms, and dreams.
In your dreams, in your anxiety, primordial humanity is whispering. Listen to that voice. You are a much older being than you think.
References:
- C.G. Jung, The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious
- Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces
- Erich Neumann, The Origins and History of Consciousness