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| From Jung’s Red Book |
Each of us received something unexpected for Christmas, a genuine surprise. Trish received Jung’s Red Book. It was created between the years of 1914-1930 and was, by his own description, a record of his “confrontation with the unconscious.” It weighs nearly 9 pounds, measures 15.7 x12x 1.9 inches, has 212 colored illustrations.Unfortunately, it’s written in German, but in a calligraphy as stunning as the illustrations.
There are 178 pages in English called Liber Novus – New Book – that include an introduction to Jung’s work and some translations from Jung’s German entries. As explained in the intro: “The overall theme of the book is how Jung regains his soul and overcomes the contemporary malaise of spiritual alienation. This is ultimately achieved through enabling the rebirth of a new image of God in his soul and developing a new worldview in the form of a psychological and theological cosmology.” The entries depict Jung’s process of individuation, an important component in synchronicity, as well as the genesis of his concept of the Self, the collective unconscious, his concept of archetypes, his experiences with precognition. The dreams and inner dialogues really give you a sense of how he confronted his unconscious.
This illustration reminds me of the tree of life. You can get a sense of the calligraphy on the left – in German. But you don’t have to read German to be struck by this image.
From a section called, Soul and God: “Dreams pave the way for life, and they determine you without you understanding their language. One would like to learn this language, but who can teach and learn it? Scholarliness alone is not enough; there is a knowledge of the heart that gives deeper insight.”
While looking for a special Christmas present for Rob, I was poking around on butternut squash’s blog, where she writes about her fascinating trips to Nepal. Not only does she buy jewelry there from the local people, she is involved in creating a library for local schools. Her Tibetan jewelry and other wares from that country are exhibited on her other blog, where I first saw a Tibetan singing bowl and knew that was the gift. Rob will be teaching a new meditation class in January and I could just hear the rich tone of a singing bowl at the beginning and end of each class.
So I called Jeri one day from the parking lot of a grocery store. She asked me some questions about Rob’s personality, his interests,and said she would find the right bowl for him. She later said she tested 20 bowls and found the one she thought would fit him. When she mailed the gift, she enclosed an explanatory letter: “Other than clothing and a prayer wheel, the singing bowl might have been a monk’s only possession. Everything that the monk needed he could obtain with his bowl because it was his begging bowl and the bowl out of which every meal was consumed. So it is very vividly represents both the physical life of the owner in providing for his physical requirements as well as the spiritual life of the owner as a meditation tool.”
The bowl is old and bowls like the one you’re about to see and hear aren’t being produced anymore. Jeri says that “old” means it was made anywhere between 1800 and 1950. She also mentioned that sometimes the monk who owned the bowl may drop in for a visit. We’re hopeful!
Here are the bowl and the tone:
Happy 2011!!
Rob,, wonder what Curtis Hammond would say about the simplicity of that answer…..
Those are awesome gifts!!! Truly worth valuing. 🙂
I asked my daughter for The Red Book last Chistmas. I HAD to have it. I often wish that I could talk to Jung NOW. I am on #99 of my journals but for the most part keep my illustrations separate. Some times I ask the I Ching what would Jung tell me?
Happy New Year everyone!
XOX,
Adele
oh, i love the singing bowl. and the sound…
happy new year to the two of you!
What a magnificent addition to your library! I just love books, the feel of them and smell of the pages and then of course the content, so I am sure that this particular book is a real treasure and showpiece. I have a singing bowl as well, a friend of mine who travels extensively brought it home for me after a trip to Nepal. It is my favorite thing in the house. It has a very deep and rich tone that vibrates and fills the whole room, no joke as I slowly round the bowl with the mallet. I am sure that yours too will be a perfect addition to Rob's Yoga practice.
Happy 2011!
Beautifully expressed, cj.
To Simply Put: it seems that the more I think I know, the more I realize I truly don't know, and so the search goes on, with myriad unanswered questions because there are myriad and diverse answers, hypotheses, philosophies. When facing one's mortality, I think the question suddenly becomes an almost urgent priority: In retrospect, what have I REALLY accomplished with these years of my life? Not the usual mundane things each of us does, but have I contributed anything that will have a lasting impact once I'm no longer here? You've spoken more than once of my resume', and I can say in utter humility that no matter how many schools I may have attended or how many subjects I may have mastered, my search never ceases. It simply gets wider, deeper, and more un-knowing. cj
yes, the simplicity of natalie's answer is really what it is in part – isn't it – when all is said and done – it is only love that lingers – is not another part that of learning though – of being of evolving – else what would be the purpose?
I like Nat's answer!
Rosaria – hoping for the monk's ghost!
Fantastic! You two are now set for more and better synchronicity.
What stunning gifts! I am so excited for you. 🙂
In answer to CJ: We are here to love, to rejoice in the magic of each other, and to receive love.
That is all.
wv = branis
brains.?
CJ,, it is my belief that the answer to the first 2 can not go any further then God (quess it makes it easier to be a believer)wanted it that way,,,, as for purpose,, I might have to think to entertain,, be of use to the creator,,,, for maybe we are all just parts "of" and life is the way "the entity" goes about purifing itself,,, to me the dumbest question out there is "what is the meaning of life" trying to find out where it was ever written that there was meaning to,, maybe a meaning (definition) of but not 2…
thinking a person with a resume like your own, would have this stuff all on the hard drive by now,,,, but what's immediate?? the Jag's need the colts to lose?? thinkin
What truly awesome gifts! The Red Book is something you will gain from for years to come and the singing bowl has such rich sound that I can only imagine the enlightened being who held it and used it daily.
"Jung" huh yeah I'd tell ya bout'st a young
bonniee,, "synchro L N other"
cousin – after the wv above [and my own interpretation], i thought i would pass on even approaching your deep question/s! 😉
More me self…interesting wv interp!
Those three quesitons: aren't they what prompt every search for meaning?
dpage, me too. Me too. cj
cj- I have been asking the same questions. More I search and the older I get, the less I know.
first, what absolutely magnificent gifts – perfect for each of you! the sound of the bowl is incredibly beautiful – how wonderful that jeri tested to find just the right one! and i know trish will have countless hours of magical reading –
of our own red books – my brother had one – illustrated by his own hand – he was a commercial artist and his work in his book is very surprisingly reminiscent of jung's illustrations – a great idea for each of us to begin – no more perfect time than this minute in the beginnings of a new year –
interesting wv here – momesef – "more me self" ???
Since we're discussing Jung …somewhat…there's a question that's been nagging me for a while and I've not mentioned it because it will make me sound, I don't know, crazy? My question is, WHY ARE WE HERE? WHY DO WE LIVE? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES FROM BRITH TIL DEATH? Yeah, I understand that's three questions, but it's the same question expressed in three ways, and I'm serious. What is the true purpose of our being? Anyone? I'm open to any and all theories and ideas and thoughts, even though I've probably pondered all or most of them and still have the qwuestion. cj
The book, like Dennis said, is way too large to read at the breakfast table, for instance. But you open it to any page and are instantly immersed in Jung's intense journey – even if you don't read German!
I like the idea of people having their own red book.
You both gave each other thoughtful and beautiful gifts!
I have the Red Book as well. Jung felt that everyone should create their own "Red Book" as part of their work on their path. His journey was very intense: he had dreams and visions of WW II, his psychological constructs were destroyed, he was misunderstood by academics…. all this while continuing his work as a doctor, husband and father.
Wow, what wonderful gifts – so much better than a sweater or socks! They sound just perfect, made to measure for you both.
The red book is so big it is hard to set up to read. It is important to the psyche for sure. What a thoughtfull gift. Dennis
What wonderful gifts! Congratulations for having received such timeless and precious treasures. My friend Doc has a singing bowl from Peru. It's magnificent. Happy New Year, everyone. Oh dear. Look at this WV: "gashort" gas short? Not that such a thing would be new, but what a WV! cj
Wow! I had heard of Jung's Red Book but didn't know it had been reproduced at all. I am impressed that Rob found it for Trish. And that singing bowl? These are such amazing gifts that will be treasured for lifetimes. Thanks for sharing.