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Home , Emma Jung

C. G. Jung’s Crisis and Renewal by Greg Bogart

Editor’s Note: This article was adapted , a revelatory, visionary, Venus conjunction in Cancer, in the from the author’s book, Planets in Therapy: mystical text. 6th house, the realm of training and Predictive Technique and the Art of Counsel- This period of psychological crisis apprenticeship. Jung employed tech- ing (Ibis Press, 2012). was preceded by the crucial transits niques of Freudian psychoanalysis as ne of the most inspiring examples of 1907–08 when psychoanalysis was well as the Word Association Test, an of consciousness transformation birthed through the collaboration of intuitive and effective diagnostic tool. Omediated by the combined influ- Jung and , during a Jung related to Freud as his mentor, ence of the outer planets is the Carlstory Gustav Jungmajor outer-planet phase: the opposition conducting an active and stimulating Natal Chart of Carl Gustav Jung’s upheavalsJul and26 1875 NS, Monof Uranus in Capricorn and Neptune correspondence with him (Mercury 7:29 pm -0:29:44 awakening. While Uranus in AquariusKesswil, Switzerland in Cancer. Uranus and Neptune were and Venus). Also during this time, 47°N36' 009°E20' transited over his Ascendant, oppositeGeocentric directly aligned with Jung’s Mercury– Jung worked as a psychiatrist at the Tropical his Sun–Uranus in Leo, and transitingKoch Burghölzli asylum in Zürich, under the Mean Node Neptune was conjunct his Descendant supervision of Dr. Eugen Bleuler. 00° ˆ 22' ‡ Bleuler was Switzerland’s most and natal Sun (see Chart 1, below), 38' 24° ˆ † Jung entered the period of his “con- 17° 53' prominent psychiatrist, widely known frontation with the collective uncon- ¼ ½ for his writings on “schizophrenia,” scious.”1 He was flooded with 23° Ê a term he coined. Bleuler showed 21° 11° 25' ˆ † 10° visions, prophetic and disturbing 47' † unusual devotion to his patients. A ‰ 22' 43' … 10 9 Œ dreams, and psychic, paranor- 07° 09' bachelor, he lived in the hospital mal phenomena. His fantasies 11 8 and spent all his time with the and interior life became so patients, involved in their phys- intense that he felt compelled 12 7 „14° ¿ ical treatment and achieving 03° Chart 1: 48' 03° to withdraw into solitude, giv- 18' „03° ¸ close emotional contact with Š „ each one. He thus attained a ing his free 08' C. G. Jung 08' 1 6 rein through drawing, painting, Œ unique understanding of men- Š 11' 30' ƒ dreamwork, mythological stud- 24° 46' 17° » tally ill patients and their inner ¾ ƒ13° ies, sculpting, and building with 2 5 º life, attempting to make sense 10° 25' stones. He experienced visita- Œ 3 4 of the supposedly “senseless” ‹ 43' ƒ tions of an ancient Gnostic spiri- Ü 24' utterings and delusions of schizo- 09' 02' 07° 11° Ü 33' tual teacher named Philemon, and Ý 30' phrenics. Bleuler conceived the É 26° Ý Ý in January 1916 he penned “Seven 03°  15° 23° 24° À 38' Sermons to the Dead” through a pro- Ü ¶ Á ‚ All charts use 2 53' 17° cess of channeling or automatic writing. Koch houses and Ý 00° ‚ 22' This was when Jung began creating the Mean Node.

64 www.mountainastrologer.com Jung’s genius was unleashed through his original theories and writings as Uranus awakened natal Mercury by opposition.

primary symptom of schizophrenia to be a loosening of associations, in a manner similar to what happens in dreams and daydreams. He used treatments that sometimes produced miraculous effects, such as resorting to the early discharge of apparently severely ill patients, or a of Otto Gross, a prominent German alchemy. I believe that Pluto also influ- sudden, unexpected transfer to another psychoanalyst, who had been commit- enced Jung’s 4th house, because Pluto ward, or assigning a responsibility to ted by his family to the Burghölzli asy- is in the fourth sign from the Ascen- the patient. He organized a system of lum to undergo treatment for his mental dant and in the 4th house from the per- work therapy and arranged the leisure disorder, drug addiction, and strange spective of the Equal house system and time of his patients and the functioning ideation that focused on his advocacy Whole Sign houses. While Saturn tran- of a human community in the mental for polygamy. The work was unorthodox sited Pluto, Jung delved into his family hospital.3 in that Jung and Gross stayed in a room genealogy and ancestral heritage and Jung was trained in Bleuler’s com- together for up to twelve hours at a experienced marital discord and domes- passionate approach to mental illness time, analyzing each other’s dreams in tic upset, echoing the estrangement of under the transit of Neptune conjunct a kind of mutual psychoanalysis. There Jung’s own parents during his childhood his Mercury. At the same time, Jung was a certain manic excitement in the (Pluto in the 4th house: the family). was experiencing his own loosening of conversation between the two men, and Saturn conjunct natal Pluto is a transit associations as his unconscious life of Jung would soon confess to Freud the that often evokes the archetype of the dreams and fantasies became highly conflicts stemming from his own polyga- , the encounter with a difficult charged, and the state of his own men- mous desires. This was also the time of or hidden side of others and ourselves. tal health became questionable for a Jung’s brief involvement with Sabina At this time, Jung experienced Freud as while. Throughout all this, genius was Spielrein, a young patient who became increasingly rigid and dictatorial, and unleashed through his original theories his research assistant; she was roman- he felt stifled under the oppression of and writings as Uranus awakened natal tically smitten with Jung and obsessed the tyrannical father. He encountered Mercury by opposition. with fantasies of bearing his love child. Freud’s controlling, patriarchal traits, While Uranus opposed Venus and This little imbroglio would strain his rela- his unwillingness to yield an inch to Mercury in the 6th house, Jung had tionship with Freud, as well as his mar- Jung in their theoretical disagreements, many stimulating, changeable, and con- riage. (See Sidebar, page 66.) and Freud’s somewhat paranoid obses- troversial relationships with patients, During 1911–12, while transit- sion with the idea that Jung harbored co-workers, trainees, and research assis- ing Saturn conjoined Pluto in the 3rd a death wish toward him. There was tants. During this period, he conducted house, Jung’s mind was illumined also tension between them for another an unorthodox psychoanalytic treatment through his studies of Gnosticism and reason: Freud disapproved of Jung’s

Dec. 2012/Jan. 2013 * The Mountain Astrologer 65 From A Most Dangerous Method C. G. Jung’s Crisis For a riveting account of this period in Jung’s life, see John Kerr, A Most Dangerous Method: The Story of Jung, Freud, and (Vintage, 1994). unprofessional behavior with Sabina Spielrein, while (The film version of Kerr’s book, , Jung had been aware since 1907 that Freud was having an affair with his wife’s sister.4 These, too, were manifes- was released in September 2011.) According to Kerr, tations of the Plutonian shadow. Freud and Jung were Otto Gross was the son of Hans Gross, a prominent becoming increasingly uncomfortable with each other. professor, considered the founder of criminology and When Uranus moved into a conjunction with Jung’s “a force in European sociology … Gross was in no little Ascendant and an opposition to his Sun in Leo, his prob- conflict with his … father. Alarmed at his son’s behav- lems with Freud increased; this was due to Jung’s interest ior, which was passing beyond eccentricity into his own in religion, esoteric philosophies, mythology, and paranor- special area of competency, outright criminality, Gross mal realities, which were anathema to Freud, who deci- senior had been trying for months, for everyone’s sively rejected and disdained Jung’s innovations. Jung protection, to get his son committed to a hospital” also had doubts about Freud’s theory of sexuality, believ- (p. 186). Jung was assigned to his case. ing that sexuality was not the only expression, or goal, Otto Gross was described by Freud’s official biog- of the libido. In his view, the unconscious psyche sought rapher, Ernest Jones, as “a ‘genius’ with ‘penetrating wholeness through a union of opposites and had a spiri- powers of divining the inner thoughts of others.’ An tual, centering, ordering tendency, which he called the Self extremely brilliant man, Gross never lacked for influ- — evident in dream images of a divine child, jewel, cross, ential followers throughout his short life. His novel mandala, a Christ or Buddha figure, or other numinous psychiatric and psychological theories were debated symbolism that Jung considered equivalent to personal by the best intellects of his day. He … appeared as a “God images.” As these transits continued, the severing of character in a half-dozen novels. In Munich he split ties between the two men became irrevocable, and Freud his time between Kraepelin’s clinic, where he had broke off their correspondence in early 1913. In the year one of the prized assistantships, and the cafés of the or two after 1913, Jung’s whole center of gravity shifted, Schwabing district, Munich’s answer to Greenwich Vil- and he was on his own in the Uranian free space of self- lage, where he conducted impromptu psychoanalyses discovery and identity reconstruction. into the night … Gross wanted a world where monog- Following the break with Freud, Jung embarked upon amy did not exist, where all patriarchal authority had an inner journey that ultimately allowed him to find a been overthrown [in favor of] communal living and deep center and unfold his unique identity and creativ- self-exploration” (pp. 186—187). He was in trouble ity (Sun in Leo). During 1913–14, as Saturn transited over several scandals involving female patients, one of through Gemini and the 5th house, Jung retired from whom committed suicide. Also, “Gross was addicted to teaching, resigned his positions in the international psy- both cocaine and morphine … [T]he erosion of Gross’ choanalytic movement, and took time off. It wasn’t exactly a vacation, but he allowed himself to play like a child and personality had only just begun and his intellect and became very involved in his writing (Gemini) and creativ- charm were still intact. It could have been said about ity (5th house). Inwardly, Jung felt somewhat unhinged him as it was once said of Lord Byron: he was mad, and disoriented. With his professional life and his psyche bad, and dangerous to know. Gross and Jung hit it off in chaos, he was in deep waters, beginning a five-year famously right from the start” (p. 187). phase that has been called a “creative illness” and a Jung saw Gross as his psychic “twin brother” and “breakdown.”5 dedicated himself to analyzing and curing this impor- From August 1916 to June 1918, while Neptune was tant new patient. “Jung devoted every free hour conjunct Jung’s Sun and Descendant, he entered a period and then some to the care of this intriguing man …” of dissolution of identity. This transit marked the deep- (p. 187). Eventually, “Gross was able to turn the ening of a process of intensified inner life that had been tables so that what transpired was equally an analysis in progress for several years, as material from the deep of Jung” (p. 188). Sabina Spielrein wrote this about unconscious began to emerge though powerful dreams Jung in one of her letter-drafts of spring 1909: “Now and fantasies, psychic premonitions, and Jung’s immer- he arrives, beaming with pleasure, and tells me with sion in the study of mythology, alchemy, astrology, and strong emotion about Gross, about the great insight Gnosticism. As early as October 1913, Jung had dreamed he has just received (i.e., about polygamy); he no lon- of a “monstrous flood” descending upon Europe and of ger wants to suppress his feeling for me, he admitted “the whole sea turned to blood.” In the spring of 1914, he that I was his first, dearest friend, etc., etc. (his wife of had had a thrice-repeated dream of “an arctic cold wave” course excepted), and that he wants to tell me every- causing death and desolation. Jung later considered these thing about himself” (cited by Kerr, pp. 191—192). In to be premonitions of the outbreak of World War I.6 all of this, one sees expressions of transiting Uranus At times, he felt that he was on the edge of a psychosis, opposite Jung’s Venus and Mercury. yet he consciously surrendered to the inward-moving 66 www.mountainastrologer.com Emma Jung’s love made it possible for her husband to individuate through an unconventional marriage and approach to love (Uranus in his 7th house). Chart 2: flow of imagery and symbolism that flooded him during Emma Jung Neptune’s high tide. He yielded to the unconscious and decided to follow it wherever it would lead him. This Neptunian period was also characterized by introversion and uncer- tainty caused by the erosion of friend- ships and professional relationships (Neptune transiting the 7th house). Former colleagues became rivals and enemies; his 7th-house alliances were totally overturned. Jung had become highly controversial and was shunned and scorned by the Freudians. Many of Freud’s followers and Jung’s former col- leagues (for example, Karl Abraham) Emma Jung viewed Jung as peculiar, egotistical, and arrogant (Sun–Uranus in Leo). For his Emma’s five-planet conjunction of part, Jung probably felt that Freud and Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Jupiter, and his other adversaries were themselves Pluto shows the immense, concentrated quite arrogant and unruly. power of her chart and her personality, During this Neptune transit to her spiritual clarity, and her wisdom. Jung’s Descendent and 7th-house With her Sun—Venus conjunction in the Sun (and also transiting Uranus oppo- 5th house, Emma’s chart portrays her as site Sun–Uranus), his marriage was in a warm, affectionate woman who was some disarray, largely due to the fact very involved with her five children. that Jung was engaging in emotional and erotic discourse Her Moon in Leo square the Ascendant and not only with his wise and steady wife, Emma, but also also square Jupiter—Pluto indicates that she was with Toni Wolff, his anima muse.7 These relationships ulti- a strong matriarch. With her Mercury—Uranus mately flowered in mutual devotion during Neptune’s opposition near the MC/IC axis, Emma was her- transit of his 7th house. I consider Emma Jung a highly self a free thinker and innovator in the field of inspiring personality. She remained devoted to her hus- depth psychology and mythology. The conjunc- band while he appeared to go completely off the deep tion of Pluto, Jupiter, and the South Node at her end, preoccupied with channeling the spirits of deceased Descendant depicts her husband, C. G. Jung, a Gnostic gurus. And he was in love with another woman. powerful, influential, and world-transforming Although it must have been extremely difficult for her, personality who lived an underground life as an Emma embodied Uranian openness, adaptability, and the alchemist, astrologer, and student of esoteric purest Leo loyalty and dignity, expressing both her Leo knowledge. With five planets in Taurus, Emma Moon and her husband’s Leo Sun in his 7th house. (See had quite a bit of money, which was of great Chart 2 and Sidebar, at right.) She was ultimately able benefit to the couple during the period when to accept Toni Wolff as a friend, ally, and family mem- Jung largely withdrew from public life and ber. Emma’s love made it possible for Carl to individu- devoted himself, for several years, to his inner ate through an unconventional marriage and approach to love (Uranus in his 7th house). She went on to become imaginal journey. a highly accomplished analyst and author of scholarly papers as well as her masterpiece, The Grail Legend. As Jung entered stormy seas, Emma and Toni accompanied

Dec. 2012/Jan. 2013 * The Mountain Astrologer 67 “dominants,” of the collective uncon- C. G. Jung’s Crisis scious, including the great mother, the Jung’s story illustrates hero, the divine child, the wise old man, him to the edge of his sanity and into the , the trickster, the the radiant experiences that inspired all the meaning of the , the shadow, and the wounded of his mature theories and ideas. Uranus opposition to healer.9 Jung’s story illustrates the During his years of transformation, meaning of the Uranus opposition to its Jung worked steadily on a leather- its natal position as a natal position as a phase of awakening bound folio of writings and artwork phase of awakening and self-liberation, and of Neptune tran- that became known as The Red Book.8 siting conjunct the Sun as a spiritualizing After being kept locked in a vault follow- and self-liberation. of identity and entry into the archetypal ing Jung’s death in 1961, this work was dimension. These events led Jung to finally revealed to the public and pub- drink from the well of the unconscious, lished in 2009. In one of the most strik- ing and of an awakening humanity. It whose fountain would fully quench his ing paintings in The Red Book, Jung is intensely resonant with our own cur- thirst. depicted scenes of a city in somber earth rent moment of history. The years of tones, with details of sailboats, smoke- 1914–15 also featured a transiting Chart Data and Sources stacks spewing smoke, and soldiers with Saturn–Pluto conjunction in Jung’s 5th C. G. Jung, July 26, 1875; 7:29 p.m. SZOT; rifles taking part in target practice and house. This painting gave expression to Kesswil, Switzerland (47°N36', 09°E20'); C: manning walled towers — in short, a the immense power implied by the sym- rectified from the time of 7:32 p.m., given by bolism of Saturn–Pluto. From the fall of Jung’s daughter, Gret Baumann, to place the modern city engaged in industrial pro- Sun on the Descendant. duction, commerce, and the machin- 1913 through the spring of 1915, Jung Emma Jung, March 30, 1882; 10:45 p.m. ery and strategy of war. Above all this, was also experiencing transiting Pluto at SZOT; , Switzerland (47°N42', a little man called Phanes — the divine 1° Cancer semi-square the natal Moon, 08°E38'); AA: birth record, “grandson quoted child, symbol of the emergent Self (the intensifying his emotional experience of a document.” internal order and wholeness encom- the volcanic, turbulent, and transforma- passing the opposing forces within the tive powers emerging from the collec- References and Notes personality) — sits with a huge cross tive unconscious, as well as marking this 1. C. G. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, mandala over his head, surrounded by period as a crisis of death and rebirth. Vintage, 1961, ch. 6. a shimmering kaleidoscope of multi Jung’s intensive inner work cul- 2. S. Hoeller, The Gnostic Jung and the Seven colored light exploding into expansive minated in the formulation of the core Sermons to the Dead, Quest Books, 1982. radiance. This was Jung’s apocalyptic ideas of , such as 3. My account of Bleuler’s work is adapted from vision of impending violence and , the , H. Ellenberger, The Discovery of the Uncon- the relations between the ego and the scious: The History and Evolution of Dynamic destruction, a premonition of war, but Psychiatry, Basic Books, 1970. it was also a vision of his own awaken- unconscious, and the archetypes, or

68 www.mountainastrologer.com 4. P. Homans, Jung in Context, University of Chicago Press, 1978, pp. 53–54. 5. See Ellenberger, The Discovery of the Uncon- CLASSIFIED ADS scious, op. cit.; and M. Goldwert, “Jung’s break- down,” in Wounded Healers, University Press CONSULTANTS EDUCATION of America, 1992, pp. 81–91. MEDICAL INTUITIVE JANICE ASTROLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY 6. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, pp. ASSOCIATION. 175–176. MICHAEL. Clear communication with For all interested in specific details. Helping people for the psychological approach to astrology 7. D. Bair, Jung: A Biography, Little Brown, over 30 years. In-person, telephone, pioneered by Bruno & Louise Huber. 2003. and e-mail readings are available. (503) Foundation Courses in Astrology, Di- 8. C. G. Jung, Liber Novus: The Red Book, 282-0409; www.janicemichael.com ploma in Astrological Psychology, mem- W. W. Norton & Co., 2009. bership, magazine, consultations, Huber 9. See my discussion of the archetypes in Greg FULL LIFE ASTROLOGY READING by books and resources. Visit www.astrolog Bogart, Dreamwork and Self-Healing: Unfold- telephone (recorded) $150. Explanation icalpsychology.org, or call 0044 (0) 1479 ing the Symbols of the Unconscious, Karnac, of natal horoscope, transits, planetary 831374. 2009. periods; goma, gemstones & mantra. Mr. Nels Hennum uses techniques CALENDARS © 2012 Greg Bogart – all rights reserved from Tibet & Western astrology. (212) 840-1234; [email protected] FIND OUT WHY customers can’t live without Janet’s Plan-its Celestial Planner WASHINGTON D.C.’s world-renowned Easy-to-Use Astrology Calendar by Janet astrologer, Randy Goldberg, interviewed Booth. 2013’s transits interpreted for by CNN, NPR, and the Washington beginners and non-astrologers. Ingenious Post. Using Western and Vedic, from tools and short-cuts for professionals. a Jungian perspective. 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Dec. 2012/Jan. 2013 * The Mountain Astrologer 69