120 Part II Psychodynamic Theories
self-realization is seldom if ever achieved, but as an ideal it exists within the col-
lective unconscious of everyone. To actualize or fully experience the self, people
must overcome their fear of the unconscious; prevent their persona from dominat-
ing their personality; recognize the dark side of themselves (their shadow); and
then muster even greater courage to face their anima or animus.
On one occasion during his midlife crisis, Jung had a vision in which he
confronted a bearded old man who was living with a beautiful blind young girl
and a large black snake. The old man explained that he was Elijah and that the
young girl was Salome, both biblical figures. Elijah had a certain, sharp intelli-
gence, although Jung did not clearly understand him. Salome gave Jung a feeling
of distinct suspiciousness, while the serpent showed a remarkable fondness for
Jung. At the time he experienced this vision, Jung was unable to comprehend its
meaning, but many years later he came to see the three figures as archetypes.
Elijah represented the wise old man, seemingly intelligent, but not making a good
deal of sense; the blind Salome was an anima figure, beautiful and seductive, but
unable to see the meaning of things; and the snake was the counterpart of the
hero, showing an affinity for Jung, the hero of the vision. Jung (1961) believed
that he had to identify these unconscious images in order to maintain his own
identity and not lose himself to the powerful forces of the collective unconscious.
He later wrote:
The essential thing is to differentiate oneself from these unconscious contents by
personifying them, and at the same time to bring them into relationship with
consciousness. That is the technique for stripping them of their power. (p. 187)IntroversionExtraversionFIGURE 4.2 The Yang and the Yin.