Psyche In Progress

In our lives, we are surrounded by signs and symbols as a form of language that communicates with us every day.  We may ask Jung why symbols are so important and how they impact our lives.  To answer this question, we need to define symbols, differentiate them from what is not and understand the role of the unconscious. by Ina RH Symbolic language is a way in which the unconscious communicates with the conscious mind. However, although this indirect language shapes our personality, the effort to translate it loses out to the competition with the pressing demands of everyday life. In ordinary communication, there is no distinction between symbols and signs, but for Jung, it is of extreme importance. A sign is a non-symbolic language that we can easily understand. Signs appear on streets to coordinate traffic, in mathematics to express reasoning, and in designs that represent a brand so they can be promptly recognised in association with a product. On the other hand, a symbol...

When we talk about illness, it is important to recognise that it is not just about the body. Historically, the relationship between mind (or soul) and body has been debated since ancient Greek philosophy . Plato distinguished between the soul and the body, while Aristotle viewed them as inseparable aspects of a living organism. Later, René Descartes famously distinguished the mind from the body while still recognising that they interact. Contemporary approaches move beyond a simple mind–body framework by recognising that health and illness are influenced by biological, psychological and social factors, which interact with one another. by  Mikuláš   Galanda From a psychoanalytic view, illness can mean losing the sense of meaning that holds life together. What is unwell can be our very sense of self. Illness can begin when our desires are silenced, when we forget who we are, and when the unspoken starts to speak through symptoms. Picture someone who has spent years holdin...