All posts tagged: Carl

The Extraordinary Symbolism Behind Carl Jung’s Child Archetype

The Extraordinary Symbolism Behind Carl Jung’s Child Archetype

Published by Sam Flores

  Carl Jung proposed that within each person exist timeless and potent underlying patterns known as archetypes. One of these is what he called the Child Archetype. It is not simply a memory of childhood but an innate part of us all, symbolizing innocent beginnings and unlimited potential (though also including unfulfilled wishes and a capacity for being wounded). This figure appears in dreams, myths, and popular culture—stories that offer healing shifts in perspective if we pay attention to their messages.   The Child Archetype in Jungian Psychology: An Overview Child with a Dove, Pablo Picasso, 1901. Source: PabloPicasso.org   The Child Archetype in Jungian psychology symbolizes far beyond youth. It represents innocence, beginnings, and the potential of what we can be.   Carl Jung believed that this archetype resided deep within our unconscious minds and manifested in dreams, myths, and bedtime stories as a sign that new beginnings and unrealized potentials were nearby.   Two versions of the child regularly appear. One is full of wonder and capability (“divine child”), while the other has strength …

The Mother Archetype in Carl Jung’s Theory

The Mother Archetype in Carl Jung’s Theory

Published by Sam Flores

  Carl Jung postulated that within each person, there exist primordial symbols, which he termed archetypes—cross-cultural patterns of human experience. Perhaps the most puissant is the Mother Archetype—this figure appears in reveries, stories, and feelings. This figure has two poles: the nurturing, life-giving mother and the possessive, devouring one. Either can influence the ways in which we love, grow, and relate to others. So the question is this: How has this inner image of “mother” shaped who you are and what you currently are, and how do you perceive the world?   What Is the Mother Archetype? Jung’s Definition and Origins Mother and Child, Camille Corot, 1860s. Source: The MET   Within Jungian psychology, the Mother Archetype is a potent symbol existing within the collective unconscious—a shared psychological framework inherited by all human beings.   This goes beyond one’s relationship with their personal mother. Rather, it encapsulates an image of “motherhood” that is universal: giver of life, nurturer, protector, and sometimes controller.   It appears in countless forms, including dreams, myths, religion, and nature itself. Jung felt …

Why Do We See Ourselves in Others? Carl Jung on Projection

Why Do We See Ourselves in Others? Carl Jung on Projection

Published by Sam Flores

  Have you ever instantly disliked (or liked) someone, without being able to say why? Carl Jung would suggest that such powerful reactions may actually reveal a great deal about ourselves. Specifically about parts of our own personality that we don’t recognize. This mechanism is called projection. It’s when we unconsciously ascribe to other people feelings, desires, or even fears that we can’t acknowledge having. For Jung, understanding projection is key to understanding human relationships, political systems, and even (for example) why entire nations might idealize one leader while demonizing another.   What Is Psychological Projection? Jung’s Core Idea Fenómeno, Remedios Varo, 1962. Source: Remedios-Varo.com   Carl Jung explains that psychological projection occurs when we attribute our own negative traits to others without realizing it. These projections do not arise through conscious effort but rather stem from the unconscious mind. A repository of thoughts, feelings, and desires that we might prefer to keep hidden, even from ourselves.   In Jungian psychology, all individuals possess what he termed a shadow self: aspects of yourself that you …

Carl Jung’s Theory of Color Symbolism That Will Change the Way You See Color

Carl Jung’s Theory of Color Symbolism That Will Change the Way You See Color

Published by Sam Flores

Published: Nov 28, 2025written by Maysara Kamal, BA Philosophy & Film   Colors don’t only paint our world, but animate our hearts. Carl Jung understood the profound significance of colors for the human psyche. According to him, colors are not mere visual stimuli, but functions that well up from the depth of our unconscious. His works paved the way to understanding the curious ways we interact with the hues that color our waking world and our dreamscapes.   What Is the Origin of Color Symbolism According to Jung? Carl Jung in a 1955 interview. Source: Wikimedia Commons   According to Jung, the origin of color symbolism is the collective unconscious. Unlike other theories of color psychology, his understanding of color symbolism is not limited to personal and cultural associations of colors. Colors don’t have acquired, but innate, meanings. The origin of these innate meanings is the collective unconscious – an aspect of the unconscious shared by humanity at large. The patterns of meanings (i.e. archetypes) in this aspect of our unconscious are universal and impersonal. …