Abstract
The example of a scarab beetle synchronicity is recounted by Jung in his 1951 lecture ‘On Synchronicity’ and then the following year, in 1952, it appears in his book Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle. It is also recounted in Memories, Dreams, Reflections, appears in a number of the biographies on Jung, and has had journal articles written about it. It is no understatement to say that his scarab beetle synchronicity has become iconic in Jungian studies, and even beyond. In this article I offer a fresh perspective by locating the incident, together with Jung’s broader engagement with the scarab, within his esoteric worldview oriented around alchemy, astrology and magic. I also gesture to the value of such symbols for our time, by reference to ecopsychology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3-18 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | International Journal of Jungian Studies |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Keywords
- Liber Novus
- alchemy
- astrology
- ecopsychology
- magic
- platonic months
- scarab
- synchronicity