> "You have to be lonely, so that the [[Unconscious]] can come in and find you.” Marie-Louise von Franz often spoke about the necessity of [[Knowledge/solitude]] in the process of individuation. She saw loneliness not as something to be avoided but as a state that allows the [[Unconscious]] to emerge and communicate. In Jungian [[Psychology]], the [[Unconscious]] is full of symbols, myths, and patterns that can guide personal growth, but it requires space to surface. This idea resonates with many artists and thinkers who find that true creative insight or self-discovery often comes in moments of isolation. It’s not just about being alone but about being open to what arises in that [[Knowledge/solitude]]. Do you find that [[Knowledge/solitude]] plays a role in your creative process? # A Flat [[Ontology]]? Marie-Louise von Franz emphasised the deep structure of the [[Unconscious]], particularly how it manifests through [[Archetypes]], dreams, and symbols, shaping [[Creativity]] and personal transformation. In contrast, [[The Mind Is Flat]] by Nick Chater argues that there is no deep unconscious--our minds are improvisational, constructing [[Meaning]] in the moment rather than drawing from hidden depths. Bringing these perspectives together creates an interesting tension: von Franz suggests that [[Creativity]] emerges from the depths of the unconscious, while Chater suggests that [[Creativity]] is a surface-level, moment-to-moment process of assembling ideas rather than uncovering something already present. One way to reconcile these views is to see the unconscious, not as a fixed reservoir of [[Meaning]] (as von Franz might argue), but as a shifting, dynamic interplay of associations that still feels deep because of the way our brains work. [[Creativity]], then, might not be a process of retrieving hidden truths but rather of pattern recognition--connecting symbols, experiences, and influences into something that feels like it comes from a deeper source. For artistic practice, this suggests that engaging with images, myths, and dreams (as von Franz would advocate) doesn't necessarily mean tapping into a mysterious [[Unconscious]] realm but instead providing raw material for the mind's improvisation (as Chater suggests). Whether depth is real or an illusion may not matter--what matters is the process of creation itself. --- Creators/Marie-Louise von Franz|Marie-Louise von Franz (1915 – 1998) was a Swiss Jungian analyst and scholar, and arguably the most renowned disciple and close collaborator of Carl Gustav Jung. · Early Meeting with Jung: At the age of 18, she was introduced to Jung to help with the translation of Latin and Greek texts for his work on alchemy. Her intellectual brilliance immediately impressed him, and he became her mentor and analyst. · Lifelong Collaboration: She worked closely with Jung for over three decades, until his death in 1961. She became a leading expert on his theories, particularly on alchemy, fairy tales, and active [[imagination]]. · Analyst and Teacher: Von Franz became a practicing analyst herself and was a founding member of the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. She was known as a demanding but brilliant teacher and supervised many aspiring analysts. · Prolific Writer: She authored over 20 books, which are considered essential reading in Jungian circles. Her works are known for their clarity, depth, and scholarly rigor, making complex Jungian concepts more accessible. · Focus on the Concrete: Unlike Jung, who often worked with broader cultural and religious symbols, von Franz had a gift for applying Jungian principles to the immediate, practical problems of individual psychology, dreams, and the process of individuation. --- Summary of Her Core Philosophy Von Franz's philosophy is a deep extension and refinement of Jung's work. She focused on the living, experiential reality of the psyche. Her key philosophical contributions can be summarized around several central themes: 1. The Reality of the Psyche: Von Franz insisted that the psyche is not just a subjective epiphenomenon of the brain but a objective, autonomous reality with its own laws. She treated dreams, fantasies, and myths as "facts of nature" that reveal objective truths about the individual and the collective unconscious. 2. Individuation as the Central Goal of Life: Following Jung, she believed the ultimate purpose of human life is individuation—the process of becoming a whole, integrated individual by consciously relating to the contents of the unconscious. This involves a lifelong dialogue between the ego and the Self (the central archetype of wholeness). 3. Fairy Tales as the Purest Expression of the Psyche: This is one of her most significant contributions. Von Franz argued that fairy tales are the simplest and most direct expression of the basic patterns of the collective unconscious (the [[Archetypes]]). Unlike myths, which are contaminated by local [[Culture]] and [[Religion]], fairy tales show the "bare bones" of the individuation process. She analyzed hundreds of tales to demonstrate universal psychological patterns. 4. The Importance of Number and Time as Archetypal Patterns: Von Franz delved into the psychology of number and time, proposing that they are not just intellectual concepts but are rooted in the unconscious as pre-existing, dynamic patterns (archetypes). She saw numbers as the most primitive archetype of order, and synchronicity (meaningful coincidence) as an "acausal connecting principle" that reveals this underlying order. 5. The Transcendent Function and Active Imagination: She placed great emphasis on active imagination—a method of engaging directly with images from the unconscious (through drawing, writing, or dialogue) to bridge the gap between the conscious and unconscious mind. This process activates the "transcendent function," which leads to the emergence of new, reconciling perspectives and psychological growth. 6. The Problem of Evil and the Shadow: Von Franz took the problem of evil very seriously. She argued that a major task of individuation is the conscious confrontation and integration of the shadow (the dark, unacknowledged part of the [[Personality]]). Failure to do so, she warned, leads to the shadow being projected outward, resulting in personal and collective conflict. 7. The Union of Opposites: A recurring theme in her work, especially in her studies of alchemy, is the necessity of reconciling opposites (e.g., conscious/unconscious, masculine/feminine, good/evil). True wholeness, or the "lapis" in alchemy, is achieved not by eliminating one side but by holding the tension between them until a new, transcendent position emerges. Legacy Marie-Louise von Franz is revered for her ability to ground Jung's sometimes vast and abstract theories in tangible, practical psychological work. She is considered the guardian of "classical Jungian psychology." Her extensive work on fairy tales, in particular, remains an unparalleled resource for understanding the universal language of the human soul. Her philosophy is ultimately a profound affirmation of the psyche's innate drive toward meaning, wholeness, and self-realisation . ![[MariaVonFranz.webp]] `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`