The release of Volume 4: Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales – Opposition and Renewal marks a major milestone in the ongoing publication of The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz, a monumental project hailed as the famed Jungian psychologist’s magnum opus. This new volume provides even deeper access to von Franz’s legendary systematic analysis of symbolic structures and transformational dynamics found within global folklore. Specifically, Opposition and Renewal dismantles the profound splits found in fairytales—such as light/dark, masculine/feminine, and stagnation/renewal—and uses Jung’s framework to illustrate how the necessary confrontation and integration of these psychic opposites fuels both personal growth and healing during the individuation process. The volume includes extensive case studies from global folklore and offers accessible, applied wisdom for therapists and those interested in symbolic meaning. You can watch Chiron Publications/Asheville Jung Center’s webinars “The Hero’s Journey – Collected Works Overview” and “The Maiden’s Quest – Series Journey” that covers Volume 3 and Volume 2.
The entire 28-volume Collected Works series, published by Chiron Publications with oversight from the Foundation for Jungian Psychology in Küsnacht, gathers von Franz’s comprehensive writings on everything from myth and dreams to technical analyses of numbers and synchronicity, confirming her enduring legacy in analytical psychology. For readers wanting a sneak peek before purchasing, Chiron Publications offers free sample chapters of Volumes 1-3, and video introductions directly from the editorial team.
You can learn more about Marie-Louise von Franz’s works through Christophe Le Mouël on this recent episode of the Speaking of Jung podcast in a conversation focused on “Synchronicity and Number: Insights and Amplifications” from von Franz’s work. Further exploration of her legacy is available in the newly published book, Light from the Darkness, by Eva Wertenschlag-Birkhäuser & Kaspar Birkhäuser. For a comprehensive overview of her extensive bibliography, you can consult the book catalogue available on the Jungian.Directory website.