Jung’s Orbit: Systema Munditotius

“I find that all my thoughts circle round God like the planets round the sun, and are irresistibly attracted by him.”

C.G. Jung

In 1916, Carl Jung drew a sketch of a mandala, and from that he created a detailed painting of it, which he named Systema Munditotius (the system of the whole world).  The symbols in this mandala are a pictorial guide to his subsequent visionary experiences in Liber Novus (The Red Book), including the Seven Sermons to the Dead.

We will examine how Jung drew from classical mythological sources as well as the products of his imaginings to create this cosmology.  We will study illuminations that appeared to Jung during his inner journey and consider what they offer us on our own journey.