Jung’s Relationship to Astrology

Astrology played a more central role in C. G. Jung’s analytical psychology than is often acknowledged. In a 1911 letter to Freud, Jung admitted that his nights were consumed with the study of astrology. Freud, concerned for Jung’s reputation, warned that he would be “accused of mysticism.” And so Jung kept his astrological work relatively private — but the traces of it are everywhere.

In this presentation, Becca Tarnas, PhD explores how astrology quietly but powerfully influenced Jung’s analytic practice and personal life. Drawing on the work of Liz Greene, Keiron Le Grice, and Safron Rossi, this talk will show how Jung used astrology to guide transformative psychological work — especially in the creation of The Red Book.

We’ll also explore how Jung’s legacy helped shape the field of archetypal astrology, and how a deeper integration of the two disciplines can expand the possibilities of contemporary psychotherapy and symbolic life.