The Labyrinth And The Individuation Process

In ‘Psychology and Alchemy’ Jung writes:  “…the right way to wholeness is made up, unfortunately, of fateful detours and wrong turnings. It is a longissima via, not straight but snakelike, a path that unites in the manner of a guiding caduceus, a path whose labyrinthine twists and turns are not lacking in terrors.” (CW12 §6)

The labyrinth is an ancient image best known from the Minotaur story. However unlike a maze, which has choices and dead ends, the labyrinth is unicursal with just one path to the centre, despite its twists and turns, and only one way out. In that sense it is a true symbol holding both positive and negative energies, and an appropriate archetype for the path to individuation.

Reading: