Jung and Steiner

A Series of extraordinary questions begin to hover when we consider the names of C. G. Jung and Rudolf Steiner together. What is the relation between their views of psychology? How do their views on evil, on the relationship between East and West, on life after death, technology, clairvoyance, the Christ, alchemy, spiritual practice, and many other common interests compare? Is Jung's individuation process the same as Steiner's development of individuality? How does Jung's Self relate to Steiner's "I"? To answer these questions, Gerhard Wehr, who is both an anthroposophist and a biographer of C. G. Jung, as well as the author of many books on the Western spiritual tradition, visualizes the essential elements of Jung and Steiner together. This opens new insights and forms a basis for a spiritual psychology that integrates both approaches.

Wehr's skilled and articulate understanding of Jung and Steiner clarifies the difference between soul consciousness and spiritual consciousness. He shows how meditation relates to image-work of the soul, and compares a soul and spiritual view of sexuality. He also considers the Grail stream as uniting Jung and Steiner; and deals with the significance of a therapeutic stance large enough to address the cultural problems of our time. When two such important world views are entered, both are enlarged, strengthened, and revitalized. If taken to heart this work can free both the spiritual science of Steiner and the analytic psychology of Jung from the dangers of dogmatism. This is a first step toward the creation of a truly spiritual psychology.