C. G. Jung on Addiction
A few thoughts from Carl Jung.
- Addiction is a failed initiation.
- The addict reaches down for what the mystic reaches up to.
- The only treatment for addiction is spiritus contra spiritum
Addiction is a failed initiation because it breaks the person down but builds nothing up in his place.
The addict is reaching for meaning that will complete the psyche, if only the experience were not ephemeral and chaotic! This wish is ritualized into mysticism.
Once addiction has taken hold, only a grounding experience that gives the addict meaning will suffice to dull the craving for escape. That is, spiritus contra spiritum -- spirit set against spirits. This was Jung's prescription of Ebby Thatcher, Bill W's childhood friend. Though Ebby was unable to stay sober, he passed the idea to Bill W and this started the process by which Bill would start AA.
u/ExtraBitter99 — 2 hours ago