Carl Jung’s Shadow work: an introduction to Goethe’s Faust and the black dog symbol
Hi, I am Harry Venice, an Attachment, Trauma, and Jungian Therapist who is also certified to score the Adult Attachment Interview for Reflective Function.
If you want to do Shadow Work, Jungian Analysis, trauma healing, individuation or to repair insecure attachment, book a Free 1:1 Discovery Call with me today: https://calendly.com/harryvenicepsychology/30min
An introduction to Goethe’s Faust and the black dog symbol (Shadow Work symbol).
Pictured Photo: the Faust book cover. Notice the devil or the shadow behind him as he looks in the mirror.
An introduction to Goethe’s Faust and the black dog symbol (Shadow Work symbol).
In today’s blog post, I provide an introduction and summary of Goethe’s Faust and the black dog symbol.
If you want a summary of the plot of Faust, first head over to the Harry Venice Psychology Podcast (episode 14). In that episode, I provided a summary of "Faust" and I explain the roots of the shadow work concept. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/paKNAknwFIw
Why Faust matters for shadow work?
Shadow work has its roots in the story of "Faust" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Carl Jung often wrote about the book of Faust and the Black Dog which appears in that story. The dog represents the shadow. This is the Jungian Psychology concept of the shadow, commonly known now as shadow work.
It is a long book to read and even the audiobook is too long and difficult for most people to get through. That is why I decided to provide a summary of the story below. This summary focuses on the important shadow elements.
The beginning of the Faust story: depression
The story begins in heaven where Mephostopheles, a personification of the devil boasts of his corruption on Earth and that he can corrupt even the most intelligent person. Because Faust is so intelligent, he becomes a target of Mephostopheles.
Faust has consumed all the books available to him but has yet to find the deepest knowledge of the Earth which he craves. He doesn’t feel he knows the real meaning of life, peace, fulfilment, spirituality, divine knowledge, etc.
At this point, Faust is sick of the routine of life, the repetitive nature of work and mundanity of his life’s existence. He decides to kill himself and commit suicide. However, a divine vision appears and he changes his mind.
The shadow appears: the Black dog
Faust then meets a friend and as they are walking, a strange ominous black dog appears. This dog grows larger in size.
Faust casts a spell which forces the dog to show its true identity and then Mephosotopheles appears. He then hears Faust once again complain about how mundane life is. Mephosotpheles decides to make a bet with Faust where he promises to give Faust a transcending experience of pleasure, an experience so deep and pleasurable that Faust will want to stay alive forever. However, if the black dog aka Mephosopheles (the shadow symbol) achieves this, then Faust will have to give his immortal soul to him and serve the devil in hell forever.
Faust in his arrogance and ignorance, believes that he has nothing to lose and accepts the bet. He does this because he thinks that he has all the knowledge of the mortal world and that nothing could make him happy.
Questions this raises for our psychology and healing
Don’t we all make a ‘bet’ when we choose the wrong path or prioritise one path over another?
What is your unlived life versus your lived life? What path have you chosen or made a bet on? What did you gain and what did you miss out on?
In my next blog post, I explain how Faust was misled by Mephostopheles, the shadowy figure represented by the symbol of the black dog. I also provide a summary of the rest of the story and also how you can learn about the shadow to live a meaningful, happy life.
If you want to explore individuation, Jungian Analysis, Shadow Work, trauma healing or to repair insecure attachment, book a Free 1:1 Discovery Call with me today: https://calendly.com/harryvenicepsychology/30min
Always Believe. Stay Brave. Never Give Up.
Harry Venice
Attachment, Trauma, and Jungian Therapist
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