One of these teachings that has proved universal and persisted across cultures is the existence of an inner call to undergo psychological change – to journey into the wilderness (of oneโs interior world) to encounter the unknown, risk transformation, and ultimately emerge different.
For some, this call might manifest as the profound, life-altering journey to become a Sangoma, a traditional healer in the Zulu and Xhosa cultures of South Africa. For others, it could be a call to change their attitude, career, relationships, or self-perception.
Folk tales, which have been passed down orally for centuries, are filled with the symbolism of this call as characters venture into dark forests. Stories like ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฆ๐ญ (1), ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ข๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ (2), and ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐น ๐๐ธ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด (3) all depict the forest as a dangerous and risk filled place. However, they also highlight natureโs potential for protection, guidance, and healing.
Many ancient cultures lived in close relationship with the natural world and recognized the significance of nature as a place for connecting to the deeper layers of the psyche and the spirit world. Jung drew extensively from ancient traditions in his exploration of the human psyche and recognised how it is in encountering oneโs wild-ness and confronting the shadowy parts within that true growth can occur and equally how resisting this journey towards change can lead to psychological imbalances and difficulties.
Could the ancient practice of physically entering the wilderness and immersing oneself in nature be worth keeping?
Could being in nature resonate for you in any way? If so, honour it, visit forests or any natural spaces and see what comes from the deeper connections that ancient cultures tapped into for psychological and spiritual benefits. The call to encounter our inner world is enduring, and nature can have a great deal to offer in enhancing this journey, if it is sought out.
Post written by Austin Smith, Clinical Psychologist and Jungian Analyst.
References:
1. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฆ ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฎโ๐ด ๐๐ข๐ช๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
2. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐๐ข๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ by Robert Johnson
3. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฆ ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฎโ๐ด ๐๐ข๐ช๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Image reference: A Pine Forest โ Ivan Shishkin (1878)