Presenter: Fred Borchardt

Although Jung uses the term enantiodromia to describe an autonomous unconscious process, it is the hypothesis of this presentation that Enantiodromia can also be utilized deliberately to facilitate psychological change in a growth process.

The Wolf, the Yin Yang Dots and Enantiodromia in Psychological Process

The well-known Norse myth “The Binding of the Wolf Fenrir” describes how an uncontainable and physically threatening power is restrained by a very thin rope woven out of impossible or non-existent elements. The process expressed by this archetypal example can be interpreted as an example of “Enantiodromia,” a term widely used by Jung to indicate the process of psychic energy turning into its opposite. This movement of energy depends on the principle that every force already contains within itself its opposite. This principle is visually illustrated by the well-known Eastern Yin-Yang symbol with opposite forces, each containing a speck (or dot) of the other in its centre.

Although Jung uses the term enantiodromia to describe an autonomous unconscious process, it is the hypothesis of this presentation that Enantiodromia can also be utilized deliberately to facilitate psychological change in a growth process.

Fred Borchardt is a Jungian Analyst in Private Practice in Cape Town. He studied Jungian analysis through the SAAJA Analyst Training Program, and was educated at Pretoria University, the University of Johannesburg and Rhodes University. He recently concluded his term as SAAJA president.