“The discovery of the unconscious means an enormous spiritual task, which must be accomplished if we wish to preserve our civilisation.”
Carl Jung
THE METHOD OF BECOMING YOURSELF
Not every person will meaningfully come to ‘know themselves.’
Self-knowledge is not something that merely occurs on its own.
Becoming undivided in ourselves is a product of what we do each moment of every day, the choices we make, our intention and our willingness to take responsibility.
Self-knowledge is guaranteed however where there is an honest intention to pursue it. Nothing else in life can that be said about other than death and taxes. And that should tell us something about its nature.
Knowing yourself is synonymous with freedom. But to fully realise it you have to embrace your own inner conflict and the friction you have with the world. Both show us where we are unfree in ourselves.
How would your life look if you were completely free? Free of inner contradiction and master-slave dynamics with the world around you?
The great idealist Georg Hegel saw that the history of the world itself is the progression of the consciousness of freedom. Spirit comes to know itself through dialectical development, and its self-knowledge is inseparable from recognising freedom as the essence of human nature.
Hegel knew what was coming, but he did not live long enough to see the full extent of rationalism play out in our world. Others like Von Hartmann and Nietzsche also warned what it could bring.
There is certainly nothing wrong with rational thought. But in pursuing it one-sidedly society threw out the opposite. Carl Jung saw this clearly. Although he was no fan of religion, he noticed how its abandonment throughout the 20th century led to extensive neuroses. He famously wrote that he knew no patient over 35 who did not become healed by regaining their loss of soul.
While Jung was not advocating for a revamp of religion, his work helped bridge these two apparently contradictory movements of spirit.
Having witnessed many atrocities in his life, he recognised that re-engaging with our deeper selves wasn’t merely a beneficial pastime for those who chose it, but a matter of civilisational survival.
As helpful as Jung’s contribution was in developing an understanding of mind, and aside from his offering in the practice of active imagination, his work was not so concerned with the daily aspects necessary for integration. All spiritual traditions by contrast, if they are to be of any use, include three cornerstones for developing a connection to spirit: maps of understanding, ways of acting in the world and mental discipline.
But no fixed system can work in resolving contradictions. As Hegel laboured to point out, every idea contains its own contradiction – stretch it to infinity and it becomes self-defeating. Psychology too has its own contradictions. While it aids understanding, in itself it has little to say on morality and mental discipline.
The Seven Habits of Individuation are my attempt to synthesise aspects of psychology, philosophy and spirituality. It come from systematising knowledge gained in my own pursuit of self-knowledge – though I didn’t realise that’s what it was at first. But my journey, like yours, is one toward ever greater freedom, so it was inevitable.
Of course what works for me, you and anyone else will vary. Different emphases are also needed based on your own energies, situation and personality makeup. But I’ve boiled the approach down into seven key principles that can be applied by you for your specific needs and situation. These are the universal themes found in others, tested by me and which make theoretical sense.
There will always be dialectic and contradiction at every turn. The Seven Habits are a way to navigate that dialectic in a way directly applicable to 21st century life.
In this final course of the Know Yourself Programme we will be covering a lot of ground and a wide range of topics, all circumambulating the vital task of developing self-knowledge and freedom.
We begin with Module Zero to establish context, then dedicate each module to one of the Seven Habits, starting with Responsibility. You’ll gain a grounding in why this matters now, what the wider problem is, how it came about, and what you can do to keep moving forward.
Along the way, we will:
- cover the essential need for responsibility and intention;
- develop communication skills;
- grasp the true nature of work;
- develop a sound understanding of morality;
- hone mental discipline and;
- much more.
Learn more and sign up at: knowyourself.makeitconscious.com/course/the-way-of-individuation
“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”
– Seth Godin
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN:
Understanding
Develop a deep grasp of individuation and freedom, integrating rational thought, psychology and spiritual understanding. Learn how these three essential approaches combine to create a complete path of development.
Navigate
Master the Seven Habits as practical tools for daily life and long-term growth. Learn vital skills in communication, responsibility, and mental discipline that apply directly to modern challenges, work, and relationships.
Integrate
Move toward greater wholeness through concrete practices and engagement with the unconscious. Develop the capacity for meaningful work, authentic relationships, and self-alignment while resolving the contradictions that create conflict in your life.
