The 4 stages of life according to Carl Jung

The 4 stages of life according to Carl Jung make up an exercise of valuable reflection for which time does not pass.. Thus, the famous Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology invites us to those deep and mythical universes of the human psyche, where he can reveal to us concepts as well known to all as “the collective unconscious”, “synchronicity” or “archetypes”.

It is precisely these last ones, the archetypes, that weave and give shape to his interesting theory about vital stages.. It was at work The man and his symbols, the book that was published shortly before his death, where he wanted to convey the importance of this idea to the general public. For him, symbology and specifically, archetypes, are images that contain our essence throughout history and culture itself.

They are archaic and universal patterns that are contained in the collective unconscious itself. Bringing them to light, understanding them and unpacking their message will help us get to know each other better. Also, to improve as people to achieve fulfillment. Thus, His idea about the stages of life does not only seek to enlighten us about one more of his ideas or theories.

What he intended with this was to make us aware of something very specific. Often, we go through life believing ourselves competent, we believe that we have all the truths and that nothing can resist us. However, To mature, grow and age fully and successfully, we need to be more humble and more receptive..

The 4 stages of life according to Carl Jung

It was almost during his last years when Carl Jung devoted much of his work to one objective: illumination.. Enlightenment understood as an exercise in the transmission of knowledge. Its intention was to facilitate a reflection exercise for the general public through which anyone would be able to understand that wisdom is what gives freedom and happiness.

Thus, and taking his own words, “Our vision will only become clearer when we look inside ourselves, when we understand our dreams and those processes of our psyche. At that moment, just when we understand what is inside, we will wake up.” In this way, his theory on the 4 stages of life seeks that same purpose, to wake us up, make us understand what we are and how we can improve.

Let’s get to know it more in depth.

1. The stage of Hercules or the athlete

As we pointed out at the beginning, Jung’s theory on the stages of life is based on the concept of archetypes.. In this way, the first phase of our existence represents the figure of Hercules or the athlete. He is indeed a hero, all of him shines, he fills us with admiration, he represents daring and gallantry, but also the cult of the body.

Hercules represents strength and also bodily showiness. Thus, during the first stage of life it is common for us to become obsessed with the physical, both our own and that of others. We live observing our reflection in mirrors and valuing the beauty and strength of others, as if that combination were the key to success.

2. Apollo or the world of the Warrior

Little by little, and according to the theory of the 4 stages of life according to Carl Jung, we are leaving this fixation on appearance to focus on other goals. We want to possess, conquer, accumulate… We rise as true Apollos in search of new achievements to feel good.

This behavior often leads us to selfishness, to wanting what others have, to climb the ranks, to battle in new scenarios to achieve success. We are materialistic warriors who do not look at the world from the heart and who live focused on the desire to obtain reinforcements, things and new sensations.

3. The priest or the feeling of lack

In the third stage of our existence, according to Carl Jung’s theorysomething quite common happens: the feeling of lack. The human being becomes aware that everything achieved so far does not make him feel complete; craves a change.

This change in vital meaning makes the person then turn to others. Therefore, the archetype of the priest arises, one who stops being attached to the material to focus more on the emotional, on helping his loved ones, on providing support. Its objective is to “give”, to project what one is, what one feels and possesses for the benefit of others.

4. The spiritual stage of Hermes

In the fourth phase of the theory of the 4 stages of life according to Carl Jung, a moment opens up where we can take another step. It is that where we continue to have the feeling that something is missing in us. Helping others, offering, caring, caring and even loving is not enough and, therefore, we crave something more.

That search takes us to the spiritual plane. We have already transcended the purely material and even the emotional, to observe ourselves from the outside and understand that we can still improve a little more. We can do it by being virtuous, cultivating new knowledge, learning, raising knowledge to the maximum to understand, in turn, that everything is connected.that human beings can be exceptional.

This idea fits very well with the words of Lao-Tzu, «Can you get away from your own mind and thus understand all things? Giving light, learning, having without possessing, acting without expectations, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.”

To conclude, as we have been able to intuit, Jung’s life stages theory represents our quest. In some way, it forms that path where we reach self-realization as we become more humble, less attached to material aspects. A good reflection, no doubt.

You might be interested…