The religious function is part of who we are — as natural as needing food or love. It’s the inner drive that pushes us to find meaning, to touch something larger than ourselves. Jung saw that if we don’t tend it, it doesn’t go away; it twists itself into addictions, compulsions, or a kind of soul-sickness. Religion, in the deepest sense, isn’t about belief systems. It’s about real encounters with the Self — the larger reality inside us that humbles, heals, and reshapes us. Dreams, symbols, and moments of awe are how Psyche keeps that connection alive. Without them, the energies meant for growth get stuck or spill out in destructive ways. In this episode you’ll learn how to stay open and reimagine ways the sacred can speak to you.

Carl Jung’s near-death experience (NDE) during a heart attack profoundly influenced his psychological theories and personal philosophy. While unconscious, Jung perceived himself leaving his body and observing Earth from afar, enveloped in a glorious blue light. He encountered a temple-like structure within a meteoric stone and a mystical figure, experiences that resonated with his concepts of the collective unconscious and archetypal imagery. This transformative journey intensified his understanding of the psyche’s connection to universal consciousness and solidified his belief in life beyond physical existence. Upon reluctantly returning to his body, Jung felt constrained by the material world, reinforcing his dedication to exploring the depths of the human spirit and the continuity of consciousness after death. This profound experience deeply enriched his work and theories, leaving a lasting impact on both his professional contributions and personal worldview.

The daimon, guiding spirit of individual destiny, was discussed by ancient Greek philosophers. Daimons were particularly linked to creativity and life force and described as lesser deities, divine messengers, and determinative fates. For Jung, “daimon” was a synonym for that part of the unconscious concerned with life purpose, and it spoke through intuition and dreams. Ego’s task is transforming the autonomous power of the daimon into authentic expression in life. Jungian analyst and author James Hillman says, “The soul of each of us is given a unique daimon before we are born, and it has selected an image or pattern that we live on earth. This soul-companion, the daimon, guides us here; in the process of arrival, however, we forget all that took place and believe we come empty into this world. The daimon remembers what is in your image and belongs to your pattern, and therefore your daimon is the carrier of your destiny.”